Things to Ponder

A little known fact about the Barson house, we have an educational bathroom...
Some time ago, while Tif was searching for a shower curtain, she came across one that was a map of the US. and a tradition was born, we have had shower curtains of Earth, the Solar system, and now we have the Periodic Table of the elements.
So I have been occasionally been ... um .... reading... this curtain, and have been fascinated by the names of the elements, and their corresponding Symbols.
Most symbols incorporate letters from their name, but several do not, for example "Golds" symbol is "Au".
Which starts me a wonderin',
Why would some get Symbols that don't match their names.
And If I were to "Discover" an element, what would I call it?
Would I name it after myself? Barson does have a certain ring to it, and would fit right in. or name it after where I live? Americum is taken, but Arlingtum is not.., or perhaps after something/Someone I hold dear, Tifinum?
Feel free to discuss, and share your thoughts

I did include a link in the title of this post, to a web table that is actually built of links that seem to describe the elements and their primary uses.

Rainy day weekender blues...

---I thought I was all ready for this kind of weather. I somewhat guessed wrong. Well hell, at least we dont live in TX. right now, I think we should all say a small prayer for them. Anyway folk, its been raining here all dang day and it is supposed to continue to do so until Sun. AM. I love the rain in the fall, but this kinda snuck up on me. Runnin in to stay as dry as possible. Finding some type of shelter to hide next to/under when heading out for that darn smoke break. Those are the things Im not ready for just yet. Granted sure, I have had my fill of Summer, and for the next week, it doesnt look to get above 75, so fall is upon us, but still sometimes its a little hard to say goodbye to the Summer Winds.

Have a good weekend boys, whats up over yonder???---

random thoughts

We're all fucked. It helps to remember that.
George Carlin


just liked the quote and the source

random thoughts

Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions.

Albert Einstein

what does that make me?

random thoughts

Although prepared for martyrdom, I preferred that it be postponed.

Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)

Untitled

---Hi boys! Well, fall has definitely started to show its face around here and its pretty darn nice. Its back to sleepin with the windows virtually closed with the covers pulled up nice and tight. It was 41 degrees when I got up here at 7 this AM. None of the trees 'round here have really started to change colors yet, but there are a few, mainly the one in my backyard that is beginning to lose it's leaves at a very fast rate. Ill be out there raking the 1st round of leaves all up within the next couple of weekends.

I weighed myself this AM and I am now stuck around 164 lbs. which I am really happy about. This was on the new digital scale I just picked up to, so Im hoping it's accurate.

I am pretty fed up with pre election hype, but if I have forever made most of you stop talking politics here on the blog, then I guess my goal has been accomplished! NO NO NO!!!!!! I AM TOTALLY PLAYING with you guys, but its fine by me if you dont wanna discuss politics with an ultra right winger such as myself. All I will say is if McCain and Palin get in and pull this off, the next morning on this blog you will hear about it from me...gotta rub it in somewhere. Kiddin, love you guys.....

Hows things goin over yonder in Illinois? Has fall started to kinda set in yet? Hows the business PJB, still on the slow down? How are the wee ones Scott?

My daughter started Kindergarten a few weeks ago and she loves it. Weve only had one bad breakdown so far where she screamed for Momma quite a bit, but was fine 20 mins. later. We are having trouble getting her to eat breakfast and then an hour after school has begun, she tells her teacher thats shes "starving". I need to talk with her again about the breakfast thing. I mean, even I eat breakfast now. I eat all pure shit for breakfast, but its not her concern what Im eating but more why I am eating to begin with.

The ex and I are doing as best we can for the kid's sake. Sometimes its hard as can be and on some days we have a great time. Right now, she is having a major over haul of her shop take place. Fresh paint, new colors, lingerie dept. upstairs, bridal dept. upstairs. She is also giving her websites all a new look with her new logo, name and so on. Its been hella busy for her for the past several weeks, but the act of getting the physical makeover wrapped up should be all done by tomorrow afternoon.

I have no idea as to what my daughter wants to be for Halloween this year, I will ask her tomorrow.

My Moms Birthday is in a couple weeks, which even hurts more? Den's Birthday is next week. This will be the first one for us to endure since his passing late last year. That and then my Mom has their anniversary to make it through and then her and I will have been through every major annual event in life without him here, so we are gettin there!

So, whats up boys? PJB, you gonna cut back your shop hours once fall is in full effect? I think this year my ex will definitely cut her open hours back once old man winter sets in. Right now she is closed Sun-Tues. and I am betting she adds Weds. to that also once winter starts his thing. She makes so much damn money on website sales that she doesnt havta rely on her actual store to make ends meet, its just an addition to what she already has.

So, brothers, whats the haps???---

random thoughts

The big thieves hang the little ones.

Czech Proverb

well I've had my month off and am now back at work. spent most of my time fixing stuff for our new goats.

Saying Goodbye...

---So, did any of you do anything special to say goodbye to Summer '08? I pulled the grill out one last time and we finished off the steaks in the fridge. It was steamy and hot here today also which didnt make it fun to stand in front of a grill, I think Ive outgrown that bullshit. By mid-week though, its supposed to be like 75 and cloudy. Fall is closer than some of us may think!

When I have some more time this week, Im gonna look into the thing about getting shipped off to Vietnam instead of jail time and whether or not it is true.

Im pretty happy w/ J. McCain's pick for his VP runnin mate, she comes off as being quite gutsy and definitely not intimidated by the best thing since sliced bread, Obama.

Well, thats about it. Hopefully, these high temps. will soon drop off for good and we will be able to welcome autumn into our region!

Whats up with you?---

fact or fiction?

---So this is gonna sound weird, or downright stupid, but Ive talked to several people as of late that said at the peak of The Vietnam War when a young man had got caught doing something illegal by the law and was set for trial, they were given 2 options.

The judge would either slap a somewhat hard sentence on them w/ no chance for parole. Either that, or the young man was offered Vietnam for war. Training courtesy of the Army.

Have any of you ever heard of this? Is it bullshit, or does it hold some truth?---

35

Well, I made it to 35 yesterday. The day itself was alright, my Mom took me out to breakfast, then to dinner later that evening. I got a new pinkie ring and yet another Dickies shirt. The day went off with a bang, but upstairs in the noggin, for the 1st time, I actually felt older, like I had aged another year!

Ive always dug on my Birthday cuz it means Fall isnt too far off, no more silly sweating and doing laundry 475 times a week, I can actually get away with wearing a t-shirt or whatever more than once!

I have to learn how to RELAX and bad. I have to learn how to get rid of some of the negativity in my head fast for it is really, I mean really effecting my ex's outlook on me and thus I get the kid kept away from me too.

Breathe in, breathe out. 1.....2.....and so on.....

Any brothers out there got any advice or tips for me?

Funny at my kids expence

I think Monty is the only one who did not see the hummer in this one.

Summer 08

Well summer 08 is almost up and I now have the 3 gigs of photos to prove it. It was not easy getting much of any thing done this summer with the new baby. However carrying a camera and taking photos was something I could do so I took a lot of pictures. Here are my favorites I hope you enjoy them.
We spent a lot of time with family this summer, so as you will see there are lots of photos with children. Those few images that don’t have people in them (always my favorites) are also linked into Google
maps, check them out.

just a check up on my boys.

---If Ive learned one damn thing in life its this....

Dont bother trying to pour your guts out to someone who is too "busy" to care. And, an ex is an ex for a reason.

Hows tricks? Things here are, well, they were kinda shitty, but I managed to get them back to being as normal as possible.

The kid friggin LOVES school, thinks its the best thing ever, yeah, wait til you hit Geometry kiddo.

Weather here has been ultra pleasant, highs only in the mid 80s and last night it got down to 56. Awesome sleepin weather.

Im glad that I cannot legally purchase a firearm. It makes my enemies a lot safer. What? Im just sayin......

How is suburbanite Chicago treating you guys? Hows the shop PJB? You had last mentioned that you were gettin into the "tail end" of the season. Scott, I know its VERY hard for you to post with the new wee one, but how are YOU holding up. Its always about the baby, never about the parents well being. I know Scott you are a GREAT Father, so ya hangin in there?

One last thing before I go....Joe Biden? Hahahahahaha.....WTF?


Pat me on the back boys, Ive been "clean" for a while now!!!"---

Her first BIG Day!

---She loves School and all that goes with it. Thank God, she doesnt take after me in that sense, hah.---

Raging 101

---Well, my Mom and I are pretty darn close to having all the one year anniversaries concerning the passing on of Dennis behind us. Weve got, well, my Mom has their wedding anniversary to yet get through and then we have his birthday.

The Birthday will be tough, very tough. My Mom just got back from Chicago and said his head stone looks really darn good.

I havent fully even come close to dealing with his passing yet, it just all comes out as anger. Over the past month, I have had 2 incidents where my visitation rights with the kid have been revoked for days on end because of anger. Ive even made open, violent, threats to people in public places where half of the damn City could hear me. Ive gotten better with it now though, Ive learned to just walk away, unless the kid is being hurt, scared or is in danger. I never knew I had such a blind rage within me. My ex hates it and I cant blame her. I become fearless, as if nothing could stop me. Ive explained to it to my daughter and she kinda understands it all a little bit.

My therapist and I have just really started to work on this, its all so new. I can tell her anything, shes great. And I know in her position, she isnt there to judge me.

I know deep down that Im never gonna get my ex back, I just havta deal, but Im still very protective of her. And the kid, well, of course Im watching out for her all the time.

Im not an out right violent person, but shit, these blind rages I have had are just too much and my therapist feels a lot of it could have to do with Den's death and losing such a staple in my life. Id love to have him back, I think about him everyday, sometimes I cry, sometimes I dont. I just miss his hugs, his smile and his totally wacky sense of humor. God, was he ever funny.---

The Summer Winds...

---Well boys, its getting pretty darn close to that time of year again when the summer winds will usher in the autumn winds. It will start to get a lot cooler at night. We will see more cloudy days and if its anything like last year was here, we will have snow on the ground by November.

My big question to you is this...did you get everything accomplished this summer that you wanted to do? I know I didnt. PJB, Im sure your summer goals were shop and ride related, so howd it go? And Scott, youve got another wee tiny one to carry around the house and that can throw all your plans up in the air in a matter of seconds!

Fall is my favorite season. The trees are really beautiful around here come mid-October and I also enjoy it when the kid sits and watches me while I carve out a pumpkin or two. I love the chilly nights, when it drops down into the low 40s, or upper 30s. To me THAT is perfect, all bundled up, with the covers all around you sleeping weather. The grass cutting drops down from once a week to once every two weeks until first frost, then that isnt an issue again til next Spring.

Fall. Gotta love it.

Happens all too fast.

---Well, tonight my small "graduates" from preschool. There is a ceremony and everything. She starts kinder garden next week. Im sure like many times before, there will be a few tears shed on my part.

This is all happening too fast I tell ya. My kid is amazing and I know there have been times in the way past where I was a craptastic father, but thats all in the past now and I do my best today to nurture her growth and be an over protective SOB. I just cant believe this is all happening all too quickly.

I cant wait to hear her tell me what she learned in school for a day, it will be like relearning it again. Seeing through your little one's eyes is awesome. Damnit, just yesterday she was still being bottle fed and now here we are at the gates of the beginning of something special that will help to shape her in so many ways.

Im not gonna sit here and bitch about the Iowa Public School system, its one of the best in the nation, Im just not positive Im 100% ready for this.

Dang, getting all grown up.---

Why me? Why almost always me?

---Went to the fair last night w/ the ex and the kid. All was well, I ate like a small pig and such. Nothing deep fried this year though.

So the kid wants to go on some of the rides, ok, thats cool, right? So we head for the Midway and I start out by winning her 2 pretty good sized stuffed animals. Then she wanted to go on these water bumper boats thing. OK, no problem.

So like 30 seconds into the ride, her boat malfunctions and she gets a little scared. I go over and try to get someones attention to wade out there and help her. I get the attention of this broad and ask her to go bring my kid into the stairs. She looks at me dead in the face and says "It aint my damn job." So, I go in through the exit and started talkin to the kid, lettin her know its ok. Then some black punk comes over to me and says I cant do that and he grabs me by the arm and literally tries to push me out of the exit zone. Thats when I got a little, shall we say frisky?

I planted my steel toe Doc right on top of his converse wearing ass and he jumped about 10 feet in the air. So the kid is still stranded out there, really aggravated and crying super loud. Now as a father I cant stand to see my little one cry out of fear.
Then here comes the fucking pigs. I explained the situation and they were kinda cool with it.

But the bottom line? As soon as the kid was out, we were escorted off the fair grounds. Needless to say, the ex and I arent speaking to one another right now.

I just couldnt stand there and watch my little drop of love cry and act so helpless. She makes the sadest face when shes freaked out and crying. I couldnt take it.---

Flying Solo

So:
I dropped Tif & the Lads off @ Ohare today, they went to Utah to visit BroDanny.
So I am Bacholaring it for a few days, wich of course means Work, Beer, Sleep, Ride, Walk dog.
Which is essentially what I would do if they were here, just lonlier....
A strange thing, when She isn't home I don't like sleeping in our bed, for whatever reason it seems to big, so I couch it.
And I won't cook for myself. So PB& Honey for breakfast, Cereal for lunch, and a sandwich from somewhere for dinner... I won't actually heat anything, to much work.
Other updates from AH.
our puppy Barley is starting to calm down a bit (Just a bit)
our old dog Henry has decided she has earned the privilage to pee in the house if we don't let her out every few hours
The Shop is going well, starting to slow down a bit with the tail end of "Season"

Sorry about thhe Poli-post the other day, I kinda just thought it was a funny video and wanted to share it with my friends, more then thinking about the Political implications of the post and this forum. So I'll make it up to you, this video kills me everytime I watch it.


later tater...

have a good weekend.....

---To all the still new Dads and all the still new bike shop owners, I hope you have a splendid weekend. Summer is starting to run outta time, kids will be back in school in a couple weeks and before you know it, you will really havta bundle your new little one up nice and tight.

I will be turning 35 on the 28th, and it is honestly kinda messin with my mind a little bit more so than any other of my b-days of recent years. I dont know if its because of my little one starting kinder garden in a couple of weeks, or because of some of the STUPID ASS mistakes Ive made in the past, but turning 35 means something to me!

I will personally be very happy when summer winds down. Im sick of sweating my arse off and my Mom and I cant afford to run the AC at will. Ill also enjoy it cuz I will be able to pull some kick butt clothes outta the closet again.

Den's first b-day without him being here with us will be Sept. 15th and I can already tell that its really affecting my Mom. Im not jumpin for joy over the fact either, but alls Ive been told is once you make it through the 1st year of things, it gets a lot easier from there. We shall see.

No special plans here this weekend, my allergies are kickin my arse. Tomorrow is kid day at the ex's shop and I will spend all of Sunday with my Mom since she leaves Monday for Chicago. I am HYPED to have the place all to myself for a week!!!!

Talk soon brothers. Love and miss you ALL!---

Anything deep fried and on a stick.

---So, our state fair begins this Thursday, Im really not all to excited. I was gonna go with my Mom on Friday night to see McCain, but I changed my mind, too many old people will be there. The weather looks to be outstanding for the fair itself, mid 80s, which is great considering it could be 100 this time of year like it was last week.

Ill end up going with the ex and the kid Im sure. Once there I will have to check out what the new deep fried stuff is this year, but I think its all been done...candy bars, Twinkies and so on. I also have to have Iowa sweet corn and a pork chop on a stick!

My Mom leaves next Monday morning for her trip to Chicago, which couldnt come at a better time for me. Im not playing well with others right now.---

Little Johnny.

So one evening little Johnny hears a racket coming from his parents room, being very curious, he quickly pushes the door open to find his Daddy and his Mommy engaged in some Carnal desires that have gotten too loud and out of hand! Johnny calls out “Momma, Dad, what are you 2 doing in here?” His Dad waves him off and says “Oh, nothing Johnny, your Mom and I are just having a little fun.” Little Johnny quickly slams the door behind himself and disappears into the shadows of the dark house.

A little later, Johnny’s Mom and Dad are awake and downstairs having a late night snack due to their wild escapade when all of a sudden Johnny’s Dad hears a racket coming from Lil Johnny’s room. I mean its bad, like someone has just set off an M-80 in there. Johnny’s Dad goes flying up the stairs into Johnny’s room where it looks like a bomb had indeed just went off. He looks over and in dis belief, sees that Johnny is fucking the hell outta ole Grandma.

“GOD DAMN”, his Father says, “What the hell are you doing Johnny?” Johnny looks over from being on top of Grandma and says “Yeah, this shits not so funny when its your momma, now is it?”

The models and the Tattoo Fest. last weekend.

---Lemme just say it was my total pleasure to hang out in a room for almost 4 hours with a bunch of girls who were half naked, getting their hair and makeup done. No seriously, the models were super cool and they were not bothered by my presence at all.

The show was a huge hit! Lingerie models shaking their assess and boobs, all topped off with a pillow fight! It was a lot of fun.

The festival itself sucked ass. My artist here in town wasnt there, he was too booked at his shop and couldnt pull off gettin a hold of everyone and try to explain that things had changed.Even the jag bag Mr. Hot shit tattoo artist of the city wasnt there, maybe booth space was too expensive, I dunno. Overall though, the ink festival totally blew. I stuck close to a model or 5 or my ex, whichever was around.

It was a lot of fun and its totally hot when girls wearing practically see thru teddies and corsets allow you to just sit there and shoot the shit with them. They were so casual about it and this was the 1st time quite a few of these models had ever done something like that!

Good times, good times!---

Im Voting Republican

With any luck I can figure out how to imbed a U tube video here:
If not the link is above, I thought it was kind of funny, despite the Taboo nature of politics on this board lateley

The man and the Cats

---I just stumbled across a short video of Ness and the original Stray Cats jamming I fought the Law (and the Law won)off of You Tube! Needless to say, even though the quality sucks its still pretty damn awesome to think about catching a show like that someday, somewhere, somehow. Setzer's AMAZING guitar playing mixed with Ness's style and RAW ATTITUDE which makes both of them unique on their own.

It hasnt been a bad past few days here. Well, OK, im lying, its been a shitastic past few days here. It all started last Sat. AM with me coming oh so close to busting some guys wind shield with his own face....from there, it got worse. I wasnt "allowed" to see the kid, I fell into a depression and everything that goes with it. I made up with the ex yesterday and tonight the attack pattern was called off and I got to see the kid again.

From one moron guy to another....NEVER lose your TEMPER when your kid is present, even IF IT IS justified!

Now, if I ever run into her neighbor again and they arent around, Im seriously gonna have to fuck him up.---

This and that.

---I have a HUGE political hair on my ass Im dying to pull off and vent over, but Im sticking to my word...no politics until the fall.

I also want each and every one of you to have a great weekend! Mine will be routine for me, next weekend is when things are gonna get stirred up for me. A hot air balloon festival next Fri. night...the kid loves it. Then Sat. night, I have to help the ex w/ her fashion show here in Des Moines at an annual tattoo festival. My ex picked the theme of lingerie for her part of the show, woe is me. I know, dont cry for me.

She has a few seriously hot kittens modeling for her in this show too! Ill look into getting some pics, shouldnt be a problem.

We are supposed to get heavy storms here over night tonight, then it is forecasted to rain all day tomorrow and a part of Saturday, but then temps. will be down. I dont think we hit another 90 degree day until mid next week. Im already sick of summer! Weve had like 3 or 4 days close to or over 100 and Im sick of mowing the damn lawn. I know w/ winter comes frigid temps. and snow to shovel, but thats just so much more fun to me.

Im counting the days until fall now.

Gosh we will be coming up on the 7th anniversary of 9-11 this year. Those terrible images can still be found fresh in my mind very easily if I sit and think about it

How about you guys?---

random thoughts

A generation which ignores history has no past and no future.
Robert Heinlein

just passing through. hope you are all well.

Rider down!

---How are ya'll? Im good, thanks. Hot as fuck here today, 100 degrees, AC runnin all day, Mom bitching about electrical bill to come.

I saw a guy get NAILED on his bike today and he was NOT wearin a helmet and his head hit the ground fuckin hard. I thought of you right away PJB. It was down by my ex's shop, I had her distract the kid and I ran out to see if he needed anything and he said no, he had a cell and was gonna call the cops. He refused medical attention right from the start and I thought fuck that, if some bitch put me on my back, its her dollar, yeah, Im going to go in and get looked at. His arm and leg were torn up pretty bad too. Took the cops over 40 mins. to get there! Thankfully, the girl that hit him was being super cool and understanding.

Thats my big story of the day. That and the ex got a 7 foot jewelry case for free, total score.

Hows things there? Looks to be a soggy weekend on this side of the fence, kinda lame, but at least it keeps the temps. down.---

I cannot believe

---what Jesse Jackson said about Obama while he thought he was off camera. Im telling you, Barak still has tons of time and tons of bullets to shoot himself in the foot with.

Gonna be 100 degrees here tomorrow, YUCKY BAD, GO AWAY

Within the next few weeks, Im gonna have the kid draw a little picture for me on my back, then when shes done, its right to my ink slinger to get her little, original doodle immortalized on my body. I think its a great idea.---

Happy 14th Anniversary to Tif and Me

So, a little back ground.
Tif and I like to celebrate our Anniversary, we try to do something big-ish, fancy dinner, overnight in hotel, that sort of thing. Well this year I no longer have the hook up in the Hospitalty Biz that I used to enjoy, so we were going to tame it down a bit.
I bought a Tandem bike for us, and Tif was racking her brains trying to figure out what to get. I found out later that she heard me comment on a radio comercial for a Dropkick Murphys, and Mighty Mighty Bosstones show sounded like a kickass time. So she decided to Surprise me.

I was a little nervous for her, she hasn't been to many Punk Rock shows, and I wanted her to enjoy herself.
So the night of the show, we leave right from the shop, caught good traffic getting down to Northerly Island, the outdoor venue was real cool. there were a bunch of Skinheads, and a few little kids, as well as a smattering of older folks there. we grabbed a couple of beers and plopped down in some chairs to wait for the fun.

Opening band, some 5 piece girl Punk band that was a bit rough, Civet.

Then the Mighty Mighty Bosstones came on and the place started rockin' we spent half the set hanging on the edge of the crowd, then decided to get a little closer to stage, so we hung out near the edge of the pit. Very cool show, I'm not terribly familiar with their body of work, but I will be buying some in the near future, it was fun, and enjoyable.

then the main event. The DropKick Murphys. these dudes rocked. we spent the majority of their act right in the middle of the crowd, behind the pit. The blending of traditional and modern Irish and Punk is a whole lot of fun. They made a comment about how they used to open for the MMB, back in the day. they paid tribute to the recent CPD officer down, and invited a the ladies up on stage with them. again, I am not super familiar with much of their stuff, but I will be picking up more as time progresses.
My worry about Tiff enjoying herself was unnessecary, she really seemed to have a good time,

Oh and last night we went and had a fancy dinner at a place call Davis Street Fishmarket, that was very nice as well.

Its hard to believe that 14 years has gone by so quickly, and so much has happened.
We like to joke that we want to collect on all those bet's of "I bet It'll never last" that surely many folks made, when hearing that a 19 and 20 yr old kid were getting married,
I'm going to go back to bed now.

Nothing really...

---Hows everybody doing? Im alright. Gettin closer and closer to my 35th Birthday. Its weird, 34 didnt mean anything, 36 wont mean much, but 35.......35 is an odd one. Not as odd as say 40 or 50, hell no, but still an odd one.

My ex and the small had a great time on vacation and I dont care who I havta pay off, next year, Im going damnit.

I got a new MP3 player, pretty cool. Rechargeable battery system, all I have to do is plug it in to the p.c. for it to grab power and charge. Holds 500 songs I think, already have 227 Social D. tunes in it, hah.

The 4th here was lame as could be. How was yours?

How was The DKM show PJB? Martin and I used to love them back in the late 90s, their old stuff is great, that I can say. Havent bought an album of theirs past 2000, dont think Id want to either, but tell us about the show.

Ive been helping the ex schlep a bunch of clothes around lately and with her new GMC Envoy, that task has been super easy.

Fuckin gas prices are gonna kill us all, but I dont wanna hear any damn conspiracies over it, OK Steve =) ? Love ya though. How are ya?

Tomorrow is a big day for me. Its kinda an embarrassment for me to admit it, but for you guys its OK, I know ya love me anyways and to anyone else that may have stumbled across this, FUCK YOU and go away!

When I was way way way fucked up and into all kinds of drugs and pills and shit, I didnt take good care of myself and I did A LOT to hurt my body, teeth included. The drugs didnt help either. Well, tomorrow I get my new set of partial dentures and Im kinda excited about it. Its just another milestone in my personal life...knowing they did not beat me. So yeah, yay for some new "fake" teeth. I think there are like 8 or 9 in all that I will get tomorrow. Ill talk funny for a few weeks, but thats about it.

Well, boys, Im gonna go sit outside and enjoy what little daylight time we have left for the evening, cuz before we all know it, it will be getting dark at 430 PM again!

Lemme know whats up, LOVE YOU---

blah de blah

---Its 3:08 PM on the 4th and Ill assume most, if not all of you have started your "holiday activities". Hah, suckers. God, how I HATE family gatherings. Last night we were gonna go watch some fireworks being blown off at the State Capitol, but I ended up having too much to drink and since my Mom has night driving blindness, it just didnt happen. I think I passed out around 845, hahaha, Im a loser. I dont remember!!!

Tonight, there isnt really any shows to go see, most townships had their shows last night, dumb asses. Tonight we eat shish ka bobs hot off the grill! Its a little warm here about 82, 83, not a cloud in sight. My ex and the kid will be home Sunday, which will be cool.

The pic is a snap shot of the boys in Social D. minus drummer Charlie Quintana. Dont they clean up well? They were playing an annual event for the Orange County Homeless Association, something they do every year. Even old hard ass Mike has a heart. They play like a 20 min acoustic set that is rumored around certain SD boards on the web to be utterly amazing.

I gots a new cell phone today. Pretty nice, pay as you go, my credit is to shitty to get anything else. 80 bucks, came with 300 free minutes, way nice color screen and all that jazz. I have yet to activate it though, Im in no hurry.

Well, somebody must have some news to report on, whats up out there?---

Pre planned strike....

---Since Im certain none of ya will be around tomorrow, I just wanted to say have a safe and HAPPY 4th.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!---

random thoughts

Nationalism is power hunger tempered by self-deception.
George Orwell

just keeping busy here in sunny arizona. hope you are all well.

Some Wednesday funnies for you.

---Sine things are dead around here, I though Id be on the lighter side of life for once and post some funnies---

Which one will we be today?

Winners and losers, turn the pages of my life
We're beggars and choosers, with all the struggles and the strife
I got no reason to turn my head and look the other way
we're good and we're evil, which one will I be today?

There's saints and sinners
Life's a gamble and you might lose
There's cowards and heroes
Both have been known how to break the rules
there's lovers and haters
The strong and the weak will all have their day
We're devils and angels
Which one will I be today?


Are you happy now with all the choices you've made?
Are there times in life when you know you should've stayed?
Will you compromise and then realize the price is too much to pay?
Winners and losers, which one will you be today?

There's a a light and a dark side
standing at the crossroads, there we'll meet
there's prophets and fools there
the lies and the truths, will be at our feet
I got a reason to turn my head and look the other way
it's heaven and hell here, which one will I live today?

---Just mid last week, my ex sister in law was rushed to the hospital from a drug OD. She had to be put on a ventilator because she was only taking 4 breaths a minute. The nurse that was assigned to her said that in her 15 years of service she had never seen a young girl come in in such bad shape and live. She took 2 bottles of Klonopin (an anti anxiety pill, that can have sedative like feelings when used in super high doses, which in turn can be fatal) and 4 or 5 Oxycontin. My ex sister in law was released from the hospital 2 days later. She is addicted to pills, just as I am, but the big difference is that shes active in the lifestyle, I am not. She has been "sworn" to day treatment and all that stuff. I give her a month before shes back on the pills. She jumps from hospital to hospital, from clinic to clinic here in town and gets hooked up. Youd think these damn places would be wise to her by now, not to mention, I think she buys a lot off the street, which is a HUGE risk, Lord only knows what youre getting then. Im glad shes alive, but with all the resources to get help from in this city, I feel absolutely no pity for her. Theres quite a few places to go for help, Ive used 'em all and when ya get it right, they will fix you and make you a whole person again, so I wouldnt ever shed a tear for her. I dont want my little girl getting to know her while shes still an active abuser like this, no way.

I mean, you hear of all these people that go through all this hell to get away from this shit and they can do it. Of course, Im not gonna mention Multi-Million dollar "rock stars" who have the world at their finger tips to get clean, shit, I could easily kick any drug too if I had a therapist who was charging me 20 grand a day for his help. But you do hear about the regular people who do make it through this, I just always wonder why I become so strong and why she becomes so weak, ya know?

Winners and losers, which one will I be today?---

Happy Sunday!

---Well, happy Sunday to all you hard working bike dealers and 2nd time Dads out there!!! My kid and the ex did indeed take off for their vacation time yesterday afternoon, so Im kid free for the week. My daytime fix me up program has been going pretty darn good as of late, which makes me VERY happy.

Obama says this and that and then flip flops 2 days later on the same issue and I worry about McCains age if he is elected, blech to it all right now.

It has actually been kinda "chilly" here at night the past few days, blanket weather, GREAT for sleeping. Today the high is 81, yesterday we didnt even make 80.

We may go see some fireworks for the 4th at the State Capitol here in town, but the 4th is still several days away so we dont have near anything set in stone yet, it will all depend on how my Mom feels. She gettin a little old because of her severe Diabetes and I worry about it every day now. Shes tough as nails though, hell a lot tougher than most Ive met in my life to be honest with you. Its been a rough weekend for her, she really misses Den for some strange reason this weekend, but those things happen. I was really missin him last week for no reason, just because he was awesome to be around.

The sun just came out here.

This week looks to be dry and not too terribly warm until Thu. I think, when it will hit like 86. Thats too hot for me w/ the humidity. If there is no humidity, I dont mind, but if the humidity gets up there, Im beggin for the AC to be turned on like a wuss.

There is a huge bike shop on the corner where we live called Bike World, everytime I see it, I think of you PJB. People are gettin pumped up for the Ragbrai ride coming up where they cover the whole state of Iowa in like 6 or 7 days on bike. I have heard its just one big drunken party at night between the bikers, then they wake up the next AM and get back to riding.

Hey Scott, if you can find time to get to your p.c. for 2 seconds, hows your little one doing? How is C taking things? I hope ALL is well with you and your little family!

Well boys, thats my little Sunday update for ya, drop me a reply when ya can and Ill be back soon.

The pic up top is the kid, just sent to me via the ex's cell phone. Im thankful for the pic but damn the man, what would people do without those damn things? I got so mad at mine last week, I tossed it out the car window going about 65. It was a pay as you go one. Great phone, but it got too stupid on me one time too many so bye bye it went.---

Rain, anyone?

---Man, this rain will not stop! It took me an extra 25 mins. to get home from the dr. this AM because of all the washed out roads, are you guys getting, or due to get any of this? I was supposed to help the ex out later today w/ a fashion show but Im kinda sick, plus I just dont trust this weather right now, so thankfully my lack will do her no harm whatsoever.

Well, as Im sure you know, next Fri. is the 4th. Anyone have any big plans? The ex and the kid will be up, well, way up North in IA. with Mom in law, at a resort they always frequent this time of year for a vacation, so all next week, I will be kid free, which is a bummer. They leave Saturday afternoon. The ex and the kid take off and I get volunteered to go over to the ex's pad every other day to check on the place and on her cats. Thats my big summer plans for next week, cat sitting. But its cool, her (formerly our) cats rock!

So my Mom got everything but her final confirmation all but locked in today for her trip to the Chicagoland area come August, which, Ill admit, excites the hell outta me. Some alone time! Some real free time! Some walking around the house for four hours at a time in my boxers! WOOHOO!

So, what PJB, we are gonna be the big 3-5 this year huh? Man, where the HECK did the time go? We met when we were 15!!!---

Weekend Wrap up!

---How is everyone?

My weekend was pretty mundane. Hangin out with the kid at the ex's shop on Sat. and then spendin a few hours over at her place with her and the kid and another friend last night. I was home by 830ish...I got hungry so I decided to leave.

Today I went trekking about the area for a little while with my Mom and that was about it for daytime activity, than this evening I went back over to the ex's pad for a couple hours for some kid time, which was cool.

Its slowly startin to get hotter and hotter here and I feel as if the air conditioning "dog days" of Summer are right around the corner. I think we are due for rain on Tuesday for a bit then our chances increase come Thu. and Fri. Tomorrow should be wonderful though, right around 80 and sunny. I think setting aside my other previous commitments tomorrow, Ill go get a hair cut.

Ive made a vow to my ex. I refuse to talk "politics" with her to at least the fall, say Sept. or Oct. for now cuz all we do is FIGHT over that topic. I think I may do the same here unless something really gets me fired up. I was born at night, but it wasnt last night and Im pretty sure I have no fellow McCain backers here, so better to avoid the topic, eh?

Anyone got any big summer plans? Vacations? Road trips?

My Mom is headed to Niles come early August, but I have chosen to stay behind here by myself in Des Moines. I would love to be able to come on in to see most of you guys but that would require me staying with family for the 6 days and I just cannot do that to myself. They dont like me and I dont like them, plus I wouldnt have the $$$ to carry myself for a summer trip with the other plans I have right now. So Mom is taking the train to town and Ill stay behind, eat like a pig, make small messes through out the house and sleep odd hours day and night, hah!

Well boys (and boys wives) have a good week, drop a reply if ya can and Ill check back in soon. =)---

Not again

---Remember in a post from say 2 weeks ago when I was ranting about kids blowing off fireworks this damn late? Well, there doin it again

End baby rant---

Summer Fashion

Well this is is it, the sling is were my daughter prefers to take most of her day time naps, most of which require me to walk lots. The other day my wife complained when I returned the baby to her covered with bagel crumbs... What can I say it's not always easy these days to find time to eat as of late. Forget about hot food this is of course what I signed up for. A acquaintance of ours has triplets, and every time I talk to her I feel like such a wimp!

Petting Zoo.....

---Went to the zoo here in town today with the ex and smalls. A goat tried to eat my shoe!

No, I was not happy.---

Just thinkin'

---I was talkin to someone earlier this afternoon and for the first time it really, honestly hit me right smack in the face.

A black man beat out (you could almost say kicked the hell out of)a white upper class Women in a race to The White House.

Wow, nuts, I tell ya. Im not saying its a bad thing, nor am I saying its a good thing, but its a very real thing now. Race cards were played, gender cards were played. good ole Bubba Clinton even ran his useless mouth for a while, but still, untouchable!

Wow, now its all on Grandfather McCain to tumble the machine!---

Today is our day!

---Happy Fathers Day mother fuckers! Its steak for me for dinner with corn on the cob and a baked 'tater. I got some kick ass cool Dickies stuff from my Mom..a new Dickies work shirt and a regular dickies t shirt that has a kick ass logo on it.

The kid and the ex will be here at 1 today, should be an alright day. She went out and bought a GMC Envoy this past week and man that thing rides like a damn dream!---

We made it!

---Well, we survived through the rain the past few days and our new sump pump really kicked ass so no water was taken on by us. The downtown area of Des Moines got kinda hairy there for a few hours with manhole covers blowing off and water raging out of them and into the street but it subsided pretty quick too. I think everyone will be OK.

Have you seen the footage of those houses up in the Dells in Wisconsin? WOW, what a loss that must be.

My Mom is having a damn garage sale here tomorrow and Saturday and I dont wanna have anything to do with it. I have put some of my shit up for sale in it, but I dont care, if it sells, she can keep the money.

The ex and the kid will be coming over here Sunday for a Father's Day cook out, I have no idea what Im getting from them. I hope its not another "Best Dad in the World" t shirt. I appreciate the thought, but um....would never wear it, I have a rep. to uphold, heh. My Mom already gave me my Father's day gift, its another J.R. Cash shirt...pretty cool.

OK, Ive asked ya what ya wanted for Fathers Day, now, are you headed anywhere special?---

USS ENDERS

---half of the state is under water, we may be next. I will know more about this tomorrow and Saturday. If we lose power and I go *poof* for a while, blame flood waters and such.

hows the biz PJB?

Hows the new wee one doing Scott?---

This is great!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcrF346sS_I&feature=related

---Pen and Teller letting us all know what time it is by cutting the conspiracies down to nothing. If you have 8 or 9 minutes, give it a quick go and check it out.---

saved by Bob

---Well, this afternoon, our land lord Bob came by with shiny new pump. He switched out a few things, dropped her in and shes kickin ass, so thank God, no flooded basement for us!

They are saying that if it rains most of this week (like projected to) in a flash flood kind of scenario, like todays was, that we could be looking upon flood levels that will surpass the HUGE flood of 1993. The city is a lot more prepared for something like that now, but thats still some hardcore water. No rain here tomorrow, then after that, there is a shot at rain everyday for the next 6 or so.

So, what do you guys want for Father's Day?---

Noah and the Ark.

---Well, our sump pump problems have gone to the next level. Right now we have a pump for an outdoor pond being used as our main pump to keep our basement flood free, our sump pump died yesterday. Our damn Lanlord cant get here with a new sump until tomorrow, he has previous commitments, so he dropped off one of his three backyard pond pumps for us.

It works great, the only BIG problem is it is not automatic so we have to be there to watch it and plug or unplug it every few minutes....thats how much water we have rushing in!

Tomorrow cant get here soon enough with that darn thing. This is the worst Spring rain season I can ever recall.---

Have a happy weekend.

---Well, last night we got nailed by a nasty thunder storm, that warranted a tornado warning for our county. My mom and I ended up spending about 15-20, maybe 25 mins. in the basement last night at 1030 while we watched our little TV to keep up on the weather and I smoked. Needless to say, no tornadoes came near our area. I was back in bed and asleep by 1115. Little did I know that this storm had just dumped close to 5 inches of rain on most of Des Moines in just over an hour!

Today I got a call from my ex that her shop had flooded, so I had to head down there to try and help things out. I was hardly any help, there wasnt much I could do, the water damage was minimal.

We had to deal with our Landlord being in and out of here all day today I guess, the storm last night caused us to run into some sump pump problems, which seem to be all under control as of now.

Rain free and 89 degrees tomorrow then back to chances of rain EVERY damn day next week.

When will the fun end???---

Hillary loves Obama

---Well, I guess at this hour, little ole Hillary and big man Obama are meeting to discuss certain things. What? Im sure we will know within the next couple of days.

Interesting...---

Why I like McCain...

---I am drawn to McCain and his "politics" because he is a lot like my Pa was. He seems to be pretty darn honest, loyal and trust worthy. Hes old school. I know old school and I can trust old school. I can elaborate on this a lot more, its just right now Im having a hard time finding the right words, McCain's attitude has left me kinda speechless. Not that hes that good of a politician, but its all about my Pa.

Sorry.

I like "Pa" McCain!---

It looks like.

---Obama vs. McCain! Its on! What do you think?---

one more thing.....

---Just so Im certain, its not, say, July 3rd today, is it? No? Hmmmmm. July 4th by chance? No, not that either? Well, Ill be damned.

There is some assface fucktard within, what is think is about a 2, 2 1/2 block radius of our new house blowing off some serious shit right now, Im talking whistlers, an M-80 here and there, sky rockets...all of it! I guess this is what it sounded like at one point to live in Baghdad. I guess they are bringing it upon themselves to celebrate this Nations great freedom on Friday, May 30th.

No sign that they are gonna give up soon either and I wanna sleep eventually here. I guess if it keeps up I will do what I HATED when people did it to me....

Call The Fuzz! Im not just Old School, but Im grumpy Old School---

Been a while

---Well, since it has been so long since I posted to the blog, I figured Id take some time out tonight to chime in. How ya'll doing? Hows the biz PJB/Tif? Hows your new little bundle of joy doing Scott?

It was a pretty quiet week for me here, nothing major or life changing to report, but for me, hah, thats a good thing. It has slowly but surely getting warmer and warmer each and everyday now. I think today we hit 84. Weve had some really nasty, mean assed weather haul through Iowa as of late. I dunno if you guys have time to catch the news but there was a small town up in the corner of the state that was totally demolished by an F-5 twister within the past week. I mean, for reals, the town, its just...gone! We had some solid thunderstorms move through here in the middle of the night last night. I can remember being woken up by lightning, but thats it. I guess this storm ended up up rooting trees around the metro area and what have ya. Im just shocked I snoozed through like 98% of it!

Next month, I will be helping the ex out with a fashion show that centers around the national Packard Kustom Car Club, so that should be bad ass. After I got the knife to the gut from the ex this past week, I didnt wanna do an effin thing for her and I still really dont want to, but if this will keep things cool between us, then Ill be happy to oblige. Plus she already knows that the day I see Ava in the arms of another guy, playing all Mr. Dad w/ her, everyone just best run real fast. Thats all Im gonna say there!

Ive conceived my next piece of ink, but it wont be happening all too soon. Its gonna be a homage to my Grandfather and to Den. BIG piece on the arm w/ whats left of what I have to work with. Maybe this fall.

Well, I havent seen anyone around here as of late, I know you guys are busy, which is cool. I check in everyday hoping to see someone has stopped in. Maybe my little post here will get some of you guys talkin' again.

I wish I had a swimming pool.

Speaking of swimmin' pools, any of you boys remember the killer pool parties Frank used to throw? Ah, yes, GREAT memories there.

Gimmie some sugar baby---

another fantastic photo

this is me in the woods under roslyn castle. beautiful. the woods, not me.

Sat. Night Blues

---Well, my Ava is away at her Meemaws (Grandmas) pad just under 2 hrs. away from here and they'll be gone until Monday late afternoon, so this means the next two days will be dangerously boring for me. How has everyones weekend been so far? Mine has been quiet, just chilled w/ the monster child at the ex's store. I got the big stab to the heart lecture a few nights ago from the ex. She admitted to me she could not see herself loving me again, like I still love her now, so any chance of a romantic future is shot.

Fucking ouch.

Gonna take time gettin over this one, shes the mother of my girl, not some bar whore I just met 3 weeks ago at some dive, you know? Who knows, stranger things have happened, but Im just gonna have to learn to let go I guess. She has NO time for a "new" man, nor does she want one, but if the day comes and I see Ava in the arms of another man around my age it will take everything Ive got to not floor him. Just the thought of that fills me with over protective rage...I dont expect any of you to agree or understand me there.

Towards the end of the day here, the weather turned out to be pretty nice and I think tomorrow its gonna be like 83 and sunny, so Ill just live out on the back deck for the most part.

Any of you boys have summer vacations planned yet? I know with the cost of gas, my summer plans have changed drastically, how about yours? I heard that Chicago has the worst prices in the Nation too! My Mom is planning a solo trip to the Chicagoland area come July via Amtrak and Im just gonna stay behind and hang here. Her car is a little 4 cyl. that isnt fast enough for me and my car is a 6 which eats up too much gas on the road, so her going alone by train will be cheaper in the long run. Plus, to be dead honest, I dont wanna see my family up there. Too bad none of you would be up to a jaunt over to Iowa while shes gone, you could crash here and we could go out on a couple deadly drinkin binges for a few days.

I went 3 weeks w/out a ciggy, but totally fell off the wagon. I suck. That shits hard to knock. Stupid fucking little stick. I cant believe my Dad has been gone over 7 months now! Sometimes it feels like days, other times it feels like years. Theres still a few certain things I cant do without being reminded of him and ending up all misty. Sue me, Im human, I cry. Hell, certain Patsy Cline songs can make me cry.

As of late, I havent followed much of the political front. This past week, I was supposed to go see Obama speak w/ the ex and Ava, but the ex "banned" me from going with them out of fear of me getting mouthy and becoming belligerent and I cant blame her. So, I had no one else to go with so I didnt feel like being part of a 10,000 crowd alone. I am also shocked that that dumbass Hillary will not quit! Hell, I love it, makes her party look like a bunch of idiots. Some are saying Barak is gonna pick that bitch as his runnin mate, but I dont see that happening either. I would go w/ Richardson or Edwards if I were him. I wouldnt be shocked to see her get a place on his cabinet, but VP? um, no. I dunno WTF Im gonna do. I agree w/ a lot of McCain has to say, but enough to elect him? I dunno. Same for Obama. I agree with him on a few things, but vote for him? NO damn way. Im a registered Independent this time around, so I may toss my vote away and just vote that.

So, fill me in, whats up boys???---

Guess Who?

Well as some of you already know sleep is in short supply around here these past several days. That is not to say that we don’t get any; it is however quite a surprise when we do. I think the key thing we learned from our first one is to sleep when the baby sleeps… some times at a moments notice and some times at odd hours. All said and done we feel very blessed to have this new person in our lives. So far even C says he loves her, although he did briefly renounce this new love when he saw her riding in his seat in the shopping cart yesterday.

Thursday PM

---Hi guys! I havent been up to too much lately, just trying to stay sane. To answer your question right off the bat Scott from a previous thread, no, I did not get to go see Obama. My ex "banned" me from going with them so I had no one to go with. She was afraid Id get real cynical and start to become a prick and shes prolly right and I wouldnt wanna act that way in front of the kid either, so no Obama for me.

The weather here has been up and down, today it is all clouds, yesterday it was all sun. I had gotten a nasty spider bite on my left ear and I got put on antibiotics for it, so thats almost all cleared up. The pills I were given were nasty. Everytime I burped, it tasted like rotten eggs! Yeah, nice side effect huh?

Hows everyone else doing?

Any big and wonderful plans for memorial day? None here for me, the ex and the kid will be up North with her family because she has some loose ends to tie up (still) concerning her Dad's passing. They wont be home until sometime Monday afternoon/evening. They'll be leaving Sat. evening as soon as the exs' shop closes.

I went and saw the latest installment of the Indiana Jones movies earlier today and it was pretty cool...lots of action.

Well, thats what Ive been up to, how about you guyses????---

Happy Mondays kids!!!

---Tomorrow night, Obama will be here in town and I think Im gonna go. My ex and the kid are going. My ex loves Obama, Im just gonna feel him out, see if I can get a vibe from him.

How was your weekend?

Looks like we have a rainy week ahead of us.---

---Today is World turtle day, so be nice to me!---

pic of the kid.

---She had her kindergarden "orientation" today. Yeah yeah make fun of me, I cried a tiny bit, sue me.

Heres a pic from her adventure today Tif. You had said you wanted to see her.

With out this little spark of hope in my life, I would have ended things a while ago.

All done!

---Well, today I got the last 2 teeth that needed to be pulled taken care of and I also got a filling, so Im all done with the hard part. Now I just gotta give my mouth about a month or so to heal up so I can be fitted for my partials. My mouth has been given another chance at life, its kinda cool.

Just got home from seeing my daughter for a little bit which is always nice, she was actually a pretty good girl tonight, but I could tell my ex had other things on her mind, like her business, so I got outta there while the gettin out was good. I havent eaten anything solid today cuz of the teeth thing and she was gettin ready to fix dinner so I cut out for that reason too. IM FUCKING STARVING! Thats OK though, I just took a shit load of pain killers so I will be a ball of mush within the next hour and the only thing Ill care about is my blanket and pillow.

Its not supposed to rain here for like the next 7 days, so Ill definitely get stuck cuttin the damn grass at least twice in there somewhere.

Got an email last night proclaiming Scott's newest family member! Shes beautiful Scott. Now youve really got your hands full, but I know if any man can handle it, YOU and YOU ALONE can. OK, maybe PJ would kick some butt at a task like that too, but you know what Im saying Scott, God Bless you and your new bundle of joy!

Cigarettes suck.---

La de da...

---Well, today was pretty boring. Didnt do too much out of the usual routine. It was cloudy here all day and about 60 degrees. As a matter of fact, I just came in from having one of those evil, nasty ciggys' and it was starting to rain.

Tomorrow should be my last dental appt. for the next couple of months. WOOHOO! The reconstruction of my mouth due to years of neglect, hard drug use and bad genes is finally being erased. I think, I think, tomorrow I have 2 fillings and 2 final extractions to endure and then I get to allow my mouth to heal for the next month and a half to two months, so after that they can set me up with a bunch of dental partials. Ive been going once every week now for a month, so Im pretty used to the poking the prodding and the Novocaine shots, nothing to it. I got a couple "special" pills that will easily kill the pain too, so I wont be doin any of the drivin. My dentist is cool enough, shes just has shitty "chair side" manner and shes kinda rough. But she does a damn good job when she working. Im thankful my Ins. is accepted by her in her private practice.

My ex is being a total bitch. Well, she was today. I dont put up with that junk either, woman or not, Ill tell her to shut the hell up and ease the fuck off. It usually doesnt do much, it just gets her to ignore me for a few days. But I did get an apology today out of her for her shit ass attitude from earlier. The damn broad is 38 years old, you would have thought by now that she would have figured out that drinking too much beer gives you a hangover the following morning. Fuck alcohol, I got enough problem with pills. Shit if I mixed half the pills I abuse w/ alcohol, Id be dead pretty fast.

If I didnt have Ava in my life, suicide would have been the way out for me years ago and I mean that. Im NOT looking for attention or high class drama, Im just expressing myself to you guys because I love you. Thank God for a gorgeous little baby girl in my life. Shes so perfect.

Hey Tif...Im trying to get the ex to send me a recent pic of her to me so I can post it here, so hang tight, it'll be up sooner than later.

Having a baby changes everything. Yet here I sit, still an addict. Its all too weird to me. Life. Wow.---

Psssst. Hey Tif.........

---How are you feelin?

Its been nice having you here in PJs' place since he is so darn busy. Not that I dont love the tall bastard any less, but its still a fresh change. He is one seriously focused man, I can remember how hard he worked at his b.s. high school jobs, I cant imagine the focus he must have with your business!

How is the biz? Seems like you guys are gettin slammed and if ya are and as long as you remain sane, I say GOOD FOR YOU!

Yeah Tif, I have a truckload of ink work done, but none on my feet, Ive heard it can hurt like a mofuckey, being so close to the bone and all. I like your idea though. I go to my chest and ribs for more work next and Ive been told by many people that ribcage work is the worst there is. No, biggie its only pain, find that spot on the wall and stare away, thats what I do if it gets too intense for me and there is nothing wrong with telling your artist to back the heck off for a minute either. Remember, YOU are paying him/her.

How are the 2 boys? Are they being good? Hows crazy pup Barley?

I didnt do much today, grilled some killer steaks for dinner which was nice. Got put on antibiotics for the nasty spider bite on my left ear that keeps changing shape and size.

Get back at me when you get a few ticks, I know youre around---

Something to think about!

> How to use your IRS Rebate check:

As you have heard, most of us will be getting a rebate check to
stimulate the economy.

If we spend the money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China.
If we spend it on gasoline, it will go to the Arabs.
If we purchase a computer, it will go to India.
If we purchase fruits & vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Honduras, & Guatemala.
If we purchase a good car, it will go to Japan.
If we purchase useless stuff, it will go to Taiwan.

None of which will help the American Economy.

We need to keep that money here in America . The only way to keep that money
here at home is to spend it at Yard Sales since those are the only businesses
left in the U.S.

---Sad, but mostly true---

Before and After

So why have I been so noticeably absent lately????

Well the short answer is “NESTING” (basically all those projects you want done before the baby comes).
April was a big fucking blur!
Starting with the door between the living room and family room that didn’t exist (a structural wall that consisted of double studs! I invited my dad over to help not knowing of the walls construction. After we had ripped of the wall board I said wow look double studs! I am glad I invited you to help me with this. He laughed and looked at me and said why did you invite me, I have never putt a door in a load bearing wall, much less one with double studs! Fear not we both felt confident we could install a proper header. The new door is beneath my bed and I sleep very well.
New hardwood floors in the living room and dining room.
Sanding and refinishing the remaining floors on the first floor to match the two new rooms including the kitchen, front hall, bath, three closets and the back hall. (what a fucking dusty mess!!!), repeat (what a fucking dusty mess!!!) Dust in every single oarfish and surface possible. I am still cleaning the mess from this project.
Modifying our existing kitchen cabinets
Lengthening and adding features to two (see up coming photos).
Tearing out and reconfiguring an existing desk (mine). I.E. a larger part of why I have not been any where near my computer is that I have no work station.
New counter tops (granite on two and butcher block on the island), (butcher block to arrive late next week).
New sink (all new plumbing bellow, including a complex connection of the RO.
system to our fridge,). (took 6 hours longer than expected).
New faucet. We had a minor issue with our faucet, and called KOHLER to resolve it. Their customer service Rocks!!!!!!!
Replaced all appliances (our new double oven weighed over 270 lbs in a tight space it took more than a week for my arms to feel normal again).
Paint kitchen cabinets (still in process)
Paint front hall, stairwell, and second floor hall. Including all doors and trim.
Paint hall of doors on first floor, including all doors and trim.
Paint babies room, Including all doors and trim. Add chair rail.
Paint Colin’s room. Add Chair rail

All this above and beyond my normal duties of child care meal planning, grocery shopping, cooking cleaning, ECT! In retrospect I should have found a place for my machine and offered you a daily update, except I had no energy to do so. As it is this list is simply the glossy easy looking top of a very difficult project.

Be clear I’m not complaining in any way… just offering an excuse for not showing up here now and again. I look forward to having many of you visit soon.

And as well it is fun to share now and again.

P is due on Tuesday!

Happy Mom's Day!!!

---First, I wanna take a minute to wish all the Offmen ladies who have little ones or bigger ones runnin around the house a HAPPY Mothers Day!

My Mom and I were gonna grill some killer steaks but its 40 damn degrees here, yeah, mid May and it 40! So, we are just gonna do a lunch thing and some restaurant, which will be fine. Gonna be 70 tomorrow though. We have a saying in Iowa, if you cant handle the weather, stick around for 5 minutes...it'll change.

I fell off the wagon with the no smoking gig. That shit is HARD to beat. Ive got a pack here, after that, Im gonna try again. My Mom and a few of my friends here are super pissed at me that I let it beat me.

Yeah, like previously kinda mentioned the weather here today is more or less terrible. I think its about 43 degrees right now. It rained here all night and I think you guys are gettin hit with what we had yesterday evening.

The fashion show I went to last night with the kid and the ex was more or less pretty lame...just not my thing. She has another one coming up which I will be going to because it is centered around all classic cars and shes gonna have like 20 models walking around dressed in mid 20-30s era clothing, becuz thats where all the cars will be from. THAT one should be a lot more fun, watching a bunch of terribly rich bastards show off their cars and get boners over some really hot ass models

Have a good one kiddies!---

Saturday

---Hello boys and maybe Tif, that is, if shes lurking, hehe...

Gonna go chill w/ my kid for the day in a little bit, should be a good time. Tonight I have to help out the ex with a fashion show she is partaking in. Shes not a model, shes just supplying some of the vintage wear.

It was pouring here earlier but now the sun is out, nice day ahead I guess, until we get more t-storms over night. We arent gonna do anything too special for Mother's Day, Im just gonna grill up some killer steaks and whatnots. I wont get to see the ex tomorrow, she'll be up North chillin with her Mama.

Well boys and maybe Tif, Im out. Have a great weekend and drop in to chat if ya get a few minutes.


And whats this I hear about Hillary now willing to walk away from the race if Obama gives her the VP nod? Screw that. That damn bitch will do ANYTHING to get back into the White House, its almost disgusting. Id pick Richardson, or Edwards as my runnin mate personally.---

Bye bye....

---Well, I know youre all busy and stuff, but I have a lot to do also with my Mom having just lost her hubby 6 mos. ago as of today!!!

I MAKE time to come to the blog. I used to love it here, it was great seeing a bunch of us back in touch on a day to day basis. But that just hit a brick wall out of nowhere. This place is dead. Real dead.

If someone else here wants the responsibility of stoppin in every day and leaving a short post or two, go for it, cuz, this bird has flown. I have no desire to "quit" OMI, but this blog just sucks now with ppl. being busy all the time and stuff. Its goin on 2 weeks now with- out a single post, but I havent done much in that time either!

Don't think twice its alright, I'm not really mad, but I'm definitely something.

Charmed Life...

---May 20th or the 21, I very well may be in town with or without seeing you bitches. Youve gotten your fair warning. Ill keep you updated, unless I get whisked away a few days earlier than that by some friends here.

Ness plays Chi. on those 2 nights, gonna try real hard to make it, cuz from what Ive heard and seen, its gonna be yet another stone age before a new Social D album comes out and I gotta try to see my main man in the meantime.

I dunno how things are gonna turn out, some of the boys from Nebraska may grab me away a few days early so we can go unleash hell on Chicago, so I dunno, Ill try to keep you posted I guess.---

Time Flies...

---Well, things here have been kinda crazy as of late. I just got back from doing the monthly grocery shoppin which always sucks the life outta me. Went and saw John McCain yesterday speak for a short bit, the only one I could get into that didnt cost mega dollars to people like you and I! And just like the rest of 'em hes full of it! No, Im kiddin, he had some good points and some bad, just like everyone else.

Finally found a cheap Fedora hat that looks decent on me and fits. Tried some new coffee called Black Silk from Foldgers I believe and I really like it....Ive also come to realize that the spell check from Blogger sucks really bad.

My major dental work continues and looks to wrap up next week. One word- OUCH! Im missin a whole bunch of teeth right now but they will all be replaced with partials within the next 2 months or so.

Ive switched over from Coke to Pepsi. Been forever since Ive smoked!!!!!

Whats up with you guys???----

picture time

roslyn chapel was very ornate

true random thoughts

Did the Clinton team hack the New Hampshire vote? Bradblog makes its usual strong case for electoral fraud, but I'm finding it hard to get my indignant mojo working. Because here's the thing: even when the system works as advertised it contemptuously defrauds and disenfranchises citizens who take their politics like detached spectators. Obama and Clinton are two contenders in a fight club of closed ranks and consensus brutality with interchangeable corners. The outcome of this contest for advancement upon our lives - American lives and everyone else with a seat at the arena - will mean just as much as who wins the Super Bowl or the Oscar, should we have any emotional investment in the outcome of those contests. Because the only change to be registered will be how we feel about it. That's supposed to be enough, and it's been that way long enough that for many, it is.

this is from one of new favorite blogs, http://rigorousintuition.ca/

random thoughts

been busy lately, but i did not forget scott's birthday. i just had to work a double in celebration of it. anyway happy b-day cousin. hope you had a happy one.

music, movies and broads....

---I am such the romantic schmuck. Ugh, Im so hopeless. I long for the days of yesteryear when it seemed like this great Nation payed more attention to these things through it's music and movies.

Most of the women of today are whores, the music of today's times suck and most movies arent even worth sitting through the previews.

When did we go wrong?

I cannot tell you the last good album I bought from today's time. The last decent movie from recent years that I have seen multiple times is Walk the Line. And the women, good Lord, talk about skanks, I want my old one back!

The death of a blog...

yes yes and yes, I know you are all busy with life's stuff but this place has been dead for days.

On a much brighter note, its been 3 days for me without a ciggy and I feel great!!!---

Ciggys, my mouth and sun records.....

---Well, its now been days since Ive has a ciggy and I fucking feel GREAT about it!!! I cant believe I let those little damn sticks control my life for 20 damn years before actually doing something proactive about it.

My mouth is healing up well, but I go to the dentist again next Tuesday for more mouth work. Its gonna be a long road

Watched "walk The Line" again today and lemme say I would have killed to have been Sam Phillips back when Sun was just a young, budding, record label. All that damn talent. You had Elvis, J. Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and so many more that had to yet move on to bigger labels at the time. Whew, that would have been awesome.

Speaking of awesome, I see that Mike Ness has added a 2nd night onto his stop in Chicago for his upcoming solo tour. You lucky bastards.

I just recently was finally able to get through the autobiography of J. Cash and he lived one hell of a life. It was a lot of stuff I had already knew, but man, was that boy ever fucked up on amphetamines. Staying up for 3 to 4 nights a week before totally crashing out, or taking a barbiturate or 5 to calm him down enough to sleep. I dont know how his body sustained such abuse from that one drug for song long. If youve seen the move "Walk the Line" with the part in Vegas when he is set to hit the stage and he comes out there looking like some possessed mad man ready to kill and thats a pretty good example of what meth does to you in today's times. Cash was seriously fucked up and he has the Carter family to thank for being his saving grace and pulling him out of the depths of hell.

So, whats up there?---

kinda sticky and rainy in the area.....

---Well, the rain we were supposed to get here in Des Moines isnt due in until 12 and the pain killers I have for my massive mouth work knock me out so Ill prolly sleep through them anyways.

The ex had a fashion show to help coordinate tonight. I prolly could have went if I whined a bunch, but its just not my thing.


Raccoon in the backyard the size of a brontosaurus right now, Im not go fuck with. Fat assed mask wearing SOB.

Talk soon boyos---


---and by the way.....I get pats on the back and runnin high-5s from you guys...I have NOT had a smoke in almost 3 days!!!!!!-----

Just saying Hello!!!

---Hi boys, whats going on over yonder?

Nothing special here. It was actually on the verge of being HOT here today, but it didnt quite make it. Im thinking by the end of this week, Ill be cutting the grass though, pending the rain moving in to the region never makes it this far.

Well, the major reconstruction of my mouth officially begins tomorrow Morning which Id be lyin my ass of if I said I was excited about it. Gonna be a lot of touch and go pain and soreness for the next few months to come. I mean, cant you tell I'm excited now? Got the IPod lined up with a ton of J.R. Cash, Social D.,The Clash, Buck Owens and many more of Country's great forefathers! Im ready. I just wish my damn dentist believed in using "happy gas" to hasten the procedure and give me more of a "I dont give a shit what you do next......attitude" The only thing I got going in is some pretty strong Valium, which I'm sure will help. NO, I AM NOT driving there, someone else is getting me to and fro. I'm not that much of an idiot anymore!

I just heard Hillary (in PA.) won out 40something% to 30something% over Barak. I dont think this saves her in any way, shape or form, but hell, a win is a win, right?


So, whats up???---

Sat. Evening Post...

---Well, how was everyone's Saturday? Mine was alright, hung out with the ex and the smalls at the exs' shop for several hours only to be annoyed by one of the people that rent space from her.

Shes what would be known as a "Fag Hag", you know, a straight girl that develops a heavy crush on a gay man. Gosh, that shit pisses me off, but thats for another story when Im feeling more argumentative.

Ive been home for a while now, just got done watching a pretty cool special on Johnny Cash and his Gospel Years. Great stuff.

I just wanted to pop on for a second or two to say hey now! Ima go have one last ciggy, then curl up with a good book, read for a couple hours, then its off to dreamland for me.

Hope you ALL had good Saturdays! Love all you guys, talk soon!---

Do I get a yes or a no?

---Im fucking tired as all hell, but I wanted you guys to chime in on this one before I turn things off for the night. It is kinda more than obvious that right now The Democratic Party is kinda tearing itself in half with this Billary vs. Obama action, my question to you is do you think its as bad as it looks and do you think its gonna effect the one who gets the nod come time? I mean Hillary has been asked by more than a few Dems now to lock up shop and go home, but she "plans" on staying in until the convention in August which is something I would think would totally make life for McCain super easy to win the election in the end. Ive seen worse in the Office than McCain, ya know?

What cha think? Im starting to feel that McCain walks away with it all because of Democratic Party division. A lot of Dems will NOT vote for Hillary under certain circumstances and I still say she has a small chance to get the nod in the end too.

This is all getting very exciting and there is NO WAY IN HELL I would ever wanna be a politician in today's times!---

random thoughts

this is josh looking at the model of edinburgh castle that is in edinburgh castle.

Question of the day

---Well, I still didnt get very many replies to "whats your fave. cover song, so Ill go with this...

Do you believe as humans we have "soulmates"? Someone we are destined to be with, a kindred spirit if you will? Do you think that life pulls us towards that special someone?


I used to think we did, but I dont buy into it anymore. I have fucking bent over backwards twice to try to get my ex to take me back home, but it just never works.Yeah, I come with my own set of problems but those are being worked on on a weekly basis. Im a damn good Father and I love that kid as if there is nothing else on Earth. My mind goes to 3 places as soon as I awaken every morning...to God and then to hope my ex and my girl are OK I believe the ex and I are the loves of each others lives, yes, but that doesnt havta make us "soulmates". Gosh, it gets intense sometimes though, on every level, lemme tell ya!

I think a soulmate may be an act of desperation too on one persons part also. Not good.---

Fave covers?

---I know Ive brought this up before, but I never got any replies to it....

Plain and simple...Whats your favorite(s) cover song?


I have to go with Social D's Ring of Fire. Their version is amazing, both on CD but especially live. I think this cover is priceless and it has the ability to turn any venue they play at into a frenzy. Out of all the times Ive seen them live ( which is in the double digits now), ring of fire has always been part of the encore and Ness dedicates it to his wife every time he plays it now, how cute, eh?

My 2nd pick is Hurt covered by J.R. Cash. Just the video alone is so deep. Cash wrote his own ending with that cover, he got lucky. He took that song and turned it into his final bow, his curtain call and his swan song. Cash's life was full of diff. types of hurt and this cover summed it up by saying that in one way or another, the man in black was always hurting.


How about you guyses---

I wonder as I wander...

PJB, Hows Tif? Shes been on and off my mind all day, how did surgery go brother?

more random thoughts

Sometimes I think this whole world is one big prison yard.
Some of us are prisoners, the rest of us are guards. - Bob Dylan


just found this while surfing.

random thoughts

this is the boys at roslyn castle, just down the hill from roslyn chapel. this was a thirty minute bus ride from down town edinburgh.

p.s. 37 doesn't feel old.

Busy, busy, Busy

Crap. Life sure does get busy.
-Tomorrow Tif goes in for a surgery, this ones pretty serios. She's supposed to expect to be laid up for 4-6 weeks.
-Life at the Shop is getting pretty busy. I just got invited to take part in an adult cycling class. very fun.
-Max got it in his head that he wanted to be in the Grade School Talent Show. He is Solo dancing to a song by the "They Might Be Giants" called "We're the Repacements" We are very proud of the HUGE balls it takes for a dude like Max to undertake this.... And more then a little nevous for him.
-I did recently take delivery of a Dell Vostro laptop, and the house has wireless WWW, so I am able to blog from home again, Kinda cool. I used part of the funds earned from the wine list consulting gig to pay for it, so it's paying for it's self, nice.
-Jake has decided that being 11 isn't much fun, so he is going to be 17, he is trying out swearing and talking back to see if it will get a cool reaction from his fairly cool parents. Its not.

hello again

hi guys been busy lately the tourist season is upon us. i did get a raise and promotion. i am the new bar manager, cool.

i am also going to finally post some of the scotland photos. from what i have been reading you all seem to be getting along well. carry on.

Monday

---Its Monday, oh boy! Im not a fan cuz everything I blow off over the weekend, I end up having to deal with on Monday mornings. Are you guys like that?

Procrastination rules.

Its cloudy and gloomy here. Pretty craptastic weather. Whats goin on with you guys? Hows this wine tasting thing going PJ?---

Late Sunday Post

---How ya'll doing? All good here. Was warm here ealier, almost 70, but now we have cloud cover. Whats your fave. Johnny Cash song? Mine is Cocaine Blues. Why? Cus in the deepest resses of my jaded mind, I can visualize me doing that. But right now, especially with kid? No way.....

PJB, I bet youre really startin to see business now, huh? This is when those waters really get tested.

Scott, Im glad youre feelin better too.---

Offmen Photo Archive 04.02.08

Hey Boy's sorry if I have not been around much this past week or so. C and I have been sharing a rather nasty bug. Fortunately we seem to be on the mend after 10 days of hacking our lungs out... never mind the sore throat, and fever that accompanied the coughing portion was the worst!

Seen above, Jason leaning on the back of Mike M's car on the infamous Offmen Camping trip of 1990.

Stupid teeth

---Well as most of you prolly DONT know, I was born without enamel on my teeth, its a weird genetic defect from my damn Dads side of the family, which means no enamel, means no protection for the tooth, so they decay and stain and an alarming rate. So, yesterday I went in for a checkup (1st one in prolly 10 years) and oh wow!


Need to have 6 teeth pulled, then they will be bleached to whiten them again and a couple of plates will be designed to put my fake tooth in position (I have one thats broken in half). So, Im expecting a lot of pain and a lot of pain killers to get through this. My dentist DOES NOT use happy gas to aid in the process, its just wham, get yer novocaine shots wait a bit for them to kick in and there we go, its pulling time.

Im gonna get some Valium from my regular dr. to help me ease into the process, make me a little high so I dont give a fuck what they are about to do to me, should be fun. I think I have to lose like 3 molars at the least.

Am I nervous? No. Am I dreading this? HELL YES. Its at times like this when I wish I was still a junkie so I could get the mad hookups with all kinds of crazy pills, but those days are over.

There is one tooth off to the right side that needs some kinda major work and Im gonna get a silver cap put on it and look like a total old school pimp. That I will havta pay outta pocket, Title 19 wont cover that, bit Ill just get on a payment plan and all will be well.

So, no dentures for me, just some work. The dentist said my teeth are in good shape minus the ones needing to be pulled or worked on.

I go back on the 29th to begin this project, they'll only pull 4 at a time due to discomfort. Well fuck, gimmie a decent pain killer like Oxycontin and rip me apart and get it done I dont care!

Its raining and about 35 degrees here today, very yucky.

Have a good one boyos---