"You know what I hate? Indian givers...no, I take that back." --Emo Philips

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August 2006 News Archives

August 01     August 02    August 03    August 04    August 07    August 08    August 09    August 10    August 11    August 14    August 15    August 16    August 17    August 18    August 21    August 22    August 23    August 24    August 28    August 30    August 31

What I am listening to as I type this:  The Black Crowes - The Struttin' Blues
Most Recent DVD Burned: Sarah Silverman - Jesus Is Magic

August 31, 2006

Well, well, well, here we are again back on the fleetnews page.  It's a sleepy day today.  As of very early this morning, I have a free, full tank of gas thanks to Jessica and her company's promotion they had this morning.  That girl just rocks in every way, shape, and form ... can't say enough good things about her so we'll just say I miss her and leave it at that.

Hit up the gym before work today, hadn't done that in awhile and I immediately remembered why.  I don't thoroughly enjoy working out in a small gym with the entire Mines football team at 6:45am.  Can't so much get a lot done, I did like 2 lifts and then quit and came into work early.

By the way, if I've tried to convince you to move to Colorado, I've figured out the perfect way ... go take a look at the Sawtooth during sunset in the fall.  Great Oden's Raven!

I sure hope they find a way to let this man off scott-free.

Last night I fixed the dishwasher, finally put my dash back together from the ignition install, cleaned my car on the inside with armor all and such, did 3 loads of laundry, did some web stuff, Riki, Ian & Cool Ethan came by for awhile, talked to Mom on the phone, cooked, watched the Royals win again (didn't use Ambiorix Burgos = we won again) cleaned the kitchen, went to BW3's for 2 Buds.  Solid night, very solid.

Quick tangent story ... after cleaning my car last night, the doorbell rings.   Shit, I forgot we had a doorbell.  So I'm thinking, "Now who can this possibly be?"  So I run down the stairs and this short and insanely fat black chick is standing there smiling ... mind you that our apartment complex does not allow soliciters, it is 6:20pm:

Chick:  HEY!! I DIDN'T THINK YOU'D ANSWER!!  (jumping around, offers me a high 5)
Me:  A high 5?  That's my move
C: All right, let's high-5 to that!
Me: My hands are very dirty, just a warning
C:  Shoot, I'll wear your hand to the bone I'll give you so many high-5s!
Me:  Uhm, ok
C:  starts giving some schpeal about "having a contest with other people, I've almost won, I need 1000 more points and I win ... whatever"
Me: look, no offense, but I don't want to waste your time.  I'm not buying anything. (it took everything in my power to not tell her there's a no soliciting policy)
C: ah come on now, you're not even going to give me a chance?
Me:  Nope, not today.  I'm really not interested and don't want to waste your time.
C:  Well you've already fucking wasted enough of it!  (turns around and storms off)

....now ok, even though we have a no soliciting policy, I didn't care, I'd let it slide, but the second she said that snide remark, well, I basically sprinted to the front office to report her so they could call the cops on her.  I've never in my life been so determined to have someone cited before.  The complex made the phone call, but I don't know what became of it.  I sure hope that dumb bitch got a fine.

Schmirgan-Flagen is arriving tonight around 8pm-ish, so I'm sure we'll be out and about tonight.  I have a whole

Shavano & Tabeguache pictures and trip report is up ... I decided last night that since these 14ers are such an enourmous part of my life and goals these days, it now gets its own link on the left ... and I re-did the hiking page last night.  I just wanted an "Image" of what I'm going to create ... it'll all be mysql/php database driven shortly, although now it's just a hard copy done in blahblahblah HTML.  I had the urge to calculate how much I've climbed this summer compared to past years, vertical feet and distance-wise (not just by number of summits).  I'm absolutely amazed at how much I've climbed this year, and I'm not done yet!  The all-around totals and yearly sums are on the hiking page as of now.

KC and Colorado-August pictures will be up either tonight or tomorrow, I don't promise.

What I am listening to as I type this:  Jurassic 5 - What's Golden
Most Recent DVD Burned: Sarah Silverman - Jesus Is Magic

August 30, 2006

I'm 7/8ths of the way to my summer 14er goal.  Yesterday I took a comp day for working the weekend a few weeks back and climbed Mt. Shavano and Mt. Tabeguache.  It was a solo climb and I only saw a couple of people (some trail workers, a couple from 14ers.com from Georgia, but they didn't climb Tabeguache, only Shavano) all day long, so that was very cool.  We parted ways at Shavano's summit, I went from 10:30am until I finished around 3:30 without seeing a person.  Not only did I have the Tabeguache summit to myself, I was the only one to climb it all day.   How cool is that?!  On the descent I had had enough quiet time so put on my mp3 player on the country mix ... holy shit is it cool listening to country music (Especially Alabama's Mountain Music) while hiking at 14,000 feet!  I will have a trip report and pictures tomorrow hopefully...

...on a similar note, KC pictures will hopefully be up tomorrow as well ... very busy these days ...

Not sure when the guys are arriving for the weekend yet as there may be some flight-time re-arrangements, but regardless, my weekend will kick off somewhat on Thursday.  Should the guys not make it here I may go to the Mets/Rockies game on Thursday night (with hopes of catching the ISU game if it's on TV at all), then Friday I'll work a bit (key words: a bit), and then kick the extended weekend off.  Probably hit the town on Friday night.  We have a hotel in Westcliffe on Saturday night, Sunday bright and early we'll get up and attempt at climbing the Crestones then get back to Denver that night for likely a chill night since we'll be tired, but we'll see.   Monday the guys fly back and I might meet up with Riki & Ian for awhile.   Riki is moving to Cleveland shortly, this is very cool for her, but it'll suck to see her go.  She was one of my very first good friends I met after moving to Colorado 5 years ago (Yup, I've already lived here for more than 5 years, pretty unreal, huh?)

I'm thrilled that Buddy Bell is finally figuring it out.  Do you realize that both Friday night and last night the Royals starters pitched shutouts?  Complete game shutouts.  Buddy is finally seeing that we have the worst relief pitching in the history of baseball.  Do you know how many more games the Royals would have won this year had they just had the starters pitched the entire game instead of using that worthless piece of trash Ambiorix Burgos?  He is the worst pitcher in Royals history.   We need to hire Bret Saberhagen as a pitching coach.

What I am listening to as I type this:  Kenny Loggins - The Rest of Your Life
Most Recent DVD Burned: Sarah Silverman - Jesus Is Magic

August 28, 2006

Kansas City kicked incredible ass - imagine that.
I don't have time to update this as I'm busy as shit at work - imagine that.
I'm busy as shit at work because I think I'm going to take tomorrow off to climb Shavano and Tabeguache as sun is in the forecast and this may be the last time I have the chance to do this climb this year - imagine that.

What I am listening to as I type this:  Stone Sour - Choose
Most Recent DVD Burned: Sarah Silverman - Jesus Is Magic

August 24, 2006

You'd think after finishing the HUGE part of a big project that you might not be so busy.  HA!!!

What I am listening to as I type this:  Billy Joel - The Longest Time
Most Recent DVD Burned: Sarah Silverman - Jesus Is Magic

August 23, 2006

Usually when I climb a 14er, I tell you the pictures do it no justice.  I've finally found a video that does a 14er some justice.  As I've stated several times, I'm not sure I'll ever muster up the courage to climb Capitol Peak due to it's knife edge.   The founder of 14ers.com posted a helmet-cam video of himself crossing the knife edge ... it's one of the coolest videos I've ever seen, flat-out amazing.  I hope to do it some day, but am not so sure after seeing the video.  Check out the videos for yourself.  And no, although the Crestones are very difficult, they are nothing like this (hopefully!)

What I am listening to as I type this:  Van Morrison - Moondance
Most Recent DVD Burned: Sarah Silverman - Jesus Is Magic

August 22, 2006

Take a close look at that picture above of Keith with the Fantasy trophy ... then check out what I posted on our board at BW3's.  This was not intentional on Keith's part.

Fantasy football draft was held last night at BW3's .... this years K-F-Sea-Chickens consist of the following

QB: Carson Palmer, Jon Kitna
RB: Steven Jackson, LaMont Jordan, Brian Westbrook, Kevan Barlow
WR: Joe Horn, Keyshawn Johnson, Jerry Porter, Nate Burleson, Michael Clayton
TE: Antonio Gates, Jermaine Wiggans
K: Jason Elam
Defense: DAAAAAAAAAAAAA Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears da Bears

My draft strategy was simple this year ...  I wanted to draft all my starting RBs, QB, TE, and Defense before I took a WR.  I also wanted to stay away from star players whose team may make the playoffs (Rams, Raiders, Jets, Tampa, New Orleans, San Diego, Detroit) ... this way when the playoffs come, my players won't get benched.  My "hit or miss" pick this year is Antonio Gates.  I know he's a rock star, but with Phillip Rivers throwing to him this year, who knows, who knows.  I like Kitna throwing to those stellar Detroit receivers ... Kitna had a great year 2 seasons ago when he started for the Bengals.  I like Keyshawn on Carolina as I don't think Steve Smith can possibly reproduce his season from last year.  Elam is a sure-fire bet.   Palmer should be solid.  I think Steven Jackson will have a breakout year now that Martz is out of St. Louis.  I also think Westbrook will have a rock* year if he can stay healthy.  Clayton, Burleson, Porter ... well, not too sure about them ... but I do like that Drew Brees is now throwing to Horn ... regardless, I think the WR is the worst position for fantasy football, it's so hit-or-miss.

Anyways, that's the team that's bringing the trophy to Westcliff Parkway!!

What I am listening to as I type this:  Kool Moe Dee - Go See the Doctor
Most Recent DVD Burned: Sarah Silverman - Jesus Is Magic

August 21, 2006

Snakes on a Plane ... there's no easy way for me to say this ... GO SEE THIS MOVIE IMMEDIATELY!!!  I give it a perfect rating of 5 stars out of 4.  I've only felt that satisfied when leaving a movie two other times:  Dumb & Dumber and Anchorman.  There is no excuses for not seeing SoaP.  You must go when there is a good crowd at the movie as well ... I will be going to see this at least two more times in the theatre, giving it the first repeat-in-the-theatre viewing of a movie since, wow, I don't even know -- Karate Kid III maybe?

Friday night I went to SoaP, Saturday I worked all day then headed downtown, Sunday I worked all day then watched the Seahawks game.  Today I went on the M-Climb and have Convocation this afternoon.  Working this weekend was cool, my project I've been working on since, well, as long as I can remember, has finally been implemented, and it seems to be working just fine.  That's like taking a lead vest off my back, feels good having that done.

Short work week this week, I have Friday off and am going to KC for the weekend as I got a $128 (after taxes) round-trip ticket.  I might take a comp day during the week (since I worked this weekend) to climb Mt. Shavano and Mt. Tabeguache.  I'm really considering climbing Harvard and Columbia with the 14ers.com clan instead of watching the Iowa/ISU football game ... but we shall see.

What I am listening to as I type this:  Deftones - Rx Queen
Most Recent DVD Burned: Sarah Silverman - Jesus Is Magic

August 18, 2006

I almost forgot - I was thrilled when they played this song the other night, hadn't heard it live before and it's a "Top 3" favorite Deftones song of mine.   Nice like rice.

Coors Ampitheatre - Is this the Deftones?  What is going on?  Is Music Playing
Red Rocks - NIN, cool, sounds fantastic

Those are valid compairsons, and that, my friends, is a direct compairson between the best music venue in the country and the worst.

What am I doing this weekend?  Well, the above picture should show the most awesome part of this weekend!! I'm working all day tomorrow, finally implementing my project.  Sunday I have to work too ... finish up loose ends on my project then I have freshman orientation and get to clean up after freshman's parents.  Fun stuff, let me tell ya!

Laetitia has been repaired -- by me.  I visited three techs yesterday, none of them could even give me advice or a sure guess as to what was wrong with her.  I had email discussions with about 10 people yesterday, we were all thinking "Alternator" ... which I would have agreed with, except the starting of the car seemed weird and unrelated.  I hate dealers, but I finally called Planet Honda & John Elway Honda.  Both of them gave me the same prognosis:  the electrical to the ignition is shorted out.  I could get all the parts I needed for just over $40, so, as usual, I took on the venture of tearing my car apart not really knowing what I was doing.  I don't trust other people working on my car, I have major issues with this.   The only non-body-work and non-exhaust work I've paid someone to do in my 7 years with that car is the timing belt and master brake cylinder.

After yanking off the dash and steering column, after getting the next-to-impossible-to-reach-screws off, after getting the practically-glued-in electrical component out ... we (Bob helped me, although he knows as much about cars as I do, so we're definitely hardcore novices) did some hardcore modifications to the $40 part I just bought to get it to fit ... not sure how we didn't break the damn thing.  We struggled hardcore to get this new part in the tight space ... shaved a bunch (understatement) of plastic off, tried bending some metal, and it still wouldn't fucking plug into the ignition, it just wouldn't fit.  I took one last attempt at it before I would give up and have it towed to a tech ... I took a wrench and wrapped it around my new ignition component, and just tapped the wrench with my hammer .... like a mutherfucking lubed up glove this thing went precisely where it needed to go.  Two screws and a start attempt later ... and what do we have?  We have something like this, only with a lot more profanity-laced celebration in the parking lot.  Dan from Old C's tells me this repair is a "Job Security Repair" ... meaning: it makes tech's have a job as normal people can't do this job with the right tool.

I must give a sincere thanks for all those who replied to me yesterday offering suggestions on this, it is very much appreciated!!!

So yes, Laetitia is back to 100%, this time the tab was only $40.  People ask why I keep her ..... well, how much is a car payment?  If I have to put $50-100 in her every other month, it's a trillion times cheaper than a new car.  And she runs like a dream, a wet dream, about Laetitia Casta.  Yummy.

New pictures are up on the Colorado August page, you know where to find it.  Some of the pictures involve strippers, maybe that'll intice you to go look at them.

What I am listening to as I type this:  Cher - Believe
Most Recent DVD Burned: Sarah Silverman - Jesus Is Magic

August 17, 2006

This shit with Jon Benet is amazing.  I am shocked, didn't think they'd ever catch the guy.  I now feel very bad for thinking the parents did it.  I'm sure Boulder is hopping with reporters right now, just add that to the list of 10 trillion reasons I hate going up there.

I was in the zone last night ... dusted everything, vacuumed everything, did laundry, did dishes, and cleaned the oven.  Tonight is floors, bathroom, ironing, and ceiling fan dusting.  My allergies have been destroying me lately, so I figure it's time to rid the apartment of all dust and such.  To bad we've likely got mold from our 3 year leak the apartment complex can't seem to fix.  Any ideas for how I can profit from their lack of repairing my ceiling?  I shall look into this.

Speaking of "in the zone" ... Auto Zone.  I need help from you car people out there ... I've got messages in some online forums trying to diagnose Laetitia's latest problem, but no responses as of yet ....

Last night, 10pm, at a stoplight ... car shuts off.  Power was still on, stereo on, headlights on, but car turned off.  No biggie, I think, I'll sit here with hazards until a cop comes by or something ... after 3 or 4 minutes I just tried to start the car and it started up, so I pull over at a gas station and fill up with gas just in case my guages are off (I had 4 gallons left) and checked my oil and such ... those were fine.  So I drive to Old C's to meet Tiff for a beer.  Stayed there about 30 minutes and left for home.  About 2 miles from home my guages start bouncing all over the place.  My power locks start locking & unlocking themselves.  Suddenly, the car again dies.  This time it took me 3 or 4 tries before I could get the car restarted, but I made it home ok.   This morning, I go to start my car and it starts but immediately dies ... this happened 2 or 4 times but then it started normally.   Then on the way to work, the guages again started bouncing all over the place ... no rhyme or reason to it ... but the car didn't shut off at this point ...

...so basically I've got random guage movement and random car stalls and I'm not sure if the car will start again after this happens.  Relay Switch?  Ignition Switch?   Alternator?  Fuel Injection?  Fuel Pump?  Fuel Filter?  What the hell is wrong with this?  I will take ANY advice or suggestions on this one ...

What I am listening to as I type this:  Deftones - Korea
Most Recent DVD Burned: Sarah Silverman - Jesus Is Magic

August 16, 2006

Go read my posts from the day after any concert in which Corey Taylor was involved, and you will see the utmost praise.  I've been to five Slipknot shows and three Stone Sour shows ... last night's show, by roughly 17 trillion times, was the worst concert I've been to.  It's not the bands' faults, they played fine.  There is just a serious problem with Fiddler's Green, or Coors Ampitheatre, or whatever the hell they call it now.  Hands down, that is the worst concert venue of all time.  I saw Fleetwood Mac there about 3 years ago, and that was ok, but we were at a sit-down concert about 10 rows up.  These were lawn seats.  They cost about $17 a seat.  That is $17 too much. In fact, they should pay me to go to a show there.  Awful, just awful.  You couldn't hear a fucking thing.  There was no excitement I usually get from seeing these bands, two "Top 10" bands at that, in the Deftones and SS.  The only times I got remotely close to excited were when the Deftones finished off with 7 Words (I didn't think they were going to play it!) and when Korn finished with Blind (one of the very few Korn songs I enjoy).  Had I not had every SS & Deftones song memorized, I wouldn't have had a clue what song was even playing, it sounded terrible.  Hell, they even had strippers dancing at this show (Yes, I have pictures but I forgot my camera), and I will still say this is the worst concert I've ever been to.

Whoever organized this tour needs to chew on a curb and let me smash their head with my foot, circa Ed Norton in American History X (one of my favorite movie scenes of all time).  Explain this to me ... for 1/2 hour after the Stone Sour set, they were going to do a meet-and-greet thing.  Needless to say, I was going.  I go to get in line and find out they're only letting you in if you have a wristband.  One might ask, how do you get a wristband?  Well, you have to buy their new album ... at the show.  Now someone please explain this to me ... wouldn't a real fan have bought the album the day it came out two weeks ago?!  Wouldn't a real fan have listened to the album roughly 100 times and have it memorized already?  I'll be damned if I'm paying $22 for a CD ... that I already own ... I'll be damned if I'm going to pay $22 to shake anyone on Earth's hand.  They had the same deal for the Deftones if you pre-purchased the album at the show (and with all the other bands as well) at a reasonable price of $15 ... sounded like a good deal (since it goes without saying that I'll buy that CD the day it's released anyway), but I was in such disagreement with the way they handled the Stone Sour meet-and-greet, I wanted nothing to do with their absurd ways.  The people at the FYE booth told me the band made this decision, I find that next to impossible to believe.  You mean to tell me that every band on the Family Values Tour felt the exact same way about the meet-and-greet policies?  Horseshit.  Bottom Line: The real fan cannot meet the band on this particular day because he bought the album two weeks ago.

Summary of last night:  Regardless of the show ... I don't care if it's a Chimaira/Slipknot/Deftones/Slayer conecrt hosted by Alessandra Ambrosio... if it's at Coors Ampitheatre, I will not be going.  That place is a dump.

In other news, the Royals officially suck.  Just thought I'd clarify that for you.

What I am listening to as I type this:  Deftones - Korea
Most Recent DVD Burned: Sarah Silverman - Jesus Is Magic

August 15, 2006

I guess my countdown is telling me when the concert will be over ... not sure how I coded it...  i suppose you could right-click and view the source and tell me what kind of crack I was on when I wrote that garbage code .... ok, it got the best of me so I had to re-look at my code, I put tomorrow's date there.  When I wrote that shit I didn't put in a specific hour of the day, just the day of .... maybe I should care more.

...anyways, Deftones/Stone Sour concert is tonight.  The more I think about it, the more I'm absolutely shocked that anyone could put Korn as the headliner of this show.   How can anyone possibly think that Korn is better than the Deftones or Stone Sour!?  This makes very little sense to me.  Regardless, I'm taking off around 2:30 today to get down there early.  According to the Family Value Tour's website, they have stripper poles set up in the crowd for the Denver show only, sweet.  This could be quite the interesting show.

Bikram Yoga kicked my ass last night.  I fully expected this.  You should have seen my towel, hell, you should still see it.  I haven't sweat that much since, well, last time I did bikram yoga.  I hate the funny words they use and the whole "mental" side of Yoga.  The chick is up there instructing us and says stuff like, "Let all the bad thoughts flow out of you."  "We are refreshing our minds today."  Uhm, no, I'm just bending in a weird position to get more flexible for snowboarding purposes, I have no idea what in the fuck you are talking about you bizarre vegan.  However, I finally found an ankle handicap that I have.  I cannot sit on my heels, it is extremely painful to try to do this.  I did yoga a few years ago and was able to do this.  I will likely work on this as I don't like being limited as to what I'm physically able to do ... I'm surprised you didn't know that.

What I am listening to as I type this:  Stone Sour - Zzyzx Rd.
Most Recent DVD Burned: Sarah Silverman - Jesus Is Magic

August 14, 2006

Weekend summed up in a bloody big nutshell: Insanely Satisfying.

Now I normally just say something like "I climbed <Whatever> Peak this weekend, trip report and pictures are up.", but today I'll put a bit more in here.  I haven't been more proud of myself for climbing a mountain in over 3 years. (Can you believe I did Long's Peak 3 years ago already?!)  I didn't want to hike in the dark through the forest with my headlamp alone, it didn't sound safe.  I only got 3 hours of sleep the night before.  I hadn't eaten in over 12 hours.  My legs were sore before I started.  This hike had more vertical gain than Long's Peak by over 500 feet.  This is the 2nd longest hike I'd ever do.  I didn't want to go.   I almost turned around and drove home right when I got to the trailhead.  I almost turned around in the first 1.5 miles of the hike.  I'll admit, I was spooked by hiking through the forest alone in the dark.  But you know what, I fucking did it.   I made it up that mountain and I did it at a damn good speed.  Round trip, with a 20 minute rest and a 30 minute summit time (I usually spend 10 minutes, tops, on the summit) in 9:25 ... well under the average time of 10 hours (not counting summit time!).  I booked, I kicked this mountain's ass.  I was the first one of the day to summit this mountain from the main trailhead.  I didn't need motivation of others, on this particular trip, I learned a few things:
A) I sure am no pussy
B) I am in excellent shape
C) I am very goal-driven and don't need to lie to myself, I really do meet all my goals
Hell yes, I'm proud of myself.  That mountain was awesome and I mock everyone that says such things as "I have to work kinda late on Friday so I'm not going to hike anymore."  Blah, blah, blah ... excuses excuses.  If I could do this mountain under the conditions I did it in at the speed I did ... your excuse is garbage.  This was a major boost to my confidence in my lifelong dream of being 100% self-sufficient and independent.   3 more 14ers to go, and now I'm strongly considering upping that goal to 6 more for the season (for a total of 11 this summer) since I should easily (weather permitting) meet my summer goal ... I need to set my sights higher.

That being said, I climbed Mt. of the Holy Cross this weekend, trip report and pictures are up.

Side story of Saturday's hike, and I don't want to put this in my trip report (as I cross-post those on some other websites) ... this is kinda funny but I really did feel bad.  It's about 6am and I'm about 2+ hours into my hike and am near East Cross Creek by the campsites, about 3 miles in from the trailhead.  I see a tent here and there, but no people.  I cross the stream, it's just barely light out and I still have my headlamp turned on.  I pass the campsites by about 200 yards or so when I hear a noise in the trees not 20 feet off the trail.  I stop dead in my tracks and look to my left where I see something brown moving.  I try to shine my light on it to see what it is.  I unstrap my gun (which, for the first time ever, I'm carrying with a hollow point in the chamber) and have it within a 2 second draw in case I need it.  It stops moving.  I have no idea what it is, a deer? an elk?  a lion?   a bear?  What the hell is this thing?  I whistle lightly to attract attention to myself and whatever it is moves to the point where I'm pretty sure it's looking at me.  I think it could be a human, so I say "Hello?"  And I get a reply, "Hello".  Whew, it's a human, I re-strap the gun in place.   It's a female.  There were lots of junctions here for various campsites, so I simply say "Sorry to scare you, do you know if this is the right trail to Holy Cross?"  She says, "Uhm, just give me a minute." ... OH SHIT!! I feel like an asshole immediately, this chick was taking a shit against a tree, trying to be inconspicuous, and here I am shining a light on her, whistling at her, and trying to talk to her.  I mean, I couldn't see anything ... hell ... I didn't know if she was a human or a lion!  Regardless, I'd bet she was sitting there thinking, "What is this psycho pervert doing shining a light on me while I'm sitting here trying to take a shit! Sick bastard!"  While she never told me this was what she was doing, I realized it and just said, "Oh shit, I'm so sorry, I'm SO sorry!!" and I just took off like a bolt of lightning up the mountain.  Good times, good times.

Yesterday I went golfing with Colby and Andy at Eagle Trace.  I've been a golfer since I was 7, I have never quit.  I was good when I was little, I have a few trophies here and there from tournaments.  Not quite sure how, but I'm a varsity letter-winner in Golf from high-school (although I never played Varisty as Kuemper won state while I was on the team, we were that good and I was no below-par shooter like the rest of the team, yet I still lettered, who knew?)  Yes, this contradicts what I spoke of in the first paragraph today ... I quit on the front 9 yesterday.  I had a 29 after 4 holes.  Easily the worst I've ever golfed in my life, ever.  I had one good shot, and it was a shot after hitting one in the water ... so my par turned into a double-bogey.  Please explain how I could regularly shoot in the low 40's every round when I was 12, but now it's hard for me to break 50 on 9 holes now.  Then, comeback player of the year kicked in.  After driving the cart for 5 holes, I decided I'd set a goal for myself and play the back 9.  I decided I was going to shoot a 39 on the back.  Hole 10:  Par.   Hole 11:  Par  Hole 12: Barely missed par, bogey.  Hole 12:  Bogey .... after sinking 2 20+ foot putts for the day, and while taking (2) 3-putt holes, I didn't meet my goal, but still polished off a 100% solid 44 on the back.  Not my best game, but after the atrocious front 9 (er, front 4), I was again thrilled with my performance.  I honestly was considering giving up golf permanently after those first 4 holes, but I think I'm finally back on track now.  Bring it on!

I'm taking a bikram yoga class again tonight, working towards a new goal.  Stone Sour concert is tomorrow ..."I'm looking forward to it" would be an immense understatement.

What I am listening to as I type this:  Stone Sour - Cardiff
Most Recent DVD Burned: Sarah Silverman - Jesus Is Magic

August 11, 2006

My hands hurt ... too many blisters from sweeping so much ... sweeping the Red Sox, that is.  Watched it last night at Potts with the crew, good bar that Potts is, why don't we go there more often?  Oh yeah, it's about 10 miles away from home, that's right.  The $6 tab is never bad, though.

We originally had 11 (yes, eleven - I didn't know hardly any of them) people climbing Mt. of the Holy Cross tomorrow, but a new record -- every single one of them backed out.   Pussies.  I'm a man of my word and am on a tight 14er schedule, so I'm going solo tomorrow.  I am hardcore addicted to www.14ers.com right now (by FAR, the best site on the internet), I'm looking for someone to join me on the Climbing Connection, but we'll see if that happens.

Boy, fresh yogurt tastes much better than the yogurt with a July 2 expiration date that I consumed yesterday morning.

What I am listening to as I type this:  Kenny Loggins - Footloose
Most Recent DVD Burned: Sarah Silverman - Jesus Is Magic

August 10, 2006

I share the same birthday as Kenny Loggins.  This song is so good and the movie is so insanely stupid.  We're talking one of the all-time worst movies ever, and this from a guy who loves John Lithgow.  I think I was the only one on his side when watching this movie, it has such a sad ending when he gives in.  Pansy.

That was an awesome Royals game last night, a 9th inning rally capped off with a walk-off single by fresh-off-the-DL team captain Mike Sweeney.  As always, I was looking for a way for KC to win without Papelbon getting the loss (he's on both of my fantasy teams, I actually drafted him in the 9th round in my live-draft league), but it didn't happen and I'm just happy that KC now has a chance to sweep the BoSox tonight.

Today's workout will entail running 2 miles, biking 5 miles on a stationary bike (with resistance at the highest level), and doing 4 heavy load low rep lifts (3 sets of 5).  Yesterday I took it easy and did a day of circuit training ... 4 different lifts (dumbbell bench, bent-over-rows, lunges, straight-legged deadlift) one after another, 3 sets of 12, with 30 seconds of rest between sets.  It kicked my ass, so I skipped the cardio yesterday.  It's pathetic to think about how after I just biked across Iowa and climb a 14er every weekend, how grossly out of shape I actually am.  Damn those chips & salsa and Tombstone pizzas, too much deliciousness packed into unhealthy food that I refuse to avoid.

It's looking almost 100% certain that I'm not going to the Iowa/ISU game again this year.  Damn gas prices are ridiculous and it's almost as much fun to go to the Sports Column to watch the game.  I didn't get to go last year due to a slight mishap with my ankle, you may have heard about that.

Going to watch football at Potts tonight.  Looking like the weekend will entail me going to bed around 7pm on Friday night, leaving Denver around midnight, and trying to do a day-trip summit of Holy Cross (as opposed to camping, as was originally planned).   This would allow me to start hiking by 2ish, hopefully back to the car around nooner, and back to Denver by 3pm.  This will allow a short nap and actually let me get to go out in a social setting Saturday night in Denver on a weekend for the first time since ... wow ... maybe July 3?

We have officially rented a Jeep and reserved a hotel in Westcliffe for Labor Day weekend.  Now I've done 2 black-diamond 14ers (Longs Peak and Wetterhorn Peak) ... but now it's time for a black diamond (Crestone Peak) and double-black diamond (Crestone Needle) combination.  I really hope we time it so we're able to do both, it could be the single-most thrilling experience of my life.

What I am listening to as I type this:  Marc Cohn - Walking In Memphis
Most Recent DVD Burned: Sarah Silverman - Jesus Is Magic

August 09, 2006

This guy (Marc Cohn) got shot in the head in Denver while getting car-jacked a year or so ago, remember that?  Weird.

Went to the pancake breakfast last night (imagine that), and today is burrito day.   I'm slowly getting all my meals for the week spoken for before the week even begins.  Funny how that happens.

Not much to say today.  Maybe I'll go make things out of clay, or play in the hay, whaddaya say?  I just may.

What I am listening to as I type this:  Barry Manilow - It's A Miracle
Most Recent DVD Burned: Sarah Silverman - Jesus Is Magic

August 08, 2006

Tuesday?  It's only Tuesday?  What a horrific thought, I want the weekend.   I want to be on top of Mt. of the Holy Cross.  I am insanely excited for Juergens to get out here over Labor Day so we can get up Crestone Peak ... and maybe, just maybe, Crestone Needle.  I have never been so excited about a mountain climb.   This is going to easily be the best 14er season I've had yet.  There's no contest.

Stone Sour is on Leno tonight ... tune in for awesomeness.

A week from today will be grand ... payday coupled with a Stone Sour/Deftones concert.   Also get my new H20 receiver and 5 LNB satellite dish that day, so locals will all be in HD as well as Fox Sports RSN.  Please explain to me how that could be a better day.

I'm very pissed off with the city of Denver right now, you have no idea.   After my years and years of impeccible credit (currently just above a 800 credit score), those worthless fuckheads reported my unpaid parking tickets to the credit bureaus.  Normally this would be acceptable as it's an unpaid ticket and I should pay them.  This is different.  I've paid every parking ticket I've ever gotten except this one that they double-billed me on and haven't explained to me why.   I refuse to pay it as it's a moral dilemma, why did they give me 2 tickets for the same thing?  Nobody seems to have an explaination, I've written about 7 letters and gone down and talked to them face-to-face about it and they still won't even explain to me why I got two tickets instead of one.  Now when parking tickets are $20, and they give you a $40 fine for no reason (insead of $20), I questioned that.  While I was in the process of debating that, they doubled the $40 (should have been $20) for a late fee, so my $20 ticket is now $80.  Then, I went to debate it in person (I even took off work to do this as they only take parking ticket debates in person, downtown, M-F from 8-5), and when they couldn't tell me why I got 2 tickets instead of one, and I refused to pay until they told me why I got 2 tickets instead of one, they doubled the $80 to $160.  So now, for being (literally) 3 minutes over the parking meter time, I have a $160 ticket.  And now I find out 2 days ago they reported me as a non-payment to the credit bureaus.  There is no way in fucking hell I'm paying it, and now it's absolutely destroying my credit score.  How fair is this?!   I can't recall a time in my life when I've been more livid about something.   I've worked my ass off to get that credit score, and now because some fuckhead maid-meter earning $8/hr accidentally double-billed me, I have to suffer.  Next step: Letter to Hickenlooper.  The dude will not stand for this, man.

Ok, now I'm all worked up and cannot type any more.

What I am listening to as I type this:  Beck - Mixed Bizness
Most Recent DVD Burned: Airheads

August 07, 2006

Happy Monday!!  That weekend went over fairly well.  Friday night I basically came home from work, watched Glengarry Glen Ross and went to bed around 8:30.   Saturday I woke up promptly at 1:15a.m. and went and climbed Humboldt Peak with Miriah, trip report and picturess are up.  Saturday night I was going to go out, but was too damn tired so ended up going to bed around 8:30 after trying to watch my Chimaira DVD.  Yesteray I was up early ... I thrashed out my list of things to get done over the course of 7 hours ... then biked 15 miles, ran 3 miles, lifted weights, got groceries, ate, went to Talladega Nights (which was ok, about the same quality as 40 Year Old Virgin, which I didn't care for ... let's just say this, it was no Anchorman), went to BW3's, went to Taco Bell, went to bed, and now here I am wt work.  Gotta love the run-on sentence.

Got plans tonight and tomorrow night, probably take it easy Wednesday and Thursday night, then this weekend I'll be camping and climbing Mt. of the Holy Cross.  I've been wanting to do that one for a couple years, so it'll be great to finally do it!

Sorry, I'm not very interesting today.  I'll put up a new Wil$on picture to keep you thrilled.  By the way, I'd love for someone to write a new Wil$on story ... Have a great week.

What I am listening to as I type this:  Stone Sour - Zzyzx Rd.
Most Recent DVD Burned: Airheads

August 04, 2006

Major props to my sister Cori  -- you rule, absolutely rule!!

Very busy so this'll be short ...

I'm loving all the positive response from the Library Jennifer story!   I'm glad you can all relate.

I put about 280 RAGBRAI pictures up last night, I had no time for captions or organizing them, so they're in completely random order with no captions.   If you know what's going on in the picture or have a question as to what's up, feel free to comment on the picture (there's a "Add Comment" button on the upper-left) and I'll explain details to you if I can ...

Leaving for Humboldt Peak at 2:00a.m. tonight, possibly going up to Keystone Saturday night to meet up with Scandrett & Katie at the Beer Fest, then Sunday I'll likely -- and FINALLY - relax ... ahhhhhhhhh.  (Unless I go to the Ricky Bobby movie, which will likely be necessary)

What I am listening to as I type this:  Stone Sour - sillyworld
Most Recent DVD Burned: Airheads

August 03, 2006

Hey, I finally unpacked last night!  That was a process and a half, but laundry is done, sheets are changed, room is vacuumed, unpacking has taken place, bathroom has been cleaned ... life is almost back to normal here ... almost.  I basically have ironing left (it'll be 2 weeks before I'm desperate enough for clothes to do laundry) and I'm all set.

Ever wonder why I don't drink pop?  Ever wonder who this mysterious Library Jennifer I sporatically mention is?  Ever wonder what I listened to on my headphones back in 1999?  All these questsions and more are answered in the latest story of my life, entitled, Library Jennifer, the Unattainable.  It can be found on the stories page.

Side story note:  I added pictures to the Phil Kohorst/Detasseling story so you can get a better feel for what detasseling is.  I took these pictures during RAGBRAI for the sole purpose of adding them to that story.

Humboldt Peak has been confirmed for Saturday.  Holy Cross will be climbed next weekend.   The following weekend is work.  The weekned after that I will climb Shavano and Tabeguache.  The following weekend Juergens is coming out and we'll be taking a stab at the Crestones ... I am very excited for this.  While Shavano/Tabeguache isn't the most scenic ... those other 3 climbs are insane with regards to scenery.  I really do think I'm going to meet my goal of 8 14ers this summer ... in fact, I really do think I'm going to be successful in every goal I wrote down for 2006 on New Year's Day ... just gotta start working on that sub-4-hour marathon.

What I am listening to as I type this:  Stone Sour - Socio
Most Recent DVD Burned: Airheads

August 02, 2006

Every couple of months or so I have a dream disturbing enough to ruin my day ... it leaves a pit in my stomach ... last night was that dream, today is that day.  Why can't I just write off certain parts of my past?  There's 2 incredibly disturbing things that have happened to me that I just can't get over ... and any time I'm reminded of one of them, I'm just a wreck, that's today.  Thank God for this incredible album that was released yesterday, it's giving me some form of joy.

In other news, I no longer am working this weekend and will be working the weekend in about two weeks ... as a result, I believe Miriah and I will be climbing Humboldt Peak on Saturday.  She has Jacob's XTerra this weekend and wants to do some 4WD roads, and the one to the Humboldt trailhead looks about as rough as they get!  Scandless and Katie will be in Keystone on Saturday night so I may drive up to see them after the climb, then just get some relaxation in on Sunday.

Look for RAGBRAI pix next week, until then, keep yourself occupied by purchasing Come What(ever) May and listening to it over and over until your ears bleed, I fully intend on doing this.

What I am listening to as I type this:  Heavy D. and Pig Punisher - On Point
Most Recent DVD Burned: Airheads

August 01, 2006

Stone Sour's new album came out today .... awesomeness ensued and the world was a better place for having it.  I didn't buy it yet, but I was streaming it all day on AOL yesterday and have got a good feel for it ... as usual, no comments until I write the review (which I never end up actually doing unless it's a Corey Taylor project).

Meanwhile, back in my life, I slept a lot last night, started laundry, and cleaned up shop about 1/3 of the way.  Going out to eat with Rikelle for lunch today, probably skip the gym tonight, then hit up the pancake breakfast tonight.

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