I like the first time you go into a restaurant and the waitress remembers your drink order. I'm not sure I like it so much when you go and they remember your food order. How much of a creature of habit are you when you have the same thing every time. We went out tonight and the waitress remembered our drink order for the first time and it was kinda cool. When we go to Mikes for breakfast, there's a waitress there who remembers our food order every time. Breakfast is cool but when I lived in Charlotte, I had several places where they remembered my whole order including the local Greek joint where the owner recited everything I ever ordered before I could even decide. I miss The Parthenon. I've heard it's changed owners and it's just not the same.

Thank you notes, not necessary, but at least a call or an e-mail. I send my niece and nephew birthday stuff every year and last year, they didn't even respond. I sent them some gift cards last week and I haven't heard anything yet though I still think they could use some more time. When I was little, I never got any presents from any extended family. We just didn't expect it. I do it because I want to, not because I have to, but I expect a thank-you. If nothing this year, it's nothing next year. My mom would have made me thank someone if they sent me something.

..........

Last week, one of the big stories was when part of a ramp leading from The Dunn Memorial Bridge to The Empire State Plaza fell a few feet from it's support. It's 90 feet in the air so it could have been tragic. The only driver to jump to broken section immediately called 911 and police shut down the bridge pretty fast. She seems pretty traumatized, I think she just needs to get over it. What bugs me is one of the news stations this morning referred to her as a hero. Come on, she dialed 911, she didn't pull anyone out of a burning building. What constitutes a hero these days is getting broader and broader.

We live in a bat area. There was a bat in the house the other night and it was a lot bigger than the ones last year. We're not sure where they're coming in at but I know they have plenty of opportunities. I simply walked it upstairs into a bedroom, closed the door and opened a window screen. After circling a dozen times, it flew out. I did it like a man, but I wonder, not if I would scream like a girl, but how loud I would scream like a girl if it made one false move. Am I a hero?...

Don Knotts just doesn't sound like he's doing to well.

..........

11 August 2005

Today's the first day I've had off in 10 days and I'm calling it 'ass sitting day'. I did fix the grill because grilling rocks and I cleaned off the porches out of an obligation to do something, but mostly, I just sat on my ass. We got a new computer last weekend and today was the first day I've really had any time or inclination to work on it. Let's see, I took two hours trying to install my camera and looking for XP patches while the whole time I was using the web cam software disc. After that, I took another hour trying to figure out why my yahoo page kept making me sign in. It turned out I had book marked the sign in page rather than the my yahoo page. By the way, after I spent two hours trying to install my camera, I noticed there was a smart media and compact flash slot on the computer. I didn't have to install anything. Earlier in the week, I tried to open the garage door with the TV remote. I aimed the TV remote at the garage door and expected it to open. It didn't.

My nephew is getting married next month. I used to do the Pee Wee Herman dance with him when he was a kid. We're taking the opportunity to head down to North Carolina for the week. A little family, some beach action, and some Duncan time on the side. I'm so psyched.

Today in the news: A guy picks up two prostitutes and goes through the drive-thru ATM to pay them. They then robbed him and slit his throat. They were caught ten minutes later, two blocks away, trying to steal a car. The guy picking up the prostitutes is then on the news being shown being treated. What a great day it was for him.

..........

Just thought I'd give you a view of the window box I built this spring. It's in full force right now. That makes me happy. A lot of sucky work days lately. Speaking of work, I was talking with this new guy at work from West Virginia who just transferred up when a "juicy hot chick" walked by. He commented on it and I said I really hadn't noticed because I was into guys. I thought it went over his head because we continued our three way conversation. He then said...

"So you're a member of the family?"

"What?"

"You said you were into guys. Down south, being a member of the family means you're gay."

"I'm from the south and I've never heard that before."

"I used to live with three drag queens and know a lot of gay jargon."

I guess my gay lexicon needs improving.

..........

17 August 2005

As I'm walking down the street today, I hear the approach of gospel music, hillbilly gospel music to be more specific. It's coming out of the loud speaker (bullhorn) attached to the top of a very colorfully decorated truck. It's the anti-abortion mobile. It must be coming from the anti-abortion office conveniently located next door to planned parenthood.

I've never had an abortion nor impregnated anyone to the best of my knowledge so surely he couldn't have anything against me. No wait, the anti-abortionist mobile also hates the fags. No wonder he wouldn't give me a kissy.

He sure did spend a lot of time painting the word HOMOSEXUALITY all the right colors as opposed to the time spent on AMERICA. Shouldn't America be red, white, and blue...not red, PINK, and blue?

What do you think is in the back of that truck?

I'm sitting here watching an old Star Trek: The Next Generation. That show must have had some of the best season cliffhangers ever. I've just been suckered into watching it again and I've seen it twenty times I'm sure. Yea, it's one of the prettiest days of the year and I'm watching TV. Maybe jeeping later. It's pretty much drying out from yesterdays surprise rain gusher.

..........

20 August 2005

In two weeks, we'll be sitting in North Carolina. Unfortunately, it'll be at a wedding, but after that, we're home free. I'm focused.

..........

22 August 2005

The finale of Six Feet Under may have been one of the best episodes ever. I'd almost grown tired of the show but it did start getting better at the end and the last episode wrapped of a lot of issues. The tears were coming at the end. It also made me think how much I miss my brother. I'll get to see him next week as I make fun of him as I speculate  that it won't be long before he's a grandfather.

..........

23 August 2005

I'm trucking down the road today going 70 MPH by myself. The windows are open and the weather is beautiful. At the top of my lungs I am singing, "I like my truck and I cannot lie" instead of the actual lyrics for Baby's Got Back"...

The rest of the day I was walking around the city taking pictures for a page on this site that I may actually finish someday. The Stardust Motel still exist and pretty much looks the same as it does above.

..........

My day off today was spent fixing the garage door, ONCE AGAIN! Of course it's never the same thing twice, it's always something different. I bring my garbage to the street and there are plenty of hot college running boys going down the street. I guess things aren't so bad.

How old is Pat Robertson anyway? It seems like he's been around forever. Just when you don't hear anything out of him for a while, he says something stupid. He hates the homos, God ain't gonna help you if your a Jew, but please stand back if you're Muslim. He gets his audience to pray for vacancies on the supreme court and waa-la, two years later, his prayers are answered. I should be wondering how people like this continue to pull in the millions of dollars but I don't. I have an aunt and uncle who I'm sure would have no problem sending in a check because they are scared of people coming in who are different from themselves. Only their opinion is right and everyone else is out to destroy the American way and then the world. And by the way, taking somebody out means kill them.

..........

26 August 2005

I got a promotion today but I haven't decided if I'm happy about it or not. Sure it's a good opportunity and everything but it's not the job I was after. I don't mind the challenge but it's not the challenge that I've been prepping myself for. I'll make it work in the short term but I'm not sure how'll the long term will work out...

I just picked up a calculator I've had about 18 years. I know because I got it free when I joined a travel club that long ago. I've replaced the battery once. I took out the battery today and the Duracell expired in January 1999. Just an uninteresting fact for your day.

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop and why does Andy Dick still exist? We just don't know the answer to either of those questions but is it true that at one time we could collect certain Tootsie Pop wrappers and send them in for stuff???

Sorry, I have to get back off the floor as I'm watching The Pamela Anderson Roast on Comedy Central. Funny, funny, funny. Oh, I'm on the floor again.

..........

27 August 2005

I think somebody got thrown out last night...

..........

29 August 2005

(CNN) -- Flooding expected from Hurricane Katrina could wreak catastrophe on New Orleans, overwhelming its water and sewage systems, damaging its structures and leaving survivors in a bowl of toxic soup, a top hurricane expert said Sunday.

It's actually pretty early in the morning as I find myself not being able to sleep. It's pretty unusual but I woke up about 4am thinking about Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans is one of my favorite cities and I'd hate to see it destroyed. Besides that, there's no telling what the human toll will be if New Orleans takes a direct hit. Right now, the storm seems to have taken a slight turn east and it has been downgraded to a category 4. Still, the eye of the storm is set to slam southeast Louisiana shortly.

Where else but in New Orleans would the officials say at a press conference "Haul ass and get out of here".

..........

29 August 2005...Later man

(CNN) -- Clockin' expected from Hurricane Katrina could wreak catastrophe on New Orleans, overwhelm'n its wata n sewage systems, ballin' its structures n leav'n survivors in a bizzy of toxic soup, a top hurricane expert said Sunday . Throw yo guns in the motherfuckin air.

It's actually pretty early in tha morn'n as I find me not being able ta sleep. It's pretty unusual but I woke up `bout 4am think'n `bout Hurricane Katrina , ya feel me?. New Orleans is one of mah favorite hoodz n I'd hizzy ta see it destroyed with my hoes on my side, and my strap on my back. Besides thizzat, there's no tell'n wizzle tha human tizzay will be if New Orleans takes a direct hit in tha mutha fuckin club. Right now, tha stizzorm seems ta hizzle taken a slight turn east n it has been downgraded ta a category 4 but real niggaz don't give a fuck. Still, tha eye of tha stizzay is set ta slam southeast Louisiana shortly.

Where else but in New Orleans would tha officials say at a press conference "Haul ass n git out of here".

My previous entry, courtesy gizoogle.com.

Man, I'm a gangsta now.

..........

31 August 2005

We have George Burns to thank for discovering the beautiful Ann Margaret. I ran across her in an old movie the other day and thought I'd post some pics to get your mind off the mess going on in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.

Between the hurricane and the aftermath, gas prices, and several other things, I feel I need to do something. You know, fill some great humanitarian need. I guess I'll send some money when I figure the best place to send it but I see so many hopeless people...it's very heartbreaking. Powerlessness, grievous, sad, agonizing, deplorable, brutal, poignant...

I'm going on vacation.

..........