Dude.. that's Rude

Sitting next to a girl that didn't have earphones for her DVD player showed me a new kind of rude.
We were on a regional jet, so the outside noise was a little louder than usual, which in turn caused our deaf little passenger to crank her DVD player so we all could enjoy a move only she could see.

No care for others.
No idea that she was not the only one on the plane.

Some people's kids.. I swear.

Applebees

I just ate a piece of leather that was on the menu claiming to be 'Applebee's Choice Sirloin'.
Thank God for Killians Red.. it helped.
:)
Remind me not to go to chain restaurants anymore.
Sheesh.

Chips Di Morte

There is a style of chip out there that will drain all the fluids out of our body and shrivel your tongue to resemble a sidewalk worm on a hot summer day.

"Salt and Vinegar"

Chips that Kill

Homeless and Rejected

A clean cut white guy approached me on the city street today as I walked to my office.
He said,

“Please,
Please Help Me.
I am homeless and need something to eat.
I am sorry for having to ask you for money.

My wife took everything from me,
And now I have nothing left.

Please.”

I gave him all the money that was in my wallet.

Marshmallows

A friend of mine told me something when I left the Navy.
He said, "Mike, watch out... don't let yourself turn into a marshmallow".

I laughed.

Now I know what he means.

Lean and mean has been replaced... I really need to workout.
:(

Post Coffee Blues

Woof.
I am wiped out.
I didn’t think coffee had an effect on me any longer.
Boy was I wrong.
I had a fairly late meeting last night and then went out for coffee at Starschmucks afterward. I downed the last of a monster Cup o’ Joe about 10:45PM.
I knew something was up as I drove home buzzing.
The books next to my bed got lots of use as I read chapter after chapter and even switched books often. Usually I can’t make it 15 minutes reading at night.
No restful sleep.
Psycho dreams.
I was somewhat relieved when morning struck… but am wiped out this fine Friday.
A good workout at the Gym would probably do me some good... but I haven’t been there in a long time either.
Woof.

This too shall pass.....

Friend in Need

Howdy Friends and Family,
I know that my close friends read this blog fairly regularly... so I ask you all for prayer for a friend of mine.
I worked with him for 9 years and actually miss his whit and humor now that I have started my own business. I certainly don't see him and the others at the firm as often as I wish.
Anyway...
His name is Kurt and his wife is seriously ill and in the hospital.
I will not give you the details, but please know that he dearly loves her and wants her to live - and she needs your prayers.
We know that God hears our prayers and according to His will, he governs all life. Please seek Him on her behalf that He would have mercy and allow her to return to full health. Pray also that Kurt would find comfort and rest thru all of this.
Thanks for your friendship and devotion to the KING.
Mike

Cold Pizza

I figured that cold Chinese food was as good as cold Pizza and was wrong.
A couple bites in I didn’t get the warm fuzzies that I get when eating icy cold left over pizza straight from the frig.
So, I popped my noodles into the microwave for 2 minutes and ate Chinese Food ala Magma. Nearly burned my tongue off.
I chased it with some weak tea that you get in the Chinese restaurants.
You know the type – they dip a tea bag into a pot of water for maybe 3 seconds and serve it to you with a smile.
Good move.
All in all, I discovered something new about life… and can pass it on to my kids.

Boulder Cigarette Man

I was in Boulder Colorado the other day…

After a week of enjoying the gorgeous weather and beauty of Boulder, I had to catch a plane at an ungodly hour – 6am… at the Denver airport.
The drive is only about 45minutes, but one must also plan for plenty of time getting thru security etc. so… I had to leave Boulder at 3:30am.
Woof.
I was on the curb outside the hotel waiting for my shuttle and a guy was out wandering the streets. As I watched, I observed him checking in planter beds and along the street edge for cigarettes. He picked up a few and looked at them closely to see if they had any tobacco left for smoking, and then tossed them back down in disappointment.
When he got close enough to me to ask, he did. “Excuse me, you got a cigarette?” Of course I didn’t and I glanced at my feet and saw a couple of choice butts laying there.
I said, “There are a couple over here that look like they have a drag or two left on them.”
He quickly said, “Oh, no thanks… I’ve got some in my bag.”
I don’t think he did.
He wandered on, crossed the street and continued to check the planter beds… and disappeared into the dark Boulder morning.

Funny what a good addiction will do to you.

Jerry Wegener – July1961–Oct 2005

USNavy Seal, Friend, fellow heir to the kingdom of heaven.

I can still see his happy face across the table at Christmas time last year.
Crazy to think he is gone.
I just got home from the funeral.
When I heard the news of his death it didn’t seem real. I wanted to call him on the phone. I still want to.
I hugged his wife and kids and will see them next week.
I saw Jerry one last time and it was clear he wasn’t in his HUGE body anymore.
He professed Christ as his Lord and Savior and I know he is face to face with his maker right now. He was a great husband, dad and friend.
Hundreds of people are going to miss him.

Seems like only yesterday we were carrying a 300 pound inflatable raft on our heads in HELL WEEK… That’s when the instructor wasn’t IN the boat.
Hah.
He and I went thru BUD/S (USNavy Seal Training) in Coronado California together back in the 80’s. Class 131. We laughed recently at the hallucinations we had when deprived of sleep for a week and all the crazy things we did together… and now he’s off to a better place.

Good Bye my friend – I loved you like a brother and am going to miss you.

This was a little wake up call for me to dig-in and really spend quality time with friends HERE and NOW for we never know when it’s our time to go.

When your number comes up… you check OUT… and you check IN to eternity.

The Geckos are Gone

We let them go.
They were not going to make it in our death trap of an aquarium.
I took them down to the local pet store and due to their condition; the guy didn’t want to take them.
He suggested taking them to a vet for shots.
He said that the shots could probably cost about $40 and the whole visit with paperwork another $40… per lizard.
Lizards.
My kids and I had a little vote and we decided that rather than let them sit in the tank and die slowly… we would let them go.
Yep.
We took them out in the woods behind our home where there was a nice wood pile and plenty bugs for them to eat… and we let them go.
It was raining so we didn’t stick around to see how they liked their new environment.
Sure hope all is well for them.
All in all... I figure they are in a better place.
:)

Google Earth

Google Earth is totally blowing me away.
It's got no real use yet... for me... but it is totally amazing.
I have been looking at all the 'sites' and Wonders of the World from HOME!
This is going to KILL tourism for the cheap skates... and the simple minded no-money-to-travel guys.

One question: Does anyone know the best lat and long to view the Great Wall of China?
I've followed it all across China and can't get a good view of it.
It's supposed to be the only Man-Made structure visible from space... but a good view of it eludes me.

And is there a good place over Africa where you can see a herd of Elephants?

Lemme know if you do.

If you haven't downloaded Google Earth yet and looked around with a fast connect on the internet... DO IT!

My Boss is a Rat

My Boss is a total Rat.
He breathes down my neck constantly.
Like a vulture - hovering and spying and making a complete nuisance of himself.
That's what he is... a vulture rat!

It used to be I could blog or sketch, surf the web and enjoy life, but now with the Rat constantly watching I feel stifled.
I wish he would let up or fire me so I could get back to my life...

.. oh the perils of being self employed.
:)

Camping – Ate A Snake

We went camping in the Blue Ridge Mountain last weekend. It was awesome.
Gorgeous trees and hiking trails, streams and lakes.
We really had a great time.
My kids ran town to the nearby stream and jumped in for a swim while I set up the tend and got the campsite all ready.

It wasn’t 20 minutes they were back at the campsite carrying a snake.

My son had spotted it in the stream (only a few feet away) and threw a rock on it’s head… killing it dead.
I took this as an excellent opportunity to teach my kids about some of the greater things in life… eating snakes.

I showed them how to skin it, gut it, fry it, and eat it.
It wasn’t the biggest snake, so we each only got a few bites… but it was great!
It’s been a long time since I did that… a long time.
We didn’t keep the skin.. which would have been great.

Some critter in the woods is enjoying the entrails and skin right now.
:)

Surfing Rhode Island

My wife bought me a surf board on my birthday.
What on earth was she thinking?
I can’t surf.

Then I remembered a line from ‘Apocalypse Now’…
“Are we gunna fight or are we gunna surf?”

So I graciously accepted the gift and have been trying to learn since.
Sheesh… it ain’t easy.

Last week we took a vacation trip to Rhode Island to see some old friends.
Well, they aren’t old, it’s just been a long time since we saw them last.
Anyway, we took two days of the 5 and went to the beach – Narragansett Beach.
Awesome waves DUDE!
The typical set was 4 or 5 four foot waves followed by 2 or 3 eight footers!
The bigger ones kick our butts, but we rode the little ones… totally fun.

My 14 year old son is a natural and catches nearly every wave he tries for.. me on the other hand am still playing a balancing game on the board!
I ate more sand in those 2 days than I did in a week of SEAL Training.
I think the SEAL TEAM should teach guys to surf.
I really do.

Surf On.

Geckos on the Edge

My leopard Geckos are dieing.

They are not shedding properly and their eyes are covered with skin.
Can’t see means can’t find food.
Can’t find food means can’t eat.
Can’t eat means can’t survive.
I have been force-feeding them food (I hold them heads-up toward the ceiling and they open their mouths, where I drop in a nice juicy waxworm).
But they have been refusing these lately.. and I foresee a short pier and a long walk on the horizon.

:(

Walking the Dog

You gotta walk yer dog at least twice a day.
Rain or shine.
If ya don’t… you will be cleaning up the mess.

Fairly straight forward... right?!

The other day… we set out around our typical ½ mile loop.
I go for a daily bike ride for exercise, so this loop is just for poop.

I call it the poop walk.

There is an island between two lanes of traffic nearby where we aim.
It’s the neighborhood pooping grounds and since it rains often enough (especially here in May/June), no one picks up the droppings.

Anyway..

On the poop walk we came across a huge black rat snake smashed into the street which the dog promptly grabbed and carried along for the ride!

She even carried it home and chewed on it in the backyard for a couple days… and eventually ate it.

I know, I know… what kind of a dog owner would let their dog chew up and eat a snake.. well, I figured it has just as much nutritional value as the 50lb bag-o-beef-flavored-cardboard-chunks in the garage… and probably tastes better too.

We’ll never know.
:)

Amazing Mountains… Amazing.

I was in Boulder a couple weeks ago and got this wild hair to climb a mountain.
You know what I mean.
It’s the same feeling runners get when it’s pouring down rain…. Gotta run.

Standing in downtown Boulder I could see a clear view of the Flat Irons.
I ran and got on my running shoes (I don’t travel anywhere without them) and got a lift to a park called Chataqua. It’s right at the base of the mountains.

I was amazed at how lousy I felt after the first mile… Being from the coast of Virginia and living at sea level certainly put me at a disadvantage, but the mountain was there… so I couldn’t stop.

The run turned into a jog and then to a hike… and at the end into a climb.

It was simply gorgeous. I could see the whole world up there.

I climbed to within 50 feet or so of the top of the first Flat Iron and had to stop.
I was to a point that unless I had someone with me and some climbing gear, it was going to be dangerous. So I sat down on a small ledge with the warm sun shining on my face and took in the mile high air.

It was thin and crisp.

Surprisingly the only wildlife I saw were some chipmunks on the trail… which was a breeze coming DOWN!

I jogged all the way back to the hotel and felt like a million bucks.
Amazing Mountains… Amazing.

Phil Keaggy

I just saw Phil Keaggy in concert.
That guy is the most amazing guitar player in the world.
Seriously.
He blew the socks off any guitar playing I have ever heard before.

He had some sort of mixer that recorded segments of his music and then played/looped it back when he pressed a button with his foot. He then recorded over that and then again over that. In the end he must have had 20 different sounds/voices playing.. which sounded like he had a stage full of people.. but it was just HIM. He had full control of turning them off and on again to create some of the best guitar music I’ve ever heard.

Inconceivable.

Phil.. you rock.

If you EVER get a chance to hear him in concert.. do NOT hesitate to go.
This kind of music doesn’t come around very often… once in a lifetime I expect!
:)

Old Stomping Grounds

Just did a SketchUp Training session at the firm I used to work at... Cranberry, Heavens, Right-o and Platypus Architects.

It was really fun to see those guys again.
Most of them were surprised to see me step in the door.
They knew I had a side-gig with SketchUp since I had told them even before I left… but it still caught some of them off their guard.

In fact, someone (no one really knows who – nor would tell if they did) was actually MAD that I came and gave the training. That same someone called Boulder CO. (headquarters of @Last Software) and told them off.
Reasons unknown... personal problems if you ask me.
Weird.

I gave them the best training they could get for SketchUp and for some reason someone didn’t appreciate it.

Some peoples kids.

I read a scripture this morning that reminded me of the whole situation:
Jesus said, “A prophet is not welcome in his own hometown”.
Luke 4:24