May 2005 - Posts

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 7:19 AM

Wednesday

Hey, is it Wednesday already.  It seems like the first time I stopped to look around Monday and Tuesday are gone.  That's okay though.  The DVR will keep up with any shows that I missed.  I've recently been keeping busy with updating the Scavenger Hunt Pictures (almost 90 to date) as well as working in the yard.  If I'm not doing either of those I'm at work or sleeping (seems more the former than the latter)..

So today it is raining outside.  That means I can sit back and watch the rain for awhile.  My truck is dusty so I'm thinking it'll rain just enough to make it worse but not enough to clean off the dust.  That's how it usually goes in the Summer.  Just enough to make it even more humid but not enough to cool it off a little.  

Has anyone been looking at the Scavenger Hunt?    If you didn't know already, it's just a hunt for a picture.  There are 24 clues posted and you simply have to ride out, find it, take a picture of it, and then send it in.  Scoring works like a Fun Run except the cards aren't awarded points until all the cards are drawn. 

Where else would you see 10 people standing in a parking lot and one holding a balloon?  Anyone can play, it doesn't matter what State or Club you're in either.  Sign up today at this address by clicking on the register button.  You have the best part of the Summer to find your photos.

Nothing else comes to mind yet this morning so I'll keep this posting short. 

 

 

posted by JFrum with 0 Comments
Friday, May 06, 2005 7:42 PM

02 May 2005 01:26 PM - Last Archived Posting

Dear Journal - Monday
Posted: 02 May 2005 01:26 PM
Did you notice? I've been gone awhile. I took a two week vacation and toured Branson and later most of WeezieAnna. The folks down there aren't nearly as nice as they are in the midwest. Just an example, we stopped in the Wal-Mart in Gonzales, LA for some supplies (granted we don't get the best service at the Wal-Marts in town here either) and my wife, after searching the store briefly, stopped a Wal-mart associate, and asked her where the batteries were. Her response, and I'm not kidding, "Oh they're all over the place". Then she turned and walked off. We were happy to check out of that place (via the single lane they had open I might add). It wasn't just Wal-mart. It was the entire state. It made us happy to be in our neck of the woods again.

Still, we had a great time down there and visited lots of sites, including swamps, a plantation and even the Gulf. The second week off we spent spending the rest of our money around the house. I completely rebuilt my gas grill (maybe I should of bought a new one; it was pretty expensive - like $70).

Before returning to work I thought about how nice it was to not to be working in the old group I was in (I recently changed divisions within my company). Those guys (myself included) liked to mess with anyone's desk who was on vacation. Sometimes it was disabling the phone, turning up the ringer so loud it woke the dead, moving things around, hiding alarm clocks in all the drawers and ceing tiles to go off at different times and one time we filled an entire office up with balloons. It made anyone wonder what they'd find upon returning to work. I can't forget the Saran wrap deal either. Thankfully those weasels don't work with me anymore (most of them anyway) so I was home free.

As I returned to work I found everything in it's place along with about 154 e-mail messages to sort through. It took me nearly all morning to complete those e-mail messages. Then I got to chat with some fellow co-workers and explain the trip a few times. I hope to bring pictures in soon too. I haven't even looked at them all yet. Not my wife though, she looked at them all on the way home from the store. She was supposed to wait but not this time. All in all we had a great time. I'm still no closer to a Goldwing either. It'll come. I'm sure.

Shortly after I arrived to work, I sent my boss a message telling him that how hard it was to believe that I still had one more week of time off. I think he might of set the carpet on fire rushing over to my cube after he read it to see if I was really there. I was but it was a good grin.

About 10:30 I was finally caught up on my e-mail. That's about the time a co-worker sent me a message asking to borrow a book. I thought, that's crazy, there is plenty of answers on the internet. That's what I do. Without a thought, I opened my hutch to give him a book. That's when I noticed that some of my books were gone. About that time two gross (288) ping pong balls fell from my cabinet all over my desk and on to the floor. I laughed my butt off. How'd them turkeys get all them balls to stay in there I have no idea.

Anyway, nobody has claimed responsibility just yet but it's funny how 3 or 4 of my co-workers just happened to be around at the time of the incident. What am I going to do with 285 ping-pong balls (I gave 3 away already)? There was a price tag on the box for $29.95 a gross. It's nice to know I'm missed.

Well that's all for now. Until next time...
posted by admin with 0 Comments
Friday, May 06, 2005 7:42 PM

11 Apr 2005 07:56 AM

Dear Journal - Monday
Posted: 11 Apr 2005 07:56 AM
Week 2 after the stupid pager. Last week was heck for the person who has it now (currently located on L.A.). I assisted as necessary to help out anyway. Yesterday was the Nebraska State Meeting. It was held at the police station. It looked like a pretty cool building. One thing though is you just can't use the stairs. They are out of order or something. Instead, you have to rely on this elevator that's most certainly have two old guys in the basement pulling ropes to make it work. Oh yea...no internet either.

I saw one Goldwing in the parking lot and it looked like a pretty rainy ride back to town after the meeting. It was difficult enough in the truck. I got loads of flyers to post on the internet from everyone so I'll be busy the next week or so. I took some pictures also including a most recent "where's Ed?" shot. Look for it soon at your favorite GWTA Nebraska Website near you.
posted by admin with 0 Comments
Friday, May 06, 2005 7:41 PM

04 Apr 2005 08:05 AM

Re: Dear Journal - Monday
Posted: 04 Apr 2005 08:05 AM
Okay today is Monday, that's actually a good thing because today I get rid of the stupid pager. It's also pushing 80 outside today too. What are the chances?

Last weekend the stupid pager didn't go off one time. It didn't even go off at the John Cougar Concert. I was thinking something might be wrong with it but there isn't anytime to make sure.

Since the weather was so nice I moved boulders all day. My back is killing me today. It seems our friendly neighbor put in a new driveway a few years back. Instead of removing his driveway he just tossed it over the fence into what is now our yard. He claims the current owner at the time requested it. Anyway, if anyone needs a driveway (some assembly required) let me know.

Next week is the state meeting. That'll be a few hours spent relaxing in the truck instead of moving boulders. It's a good thing. No motorcycle on the horizon yet but each day is one day closer.
posted by admin with 0 Comments
Friday, May 06, 2005 7:41 PM

01 Apr 2005 08:09 AM

Re: Dear Journal - Friday
Posted: 01 Apr 2005 08:09 AM
Day 5 of stupid pager duty. Last night again they paged me 4 times for one issue. Those guys are great.

Tonight I'm backup on call for the John Cougar Mellencamp concert. In this case I don't mind getting the call so much. I hate that I have to wait until a few hours before to know if I'm going or not. It makes it challenging to plan a Friday. That's life.

Today is April Fools day. I'm keeping a close eye out. You just never know what's real and what isn't. I also have to remember to set the clocks forward. I think we should just leave the clocks alone and to set the record straight, leave the clocks forward.

Not much else to say today. I'm still thinking about winning the GWTA Goldwing. I have some time to decide if I want it or not. After all, there is much tax to pay if I decide to win it.

3 more days of stupid pager duty to go. 11 more months of Goldwing waiting (short of taking the GWTA one).
posted by admin with 0 Comments
Friday, May 06, 2005 7:40 PM

30 Mar 2005 07:16 AM

Re: Dear Journal - Wednesday
Posted: 30 Mar 2005 07:16 AM
At this time I am at Wednesday of stupid pager duty. The reason why I call it stupid is beacuse the people that page out will insist on paging you 3 to 12 times for every incident. In fact, yesterday they not only paged me while I was on the phone with them, but they paged me again to tell me there was a problem 10 minutes after I fixed it. I told them I already fixed it and it wasn't necessary to fix it again because it was still fixed. After I got off the phone they proceeded to page me yet again to tell me that I fixed something earlier and that they didn't need me to fix it again.

Today it is raining. Not really raining but I guess it's spitting. That way all the clean cars get dirty again. Mine was already dirty so I wasn't as bummed. The smell of Spring is here and the grass is starting to turn green. That means we'll be entering the period in time where doing yard work is the greatest joy that it will ever be all year. After it gets really hot moods change.

So far no Goldwings for me on the horizon. I haven't decided for sure yet but I might just elect to win the GWTA Goldwing this year. Last year I was going to win it but backed out at the very last minute as I felt there were more deserving people that should have it. I still have some time to decide.
posted by admin with 0 Comments
Friday, May 06, 2005 7:39 PM

28 Mar 2005 12:46 PM

Re: Dear Journal - Monday
Posted: 28 Mar 2005 12:46 PM
Today marks the first day of stupid pager duty. I already noticed that it's warm and sunny outside. Already they stopped by and told me they need me to monitor the system at 1:00 AM. Only 7 more days of stupid pager duty to go. That should keep my mind off the next lucky Goldwing that'll I'll own.

Today I went to Menards for lunch just to get away from the office. They have strange stuff at Menards. Things you wouldn't normally go to Menards for. They have things like Easter Lily's ($.99), chocolate, peanuts, chocolate peanuts, a 2005 full size road atlas, little dinners (not sure what those were really) and socks. Plus you get to hear those nice announcements that are "only for Menards Customers". In case there are Home Depot customers there, they can't take advantage of those offers. They know who you are.

Anyway, I got a road atlas. It was only $5.00. Now when I get my Goldwing I can't get lost. Maybe that's bad though.
posted by admin with 0 Comments
Friday, May 06, 2005 7:39 PM

25 Mar 2005 07:26 AM

Dear Journal - Friday
Posted: 25 Mar 2005 07:26 AM
Today is Friday. It's about time. The good part is it's raining. That means I don't feel like riding my Goldwing so much...the one I don't have yet.

The bad part about it is next week I get the stupid pager. I noticed next week the weather man is claiming 60s too. Whenever I get the stupid pager, shoot hits the fan at work and I'm up all night. I hate the stupid pager. Last time I had the stupid pager the thing woke me up at 3:30 AM to let me know the battery was low. I thought that wasn't really a bad thing that needed immediate (or any) attention. It also doesn't help much that work pages me 3 or 4 (or 20 in some cases) times for one issue. They even page you up to an hour later (as you're drifting off in most cases) to let you know that they had a problem but it was fixed by you when you fixed it an hour ago.

The one thing about weather reports in this area is you have to know how to watch them. If they all say it's going to be 60 a week from now, you have to subtract 2 degrees for every day in the future. So if they say it's going to be 70 next Friday you take 7 times 2, subtract from 70 and come up with 56. If they say it's going to be raining next Friday, chances are it won't be. The storms always just miss us. If they detect a snow storm coming they always draw the line (you know the pink snowfall bubble) right over my town. That means we'll get anywhere from 2 inches to 22 inches and they'll call it accurate. All that said, it'll probably be a little cooler next week (more than they think now).


Other than that nothing new to report. I still have my USB Optical Wireless LapTop Mouse too.

Until next time
posted by admin with 0 Comments
Friday, May 06, 2005 7:37 PM

24 Mar 2005 08:14 AM New Thread

Dear Journal - Nias
Posted: 24 Mar 2005 08:14 AM
Today I started a new journal thread. As you know I am currently between GoldWings. We had to sell the last one to help support a new vehicle purchase. We really needed a pickup truck and the car we had, although helpful, wasn't good enough.

I have, at the house, a whole bunch of ducks. Getting these little critters to hold still and line up has been challenging the last few moons. I have decided that by next Spring I'll have them all trained where I want them. That being said, this will be a painful riding season for me. This journal will document the process.

Two weeks ago I got to go to Minnesota to see the site for the next Region "C" Rally. On the way I saw a bald eagle sitting in a field near Atlantic Iowa. It was a pretty big fella too. Where was the camera you ask? It was in the trunk.

Minutes later an Iowa State Patrol Unit pulled us over because our windows were tinted, too tinted it seems. He was pretty nice about it and gave us a warning. We thought we'd roll down the windows next time we saw one until we could fix it.

We stopped in Ames at this really cool BBQ place which was right off of HWY 30. BTW HWY 30 is a great route to take. The road is perfect. Anyway I got the sampler platter and the pork ribs were awesome. I didn't care for the beef ones at all. If I ever go through Ames again I'll stop there and chow.

Once approaching Caledonia, the road turns from flat to very hilly and very winding. It's pretty sudden. I enjoyed that ride and even saw yet another bald eagle. This time I made dad stop the car but he got away before I could shoot him. Yes, with the camera. Right before town I saw a round barn. You don't see those very often. Where's the camera? In the backseat now. Too late. I'll get it next time.

The hotel seemed nice. They let you cook your own waffles in the morning. The buzzer on the waffle iron could wake up the dead. It's so loud. Some car alarms are quieter. Also the heater in my room sounded like a Titan missle launch. Between that and having to sleep with my toes pointing down, I made it through the nights. The pool and hot tub was pretty cool...or should I say warm. The sauna didn't work.

The meeting was fun. There were a lot of interesting people there. The Iowa folks were eyeballing my wireless USB laptop mouse. I'm keeping a close eye out now. I like it too. At lunch we toured the fairgrounds which was nice except that it was cold, windy and there was snow on the ground.

On the way back we took HWY 30 again so I got BBQ all over again. This time I ordered the pork roast. When it got to the table it was a piece of smoked BBQ Ham (or that's what it seemed like to me). I wasn't as happy as last time. It was still good though. Next time I'm getting the pork ribs. I tried the ice cream. Not dissapointed.

Now we're planning our next trip which will be to Branson. They're having a big motorcycle rally there but we'll just miss it. That's cool. I'll prolly just want a bike even more. It seems everyone is selling theirs to upgrade and that might be perfect timing but I'm just not sure these ducks will behave.

That's all for now.
posted by admin with 0 Comments