Funny Picture

Well it looks like my free neo counter trial ran out. Not sure it is worth paying money for it. It really doesn't provide any great service that their free replacement can't cover... other than looking cool and green and spherical and being click-able and showing what city people were from and how many people were currently logged on to the blog.... yep Pretty sure I'll being paying money for a stupid counter.... I am an idiot

Going to Iron Man in a few days at Billy Joe's will put up my thoughts on it shortly after. Hoping for good things.

This one has been floating around, but I get a laugh every time. What did we all do before the internet and Photoshop?

Click the Photo to make larger and easier to read:

Billy Joe's Karaoke Night

After a very, very long work week it was a nice Friday night out for me. Finished of my Summer beer tour at Old Chicago. Remember Think Globally, Drink Locally. Then it was off to Billy Joe's for some karaoke singing. I think a good time was had by all. The Fabulous Doak Sisters were there. And Thad and Monica and Trent and Zac and Cam and a bar-full of singers. Some were good, some were great but everyone had a fun time. Until some dude blow chunks in the urinal, sing and floor of the men's room. Who ever you are dude. Not cool, not cool at all.

I digress, below are some photos from the night:


The Girls:

The boys?
Shhhhhhh, Dani Singing Bjork. Someone has been practicing
LION FACE!
LEMON FACE!

He's good (best Billy Madison Voice)I have no idea what I am singing, Maybe Elvira! But it looks a bit more serious than that, maybe I should practice like Dani?!?!


Thad, the day before the debacle :( Thanks for the help again!

Zac Rocking it!
Monica Rocking it? Trent loving it?!?!
The girls?

Thank You. Thank You. A thousand times Thank You!

They call it an Amish barn raising. When the community comes together and as a group accomplishes more than one family ever could alone. While it wasn't barns we were raising, what we did do was a MAJOR accomplishment. It is amazing to me everything everyone got done. Trees cut down, bonfires burned, ditches cleaned, logs cut, yard raked, yard weed-eated, bricks moved, bricks cleaned, mortar mixed, sidewalks laid, pools cleaned, fences fixed, cars started. I am sure the list could go on and on... So for little more than some water, beer, gatorade and a quick lunch at Fat Boys in Grimes my friends and Family came to help. Not because they had to, but because they wanted to. I know I am lucky in my life to know such kind people. So much was accomplished! So I say to each of you Sean, Jamie, Mathew, Paul, Thad, Joe, DeDe, Zac, Dani, Connor, Greyson, Devon, Rusty, Ella (for the hugs) - Thank You. Thank You. A thousand times Thank You! I can never repay you for what you did for my parents, but I will try, all you have to do is ask...


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Nine Great Years

So today marks anniversary number 9 for me and Jamie Lou. I like to say it feels more like 19, but I kid, that is what I do. So here is our story........

A long time ago in a land far away (Indianola) lived a devastatingly handsome Kappa named Cam. He loved college, in fact he was quite good at it, more to the fact if the evil mother (sorry Donna) hadn't made him graduate he'd probably still be in college being that old creepy guy that buys minors beer. But that is another story. So one dark and stormy night a trip was made to Hooters in the great emerald city of Des Moines, Chad was there and so was Rusty. But one had to drive home, Oh who would be? The one that couldn't drink. The one that had to drive. A plan was hatched, a Roshambo (rock-paper-scissors) tournament was set into motion, and while the details are quite fuzzy the results are remembered well. Chad and Cameron came out on top while Rusty, poor sweet Rusty, was left to drink soda. Then an amazing thing happened to Cam and Chad's delight (and Rusty's dismay), The bar tender (who also was from the far away indianola, but commuted to Des Moines for work) name Misty Miller who we had only seen from afar knew us (I think that was her name this was a long time ago) . Not only knew us but sent us free beer, lots of free beer. This was going to be the greatest night of their lives. They were happy, Rusty was kind of mad, a little sweaty, kinda scared, and a little hungry. But the majority of us (2 of 3) were more than happy. After much good cheer the trip home was made. After arriving at the royal castle (Kappa, hey it was made for a king right?!?) something was noticed lurking in the hallways. Something the three of us had only come to know as "blond girl". You see everywhere our three heroes went there was Blond Girl. It seemed random enough, until the 15th random meeting. that dark and stormy night. And that night was the first time I really met and talked with Blond Girl, errrrrr Jamie Lou my long time stalker errrrr future wife to be. I can't speak for the rest of them, but that did end up being one of the better nights I have had.

Sure there have been ups and downs, but there have been way more ups so let's touch on a few in no particular order:
Aruba
Minneapolis
London
Kansas City
Peter
James
Free Music
Cancun
Florida
6121 Pleasant Drive
Puerto Vallarta
Ella
Sage
the Chiefs
Balsamic Vinegar
The Continental
Creed
Heirloom tomatoes
New Jersey
Lucca
Centro
Moses and Prissy
The Vikings
DQ
Jamaica
the Contour
the Camaro
Arkansas
Carnival Games
the High Life Lounge
Crush
Perkins and Waffles
the pool
Puddle of Mudd
and all our family and friends
and more from Jamie Lou:
night hawk
grand am
audi
corsica
Axiom
Toyota
Young Guns II
Hog Girl
Army Mexican Train Dominoes
Raymore
Water World
Macaroni Grill
Shreveport

Hey maybe some of those things mean nothing to you. If not all you have to do is ask! Maybe over a beer or a glass of wine sometime some stories can be told. Maybe you were at some of these, if so I hope you had as good a time as we did.

Jamie Lou it has been a fun 9 years, and while some would say "Hey we gave it a good run, better than most" Not me, I'm saying Thank you for that last 9 here's to 51 more (or more than that, I don't want to seem greedy)

And you people said it wouldn't last, you know who you are, I am coming to get you, Actually I made that last bit up, just to make you reflect if you were one of those people. If you were actually one of those people, shame on you. But if you have never thought that, then thanks for all your support.

Happy Anniversary Jamie Lou!

You Don't Mess With the Zohan

Yeah, please listen to me when I say DON'T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN, and not because Sandler got all roided our for this roll(he does have good abs). Mostly because you will want two hours of your life back. Here is the little secret, you aren't getting it back. I am guessing because Mike Meyers made the abortion of a movie the Love Guru, Sandler being a SNL alum didn't want him to be the only one. Terribel, just terrible. Better than Norbit? Yes. Better than Date Movie? Oh, God yes. Better than much else? Not really.

On of the saddest thing (other than Michael Buffer playing a role in this movie) Is the poor writting by Judd Apatow I normally find the movies his name are put on the pretty damn funny side, but not this time. A few bright spots would be the cameos by Jon McEnroe George Takei, Bruce Vilanch, MAriah Carey, Kevin James, and Chris Rock (his family got hacked up). But really other than that a D would be the highest I could go.




Big plans upcoming first in the Blog world I will have thoughts on the UFC and Affliction fights. And JB not sure which guy you don't like but, Tim Silvia got $800,000.00 to fight Fedor. That got me to thinking, I wouldn't take it. I'd be drinking my dinner through a straw for the rest of my like and talking through a machine like Stephen Hawkings. Now would I like Jamie Lou fight Fedor? No, I am not an animal people. Geez.


Also along the lines of the fights will be my thoughts on Mediacom, and how I am 95% sure I am getting a dish. More on those douche bags in another post, they may need an entire post dedicated to them. A-holes.


Also comming up, Jamie Lou is off to KC to see her sister and our nephew and her parents. So that should be a great trip for her. I a lucky enough to have an IBM guy coming in to work the next week, so I will be getting prepped for that most of the weekend (all of sunday for sure).

Speaking of the weekend, finally going to get the rest of the pool paving finished up at the folk's. Some nice friends have a greed to work for beer, pizza, and a swim on Saturday. So Jamie B, Joe V, 80's Paul, Dave, Rusty and others. Pray for no rain, It would be nice to get that project DONE!

Thursday Concert, great food, and better friends

Good times had by all. Last night Jamie Lou and I went to the Centro (chen - tro) to have some pizza and drinks before heading over to the Simon Estes Amphitheater to catch Matt Natahanson for Nitefall on the River. More on that in a bit. So back to Centro. Our friend Derek Eidson is a chef at Centro, and he is always trying new and inventive things and he tells us next week he is putting Gnocchi on the menu, But not just any Gnocchi, he is making a Ricotta Gnocchi over braised goat meat. Jamie Lou and my anniversary is coming up, so I think I know where we are going next week. And hey, they have lemon chellos :)

Nightfall on the River started with opener The Damon Dotson Band. And they were a great sound to sit on the lawn and drink a cold 312 to, so I did. Before we go any farther, man was it packed! I have been once or twice and it never seemed to be full up like last night. I guess you get a pleasant night and some good sounding bands and they will come. The main act was Matt Nathanson for some unknown reason to me we found it funny to call Nate Mattahanson. Lame I know. They were also fun to listen to. A much more polished band that TDDB, they were also a lot more playful with the croud. Lots of participation. And free tickets from the Pricipal is always a bonus too. While they whole night was a little teenage girl pop-rock for me we had a great time, and made it out just before the rains came. And once it started, man did it rain!

Upcoming events:

• Tonight (Friday): Jamie Lou is off to the I-cubs tonight. I am off to Thad's un- surprise birthday party at 3-bag.
• Saturday: we are thinking a day at the pool and then UFC fight night and the Affliction MMA card (which looks to have the best heavyweights ever on one card)
• Sunday: maybe the pool again with dinner at Mi Mexico With Rusty and Shannon (mmmmm margaritas)
  

Tried a new font size, wondering if it will be easier to read?!?! only one way to see, time to post.

Best cartoon ever? Dani's love of cutting

Not sure where this originated, but I got it at work from JB, and I laughed:

But really drinking a driving, what's up with that?

So Dani didn't get quite enough off cutting when she had a c-section. No, she had to go and get her appendix out over the weekend too. She may end up on "I'm addicted to Surgeries", man I love those shows. So here is my attempt to come up with some "cover ups" Vote for you favorite (hhmm I wonder if I can find a vote counter....) So here are some options from around the interwebicon:


Choice 1:

Choice 2:

Choice 3:

and 4:

Puddle of Mudd, Saving Able, Rev Theory, Tyler Reed

I have to be honest, Tyler Reed I didn't see you. I was at Charlie's Filling station. I was drinking Screw drivers. But before you say, "they are just drinks Cam, you should have been at the show". I say to you, there was freshly squeezed OJ involved. On the way to the show, some punk bitch from family fun time tried to tell us if we didn't give him 3 dollars our car would be towed. We told him to fuck off. He agreed. The only thing I regret is not taking his iridescent parking jacket and shoving it up his ass.

I cannot speak to Tyler Reed, I hope he was awesome, the Val Air was freaking hot like a good show had been put on just before we got there. Rev Theory..... more than a bit heavy for me..... also missing more than a bit of identification. They sounded a lot (more than a bit) like Seven Dust, Creed, and someone else.... Rev Theory needs their own sound.

Saving Able put ona great show but what we noticed fore the past act is that the vocals are MORE THAT A BIT HARD TO HEAR. I mean mubling you lines should be fine if the truth to these words didn't mean , more. Which they do mean more.

Puddle of Mudd what can I say about them?!?! one of the better shows I have seen since NIN was at the Well. great freaking rock show!!!!!:

Movie Review: Narnia

Well it would appear that images aren't uploading right now, but no matter. What I thought of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian:



Strange movie. First it is rated PG, but man oh man do a lot of people get killed. I am guessing it would have had to have been in the hundreds. Second, the kids are gone for one year, they come back and it has been hundreds of years, yet the children have no remorse with killing and have no problem fighting with adults/creatures. So their internal morality has no problem with what they do, I find that strange. Third, the movie shut off right at the end for about 10 minutes right before the big finale so that is always exciting. Fourth, the girls take off towards then end of the movie, never really mentions why but off they go. Last, why did the white witch show up for a 2 minute(if that) appearance. Rating C-, not even really a great kids movie and I think it is a bit dark for them to enjoy, and I found my mind wandering more than once.

Actually one more thing, if there are flying creatures why are horses so important? just like LotR, that bothers me.

I don't care what anyone says, it is nice to go to the bar and not smell like smoke when you leave. For those that have been to Billy Joe's it is safe to go back :) Tommy and I am sure other look to have scrubber the NTN boxes, the chairs are nice and shinny, and karaoke has never been more smoke free!

Grabbed a NeoCounter counter. That was kind of redundant as it meant the same thing. Like PIN number, ATM machine and the like. Trying to make the layout look a bit better, but as always I am looking for suggestions and or requests of things to write on, or items to include next. Heck I was impressed I put a slide show in. So who know what else could be out there. Again, for a guy that works on computers, I have a lot to learn.

1980's Party

I am thinking that the 1980's, while WONDERFUL as a child with Transformers, GI Joe and some pretty good cartoons, had to have been better for the adults. So when a 80's themed party was thrown for no reason by our friends the Stovers we jumped at it. I originally thought it mights have been funny to show up looking like we were from the 1880's, and them acting embarrassed to find it was a 1980's party. But a couple pastel shirts, 2 popped collars, and a sailing sweater I was good to go. Jamie Lou on the other hand went the prom dress route, it was great. The only thing missing was a few 8-balls of Coke, snow, C, flake, blow or lady. ( really am not up or down with all the nicknames, but everything is on the internet now :-)

When Jamie Lou tells me the next day we can't party like that anymore that means a good time was had by all.

I think the photos speak for themselves so ENJOY!

EDIT Well, thanks to FlickrSlidr my issues with uploading have been fixed so now the flickr slideshow seems to appear to appear....


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

What Happens in Vegas

I have a theory, and I am sure it isn't mine or original, but it goes a little like this:

Expect great things and see good ones in their place, you'll be disappointed. Expect terrible things but see OK things instead, you'll have a pretty good time.

That is what happened with me (and I think all of us that went to see) the movie last night at Billy Joe's. We expected bad, BAD things and we pleasantly surprised. The movie had some not funny, funny, and really funny parts. If you think puking in a purse, and talking about punching a man's undercarriage junk is funny then this might be a movie for you. If you are looking for an answer as to why were are here, then why are you reading this blog? Some jokes, some physical comedy, and the always funny Rob Corddry as Hater and Lake Bell as Stripper errr I mean Tripper I give this movie a solid C (just for reference on the comedy scale F minus would be Date Movie and A+ would be Schindler's list.... oh that wasn't a comedy... then I will go with Monty Python and the Holy Grail as my A+ comedy).

It is hard to believe, but I think I am finally coming to terms with Cameron Diaz (no relation) being a pretty terrible actor. I am still holding out judgment on Ashton Kutcher. he surprised me a bit in the butterfly effect and the Guardian. But there is also Guess Who and Dude where's my car so I just don't know what to think. Her on the other hand, go rent and watch Oliver Stone's Any Given Sunday and watch Cameron (no relation) opposite of Al Pacino, she can't carry her weight for anything and it is a real shame and ruins a pretty OK movie. On the opposite side, there is a scene where Lauren Holly tells Denis Quaid something to the effect that "We have worked to hard for you to quit" and then pimp slaps him. Not bad for a soap star....

Random thought, I was flipping through my "Islands of the world" calendar and next month is Bora Bora, so I checked out how much to vacation there. 5 nights August 1st - the 6th with Airfare from Des Moines and one of the gorgeous over the water rooms... $8,000 dollars per person, and that doesn't include lunch, just some fruit for breakfast and dinner. Wow, maybe someday we will visit Bora Bora, but I am not thinking that is will be for Jamie Lou and my 10th next summer.

What's next? I am guessing a review of the Stover's 80's party, I'll have to see if Jamie Lou brings the camera for some "Excellent" photo. Party on Internet readers.

And as a side note, feedback is always appreciated, comments, joys, concerns and requests are also welcome as well. I do write this silly thing just as a historical reference of what is going on so I'll have something amusing to reflect back on. If you like it, great! If you don't maybe you can write one yourself, I'll even link it from here.

The Iowa Chops?

There are a few things that I try to dispel when I am out of the state. One is that we all don't have white picket fences in our front yards. The other is that there are no pigs out wandering around our streets. Yet here we are 2008 and it is time to pick a new team name with what has happened to our now defunct/moved/quit/left Iowa Stars.

And that name? The Iowa Chops. yep, the chops. Maybe this can be their mascot?

But no, that isn't to be. In an amazing twist while pigs can't fly I guess they can skate. A even more amazing to me is how much it look like an Arkansas razorback minus tusks:

Maybe I'm not being fair. I guess there can only be so many ways to render a pig... mmmmm pig bacon, spit, hawaii style, rotisserie, loins, ribs, chops Iowa Chops.... Hockey Oh yes, hockey I am back now.

There are so many things that represent Iowa and Iowans that do not involve pigs. I have lived here my whole life and the few people that I know that actually farmed pigs gave it up when it started to cost more to raise them. So that leaves so large hog lots that grow pigs. and to me that isn't a good/fair representation of what we are about here in Iowa. What we Iowans are about is Insurance and computers and meth. It could have been worse I guess, they could have picked a design like this:

Tomorrow or friday look for a candid review of what hapens in vegas after we go to it at Billy Joe's

Cubbies baseball and football season

Being an A's fan (I know I know but the bash brothers were doing their thing during my formative years) I have never had a vested interest in the Cubs. My brother on the other hand is a "BIG FAN" so because of that I have had a bit more interest as of late. that is why this video made me laugh I think:



Now as much as baseball is America's past time, I think we all can agree that football is king. and in Iowa it is college football. and with that on 51 days until kick off. Just a heads up, that happens to be my birthday, and unlike some people I really do like surprise presents.

BACK! England, Iowa, Gas Prices

THANK YOU Chuck and Kitty! Jamie Lou and I had a WONDERFUL time with you.

Well to say it was nice to be back in time for the fourth of July would be an understatement, but it would also not be fair to how good of time Jamie Lou and I had not only in London but at her cousins. Chuck and Kitty were awesome to stay with and to tour the country side with too. It was hard to believe it had been that many years (more than 5) since the last time we saw them. Highlights of the trip:

• almost not getting through England immigration
• the tube and train rides
• GREAT Indian food
• Chuck and Kitty
• the tower of London
• not have to pay $12.00 US per gallon of gas (you read that right)

OFF WITH HER HEAD! Jamie Lou on the spot where Anne Boleyn actually lost her head.

Chuck on the left Kitty on the right, CT with he back to the camera.

Cam looking cool in front of the river Cam in Cambridge

Trinity College:

More Trinity College, just like Simpson...... maybe not....

I think the quick trip took it out on the both of us, Jamie lou came home a bit sick and I am pretty sure I have the bird flu from smuggling in a parrot Ok I could just have a cold, but the bird flu has a better ring :-)

got to sit next to Anneke Brand, Sophomore from Texas Tech on her way home from South Africa. She was there playing on the US 20 and under women's rugby team. It is always nice to sit next to a nice passenger to make the 10 hour flight go much smother.

Well never thought 4 dollar gas would seem like a nice thing, yet here I am a 10 hour flight from $12.00 gas, and it is nice. But like Chuck told me "100 miles in England is a long ways, but 100 years is a short time"