Wednesday, November 25, 2009

T.A.N.B.T.N.O.D.

T.A.N.B.T.N.O.D.

The time has come and T.A.N.B.T.N.O.D. is here again. Tonight promises to me Legen...wait for it....dary!

After a little hiatus, I am back :)

look for a write up this weekend of T.A.N.B.T.N.O.D.

Friday, October 2, 2009

The weekend that was Part 3 of 3

This last weekend was one of the best weekends ever. Friday night was the Dave Matthews Band. Saturday was tailgating and the I-State vs. Army football game. Sunday I was at the Vikings vs. 49ers game in Minneapolis (maybe the best finish I have seen in person).


Last up is the Sunday Vikings vs. 49ers experience.

I got home around 11:30 from the Army game. A little too excited to sleep so being the uber geek that I am rolled my toon CTMcGee around Northrend for a few hours, that was dumb as I was having Zac come over to my house at 5AM to leave for Minny.

Zac was there right on time. Zac was going up because the 49ers are his favorite team and his b-day was in August so I convinced Jamie Lou that I should get him tickets for his birthday. It is a little tricked I learned from Jamie Lou to get a little juice for yourself. More commonly seen by buying yourself things you need right before Christmas and your birthday so that when gifts come that you already have you can take those back and get new things. Double dipping I'll call it.

Up North we headed, uneventful trip, intern Steve slept in the back seat most of the way up. Steve too loved the 49ers, and had a ticket so he tagged along with the brothers Christensen. on a side note I really need to start taking pictures of these trips... I have really none from it.

When we got to the cities we parked about 6 blocks from the dome off of 5th. the street spots were all taken but we found a lot for 6 dollars. While the walk is a bit far it is more than paid back by being 34 bucks cheaper than the lots closer to the dome and being able to leave town in a jiffy after the game as the ramp to the interstate is 3 blocks away from where we park.

We then wandered up past the dome and a few blocks beyond to Grumpy's. Zac and I had some egg bake and beers while Steve opted for buffalo wings and beer. It was a bit strange to be on a patio with smokers now that it is verboten in Iowa, but the sun and good times made that not such a big deal.

After Grumpy's it was off to the dome, we got there 45 minutes before kickoff. Always fun to boo the visitors as they come out of the tunnel to warm up and to hear that viking horn blow and cheer the boys in purple. Particularly fun for me was the fact the Jim Marshall blew thew horn to call out the team, he is a big BIG man. you can kind of see him int he photo below:




The first half was going famously, getting ready to go up 16 - 7 and receive the ball in the second half only to have the field goal blocked and returned for a TD by San Fran. Memo to Steve Hutchinson: you are great but you have to get up out of your stance when the ball gets hiked...dick. So instead of 16- 7 and getting the ball we were now down 13 - 14. I will say though that so far this year we have had to special teams TDs against us and we won both those games, so maybe it is a good luck kind of thing....maybe.

An amazing kickoff return by future RoY Percy Harvin got the crowd back into it. He is so amazingly fast in person. And to be able to run 101 yards and not have a finger touch you is even more amazing.

Vernon Davis' touchdown with around 9 minutes put San Fran up 4 but I still had a good feeling. When the Vikes went for it on fourth down and failed to convert at midfield, I didn't have such a good feeling. When the people started streaming out even though we still had 3 timeouts I felt a little worse. The the niners we ultra conservative with 3 runs in a row I felt a little better. When they kicked it in the end zone and we only need an 80 yard TD with 1:29 I even felt a little better. When Greg Lewis caught a 50 yard laser from Favre for the game winner with 2 seconds left, I really couldn't believe what I saw. I had never been to a game that finished like that. I have seen goal line stands, I have seen field goals made and missed to win games. But I have NEVER seen in person an ending like that.

The poor 49er fans went from happy to sad with the flick of a wrist. Even with thousands of people having left early that is the loudest I have ever heard that stadium get. It may have even been a touch louder when the play was confirmed.


Some even more exciting things coming up form me in the coming week or two. You can read about those fun things here when they are posted.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

The weekend that was Part 2 of 3

This last weekend was one of the best weekends ever. Friday night was the Dave Matthews Band. Saturday was tailgating and the I-State vs. Army football game. Sunday I was at the Vikings vs. 49ers game in Minneapolis (maybe the best finish I have seen in person).


Second up is the Saturday I-State vs. Army experience.



Unfortunately our friends Ty and Jess couldn't make the Army game. While we did miss them their tickets didn't go to waste as cousin Lauree and Dan were going to go in their stead. Well Dan called in sick with a sandy vagina but second cousin Keegan filled in quite perfectly.



The day started with us meeting at 12:30 at T and D's and packing to go up to Ames. The trailer hitch shelf that we got some years back is turning out to be quite a useful purchase. It allowed 5 people, the next bigger than the last, and 6 chairs and 3 coolers and 3 plastic totes and 1 grill and one small tent with USA cover to fit in to the Envoy. All those years of Dr. Mario and Tetris in college really is paying off better than my degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science on a daily basis I am finding.



We got to Ames at around 1:45 and started to unpack. We are becoming quite efficient if I do say so myself. it was around 1:46 I remember seeing the grill's gas regulator and tank sitting in T and D's garage back in Granger. That was a low point of the day for me I think. But Jamie Lou was still in Des Moines coming up later so she was able to make it out there and pick it up for us. Double lucky for us are the nice people we have been tailgating with this season as we were able to use some one else's Roadtrip gas tank until Jamie Lou could make it up to Ames.



Eventually Jamie Lou did make it along with Brazilian coworkers Flavio and Renato. It was Flavio and Renato's first experience with American football and Iowa Sate tailgating. I am positive they left the country really enjoying both.



It was burger, beers and brats for lunch. Tried some new pineapple stuffed brats and people seemed to enjoy them. I only picked up four so didn't personally get one, but judging by the fact they all got snarfed down they couldn't have been too bad. I also for the first time picked up some thin sliced pork loins. I covered them in A-1 on both sides grilled them up and tossed them on some buns. They worked out quite nicely. Tastey, quick, easy can't do much better than that.



As has become our tradition we leave our tailgate up during the game. This is done for two reasons 1) so that we can come out and have some beers at half time (so glad they still allow pass outs) and B) instead of fighting traffic, it is just as easy to fire up the grill and eat dinner and let the traffic clear out rather than fight it and get mad.



As the game was against Army once every hour on the hour two howitzers were shot off. Man o man were they loud on that side of the stadium. We caught a couple Go Army national guard mini footballs, so that is always fun. We tried to find family of some of my friends, but with that many people around it is almost impossible. We did get to meet up with one of Lauree's friends so that was nice. At half time of the gave 13 current I-State student swore into the Army and would be recognized as officers upon their graduation. I hate to say it but when the ceremony started and the man in charge said "Repeat after me. I, State your name" the lady in front of me and I both said aloud at the same time "I state your name" she got a head slap from her husband, I got the "dumb-ass" look from Jamie Lou. I blame Mel Brooks.



The game itself was a nice game by our Clones. A nice solid win with decent passing and better running being displayed. 3 -1 at this point is right where I thought they would be. I am hoping for a win this next Saturday vs K-State. that would put them at 4 -1 and need only two more W's to be bowl eligible. With this new staff and the young players that extra practice time they would get would be invaluable.

Next up Sunday......

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The weekend that was Part 1 of 3

This last weekend was one of the best weekends ever. Friday night was the Dave Matthews Band. Saturday was tailgating and the I-State vs. Army football game. Sunday I was at the Vikings vs. 49ers game in Minneapolis (maybe the best finish I have seen in person).

First up Friday night with DMB recap.

Jamie Lou and I made a night of it with Russ and Shannon. And what a full night it was (coulda been more fuller, but the Doners had to leave at 6AM the next morning for South Dakota but I'll leave that for them to blog on if they so choose). The picked us up right around 5:15 and we headed downtown.

Originally we thought of going to the Star Bar to eat then go to the show, but with Jamie Lou and Cas' Britney experience with the Star Bar (missed part of the opening act as service was S-L-O-W) being closer to downtown and the show just made more sense. So then the thought was to go to the Court Avenue Brew Company to eat and drink, walk to Principal Park, and then head home.

The girls drove and dumped me and Russ out in front of the CABCO and we walked in while they parked. Well it was shoulder to shoulder in the lobby. It was at this point Russ says, I think Wicked is opening at the civic center tonight too. I tell him to wait there and I would check out the Royal Mile. The RM was also standing room only, but only three doors down there was a little Italian Sandwich store open with only a cop in it. The Chicago Italian Beef Sandwiches smelled so good that unsolicited the cop said to us (Russ had given up on the CAB by then and found me) "best sandwich in Des Moines, and they don't even serve donuts here." I said funny donut joke. So we waited for the girls. They were finally able to park at like 6th and MLK in some industrial parking lot and wander over and find us.

Well it was a little warm in the store and it didn't appear that there was any booze at the eating place Russ and I found so the girls went across the street to a dive bar. The called us and said there were 4 seats left, so Russ and I left our new Italian friend and headed across the street. The restaurant was called... uummm I have no idea but it had GREAT cavatelli and cold beer so I was happy.

After eating we wandered down to Principal Park where the Robert Randolph Family Band has already begun. The set up wasn't what I had expected (once long ago I saw the beach boys do a show at the ballpark and I thought I remembered then being right on the infield). the Stage was set up all the way back against the center field fence and other than the grass on the infield and maybe the grass in the people's pockets in GA, the grass was decked over for people to walk on and not ruin the field. Our seats were first row on the first base line, great seats. Would have been really good if the two jack asses behind us would have shut up even for five minutes during the first hour of the concert. Really, why would someone pay that much money to sit and talk the entire time?

My favorites from the show were "I got a Woman" "Crash into Me" and the cover of Talking Heads' "Burining Down the House". I would be remiss if I didn't say that "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That" live by Robert Randolph was FANTASTIC!. I will say this, being sober (Thanks 8 dollar beer night at the ball bark) Jam bands can get a little "Jammie". But man was it ever a good show.

Set list from the show:
1 Don't Drink the Water
2 So Damn Lucky
3 Seven
4 Funny the Way It Is
5 Shake Me Like a Monkey
6 You Might Die Trying
7 Stay or Leave
8 Why I Am
9 Lying in the Hands of God 10:17
10 Crash Into Me »
11 Crush 14:59
12 Alligator Pie
13 I Got a Woman [partial] with Robert Randolph
14 Rhyme & Reason 8:27 with Robert Randolph
15 Burning Down the House
16 You & Me
17 So Much to Say »
Anyone Seen the Bridge »
Too Much [fake] »
18 Ants Marching Closing
19 Baby Blue Encore1
20 Blue Water [partial] » E2
21 The Maker 7:50 E3
Pantala Naga Pampa »
22 Rapunzel E4

Friday, August 28, 2009

Things I learned from the Movie "The Hurt Locker"

The movie "The Hurt Locker" was one that I was geeked to see as I had heard good things about it from the interwebs and the newspaper and the trailer I saw for it on HDnet. Some of the first words up on the screen are "War is a drug." And after seeing what war does to the star of the movie you get a sense of what that means. To get his "fix" he does what ever he can and the more normal he tries to be, the more he wants to be back disarming munitions. The movie had many suspenseful moments and with few explosion. If I remember the count right a movie about disarming bombs had four explosions. Hear that Micheal Bay, you hack of a movie man, you don't need to blow shit up a thousand times to make it exciting, loser.


That said here are a few things I learned from the movie "The Hurt Locker"


I learned that if you have a bomb with a big enough bang to blow up Jesus, you might as well take off you bomb suit so you can die comfortably.


I learned that babies love everything. The mobile, the jack in the, box the stuffed animals.


I also learned that when they get older they will discover the jack in the box is just a box with a stuffed animal.


Additionally they will only come to love two things, but our star of the movie only loved one thing.


I learned that Bravo company only had 38 days left.


I learned that Delta company has 365 days left.


I learned that war is a drug.


I learned that our star is a "wild man".


I learned that he has disarmed 873 bombs.


I learned that the best way to disarm a bomb is in "the way that doesn't get you killed"


I learned that responding to the Question "what is the best way to disarm a bomb?" with the answer "the way that doesn't get you killed" is something a wild man would say.


I learned that "*trigger click* Thompson is still Alive *trigger click* Thompson is still Alive*trigger click* Thompson is still Alive*trigger click* Thompson is still Alive"


I learned that choosing cereal and all groceries can be too daunting a task for someone that wants to be back doing the on thing that they love.


I learned that street vendors speak like they learned English from a NWA rap album in Iraq.


I learned that if Beckham sells him one more DVD that is of shaky unfocused quality, he is going to cut his head off.


I learned he is kidding.

I also learned that when the movie is good and tells an interesting story it is hard for me to come up with 100 things funny with it.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

New Ink!

Went to see Jack Lowe at the Skin Kitchen.... Set up the appointment so long ago that when my Palm Pre reminded me Monday morning it was like Christmas....

It is the 10th anniversary for Me and Jamie Lou, so I went for a Jamie Lou Tattoo! At one point a few years back on New Years Eve, I got Jamie Lou to hold a machine gun in one hand and a pistol in the other our friends Kari and Eric's place(a little side note if it is 2AM and you call some people up in Norwalk and they are still going strong on New Years and tell you to 'come on down' buckle up because it will be a GREAT time). While I have the photo from that night of that pose it is just truely a horrible photo. Maybe too much holiday cheer, maybe her being terrified of holding Eric's rifle... either way, what I had hoped was going to be a nice idea for a tattoo ended up a no go. I ended up deciding traditional is the way to go for me this time, getting away from the celtic knots.

10th anniversary, Diamonds are the gifts. Yes, there are diamonds.

She loves roses, yep there are those.. one open in bloom and more still to come with the rose bud....

Her name is for sure there, and if I hear one more time "Here name? what if you get divorced?" I might punch that person in the arm or throat. Not sure what shitty relashonships you are in, but ours is strong. So leave your baggage far from me, sorry your folks didn't love you enough or you hate your husband or what ever your mind is messed up on I could give a rip what your issues are. Plus she knows what will happen if she tries to leave, don't you baby?!? (j/k)

and then it looked like it needed somethign else, so why not a swollow for a traditional tattoo finisher.

This photo was from my Palm Pre taken at work shot with my left hand so forgive me if it goes astray, it really doesn't do the colors justice. This is on the inside of my upper right sleave. In the Style of Sailor Jerry here you go. Let me know what you think:

Monday, August 17, 2009

I-State's Meet the Coaches Night 2009

First let me apologize, I forgot my good camera at home so the point and shoot with 3x zoom will leave a lot to be desired on the photos. Secondly, there were a lot of people there tonight, I forgot to look at the total number of tables but I would guess at least 80- with 8 people at them so a nice strong turnout over 650 cyclone boosters (probably quite a bit more).

Social hour was around 40 minutes we got to have some over priced beers, but at least they were cold. Then we all sat to have Christiani's Catering. As far as buffet group dinners go this one was a-ok, pasta with Sausage, thin sliced beef, nice salads. Enough to get full on :)


There was a raffle drawing. 31 prizes given out, 2 amazing enough to our one table (nothing for me though). These two prizes included a 100th cyclone basket ball DVD and a sack of cyclone golf paraphernalia (putter cover, 3 -wood cover, balls). not sure what the other 29 prizes entailed.

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First up was John Walters thanking the sponsors and Frank Santana for the use of the Seven Flags event center.

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Then Jon Schaben had a live auction. First up was Big 12 Tournament Fantasy Week experience. It included Men's and Women's Basketball tickets for the lower bowl seating, lodging at the team hotel, and I believe transportation to and from the tourney. My max amount was quickly passed up and it ended up going for $2,5000.00. Not a bad haul for 5 minutes of work.

Next up for auction was 2 sideline passes for all six home games at Jack Trice this season. It too brought in nice money as it quickly went for $2,000.00.

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A nice little picture slide show went by with highlights from the last year in sports.

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Then Emcee Walters (or Oprah as he wanted to be called) took back over. This year instead of a "mild" coaches roast with some serious points thrown in it was a round table complete with couch and and a table (see photos below). With Walte... Oprah asking the questions, First up was Athletics Director Jamie Pollard (JP).

JP was quick to point out that it is the first time in I-State history that 5 teams finished in the top 25 season ending polls. Those teams included Wrestling, Volleyball, Women's Basketball (forgive me I went to get 2 more expensive cold beers at this point)

JP pointed out that I-state's 450 athletes as a whole 9 of the last 11 semesters have had a higher GPA and a graduation rate at 10% higher than general student population.

Said he saw Lenard Johnson (LJ) playing ping pong with Coach Paul Rhoads (CPR). JP asked LJ to swing by his office so he could get a feel for what the players think of CPR. LJ said never in his life did he think a coach with play ping pong with him and just hang. The point being there is a different vibe and feel with this staff and the players.
JP's backyard over looks CPR's house. so when the moving company showed up and pulled off 2 Harleys JP's wife called JP just to let him know. JP asked CPR are you a rider, and he was like "oh absolutely." JP thought, maybe I should have added some protection in the contract.... Then he finds out CPR is going to learn about flying airplanes. JP is realizing CPR is a risk taker, writes CPR's agent that they need to rework his contract (laughs). But is sure of one thing. Punting on 4th and inches isn't going to happen.

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Next up on Oprah's couch was Kevin Jackson (KJ) and Chris Bono (CB). KJ is here for National titles, developing great men, and beating Iowa. CB actually called KJ and said he wanted on the staff before he even had the job. Neither thought that KJ not having been a college head coach will make a bit of difference in the end. KJ informed all in attendance to be at the December 6th Iowa match and if we get snowed in Ames we can all stay at his place that night. Because he is the decider, KJ then asked his wife if that is OK.
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Jon Schaben then finished up the Auctioning. Womens trip for two @Texas on Jan 23rd with trip and stay and Men's trip at Kansas both went for $2,000.00 a peice.

Lastly a Luxury suite with 24 tickets, 6 parking passes and 6 guest passes went right past our bid hope of 2,500 to $6,500.00. In 15 total minutes of work $15,000.00 had been raised.
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Then was the elite 8 round table with Christy Johnson (CJ) and Bill Fennelly (BF). CJ noted that it has been a steady climb from winning, to qualifier, to sweet 16 to elite 8. BF pointed out that was 15 years for him for the elite 8. Volleyball was #13 in attendance, women's basketball was #3 in the nation. Both were thankful for the support from the fans. CJ is excited that at the end of the year they had 4 freshman on the floor and what that means for the future. BF then said she would be final four this year. BF wanted everyone to know that there is no finer representative of I-state than Greg McDermott(GM) and his wife Theressa.

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Next up was GM. September 7t Lucca Staiger is playing with the German National team, had hopped to play with Dirk Nowitsky, but it didn't happen. Jamie VanderBeeken has broken his foot and it out at least a month(not sure if that was just 1 month or a month of the season). They took these harder games (duke, ND) because he wants to challenge his kids and that this team has a great story to tell and any chance he can get it on to television and around the country he will take it.

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Then there was an inspirational Cyclone feature about Men's golfer Tyler Swanson who almost died in a car crash. Who went from almost dead, to being given a 50% chance to lead an unassisted life to being the first person one specialist had ever seen with head injuries that bad go back to school. Quite a story.

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Lastly was CPR. Like KJ he makes the major decisions in his house. It is just amazing to him that in 18 years there hasn't had to be one major decision he had to make. He went through the day in the life of a cyclone football player. Let me just say it start at wake up at 6AM and ends at lights out at 10:30 PM and is regimented in between like you wouldn't believe.

The coaches he brought along he brought for specific reasons 1) to recruit specific regions. 2) care for the kids. This year there has been parent separations, parents going to hospice, grand parents falling very ill, his staff handles all the kids in the right way. and 3) guys that are amazing Educators. He is proud of their progress. They are playing with Urgency. And they are playing smart. and they are playing with passion. They ran a 155 play scrimmage and they only had 8 loafs where maximum effort wasn't given. This team will play hard and to the whistle.

PHOTOS:

Emcee John "the Oprah" Walters


Cameron Ted, Cy and Jamie Lou



Sean and Jayna



Amy and Kevin - Neil


Before the show got started social hour


John Schaben doing his thing


JW with JP


JW with KJ and CB



a great under armour logo, with JW with CJ and BF in the background.



An Ear and head with JW and GM in the background.



your new head coach!


THE HOUNDS
Prissy
Moses

Mexico Trip

I didn't have the time or energy to put together another long anniversary post, but if you like like to see last year's you can find that by clicking here: CLICK HERE FOR LAST YEAR'S ANNIVERSARY POST.

This year was a big year Jamie Lou and myself. July 24, 2009 was out 10th anniversary. Still going strong so you naysayers (if there are any of you left) suck it.

This year we took a trip to Mexico, back to the Valentin Imperial Maya, Located just south of Cancun. If you are ever looking for a easy way to travel I can't recommend Apple Vacations enough. Since our first trip to Aruba 10 years ago when we have traveled to paradise we have, with the exception of one trip, used them exclusively. From airfare to transfers to and from the resort it truly is a one stop shop.

Now I say we went back and that is because Jamie Lou and I were there last November with our friends Rusty and Shonnon Doner who were celebrating their 10th then as well. Jamie Lou and I thought it was great, so great we wanted to try it again. Now if that makes us boring, then that is what we are. I could almost hang there for a week or two every six months and not want for more.


Now thanks to the beauty or the interwebs and facebookster we have met friends that I think we may actually stay in touch with :-) It isn't every day that you get to hang out with Texans, Australians and Canadians adn some other Iowans at one time. So Kenneth and Melissa, Kristina and Blair, Becky and Todd, Nate and Heidi thanks for making our 10th a great and memorable time, and we'd love to vacation will all of you again. So without anymore poorly written words here are some photos from Mexico 2009!



Kenneth and Melissa, Jamie Lou and Cameron Ted, Blair and Kristina. I still dig that shirt Kenneth, Blair, sorry for the burn man.



Cameron Ted and Jamie Lou on the last night in Mexico.




Cameron Ted, Gilberto, and Jamie Lou. Gilberto worked at the Mexican Resturant and was always willing to go above and beyond the call to be a gracious host. We liked him a lot.


Great Beaches, great ocean and great weather, Great friends, great service and great dos-bananas! Tres-Bananas was even better!



Kenneth and Melissa, Kristina and Blair at Midnight Buffet at the Indonesian restaurants; Very hit or miss as it was the food from the restaurants served on a buffet, but sometimes really good. I foudn that drinking for 12 hours a day makes most things taste pretty good.




Todd, Cameron Ted, and Rebecca


Todd getting a bit fresh and Becky doesn't seem to mind on little bit lol



Blair and Krisitina and Cameron Ted. Those could be some "Yara"-caladas on the bar. Yara was a bartender on the resort and was more than willing to just whip us somethign up to drink.



Cameron Ted, Melissa and Kenneth. I think Kenneth and I are quite a bit alike....



Mexican Buffet night, too bad it was hot and then buggy....






Jamie Lou and Cameron at the French resturant Man we had more than one good meal there.

Friday, August 14, 2009

I'm not dead yet...

No, I am not dead
No, this blog isn't defunct
No, Jamie Lou didn't stab me

What has happened is Jamie Lou and I took a great, long, 10 anniversary vacation to Mexico and between, getting ready, the trip, getting back to work *ugh*, and my lvl 80 frost mage there just hasn't been a ton of time. But I am back and here are the things you have to look forward to:

Mexico photos and stories
What I learned from Transformers 2
My I-state football preview complete with predictions
What I learned from GI Joe
New Friends we met in Mexico
and anything else you would like to hear from me on..... so leave a comment or drop me a text or an e-mail and I shal do my best


Here are a few of our new friends from mexico:

From Left to right: Kenneth & Melissa, Jamie Lou & Cameron Ted, Blair & Kristina

Monday, July 13, 2009

woot follow up...

well I just read how the Crap is being sent out from their blog :(I need to learn how to read SO COME ON NUMBER 2)

Thanks For Five Years Of Wooting, Wooters!
Don’t you hate those jerks who have nothing better to do than sit up at midnight and hit refresh so they can snipe your rightful Bag O’ Crap out from under you?
So we’re faced with the strange problem of figuring out the fairest way to dish out your crap. Fortunately, those low-down crap rustlers don’t usually read this text. So they don’t know that everybody who buys today’s Woot-Off lights will automatically have a (slim) chance at receiving a genuine Bag O’ Crap. That’s how we’re celebrating our fifth birthday today. It was either this or Chuck E. Cheese.
Here’s the way it works. You buy these tasteful, dynamic, unique, attractive, useless Woot-Off lights, for the oddly familiar price of $3 plus $5 shipping. That’s your end of the deal.
Then, if the last digit of your order number matches the last integer digit (that’s the ones digit) of the final Dow Jones Industrial Average at the close of business Monday, July 13, 2009 (after all settling), we’ll send you a bonafide Bag O’ Crap. We promise only that it will include a bag and some quantity of crap. Thrilling, we know.
Since these lowly Woot-Off lights are likely to be available for a while, we figured this sort of randomness was a better way to distribute crap than the usual mad scramble where everybody gets mad and blames everything on our poor servers. They’ve taken too much abuse from you people already. If you don’t like the outcome this time, take it up with Wall Street.
So those of you who aspire to buy our crap, buy these crappy lights and wait for astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Jim Lovell (along with some Louis Vuitton executive) to ring the closing bell on Monday. 9 out of 10 of you will receive Woot-Off lights and only Woot-Off lights. 1 out of 10 will receive Woot-Off lights plus the obligation to take some of this garbage off of our hands.
The question in that scenario is, who are the “winners” and who are the “losers”? If you’re one of the aforementioned jerks, feel free to tell everybody in our forums how much you regret wasting your money on that garbage.
And we’ll go ahead and give the rules again for those of you unlucky enough to nab Bag O’ Crap XL (that’s 40 in Roman numerals, not extra large):
THE HOLY CRAP COMMANDMENTS v3.1
I. Thou shalt expect nothing beyond ONE bag of some kind and SOME NUMBER OF crappy items.
II. Thou shalt not whine and complain when some people’s crap turns out to be nicer than yours.
III. Thou shalt take a moment to consider whether you might be better off just not buying this crap.
IV. Thou shalt not expect better crap just because things are different this time. Crap is crap.
V. To paraphrase Stephen Stills, shalt thou not get the crap you want, want the crap you get.
VI. Shalt thou receive Woot-Off lights only, thou shalt consider that crap enough.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Happy Days are Here Again

w00t! logged on later last night to woot, and it was their birthday and here was the screen:


So I will be the proud owner of some woot lights and random crap.... Oh I hope it is a TV with out a remote and not an IBM blade server rack... I also have 3 random shirts coming too, so you'll be seeing some updates on all that coming up soon.

I think the next post with be my Palm Pre review the good the bad and the great.....

PEACE! CT

Monday, July 6, 2009

The Good the Bad and the Ugly.....

Well Jamie Lou's uncle Charlie gave a call to the house sometime back. (a little background here, Uncle Charlie used to drive a big rig and Des Moines was one of his routes. and when ever we would be in Kansas City he would say "I drove by your house the other day" and we would ask why he would never call. Well 12 years later Uncle Charlie called.) The call was a few weeks back and Jamie whispers to me, "I think something is wrong, it is Charlie on the phone." Well the complete opposite was true, there wasn't a thing wrong... in fact he was taking us up on the offer to come to Des Moines with a place to stay. You see over the 4th is the 17th annual Good Guys Heartland Nationals. Now Charlie isn't just a car show buff, he happens to be the proud owner of a blue 1970 Torino GT with a white drop top. While it was the 4th of July 2009 in Des Moines Iowa global warming made sure that it was in the 60s and raining most of the day. But was had a good time and below are some of out favorites from Saturday the 4th. Please leave a comment let me know which ones you really like.

Charlie and his torino

Charlie and his torino
Charlie and his torino


This car would turn gold when the sun came out...


While I like chrome on Bel Airs... I liked this color combo here


Jamie Lou started to fall in love with delivery trucks, not as much as bel airs but quite a bit.


it don't get much more purple that this...

El Camino.....



Herbie got embarassed

It just shows that Orange and White do go together, but My 2010 with have black stripes...

A tad Hawk coloered for me, but this was a real nice car.



A lot of work on this rod... look at the copper work....



While I didn't know Ike, I think I like him too


Different strokes for different folks

Copper and Ornage were both real popular


You don't see a lot of DeSotos aroudn these days


A woody bus ready for the beach



Let's see zero to dead on 4 seconds... what should we call it?

Studabaker made some sexy cars.....

Jamie lou said she hated flames, but I think they grew on her towards the end.





A 1963 1/2 Ford Falcon, not original like ours, but it still had the same smell











You think Ace and Gary brought this one? The guy that owned this Jag didn't want to say one word to us.... wonder why his car looks like a dick...