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3 February 2001
It's 28° and I'm about to start my road trip
around Charlotte. Today I plan to get some pictures of my city to
post and maybe a small bit of history. There is really not a lot
of history in a city this young but maybe I'll get some good pics.
I also talked to one of my oldest friends Joe yesterday. I haven't
seen him in about 6 months so we're gonna hang out tonight.
..........
4 February 2001
 
Good: Yesterday I started my "great
exploration" of my city. I will be taking a lot of pictures
and plan on building a page, it's now or never you know. It's hard
to believe the things you drive by all the time and don't notice.
I visited our oldest cemetery and found the founder of Charlotte, Thomas
Polk. Not him mind you but his burial plot. I wonder what he
would think if he saw this city today. He would probably think the
same things people think now. We tear down too much. The
past few years things seem to be changing though with an emphasis on
older buildings, not just the "magnificent" ones. All
and all, he'd like it.
Good: Got to see my old friend Joe last
night, not just him mind you, but his whole family, and I now have a web
cam so I can actually see Duncan when I talk to him. I'm going out
there in a few weeks, did I mention that?
Bad: I wake up and learn that another
military plane has gone down in North Carolina and we've lost two more
men serving our country.
Bad: No more Star trek: The Next
Generation on Sundays
Good: The Three Stooges on
Sundays
..........
Later....
Out running the police can really take a lot
out of you. My heart is still racing. This after telling my
16 year old nephew today the consequences of speeding. I'm really
a good boy but when I get behind the wheel, I just want to get where I'm
going. Don't get in my way! OK! Green means go,
slower traffic keep right, that's all I ask, just the basics. I'm
calmer now. My insurance will stay low. I will not have to
go to traffic school.
Speaking of my nephew, it's so cool when he
tells me a secret that I'm not supposed to tell to anybody. I
won't tell.
..........
8 February 2001
Ya know, I like to keep up with what's going on
this great Earth of ours, however, I hate the news. I usually
don't give much credibility to our local news stations here but I heard
a trailer for a story today and made a special effort to watch it
because it was something that interested me. It was a one minute
story that had absolutely nothing to do with what the promo. I
don't watch this newscast much anyway, definitely won't start now.
On the good side, Duncan got his web cam up and
running so I can actually see him, he can actually see me. I love
technology. I love police videos.
..........
10 February 2001
What a beautiful day. Shorts, day
three. I was up early to work on my Charlotte page, out taking
many pictures, seeing the city, discovering many things I haven't seen
before or in a long time. It was really fun, the kind of thing
Duncan would have been in to. I miss Duncan even though I talk to
him every day, and even see him via web cam now. At the end of the
month, I'll be seeing him in person. :)
He got his car shipped out this week so he's
driving in style again, or at least style for him. It is a
Dodge. They were supposed to call me to make an appointment to
pick it up but they didn't. Instead, they called me at work and
said they were ready. It was supposed to arrive there on Monday,
it won't. They called him yesterday evening, a couple of hours
before his weekend getaway flight to San Francisco was
supposed to take off. His car would arrive tomorrow (today).
Be there with cash in had to receive your car or else. No vacation
for Duncan. Still stuck in Salt lake City.
Speaking of sucking, the Jeep is outside
sitting with a container under it to keep the oil from dripping on the
asphalt. Maybe pouring is a better word. I already had an
appointment next week because of it's loss of power. I guess I
might as well say good-bye to the tax refund that was credited to my
bank account yesterday and be thankful for on-line filing. I love
my Jeep but maybe I love my truck more right now.
It's still a beautiful day outside, my parents
are roaming around the city some where, maybe they'll stop by. In
the mean time, I'll take the dog to the park and enjoy the
weather. Shorts today, winter storm tomorrow. It's North
Carolina.
Also, congrats on the new house Michael &
Lara. It's great. It's in one of my favorite
neighborhoods. I like it.
..........
11 February 2001
Some interesting factoids I dug up this
morning. I knew there was a lot of money in Charlotte, but it
really surprises me that the cost of living is so low considering the
cost of housing around here. Oh well, it may have no interest to
you but I like numbers.
Demographics
Charlotte
Salt Lake City
- City
Population
526,200
174,700
- County
Population
648,300
848,300
- Metro
Population
1,399,200
1,265,100
- Median Household
Inc.
$40,357
$29,428
- Unemployment
Rate
2.9%
3.4%
- Crime
Index
241
175
Climate
- Winter Temp
Range
30/62
19/44
- Spring Temp
Range
48/86
31/72
- Summer Temp
Range
63/89
55/92
- Fall Temp
Range
33/72
31/79
- Annual
Precipitation
43"
16"
- Annual
Snowfall
5"
57"
Cost of Living
- Cost of Living
Index
92.77
100.87
- 3 BR house
price
$130,000
$160,000
- 2 BR apartment
rent
$700
$795
- Property Tax
Rate
1.26%
1.24%
- Sales
Tax
6.0%
6.125%
Major Employers In Charlotte: First
Union, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Bank of America, Carolina's
Healthcare, Duke Energy, US Airways, Novant Health, State of NC, City of
Charlotte, U.S. Government
Major Employers In Salt Lake City: State
of Utah, University of Utah, First Security Corp., Granite School Dist.,
Pacific Corp/Utah Power, Jordan School District, Smith Food & Drug,
Wal-Mart, Delta Airlines, ECMI Corp.
Here's some GOOD NEWS! Star Trek: The Next
Generation is back on this morning. You know, word around the
city is they have a idiot for a manager at that station. Some
of the mistakes I've seen lately, I believe it.
..........
12 February 2001
How do you know you're in the South? When
you walk into Wendy's and order the Carolina Classic, a staple at
Carolina Wendy's outlets for many years. You wouldn't have to go
far to get looked at like your crazy when you order one.
How do you know you're in the South? When
you walk into Wendy's and order a Carolina Classic and the old lady
cashier says in her loudest southern accent, "OOOOOOhhhhh
Honey! You must not have been in here for months
child. The day they did away with that burger was the day
they did away with the goodness above. You know honey, a lot of
people says it gave em gas."
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16 February 2001
Ah yes, the Jeep is back on the road after
engulfing a third of my tax refund. That's OK because I can now go
fast again and it wasn't near as bad as I had thought it might be.
It was 74 degrees today but I had to work. Tomorrow I'm off but it
will only be 54. That's also OK because my best friend is
coming up and were taking a road trip to the NC
Transportation Museum. This is cool because, one, I like that
kind of stuff, and two, may dad used to work at this place 50 years ago
when it was a railroad repair facility. Maybe other cool places
will be close at hand to stop or visit.
Thanks Mike for the South Park
calendar. It's Sweeeeet.
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17 February 2001
An awesome time was had by all at the Transportation
Museum today. It only strengthened my resolve to have a den
where my TV, computer, and fish tank are located. In this
room, I will have a train and real road signs and maps on the
walls. One day.......
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18 February 2001
Today has been just a do nothing kind of
day. Nothing much accomplished except a little work and the
cleaning of the old fish tank. I remember when I first started
keeping fish, I was the perfect little fish keeper. Now I feed
them and clean the filter every now and then. This morning when I
woke up, there was a loud noise coming from the aquarium. The
water temperature was 90 degrees. $25 and a new heater later, the
fish are happy again, no harm done. Sometimes just watching the
fish and listening to the bubbles can lower the blood pressure and make
you feel better. Most of the fish are 8 years old, I got them when
I moved in here, the longest I've ever kept fish.
Duncan visited San Francisco
this weekend so he's having a good time, getting away from his new
job. He's on his way back to Salt Lake City now ready for another
week at the grind stone. Safe trip baby.
..........
Later Sunday
If I didn't have a mom, I told Brenda she would
be my mom. Don is Brenda's significant other and has been
struggling with cancer for the past year. Don died today. I
am truly sad. I love Brenda.
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21 February 2001
It’s about 3:30 in the morning and I just can’t
sleep. Against my better judgment I got out of bed. Tonight, or
yesterday evening rather, I visited the funeral home to see Don. I guess
I’m just putting too much thought into this but I’m not only sad but
mad. Don was too young to die. He was only 45. Brenda has had to
struggle too much. This is the third husband she has lost and she has
just turned 50. Don was kind and gentle and had one of the best senses
of humor of all the people I know. I know so many sons of bitches that
wouldn’t be missed by any, I can’t help but to think bad thoughts
about them right now. I guess bad things happen to good people.
On the good side, I will actually get to see
Duncan on Saturday. Just three more days. It has been a month
since I've seen him in person.
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22 February 2001
Tomorrow it'll be 64°.
Yesterday I went to the funeral of a good
man. Way too young to die. The funeral was packed, that was
good. The preacher spent the first 10 minutes talking about Don,
that was good. He then explained there wasn't time to let people
get up and talk about Don, that sucked. The next 45 minutes were
spent trying to convert people. He knows he has the power because
out of respect for the family, nobody is going to get up and
leave. This is the second Baptist funeral I've ever been to and
the other one was the same way. You know, now I know why they
think the homosexuals try to covert people.
Sorry for the brevity, but I must go to the
Dale Earnhart memorial service now to try to recruit 5000 pretty redneck
boys.
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23 February 2001
Tomorrow, Salt Lake City, here I come.
Get to see Dunks for the first time in more than a month. Work's
been sucking lately so the vacation will also be great. I'm so
happy I can't stand myself. Weird thing is, it's become highly
unlikely over the last few days that I'll even be moving out
there. He will most likely be moving back east very soon.
Job opportunities will bring him to Raleigh, NC. Strange but
true., the saga continues.......
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