whatever you want it to mean: general Archives

posted by dave at 9:49 AM in category pictures, quickies

Sudden

I went to bed around 1:30. I guess I slept. The next thing I knew was it was 9:00 and I was awake and Buddy was singing his song of starvation in my face.

Yay?

Sadness achieved.

Stone Vertical Epic 09.09.09

(bottle) Indigo with a nice tan head. Enticing aroma of peaches and plums. Mouthfeel a little thin but coating. Flavor more tame than the aroma led me to expect. Good though.

Purple

I have a crush on this Purple Kelly chick.

Mood

I'm in a ranty mood. I will attempt to restrain myself. Nobody deserves the words I want to say.

Buddy

It would be cool if I could bring Buddy to work. Once his fur grows back out, I mean.

Oops

I just caught myself glaring at my phone.

Enough

Maybe those ten hours of sleep will prove to be enough. I think I feel better this morning.

Stupid

This is stupid. I'm going to bed.

Problem

The problem is that no food is good.

Grrr

This guy at stupid Bearno's is the worst bartender in history.

Guilty

I feel guilty. I suck.

Wow

I'm totally unmotivated this morning. I kinda want to just go back to bed, but even that seems like too much effort.

Thirsty

I don't feel like I should sleep tonight. I feel like, tonight, I should stay up. I wish I had beer.

Great

I might be sick. That's all I need.

Yay!

I was all set to write that I was worried because I hadn't seen Picklepie since Sunday morning, but then he showed up.

Now

Now I'm at stupid Bearno's. I forget why.

Continuity

Hmmm, the one dude should be wearing the same clothes, and the other dude should be dressed differently.

Uh-oh

I want to write a manifesto now.

Really?

Seriously? No kidding? Okay, fine.

Upland Kimodo Dragon

(draft) Black with a tan head that faded quickly. Malty aroma. Thin mouthfeel. Decent flavor of malts and licorice. Disgusting hoppy metallic finish. Gross.

Maybe

Now maybe everyone will shut up about how happy they are about the rain.

Chump

Storms and tornadoes all day today, and I'll be stuck at work like a chump.

Ouch

Got sucker-punched by a buddy this evening. I probably deserved it. Goodnight, cruel world.

Closeted

Oh boy, the world's most closeted guys are here.

Elector

I liked the old Elector girl better. She looked more like HatGirl.

Zombie?

DeadLady is here.

Still

Yes, still. Get over it.

Sierra Nevada Fritz & Ken's Stout

(bottle) Black with a nice beige head. Aroma of roasted malts and chocolate and licorice. Thick mouthfeel. Flavor milder than I was expecting. Quite good.

Thinking

I'm thinking that I'm going to be selfish and childish about this.

Darn

OddlyFamiliarGirl flaked on me. I'm not sure I'm up to the task of distracting myself tonight.

Starving

I am officially starving to death. I may not have the strength in me, but I need to try to go to the stupid store. The problem with going to the stupid store when I'm starving is that I buy one of everything. And I have no idea what I'm hungry for. Something I can eat with chopstick, maybe? Like Lucky Charms.

Exactly

That's exactly what I thought would fucking happen.

Pbbbbbt

Well, that was, um, interesting.

Grrr

People suck, especially the ones at the haunted Burger King.

Grrr

I'm worried that a possum stole my rock.

Problems

The problem with a good time is that it makes me remember great times. The problem with remembering great times is that it makes me wish for fantastic times.

Nice

I had a nice night. Now I'm having a nice Marzen. In a bit, I'll go to my nice bed.

Unnamed

Mu

My blackberry spell checker thinks "mu" is a word.

What?

I want to know what's so damn interesting.

Excited

In about 90 minutes, I get to go to bed!

5/12/2007

I was just thinking about a really great day, and it made me smile.

Grrr

I moved to the bar to get away from a pair of weirdoes, but an even weirdoer pair came in and sat next to me at the bar.

In disguise

I'm all sneaky and stuff...

Hmmm...

Maybe I wasn't the one who failed...

Nope

After sleeping on it, I've decided that it just doesn't count.

Too

Too long of a wait, too close, and now way too far away.

Three Floyds Moloko

(draft) Black with a thin brown head. Sweet and chocolatey aroma. Very creamy mouthfeel. Flavor is sweet, with malts and a bit of dark chocolate. Alcohol very well-hidden. Good.

Hey

Hi!

Old

Some old woman is here today instead of CartGirl.

Lately

I've been sleeping too much.

Also

Also, I was going to say something clever now, but I forgot. Your loss, I suppose.

Beautiful

If that's the last thing I get to tell her, I can live with that.

Ridiculous

That's what I think.

There

I had a feeling that would work. Goodnight, cruel world.

Miss

Sausagefest at Jack's. I miss OddlyFamiliarGirl.

Words

I'm feeling very writey tonight, but I'm not feeling particularly topicky. See, I'm just making up words now.

English

What great about English is that you can say, "Fucking fuck that fucking fucker!" and your meaning is perfectly clear.

Question

The question is - what's the easy thing?

Land of the Lost

Even Will Ferrell can't do anything for this stinker of a movie.

Meow

Went to the house of a million cats, but only counted a half-million. Now I'm at Rich O's.

Point

I think I proved my point. And I don't feel mean at all. Just tired.

Sometimes

Sometimes something is worse than nothing.

Grrr

I hate people.

Yay!

Finally...

Dragging

This day is dragging. In about 800 million years I'll get to go home.

Honk

It's a wild goose chase!

Think

And I think about the things on the other side of this wall we slammed into.

Rebonulator

That's funny.

Oops

I'm not supposed to think about that!

Meanie

Harumph!

Finally

What a long day at work!

Prediction

I was up too late, and I got up too early. I predict that I'll be very tired before this day is over.

Oops

Wow, I'm up way too late. How did that happen?

Home

Home now. Wishing I could help more. Wishing I mattered more.

Home

All done yelling and shopping. Nappy-time I think.

Wednesday

Now I'm at Sportstime. I'm going to eat and then maybe glare at my phone for a while.

Fun

Taking a vacation day to go yell at everyone.

Ouch

I think this is the first time I've ever owed any money for taxes.

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quickies

posted by dave at 7:58 AM in category pictures, quickies

Fun

Today I get to go file my taxes, as my six-month extension is almost over. Fun times...

Good

I'm doing good. I'm neither surprised nor disappointed.

Wow

This Taco Bell flatbread thingy is yummy to my tummy!

Fine

He's fine. I was really worried because they took me to a little room and made me wait without telling me anything except the doctor had some information for me.

Waiting

I haven't heard anything about Buddy yet. I guess they'd call me if got loose and tore the place to shreds. I wouldn't put it past him.

LaptopGirl knows someone who made this

Worried

Poor Buddy is so scared.

Weird

Come to think of it, that was weird, that they were parked right where I'd chosen to turn around.

Tuesday

Today Buddy gets to go to the vet for a haircut. He's a holy terror, so he has to be sedated first. Poor Buddy.

Versus

I feel guilty, but I think that it's just too late.

Success!

Managed to catch Nugget, now it's off to the vet.

Coolness

Seriously

What am I supposed to say right now? I'm tired of playing the guessing game, and guessing wrong.

Better to see you with

Getting examined for new glasses today. They're having a 2-for-1 sale. I'm also going to have them check this annoying blind spot I have in my left eye.

Monday

It's really trafficky this morning. I don't know why for sure, but I suspect a conspiracy.

Wow

That is all, just wow.

Dinner

Now I guess we're going to Red Lobster. I haven't been there for a while. Too bad I already ate a million tater lots about an hour ago.

Need

I need clothes. Maybe I'll go shopping. Too bad I have to put on clothes to go buy clothes.

Weirdo

That's what Buddy is.

Still needs a home...

Wondering

I wonder if I'll be relieved.

Chemotherapy...

...of a sort.

Go

I'm not having any fun. I should go somewhere.

Maybe

I'm cautiously optimistic that this might finally be enough. Grrr.

Meh

Whatever.

Weekend

I hope the weekend is good. It's been a shitty week and I'm glad it's Friday.

Seriously

Sometimes it seems like I really do work in a weirdo factory.

I want one

Up

I guess seven hours of tossing and turning is enough.

Hope

I'm going to bed now. I hope I don't dream.

Inertia

If anyone met me now, they'd want nothing to do with me, and I wouldn't blame them a bit. The only reason that anybody puts up with me is because of inertia.

Should

I should have gone straight home. I'm sad today. Unfit...

Not

I'm really enjoying myself today.

Hmmm

I've been thinking the same thing, about all of this.

Random

Random hot chicks are awesome.

To whom it may concern...

...I miss you.

Sucks

What sucks is that what I want doesn't exist, but my desire is unabated.

Spotted...

Dragging

This week is going by way too slowly.

Bittersweet

That was very nice. Now that it's over, I'm sad again.

Yay!

I'm getting excited! Not in that way, you pervert.

Ugh

It's way too early.

Still Monday

Goodnight.

Wishing...

...that things were different. Had been different. Whatever.

Hic

How dry I am...

Grrrrrrrrrrr

Well, that's just fucking fantastic...

Monday

Good morning.

Buddy

Sad

Poor Picklepie is sitting outside meowing to come inside. He's breaking my heart.

Worth a try...

Abracadabra!!!... Hocus Pocus!... Presto?...

Still

Still waiting for the call that it's time to go to work. This went beyond ridiculous about twelve hours ago.

Other thought

What a beautiful girl.

Grrr

At least two more hours. So much for my Saturday.

Thought

What a great kid.

Hmmm...

Weird.

Naughty

Some people need to be spanked. Hard.

Funny

I was just thinking about something funny. He had no clue that I was in bed with her.

Great

Now HatGirl is mad at me.

Up

I miss being up at these hours.

Sobeit

Wake me when this is over.

Suspicion

There are a lot of very short, very ugly people here. I suspect a conspiracy.

Word of the Day

It's either stupessary or necestupid. I can't decide.

Word

There's a word. I'm not going to use the word because it's not very nice, but there is definitely a word.

Because

I might buy a car. Because I really need a fourth car.

Second verse...

...same as the first.

Ostrichy

Sticking my head in the sand this morning. Goofy, but necessary.

Seriously?

Again? This time? How can I not see this as a "fuck off" and who on Earth would blame me for returning that sentiment?

Why?

Why is it that a cat can always be underfoot, weaving around your feet and trying to trip you, but as soon as you schedule an appointment to get its balls removed, it's nowhere to be found?

Curious

I feel like I slept for a million years, and I'm wondering what bizarre new world the sunrise will reveal.

Still

And still I manage to be surprised and disappointed, every fucking time.

Meanwhile

Fine, be that way.

Glee

Wow, this show is awesome.

Yay!

I got to see HatGirl for the first time in 73-billion years.

Not

That was fun and useful.

Ugh

It can't be morning already, I distinctly remember my head hitting the pillow and that couldn't have been more than five minutes ago.

Especially

...but especially the truths.

Even

Even the lies...

Problem

My problem is that I remember.

Pretty

Sometimes

Sometimes the right thing is also the stupid thing.

Buddy being stuck-up

Nugget wookin' at something

Urge

I've got an urge to go buy a new camcorder. I don't know why.

Decisions

I went to the store and bought a bunch of yummy looking stuff. Now I can't decide what to eat.

Stupid

I can feel my resolve fading away. I hate it when that happens.

Story

It could have been a great story, but instead it's kinda lame.

Yay!

Now the night took a turn for the better.

Oh boy

That fuckhead is here now.

Long enough

I think I've made my point.

Glad

I knew it would be a good day.

By the way

Happy anniversaries. So there.

Convenient

If you bend a piece of metal back and forth enough times, it will break. Sometimes I conveniently forget that fact.

Friday

This should be a good day. I hope so.

Geese

Dude

There's a dude here who looks just like Dana Carvey, except taller I think.

Grrr

This is the sssssslllllllooooowwweeesstttttttt day ever.

Awake

Too relieved to sleep, apparently.

Whew again

Buddy is fine, just naughty.

Buddy waiting and wondering why the carrier smells like pee

Whew

Nugget is fine. Just fat.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 7:20 PM in category pictures, quickies

Nugget waiting for test results

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

I'm starting to freak out!

Excuse

Having a beer to steel my nerves.

Yuck

Tonight I'll find my snow shovel and use it to carry the possum to the woods. I hope it hasn't popped by tonight. If it's popped, I might have to sell my house, or at least burn down my garage.

Wednesday

Today, I plan to worry. This will be followed by freaking out this evening.

Gross

There's a big dead possum in my garage.

Grrr

I'm not immune. I'm just as sickened by this as everyone else. I wish she'd fucking stop preaching all the time.

Cool I guess

DeadLady is here.

What?

Well?

Falls City Original Pale Ale

(draft) Clear light copper in color. Aroma of grass. Flavor neither piney nor floral. Kind of like a mixture. There was a slight metallic finish. Decent is all I can say about this.

Weirdo

What a strange thing to say.

Sometimes

Sometimes, I wish I was blind.

Anticipation

Running out of excuses...

Grrr

You know what? I'm really trying here.

Wish

I wish this mood would last. I like it.

Obvious

Overgeneralization is always a bad idea. Every single time.

Fundamental

The fundamental difference between me and a lot of other men is that they secretly hate women whereas I think women are delicious.

Nope

Never gonna happen. Sorry.

Jack's

Sitting at Jack's, so that I might better contemplate this mood.

Weird

I'm in a good mood, despite thinking that most of the last several years have been wasted.

Worried

I'm worried that my kitties might be infected. Trying not to think about it, but failing sometimes.

Oh well

I'm pretty disappointed now.

Stuff

Well, $600 may not buy happiness, but it will certainly buy a buttload of kitchenware.

Hmmm

Thinking about going shopping. Now I have to figure out what to shop for.

Late

I'm in a very unusual mood. I think it's a good mood.

Dinner

Pasketa...

Ouch

I've got something in my eye. From the feel of it, it's probably a goat or a small deer.

Damn

I'm not sure what was harder. Hearing the news about Pickepie, or telling LaptopGirl.

Bored

The vet left a long time ago. I think they had an emergency come in.

Poor scared kitty

Honk

Watching hundreds of geese fly overhead. Pretty cool.

QOTD

"I thank my parents for making me." -- Enzo

Thin

My patience is so thin these days, it's nearly transparent.

Ugh

I'm not exactly raring to go this morning.

Goodnight

The question is, "Why?" The answer is the same as it's always been.

Great

Now I've probably got rabies. Stupid cat.

Not

Good thing I lugged my laptop to work and back. And good thing I glared at my phone all day. Both activities came in very handy.

Morning

Feisty

I'm in a doozy of a mood tonight.

Waiting...

...for OddlyFamiliarGirl!

Geronimo

I don't think I could ever get tired of watching these squirrels jump from tree to tree.

Grrr

Well that was a pretty screwed up thing for first thing in the morning.

Shoo!

The horse was just in my yard again. Picklepie scared it away.

...

Thinking about thinking. Doubting about doubting.

...

Wondering about wondering...

Grrrrr

I hate that guy. I've never met him or even seen him in person, but I hate him.

Swept

I'm fucking tired of living under this rug.

Fulfilling

I went out and petted Picklepie and sprayed off my heat pump filter. That, you might think, should be more than enough excitement for me for one day, but I still might go to stupid Jack's later. OddlyFamiliarGirl is sick again and/or still, though, so that sucks.

Show

This is making me uncomfortable.

Need

I need to leave my house and go buy something today. I just need to decide what to buy.

Surprise!

It's warmer than I thought.

Brrr

I wish it was warmer. I want to go outside and drink and think.

Two

She needs a better man than the one she's turned me into.

One

I think I'm turning into Every Guy On Earth, and that makes me feel guilty.

Deluded

I'm making some Pad Thai chicken now. Just who do I think I am?

Now

Now I gots me some contemplatin' to do...

Choice

There are less noble things I could be doing with my life.

Fine

More for me, then.

Lining

At least that one fucker seems to have shut up for now.

Why?

Because, that's why. Der.

Darn

I miss HatGirl.

Thinking

I think I'm going to marinate a couple steaks in Stone Smoked Porter. I hope I don't managed to burn my house down somehow.

Late

I got here late this evening. So now I feel rushed.

Duh

Of course I looked.

Nope

I don't want to talk about it.

Wow

I'm in an incredibly bad mood all of a sudden.

Idea

Talk to me. Pretend that you like me.

Estimate

Today I get to hear the price to replace my heat pump. I'm estimating between three thousand and fifteen million dollars.

Calming

I'm in my parking lot at work. I'm oddly excited to be here. I like it out here in the mornings. I should have come here over the weekend.

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday to StupidGirl! The timing was just a little off, or I could have been there for your birthday.

Grrr

Can't sleep because my ass is too sore from kicking myself.

Zonked

Exhaling...

Giving up, breathing a big sigh of relief, and going home.

Inhaling...

Going

Going to stupid Jack's to glare at my phone, because (a) Rich O's is closed, and (b) there's no A/C in my house.

Twinkle twinkle

I doubt that I'll ever look at stars the same way again.

Nom nom

Had a fairly relaxing evening. Now home, getting ready to watch Big Brother and cram some yummy White Castle fish sandwiches.

Now

Okay, now she's late.

Waiting

I'm at Sluttopia, waiting for OddlyFamiliarGirl. She's not late, I'm early.

Trying to get this cat to hold still is impossible

Stupid

I just did something stupid, but necessary and long overdue.

Yay!

LaptopGirl's cat came back!

Happy Anniversary!

My dearest friend RockGirl and I "met" five years ago today. I'm so incredibly humbled by her and by the understanding that she's given me. I don't know if I'd be here, or anywhere, if it wasn't for her.

Fun!

Was shooting pool and drinking beer with my friend Eric all night.

Dammit

I miss you.

Jolly Pumpkin Maracaibo Especial

(bottle) Clear fizzy light brown. Weak head that lasts and clings. Sharp aroma of pine and alcohol. Flavor very dry, with noticeable alcohol. Finish is smooth and nutty. Good.

News

The bad news is that my A/C is broken again, and the other bad news is that there's no beer in my fridge.

Picklepie

My sister hasn't seen that cat all week. I hope he shows up when he hears me calling for him.

Over-laying

Due to scheduling shortsightedness, I'm am now sitting in the Cincy airport for two and a half hours. This is more time than it would have taken me to drive home, had I mustered the foresight to just drive up here originally.

Off

On the plane. Turning my phone off. You know you care.

Sad

Just got dropped off at the airport. Everyone is sad.

Joke

This Irish guy walked out of a pub. Hey, it could happen.

From my ass, perhaps

I just found great restraint from somewhere. I put it to good use.

Score!

No

I absolutely will not.

Ugh

Had a slightly skunked Newcastle. Not enough to taste bad, but enough to wreak havoc on my insides.

Rio

I'm at the Rio. I miss this place.

Ouch

Took a nap. Now I'm awake. My neck is killing me.

Bitch

Some lady just won 1.2 million dollars, but it wasn't me, so fuck her.

Nice big giant kitty...

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 11:55 AM in category pictures, quickies

Cool

I'm wooking at wions.

Dammit

I feel sad this morning. I don't know why. My life is fucking perfect.

Magic

Wifey worked her magic and got us great seats for Believe!

Tall

Offended

I get offended when the skanky big fat hog hookers proposition me.

Darn

Awake

I had a bad dream. Serves me right. I've been ignoring the problem for too long. Pretending it doesn't exist. So it haunts my dreams.

Magnetic

I am a magnet for hookers and drunken idiots.

Moylan's Kilt Lifter Scottish Ale

(Draft) Clear dark copper. Medium tan head. Malty aroma. Strong malty aroma, maybe a little molasses. Decent.

Wondering

I'm always wondering about the other people at the bar at these early hours. I mean, are they still up from last night, or are they, like me, victims of a time zone different than this one?

Fail

Right after I posted that last quickie, the pickup guy left with both girls. Good for him, I thought. But now the two girls have returned alone. Poor pickup guy.

Style

Now I'm down at this bar watching these pickup guys work on these two hot girls. I really like one guy's style. I'm finding myself rooting for him.

Raw

I got talked into trying six kinds of sushi. I still don't really like it.

Der

We just stumped the piano dudes.

Dueling

These guy play piano a million times better than they sing, and even that's not saying much.

Weird

It's been six months, but it's like I never left. I can't wait to see my wife!

Test

My phone is being weird about email.

Prelude

I'm in an actual decent mood. I'm hopeful that this is a prelude to excitement!

Ugh

Up and at 'em, I suppose.

Grrr

I can't find the doohickey!

Those cats were fast as lightning

Picklepie got into a fight with the neighbor's cat, Pete Jr. I got them separated, suffering only a few major lacerations in the process.

Verdict

I've had better. I've had worse. I wish I'd had some chopsticks.

Hypothetical answer

I don't care.

Hypothetical question

What if Everyone On Earth has been right, all this time?

Last

I think this is the last chance, for either of us.

Perhaps

I suppose I should start thinking about packing.

Dammit

So there.

Idea

OtherDave had a fantastic idea. I'm going to take it and run with it.

Weird

There's a helicopter circling overhead. That's always a good sign, right?

Why?

Why is standing-up dude always standing? To confuse me, I think.

Oops

Damn

For a second there, I was okay. But, as soon as I noticed it, it was over.

Cool

I got a new Blackberry Torch today.

Okay

He was outside this morning, and very glad to see me!

Concerned

I haven't seen PicklePie since this morning.

Yippee

Five strippers, three old women, and an ex-girlfriend.

Guarantee

They're giving me a guarantee. Well, I guarantee that I just wasted my money.

Gay

So, this place turns into a gay bar on January 1st.

Hmmm

I miss WomanRepellant. He would be just as disgusted by this as I am.

Sad

I'm suddenly sad. For some reason. Or lots of reasons. I can't tell.

One

There's one thing that never fails to piss me off. I should probably get over it.

Believe

Going to see Criss Angel Believe again next week.

Hmmm

Okay, I guess that was it for the day. Goodnight then.

................................................

Sucks

It sucks that we've fallen this far.

Oops

In my semi-rush to get out the door this morning, I totally forgot to take my allergy medicine. I can definitely feel the effects of that oversight.

Late

So I just got to my parking lot. I want to get here by 7:15. I guess I'll try again tomorrow.

You're welcome

I keep knowing people who are sick. And I'm sick of them being sick. I demand that they all feel better..............NOW!

Neither

I wanted to stay. I wanted to go back. I did neither.

Maybe

Maybe we're all Truman.

Full

It looks like a full moon. I can recharge my rock when I get home.

Ugh

This morning is too early in the morning.

Useful

When this falls apart, that's when I'll be useful again. I guess I'll wait.

Shams

My new bedding, gray with dark gray stripes, came with shams. Shams means it's gay, right? Now I have to buy more bedding, right?

Tomorrow

Tomorrow I'm getting a new Blackberry, and I'm switching to Verizon. I'm not excited.

Really

I could really use a bottle, or ten, of Alaskan Smoked Porter right about now.

Ssssssss!

Climb every mountain

Today, I have a boring, but very important mission. I need to buy hangers. Lots and lots of hangers. This is likely to be the highlight of my day.

He's taken over my foot-rest

Wondering

I wonder how long they'll keep my picture up on the wall. I wonder who'll remember me the longest.

Archimedes

Leveraging societal expectations of normalcy...

Stupid

And so, it begins again.

Nice

I had a nice dream about someone I haven't dreamed about in years.

Pondering...

...onions.

Garage

RockGirl made me come out here. I couldn't decide, so she decided for me.

Uh-oh

Now I'm getting pissed.

Fair play

PearlGirl came in. I jumped and clapped when she came in.

Go!

And so, it begins...

Stolen from Slashdot

First they came for those who wanted more than 120 characters, but I did not speak out, because I did not want more tha

Aminoes

I like to get here early and watch the squirrels and rabbits frolic.

Parts

Part of me wants to write an blog entry now, but a bigger part of me wants to go outside and drink a Marzen.

Weird

I'm actually nervous...

Observation

I don't like guys who wear gay hats.

Grrr

Traffic was bad, so I got here late, but all the Thursday weirdoes got here early. That's probably because they don't have jobs.

Hippieness

It's a lifestyle, not an income level.

Official

It's official. I'm permanent starting Monday.

Wish

I wish we could talk. I mean really talk.

Zzzzz

Goodnight, cruel world.

Dammit

How did things get so fucked up?

As if

Wow, a preemptive cockblock.

Sign

I'm starving to death. I think that's a good sign.

Trade-off

I took a Claritin this morning. My head feels a little less concretey, but now I'm coughing.

Doors

If I took door number one, it would be seen as weird. If I took door number two, it might be seen as mean. So I think I'll take door number three, and just go to bed.

Choice

What if I had one? This thought is freaking me out.

Allergies

I feel like my entire body has been filled with cement, and it's hardening quickly.

Whoa

I just had a thought. This changes everything.

Off

Phone noises are off. Don't even bother. I'm sleeping, I hope.

Grrr

Got my 87th wind.

Goal

Going to try to stay awake until the sun goes down. I doubt I'll make it.

Zzzz

So very tired today...

Unavailable

I'll be in a meeting until 11:00 today, so don't freak out of I don't reply to emails or texts. This means you.

Grrr

They delayed Big Brother for golf. Fucking Golf?!? I didn't get it recorded. Now I have to wait for it to hit the internet.

Chillaxing

Old

Wow, I'm just physically and emotionally drained tonight. I'm actually feeling my age for once.

Grrr

I'm still going, though. Oh yes, I'm definitely still going.

Slim

It's the something else that keeps giving me stupid hope.

Pondering

Pondering apathy vs cruelty vs stupidity vs something else.

Sarcasm

Oh goody, that one whore is here.

First

I should put myself first for a while. I probably won't, but I should.

Dude

The 1970s called, and they want their mirrored sunglasses back.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 9:02 PM in category pictures, quickies

Crud

Well that sucks.

Choosing

Choosing between stupid thing number one, and stupid thing number two. This time I'm going with the latter.

Dud

I put on clothes and came to my garage for this?!?

Watching

Hoping this storm continues its beeline.

Late

Not even trying to sleep.

Waiting

Hot

I'm driving my truck today. It doesn't have air conditioning. I must have a death wish.

Time

I had a good time this evening, and I wish it could have lasted longer.

How?

How do we make this better? Is it even possible? Do you even care?

Grrr

It really fucking bugs me, if I let myself think about it. I'm trying to not let myself think about it too often.

Wow

This Rachel chick is a fucking psycho!

Idea

We should go to Splashing' Safari.

Perseids

If these clouds go away, the next two mornings I'll be up on my roof!

So there

I got to see HatGirl, and meet her dad.

Perfect

Right now, I'm in a perfect mood. This won't last.

Grrr

Did you ever notice that there are an awful lot of shitheads?

Resolve

Never again. At least, not until next time.

Wednesday?!?

I dreamed all night that it was Thursday and the week was almost over. Imagine my disappointment upon waking.

Yay!

Guess where I am?!?

Still ugh

First I had to work all day, then I came home to sleep, but then I had to go back to work, but then I didn't have to go back to work, so now I'm back home to sleep, and I'm scared to death that my phone will ring.

Ugh

It took me a week to finally get caught up on sleep, then I had to go and only get four hours last night.

Okay

I've been thinking about it, and I think that I would. Yeah, sure, why not?

Sometimes

Sometimes, the sweetness is a tangible thing. I want to pick it up and keep it in my pocket for the bad times.

Ommegang Tripel Perfection

(bottle) Cloudy yellow, with a nice white head. Aroma of apple and orange peels. Mouthfeel a little gritty. Flavor of a nice tripel but with some citusy undertones that I could do without. Pretty good, though.

8/9/10

It's Vertical Epic day!

Finally

Well, it took a week, but I feel like I'm finally recovered from last Sunday night.

Irony

I'm not that bad of a guy, I'm really not. Just because I seem to have shitty tastes in women, that shouldn't disqualify me from consideration.

Great Divide Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout

(bottle) Black with a thin brown head. Nice malty chocolate aroma. Medium mouthfeel. Flavor very malty, with chocolate and a hint of oak. Doesn't taste as strong as it is. Very yummy.

Picklepie

Ouch

Biting my tongue now. Words are useless anyway.

Cool

It was cool to see OtherDave after six months, but he had to leave. Now I'm back to my regularly scheduled glaring at my phone.

Inescapable

Most of the Rich O's crew is here. They're already loud.

Waiting

I'm all laundryed out. Now I'm at Jack's waiting for OtherDave.

Grrrr

I can get video without sound, or sound without video. This fucking footage just doesn't want to play nice. Wait, why am I doing this again?

Why?

Why do I have enough clothes for 87 people, even though I live alone?

Decree

Today is Laundry Day. I have declared it. So there.

Or

Or maybe they could have gift certificates. I know who I'd get one for.

Brilliant

It's a brilliant concept. I'd sign up in a heartbeat.

Linner

Chinese buffet. By myself. Pity me.

People

People often wonder why I do the things that I do. Well, this is why.

Nowhere

I keep getting reminded of my place, and it's always nowhere.

Yay!

HatGirl texted me. Today is the anniversary, as near as we can figure, to the day we met. Five years ago today!

Bars

I guess the dampening field doesn't cover this side of the building.

Glad

I'm so glad I'm not sitting with those people. They won't shut up.

My secret shame

I cannot snap my fingers. The best I can do is make kind of a scraping sound.

Ominous

Zzzzzz

This is going to be a long day.

I forgot to post this earlier

Late

Sitting on my deck with Picklepie, waiting for my laundry to finish and watching heat-lightning.

Sigh

Oh well.

Thinking

Thinking about spending the weekend on the surface of the sun, where it's relatively cool. Plus, it's a dry heat there.

Now

Now I have to come up with another word besides stage. Maybe phase would work. Or maybe I should consult a thesaurus.

Prediction

I predict that, by the end of this week, I'll be firmly entrenched in stage two. I hope I'm wrong. I hope I'm very wrong.

NABC Ancient Rage

(draft) Black with minimal beige head. Aroma and flavor chocolatey and smoky. Both understated, but balanced nicely. Good, but could use more of everything.

Excited

I'm excited about the new NABC Ancient Rage!

In case...

...you were wondering, I'm not having any fun.

Oops

I really didn't mean to do that. Now I'll definitely never sleep again.

Words

It makes me mad at myself when I start thinking that the right words exist.

Great

Now I'm pissed. Stupid stage two.

Damn...

...that was quick.

Mad

Also, I'm going to be sooooo mad at OddlyFamiliarGirl in the morning...

Again

Once again, I feel like I should write something.

Machines

They're taking over. I should write a real blog entry about it. People should be warned.

Fun

I like it when we go on silly adventures and laugh a lot.

Sand

If it feels like a bag of sand, see a doctor.

Shame

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me several billion times, um, it's still shame on you, right?

Excited

I'm excited about the NABC Ancient Rage!

Happy that the bartender came back

Pouting because the bartender disappeared

Grrray

HaircutLady is closed again, but Rich O's has Koningshoeven Quad on tap, so it's a wash of sorts.

Fast

That cat is a quick little bugger.

Movie

I'd make a movie about me sitting in my garage and glaring at my phone. It would be awesome, if I could get Morgan Freeman to narrate it.

Early

I'm amazed that it's only 3:00. I really thought I was sleeping much longer.

Weird

I'm having White Castles at 6:40 PM.

Plan

The next time, I'm going to nod my head and agree wholeheartedly.

Pathetic

This chick just demanded a bottle of Spaten.

Hmmm

I've just had a disturbing thought. If it's true, spontaneous combustion may be the only proper response.

Thought of the day

Whatever.

Dark

Hey! Who turned out the lights?

Wow

Somebody remind me why I'm here, and not there.

Oddly

I'm oddly okay. This pisses me off, of course.

Back

Back to where I belong. Back to how I should be. Back to who I am.

Well...

...there went my mood. You'd think I'd get tired of this eventually.

Selective

Trying to remember all the things, not just the good things.

Wow

That was random and sudden.

Excited

It's weird that I'm going to Las Vegas to escape this heat.

Ugh

Four hours of sleep. That's enough, right? Yes, for cows and elephants.

Fine

Okay fine I'll write something. Beauty is meant to be beheld. Otherwise, what's the point?

Hmmm

This is a time when I'd normally be writing something.

Goodbye cruel world?

My fortune cookie was empty.

Computer

I can't connect to my home computer today. I don't know why. I feel isolated.

So far, so good...

I implemented a brilliant scheme to get back into stage two.

Baseball

I miss being a baseball fan. I should move back to Seattle.

Thankful

Some old man kept trying to talk to me, until some old woman came and sat between us. So I'm thankful for old women. They come in quite handy sometimes.

Fuck

I forgot to tell my Tivo to record Big Brother.

Loud

So I'm avoiding Jack's tonight because of the loud music, and I came to stupid Bearno's where they have the jukebox cranked to eleven.

Maybe

Maybe sometimes the best thing to say is nothing at all. That doesn't make it easy, though.

Craving

I'm craving ice cream. That might be nice for a change. Usually I stay fat with chips and beer.

Worse

There are worse things than unrequited love. Indifference, for example, is worse. So is disbelief.

Point...

...less

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 8:15 PM in category pictures, quickies

Great

Now my mood has affected HatGirl.

Glub glub

I haven't felt like this in a long time.

News

The good news is that there was no line at HaircutLady's place. The bad news is that she was closed.

Oops

Not sure what happened...

Saturday

Okay, I slept forever. Next step in my grand plan to have a full life is to get my hairs cut.

Here

I shouldn't be here. Not today.

Wish

I wish I could think about something else. It's constant today. No breaks.

Grrr

I'm in a pretty shitty mood. I hope I get out of it soon, or my weekend will suck.

Hot

At least it's breezy.

Now

Now I'm all cultured and shit.

Hmmm

Okay, who in the fuck is that asshole? Wait, I probably don't want to know.

Waiting

I'm at Rich O's, waiting for OddlyFamiliarGirl. We're going to see some play about some barber. It's opening night. Her daughter is in the play.

Frustrated

I had the most annoying dream. It better not turn out to be true.

Fuse

My fuse is a lot shorter than it used to be...

Clingy

The kitty finally showed up! Covered in burrs, poor thing.

None of the above

A nice person would have said hello. A good person would have at least replied.

Ha!

Sometimes I crack myself up.

Nice

That was nice. Sometimes I forget how good it is to just hang out with HatGirl.

Yay!

At Rich O's, waiting for HatGirl.

Annoying

The annoying thing is that, had I been asked a week earlier, I'd have loved to have gone.

Even

Or even the prettiest.

Reminder

What I have to remember is that I'm not the only victim here. Or the most important one.

Excited

I'm excited now! Yay!

Trying

Trying to beat the storm home!

Quack

My stupid phone keeps quacking for stupid weather alerts. It's not supposed to quack, dammit.

Reeling

Wow, stage one with a vengeance!

Well...

...it looks like the A/C is out in my Intrepid again.

Yay!

Pizza night!

Maybe

Maybe I'm just curious. That's as good an explanation as anything else, I suppose.

Ugh

Why do they have to make mornings come so early in the day?

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 11:37 PM in category pictures, quickies

Ouch

Biting my tongue, big time.

Accidental

Remembering accidental footsie.

Nice

Had a nice night and didn't get too paranoid.

Disappointed

I thought we'd moved beyond this bullshit. I guess not.

Up

I took too long a nap earlier. Now I'll be up forever.

Lap-cat

Zot!

Lots of horizontal lightning. Way cool.

Chillin'

Sitting in my garage with LaptopGirl's cat. It's about to storm, and the humidity is a billion percent.

Zzzzzzzzzz

I ate waaaaaay too much.

Damn

I wish she wasn't so damn beautiful all the time.

Okay

That was fucking creepy.

Stupid

This is stupid. Glaring at my phone like it's actually going to do something. I'm going to lunch. By myself.

Refreshed

I slept forever. I think I almost feel refreshed.

Grrr

I can see you, you know. Skulking around. You're not as sneaky as you think.

Not

It's not because I don't care. It's only because I get tired of waving at a statue.

Landed...

...in Louisville.

Leaving...

...Chicago.

Landed

In Chicago. Have an hour-long layover. Oh the joy.

Boarding

Boarding for Chicago now...

Rockbottom Big Horn Nut Brown Ale

(draft) Color of clear dark tea. Nice whitish head. Aroma and flavor of light roasted malts. Finish a little dry. Quite good.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Because Delta sucks so hard, now I won't be getting home until after 6:00.

Storms

Looks like it's supposed to storm all day back home. I hope my flight doesn't get delayed.

Sage

"Embrace your life, find out what it is that you love, and pursue it with all your soul. For if you do not, when you come to die, you will find that you have not lived." -- from a book I'm reading

Papa Beer and Mama Beer

Hungry

I'm still hungry. I should have gotten the 12-oz steak instead of the 8-oz one.

"fuck cancer"

That's what it says on a bumper sticker on a car parked outside. While I appreciate the sentiment, I can't say that I'm in favor of putting it on a bumper sticker like that.

Deja vu

...all over again.

Hmmm

So far, every woman I've talked to in Wisconsin has been a bitch. Must be something in the cheese.

Wisconsin, barely

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 12:20 PM in category pictures, quickies

Almost

Class is done. The test is after lunch, and then I'm outta here!

Nope

Still not enough. Dammit.

Hate

I fucking hate that guy.

Well...

...so much for that.

Dinner

Yay!

I found a Ruby Tuesday up here!

Halfway

Halfway done!

Darn

I would love to except I hate coffee and I'm a million miles from home.

At least

Things might not be better if they were different, but at least they'd be different.

Three

There are three people I'm not allowed to miss, but I'm doing it anyway. So there, and there, and there.

Sign

I came "home" to see three fire trucks and two ambuli in the hotel parking lot. These are almost never a good sign.

Kitty

Kinda excited to see if I still have a fourth kitty when I get home.

Dinner

Surly Bender

(draft) Cloudy brown. Nice tan head. Aroma of malts and caramel and hops. Fairly thick mouthfeel. Complex flavor of barley and rye with a nice hoppy finish. Damn good.

Dinner

I found a Chinese place. So at least I won't starve while I'm here. I didn't see any bars yet, though.

Arrived

Worried

This will seem like a very long flight.

Airport

At the airport, hoping to stay awake so I don't miss my flight.

Grrrrrr

I'm not getting any texts, and stupid AT&T's customer service is closed. This sucks.

???

Now I'm confused.

Nap

I think my nap was too long. Now I'll be up all night.

Reminder

I like neither sluts nor whores.

Busy

Now I'm at work and glaring at my phone. Later I need to pack for my trip and glare at my phone. And I hope to have time to go to Jack's and glare at my phone tonight.

Sad

I miss my parents. I wish they were still alive.

Yummy Tremens in a weird glass

Weird

First time in a million years that I've been in Rich O's on a Saturday night. There are lots of weirdoes here.

Probably

I probably shouldn't text her that I'd like to make her vibrate again, right?

Now

Now I'm at Rich O's. ActualGeorge is here!

Not holding my breath

Stuffed

Had lunch at this Chinese place on Grant Line Rd. It was yummy.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 4:23 AM in category pictures, quickies

Feels...

...like lightning running through my veins...

Up

Wow, that hasn't happened in a while. Now I guess I'm up for the rest of the night. Oh well.

Stop

Don't even bother.

Punishment

This is what I get for letting my mind wander for two seconds.

Wishing

Wishing RockGirl the best vacation ever. She's certainly worked hard to deserve it.

Grrr

I believe that I'm a victim of flaking. I can't wait to see what excuse she comes up with.

How I spend my free time

Mean

Some people are mean. Good thing I'm nice. So far. Usually.

Skyline

I keep going there, almost every day. I might have a problem.

If

What if people twisted the golden rule, and treated people the way they themselves were being treated? I wouldn't want to live in such a world.

Grrr

Why can't this old woman realize that there are only a few people I want to t= alk to right now, but none of those people are her?

Ouch

Has anybody seen my thumbnail? It's gotta be around here somewhere.

Wednesday

At least, this time, I knew exactly what I was getting into.

Happy day!

That

That right there...that pisses me off.

Minnesota

I guess, if I have to go, I'd rather go in July than January.

Tilting...

...at a windmill.

Lucky

One of the loads of laundry I did today happened to contain work clothes. So now I can sit in my garage with a Marzen, guilt-free.

Drama

There's some kind of shoe-drama going on. I don't claim to understand it.

Logos

Wish

I wish I could help. Instead, I make things worse. I suck.

Sad

I'm at Rich O's. They're playing sad music. I'm in a mood that I like. Sad but not overwhelmed.

Weird

I've hooked my iPhone up to my laptop for the first time, and iTunes is finding all kinds of weird music on the laptop. I didn't put any of it there.

Hmmm

Pondering the differences between men and women. We're barely the same species, I think.

Ouch

I'm being eaten alive, and not in a good way.

Shocking

Sometimes, I'm a dick. Shocking, I know.

Metaphor

It's not just that I'm afraid of being bitten again, it's also that I'm pretty sure I'd bite back.

Instead

I think I'll sleep. Maybe I'll have a good dream.

Thinking

I guess I should go get my truck one of these years...

Nugget

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 11:16 PM in category pictures, quickies

Test

Please disregard.

Nice

That was nice of her. She must be up to something...

Summarization

Sitting alone and listening to the neighbors set off fireworks. As always, the perfect summarization to my life.

Coinage

Trying to decide between disalieved or relappointed...

Darn/Yay

Well I don't get/have to go to Kansas City this weekend. Now I get/have to figure out someplace else to go.

Damn

So there.

Friday

Hmmm

I wonder if that was a hint. I so suck at hints.

Craving

It's not even pizza night, but I'm craving pizza.

Failed

Today I tried an experiment. It seems to have failed, but I might try again. I'm stubborn sometimes. That trait clashes with my lack of patience.

Whatever

He said I was passive-aggressive.

Opposite

It's not always that I get irritated. Sometimes it's quite the opposite.

Plan

That one dude who creeped HatGirl out is here. I think I'll blame everything on him. Yeah, that sounds like a good plan.

Nice

It's a really nice night. I would take a long walk if I didn't have to get up so early tomorrow.

Yay!

My air conditioning is working again! Finally!

Boo!

Still have no air conditioning in this house. Still waiting for them to show up. They're 90 minutes late now.

Yay!

My car will be ready to be picked up in the morning!

Yay!

I have cable and internet again!

Moth

Dread

I'm dreading going back to my hot house.

Half

I only saw about half of my sister's cats. The others must have been scared of me and hiding.

Exceeded

My stupidity never warranted special mention before. I must have exceeded expectations. Yay me!

Quote

"You're not that old." -- StupidGirl

New

I need a new life.

Melted

I have to buy new shoes. These shoes have sucked since the time I bought them, and now the glue is all melted because of the heat. Never buy shoes from Target!

Hard

It's just hard to let go. She was my life, dammit! I need more time. Maybe, in fifty years, I'll be able to let go. Don't count on it, though.

Cool

Got my hairs cut. Now I'm at Rich O's where the air conditioning works.

Not

No A/C in the house or any of the cars. No cable or internet in the house. Having a great day.

Hmmm

I wasn't expecting that to happen. I don't think I like it.

Grrr

Now I'm more pissed than ever.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 7:34 PM in category pictures, quickies

Yay!

OddlyFamiliarGirl is here!

Weird

My neighbor just walked in.

Ugh

The best thing about where I work is that I can have Skyline every day for lunch. That's also the worst thing.

Hot

Now I'm at Rich O's. Traffic sucked, and it was made worse by the temperature being 47 billion.

Tired

I'm falling asleep here, but StrangeGirl has already fallen asleep once at her desk. So I guess I win.

Looking

Looking for a spark that can start a fire that can grow into an inferno that can consume me.

Yay!

That is all.

Now

Now I'm craving Red Lobster. This time, it's RockGirl's fault.

Craving

Had a meeting with the CIO, and we talked about Arni's Pizza. So now guess what I'm craving.

Silly

Okay, this morning it seemed silly to get up at 5:00. I still did it, but it seemed silly.

Wow

That was totally unexpected. But I kinda liked it, in a weird way.

Still

I still think it could be awesome. Or, at least, a lot of fun for a while. Either way, better than this bullshit.

Weird

I just hit a wall. I'm so tired all of a sudden. That's weird, because I've been getting plenty of sleep. Also, it's weird that I've been getting plenty of sleep.

Teasing

They called me to tease me and tell me that my new furniture is ready in the warehouse.

Early

Got up way early (3:38) because of a stupid dream that I still can't get out of my head. I guess I may as well go into work.

Meanwhile

People suck.

Confused

I'm very confused by today's events.

Nice

It's such a nice day out there. I may postpone pizza night and eat outside at Polly's.

Well, crap...

...now I've got a decision to make. Maybe I'll hold off for a while. Maybe I'll get lucky and spontaneously combust.

Hmmmmm

Approval

Gay

Apparently, I bought gay sheets.

Deserving

I think that I'm finally and officially all shopped out.

Instead

Instead of murdering anyone, I ended up hurting them financially. Less jail time that way.

Excited

Bedroom is prepped. My new bed should arrive sometime in the next four hours.

Back

Had a really nice night. Now, back to reality.

Whoa

This girl in the movie just ran through a glass door and got all cut up. I did the same thing when I was a kid.

Substitution

Damn, they're out of Barfly. I guess we'll make do with Gumballhead.

Darn

I really wanted to go somewhere today. Oh well, I guess.

Also

I'm going to have them try to fix my air conditioning. That would be cool, so to speak.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 8:39 PM in category pictures, quickies

Thunder

I just heard some. A nice storm would be cool.

Tour

I went by my old school today. It's changed so much on the outside. I'd love to take a tour of the inside.

Tired

I should sleep, but I don't want to.

Funny

Watching Never Been Kissed. I'd forgotten how funny it is.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

I should take a nap and wake up when women aren't crazy anymore.

Okay

Going home now. I don't know why. Have to go somewhere, I suppose.

Slosh

I finally bought a waterbed, but it won't be delivered for two weeks. Grrr.

Shhhhh

I just thought of something. It's a secret, though.

Deja something

Sitting in my garage again. This is how I started this long-ass night.

Home

I'm home now. I'm not really sure why, but maybe it's for the best. I'm beyond tired, by the way.

But nooooooo

Now I'm at Rich O's because OddlyFamiliarGirl.

Tick

I'm trying to enjoy these warm nights as much as possible. Winter is less than seven months away, after all.

One

If NotHideousGirl was here, I'd hold up one finger. She'd know what I meant.

Stuffed

I went grocery shopping and, for the first time in about 18 months, bought a bunch of frozen stuff. Now my new freezer is stuff with yummy food. The fridge is still a little bare, though.

Pondering

The new kitchen stuff is all installed. Now I'm sitting at Rich O's pondering a waterbed purchase.

Shiny

Finally

They're here!

Waiting

Up early and waiting for my new stove and fridge to arrive.

Yay!

I'm so happy now! I don't even care how long it lasts.

Indecision

I got six new puzzles in the mail today. I can't decide which one to mess with first!

Hmmm

Trying to decide if those were really hints, and whether I should ignore them or not.

Dry

Flooding stopped. Sitting in my garage with some nice Cone Smoker for a while.

Wet

The shutoff valve on the water-supply line for my fridge is, apparently, just for decoration.

Grrr

I forgot to buy a microwave when I bought a new stove today. Now I've got to go back to stupid Sears.

Fun

It would have been fun.

Really

I really had a good time this evening.

Duh

It's not just a request. It's not even an edict. Nope, it's a symptom, and that's much worse.

Words to live by

"Train tracks can't walk, because they don't have any feet." -- A cool little kid

Pondering

Pizza night?

Monday

Feeling very unmotivated today.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 1:43 AM in category pictures, quickies

Nope

Not there yet. It's close, but it's very shaky. Kind of like my faith, I guess. Note the use of lowercase.

Faith

StupidGirl just told me to write about faith. I suppose that I will, but not until I'm in the proper mood.

Cuteness overload

I shit you not - five baby bunnies were just cavorting in my driveway, no more than twenty feet in front of me.

Awww

There's a little baby bunny outside my front door. I think it looks cute, and my cats think it looks delicious.

Clash

The fridge I bought is silver and black. My stove and microwave are white. So, eventually, I'll buy a new stove and microwave (and stove hood!) so everything matches again. No, I'm not gay; I just want things to match.

Fridge

I think I'll go buy a new fridge today. They seem a lot less expensive than they used to be. I'm tired of living out of this tiny dorm-size fridge.

Nothing

This is nothing personal...

Home

Went to Rich O's. After about two seconds, reality reminded me that it was stupid to be there, so I came home.

Almost

Clothes almost dry. Almost time to leave my house.

Also

Poet and don't know it.

Nice

That was a nice way to end my long day.

Hmmm

I'm either slightly sick, or extremely tired. Sometimes it's hard to tell.

Maybe

Maybe there's a gun that shoots out little kittens and the enemies put down their guns to pet the kittens and then they can be captured without bloodshed.

FYI

Slate is heavy.

Hey

Call me. Or don't. I wish you would, though.

Dessert of champions

Lunch of champions

Productive

Today I went and saw AlliGirl, then I got my hairs cut. Now I'm at Rich O's.

Up

Today, I think, is the best chance I've had in a long time to get back on a normal schedule. I can do it, as long as I don't take a nap this afternoon.

Forfeiture

I never did like this stupid game anyway.

Doing

Sitting at the bar at Rich O's, doing what I do. It's bittersweet.

Should

I should have stayed, but I shouldn't have stayed. Does that make sense? I wanted to stay, but I didn't want to stay. I didn't stay, but I should have.

Wow

Wow, just wow. So there.

Ouch

I got a blister on my finger from filling out a million forms.

Hi ho, hi ho...

I got a job that I really wanted! Yay!

Something

Wow. I really feel like we accomplished something tonight. Now, I hope to accomplish getting some sleep. I bet I have good dreams...

Brrr

It's cold tonight. Have I mentioned that it's late May? Well, it is.

Home

Home now, but seriously thinking about leaving again.

Bug

Getting the travel bug really bad. Going to check airfares when I get home.

Bust

The secret mission was a bust. Now I'm back at Rich O's for some reason.

comments (0)

oops

posted by dave at 7:40 PM in category daily, pictures

So, apparently, Pizza Hut is now hiring disabled people to take phone orders. Good for them, I guess.

Before this, I was pretty sure that I'd seen every possible misspelling of my last name. Even the infamous Sililililitz from 1986.

For an added chuckle compare the phone number to my actual number.

comments (2)

quickies

posted by dave at 10:55 AM in category pictures, quickies

Nature's alarm clock

I love waking up to the sound of thunder!

Late

I'm up late. I wonder if I'm the only one.

Sometimes

Sometimes, you just want some company.

Proud

Such a brave face she wears! I'm so proud of her.

Shhh!

There's a stobor out here in my garage.

Bucket

I should get one, to hold ice and beer while I sit in my garage. It would class up the joint.

Ha!

Now I can die happy.

Color

I'm not sure how I feel about that color...

Tenses

Dammit. I wish things had been different. Were different. Would be different. So there.

Wow

GemGirl is here!

Spaced

I forgot about last night being pizza night, so it will have to be tonight.

Wow

I had the most wonderful dream.

Thinking

I think that I have to go. I think that I have to see it for myself. I think that, while it may not help, it's certainly worth a try.

Ask

Ask yourself why you keep coming here. Perhaps the answer matters.

Willing...

...to try. Lot of good it's done me in the past, I know.

Movie night

The Reverend and I are watching Avatar.

R.I.P.

Trying to remember the last time I saw my Uncle Stan. It might have been Christmas 2008.

Dammit

The dipshit is here. That's all I fucking needed.

Waiting

At Rich O's, waiting for OddlyFamiliarGirl.

Fun

Restraint is fun. It makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something.

Almost

Almost time to head back home.

Yoda

Great restraint I am showing. Miss her I do.

Small world

I've been talking to a dude and his girlfriend. They both seem really familiar. Turns out I went to college with them in Nebraska.

Hungry

I'm hungry for steak. I'm going to drive around and look for some. Remember when all I ever wanted was Asian food? That was weird.

Cumberland Nitro Porter is yummy!

Sunday

Now I'm at this Cock & Bull place. This Alli chick is working. I like her.

Now I've done it

On the road again...

Pessimism

I hate that I keep imagining the worst. The truth is bad enough. Or, it should be.

Boo!

She flaked. :(

Yay!

HatGirl is on her way!

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quickies

posted by dave at 6:51 PM in category pictures, quickies

Every week or two, I'm supposed to move my oldest quickies to their own blog entry. I haven't done it since November. I guess I've been busy and/or distracted.

Jack's

If anyone cares, I'm going there tonight.

Solitude

Probably because I've been watching Lost so much lately, I want to go live on a deserted island and do nothing but glare at my phone and work on my tan.

Prisa

This isn't happening quickly enough. How can I speed it up?

Disgusted

That's the word of the day. It has been for a while, and will be for a while longer.

Waiting

Where are all those tornadoes they promised us?

Face in the crowd

Today, I went to the store. So did everyone else in the world.

Lucky

I was going to write something totally honest and necessary, but I realized that I'm too tired. You are soooooo lucky.

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quickies

posted by dave at 7:52 PM in category pictures, quickies

Else

Tonight, I not only miss you-know-who, I also miss you-know-who-else. So, it's been a fun night, so far.

Breckenridge Mighty Brown

(draft) Dark Brown. Smallish head that faded quickly. Slight aroma. Thin mouthfeel. Fairly sharp flavor of roasted malts. Decent.

Probably

Going to Rich O's. This is probably almost certainly stupid.

Futility

I'm drafting an escape plan. I always do this, though, yet I never escape.

Now

Now I'm at Denny's. There are weirdoes here.

Finally

Finally doing my good deed for Thursday, even though it's Friday now. Then I'm going to Denny's as a reward.

Nice

I should get a job sitting outside at night and drinking and thinking. That would be nice.

Weird, I know

I missed the full moon by one night, but I'm trying to let my rock recharge anyway.

Ha!

I found them! They were under a huge-ass spider in my garage. That must be why I didn't see them before.

Probably

Sitting out in my garage, thinking that I should probably write a blog entry.

Fun

That was a lot more fun than I had expected.

Official

Well, it's official. Sometimes in the last year or so, someone has snuck into my house and stolen the extra adapters for my universal laptop power supply.

Frustrating

I live alone, so I really really hate it when I can't find something. Because there's nobody to blame but myself.

Grrr

Looks like the universe wants me to stay here and suffer, for at least one more night.

Channeling Otis Redding

These Arms of Mine...

Whew

There, I feel better now. And I barely escaped getting peed on.

Yay!

I'm excited about dinner plans!

Gone

I've lost my resolve. I've looked everywhere, even between the sofa cushions. I fear that it's gone for good.

Up...

...and at 'em!

Late/Early/Whatever

If I were in Paris, these would actually be normal hours. But nooooooooo, I work these hours while stuck in the stupid EDT.

Seriously

What was that all about?

Silly

Thinking about something silly, and it's making me smile.

Not fun

Reliving some very old, very bad memories.

Wow

Somebody's finally come up with a fucked-up situation that I've never had to deal with. At least, not all at the same time.

Mood

My cat is in a crabby mood. Probably because I keep fucking with him.

Hair of the Dog Adam

(bottle) Clear dark amber, with a decent beige head. Enticing aroma of malts and caramel. Medium mouthfeel. Flavor mild, with malts and dark fruits. A fairly strong alcohol burn is present all the way to the finish. Pretty damn good.

Wow

That was cool! Gross, but very cool!

So there

Dammit...

I'll have the soup

I like that joke.

Whew

The coast is clear.

Nervous

I'm probably just being paranoid or something.

Weird

Something very weird just happened. I guess I'll just roll with it.

Crap

I miss my dad.

Trying

Just trying to give myself a fair chance of moving passed this. I will probably fail, but it won't be from lack of trying.

Restraint

I'm showing restraint now. I like it when I do this. It makes me feel like I'm being strong.

Choice

This might not be what I'm supposed to be doing, but it's not a bad second choice. It seems to fit me.

Pondering

Pondering the dubious merits of going to Jack's, even though OddlyFamiliarGirl won't be there tonight.

New

Supposedly, there's a new Sam's near my house. We're going to go check it out.

...same as the first

Except this time I want 87 eggs over-hard.

Ha!

Some things are funny.

Boo!

This should teach me to stop looking forward to stuff. It won't teach me, but it should.

Green

I've never see the sky look as green as it looks right now.

Weirdoes

I don't like them. In case I've never mentioned that before.

Sad

I'm really sad all of a sudden. I know why I'm sad, but I don't know why all of a sudden like this.

Yay!

I'm excited to see HatGirl!

Reasoning

Is the reason that it keeps happening the same reason that I care that it's happening. I think so, but I don't like it.

Random

Well, that was just about the most random thing ever. The weirdest, too.

Bad

Wondering how things got so bad, but then realizing that they were always bad and I just refused to notice. Dammit, so there, etc.

Damn

Gumballhead is on tap. Oh well, too late now.

Moo!

Today I'm the interrupting cow.

Almost

I'm at Rich O's now. My 2:00 interview lasted until 3:30. It was almost like working.

Ain't technology neat?

Had a nice video call with HatGirl to start off my day.

Brrrr

I wish it was a little warmer.

Wow

Jamie Moyer is still pitching. Also, Jamie Moyer is still alive.

Hmmm

I can't tell if this girl is pretty, or if she just used to be pretty ten years ago. I should ask her.

Goose Island Winter Rye

(draft) Clear copper in color, with a huge white head. Aroma is mildly sharp, if that makes any sense. Creamy mouthfeel. Oh wow, this is really good. Spices mostly, but with rye undertones.

Hooray...

...for AlliDay!

Awesome Newcastle glass that I want to steal

Four!

Wishing a special little guy a very happy birthday!

Two

Two seconds at a time. I'm not sure it's enough.

Man with a plan

I plan, eventually, to stop being such a pussy.

If

If I can sleep a normal schedule tonight, then I'm leaving tomorrow. To where, I don't know. For how long, I don't know.

Pouting

Hmmmmm

Okay, fine. I'm awake and out of bed. Now what?

Yummy

Nom nom nom nom...

Craving

I'm craving eggs, over hard. Five or six of them. And orange juice. And toast with grape jelly.

Thing

The worst thing wrong about her is also the best thing right about her.

Wondering

If there's no point to any of this, does that mean that it's all rounded and blunt?

Damn

The Spankers are playing in Madison in May. That would have been a nice date.

Wow

I can't seem to get out of stage one today. This really sucks.

For some reason...

...I'm going to Rich O's now.

All the better to see you with

I wish they'd hurry up and invent bionic eyes.

Grrrr

I had a phone interview today at 1:00, but we got our wires crossed and it'll have to be rescheduled. Meanwhile, I stayed home instead of going over to see BikerGirl for lunch. I haven't seen her in a trillion years. Grrrr.

Barely

Watching Peggy Sue Got Married. Better than glaring at my phone.

Ahhhh

Now that was a very nice nap. Great dreams, too!

Crud

I think I saw her car at Kroger's. That's the last thing I need - ongoing proof of her existence.

Loud

This place is full of loud weirdoes today.

Pbbt

I hate Mondays. Sundays, too, but especially Mondays.

Difference

There's a huge difference between being supportive and being a dishrag.

TMI

I have to pee now.

Yay for me!

Four for four, baby! Woo-hoo!

Ouch

I've somehow managed to fubar my toe. Oh yeah, and I'm still awake.

Grrr

She said it would be 20 minutes before she even took my order. Past experience tells me that it takes them an hour to cook anything. So, fuck that place, I'll go someplace else.

Routine

Going to eat at Don Pablo's, then to meet OddlyFamiliarGirl at Jack's for our usual Sunday date.

Mush

That's what my brain is today. Working on some fairly complicated scripts, and I might even have to dig out the manual. I hate it when I have to do that.

Waaaaaaah!

Waaaaaah the planes promote war! Waaaaaah the fireworks simulate bombs! Waaaaaaaah the exhaust from the traffic is killing the planet! Waaaaaaaah the evil corporations are sponsoring it! Waaaaaaah the ashes hurt the fish! Waaaaaaaah the noise scares my dogs! Waaaaaaaah the poor horses have to *gasp* run in the Derby! Waaaaaaaah my pussy hurts!

Whew!

I remembered to buy cat food. I believe that my life would have been in jeopardy if I'd come home without cat food.

Though

It would have been awesome, though.

Ah-ha!

I figured out why my email and phone/text blocks weren't working! And I can fix them! So there!

Great Divide Claymore Scotch Ale

(draft) Very dark ruby, with a nice tan head. Aroma mostly of malts, with some sweet chocolate and caramel in there. Mouthfeel thicker than I was expecting. Flavor pretty good, but tastes more like a malty porter than a Scotch ale to me. Very good, though.

Opposite

Sitting at Sportstime, missing YouKnowWho. This is pretty much the opposite of being at Thunder with HatGirl, but maybe we'll still go there later.

Karma

Just bought my lottery ticket. My doggie reward is in the bag!

Darn

Thunder plans fell through.

Home

The world is safe from me tonight.

Yay!

HatGirl is here!

Grrr

I fucking hate pickles!

Friday

Today, my good deed was to go and find HatGirl's doggie for her. Then, I got my hairs cut. Now, I'm at Rich O's.

Nice

One nice thing about sleeping half the day away is that now it's only six more hours until I get to see HatGirl.

Nothing

I'm really annoyed that I'm bothered by this.

Late

Well, my plans for tonight changed, but I got to be useful to a person who's very important for me. Now, maybe I can still watch some meteors.

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leave me alone, human!

posted by dave at 1:56 PM in category pictures

Get that thing out of my face

comments (1)

quickies

posted by dave at 7:17 PM in category pictures, quickies

Finally

I didn't want to be mean, and I didn't want to be nice. Both would have been very, very bad. So I did what I could. I left. Finally.

Aaaaaaaaah!

I'm starting to freak out!

Thursday

Got my tax extension filed. Now off to meet with SassyGirl!

The night glows...

...from the dying embers of a million dreams.

Stupid

Having this stupid little daydream. It's fun, as long as I remember that it's stupid.

Flash

I've now seen my first lightning bug of the year. Yay!

Outside

If anyone needs us, we'll be in my garage. Maybe forever.

Excited

Home now. Excited about my big date with Baltika later!

Glaring

I'm at Rich O's. I don't know why. HatGirl isn't coming, I don't think.

Brrrr

I switched my A/C on before I went to bed, but I forgot to adjust the thermostat. Now it's 65 degrees in here.

Tired

I probably won't sleep, but I've got to try.

Ugh

Still awake. No relief in sight.

Worried

So, someone texted me that she'd "got the rapth." I don't know what that means, but it sounds bad. I hope it's not contagious.

Hey

I don't know if you read this or not, but if you do, PLEASE MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!!! How many times do I have to ask this of you?

Clarification

Missing someone does not always equate to wanting to see them. Not always.

Weird

Stop staring at me, you weirdo!

Shame on me

Feeling guilty...

Pbbbbt

Well, it's official now...

Now

Now I'm home. I wish that I wasn't.

Wishing

I wish things were different. Just for one night. It could be awesome. So there.

Waiting

I've realized that I have something to look forward to, in 17 years.

ArtGirl!

She is here!

Craving

Craving Delirium Tremens, so I guess that means it's back to Rich O's for me.

Out

There was a light at the end of the tunnel, but I can't see it anymore. Did it go out, or is it night outside?

Yuck

I'm trying a Strawberry-Kiwi V8 Splash. It's really gross.

Wow

I actually had some crap to write tonight. But then I got really really really tired, so I'm going to go to sleep instead.

Tempted

If I go, I'm going to be soooooo tempted to just stay there.

Amazing

It's amazing how stupid I can be sometimes.

Croisez vos doigts

Je pourrais aller a Paris!

Rattle?

Rattle rattle rattle...

Buddy

Restraint

I don't have any idea what to say, or I'd almost certainly say something.

Nitey nite!

Just wake me up when this bullshit is over.

Dream

I had a really nice dream earlier this morning. I'm hoping for another one tonight, though I realize that nice dreams are quite rare lately.

Problem

The problem is, without trust, there can be nothing else.

Waiting

Did my good deed for that day. Now sitting at Rich O's waiting for karma to reward me.

Hoping

Hoping that whatever HatGirl has goes away soon, and that she didn't give it to me.

Zzzzzzzzzzz

Managed a whopping 15 minutes of sleep before I had to get up to meet HatGirl. Now I have a few hours, so I'll try to sleep again.

C'mon...

...do something crazy and impulsive.

Idea

Let's go somewhere. I'm thinking Key West. It would be fun.

Up

I shouldn't be up. I have to meet HatGirl in less than seven hours. I should be asleep. But, I'm not. I'm up. Still.

Sticky

Now my fingers are all sticky, and it's not from anything fun either. Okay, maybe it was a little fun.

Brrr

I wish it was warmer.

Huge

I have a huge blister on my finger, and it's not even from doing anything fun.

And...

...his mother. Dammit.

Missing...

...a little kid.

Pushing my luck

Come on, seven!

Waiting

I'm excited about tomorrow, and hoping that it doesn't go horribly wrong somehow.

Thursday

Not having any fun. Nope, not having any fun at all.

Favor

Do me a favor, don't ruin my dreams tonight like you did last night. Thanks.

C'mon already

This is the slowest line of storms ever!

Dammit

I miss you too.

Never

I never ever thought we'd end up like this. I always thought things would get better, not worse. This really sucks.

Stupid

Now I'm keeping my distance, so to speak, so we won't be accused of something that we're not fucking guilty of anyway.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

That is all.

Yes

That's the answer. Now, ask the right question...

Left Hand St. Vrain

(draft) Clear yellow. Head faded quickly. Aroma typical for the style with a little mustiness. Mild flavor of apples, with a hint of alcohol burn at the finish. Does not taste like it's 9% ABV. Decent.

Yay!

Going to Rich O's to meet up with SassyGirl!

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

There, I feel better now.

Waiting

Just waiting for my day to officially start.

Whatever

I can't even remember when I last slept. I guess that means that I'm way overdue. Goodnight, cruel world...

To-do list

Think for a second. Be honest with yourself for a second. Be subjective about yourself for a second. Open your eyes for a second.

Pbbbbbbbbt...

Grrr

Giving up. Going home.

Beffie and Dustin and some other people at Rich O's

Stupid

I'm being stupid right now, as evidenced by the fact that I'm still here.

Dammit

Dammit dammit dammit dammit dammit dammit so there!

Faker!

Some faker has a car identical to HatGirl's. I was excited to see her, but a little miffed that she hadn't let me know she was here. Now I'm back to nothing.

Counting

At Rich O's, counting my blessings. Got to two and now I'm stuck.

Okay

That was fun.

Ugh

Forced myself to get up at 9:30, after only four hours of sleep. Now, if I can avoid taking a nap today (doubtful) then maybe I can go to bed at a normal time tonight.

Fun

The neighborhood dogs and I are barking at each other. I bet there are ten of us, within a half mile or so of each other.

Back

I went inside for a bit. Now I'm back in my garage. It's so nice out. I seem to want to be sad tonight, but I can't quite manage it.

Fake

It's blustery, like it could storm any minute, but there's hardly a cloud in the sky.

Time

Well, the forecasted storms never showed up, but I'm still having a nice night in my garage. Time to open the growler, I think.

Weirdest

I miss her so much.

Weirder

Garry Shandling just bummed a smoke from me.

Weird

Now I'm at Rich O's. Weird, huh?

Quagmire

I've been thinking a lot about this, and I can only think of one solution. I don't like it, though.

Hmmm...

I think it just became ridiculous...

Habit

Sitting in my garage, glaring at my phone out of habit. It's still really warm out here. I love it!

Dammit

Fighting the urge...

Resemblance

That chick that looks like that one bitch is here again tonight. It's still not her, though.

Baseball

I think I might get into baseball again this year. It used to be a lot of fun, being a fan. And it's not like I've got anything better to do.

Stupid

I've got to leave my stupid house and see if there's anyplace open. I'm starving to death. I guess I'll check stupid Jack's, too, but they're probably closed. Maybe stupid Sluttopia is open, but I think they were closed last year. I suppose I should just check stupid Bearno's first, because they're so close to my stupid house. I wish I didn't have to eat, so I didn't have to go anywhere. Stupid stomach...

Wondering

I feel like having some social interaction. I wonder if every place in the world is closed.

Whew!

I dreamed this morning that it was snowing like crazy. I'm so glad it was just a dream.

Fun!

We're watching a baseball movie marathon.

Fun

It seems like it'll be a good night to be depressed. Yeah, that should be fun.

Yay!

I'm not letting the rain get me down. I still get to see HatGirl in a couple of hours, we'll just have to eat indoors.

Useful

I got to be useful to someone I really care about tonight. That was nice, because I was feeling pretty useless before that.

Ugh

There's one sight that I definitely will never get used to.

Climb every mountain

Going to Rich O's for a couple of hours. I might even put on clothes first.

Finally

I got eleven hours of sleep, so I think I'm finally caught up.

Dammit

When, exactly, is this supposed to start getting easier?

Nice

It's so nice outside. I'm sitting in my garage, drinking a Cone Smoker and watching for stobors. I wish I had some more beer, but I'm out after this glass.

Weird

I'm sad about the end of my fake marriage.

In my defense...

Nobody is allowed to be mad at me for this. If you got fooled by something this outrageous on April 1st, then it's your fault.

April Fools!

All good things must, as they say, come to an end. StupidGirl and I had a lot of fun with this, but now it's time to go back to reality. Boring old reality.

Yay!

Landed 20 minutes early! Excited!

Expensive

Internet on the plane. Expensive, but it's working very well. What a world we live in.

Cincy

No turning back now, even if I wanted to. Which I don't.

Wow

I can't sleep. I don't want to sleep. I just want to go, right now.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 10:58 PM in category pictures, quickies

Obvious

It's not as warm as I'd hoped, but it's still quite nice out tonight. I should try to sleep, though. Big day tomorrow.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Ancient Chinese secret!

Excited

At Rich O's, anxiously awaiting the arrival of HatGirl. Yay!

Wednesday, I think

Going to the cemetery for a bit, then after that I get to see HatGirl!

Nice try

"Come with me, I think it's time for you to see the package" -- A line from tonight's Lost episode that almost never works in real life.

Hi

So there.

This just in...

...girls are weird.

Maybe

Well, it would certainly be a change. Maybe even a change for the better.

Ah-ha!

I found the word I've been looking for.

Pieces

Channeling Patsy Cline...

Practice something something

Working on my concentr ohhh look my phone's blinking...

Hmmmm...

By constantly having to tell people that she doesn't like it when people talk about her, am I not breaking the rule, just by stating it?

Waiting

Did my good deed for the day. Waiting for karma to reward me.

Okay

This movie is better than the last one.

Miracles

I'm not really sure if I believe in them. Now would be a good time for the universe to help me decide.

Disappointed

That was a really stupid movie.

Weird

Okay, that's weird. It's also silly.

Oh well

I should have gone to Arizona and seen some Spring training games. That would have been awesome!

Everyone

Everyone told me this would get easier. Everyone was wrong.

Sunday

Went to the store and spent too much, but I got some cool new toys.

Test

Just seeing if this works. Last night it didn't work.

Dark

Observing Earth Hour, albeit a few hours late.

Spring

Excited!

I'm at Rich O's, waiting for HatGirl. I'm excited to see her!

An-ti-ci-pay-ay-tion

It's making me wait!

Brrr

I wish it was warmer.

Friday

Home for the night. On a Friday. This is what I've become.

Prepared

Went ahead and got my to-go order, in case I have to make a fast getaway.

Craving

HatGirl says I should be craving Thai food, but I think I'm craving Red Lobster instead. It's still her fault, because she went there yesterday.

Duh

The stupid thing was last June, I just never heard about it until yesterday, and I thought it was recent. Duh.

Okay

Okay, I'm a little freaked out about the train crash at the Louisville Zoo.

Overhaulin

I don't like it when they do the pranks.

Brilliant

I just had a fantastic idea. Too bad nobody else would think it was fantastic.

Buddy misses her

Hi!

He says that he says hi to everyone.

Latter

I'm either the smartest dumb person I know, or the dumbest smart person I know. I vote for the latter; it sounds better somehow.

Fine

I read it. I still see no point in this anymore.

Seance

I've got a bottle of Reverend, and I think I'll see what my friend has been up to lately.

Unread

Pointless.

Crud

Well that plan didn't last very long. Oh well, I'm sick. That's my excuse.

Tired

Slept for four hours. I hope this means that I can go to sleep at a normal time tonight. If I don't ruin it by taking a nap this afternoon.

Grrr

Can't sleep, but exhausted.

Meanwhile

I sure would like to know what pollen or whatever went into full-bloom yesterday, so that when I'm in charge of the universe, I can eradicate it.

Darn

Ran out of beer. Had to come back inside. Plus, it got a little cold outside.

Outside

I like to sit outside at night. Once my eyes adjust to the darkness, everything seems to glow.

Dammit

No matter what happens, or how I feel, I can't seem to stop missing that kid.

Hey!

Tommy Lee! Enough with the drumming on the bar!

Beauty

I keep seeing beauty in the strangest places...

Going

Going to Rich O's. I don't know why.

Chatroulette

I keep going there and hoping to run across someone I know.

Selfish

I'm being incredibly selfish about all this. Some may say that it's about damn time, but I would disagree.

Still ugh

On my death-bed, er, death-couch, drinking a Baltika 6. Not a bad way to go.

So there

I kinda feel like I should say something right now. But, I won't. It's all been said already.

Ugh

I think it's just seasonal allergies, and not the Parisian Death Flu. I think.

Home

I'm home for the night.

Grrr

It's sleeting.

They're out of Tremens glasses

Wonders never cease

I actually slept. First time since Friday morning.

Pete's Wicked Ale

Clear. The color of cola. Reasonable head. Aroma and flavor of lightly roasted malts. Pretty good, but I'm biased, because this is the beer that opened the door for me.

Yay!

I got to see HatGirl! Yay! She's sick, so she might have given me the Parisian Death Flu. If so, totally worth it!

So far...

It's a fairly nice night out here. No clouds and no wind. The temperature is bearable, so far.

Decree

PearlGirl clapped and jumped when I came in to Rich O's tonight. I think everyone should do that whenever I enter a room.

Brazen

"The first rule of tautology club is the first rule of tautology club." -- A joke I just stole from xkcd.com

Yay!

Polly's is open!

Quote

"I see two components to being a writer: a need to write, and an ability to write. I often think I've got too much of one and too little of the other." -- Me

Craving

I'm craving Chinese for lunch. Weird.

FlashForward

I really liked the book; the series is a little tougher to enjoy. Anyway, I wish I could look into my future.

Oddly

I'm in an oddly-good mood tonight. Too bad it was wasted on MusicalYuppieDude.

There

Did my good deed for the day. Gave a old man a ride to his out-of-gas car. Now I'll see if karma decides to reward me.

Company

Having my two brothers over to visit tonight. There will be no green beer.

Classy

This bartender's shirt says "Rub my jugs for hugs." Her mom must be so proud.

Foiled

I was all set to take a long road trip, but then I remembered that I absolutely have to be home Saturday night. So I guess I'll have to wait until after that.

Weird

The tornado sirens are going off, for no reason whatsoever.

Fixed

The issue with getting emails on my blackberry is fixed. Thanks for your patience.

Hmmm

I wish for a minute, an hour, a day, a night. Especially a night. Desire for anything more is beyond even me.

Home

SassyGirl never showed, so I came home. Rich O's is safe from my influence for the night.

Grrr

Looks like I'm getting no emails. I can send, but not receive. So, if you need to contact me, you'll have to text or call. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Stupid

I got my hairs cut, then I ate at stupid Five Guys, somehow managing to not kill the stupid bitch at the counter, and now I'm at Rich O's glaring at my stupid phone.

Humpty Dumpty

As much as I suspect that she and I are irreparably broken, I also wonder if I'm irreparably broken, too.

Circle

My brain is running a mile a minute, but it's not getting anywhere.

Me, of all people

I had a nice time tonight. Weird, huh?

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 5:29 PM in category pictures, quickies

Crud

Today, I'm missing a special little guy.

Starving

I'm starving to death. I should have caved to my craving back when I had it. Now I'm settling for stupid Bearno's burgers.

Craving

I'm craving 5 Guys fries for some weird reason.

Boring

I'm bored. Somebody interest me, please!

Sideways

I like this movie.

Dammit

So there.

Me and SassyGirl and JauntyGirl

Ain't she purty?

New Albanian Smoked Abzug

(draft) Hazy yellow, with a nice white head. Musty aroma, fairly light. Watery mouthfeel. Flavor of tap water that's been sitting out too long.

Yay!

Going to Rich O's to see HatGirl now!

Good

I had an actual good night, and then I escaped before it went bad.

Excited

I get to see SassyGirl later!

Home

I'm back home now. You know you care.

Whew

Talking to the world's drunkest man, which is cool, because at least I know it's not me.

OTR

Okay, I found a place with some OTR. The trip is worth it, now.

Lovely

The shampoo here has coconut in it. Good thing I noticed, or I'd have ended up looking like the dude from Mask.

Dave

There are four guys in a row at this bar, all named Dave. It's like being named Tim at Rich O's.

Cute

My cat Buddy was roaming the house looking for HatGirl. Now he's curled up on the couch where she was sitting. I know how he feels.

Nice

Had some nice Arni's pizza, then a nice visit from HatGirl, now I'm in my nice garage with my nice beer, and I plan to be nice and miserable for a while. Oh yeah, and I'm glaring at my nice phone.

Warm

It's warm enough tonight; I think I'm going to sit outside and drink and ponder the bullshit that is life and love. Should be a blast.

75 months my ass

Looks like it's time for my annual trip to get another battery for my Monte Carlo.

Bug

I'm getting the travel bug again.

Sweetness

Looking at averages, there's no contest.

So far...

The urge is very strong, but the restraint is even stronger...

Pissing into the wind

Stop fearing me. There is no need for fear, or caution, or wariness, or trepidation. Only trust is needed.

Fun

I'm entertaining myself by designing the perfect woman for me. I wish I was a mad scientist.

Sad

They're playing that "Mad World" song designed to make everyone on Earth want to commit suicide.

Text

I sent a text message, and I didn't get my emailed copy of it. So now I'm freaking out because maybe it didn't really get sent. And it's not really the kind of thing I can send again. Grrr.

Anticipation

I get to see HatGirl in 9 hours! Yay!

Clearly

We need to talk. The problem is that we both need to be ready and willing to talk at the same time. I'm not holding my breath.

Probably for the best

Sausagefest at Rich O's tonight...

Good news...

...and bad news. Balance is maintained.

Craving

I'm craving Skyline. HatGirl got me a gift card for my birthday, but I don't feel like driving all the way to Louisville. Maybe I'll go to Covington on Wednesday, and I can eat at the Skyline there.

Dammit

So there.

Headache

With one eye, I'm glaring at my phone. With the other eye, I'm glaring at the door to Jack's. It's giving me a headache.

Weird

I went outside and it started raining. So I came back inside and it stopped raining.

Doubtful

Reading a book about waking up, and wondering if I'll ever do it.

It would be cool, though...

I am not now, nor have I ever been, a mind reader.

Practice

I find myself being less and less patient and more and more irritated with certain people. This is good practice for when I get old(er) and hate absolutely everyone.

Woohoo

StupidGirl and HatGirl keep making my phone woohoo, and now the whole bar is chiming in. The same thing happened with LaptopGirl when I was in Bellingham. Now I miss all three of them.

From my balcony...

Hard Rock

Driving

Isle of Palms beach

Stopping for the night

Almost...

Finally out of Tennessee...

Halfwayish

On my way...

Late

I'm not supposed to be here. I'm supposed to have left already. If I don't leave within the next hour, then I won't go anywhere and I'll wish that I had. Again.

Road Trip?!?

I'm itching for the ocean. I fought the urge today, but tomorrow I may just have to go there.

Do it

I know you're thinking about it. Just do it, dammit.

Yay!

I get to see HatGirl in only four hours!

Weird

I'm at Rich O's. Jesus is here, drinking water. Maybe he's about to turn it into wine.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 8:56 PM in category pictures, quickies

Difference

It's not that I do, it's that I still do. It's a subtle difference, but a difference nevertheless.

Jack's

Waiting for OddlyFamiliarGirl. I can't remember the last time I was in here.

Just when I find a good girl...

I'm watching a show about how the andromeda galaxy is going to collide with ours in several billion years. So, that's just great. Fucking timing...

Dammit

StupidGirl is worried, and she has every right to be. And she's correct. It will happen again. Someday.

Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron

(draft) Black with a decent brown head. Aroma of roasted malts and I'm gonna say coffee. Flavor like the aroma, but with a fairly strong alcohol finish. Decent.

Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche

(draft) Pours a dark gold, with a huge white head. Looks like a lager. Smoky aroma and flavor, pretty good. Reminds me of Spezial.

Heatage

Flamage

It's a good night for a fire.

Metaphor

The problem with gobbling up bullshit, aside from the taste, is that it lingers on one's breath and makes them unbearable to be around.

Choice

This was not my choice. Not even close to my choice. But, I'm trying to respect it anyway.

Play

Okay

I feel like I should say something. What I should say isn't very nice, though, so instead I'll just say that I'm happy.

Magic

We're going to go see this Criss Angel Believe show. I'm excited.

Brilliant

Straight to sleep. What a brilliant idea. I'd be very happy if I wasn't so tired.

Grrr

Now my hard-earned decent mood is shot to shit. Thanks a fucking lot.

Windy

I just went outside. It's like a mother-in-law convention out there.

Uh oh

Thinking about going to see an old friend.

View

The anti-Lent

Pizza and beer for lunch.

Trying

Trying to separate the signal from the noise...

Whatever

Whoa

The Antiques Road Show dude almost killed that old woman.

Yuck

People

Why do people keep talking to me? Don't they realize that they don't matter to me at all? Don't they realize that they suck?

Dinner

I'm at this Chin Chin place. This is the place that started my recent obsession with Asian food. I ordered peanut noodles with chicken. Fucking yummy.

Small world

Talking to the same hooker I talked to in November. I'm still not interested.

Important

Trying to decide whether to start my birthday on EST or PST...

Arrived in Vegas, baby!

Tears

Got my first birthday present of the year. Now I'm gonna cry.

Inevitable

We're just wasting time now.

Fuck

He was crying, and we told him he'd see me again in a month. I bet he thinks we were lying to him.

Location

Almost...

Getting ready to start getting ready...

Incredible

I'm showing incredible restraint right now. The world should be proud of me. I know that I'm proud of myself.

Numb

Not because there's nothing, but because there's too much. Too fucking much.

Totally worth it...

HatGirl! Yay!

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 3:29 AM in category pictures, quickies

Slowly...

10 seconds at a time...

Yay!

I got to see HatGirl, and most of you didn't! I win!

Excited!

I get to see HatGirl in less than an hour! Yay! It's been a bajillion years.

Whoa

MusicalYuppieDude is fired up!

Still

Still being a good boy. Still don't fucking like it.

Wish

I wish my swing was fixed. I'm in the mood to sit on my swing. Oh, and I also wish it wasn't a bazillion degrees below zero outside.

Quote of the day

"I don't feel like I'm short-changing myself. I get to be in love. A lot of people never get to do that." -- from an old email.

Effort

Being a good boy, but not liking it very much...

Solved!

Justifiable

This one fucker just will. Not. Shut. Up. I may have to kill him.

Getting there...

Futile

I pore over the memories, looking for the code that I can break. But I begin to suspect that it's not so simple as a code; it's a different language altogether.

Grrr

A cult by any other name...

Thinking

It's late, and I'm thinking. So I'll either have great dreams, or horrible ones.

Quote

"Yield to temptation. It may not pass your way again." -- R.A.H.

Uphill from here

My night so far has consisted of skunked beer, shitty pizza, and a bunch of old men pretending to be The Who.

Sunday

Newcastle, check. Wick's pizza, on the way. Something to watch on TV tonight, still pondering.

Quote

"Once in a great while lips meet and two spirits merge for a time and the universe is right and complete and the planets wheel in their proper places. Once in a while the lonely, broken spirit of a man is healed and made whole. For a while his quest is over and his questions are answered." -- R.A.H.

Wish

I wish I knew what to say.

Darn

I just realized that, if things were different, we could have gone sledding today.

Because

Because it was asked of me. That's the only reason.

Wondering

I wonder what the climate is like on that planet.

Thursday I think

It's not as much fun to glare at my phone when (a) I'm not sure I want it to woohoo anyway, and (b) she's in the next room.

Grrr

Stupid Bearno's changed their hours. Now they don't open until 4:00. Also, the unfortunately named girl is working.

Boom

My brain is exploding. Time for lunch.

Notebook

I'm watching it again, because I'm a glutton for punishment.

Worried

I'm so worried about my friend, I can't even see straight, let alone think straight.

Still life

New puzzles

You know you care

Got my new puzzles. Still waiting on my new phone.

Sweet dreams...

...sweet girl.

Darn

I'm not sure if I was dreading it, or hoping for it. Either way, it didn't happen, and now I'm disappointed.

Ta-Da!

Never again should it be said that I'm dimmer than a burned-out headlight...

Yay!

Pete Jr. is outside!

Dammit

So there.

Grrr

My new phone didn't arrive today. You know you care. I hope they didn't ship it to Washington by mistake.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 10:30 PM in category pictures, quickies

Der

Well, that was certainly a stupid thing to do.

oh well...

Now I guess I'll go back to glaring for the usual reason. Not sure my heart's in it, though. Luckily, I can glare for this on autopilot. Years of practice...

My fun night

Waiting and hoping, but not expecting.

Grrr

"Let there be light," I said. "Not so fast," the universe replied.

Ahhhhhh!

A long hot shower was such a treat this morning. One of life's great simple pleasures. The shower in my hotel involved all the heat and water-pressure of a foggy night, so I'm especially glad to be home now.

Home

I came home. I'm not sure why.

Finally

I'm on the plane, about to head home, via Detroit.

Back

I'm back in Kent. Still so fucking surreal to be in Kent. And I got the same hotel room I had a month ago. I don't know what that means.

Part

There's a part of me that's actually going to miss this place. It's a teeny tiny itty bitty part, but it's a part nevertheless.

One of many

Surreal

It's so surreal to be emailing HatGirl and realize that we're not talking about me coming home weeks from now; we're talking about two days from now.

Because

At least now I know the reason. Because fuck me, that's why.

Pop!

Now they're saying they'll have balloons for my going-away thingy tomorrow night. I should stay away. That would teach them.

Oh well

I'm kinda annoyed that I didn't make it down South as often as I'd hoped. I'll be there Friday evening and night, though. I'll try to meet up with my friend Gene for a beer or three.

Brrr

It's freaking cold here this morning. That is all.

Bribing God

As I go to bed tonight, I don't care about her. I would give anything to not care tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, and the next day...

Totally

I'm in a weird mood.

Frost

My windows are encrusted. And my stupid blackberry never heard of the word encrusted.

Whatever

My life needs more cowbell...

Great

The Russian mafia dudes are here now. I'd better lay low.

Meanie

So there.

Grrr

Now some old fat woman is hitting on me. My ring's whore-repellant qualities don't seem to be working.

Dammit

So there.

Rock

Hi!

Last room on the left

Der

What these people keep forgetting is that it's fucking football.

Hmmm

I wonder if this bartender is a terrorist. He looks suspicious.

Guess

Alcohol

Alcohol is supposed to be a depressant. So then why do so many people get LOUD and obnoxious when they've been drinking?

Brilliant

"Hey, why not go back to the bar and have another beer?" I asked. "Why, that's absolutely brilliant!" I replied.

Whoa

Hey, what was that? Could it have been...? Yes, I think it was! An actual epiphany! Is there nothing that beer can't do?

Some taps

Red Hook Mud Slinger

(draft) Clear bronze. The head faded away before I could look at it. Light aroma of caramel and hops. Thin mouthfeel. Flavor better than I was expecting. Light, but good.

Whistler Black Tusk Ale

(draft) Clear dark brown with a large white head. Very nice lacing. Aroma of roasted malts and coffee. Medium mouthfeel. Flavor more watery than I was expecting. Decent.

Tie

It seems less pathetic to glare at my phone in this bar than in my hotel room. It's probably a tie, though.

The other way

Trying something

Nice

I think it would be nice to live happily ever after. It's certainly better than my current plan, which is to be miserable until I finally die.

Hair

If we were talking, I'd tell her that I like the bangs.

...

I don't want to do this anymore.

Wow

This drunk asshole is LOUD.

Wow

This drunk asshole is LOUD.

Probably

We should probably stop trying to be friends.

New

Got a new phone. I think it's working. I'm using it to send this.

Here I am!

Dawn

Ouch

Ripped out, set on fire, stomped on, to put the fire out, set on fire again, spit on to put the fire out, then set on fire again and left to turn to ashes.

Weird

Now these people want to have a party for me on my last night here.

Dragging

This is the longest day in the history of days. If the next 12 days drag on like this, I'll be dead of old age by the time I'm home.

Digging

Trying to find the good, but it's buried under all this crap.

Best

Sitting in my car, before work, glaring at my phone. This is always one of the best parts of my day.

Weather report

Horizontal rain again this morning.

Meanwhile

It should arrive tomorrow! I'm excited!

Yummy

I'm not going to miss much about Bellingham, but I will definitely miss Alaskan Smoked Porter.

Unclear

I'm not sure it really counts as "experiencing life" when I'm doing most of it alone.

Rule

There seems to be a new rule in effect for the last two days. I order a beer, and the phone rings about some work problem.

Only...

...13 days left!!!

Some boats

Weird

Birdsview Pail Ale

(draft) Clear dark yellow. Nice head and lacing. Sharp aroma of rye and malts. Flavor fairly tame, without the rye weirdness that I was expecting. Good, though.

A nice find

Birdsview Hefeweizen

(draft) Hazy light brown. Small white head. No detectable aroma. Mouthfeel surprisingly fizzy. Flavor of spices and wheat. Pretty damn good.

Birdsview Amber Lushus

(draft) Clear dark yellow. Huge white head. Syrupy mouthfeel. Aroma of light hops and maple. Flavor not too bad, not too good. Decent.

Birdsview It's Da Porter

(draft) Black with nice brown head and incredible lacing. Fantastic aroma of males and coffee and chocolate. Medium mouthfeel. Flavor very good, mostly with a sharp malt bite. Wow.

Birdsview Cardiack Arrest

(draft) Hazy brown. Huge white head and good lacing. Light aroma of spices and hops and malts. Creamy mouthfeel. Flavor hard to describe. Sweet with a slightly bitter finish. Damn good.

Birdsview Sweet Brown Molly

(draft) Clear brown. Nice beige head with great lacing. Aroma and flavor of malt and molasses. Really good. Yummy, in fact.

Ptui! Ptui!

I'm so mad right now I could spit. I think I will!

Grrr

All those questions, all that bullshit, and he ordered a fucking Bud Light. I hate people.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 2:08 PM in category pictures, quickies

Windy

My umbrella gets turned inside-out every time I go outside. The wind is ridiculous. But it's still warm. The air temperature must be 100 degrees for it to still feel warm when it's this windy.

Bad hair day

Horizontal rain, because of the sustained 40 mph winds. At least it's not cold.

Almost...

Sometimes

Sometimes I wish I had a job where I could sport a bright red mohawk.

What the fuck ever

I'm so sick and tired of these stupid games.

Persistent

Still looking for the magic words.

Good question

"Why didn't you just leave at once, instead of tearing me up bit by bit like this?" - Pyoter

Straw

They keep giving me the gay straw.

Aretha

Did I ever tell you people about the time I met Aretha Franklin?

Car

I want a new car. My newest one is a 1995 model. But I guess I should get a permanent job first.

Patience

If patience is a virtue, then I must be the one of the most virtuous guys who ever lived. Yay for me!

Ugh

Now I'm stuffed, but still going to try to cram a couple beers down there.

Dinner

There's an Asian buffet right up the road!

Wednesday

Now I've gone and done it...

Finally

It's about damn time!

Thinking...

Not worth the risk...Not worth the risk... Not worth the risk...

Me being weird

Unimpressed

I just told this chick that she looks almost exactly like NotHideousGirl. I even showed her a picture. She wasn't as thrilled as she should have been.

New retirement plan?

This dude told me I sound just like Carl Rove. I wonder if I can make any money from this phenomenon.

Close

55 down, only 19 to go!

Reminders

Tonight, at this Green Frog place, I've been talking to two chicks who remind me of SassyGirl and LaptopGirl. The former looks like SassyGirl, and the latter has the same name as LaptopGirl.

Frog

Elliott Bay Gulden Von Boorian

(draft) Hazy Gold. Nice white head. Mouthfeel almost creamy. Light aroma and flavor of apples and pears. There's a weird funky finish that I could definitely do without. Decent is all I can say.

Yummy

Now I'm at this Green Frog place. It's weird. There's a jug band. But they have Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence on tap.

Oh goody

The world's loudest people just sat next to me.

Accept

I just need to accept the fact that we're no longer close. It fell apart so quickly, though. I'm totally in denial.

Lake Padden

Me

Oops

I forgot to ask what year...

I win!

Question

Are fair-weather friends really friends at all?

Yay!

My friend Gene is still alive! That's nice of him.

Yummi

Now I'm at the Yummi casino. All of the back roads seem to lead to this place.

Self

Finally got my hairs cut. It had been over two months. I feel and look more like myself now. I'm not sure the latter is a good thing.

Fun!

Instead of just glaring, I've been giving my phone the finger all night.

Finis

So much, so much more than I want this to begin, I want this to end. What does that mean? I don't know.

Music

This one gay dude has been playing excellent 70s and 80s music on the jukebox all night long. "Don't Fear the Reaper" is playing right now.

Ouch

Trying to wrap my brain around a thought with very sharp edges...

Karma

The thing is, I know exactly why this is happening to her. What I don't know is why it's happening to me.

Brrr

I just asked my phone, it told me that it's 12 degrees back home. It's 45 and drizzling here.

Thoughts

Grrr...Stella...Grrr...

Creak

The ice is so thin. There's no way it will hold for long. I should get off the ice, before it breaks, and I drown.

"Home"body

Spending a quiet night at "home" with pizza and Alaskan Smoked Porter.

Amazing

It's always so amazing how quickly things disintegrate. And how often, but that's a different story.

Small world

Sitting at a little bar in Bellingham Washington, talking to a guy who graduated from the same high school as me, 2000 miles away, just two years before I graduated. And he's not the most unlikely guy I've met tonight. that award goes to Ryan Stiles.

Why?

Why is this girl a bartender? She should be a movie star.

Sparkly

Bloodlust

Tried to install Crysis on my laptop. The framerate is so slow that it's unplayable. Now who am I supposed to kill?

Detached

I'm feeling oddly detached today. But in a good way, I guess.

Bored

I'm in a bar at O'hare. I'm bored. My flight doesn't leave for an hour.

Thinking, uh-oh

I'm thinking that I need to be lied to again. It was better when I was lied to.

Decisions, decisions...

Awake at midnight. Should I try to go back to sleep for two hours or just stay up?

Stupid

This couple next to me is drinking Michelob Ultra, and bemoaning the taste of their Blue Moon samples.

So funny I forgot to laugh

Well, Expedia.com thought it would be funny to cancel my reservation. And there are no other seats available today. So now I'm trying to get a flight leaving Monday morning.

Mission accomplished

There was absolutely no reason to tell me that, except to hurt me.

In good hands

Okay, Mr. Jack and Mr. Shit, you two are in charge of getting me ready for my trip. Don't let me down. I'm counting on you.

Can't

Can't sleep. Can't change my flights. Can't do much, it seems.

Should

I should just leave on Saturday. Staying until Sunday will be a waste of time.

Oops

I had one resolution for this year. It lasted until 8:19. Oops.

I need a haircut

So far...

...this year sucks.

Damn

I really wanted to watch her dance today.

Happy new year...

...and stuff!

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 4:03 PM in category pictures, quickies

Figures

I'm at Bearno's, getting some food. Unfortunately-named girl is working.

Timing

Why is it that, every time I get on a conference call, my phone starts blinking to indicate a new text message? I can't see the message until this conference call is over. Frustrating!

Planning

HatGirl and OddlyFamiliarGirl need to plan their illnesses better.

RIP

My Uncle Carl passed away. That's sad.

Definitely

I may complain, but I'd definitely rather be home and working until 8:00 than be in Bellingham and working until 5:00.

Time

Time to turn in. Into what exactly, I don't know.

Yay!

SneakyGirl is here!

Nice

Been talking to FirstGirl. She didn't even know I'd been gone. She's still nice, though.

Almost

I have to admit, it's a brilliant plan. I almost wish I'd thought of it myself.

Oops

My neck was sore, so I took a long hot shower. Seemed like a good idea at the time, but it made it worse. What's up with that?

Hmmm

So there are two issues here. One could be solved forever, and it would be fun doing it. The other issue, well that one I'm pretty much resigned to living with for the rest of my days.

Darn

Of course I knew it wouldn't last. But I was really hoping that it would at least last until I had to go back to Washington.

Great

Regardless of what happens next, I had an absolutely fantastic two and a half days. I hope there's no doubt about that.

Today

Today, so far, I've done some very odd things, but only as an accomplice.

Jeans

I should go buy some new jeans. These are getting pretty ratty at the bottom.

Excited!

I'm so excited to see HatGirl! Only 40 minutes! Yay!

Uh-oh

I tried to call HairCutLady. I haven't had my hairs cut in six weeks, and I wanted to see if she was open today. The number has been disconnected. Now I'll have to drive down there. I hope she's okay and still open for business.

Nugget!

Yay!

I'm home!

Chicago

Having a layover here. Went outside to smoke two quick cigarettes and almost froze my ass off. Now I'm in a nice warm airport bar having a nice Goose Island beer.

Leaving

On the plane now. I'm getting excited! Not about the long flight, though.

Movie

I'm watching The Notebook. This is a brilliant thing for me to be doing.

For now

I think I've talked myself out of getting an iPhone. For now, anyway. These blackerry outages are sure pissing me off, though.

Surreal

It's just so surreal to be sitting here. I can feel the years falling away.

Sports Pub

Now I'm at my old hangout. I wish more people I knew were here.

Almost

Checking out of this stupid hotel in less than two hours. Guitar Boy in the next room will have to find someone else to annoy.

Again

Another blackberry outage. It might be fixed now - I'm sending this via my blackberry - but two outages in a week? I'm now seriously thinking about getting an iPhone.

Anyway

A year ago, we were really something. And on our way to something more. Something great. Now, not so much. I liked it better, a year ago.

Instead

I should be packing now, but instead I'm glaring at my phone.

Dear Penthouse Forum...

Nobody is here today except me and a couple of receptionists.

Finally

Tomorrow morning I get to check out of this stupid hotel.

Wow

In less than four days I get to see my kitties. Yay! In less than five days I get to see HatGirl. Yay! If I get to see LaptopGirl in the next twelve days, I can die a happy man. Yay?

S.O.L.

I'm craving White Castles now.

Shocked!

Shocked, I tell you!

Timing

Too bad I already bought her present.

Doubtful

This dude on TV tells me to, as a gift to the woman I love, call her doctor and schedule a pap-smear for her.

Obvious

There are certain disadvantages to having my hotel close to a mall.

Godspeed

I'm hoping the little guy has a safe and fun trip.

Mum's the word

I don't feel like saying anything nice, so I'm not saying anything.

Drat!

Foiled again.

Oops

Did something I shouldn't have done. But it sure felt good doing it.

No good deed goes unpunished

I let some drunk guy use my phone to call his wife. That was my good deed for the day. The punishment for my good deed was that his breath funkified my phone and now I may have to get a new one.

What'll they think of next?

Plan

I guess I'll just keep doing what I do. Try to muddle through.

Unsure

I'm just not sure what to do next. I'm so tired of being treated like shit, but I'm also supposed to be forgiving.

Weird

I got hopelessly lost, and somehow ended up at this Yummi casino again.

Basic

I don't like sluts. Or whores, either.

Wisdom

A glared-at phone never woo-hoos.

Restraint

I'm showing incredible restraint tonight.

PSA

Alaskan Smoked Porter = Yummy.

Dear God

There are too many skanky prostitutes. Please give some of them real jobs so they wear more conservative clothing. Thanks!

Wand

I wish the magic wand had worked. That would have been really romantic, if it had worked.

Stumped

I can't think of anything to write. I'm not sure why I picked up my phone to write something.

Grrr

I fear that one of the hotel workers stole my Netflix movies from the mail.

Yay!

So there.

Cheese

I'm watching American Ninja. It's so stupid it's funny.

Old

This dude just came in, and the bartender called him "Old Man John." I'm glad nobody calls me "Old Man Dave." At least, not to my face. Not yet, anyway.

Starving

I've realized that I haven't eaten in over 24 hours. I suppose I'll have some fish and chips. I hope they don't suck.

Yay!

I'm finally off work! And I got to talk to HatGirl for a long time on the phone! Now I'm having a beer! Yay!

Excited!

I'm excited that HatGirl gets her birthday present tomorrow! And if she doesn't like it I'm gonna jump into a volcano!

Outage

There's a blackberry outage affecting emails. So I won't be able to post any of these quickies once I get to work.

Urge

I have an urge to shoot some pool. I know I saw a pool hall my first weekend here. I'll have to find it again.

Yay!

There may be light at the end of the tunnel after all.

Unsurpassed

She already does those things.

Woo-hoo!

It's 52 degrees outside!

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 7:59 PM in category pictures, quickies

Party

They're having a Christmas party here. I think they're all from the hot girl factory.

Three

The worst thing about stage three is that it makes me send drivelly emails to HatGirl.

Relevant

If there's snow falling it's snowing. If there's rain falling it's raining. If there's sleet falling it's sleeting. But what if there's freezing rain falling? Is it freezing raining? That doesn't seem right. This is a relevant question because, whatever you call it, it's doing it outside right now.

Hoping

It's supposed to finally warm up tomorrow. I hope so. I'm quite tied of shivering all the time.

Photosynthesis

I have no idea what I want for dinner. I think I'm getting burned out on eating. Maybe I should look into absorbing energy from sunlight, the way plants do.

Testosterone

I've been talking to an honest to goodness Bering Sea fisherman.

For BigWheelGirl

Again

It's snowing again. Big giant flakes. It's pretty.

Okay

I'm starting to get worried. That's just how my minds works. Worry sucks. I'd rather be my usual mad/sad.

Wow

I didn't even notice, but there's an uberhot girl at the table behind me.

How to drive in the snow in Washington

Drive at one mile per hour, taking up two lanes. If your car ever creeps up to two miles per hour, slam on your brakes. Bonus points are awarded for a 360-degree spin.

Whoa

It's snowing like crazy out here! Brrrr!

Hair Club for Men

He's not only the president, he's also a member.

Duh

I've been calling this the Yummi Nation. But now I think it's the Lummi Nation.

Fled

Sitting at a bar, drinking a beer, and smoking a cigarette. Too bad I had to flee the country to do it.

1954 miles

It sure seems like more.

Again

I knew this was going to happen. Once again, I was right. Once again, I wish I'd been wrong.

Oh well

I just tried to watch a movie on my blackberry via Netflix. It didn't work. It would have been cool, though.

Strike two!

At least I'm pretty sure it's strike two. It might be more like strike one-million.

Caved

I bought a damn scraper for my windshield. I wonder if Alamo will reimburse me.

Grrr

These fucking pull-tab players keep monopolizing the bartenders. I may have to go on a killing spree.

Deadlocked

I can't make up my damn mind about driving down to Seattle tonight.

Weather report

It's snowing here. Little baby flakes...

Because

Because there was an evening, in September I think, of 2003. Because I looked, and because I saw. That's why I never had a choice. That's why it's my fault.

Sad

I miss my kitties. As of two days ago, this is the longest I've ever been away from them.

Rushing

Sitting at this Slo Pitch bar next to the hotel, trying to cram in a couple of beers before too many weirdoes show up.

Prediction

I bet I have nightmares about 80s hair.

Funny

I'm watching Heathers. All the hair is cracking me up.

Slanty

All the barstools in this place are slanty. It's disconcerting.

Dinner

Had Mongolian Grill. I'm experimenting with their sauce choices. This time I had garlic and chili sauces. Not great. I should have had teriyaki.

Latitude

It's 4:00 and the stupid sun is already setting.

Hideous

Her face is deformed. Everyone must see it, but nobody ever says anything.

Ha!ha!

Hmmm

Something isn't right. The world suddenly seems out of kilter.

Disguise

Tonight I'm in disguise again. It just feels safer.

Mountains

I like them. They're pretty. Mountains are one of the reasons I moved here in 1992.

Alas

This morning a beautiful girl woke me up at 5:00. But alas, it was only with a phone call.

Tanisha

That's the bartender's name. What's weird is that she's white.

Wonders never cease

The mall was actually open. I bought a coat, because the wind chill outside is -2365841265 degrees.

Grrr

They're out of African Amber. I drank it all.

Nice start to the week

The front desk called me because somebody had lodged a noise complaint about my TV. My TV wasn't even on. I told her it was my new loud neighbors. Now they're out in the hall arguing.

Guess

Crazy

Now I'm sitting next to a dude who's talking to himself about how he has two hours left to live.

These kids today...

Talking to a girl who says she's majoring in ketchup bottles.

Wow

Stores in this stupid mall close at 6:00 on Sundays. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard of.

Waiting...

The narrow path became a thin line became a scant thread...

Doubtful

If I could stay here, in stage two, then maybe I could survive.

Boundary Bay Inside passage IPA

(draft) Hazy gold. No detectable head. Interestingly floral aroma. Nice flavor. Whatever hops are in this, they're the kind that I like. Good.

Boundary Bay Single Hop - Amarillo

(draft) Hazy Gold. Aroma and flavor of pine needles. Not the kind of hop that I like. Calling it decent goes against my instincts.

Boundary Imperial Oatmeal Stout

(draft) Black with a thin tan head that faded quickly. Fairly neutral aroma. Thick mouthfeel, with a nice strong roasted malt flavor that coated my mouth. Good.

Boundary Bay Dry Irish Stout

(draft) Black with a lasting creamy head. Aroma of burnt malts. Flavor of burnt malts and a touch of coffee. Pretty good.

Boundary Bay Cabin Fever

(draft) Very dark amber/brown with a lasting white head. Nice aroma and flavor of malts and spices. Maybe some vanilla. Good.

Boundary Bay Scotch Ale

(draft) Hazy brown. White head that pulled a quick disappearing act. Mild aroma of roasted malts. Medium mouthfeel. Flavor surprisingly strong of roasted malts. A bit of a bitter hoppy finish. I disagree with this beer's classification, but not with its taste. Damn good.

Boundary Bay Amber

(draft) Cloudy brown, small head. Malty aroma. Flavor of a mild brown ale, but with a lingering hoppy finish that I could have done without. Just decent.

Boundary Bay Best Bitter ESB

(draft) Hazy amber with a decent head. Citrusy and hoppy aroma. Flavor of watery grapefruit juice. Decent, I suppose.

Mt. Baker

Trying

Trying to convince myself that it wasn't all a lie.

Spoiled

Chillaxin' with a bottle of Alaskan Smoked Porter. I'm being spoiled by this beer.

Overtime

It's a beautiful day outside. I can see it out my window as I work.

Justifiable

I have new neighbors in the next room. I may have to kill them.

Hope

I ordered a pizza from this Boston's place. I hope it doesn't suck.

Grrr

Tried to go to Boundary Bay, but everyone in Washington was already there.

25

That's how many movies are now in my Netflix queue. I have such an exciting life.

Ridiculous

I don't know what's more ridiculous, that she thinks she can get away with the way she treats me, or that I actually let her get away with it.

Experiment

I'm conducting one.

Dammit

It's no use. I'm wasting my time.

Actually

I probably don't want to know.

Favorite

My favorite kind of hot girl is the kind that doesn't think she's hot.

Weird

I have this really weird thing that I do. Even I think it's crazy. But I'm doing it now, and it somehow makes me feel better.

Sad

I'm sad tonight. Drowning my sorrows with Mac & Jack's African Amber.

Back

Back at the hotel. Expecting another very long night of work.

Late

Still up. Still working. Thinking about all the yummy overtime pay I'll get.

Mean

On The Biggest Loser tonight, they had them run a marathon, and they put the last part over sand. Because I guess running 26.2 miles on asphalt was too easy.

Shopping

At some big mall. I need new work shoes.

Good

It's gonna be a good night for glaring at my phone. Maybe with a nice bottle of Alaskan Smoked Porter. Or two.

Weather report

It's a beautiful sunny day here. Chilly, though.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 7:50 PM in category pictures, quickies

Grrr

Some skanky old hag stole my chair while I was in the restroom. Not my seat, but my actual chair.

My problem with Buddhism

Desire is one of the things that separates us from animals. That, and not being afraid of vacuum cleaners. Elimination of desire is elimination of humanity.

Holding it in

I was going to go pee, but then everyone on Earth decide to go pee at the same time, so I decided to wait.

Not even married

I'm having Thai food for dinner. I've been having the strangest cravings lately. I hope I'm not pregnant.

Yay!

Hooray!

Hooray for HatGirl!

Funny to me, anyway

It would be funny if hiccups were contagious like yawning.

Channeling

Channeling Lou Rawls again. I wish I could sing.

Transcribing

Working on arranging my notes into a real blog entry. Stay tuned, I guess.

Place

Now I'm at the place next to my hotel. It's their opening weekend.

Yet

It's a pretty nice day. which means it's not raining.

Back

Heading back to Bellingham now.

Alaskan White

(bottle) Hazy light orange. Decent head that faded to a thin film. Light aroma and flavor of assorted spices. Nothing notable, but still a good combination.

Bizarre

It's bizarre that I used to sit here in this seat at this bar and think that I was sad. I had no idea what real sadness was, back then.

Weird

I used to date this bartender's mother.

Why?

Why does enlightenment weigh so heavily on the soul?

Wow

This bartender is a bitch.

In bed

HatGirl's fortune cookie: Everything will now come your way.

In bed

LaptopGirl's fortune cookie: You will be surrounded by luxury.

New Belgium Trippel

(bottle) Clear fuzzy light bronze in color. No head to speak of. Aroma of ripe apples. Flavor typical for the style, with a little extra maltiness. Quite good.

Right again

I rest my case.

Typical

Beautiful day, but Mt. Rainier is still hidden by clouds.

Optimistic

There's actual blue sky up there this morning. I'm optimistic that I'll get to see some mountains.

Advice

Everybody keeps telling me what I already know.

What accent?

Apparently, in Washington, my Indiana accent is sexy.

Gloomy

Hungover

Gobble gobble

I guess that's all.

Nice

Had a nice night. Almost time for bed.

Holly

I miss Holly. I wish she still worked here. I do shots with Holly.

Home

I'm down in Kent now. At my old bar. This used to be home to me. It's so surreal to be sitting at this bar.

Fear

Out of sight, out of mind...

Weird

It's a nice morning here.

Sorry

That doesn't count. Too little, too late.

Kona Pipeline Porter

(draft) Black with decent white head and lacing. Light aroma of coffee and malts. Flavor like the aroma. Fairly light, bordering on bland. Finish is a little chocolatey. A decent beer.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 9:01 PM in category pictures, quickies

Yes

I'm still up. Glaring at my phone.

This was prettier in person

Ploop!

Funny and sweet and kinda gross, all at once.

Elysian Perseus Porter

(bottle). Black with thin tan head. Aroma of cola and roasted malts. Medium mouthfeel. Flavor same as the aroma, with a bit of a tingle to it. Good. I'd like to try this on tap.

If

If I don't get an answer, then that's an answer.

It wasn't even close

I don't know why I even bothered to try.

Please, no wagering

The race is on!

Stupid

I don't like this game.

Surprise

It's raining again.

My rock guarding the coasters I'm going to steal from here.

Anacortes Noel

(draft) Clear reddish bronze. Nice white head. Aroma of spices and maybe pumpkin. Medium mouthfeel. Tame flavor of assorted unidentifiable spices. A good beer.

On a coaster

"What'll it be then? Your 11,568th pint of the usual, or a life changing experience?"

Unfair

The bartender here is too hot.

Full Sail Imperial Stout

(draft) Black with thin beige head. Strong aroma of malts, dark chocolate, and licorice. Thick and chewy mouthfeel. Flavor intense and lasting, mostly of roasted malts. Very good.

Bored

I'm bored. I'm going to go back to that Archer's place and glare at my phone there for a while.

Clap

Why do the football weirdoes always clap and high-five each other? My theory is that it's because they suck.

Some wood

More water

Some water

Too

I'm too far away, for too long. It's too much.

Chuckanut Strong Ale

(draft) Clear Bronzish copper. Nice balanced aroma. Flavor a little subdued. Like a mild Alt-style beer. Decent.

Chuckanut Foreign Stout

(draft) Black with a decent tan head. Weak aroma of burnt malts. Flavor burnt, but weak enough to make it barely good.

Chuckanut British Brown

(draft) Clear dark brown. Minimal head. Strange aroma of malts and hops. Flavor of cola and malts. Very dry finish. Decent.

Chickanut Special Bitter

(draft) Clear dark gold. Thin whitish head. Hoppy aroma. Tastes like aluminum. Disgusting.

Movie

Watching the new Star Trek movie. At least one thing I bought at Best Buy works.

Some copper cow

Weird lunch

Some mountain

Some trees

Wondering

Does the 5-second-rule count if the pretzel lands on the sock you removed after wearing it all day?

Noticed

Georgetown 9-lb Porter

(draft) Very dark brown. Nice beige head. Subdued aroma of burnt malts. Medium mouthfeel. Flavor of roasted malts, almost acrid, but still very good. Maybe a touch of chocolate and licorice, too.

Hmmm

Am I craving a nice Belgian, or an Alaskan Smoked Porter?

Weirdoes

The dude next to me is drinking a Coors Light, despite all the real beers available. His wife is drinking a mint julep.

Crazy

It just took me 25 minutes to park. And it's raining again. And I'm parked about 500 yards away. And I keep forgetting to order my beer in an unfrosted glass. That's important to us beer snobs.

Oh well

Restraint going bye-bye..

Dinner

Spicy chicken and brocolli alfredo. Incredible.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 8:40 PM in category pictures, quickies

Restraint

I've had a bottle of Alaskan Smoked Porter in my fridge since Tuesday afternoon. I'm waiting for a night when I don't have to get up early. It's definitely a late-night beer.

Whale

Good thing I'm so close to the ocean.

Whoosh

There are 70-mph wind gusts here tonight.

All

My eyes tell you everything you need to know. But it's not enough for you to look. You also have to see. I wish you could see. I wish you would let yourself see.

Manny's Pale Ale

(draft) Slightly hazy amber. Decent whitish head. Citrusy hoppy aroma. Hoppy flavor, but the finish is smooth. It's actually not too bad.

Fear

Out of sight, out of mind. This is my biggest fear now.

Boundary Bay Scotch Ale

(draft) Hazy brown. White head that pulled a quick disappearing act. Mild aroma of roasted malts. Medium mouthfeel. Flavor surprisingly strong of roasted malts. A bit of a bitter hoppy finish. I disagree with this beer's classification, but not with its taste. Damn good.

Resemblance

A lot of people here look like somebody, but so far nobody is anybody.

Timing

I went out for a bit. Now I want to get back in my room, but the cleaning lady is there.

Surprise!

One of these times, she's going to say goodnight instead of simply disappearing, and I'm going to die of a heart attack.

What?

This one dude keeps scowling at me. I'd hate to get murdered my first night here.

Balance

The good thing is that people in this area know how to drive. The bad thing is that there are so many drivers that it doesn't matter how good they are.

I used to rule these tables

My old hangout

Official

HatGirl invited everyone on Earth, to my going-away party.

Problem

The problem with an official going-away party is that it means that I'm officially going away, and I'm not ready to admit that yet.

Grrrr

Thinking about stupid timing again, and how much I hate it.

To-do list

Accomplishing actual stuff today. Wonders never cease.

Sunday night

Sunday

Bearno's for lunch. Keeping my fingers crossed about dinner.

Trying

Trying to get excited about Washington. It's not working.

Excited!

At the casino, waiting for HatGirl. I'm excited!

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 12:42 PM in category pictures, quickies, travel

Rich O's

I'm going to miss Rich O's. As much as I hate it sometimes, I'm still going to miss it. Plus, here you can still smoke in bars. In Washington, they have snipers posted to shoot people who smoke. Although I think they just wing you for a first offense.

Saturnalia

I just realized that, along with everything else, I'm going to miss Saturnalia.

Plans

Going to maybe get my hairs cut, then have a Marzen at Rich O's, then wait for HatGirl to call me. We're hanging out today because I'm leaving and it makes us sad.

Stupid

That was a really stupid question. I'm glad I wasn't the one who asked it.

Grrr

The problem with airports is that there are people and long lines. Two of my least favorite things.

Funny to me

There's a dude wearing a shirt, with a picture of dice and the words, "Blow me for luck."

Ouch

I've check out of the hotel. Now, I guess, I'll stick my thumb up my ass for five hours until it's time to go to the airport.

Kinda

I'd kinda like to find an earlier flight. I think I'll look.

Honored

I'm sharing the bar with the hair club for men.

From left to right...

Hoegarden (with fruit wedge) Stella (straight from the bottle) Then, four people drinking Bud Light from the bottle.

Again

Chinese for dinner.

Darn!

Before the draw...

Big Sky Moose Drool

(draft) Clear dark amber, with a decent tan head. Aroma of roasted coffee and malts. Flavor mostly of roasted malts. Good.

About a fourth of the taps at Yardhouse

Reminders

Every girl here, depending on whether she's wearing glasses or not, is reminding me of either HatGirl or LaptopGirl. I think this means that I've been away from home for too long.

Yummy!

Alaskan Amber!

Starving

So there.

Again

Last night, right before I went to sleep, there was nothing. Everything cancelled out. I want that again, I think.

Again!

Oops

I'm doing this wrong. Way wrong.

PST

This time zone is messing with my head.

Oops

I stand corrected. it's not XX, it's XXI. They have an old tap. Still OMG though.

Timing

Turns out that the beer I paid $10 for Sunday was mispriced. The real price is $28. Still totally worth it, but I'm glad I won that money this morning.

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quickies

posted by dave at 4:40 PM in category pictures, quickies, travel

Taps at Freakin' Frog

Wild Royal Flush, Baby!

Grrr

Road trip postponed.

OMG

That explains everything. It sucks, but at least it explains everything.

Can't hardly wait

According to my fortune cookie, my hidden creative talents will soon be revealed.

Chinese

It's what's for dinner.

Bras at Dick's Last Resort

Fag

This dude from England just bummed a fag off me. I knew what he meant.

Magnetic

The hovering rule is in full effect.

Quest

I'm on a quest for Alaskan Amber.

Finally

It took more time and much more beer than I was expecting, but I've finally found the mood I came here for.

Awake

In Las Vegas, there is no expectation of sleep, so I fit right in.

Deschute's Black Butte XX Imperial Porter

(draft) OMG.

Makes the entire trip worth it

I have arrived

Obligatory

Viva and stuff

Arrived in Las Vegas safely.

Reasonable

A couple of days. I could prove my point in just a couple of days. That's reasonable, I think. Especially on my dime.

Costume

I'm wearing it again. I'm not sure why. Maybe to keep the whores away.

Witches' Brew

(bottle) Hazy gold. Nice white head. Aroma of musty apples. Nice smooth flavor, typical for the style. The high ABV is hidden very well. Quite good.

Asinine

I just saw a commercial for a "DJ Hero" game. Easily the most asinine thing I've ever heard of.

Linner

Now Bearno's has mini-burgers and fries. That's what I'm having. So there.

Dark

That's why this time is different. This time, I'm kept in the dark.

Powerless

Wondering what I could do to help either situation. Probably nothing. I really feel powerless.

Ugh

I've got a million things to do today. It's all very daunting. I should just go back to bed, but I won't.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 1:20 AM in category pictures, quickies

Grrr

I'm seriously pissed off now. And I'd foolishly thought that I'd have insomnia for the usual reason.

Whoa

Experiencing a serious feeling of deja vu.

Meanwhile

My right eyelid keeps twitching. Everyone probably thinks I'm winking at them. I'm not, though.

Timing

Too late for a nap, way too early to go to bed for the night.

Bag

I think it's weird that Five Guys always puts your food in a bag, and they don't have any trays at all.

Laundry

One load in the washer now, only 999,999 more loads to go.

Artsy and stuff

Settled

I just realized that if I go anywhere for two months I'm going to miss HatGirl's birthday. So that settles it. I can't go. There. I feel better now.

First

But first, a trip to the haunted Burger King for breakfast and phone-glaring.

Busy

I'll be really busy for the next two days, but then...Las Vegas!

Fine

Okay, fine. One more Marzen before bedtime.

Dammit

I hate this.

Yay!

I got to see HatGirl, and I'd resigned myself to not seeing her until mid-January. I tricked her into coming to Rich O's. I don't feel guilty at all.

Whore

I am not a cheap whore. I may be a whore, but I'm not cheap.

Hungry

I don't know for what, though. Something spicy, maybe.

Trying

Trying to take the hint, but it's hard.

Gross

Okay, that was really disgusting. When I stepped into my garage this morning, I accidentally stepped on and squished a mouse. So it was a crappy start to my day, but even worse for the mouse.

Whew!

I seem to have successfully flipped my schedule back to semi-normal.

Public service

Some people just need to be told that they suck.

Dammit

Really missing them both tonight. Stage one and a half, I guess.

Der

Got halfway here, realized I'd left home without my wallet, and so had to turn around and go get it.

Plan B

Going to Rich O's. I'd just go to stupid Bearno's but they have stupid live music on Wednesdays.

Yay!

It was a false alarm!

So it begins

Now I'm really starting to freak out.

Regret

My biggest regret is that it's gotten to the point that, though I may be needed, I'm not wanted.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 8:46 AM in category pictures, quickies

Worried

I feel like I should be helping, even though I don't know what I'd be able to do.

Oops

I was supposed to stop at Denny's, but I forgot. Now I'm starving.

Random

I'm in a really cuddly mood.

Funny

Got a meeting invitation from a former employer. I must still be on some distribution list. It would be funny if I showed up for the meeting.

Risky

Dove into the water without first checking the depth. Got lucky, this time.

Short

Time is running short for me to get back on a reasonable schedule.

Afoot

Very weird.

An excuse won't be enough

I need a reason. A good reason. If I'm ever going to be so cruel, then it needs to be a fucking unbreakable reason.

Antsy

I don't feel like I can wait until Sunday. I need to get away from here now.

Thought

You know what I want to do? I want to text her right now, and see if I can bring breakfast. I will do no such thing, however. Maybe the thought is worth something.

Time

Time to go. Later.

Torn...

...Between the stubborn and the clueless and the stupid.

Dammit

Stage one achieved.

Anticipation

Ouch

Apparently I slept on my neck.

Deep and stuff

A glared-at phone never woo-hoos.

Sleepy

I hope I have a good dream.

Right again

I was so right. HatGirl would never ever treat me like that. Not even when she's mad at me.

So far

Still at Rich O's. Talking to some chick who needs a nickname. Having a good time.

Movie

Watching Groundhog Day. It was never a favorite of mine, but it's topical.

Well

That was a bit of a roller coaster. Good thing I like roller coasters, I guess.

Yay?

Going to see SneakyGirl. Apparently I forgot to call her. Oops.

Sigh

Had some really nice dreams. Just hanging-out dreams, not sex dreams, you pervert.

Close

I was just thinking about something she told me the other night. It was almost the truth. Almost.

Trivia

They have a new trivia game here. I rule at it.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 11:09 AM in category pictures, quickies

Funny to me

The bartender is hung-over.

Tattoo

I have a tattoo now. I have an urge to go rob a liquor store or something.

Bingo

There are an awful lot of old ladies here. Maybe they're having a bingo game or something.

Scary

I just decided on my Halloween costume. It's the scariest ever!

Annoying

The annoying thing about this is all the false alarms. I feel really tired, but then I go to bed and I'm instantly wide awake again.

Craving

I think I'm craving donuts. Or maybe pancakes.

Grrrrr

Stupid rain!

Oops

It was 366 days ago. Halloween of 2008.

Dammit

It was 364 days ago. I got an email saying, "Come over, now."

Boo!

Gobble

I think I'm going to bake a turkey. Not today, though.

Grrrr

Well that didn't work for shit.

Inside

I'm back inside. What a nice night. I did some good thinking. And some bad thinking.

Still trying though

You know, this really isn't helping. In fact, I bet it's making it worse.

Amateur

They made me look at pumpkins. I don't know why. I'm definitely an amateur.

Jump

Just jump. Planning and plotting and reason and caution have led exactly nowhere. It's time to take a leap of faith. Jump. I'll catch you.

Uh-oh

I'm in a writey mood. Good thing I'm still at Rich O's instead of at my computer.

Drool!

Stupid

I should just throw my phone in the woods and then go to bed.

Damned

Damned if I do and damned if I don't. That seems to be the root of the issue. Not very encouraging.

Aim at the base

I need a little fire extinguisher to put out a stupid stubborn spark.

Bracing for impact

Still awake, of course. My mind is racing, and it's a slick road. A crash is imminent.

Stupid

Stupid timing, it ruins everything.

For those of you keeping score at home...

...I'm still fucking awake.

Superbad

I think it's superfunny.

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Still chillaxin'

posted by dave at 5:36 PM in category pictures

It's hard to tell from this crappy blurry photo, but that's my cat Buddy chillaxing again. It's even harder to tell that, once again, he's lying atop a pair of my blue jeans.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh

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quickies

posted by dave at 11:39 PM in category pictures, quickies

Home again

I don't know why.

Craving

Craving a Marzen.

Stupid

Took a stupid nap and had a stupid dream.

Something

Something has happened. I don't know what has happened, but I know that I don't like it very much. Nope, not very much at all.

More TMI

Today, it's about the sex and then the cuddling. Weird.

TMI

I was at stupid Bearno's, and when I went to pee I noticed that I was going commando.

Wrong

There's a show on TV and this dude's giving beer to a monkey. That's just wrong, especially since it looked like it was swill.

Lou Rawls

I fear that he's right, but I wish he was wrong. It would be so cruel if he was right.

Thoughts

Sometimes I have these thoughts. The most natural and expected thoughts, but not for this. For this, they're inappropriate. For this, they are a thin veneer over the truth .

Three Floyds Behemoth Barleywine

(bottle) Hazy reddish amber. No appreciable head. Aroma of molasses and dark fruits. Flavor of dark fruits, with a noticeable alcohol bite. Very dry finish. Only decent, but barleywines aren't my favorites to begin with.

Lucky

I found a Delirium Tremens in my beer 'fridge. Yay!

Easily entertained

I'm watching Plan 9 From Outer Space, probably the best bad movie ever made.

Sound

I miss the woo-hoo sound that my phone used to make all the time.

The Beffie Song

They're playing "Welcome to the Jungle" on the jukebox.

Selfish

Hoping they use a different funeral home.

Starving

I wish I knew what I was starving for. So far I've got it narrowed down to about 10 things.

Stage four musings

There will never be a beginning until there's an ending, and there can never be an ending without a beginning. I'm stuck, forever.

Stage three musings

I'm so stupid. I should have been more patient. More understanding. This is nobody's fault but mine.

Stage two musings

Okay, as near as I can figure it, in order to avoid "confusion" some lies were told, or at least implied. That I'm unreliable, and that I leave, and that I lie, and that I never really cared, and that I'm just like all the rest. Such bullshit. I deserve better, and so does you-know-who.

Words to live by

From some SPAM I got tonight: The genital signal is then homozygous.

Crap

Funerals suck, even more for the person who died.

Out

Need to get out while the gettin's good.

Sunset

Waiting

Happy Dance!

HatGirl is feeling better, so Buddy and I did the happy dance! Yay and yay and yay!

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 2:36 PM in category pictures, quickies

Buddy chillaxing

Grrr

Feeling the need to restrain myself today. I don't like that I feel this need, and I like even less that's it's necessary.

Zinnebir X-Mas 2008

(bottle) Clean copper-colored. Long-lasting whitish head. Fairly faint aroma of wet wood and apples. Light mouthfeel. Nice crisp flavor, hard to describe. A good beer.

What?

I miss you, too.

Ham

I don't understand why Jim Carey doesn't weigh 1000 pounds, what with all the scenery he's always chewing up.

Kerstmuske Christmas Nightcap

(bottle) Cloudy dark brown. Nice tan head. Very surprising aroma of roasted coffee and wood chips. Medium mouthfeel. Flavor drying and fizzy, mostly of roasted coffee. Not as gross as I've made it seem. A decent beer, that might be better on a really cold night.

Also

I, also, am downplaying my own awesomeness. Perhaps I should stop.

Stop

She keeps looking at me. I wish she'd stop. I'm not a piece of meat.

Salt for her wound

This chick next to me is putting salt in her Bud Light. I guess anything to change the taste has got to be an improvement.

Waiting

I'd rather have stupid hope than no kind of hope at all, I guess.

Observations

It's all kinkified now. I'm not sure I like it. Plus, she needs to start wearing glasses.

Surreal

Watching the footage about the homemade flying saucer thingy and the little kid...

Almost

I almost wish I'd get sick so I could see HatGirl. Maybe I should sleep in my front yard tonight.

How my day started

Suckage

Looking for work again, sooner that I'd thought.

Handy-Dandy!

The self-service terminal at the BMV is very cool. I was able to renew the registrations on all three vehicles without having to deal with any people at all!

Four

Today would have been three months, but I got lucky, and so it's only been four days.

Refreshed

A guy could get used to this.

Different

Every bad thing I've ever been told about, is something I'd never fucking do. And she should fucking know it by now.

Weird

For some reason I'm craving Chinese food.

Darn

I dreamed about a really nice girl. I wish she was real.

Sleep

Now I'm going to bed. I'll sleep with one eye open, glaring at my phone. Goodnight, cruel world.

Whoa

I just heard some pretty messed-up news. And hearing about the method employed brought back some very bad memories. I think I should have gone to Bearno's instead.

Scheming

Muhahahahaha!

ZZZZZZZ

When will I learn to not eat a big lunch when I've had zero sleep? Answer: Never, apparently.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 11:59 AM in category pictures, quickies

Thinking

Thinking about taking a side-trip, but worried that it would seem weird.

Vegas, baby!

Only 2,332,380 seconds and I'll be on my way!

So

It happened. I should be happy about it. At least it makes sense. Except that it took so damn long.

Fair

I'm thinking that I should probably go ahead and fall in love with every woman on Earth. I haven't been fair. They all should have the fun of destroying me.

Restraint

I'm in a writey mood. I think I can resist, though.

People

Some people are good, and some people are mean. I wish I was better at seeing which was which.

Four

Now there are four stages. That's just fantastic.

Okay

Just because it's from Belgium doesn't make it a Belgian beer. Fucking Stella is NOT a fucking Belgian beer!

October 10

Remember this date.

Wow

I hope that's the saddest thing I hear for a long time.

NotHideousGirl!

HatGirl!

Barf

I've seen her vomit more in the past year than I myself have vomited in my entire life. Yet I'm still attracted to her. That proves it's real, I think.

Router

I bought a new router today. Not, as CrackerDude guessed, a piece of woodworking equipment, but a computer network router. And so now, my laptop doesn't crash my network when I turn it on. So that's good.

Excited!

Six hours until HatGirl! Yay!

Dream

Had a dream about being stuck on a roller coaster.

Doubt

When in doubt, I'm doing nothing.

Oops

Senility is either good or bad. I forget which.

So stupid

I came into Rich O's by mistake.

Chillin'

Old

I guess I know that I'm old when all of the Hooters girls look too young.

Thursday

Pbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbt!

Sucks

At the new Wick's.

Yummy

First beer in a week is a Marzen, of course.

Kinda

I think I know what I need to do. I don't think there's much of a choice.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 9:23 PM in category pictures, quickies

Wasabi

It's hot as fuck, but it's good, and the heat doesn't last too long. I can deal with wasabi much easier than I can deal with some hot peppers.

What?

What are you looking for?

Stupid

Did something stupid, and am now being reminded as to why it was stupid.

Blame

This is all HatGirl's fault.

Hey

Here's a thought. How about you stop?

Ahhhhh

Ten and a half hours of sleep. No bad dreams. That was nice.

Well, yeah

Words to live by.

Funding, and the lack thereof

It's not looking good. Everyone, cross your fingers again, please. Thanks.

Fuck

There's a dude here who looks like her new boyfriend. I'm freaking out. I'm so unprepared to see them together. I'm abandoning my beer.

Craving

I'm craving KFC for some weird reason. I don't even like KFC.

Status

Bored.

Sometimes

Sometimes I'm funny, dammit!

32 years in fact

Stupid bullshit games and asinine tiptoeing. I haven't been twelve years old for a long time.

Stroke's the word

Every time they dim the lights in bars, I wonder if I'm having a stroke. And not the good kind of stroke.

Not even my job

Now I'm at Jack's, training a new bartender. I should get free beer for this.

Tough

Having a tough time getting motivated this evening.

Worried

I'm worried about someone I have no business worrying about. And who I'm not allowed to worry about.

Polly's

Today is the last day of the season for Polly's Freeze. I must go there!

Kitty!

The neighbor's cat is outside. I haven't seen him in at least a year. I think I'll go feed and pet him.

Duh

Of course I'm curious, concerned even, but it's none of my business, so of course I'm not asking.

Sorry

I'm sorry that HatGirl's girl friends all suck. There, I said it.

Plan C

Going to the casino for a buffet and some beers.

Got this at work for free!

It's baaaaack!

Instead

Instead of going out of town, I've decided to just stay here and glare at my phone. It's not as much fun, but it's cheaper.

comments (0)

funny to me

posted by dave at 8:56 PM in category daily, pictures

I'm so easily amused. Seriously, it doesn't take much. Even the most stupid things will get me grinning or even giggling for hours. Lately, I haven't been a particularly happy camper. Perhaps some of you more astute readers picked up on that. But even a hopeless sad sack like me can still grin every now and then, with the right prodding.

This image illustrates that point. Click on it for a larger version. It makes me grin. Especially number three. Yes, I'm a child. Tee-hee.

Anyway, the other night I had a brilliant idea. I was sitting at Jack's with OddlyFamiliarGirl, as that has become something of a Sunday-night habit lately, and I found myself in a familiar dilemma.

See, OddlyFamiliarGirl is very smart, and very talkative. This is a brutal combination. Quite often, I find myself listening intently to what she's saying, but listening so intently that I'm constantly forgetting the things I want to say. Then, when OddlyFamiliarGirl pauses to take a breath, I'm left with nothing with which to fill the silence.

Hence, my brilliant idea.

Frustrated with my nonexistent short-term memory, I asked for a piece of paper and a pen. With those things, I was able to jot down little notes to myself, and those notes were enough to remind me of the things I wanted to add to our discussion when the opportunities arose.

And, this past Sunday, one of the things we discussed was the clitoris.

I think it was Jay, and not Silent Bob, who once asked, "The female clitoris?"

Yes, that's the one.

Then we talked about dreams and other random stuff. It's all in the notes.

comments (6)

quickies

posted by dave at 9:44 AM in category pictures, quickies

Grrr again

I woke up, and I thought that I saw the Sun shining outside. But noooooooooooooo, it was a false alarm.

Grrr

Sleep aborted. Again.

Ug

Me man. Me make fire. Fire good.

Yay!

30 minutes until HatGirl! I'm so excited!

Riddance

The question remains as to whether it's good or bad, though.

Fischer Rauchbier

Dark brown. Whitish head that lasts decently. Light aroma of malts and smoke. Medium mouthfeel. Flavor fairly light, a little sweet, but smoked malts predominate. Reminds me of Spezial.

Excited!

Only 10 hrs until HatGirl! Yay!

Ha!

The opening segment of The Office tonight was one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

Yay!

I've been so incredibly grateful for HatGirl lately. And I don't care who misinterprets that statement, as long as she doesn't.

Dammit

I'm seeing too many parallels. I should run away fast.

Backwards

From two to one. That's new.

Hmmm

Straight to stage two. This is the second or third day in a row for this.

Yay!

I'm outta here!

Weird

My rock is almost hot to the touch right now.

Disgusted

People suck. Every last one of them.

Monsoon

I'll be glad when this fucking monsoon season is over.

Indeed, there ARE stupid questions

To answer that question, I will refer to my earlier statement: I am a good guy. If you don't believe me, then that's your problem, not mine.

Weird

Now I'm at Connor's, of all places. One hour until HatGirl! Yay!

Grrr

I feel like I'll never sleep again.

Darn

Looks like I'll live. The little bit of swelling in my throat is gone now.

Home

I'm home now. I don't know why. Oh yeah, and the horse is gone.

Poison

The bartender at Rich O's just tried to kill me.

Whoa

Ominous

Exciting

Tornado warning!

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 4:05 PM in category pictures, quickies

Yay!

There are, after all, degrees of dumbness.

More pondering

Pondering resolve, and the lack thereof.

Pondering

Pondering attraction, and the lack thereof.

Pandemonium

Surrounded

Surrounded by 5,000 teenage girls. Trying to not look like a pedophile.

Yay!

I'm so excited! It's almost time to see HatGirl! Yay!

Whoop-Dee-Doo

That is all.

Irritating

Double standards are twice as irritating as regular ones.

Okay

For the gazillionth time, LaptopGirl and I never dated.

Lucky!

I just found some Domaine DuPage in my 'fridge. It's my lucky day!

Just sayin'

There are two hot girls here. The blonde one is at least 6'6" tall. The other one is brunette and of human proportions.

Urthel & Oaken Barrel Moaten

Clear copper color. Light tan head that fades quickly. Light aroma of maybe raspberries. Medium mouthfeel. Flavor a little sour. Smooth finish. Not too bad.

Mt. Rainier

I've been reading about Mt. Rainier, and it's got me to thinking that I should go to the summit again someday. Of course, I'm woefully out of shape for such a climb now, but I could fix that situation.

Not

I'm not a catalyst for indignation. Not today, anyway.

Analogy

It's like taking a deep breath before diving under water, isn't it?

Nefarious

I'm onto their scheme. They can't fool me.

Nitey-nite

The plan for tonight is to sleep. I must stick with the plan, or at least try.

Silver lining

At least I won't miss her more over the next few days than I've already missed her over the last few months. More is not possible. So there.

Simile-impaired

Like trying to fill the Grand Canyon by throwing pebbles.

Late

I just got here. Had to work a little late, and then traffic really sucked.

Ah-ha!

I just took an informal test, and it turns out that I might have PMS!

Wednesday

Not even bothering to try to concentrate.

Joke

As the newborn savior lay in his manger, three wise men came to pay their respects. One of the wise men bumped his head at the entrance to the stable. "Jesus Christ, that hurts!" he exclaimed. Mary and Joseph looked at each other and then Mary said to the wise man, "We were going to call him Charlie, but we like your idea better."

HatGirl!

Plan

Tonight, my plan is to sleep. It's always nice to have a plan.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 11:31 PM in category pictures, quickies

Wishful thinking

I guess I just want to know the reason. I'd take an excuse that I could believe, but I'd rather know the reason. I expect neither, and that makes me sad.

Semi-ashamed

Watching the Big Brother finale.

Conflicting

Stage two is more fun, but much less fair.

Finally

My blackberry just got the EDGE network back. So emails are working again. I hope it lasts. Hmmm, I wonder if AT&T is going to pro-rate my bill.

Broken

AT&T is broken. Emails to and from my blackberry are not working. Texts and phone calls are fine, though, so use one of those methods if you need to contact me right away.

Gross

I've had to blow my nose so often over the past nine days, now I've got a nosebleed. Colorful!

Yawn

On the phone for three hours last night. So sleepy today. Need caffeine.

Dammit

I fucking hate stage one.

Lucky?

I was going to do something decidedly weird tonight, but they didn't have what I needed at Walgreen's.

Fitting

Now those two people are engaged. Good for them, I suppose.

Sweet?

Home Something Home...

Sunday night

Crud

I say it, and it's ignored. Or I say it, and it's used in an attempt to start a fight. So now, I'm NOT saying it. I'm only feeling it.

Proof

Further proof that, to me, my opinion is the only one that matters.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow it will have been two months. I wish I could say that I won't care, but I will. This continues to be such bullshit.

Dream

It was disturbing because it wasn't until I awoke that I realized that the dream didn't make any sense at all. When I was still in the dream, it was brilliant.

Uh-oh

I'm a little worried. Nothing good can come of this. Not without a shit-ton of ifs all coming true.

Hmmmmmm

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

Ping! Pong!

Yay! Dammit! Yay! Dammit! Yay! Dammit! Yay! Dammit! Yay! Dammit!

Yay!

Five minutes!

A Friday afternoon thing

The clock was moving quickly, but now it's slowed to a crawl.

Difference

I just got tired of trying. And waiting. I did not give up. There is a difference.

Pitiful

Both of my cats are making noises like they're dying, because they haven't eaten since 11:00 or so last night.

Okay

Okay, that was fun.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 5:15 PM in category pictures, quickies

Sad

Stage one sucks.

Creepy tree is watching me

Wrong

Something is wrong with my email on my blackberry.

Why?

Why is this idiot talking so fucking LOUDLY to a woman less than three feet from him?

Allergy

I think I'm allergic to not seeing HatGirl. It's been almost three days, and I've been stopped-up for almost three days. Coincidence? Why take the chance?

Pressure

I'm not having any fun today. I think that my head is about to explode from sinus pressure.

Ugh

This morning all of the cement in my head has fully hardened.

Big Brother

This Natalie girl is hot. A bitch, but a hot bitch.

Ha!

Take that, universe!

Foiled

My cat Buddy decided that it wasn't a good idea for me to take a nap. He was probably right.

Crunch time

What to do now? Take a nap even though I know that my dreams will be bad, or tough it out and hope that I'm so sleepy later that the stage one dreams don't keep me awake all night?

Fuck

Stage three achieved.

Cycle

I guess I must be feeling better, because I've entered the same old mental cycle again. Right now, I'm in stage two. It's the only stage that's any fun.

Ugh

Somebody snuck into my house last night and pumped my head full of cement.

Cough cough sneeze sneeze

I wish I wasn't dying or I'd go out to my garage and drink a beer and watch the storm.

Home

I'm back home now. I had fun, even though I'm coming down with something. Driving home sick wasn't very enjoyable.

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday, StupidGirl!

Context

Meanwhile, the Reds blew another lead. They suck.

OTR for dessert

Skyline for lunch

Home

Had a nice night with HatGirl at Rich O's. Now I'm home and debating whether to just go to sleep or maybe go outside and drink a Marzen.

Also

By the way, this is all happening right in front of my property. The truck ended up in a ditch in my woods.

Whew!

First they said one fatality, then they said just a little doggie was killed. Now they're saying no serious injuries.

Whoa

Bored

I'm sitting at Bearno's in the middle of the day. That's how bored I am.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 7:26 AM in category pictures, quickies

Wondering

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Oops

I think I've stayed up too late tonight. Tomorrow is going to suck. But it's my own damn fault for sleeping 10 hours last night.

Val-Dieu Triple

(bottle) Hazy gold. Minimal head. Citrusy mild aroma. Flavor a little sour, more orange than apple. Not bad, though.

Voting ends at 9:00

Gladly

I would gladly allow my mind to be read. How many others can say the same thing?

Missed

I've missed the stinky feet game! I wanna play! Damn.

Tiptoeing

It's like I'm living in a minefield sometimes.

Better late than never

Covington was booked for Saturday, but I've made a reservation for Sunday night. Yay for holidays!

Pesky

Persistent problem picking proper pronouns.

Seeing is believing

There were just some things I had to see for myself.

Grrr

I need to get out of town Saturday, but stupid Covington is all booked again.

Futile

Some actions are rooted in selfishness and/or ignorance and/or cruelty and/or mistrust and/or childishness and/or stupidity and/or blindness and/or deception, and sometimes it's futile to look for an honorable motive.

Refreshed

Ten hours of sleep. That ought to do me for a while.

Nitey-nite

I think that I will sleep tonight. Imagine that, me of all people, sleeping.

Yummy

Sometimes I think that potato skins are the perfect food.

Fun

That was fun and very-much needed.

Waiting

At Tucker's. Waiting. Excited.

Sometimes

Sometimes the river overflows its banks.

Left Hand Chocolate Starfish

(draft) The color of dark cola. Nice tan head. Very noticeable aroma of chocolate and roasted malts. Flavor mostly subdued chocolate. Pretty good.

Grrr

Worst. Timing. Ever.

Yay?

Crossing my fingers!

Whoa

That is all, just whoa.

Restraint

It's not that I don't want to, and it's not that I can't, it's that I shouldn't.

Dessert

Still Sunday

Dinner was yummy. Now I'm at Jack's indulging in some daydreams.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 6:36 PM in category pictures, quickies

Metaphorically, of course

The thing is, just because I liked it, that doesn't mean I wasn't being shit on.

Fooled

About once out of every million times, I manage to fool myself into believing that I'm better-off now.

Craving

I'm craving shrimp scampi. I wonder if they can make it spicy. That would be awesome.

Problem

The problem with nice dreams is that you wake up.

Bedtime

Goodnight, cruel world.

Crud

Just trying to do what's right, and one thing that's right is not undoing the little bit of progress I've made recently.

Nice

It's a nice night outside. I should pitch my tent and camp in my backyard. I won't, though, because I don't have any firewood.

Darn

Spitting out worms, staying home tonight.

Yummy worms

Waiting with "baited" breath for word from HatGirl.

Saturday

Today I'm missing a little kid who, for a while, filled a big hole in my life that I didn't even know I had.

Rich

Bought a battery for my Intrepid, and now I'm getting my oil changed. Who says my life isn't rich?

HatGirl! Yay!

Indeed

In the words of a text I just got from HatGirl, "hhj $ninivviuji o ikiimbnnnn jNBONOOOOOOOOkvm."

Wow

I'm really being flooded with spam about watches. Those guys must really be desperate.

Passing

Sometime in the next few days, Marzen (14713) is going to pass Newcastle (14782) as the beer I've had the most of in my life. I really never thought Newcastle would be passed. I think it might make me a little sad when it happens.

Sin

My sin, apparently, was in seeing something more than a pretty face and a pussy. Seeing much more.

Unexpected

Dammit, where did that wave come from?

Justification

When I'm good it's not as impressive unless I'm bad every now and then.

Whew!

Still alive. Let the rejoicing begin!

Uh oh

I hope this one dude doesn't go postal on us.

Foiled again

Wednesday I had a brilliant idea, but I couldn't find what I needed to being that idea to fruition. Tonight I looked in another store, and couldn't find it there either. Maybe they don't make what I need anymore. That would be a shame.

Okay

Like I said, it's not my first choice, but I'll tough it out for a while.

Central

I think that Central is my favorite time zone that I've lived in. I don't know why. Maybe because prime-time TV was over at 10:00, and there'd be a Star Trek rerun or something on before I went to bed.

Weird

My doorbell just rang, but when I got to the door, there was nobody there.

Weather report

It's gonna rain here. That should help traffic. Not.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 2:01 PM in category pictures, quickies

Rapidly

3... 2... 1... 0. Okay, fucking fine.

Spam

I've been getting lots of spam for watches lately. I bet it's because nobody wears watches anymore.

Nice

RockGirl is on some stupid trip and was going to be out of touch for two days. Sensing my desperation, she used the hotel's computer to email me. That was nice of her.

Bird's nest

The 80s called, and they want their hairstyle back.

Not

NeighborsDaughter is here. She's not stuck-up.

Stupid

It was either all a lie, or it was all me being stupid. I choose option C.

Ha!

I got to see HatGirl tonight! Yay!

I like this kitty!

Gimme

4...

Yummy

Had Skyline for lunch. I'm going to weigh a million pounds if I keep doing that as often as I have been.

Building

My excitement is building, but I don't want to jinx myself.

What?

Well?

Foreboding

The cool night air is nice, but it reminds me that Fall and Winter are just around the corner.

Plan

My plan is to shut myself in my closet and sob until HatGirl returns. Is that weird?

Inevitable

5...

Now

You might not know it from looking at me, but I'm being a good guy right now. It is both unappreciated and undeserved, but it's how I'm trying to be.

Cute

Need synonyms for "cute."

Closer

7... 6...

Finally

Giving up in 10... 9... 8... It would take so little...

Thinking

I'm thinking about changing my name.

Black

I think that, no matter what happens in the future, these last few months will always be a black spot.

Tired

I woke up about 3:00. That's a guess, because I didn't want to know what time it was. It certainly felt too early to be waking up. So now I'm running on two hours of sleep for the day. This should be fun.

Laundry!

This is a reminder to myself, to do a load of laundry when I get home.

Talk

It wouldn't even have to be about anything relevant.

Funny

Nugget is scared of my new shoes.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 6:57 PM in category pictures, quickies

Me and NotHideousGirl

Yay!

NotHideousGirl is here!

Hot

This dude who should know better just asked me if LaptopGirl was still dating HatGirl. They're straight, so the answer is no. That would be hot, though.

Tired

I'm tired of all these looks of pity. Celebrate with me that I'm still breathing, don't commiserate with me over the effort that breathing takes.

Rough

Traffic sucked in both directions today.

Finally

I finally remembered to pay my trash bill today. You know you care.

Okay

Okay, I'm not bored anymore. I found something that's broken!

Bored

I'm incredibly bored right now.

Pictures!

Cheating!

Every time I think I've figured out the rules, they change on me.

Idea

Stores should have a different line for lottery people. That way they'd get out of my way.

Stupid

Dammit, I actually had stupid hope tonight. That was stupid of me.

Rule

There is most certainly a rule. It's implied by the explicit rule, but it's no less mandatory. So there.

Decision

Every day after work I have the same decision to make, and I always make the same one. I don't know why I persist in calling it a decision.

Okay

The reason I'm not bothered by this is that it's not being done to me, it's being done despite me. There's a huge difference.

Moral

The moral to this story is shut up.

Moral

There is a moral to this story somewhere. If I figure it out, I'll let you know.

Productive

Slept for 10 hours. I figure that was more productive than glaring at my phone for the same amount of time would have been.

Nice

It was nice, a million years ago. I'd never want to go back, though. Too many predators.

Word of the day

Well that was fun and educational. It was funducational, I suppose.

Seriously

How one-sided do you need things to be?

Dammit

I miss that kid. We were buddies.

WTF?

Okay, what the fuck was that about?

Ouch

I'm thinking that this camel's back might have finally broken.

Mornings

They keep arriving earlier and earlier.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 6:46 AM in category pictures, quickies

Funny

It's funny that I'm sitting in my garage at this early hour but I'm glaring at my phone anyway.

Reward

I slept away my entire Friday night. Better than sitting around feeling sorry for myself, but not by much. So now I'm going to go outside and have a couple Marzens and watch the Sun come up.

Right

I was right. One fucking month as of today.

Sequence

Breathe, then swallow. Don't try to save time by doing both at once.

Been

One month today, I think. This is such bullshit.

Non-update

I have nothing new to say. So there.

Seriously?

What's so damn fascinating?

Lunch

O O O O'Charley's!

Ugh

Why did they have to put mornings so early in the day?

Admission

Sometimes I think that maybe he had the right idea. I don't think that very often, but every now and then. It scares me a little.

Really

I really think that girl is cute.

Regression

Sitting in my garage, drinking a beer, glaring at my phone. So much like old times...

Sex!

It's not the cake that some people think it is. It's only the icing. The yummy yummy icing.

Uh oh

I'm feeling stuff about things, and thinking things about stuff.

Southern Tier Heavy Weizen

Slightly hazy gold. Smallish head that seems to last. Aroma of wheat and bananas and maybe a little alcohol. Flavor surprisingly complex and good. A slight alcohol burn at the finish. I like it.

Jumping

I could have taken skydiving lessons, performed a couple of tandem jumps with an instructor, then for my first solo jump I could have used the third floor of this building as my landing site, and I could have done all of this in less time than I just spent waiting for the stupid elevator.

Lunch

There's a Skyline about a mile away from where I work. It was yummy.

Ostrich

I think that the best thing for me to do is to stick my head in the sand for a while.

Wednesday

I had a very nice Wednesday. I'm going to try to go to sleep now before it gets ruined by some bullshit.

Yay!

HatGirl is here! Yay!

Writey

I'm in a writey mood. Tonight I should write something. Somebody please remind me.

Glaring

I don't know why.

This just in...

I don't like dorks. Even though I'm a dork myself.

ACLs

They have been, and continue to be, the bane of my existence.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 12:04 PM in category pictures, quickies

Groovy

One bad thing about working here on the dark side of the moon is that I'll have to wait until Saturday to get a haircut. I look like a hippie already - by Saturday I'll probably look like an asylum escapee.

Wondering

Since I seem to be the only one who cares about what's happened to us, I wonder why I'm even bothering.

Ugh

After three months, I'm reminded of why Monday mornings suck.

Home

I'm back home now. I don't know why.

Informative

I've been talking to MixedSignalGirl. It was informative. I need to write a blog entry.

Jack's

Now I'm at Jack's for some reason. I'm very afraid that this one drunk fucker is going to try to talk to me.

Potential

This could be huge, if it lasts.

Dinner at Sam's

No cheap sunglasses, though

There's a dude here rocking a very stylish ZZ Top beard.

Boo

Some days it seems like every place in New Albany is haunted.

Unmotivated

I'm having a hard time getting motivated to go eat. I hope that I manage to motivate myself before I starve to death.

Hungry

I need to go get something to eat. I have no idea what I want, though.

Funny...

...no matter how many times I count, I keep coming up with one.

Boring

I've been doing boring stuff all day.

Fun

I'm having actual fun. Me, of all people. But I'm sure that reality will creep back into my life before too long. Probably when I next try to sleep. Fucking reality, I hate it.

Now

Now I guess we're going to Rich O's. Cue the ominous music.

Fortune cookies

Mine says, "Get your mind set... Confidence will lead you on." HatGirl's says, "A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains." Crap platitudes, both of them.

Yummy!

Almost

I am so close to something right now. I never thought I'd be this close. Not in a million years. Not ever.

Yay!

Tomorrow I get to hang out with HatGirl! I'm so excited!

Risks

This place sucks. Everybody keeps pressuring me to take risks that aren't worth taking.

Mean

They told me Dragon's Milk was on tap. I got excited to tell HatGirl, then they said it was in bottles only. That was mean of them.

Glorious

What a glorious day it is, and it's made even better because it's Friday. So there.

Peaceful

It's so peaceful out here at this hour. I really should flip my sleep schedule on purpose, so I can enjoy these warm peaceful nights while they last.

Late

I'm in a writey mood tonight. But first, I'm in a sit-in-my-garage mood.

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quickies

posted by dave at 8:21 PM in category pictures, quickies

Odd

Today, on the way home, I saw an old woman trying to push a car on the shoulder of the highway. That was odd, but what made it even more odd was that there was what appeared to be a teenaged boy in the driver's seat. I stopped, but the old woman said that she'd called her son and he was on his way. The kid (her grandson?) didn't say anything.

HotEuchreGirl

She is here. I haven't seen her since I carried her down LaptopGirl's stairs, a million years ago.

LOUD!

It's too early for these people to be this damn LOUD. They're not pacing themselves at all.

Craving

Today I'm craving a Hawaiian pizza from Pizza Hut. It's been a long time since I've had one of those.

Deafening

My shoe is deafening today.

10

I slept for 10 hours. So I guess I'm caught up for now. It's about damn time.

Time

Suddenly, there are not enough hours in the day.

Commute

Yesterday's commutes weren't too bad, but today's sucked.

Wednesday

My shoe is making a horrible racket today. It's making me self-conscious.

Dammit

I wish I had my swing. I can't believe I haven't fixed it yet. Oh, wait, I can totally believe it.

Done

Okay, I'm done. Too much cruelty.

So very...

...tired.

Commute

Wondering how long of a commute this is going to be. Less than an hour, I hope.

Dammit

This silence, it screams at me.

Unfair

A thousand times a day, I resist, and I stay silent. It's only for those rare times when I must speak that I get shit.

Decision time

Trying to decide if it's a good idea to start a new job with a hangover. Probably not.

Something I made up in a dream today

Into the abyss of the unknown I tumble, flailing and flapping for added style. I will find the bottom, or it, me. Only then might I be able to stand once again.

Surprisaphobia

Going to Rich O's tonight for a celebratory beer, and hoping I don't have any bullshit surprises.

It's over

My Summer vacation is over. I start a new job tomorrow.

Sunrise

eight hundred and sixty-four

That's my estimate of how many loads of laundry I need to do.

Pinch

I want to wake up. I want this nightmare to be over.

Pestered

These feelings aren't hurting anyone but me, and I wish people would stop trying to talk me out of them.

What?

There are lots of LOUD people here. I hope they leave soon so I don't have to murder them.

Hoping

Just hoping for what's best, though I'm not sure what that might me.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 4:20 PM in category pictures, quickies

Finally

I finally was able to sleep, then I slept the whole damn day away.

Very very tired

Grrr

Can't sleep. Again.

Finally

Apathy achieved.

Powerless

I'm feeling really powerless tonight. I did offer to help, but I don't know what I could have done. I mean, I can't even help myself, how could I expect to help a friend in need?

Darn

I was really wanting some Barfly tonight, but it was sold-out.

Dream

Had the most transparently metaphorical dream of my life just now. As obvious as a kick to the groin.

Nice

It's actually a nice day today. I should go somewhere.

Ouch

There went what was left of any semblance of a good mood I might have had.

Deed

Okay, I finally managed to do my good deed for the day. Take that, karma!

Schlafly Quadrupel Ale

Cloudy brown. No appreciable head. Intruiging aroma of dark fruits and apple peels. Surprisingly pungent flavor, a little sour, but really good.

Perspective

I keep trying to see things in the proper perspective, but there's really no safe place for me to stand.

Damn

A permanent position in Las Vegas. So damn tempting...

A nice pour

Stupid

Damn, the proper response to P should have been d. How could I have been so stupid?

Still Friday

Done eating, back to glaring. May not have time to get my hairs cut, what with all the glaring I need to do.

Friday

My to-do list today consists of getting my hairs cut. And glaring at my phone, of course. And maybe having lunch with HatGirl.

Rain

I wish it would either storm or stop raining. If the former, I could drink a beer and enjoy the show. If the latter, I could take a long walk.

Overshot

Went from sad, shot right through apathetic, and landed squarely in pissed.

Packed

It's a madhouse, I tell you!

Risk

Paranoia level about 7.4, but I'm fucking going anyway. Maybe I'll get to cause a scene. That might be fun.

Yummy

I can usually just tolerate Bearno's pizza, but today's was absolutely yummy. I don't know why.

Time's a wastin'

Tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock...

Inertia

Emotions are not physical objects, but they still have inertia. That fact sucks.

Damn

My mood is shot all to hell. I'm going to Bearno's now to drink a birthday toast. Happy birthday, NotHideousGirl!

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 9:53 AM in category pictures, quickies

Inevitable

All this writing about Anchorage makes me want to go back there.

Darn

They're not doing the breakfast menu until 3:00, so I have to eat regular food.

Conspiracy

Fireflies keep flashing and, for a second or two each time, I always think it's my phone that's flashing.

High

Paranoia level 9.7, so I'm staying home tonight.

Harsh

In the harsh light of the new day, I see that my brilliant idea may not be practical.

Brilliant

I have had a brilliant idea. Now all I need are the cojones to follow through.

Kinda

I kinda want to just walk home, but it's all uphill, and it's supposed to rain. So I guess I'll drive like a lazy person.

Glaring at my phone

Sometimes it's fun, or at least therapeutic.

So sue me

I'm a straight single man. I like hot girls. Hell, I like all girls.

Yay!

HatGirl is here! Yay and yay and yay and yay!

Godspeed

SassyGirl is hitting the road again. I'll miss her, of course.

Medium

Going to Rich O's now. Paranoia level is around 6.2 or so.

Uh oh

I'm wondering about something again.

Walk

About four miles tonight, I think. I really didn't want to come home.

Nice

It's a nice night for a walk. I only wish all the detour-traffic would go away.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Okay

Now I'm getting pissed.

Nice

Had a nice lunch with a nice girl who is trying to find me a nice job. Now I'm having a nice Marzen at Sportstime.

Battling

Battling inertia, and wishing that was my only foe.

Pretending

Sitting at Jack's, drinking a Gumballhead, pretending that everything will eventually be okay. Not good, but just okay.

WTF?

Simple

If you are, then act like it, and if you're not, then don't act like it.

Sometimes

Every now and then, I am stupid. Tonight is one of those times.

Funny to me

I'm staying home again tonight, but if was out playing pool for money, I could be a millionaire by now. I don't think I've missed a shot since noon.

Pbbbt

I've earned every bit of this, so I'll thank you very much for not giving me crap about it.

comments (0)

Tuesday at Rich O's

posted by dave at 10:09 AM in category pictures

MusicalYuppieDude and I working on building a HatGirl sandwich.

Me, HatGirl, MusicalYuppieDude

comments (2)

quickies

posted by dave at 4:07 PM in category pictures, quickies

Darn

Of course I'm happy, but also sad. I guess I'm sappy.

Me man. Me make fire. Fire good.

Brilliant

I'm just full of brilliant ideas for tonight.

Mean

There's a dude playing for the Chicago Cubs named, I shit you not, Milton Bradley. What a mean name to pin on a kid.

Fancy

I think it will be a good night for some Belgian beer. Come to think of it, every night is good for Belgians.

Stupid

Okay, apparently they took "Great to Be a Belgian" and added the extra letters to the third word in an attempt to be cute or something.

Karma

Okay, did my good deed for the day. I hope it pays off.

Funny to me

Careful what you ask for. Because I would love to grant that request.

Ta-da!

That is all.

Coaster not this understand do I

Back

Back at Rich O's now. I'm not sure why. Better than home, I guess.

Proof

Still at Jack's, proving my point with a pool cue.

Now

Now I'm at Jack's. I really don't know why. I'll probably get bored and go back to Rich O's before too long.

Yummy

Had yummy Skyline chili for lunch, and now I'm having a yummy Marzen for dessert. It's a good day as long as I don't think.

Hmmm

This lottery thing is tougher than they make it seem. I may need to rethink my retirement strategy.

Dreams

I'm going to try to sleep now. I predict that I'll be awakened in two hours by bad dreams.

Chaotic

Now the power is back on. You know you care.

Peaceful

Power has gone off and on all night. Now it's off again.

Personified

I'm sitting in my garage, on an el-cheapo plastic chair, wearing nothing but shorts, and drinking a beer. I am white-trash personified.

Relevant

Had a good day, and got to discuss relevant things. It meant a lot to me.

Scared

We're both very scared. The danger must be real. Too real.

What?

What am I supposed to be writing? If I knew what was being sought, I'd try to provide it. If I knew what was being feared, I'd try to avoid it.

Butterflies

I think I might be falling. How fucked up would that be?

Late

I wish it would stop raining, I want to take a walk.

Imagine

Imagine that breaths and heartbeats are voluntary. Then imagine the reason for those things being stolen away. Imagine well enough, and you might understand me a little.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 1:51 PM in category pictures, quickies

Uh oh

Searching

Searching for a mood in the bottom of a glass...

Strange

What a strange, strange girl. Which one, you ask? All of them.

Paraphrased

You can lead a horse to water, but don't ever let him drink, because then your power over him is diminished.

Monday

I'm at Rich O's for some reason. I can't get in touch with SassyGirl. I'll be mad if I move away and I only got to see her twice.

So very tired

I'm going to try to last until tonight, though, so I don't get upside-down again.

Guess

Guess who's awake again.

Contrast

That was nice of her. See, some girls are nice, even to me, of all people.

Take the world in a love embrace.

Fire all of your guns at once and explode into space.

Choice

I had to choose between the lesser of two evils, and I stand by my choice. So now I'm at Jack's by myself.

Confused

Now we're at Tucker's. I don't know why. After dinner, I don't know why we're going to Jack's.

Finally

It's about damn time. Now maybe I can leave my house.

Justifications

When in a pinch, and reasons are in short supply, excuses can be substituted.

Blah

Can't seem to get motivated today.

Small favor

Okay, everybody cross their fingers for me. I'll let you know when you can uncross them. Thanks.

Social experiment

Maybe I'll keep it on for a while.

Thoughts

It would have been fine. She would have enjoyed it, and he would have definitely enjoyed it.

Suddenly shy

The pussification of the American backyard

Menace to society

I nearly gave the liquor store dude a heart attack when I showed him my ID.

Hope

It's not always a bad thing to have. For one thing, it's the only thing that's kept me going for almost five years. That's worth something, right there.

Great

Well, I've managed to become good and pissed. And what, pray tell, will I do with this newfound attitude? I'll go to sleep and I'll have bad dreams, that's what I'll do.

Good

I'm trying so hard to be a good guy, but it's rarely appreciated and so it rarely seems worth the effort.

Endurance

There's just no way to endure, but I somehow keep doing it anyway. And instead of even grudging respect, I get ridicule and pity from every direction. I keep enduring, though, because it's all I can do.

Dammit

Dammit dammit dammit dammit dammit dammit dammit dammit dammit dammit...

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 12:27 AM in category pictures, quickies

Yay!

I might get to see SassyGirl later this week!

War!

The distant thunder sounds like war drums. It's kinda cool.

Pissed

I'm so pissed at how things have turned out. But am I allowed to be pissed? Nope, I'm not fucking allowed to feel anything at all, lest I be deemed weird.

Ouch

A hot bath didn't help. I need my neck massaged.

Doubtful

Hoping for a nice stress-free night at home, but when the stress comes from within, relief is doubtful.

Fancy

Legends

I'm at this Legends bar, waiting to have my faith renewed.

Faith

I wish somebody would restore my faith in the fairer sex. It's fading fast.

Better than nothing

Slept for 8 hours, and had good dreams except for those last 10 seconds.

Assessment

Not worth the risk. Going home now.

Sometimes

Sometimes you learn which are your real friends and which are not, and sometimes you're very disappointed by what you learn.

A good start

Some shithead wanted to start a fight with me before I'd even parked my truck.

Theory

I'm going to Rich O's now. I'm not sure why, but my working theory is that I'm brain-damaged.

Awake

I just cannot fall asleep today. Too much reality intruding into my thoughts.

Doesn't hurt to try

The Honey Wheat kinda sucked. Traded it in for a yummy Nitro Porter.

Change of plans

The haunted Tap Room was closed, so I'm at Cumberland Brewpub instead.

Friday

Weird. I'm craving Skyline Chili and I have an intense desire to go to the haunted Highland Tap Room. And, as luck would have it, they're right across the street from each other.

Broken

It's kinda hard to fix something when I'm the only one who recognizes that it's broken.

Knowing

What a stupid movie.

Mistreatment

That's fine. I'm fucking used to it. Mistreatment and use and abuse. Apparently, it's my purpose.

The beer I hope to marry someday

Grrrr

What kind of store closes at 3:00 in the afternoon on a Thursday? The kind of store that sucks, that's what kind. I had my good deed for the day all worked-out, and now I've got nothing.

Five

Five hours of sleep is pretty good, I think.

Fine

I don't know what I was expecting. Something, I guess. I should expect nothing, but I never do.

Alone

All alone now. OddlyFamiliarGirl and NotHideousGirl just left.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 12:42 AM in category pictures, quickies

Oh well

I need to accept that there's only one. The sooner I accept that fact, the better.

Craving

I'm craving strawberry syrup for some reason.

Boring

I'll tough-out this nice guy stuff for a while longer, I suppose.

Bad

Okay, I've been a good boy for a while. I guess it's time to be bad.

Alone

Dammit, I really don't want to be alone tonight. Oh well.

Weirdoes

Damn weirdoes. I'm not in the mood for them tonight.

Aaaaaaaaah!

Now I'm freaking out and I won't know why until at least tomorrow. This sucks.

My rock at Bearno's

Yay!

I lost my rock sometime last week. I was really afraid that it was gone for good, but I found it this morning! I know it's just a rock, but it's my rock. Yay!

Also

Also, I wish I could sing. There are some girls I'd like to melt.

Rather

Walking the dark streets at night is kinda nice, but I think I'd rather be sitting on my swing. I really need to get it fixed.

Darn

Lost again.

Race

It's always a race. Will beer weaken my resolve before it puts me into a mood wherein I don't need resolve?

Because

Because, dammit, sometimes silence is just another lie.

Guessing

Right now, I'm guessing, and I'm second-guessing. I don't know what's the right thing to do.

Sunrise achieved

Getting closer

Another day dawns

Funny

It's 6:05 AM, and I'm sitting in my garage, drinking a beer and glaring at my phone.

Rumination

I was just realizing that there's a difference between knowing what kind of person I am and knowing me. You have to know both. Whoa.

While it lasts

Sitting in my garage, a nice beer at my side, my ears lulled by the sound of gentle rain. Sometimes it's not so bad, being me.

Deserving

The reason I still deserve this beer is because thoughts don't count.

Mmmmm

The McDonald's near my house is now open 24 hours! I was sooooo craving a sausage biscuit, and now I get to have one! Yay!

Wow

When they say the buffalo tenders at Tumbleweed are hot, they're not fucking around.

Going to heaven

In case anyone was worried about me. Friday night I manhandled an 84-year-old one-legged man into his van after some dickhead abused the handicapped parking spot at the American Legion hall. I was going to say "some dipshit" but I didn't see him there so it must have just been a dickhead.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 4:56 PM in category pictures, quickies

Probably for the best

Everyone flaked on going bowling. That didn't last long.

Bowling

That's what we're doing tonight. It should be interesting, because I haven't bowled since before I screwed up my arm.

People

Everything is crowded today. There are too many people.

Lunch

Leaving now to go have lunch with HatGirl, so suck it, world.

oops

Sometimes I get a little carried away when I feel like I'm being insulted.

Up

Once I went to the summit of Mt. Rainier. Sometimes I wish I'd stayed up there.

Funny

Dipshits are funny. Looking.

Envy

Watching this father and son interacting as adults, and I'm envious. I never got to have that kind of relationship with my dad; it ended before it really began.

Illogical

So let me get this straight. If I hadn't asked for what I wanted, I might have gotten it?

Yay!

Having a nice Marzen now, and I've confirmed that I get to have lunch with HatGirl tomorrow. So yay!

Vista

My laptop has Vista, so I'm finally finding out about all the problems.

Irony

It's too damn ironic. The thing that opened my heart to the possibility of happiness is the same thing that keeps me from finding it. Irony sucks.

Uh-oh

Desperate times are generating desperate ideas.

Grrr

I'm kind of grumpy today.

Could have been worse

They gave me a cherry on my shake, even though I clearly said that I'm straight, and I got a single instead of a double cheeseburger. Not too bad, considering the source.

Feeling

They're going to fuck up my order. I just know it.

Closed

Denny's is closed for some stupid reason, probably because I made the mistake of saying I liked it there. So now I'm at Steak 'n Shake. It's just not the same.

Precuteable

Predictable, but still cute.

Smiling

I don't think it's denial, I think it's acceptance. I think it might last this time.

Still alive

DeadLady is here! Good to see her.

Manners

It would certainly be the polite thing to do, though I'll grant that Miss Manners probably wouldn't recommend it.

SassyGirl

Been talking to her on the phone. First time since March, so yay!

Mommy glass and Daddy glass

Ouch

This hook in my mouth is starting to hurt. All that tugging...

Monday

Now I'm at Sportstime for spaghetti. Monday used to be pizza day, but that seems to have changed.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 11:42 AM in category pictures, quickies

This just in...

Girls are weird.

Averted

The crisis, that is.

Grrr

Can't sleep, so I'm not even going to try.

Fun

I'm flipping off my phone. It's fun, and oddly calming.

Sunday night

Smiling

I'm smiling. Weird. Take away the hope and the frustration and the disappointment and the sadness and the potential, and I'm still in love with her. That makes me smile.

Stay tuned

I have a very strong urge to write something that's long-overdue. Good thing I'm at Jack's, miles from my computer. But the night is still young, and I'll have to go home eventually.

Balanced

What a weird mood I'm in. I have, for the moment, found that elusive equilibrium. I'm not sure that I like it. Too precarious.

Contrast

Dinner with YoungGirl makes me feel really old and really young at the same time.

Sunday

Can't decide what to do today. I want to go somewhere, but I can't make up my mind.

Good

It's a little cooler outside tonight. It feels really good.

Wasted time wasting away

Tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock...

Stupid

Stupid Jack's is charging $5.00 to get in the door at stupid 12:25 to see some stupid band. Fuck them and their stupid cover charge.

Interesting

Okay, I asked her. She said it was an "interesting" idea. I don't know what that means.

Ha!

I got to see HatGirl, and most of you people didn't get to see HatGirl! So ha-ha!

Probably just inertia

Trying not to think about something, and wondering why it's such an effort.

Dorks

Now I'm at Bearno's. There are LOUD dorks here.

Weird

Had a dream that I was at a concert at my old high school. Frampton and Loverboy - what an odd combination.

Crilliant?

I've had an idea so crazy, it just might be brilliant.

Early

I don't think I'm being unreasonable. I'm just asking for some decency.

Away

I'm thinking how weird it is that in a week or two I could be thousands of miles away.

Better

I feel a little better since I took most of my clothes off. I think I'm going out to my garage.

All kidding aside

I really needed that. It patched one of the holes in my soul.

Excited

I'm excited. This probably means I'm about to be disappointed, but for now I'm excited and I like it.

Weird

It's always weird when people I never saw before in my life greet me like their life-long friends.

comments (0)

quickies

posted by dave at 3:20 PM in category pictures, quickies

Hot

It's hot outside. I'm not complaining, I'm just saying.

Okay

Okay, that one was a little too close. Anybody need any fresh firewood?

Yay!

This lightning is awesome!

Deal

I make you a deal. You open your damn eyes, and I'll reopen mine. Sound fair?

Flashing

Now I'm back home, sitting in my garage and hoping that all this lightning leads to something. I like storms.

Don't

Just don't. Tossing dice is not the answer. So don't.

Nice

Now I'm at Jack's, having a nice Newcastle to end my night.

Whoa

Last night we were wondering where ActualGeorge has been, and he just walked in.

Hot

I took a nap. My cats actually let me sleep, and they didn't get into a fight. I don't think I dreamed. It's hot here.

Grrrr

And then they started handing out free Chimay Grand Reserve...

Free

And then they started passing out free Chimay...

Hope

It's not much hope, but I guess I don't need much. I just need a little.

Worried

This has been going on too long. There's got to be something else, besides the obvious. I might have to start freaking out.

Oh well

I'm back home now. Not what I'd have chosen.

Me and MisunderstoodGirl

Optimism

Assuming that I'm standing in a puddle of water that's pooled under the urinal.

Yay!

MisunderstoodGirl is here! Yay!

Redundant

After I say something a million or so times without response, it starts to feel a little redundant. So tonight I'm not going to say it, except to myself.

Wow

It's reallly dead in here.

Unmotivated

Now I'm at the haunted Burger King. Next I'm going to Rich O's. I'm really feeling unmotivated tonight.

Dilemma

Who am I supposed to cheer for when they're both hot?

Dangling

I've got this thought stuck on the tip of my brain. If I can manage to dislodge it, maybe I'll write something.

Unlimited

I switched from 400 texts a month to unlimited. It was only $16 more, and now I don't have to be paranoid about it.

Deeds

I did one of my good deeds for the day. I called NakedGirl and sang Happy Birthday to her, albeit 90 minutes later than I'd planned. My other good deed for the day is on hold, because someone is a big fat meanie. Disclaimer: Not really big, or fat, or mean. Okay, maybe mean.

Tee-hee

Slurp is a funny word.

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quickies

posted by dave at 10:52 PM in category pictures, quickies

Waiting

OddlyFamiliarGirl was all set to tell me how stupid I am, but she went to pee first.

Jack's

I was feeling torn between going to Jack's and going to my garage, but OddlyFamiliarGirl called, so we're going to Jack's.

Cats

My cats will totally ignore each other all day, but then as soon as I try to take a nap on my couch they get into a fight.

Easier

Pizza was closer to my house.

Torn

Between going to Red Lobster or just getting a pizza at Bearno's.

Total eclipse

I absolutely could not take my eyes off her as she sang, and I really tried. My eyes were not under my control, they were under hers.

Earned

It's almost 5:00 and I'm sitting in my garage having a beer I earned the fuck out of.

Happy birthday

Happy birthday, Mom. It sucks that you're dead. It's especially sucked this Spring.

Thingy

Nice hat

Now I'm at Rich O's. Louisville was boring. I stopped at Connor's but there was nobody I knew there.

Belhaven Scottish Stout

This is a fucking good beer. Very surprising to me.

Signal

This place has no signal. So I'll be out of touch for a while. Get over it.

Dinner

I think I'm going to this one new place. I hope it doesn't suck.

Pipeline

Trying to fill it up and keep it full. At least until I win the lottery, which should be any day now.

Festival

It's a total sausage-fest in here tonight.

Weirder

It would be weirder if I suddenly changed.

Starving

Actually, still starving from earlier. Plus, killing bad guys makes me hungry. A pizza-Marzen combination sounds yummy.

Trying

Trying to kill the bad guys in this game while keeping one eye constantly glaring at my phone. Makes it more difficult, and they keep killing me.

Ah-ha!

It's called Ruby Tuesday.

Funny to me

I was just reading some old notes, and I ran across The Plan. Step one is done. I'm ready for step two now.

Never mind

I can't go there. I only ever went there with her, so it's bound to be haunted. Oh well.

Yummy

I can't remember the place that always had good food. Now I'll have to drive over there and see. I know where it is, kinda, just not what it's called. Some chain. I'm starving.

Okay

Okay, I killed 20 minutes. Now what?

Stream

Waiting waiting bored waiting frustrated waiting

Place

I've been put in my place, shown where I stand. I don't like it here. It sucks here.

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quickies

posted by dave at 5:53 PM in category pictures, quickies

Crap

Somebody remind me to send back my damn Netflix movies. I bet I've had them for three weeks.

Reaction

Of course I care. Even if it's not allowed, and even if it's not believed, I still care.

Calming

I'm putting a new tip on my cue. First time in years. It's oddly calming.

Oh the humanity

So my sister bought a car, then changed her mind at the last minute because it didn't have heated seats.

Die die die

The music they're playing at Sportstime today makes me want to kill whitey.

Cruel

The cruelest thing she ever did was to be nice to me.

Yay!

Having lunch with HatGirl!

Sometimes

Sometimes, understanding is overrated. Sometimes, simply knowing that someone you care about is hurting is enough. Sometimes, I really miss my mom. She wouldn't understand any of this, but that wouldn't matter.

Scared

I'm scared of the things I might write in my blog, if I ever truly give up and decide that there's nothing left to lose.

Wish

Sometimes I wish I could take it all back, but I can't. I can't take any of it back. Because it was all the truth, and because it all needed to be said.

Paris

Doing a quick job for a company in Paris. Unfortunately, I'm doing it from home. Going to Paris would be cool, I think. It might be far enough away.

Oops

I should have brought my new laptop here. I'm in a writey mood.

Whoa

It's raining like crazy.

Wondering

I'm wondering. If we ever manage to fix this, will we be angry at ourselves for wasting all this time? I think that I will be.

Weird

I went to bed at 10:30, and got up at 8:00.

Song

I wish I could sing. Some emotions need song, because spoken words aren't enough.

Grizzled

I haven't bothered to shave since Saturday morning. I don't know why. This server girl at Sportstime just told me I look grizzled. I'm not sure if that's good or bad.

So funny I forgot to laugh

Tonight I'm finding myself amused by the irony.

Indeed

The camera on my blackberry is indeed broken.

KittenDamsel and I, at night, in a cave

Screw it

Can't sleep. Going to Rich O's.

Home

What a good time we had. Now I'm back home and so it's time to be sad again.

Economics

We've watched this dude spend at least $70 on drinks for this girl, and now he's finally leaving with her. He probably could have handed her a $5 and gotten the same result.

Hic

It was a good idea to come up here. I think we're drunk, though.

Taking over

According to a recent poll, there are four guys named "Dave" sitting in a row at The Cock & Bull.

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quickies

posted by dave at 11:55 PM in category pictures, quickies

Offer

Let's end these bullshit games. Just end them. This offer expires in 40 years.

Truth

The truth is, it would have been fantastic. Deny it if you want, but you're fooling nobody, not even youself.

Whatever

That seems to be my philosophy for today. Whatever. Nothing else I can do or say. Whatever.

NotHideousGirl

Pigtails

NotHideousGirl is here. She looks cute in her pigtails. I'll see if she'll let me take a picture.

Yippee ki-yay?

Interview went well. I may need to get fitted for a cowboy hat, though. And of course I can't sleep, so I'll go to Bearno's and have a sedative.

Honesty

When did it become a bad thing?

Bullshit

That some people will allow themselves to be force-fed opinions, and they won't believe their own hearts.

Jack's

With OddlyFamiliarGirl. NotHideousGirl is late. HatGirl isn't coming. Neither is KittenDamsel.

Whatever

Got caught up on my sleep, so that's good. My schedule is still upside-down, that's not as good.

Shocking

I'm at Denny's again.

Maybe a storm coming

Small part of crowd

Millions

There are millions of people here.

Angry

I like it when I allow myself to get angry. Especially when it's well-deserved, and more especially when that anger isn't directed at myself. I should do this more often.

Classy

There's a guy here at Rich O's drinking a Samuel Smith Imperial Stout straight out of the bottle.

Just what I needed

After a horrendous series of flakes and unflakes, I got to have dinner at Polly's Freeze with HatGirl. Yay!

Yummy

McDonald's has these new brownie melt thingies. I could die now they're so good.

Insomnia

It may be time to consider drugs.

Understandable

Right now, it's not what people think. Right now, it's much more understandable. And much less noble.

Chilly

I'm in my garage now, drinking a Barfly. It's a little chilly, and I don't like it. The weather, I mean. The chilly Barfly is quite good.

Thursday

I'd forgotten about the Thursday weirdoes. They suck.

Rich O's

Going there for a while. I think HatGirl is mad at me, so a beer is definitely needed.

Three

I slept three whole hours. Whoop-de-do.

Tired

So very tired.

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quickies

posted by dave at 4:30 AM in category pictures, quickies

This time...

...I heard a certain little kid call out my name, twice. I awoke with my heart pounding, and I knew that once again sleep would elude me for the rest of the night.

Writey

I'm feeling very writey tonight. This feeling will probably dissipate when I go back into the house.

Raining

I'm out in my garage again. It's raining. Matches my mood perfectly.

Unready

We need to break up. We need to break up before we can even really call it a break-up. We've discussed this. We're thinking about it.

Old

There's an old lady here who looks very familiar. I think I might have graduated high school with her.

Sam's

Even though it's a decidedly weird situation, we've still gotta eat.

Hmmm

Well that was an interesting conversation. What am I, 18?

Nostalgia

Eating at Denny's always reminds me of this great girl I dated right after my divorce. They're nice memories.

A nice thing...

...about being single is that I can go to Denny's whenever I want. So that's where I'm going now. Though, of course, I'd rather stay in bed with my arms around a girl, Denny's is still nice.

Warm

I'm so glad that it's warm. Now, if only I had my swing back. Sitting in my garage on my el-cheapo plastic furniture seems kinda white-trashy.

Thanks

Now I don't quite want to live, but I no longer want to die. It doesn't take much. Thanks.

DaveFest

Back

Came back to Rich O's. Now it's too damn interesting. I miss being bored.

Irritated

I shouldn't be made to feel ashamed or embarrassed for being sad these days. It's who I am. Happiness or even acceptance would be a lie.

Boring

Rich O's was boring. Now I'm at Jack's. It's boring here, too.

Because all white people look alike

I just got carded for cigarettes.

Phoenix

Now they want me to go back for a much bigger project. It's very tempting. I told them I'd have to think about it.

Tennis

When watching women's tennis, I always root for the hot one.

T-shirt

Habit

I seem to have picked up her habit of talking to myself out-loud sometimes. When she does it, it's cute, but when I do it, it's just weird.

Okay

It's 9.8%. That explains a lot.

Whoa!

What's the ABV % of this mother fucker?

Asking

They're still asking me, "Who? Who?" but I don't know the answer to their question.

Who? Who?

There are owls out here. I like owls. I wish I would see one.

Home

Every bar on Earth seems to be closed, so I bought some yummy beers and I'll sit in my garage and watch it drizzle. They say it might storm, but my luck's not that good.

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quickies

posted by dave at 12:19 AM in category pictures, quickies

Shots

OtherDave keeps trying to get me to drink shots, but he's not Holly so I'm not gonna do it.

Answer

Jack's.

Question

To Jack's or not to Jack's, that is the question.

Easier

It would be easier if she wasn't so fucking beautiful. It still wouldn't be easy, but it would be easier.

Random

Everything is too random now. I miss the routine.

Song and dance

"We have nothing right now, but we'll definitely keep you in mind," everyone says.

Guess

Guess who's still awake. Right, it's me. Now, guess why.

You know what I hate?

When guys try to pick me up at Mac's while the girl I love wants nothing to do with me.

Things

The one thing without the other thing is a million times better than the other thing without the one thing. So there.

Please

Open your eyes. Just open them, and see what's what. For just a second. That's all it would take.

Crud

They messed up my pizza.

Obvious

These chicks at Bearno's just declared that I'm the only real man here because I'm the only one drinking dark beer. While I might dispute their tagging Newcastle as a dark beer, I can't argue with the rest of their assertion.

Irrelevant

It doesn't matter how hot the girl in that Bud commercial is. She's still peddling swill.

Weird

The chalkboard behind the dude on TV says "Clones are people two."

Not

Well, that was fun.

Falling apart

Now I've done something to my left shoulder. I'm falling apart at the seams.

Also

People should definitely fuck off with their "not worth it" bullshit or I might have to go off on somebody. Perhaps cap a bitch.

Finally

Back home.

Loud

At this Third Street Dive place now. It's extremely loud here. I don't know how she can stand it. I hope we leave soon.

Time

It's not eight months, it's five and a half years. So people should fuck off with their "get over it" bullshit.

Will the circle be unbroken?

I took a nap this afternoon, and the dream I had during that nap, it had this old church song as the theme song of the dream or something. Now I can't get that song out of my head. I think I'll go to Rich O's and infect everyone there now.

Not as blurry

Blurry

Grrr

These people won't shut up. I'll try to refrain from murdering them. Because I'm all nice and stuff.

Peaceful

It's 3:00 and very peaceful, except in my head. My head is where chaos reigns.

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quickies

posted by dave at 10:38 PM in category pictures, quickies

Maybe

Or maybe six minutes. It's so damn tempting.

Cryptic

I know how he felt. Give me six months of this, and I'll do the same thing.

Drug lord

My neighbor's house has a constant stream of visitors tonight.

You know you care

It took a week, but Nugget finally figured out that "that black thing" is only Buddy with a fresh haircut.

Wondering

Why are racehorses used as the standard for pissing? And what's so special about the Russian ones?

Suck

So many people suck. I'm glad I'm not one of them.

Opposition

My needs, they're no longer a subset of my wants. Weird.

Maybe

It looks like it's getting ready to storm! This better not be another false alarm.

Trying...

...to decide if a warning is warranted.

Darn

Looks like this round of thunderstorms is going to miss us to the North.

Excited

Only 10 minutes until HatGirl!

Dare

Go ahead, I double-dog dare you. What's the worst that could happen? What's the best that could happen? Isn't it worth the risk?

Weird

FYI

I'm not a damn mind-reader, and nature abhors a vacuum.

It's the thought that counts...

...so I'm not going to do it. I will, however, continue to think about doing it.

Regrets

I regret being myself. I regret not being like every other guy on Earth. I regret not taking advantage of a golden opportunity when it was presented to me.

Careful what you wish for

I'd been irritated that she hadn't wanted to come to Rich O's, but it turned out to be a good thing, I think.

Nice

KittenDamsel and I had dinner at Arni's, just like old times. Now I'm stuffed.

Oops

I made the mistake of taking to an old dude at Bearno's. Now he won't shut up.

This just in

People are stupid.

Spending money

This dude just challenged me to some games of pool for $10 per game. That's pretty stupid of him.

Memories

I keep running the memories through my head, personal and perfect memories. It was real. Sure, it was lopsided, and sure, it's over now. But it was real. It was fucking real.

Nosey

Now YoungGirl is being nosey, trying to see what I'm typing. So, instead of posting the cure for cancer and the secret of world peace, as had been my intention, I will post this tiny bit of nothingness.

Distraction

The best kind is the mutual kind.

Mother's Day

Went to see my mom today, of course. While I was there I also talked to my dad and my grandparents for a while. That cemetary is crowded.

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quickies

posted by dave at 12:52 PM in category pictures, quickies

Home

Back home now. I don't know why.

Louisville

Okay, this was an actual good idea. By me, of all people.

Overload

It's me and six women here. I'm getting estrogen overload. I have a strong urge to ask someone for directions.

Chick magnet

Here come da judge

Going to Rich O's now. I'm helping to judge a smoked-beer thingy. Bribes will be accepted.

Quickies

Changed scripts to call these things quickies instead of tweets. Testing now...

Productive

Nothing like sleeping until 12:30 to kick off a really productive day.

Kitty!

A kitty just ran across my driveway. Or maybe it was a stobor. Hard to tell because it's dark.

Peaceful

Bored

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Lunch

Now I'm at Bearno's. There's a dude bartending. I hate it when that happens.

Storm

HatGirl got a touch-screen Blackberry. I'm totally jealous.

Chilly

Lost power last night during the storms, and it just came back on a few minutes ago. I guess that's one way to save money on electricity.

Similarity

I miss my dad, too, but it's not like I want someone to dump his body at my feet.

And now...

...I'm going to Rich O's. I wasn't going to go tonight, but OtherDave called me, and I kinda flaked on him the other night.

Not ridiculous at all

Worried

I haven't heard anything about Buddy yet. I'm starting to freak out a little.

Hmmmm

Phoenix for two months in the middle of the Summer. Something tells me that I wouldn't need a coat.

Guitar

I've been messing with mine this morning. I don't know why.

Buddy

My sister just took my cat Buddy to get shaved. Poor kitty is going to look so ridiculous. I'll be sure to post at least one picture.

Infinity

And don't even get me started about how time has no meaning when it comes to missing a certain other girl.

Ratio

I mentioned in a blog entry, a while ago, that time without HatGirl seems longer than it really is. The actual ratio is 776,156,250,000 to 1. Yes, I'm still pissed about not getting to see her yesterday.

Weirdos at Bearno's

Restraint

Showing great restraint now. I'm proud of myself.

Sad

Now CuteBlonde and I are talking about cats dying. It's sad.

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quickies

posted by dave at 7:39 PM in category pictures, quickies

Going

Back to Rich O's. I don't know why.

Darn

If I'd been at Rich O's right now, I could have gotten to see HatGirl. But nooooooooo, I'm sitting at my stupid house like a sucker.

Fun

I ended up having a fun day hanging out with WeirdGirl in Louisville. It was fun. I like WeirdGirl. We're not back together, though.

Blah blah blah

This old dude keeps trying to talk to me. Can't he tell that I've got this gaping hole in my life?

Raining

But at least it's warm.

Stumped

If I ever manage to find myself, I need to remember to ask myself what I want. Because I'm stumped.

Unsettling

I keep having the most unsettling dreams.

Point

Maybe there isn't one. Maybe it's all pointless.

Deserving

I told her it was silly. She didn't like it. Now I'm alone again. As I should be.

Pbbt

Now she want to go to Rich O's, so I guess we're going there. This is silly.

Yowza

The hot idiot girls started removing clothes to show their tattoos. I had to leave lest I say something inappropriate. Now I'm at Jack's.

Glad

I'm so glad I'm not an idiot. I don't know how these people face each day.

Unfortunate

One of these girls has an unfortunate name. I'm trying not to hold it against her.

Now

Now there are idiots here, and I miss the dorks.

Dorks

There are dorks here. They are very loud.

Whatever

Back at Rich O's for a while.

Test with Nugget

Test with duck

Answer

They're not related at all. Weird.

Wondering

The are two old men here. They may be brothers, or even twins. It's hard to tell, however, because a lot of old people look and dress and act alike.

Summoned

Break time. I've been summoned to Bearno's.

Check

Seeing if I've broken things too badly...

Bored

Working on this quickie script to add images. You may see strange things until I get it working. Do not panic.

PSA

Eating a bunch of homemade Skyline chili right before sleep leads to some pretty messed-up dreams.

Skyline

Dammit, I'm really craving Skyline now. I think I'll have to make some.

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too bad

posted by dave at 4:01 PM in category drink, pictures

HatGirl took this picture last night at Rich O's.

It really is too bad that she's not photogenic at all, isn't it?

So this was pretty much the highlight of my night. After HatGirl left I glared at my phone for a while, then went over to Jack's. I was starving, but the kitchen had just closed.

I spent a couple of hours talking to this one dude about various topics, one of which being - All white guys look younger than they really are. So that was good to know, I guess.

They showed a commercial for Skyline chili at one point, and after that I couldn't shut up about how much I was craving some Skyline. So, when I left Jack's, I went to Kroger and bought the stuff I'd need to make my own.

And that's what I did, as soon as I got home.

Oh yeah, I also had a new beer when I was at Rich O's.

Ayinger Leichte Brau-Weisse

(draft) Hazy yellow, with a decent head that lasted long enough. A nice aroma and flavor, both fairly standard for a German wheat beer. Good, a little dry. Tasted stronger than it was.

comments (2)

saturday thunder and beer report

posted by dave at 10:04 AM in category daily, drink, entertainment, pictures

One of the weird things was how much that one dude loved my truck. He kept asking me questions about it like what year it was and how many miles it had. He commented on what a shame it was that my rear bumper had some rust. I swear he was hitting on my truck.

Then we walked a mile or so to HatGirl's car, so we could put our extra crap in there and not have to lug it around all day. Next, we walked all the way back to my truck. We walked all the way back to my truck because I'm retarded. I'd left our tickets for the craft beer tent thingy there. When we got back to the parking lot the dude was still admiring my truck. I think he had an erection, but I was afraid to look too closely.

Then we walked back to the riverfront. The craft beer tent thingy didn't open until 2:00, and it was only 12:30, so we went into Hooters where my cousin Jeff awaited. He'd gotten us free wristbands. That was nice of him. We had some Diet Cokes and sat around for a while.

Then we went and stood in line to get into the beer tent thingy. We had plenty of time then for people-watching. I came to the conclusion that HatGirl and I were the coolest people around. But I might be biased.

Oh, and we saw TremensGirl and Bubbles walking around, so that was nice.

Once the thingy opened, we got something to eat and then went down this steep-ass hill to the river. We watched the airshow, which was very cool. There was a fucking helicopter doing fucking loop-de-loops. I didn't think that was even possible in a helicopter. During this period I had myself a Gumballhead (534). This is also when the events portrayed in the comic two entries ago happened, so I had myself 14 ounces of Upland Wheat (297), too.

At one point HatGirl may have gotten a little tired. It was hard to tell for sure. I did, however, get a little concerned that the FBI might swoop in to recapture the unibomber.

Then she spent the rest of the night freezing to death because it was only 70 degrees or something. HatGirl has heat issues sometimes. I worry about her, and wonder how she survives the Winters.

This was about when I had myself another Gumballhead (550). It was yummy.

The fireworks were, of course, totally awesome, and were the reason that everyone was there. The airshow was introduced as a way to entice people to show up early. Also, it's hard to take pictures of fireworks, especially with a blackberry.

Anyway, once the fireworks were over, we were going to hang out for a while, but all of the bars closed early, so we went and sat in HatGirl's car for a half-hour or so, waiting for traffic to start moving. Then we went to White Castle then she drove me to my house.

It was a really fun day, and I only missed a certain person a million times, instead of the asstillion times I'd been predicting.

When HatGirl took me to get my truck yesterday, I'll admit that I was a little disappointed that the dude hadn't washed and waxed it for me. I guess I should have just been grateful that it wasn't covered with his semen.

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friday stuff

posted by dave at 9:16 PM in category daily, drink, pictures

The first part of the day consisted of work, punctuated by lunch at Wendy's with HatGirl. I only mention that because, after work, I had dinner with HatGirl at Buckhead in Jeffersonville. I only mention that because tomorrow HatGirl and I are going to this fireworks thingy. I only mention that because, as I said a few entries ago, I got to see HatGirl at Rich O's on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Like I've already said, HatGirl is doing one hell of a job keeping me distracted. In other words...

HatGirl!

Yay!

So we were talking today about how I'm bound to get bored with seeing HatGirl all the time. Before too long at this rate, I won't be able to take a damn piss without getting some splatter on her. And not in a kinky way. So the joke was that I'd have to get her a new shirt to replace her HatGirl! Yay! shirt. The new one would say HatGirl. Yawn.

It was funny to us.

I will never get tired of HatGirl, by the way.

So then after dinner - I had a Paulaner Hefeweissbier (607) - I decided to stop at Rich O's. You know, just for a change of pace, also known as a Schlenkerla Marzen (10299).

I went to the bar to order my beer, heard my name called, and turned around to see none other than BadPickleGirl. So that's twice in a week for her, and that's even more unusual than seeing HatGirl four out of five days will be. Oops, five out of six days, because I'll see HatGirl again on Sunday.

This is, from right to left, the lovely BadPickleGirl, my lovely self, and the lovely friend of BadPickleGirl who doesn't get a nickname unless I see her again.

comments (1)

preemptive

posted by dave at 11:12 AM in category entertainment, pictures

So every year they have this huge airshow and fireworks thingy in Louisville, to kinda kick off all of the Kentucky Derby stuff. I've never gone, because I'm not a fan of traffic and crowds.

Well, this year we're supposed to be going. It's this Saturday.

I've gone ahead and gotten a head start on freaking out about the traffic and crowding, but the company should be good, so I'm also looking forward to it.

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thursday stuff

posted by dave at 1:50 AM in category daily, drink, pictures

Because HatGirl is so nice, and also because she is so mean, she sent me a picture of herself in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is so lucky!

So I dropped HatGirl off at the airport, and hung out there with her for an hour or so before she had to go through security. Next, I was planning to just go over to Rich O's because I was meeting BadPickleGirl and some other people at 5:30 or so. But around 4:00 I found myself suddenly starving to death. I mean, I was so hungry that I was actually shaking a little bit. So I went to the haunted Burger King and scarfed down some food. After that I felt better, but my stomach was a little queasy.

I went to Rich O's. I sat at the throne and had a couple glasses of Diet Coke to calm my stomach. I glared at my phone. I waited for BadPickleGirl.

Once they all showed up, it was a pleasant enough evening. I had some glasses of Schlenkerla Marzen (10040) and then a Diet Coke. It was nice to be able to talk to some people closer to my own age.

I came home at 10:00 or so, then slept for a couple of hours before sleep once again escaped my grasp.

Tomorrow I want to take a trip.

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pictures of stuff

posted by dave at 10:10 PM in category daily, pictures

A zoomed and black & white version of this picture hangs on the wall at Rich O's, in commemoration of DaveFest. SassyGirl and I enjoying the opening night of that festival.

Anyway, today this one chick noticed this picture on the wall. "So all I have to do is kiss you and I can get my picture on the wall, too?" she asked.

"Sure," I said. "And bring all your friends. We'll cover the entire wall eventually."

We never did follow up on that plan. I was too tired, I guess.

---

This was me this evening, sitting at the bar and wondering why I was there. I know that I must look hung-over and/or depressed in this picture, but really, it was mostly just that I've hardly slept since Thursday morning. Though I suppose, now that I look at this picture more closely, it really does display my recent mood quite accurately.

I just got a haircut, in case you were wondering.

I sent this picture to HatGirl and she asked me if I was okay. I sent it to SassyGirl, and she sent me a picture of her and some girls having fun in the sun. I sent it to RockGirl, and she suggested that I take a nap.

---

Tonight OddlyFamiliarGirl and MusicalYuppieDude and I were discussing this Tremens tap - normally used for Delirium Tremens but used for Delirium Noel right now - and OddlyFamiliarGirl posed the question of whether this was an African elephant or an Asian one. She said, and I agreed, that the size of the ears placed it somewhere in the middle.

Of course, this discussion was all moot, because the elephant is clearly Belgian. The dead giveaway being that it's fucking pink.

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goodbye cruel world

posted by dave at 10:07 AM in category daily, pictures

And now HatGirl is trying to kill me. She's sending me pictures of herself with her sexy new hairstyle. A hairstyle that's oddy similar to the one that LaptopGirl got last Summer.

She's very pretty, in case you can't tell that from the picture.

So, this may be it for me. If the pictures keep coming, I might not last the day. And it might be worth it.

comments (11)

respite

posted by dave at 11:42 AM in category drink, pictures

I think it was when I was eating breakfast that I decided. Or realized, whatever.

There was no way I could risk another "normal" Saturday night. Nope, not with the week I'd had. Any other blow would have been a fatal one.

So I decided that I'd go to Covington. I'd go there and I'd drink some OTR beer and I'd be far away - physically at least - from my life with all of its perils.

But noooooooooooooo!

Some crap happened at work, and I was informed that I'd need to stay close to home, in case things got worse.

So, at around 3:00, I had a brilliant idea. I texted HatGirl to see if she wanted to hang out.

She said yes!

HatGirl!

Yay!

We had a lot of fun just talking and hanging out. We went down to our local casino, ate too much food at their buffet, then drank too much beer at this Legends bar. Or I guess she drank too much beer - I was perfectly fine.

And now this makes two nights in a row, two different girls I've hung out with, and both have gotten sick. I guess I just have that effect on women. This is something I've long-suspected.

Anyway, I adore HatGirl, and she was exactly what I needed last night. After the horrible week I'd just been through, and which promised to spill over into the upcoming week, she was the perfect reminder of why it's sometimes worth the effort to keep breathing.

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and then there were two

posted by dave at 4:28 PM in category daily, pictures

Got a call from the veterinarian this morning.

The call was a strange one. Not that the situation could ever be considered normal. Not by me, anyway. The vet probably makes calls like that a lot.

She got the results from Happy's blood tests. Not good. His kidneys were almost completely failed. He'd lost almost eight pounds since he was last weighed in September. And most of that weight loss was muscle mass. He was not diabetic, and his condition wasn't contagious to my other cats.

There wasn't any hope for long-term survival - that's pretty much what she told me.

Then she told me that he'd gone into cardiac arrest and died this morning when they were treating him.

Seems to me that she could have told me that in the first place.

I'm really not trying to be funny. It's just that this is going to hit me pretty hard before too long, and I wanted to write something before I lost my mind.

It would have been eleven years, on New Year's Eve. That's not nearly long enough.

comments (3)

mice and men

posted by dave at 12:15 PM in category daily, pictures

I was going to write an entry about my fun Saturday, but instead I decided to slice my finger to the bone. And now I can't type very well at all. So, for now at least, you people will be spared.

It was a really good day, though.

Maybe a picture can be worth a thousand words.

hard to tell, but I am very happy in this picture

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roadies

posted by dave at 9:11 AM in category daily, pictures

This is the activity taking place outside my building this morning.

I have no idea what these people are doing. I just hope they get all that shit off the road before the afternoon rush hour.

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on notice thingy again

posted by dave at 9:06 AM in category daily, pictures

I haven't done one of these for a couple of years, but it's time. It's definitely time.

permanently engraved onto my shitlist

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worth a thousand words

posted by dave at 8:00 PM in category daily, pictures

Had lunch with HatGirl today.

Usually, I have something extra to add, whenever I mention HatGirl. But this time, I'll let her awesome t-shirt say it for me.

sorry guys, she is totally taken

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rubble

posted by dave at 9:20 PM in category drink, pictures, weather

A long time ago, before I was even born if you can believe that, I guess a bunch of people wore buttons saying "I like Ike."

You know, because of Eisenhower or however it's spelled.

Well, I think I'd like to introduce a new button. Mine will say "Ike can suck my hairy ass."

You know, because of the hurricane.

For those just tuning in, I live in Southern Indiana. Tornado country. Maybe earthquake country. But not fucking hurricane country.

Well, somebody must have missed a memo or something. That damn hurricane Ike refused to die after wreaking havoc down South where it belonged. Nope, it continued Northeasterly with its hurricane-force winds, and wreaked havoc upon the Louisville area too. Upon my area.

Everybody is affected. Some in worse ways than others. I, for example, have not had power since noon on Sunday (UPDATE: Power came back at 8:30 PM Tuesday). I lost some big-ass branches, and a couple of big trees either fell or split in half. There are millions of twigs and leaves littering my lawn, and some in my living room that are really perplexing me.

But all of that I can deal with. The thing I may not be able to deal with is this:

Waaaah!

That, readers, is my swing. Or the pile of rubble formerly known as my swing. Fucking Ike took it out completely. Ripped it right out of the ground.

I'm sad about this. Much sadder, I'm sure, than I should be. "It was just a swing, after all," people will say.

But, to me, it was really much more than that. To me, standing there Sunday afternoon, it was almost like I'd lost a friend.

I couldn't help but think of the dozens of times I'd sat on that swing with MixedSignalGirl, or the millions of times I'd sat there without LaptopGirl, or all of the other times when I'd just go out there to relax and not think about anything for a while.

It just makes me sad that it's gone.

Let me put it this way: If Ike had destroyed my house, and my detached garage, and my swing - I'd replace my swing first and then worry about the trivial structures.

---

I wrote the above, in my little notebook, while sitting in that same coffee shop, next to that same lovely companion. Trying to feed off her creativity, I suppose, and not really succeeding. I was distracted, after all.

Now I'm across the street at Bearno's. Drinking a Goose Island Honker's Ale (132), scribbling in this notebook, and watching my phone. There's a chance that I might hear from her again tonight. There's a smaller chance that I might get to see her again tonight. So I'm waiting.

There's no sense in going home. No power there, and not even a single bar of reception on my Blackberry - just "SOS."

And, of course, she's not there either. So, I'll wait for a while. She's worth it.

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monday stuff

posted by dave at 10:21 PM in category daily, pictures

I think this was the third time I've been in the newspaper. At least the third time. One time I drove my car off a cliff in Seattle. Another time StoreGirl and I were at Rich O's when a local paper came in to do a story about the place.

The third time was today. Click the picture for the entire article, while it lasts.

This was an article about Rich O's and its owner Roger. I was mentioned in the first sentence and I was quoted a couple of times.

---

Also today, I got to talk to SassyGirl for a while! We'd been texting back and forth, and eventually I got sick of that and just called her ass up. She and JauntyGirl are doing well, but they're far away from here, so it's a very mixed blessing.

---

The rest of the day was kinda disappointing, except I got a sweet email while I was taking a nap. Maybe I'll have more to write before I go to bed. Don't hold your breath, though.

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behold

posted by dave at 3:02 PM in category daily, pictures

Monkeys I think

Those are supposedly monkeys. Giant inflatable albino monkeys. In blackface, for some strange reason.

Monkeys I think

I'm told they're supposed to be art, and that they're affiliated with the 21C museum/hotel across the street.

I don't know whether giant inflatable albino monkeys in blackface are art or not. What I do know is that (a) They seem kinda rascist to me, and (b) That's a busy interstate highway behind them, and (c) If I were driving down the highway and saw giant inflatable albino monkeys in blackface, I might just cause a 50-car pileup.

Maybe that's where the art would really be.

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my exciting friday

posted by dave at 11:11 PM in category daily, drink, pictures

First, there was a surprise lunch invitation. I'll admit it freely - I was very excited about it. I mean, two days in a row!?! I was truly blessed. Or I would have been truly blessed if those lunch plans hadn't fallen apart as quickly as they had formed.

Second, there was dinner with BadPickleGirl. I really had a feeling that she was going to flake on me. We seemed to be making it much harder than it should have been. Well, sure enough, she cancelled at the last minute.

Third, I figured that I'd at least go over to Louisville, see AlliGirl, and check out CoolHairGirl's purple hair.

But noooooooooooooooooo!

They were having some stupid thing in Louisville, and they were charging a cover just to walk down the stupid street.

So, foiled not once, not twice, but thrice, I ended up just coming home. I ate some pizza. I watched Borat. I sat on my swing. I had a Newcastle (10648) and two Marzens (5116). I glared at my phone a lot.

All in all, It was still better than having my legs knocked out from under me and then being repeatedly kicked in the gut.

Anyway, here's a picture I took while peeing at Sam's this afternoon:

where is an editor when you need one

The part about .40¢ wings and .99¢ drafts and nachos and mini-cheeseburgers, that's one of my pet peeves. If you don't know why, then I probably think you're an idiot, just like I think the person who made this sign is an idiot.

But at least they've brought back mini football helemets. Good for them.

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in an email from hatgirl

posted by dave at 7:02 PM in category pictures

grrrr

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painting

posted by dave at 12:34 AM in category pictures

Today I picked up my new painting, by MisunderstoodGirl.

untitled

Because I'm all cultured and shit.

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road trip

posted by dave at 10:07 AM in category daily, drink, pictures, travel

Now, where was I?

Oh yeah, at the stupid depressing park.

I'd gone there, as I'd gone to Polly's Freeze earlier, looking for myself.

I wasn't at either place. I remember running into myself once a long time ago. At Rich O's of all places. That was nice, but that was also the last time.

Anyway, by the time I'd returned home from the ~~floodwall~~ park, it was clear to me that there was a 0% chance that anything good would happen Friday night. Understandable, but of course disappointing. Because of this, I saw no reason to bother leaving my house at all. So that's precisely what I didn't do at all. Instead, I sat on my swing and I glared at my phone and I had three yummy bottles of Delirium Nocturnum (157), and that was it.

Then by Saturday at around noon, I'd once again gleaned that there was a 0% chance of anything good happening. Still understandable, still disappointing. But whereas on Friday that 0% had caused me to lose all motivation, on Saturday I couldn't run out the door and jump into my truck fast enough.

Luckily, I always carry a spare pair of pants in my truck, for times such as that. When I don't want to waste time putting on pants before I leave my house.

What I did, and this really was a spur of the moment decision, was I drove up to Noblesville, Indiana. To the Barley Island brewpub, specifically. Just something to do, really. I might just as well have picked Oaken Barrel, as it's slightly closer to home, but I had Barley Island on my mind because LaptopGirl had been raving about their Barfly IPA.

The drive up took a couple of hours. It was uneventful, though I felt bad because I kept getting emails but I was driving and couldn't type my responses very well. I managed to survive the drive* though. I even managed to respond to some of the emails, when the traffic and the rain let up enough.

The first thing I noticed, upon entering the brewpub, was that it was really dark. Like being inside a cave at midnight with my eyes closed and a bag over my head. But then my eyes started to adjust, and I was able to grope and stumble my way, around a bunch of empty tables and up an unfortunately-placed step, to the bar area.

I only took one picture, and it's a pretty crappy picture, even by my standards.

Barley Island

The first thing I did, after seating myself, was order a trio of small samples, of the three available draft selections that I hadn't had before.

Barley Island Sheet Metal Blonde

(draft) Color of hazy grapefruit juice. Light citrus aroma. Very light citrus flavor, with a bit of sourness, like grapefruit juice. Good, not great.

Okay, a Belgian-style wheat. Always welcome.

Barley Island Blind Tiger Pale Ale

(draft) Clear light brown. No detectable aroma or flavor. There was a slightly bitter hoppy finish, but not enough to be completely disgusting. A waste of my time.

I only had about one ounce of that crap.

Barley Island Barfly IPA

(draft) The color of clear weak tea. Light aroma of floral hops. Medium mouthfeel. Flavor decent but mild. The slightly bitter finish went away after a few sips. Maybe a good session beer.

Yet another IPA, but this one was with the floral kind of hops that I like sometimes. This was the beer that LaptopGirl had been raving about since she'd discovered it at the beer date thingy last weekend.

I went ahead and ordered a full glass of the Barfly (20), and enjoyed that with my yummy burger and fries. I traded a bunch more emails with LaptopGirl, and a few with RockGirl.

I relaxed fairly well I suppose, but I could already tell that I wouldn't be staying. I guess I'd been hoping to find myself, up there away from all of the distractions of home. But I wasn't there, either. I'm still a slippery bastard I guess.

So next I had a Dirty Helen (400), which is one of my favorite brown ales. And then I had something I wasn't expecting. The place had a couple of guest beers available, and one of those guest beers was an all-time favorite of mine. So my last beer was an incredibly yummy Two Brothers Domaine DuPage French Style Country Ale (310).

Before I left, I bought a couple of bottles to have at home sometime. I also picked up a growler of the Barfly for LaptopGirl.

The drive home was uneventful.

* - Poet and don't know it.

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depressing "park"

posted by dave at 11:49 PM in category daily, pictures

Then, after I visited the creepy zombie clubhouse, I continued the short distance down the road to the park.

I'm pretty sure that the park has a name, but I can't remember what that name is. Probably named after some dipshit with money.

Back when I was a teenager, right after the last ice age, I'd come down to the floodwall fairly often. Note that it was the floodwall then, not a park. At least once every weekend we'd go down there. Lots of kids my age went down there. We'd shoot the shit. Drink our illegally-obtained beer, smoke cigarettes like chimneys. Make out, have sex sometimes. We were kids - we did kid stuff.

But then, shortly after I left home to join the Air Force, a lot of crap happened down at the floodwall.

Some assholes decided to make it into a park.

And not only that, they decided to make it into the worst park ever.

It closes at dusk now. Before, the fun didn't even start until hours later. Now, I think they're allowed to shoot you if you go there after dark.

They constructed all this new shit. Seating and a bandstand and shit like that. Before, it was just a bunch of concrete pillars you could climb on.

Anyway, here are some pictures I took.

Sherman Minton Bridge

This is the Sherman Minton Bridge. It's how I-64 connects Indiana and Kentucky. Everyone takes pictures of this bridge, when they're down at the ~~floodwall~~ park. I think it's a rule or something. I drive across this bridge every day going to and coming from work.

Other Bridge

Looking upriver, once can see another bridge. I think this is the K&I bridge, used for trains only. Though I think I've heard mumblings about maybe opening the old car lanes up to pedestrians and bicyclists. I have very dim memories of riding across that bridge with my parents when I was very young. I remember that you could see right through the road into the water, as the road surface consisted only of metal grating.

By far the most noticeable "improvement" they've made down here is this monstrosity.

Ugly

Again, there used to be nothing here but pillars you could climb on. It was a gazillion times better then.

At the very top of the earthen floodwall, there's a platform thingy. I climbed to the top and took this next picture.

Ugly

Dedicated stalkers will, of course, recognize my truck parked way down there on the road.

The top of the floodwall used to be reserved for starry-eyed couples. Now they've gone and made it accessible for everyone.

Pbbbbt

But hey, it's not all bad I guess. That playground looks kinda fun.

Wheeee!

---

The whole thing was just very depressing to me. Yet another part of my adolescence that's gone for good.

There was an old man. He was sitting on a bench near where I parked my truck, just sitting and watching the river flow by.

I imagined him as a future version of myself. Just sitting and watching the water pass him by, and remembering everything else that had passed him by over the years.

The old man glared at me when I parked my truck, for intruding into his world like that. I think he just wanted to be left alone, so that's what I did.

When I climbed to the top of the platform thingy, he was gone. Maybe he jumped into the river, or maybe one of his girlfriends came and picked him up. I'll never know. Either way, I'll never see that old man again, nor he I. And that makes me sad. I bet it'd be cool to have a beer with him.

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zombie clubhouse

posted by dave at 3:32 PM in category daily, pictures

Okay, so Friday sucked, Saturday sucked, and Sunday isn't looking too good, either.

Is that enough? Does that count as an entry?

No?

Okay, fine.

I already mentioned that I went to the river Friday. Specifically, I went to this depressing little park that they've built on the river-side of the floodwall.

But before I got to the park, I stopped at this creepy little building and took some pictures. See, RockGirl has been sending me pictures of all these neat scary old buildings where she lives. So I figured I'd reciprocate a little.

creepy building

That's a little building next to the river, on the same road that the park is on. I must have passed it a zillion times in my youth, but I'd never taken a good look at it before.

nice brick work

I like the way they did masonry back in the olden days. Even for a crappy little building like this, they added some class and took pride in their work.

potty chair

One very weird thing was that I saw an old potty chair through the partly-open door.

zombie clubhouse

Whereas the old abandoned buildings in RockGirl's area are huge zombie fortresses, she said this building looked more like a zombie clubhouse. But I guess it's actually just an old pumping station. A zombie clubhouse would be cool, though.

I think I'll put the stuff about the actual park in another entry.

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irony

posted by dave at 12:55 PM in category pictures

if only

If only they had some devices which could extinguish fire...

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boring

posted by dave at 9:45 PM in category daily, pictures

What a disappointment.

They weren't lingerie photos after all. Just bikinis.

Come to think of it, I might have been told that, when they first started flooding in. I just forgot when I saw all the Victoria's Secret URLs.

I'm supposed to help HatGirl pick something for a cruise, I guess.

I like the one in the lower right.

bikinis

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sunday stuff

posted by dave at 7:24 PM in category daily, drink, pictures, weather

So today I went to Jeffersonville.

First time in a couple of years, I think, that I've graced that town with my presence. At least on my own - I seem to recall going to Buckhead for lunch with some coworkers more recently.

Buckhead is where I went today, of course. I like the food there. I like the memories that resurface there. And they usually have good beer, too.

I sat out on the deck, oddly optimistic that it wouldn't rain while I was eating, and I enjoyed a yummy Cajun burger and a Paulaner Hefeweissbier (551) in a plastic cup.

It was very nice out today, as long as it was cloudy. As soon as the Sun would come out from behind the clouds - as happened several times - I'd almost immediately start being roasted alive.

But, it was usually cloudy, and so I survived.

Then, I went across the street to Hooters to see my cousin Jeff. I haven't seen him since my nephew's funeral, but that's not entirely my fault. He has agreed to share a lot of the blame.

Anyway, here's a picture of the potential storm that rolled in right after I got to Hooters.

maybe stormy

All that storm really did was dump rain. It cooled things off, though, so that was nice.

While I was at Hooters, I had a couple glasses of Newcastle (9808) while I talked with Jeff. Then I went to Sluttopia to meet up with some old guy who was going to loan me a guitar, but he was a no-show. Damn old people. They can't be trusted for shit.

And that was it. Now I'm back home, wondering what happened to my weekend.

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alliday

posted by dave at 10:59 PM in category drink, pictures

My AlliDay lunch started out on a sour note for me, but it got better.

First, the Newcastle keg blew as AlliGirl was starting to pour it.

Slightly undaunted, I asked for a Breckenridge Vanilla Porter.

That keg blew as well.

I figured I'd go ahead and go for the trifecta, so I asked for a Young's Double Chocolate Stout.

Imagine my surprised relief when AlliGirl was able to pour me a full glass (500). It was very good.

Also, AlliGirl has agreed to help me test my video chat capability. I guess she's not afraid of seeing my dick, like everyone else. So, yay for AlliGirl! Way to be brave!

Now all I have to do is find my old webcam and microphone for her, then we should be able to video chat. Wait, maybe she'll need chat software as well.

Anyway, here's a picture I took today. It looked cooler in person.

up through some glass

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destruction, as promised

posted by dave at 10:59 PM in category pictures

Okay, so it wasn't so much a limb that fell Tuesday morning. It was more like half the tree fell.

A crappy picture of how the stupid thing ended up straddling the property line.

crap

Another picture, taken from my neighbor's driveway.

crap

This thing defied all attempts to locate a good shooting position.

crap

Here we see what I meant when I said it wasn't a limb that fell. It was more like the tree split apart at the crotch. Like a whore in a hurry.

ouch

Since this break is about 30 feet in the air, I can't tell if attaching a rope and yanking with my truck will be good enough. It looks pretty dubious.

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stalling

posted by dave at 11:51 AM in category pictures

I guess I still don't feel like writing anything just yet, so here is a picture of a squirrel peeking out from a tree in my backyard.

Squirrel peeking

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saturday part one

posted by dave at 3:17 PM in category daily, drink, pictures

You don't have to tell me that it's kinda silly for me to be here now. And by here I mean the red room at Rich O's, and by now I mean 3:30 on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. You don't have to tell me, because I sort of already know it. But what I also know is that I've got a damn good reason for being here. Now.

I'm supposed to meet LaptopGirl here at 5:00, to tell her something which she already knows. Not that one thing which she already knows, silly. Another thing. I need to tell her that her computer is probably on its last legs.

Anyway, I got bored at home and I didn't want to start anything new at 3:00, so I came down here instead. And now I'm sitting and writing and enjoying a Barley Island Dirty Helen (262). But mostly, I'm waiting. I do that a lot, it seems.

So this morning, after I took care of some ~~bullshit~~ exciting challenges for work, I took my Monte Carlo to get its oil changed. That wasn't particularly interesting except that this one dude kept bugging me to sell my car to him. Not gonna happen, OilChangeDude, so back the fuck off.

After that, I drove around for a while. I checked out the new NABC brewery location. Not much to see except for this one temporary banner thingy. I took a picture:

NABC Banner Thingy

Then I went down to the other side of the floodwall and looked at the river for a while. That place used to seem so isolated when I was a teenager. Now it's some kind of stupid park. They've got fucking bandstands and bleachers and shit. Plus, it's closed at night. Much slaking used to take place there at night. I wonder where people go now, when they want to slake.

Then I went to Polly's Freeze for lunch. And I got to sit at my favorite table, so that was cool.

Next I drove to Lanesville. I'd decided that I was apparently retracing my childhood in reverse-order. I mean with the floodwall and Polly's. With the oil-change place and the brewery, not so much. So I went to this park in Lanesville where I used to play until I was six and we moved away. It used to be a pretty shitty (hey, poet and don't know it) park. And I suppose it's still shitty. But they keep adding new buildings to the place. They're all locked, though. Maybe that's where they keep all the cool stuff.

bane of my youth

I took pictures of this slide. I can't believe it's still here after all these years. I'd have thought it would have rusted into a heap by now. This slide was always scary as fuck to me, when I'd climb up those shaky chains and then pull and contort myself between the bars to the platform. It was worth it, though, because the sliding-down part was really cool.

the fun part

Next I drove to my old house there in Lanesville. I keep hoping to see somebody in the yard, but I never have, and today was no different.

Next I went home for a bit, but I got bored and came here to Rich O's.

Oh yeah, now I'm having my second Dirty Helen (282) and it's yummy.

So there.

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...a thousand words

posted by dave at 9:11 PM in category pictures

Okay, this first picture is part of the front cover of the most recent issue of the Louisville Eccentric Observer newspaper, or LEO for short.

a bunch of cars

Saturday night, LaptopGirl sat on the sofa at Rich O's, looked at the cover, and excitedly announced that her car was there. And, by inference, so was she. "Right there!" she said. "Behind that white car, just behind the don't walk sign."

Now, I didn't have my glasses on at the time, so I couldn't really see what LaptopGirl was talking about. And, I'll admit, I was skeptical. I mean, what are the odds that she's be driving down that stretch of road right when LEO decided to take a picture?

Once I got home, however, I used my computer to scan and zoom the image. I found all the proof I needed. These next two images show, with advanced zooming technology, that LaptopGirl was right all along. It's definitely her.

hmmm, could be... it's her! it's her!

It's really her! Right on the front page of the newspaper!

LaptopGirl is famous! It's about time!

But I'm left with a couple of nagging questions.

Why is bigfoot in the car with her, and what in the world is bigfoot doing to that poor chicken?

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road rage!

posted by dave at 10:33 AM in category daily, pictures

Google comes in really handy

Okay, at the top of the picture is the exit ramp from I-265 to Grant Line Road in New Albany. It's a one-lane ramp, but people are in the habit of driving on the right shoulder if they're going to turn right. The people who are going straight or turning left usually get backed up at the stoplight when traffic is heavy, so people use the shoulder to get around those assholes.

I do this myself all the time, usually when I'm going to Rich O's after work. I was doing it last night on the way to Rich O's after Tumbleweed.

So I looked in my rearview mirror and there were two trucks behind me, at about where the 1 is on the picture. There was a newer truck directly behind me, and a shitty truck passing the newer truck on the shoulder.

Problem was, the dillhole in the newer truck was also moving onto the shoulder.

I don't think he actually hit the shitty truck, but he at least nearly ran him off into the ditch. Then both trucks swerved back onto the pavement. Then both trucks swerved in the other direction. Like ShittyTruckDude had decided to repay the favor, and was trying to run the DillHoleDude off the road.

I watched all this in my rearview mirror, then I turned right at the intersection. Both of the other trucks turned right as well. I guess they were about 50 yards behind me, at about where the 2 is, when they both stopped their trucks right in the middle of the road. ShittyTruckDude opened his door and, I'm assuming, loudly told DillHoleDude to have a nice day or something.

By the time I got to the intersection at the bottom of the picture, Both trucks had started moving again. DillHoleDude pulled into the gas station at where the 3 is. I was stuck at a red light, so I turned my head to watch. ShittyTruckDude went by me, turning right at the intersection, then he turned right again into the gas station parking lot.

This was getting good!

By this time, I could see that ShittyTruckDude had a business placard on the door of his truck. Larry's something or other. So I'll call him Larry from now on.

Larry parked his truck directly behind the dillhole, blocking him in. Then they both got out of their trucks and started yelling at each other. It only took a second for them to come to blows. I really couldn't tell who threw the first punch, and I couldn't tell how the fight ended because my light turned green and I had to start moving lest I cause my own road rage incident.

I'm sure that somebody called the cops. They were in an extremely public place.

Also, readers may have been wondering whether that's the haunted Burger King at the bottom of the picture.

Indeed it is.

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uncanny?

posted by dave at 5:10 PM in category general, pictures

I have now been told, by three different people, that the girl in this beer poster at Rich O's looks uncannily like Hatgirl.

full poster

I can no longer ignore these observations. So I figured I'd post this entry and let those readers who know HatGirl decide for themselves.

Above is the full poster. I will admit a slight resemblance if I ignore the fact that HatGirl no longer wears glasses and her hair is now much shorter than that.

Here's a close-up of the facial area of the poster:

just the face, ma'am

Okay, it does seem to look like HatGirl. Except HatGirl's horns are not nearly so pronounced. This chick certainly has that hot librarian look that HatGirl is so famous for.

Here's a close-up of the assial area of the poster:

shoot now, ass questions later

I, of course, would never ever look as HatGirl's ass. She's much too pure and sweet for me to sully her in that way. But, if I were to look at her ass, I'm pretty sure that (a) it would be even nicer than what is portrayed here, and (b) there would be no tail.

Anyway, NABC's artist Tony Beard does a heck of a job, doesn't he?

comments (2)

euchre violence

posted by dave at 5:49 PM in category general, pictures

Awww, look at the kitties!

I spend a lot of my spare time, such as this time right now while I wait for the dryer to ding, playing this Euchre game on my computer.

I'm not going to try to explain what Euchre is except to say that it's a card game. If you already know the game, then no explanation is necessary. If you don't already know what it is, and I try to explain it, you're inevitably going to exclaim, "Oh! It's like Spades!"

And then I'll have to kill you.

It's not like fucking Spades.

Anyway, I play this Euchre game a lot. Me and a computerized version of my cat Happy partnered against computerized versions of my cats Buddy and Nugget.

Shut up, I am so not gay.

I must have played this game a million times. Way more than I've played it with actual humans. This might be a good thing.

See, Happy keeps pissing me off. He's constantly leading trump on defense. I think this strategy scored a point once, back in 2001 or 2002, but it had never worked before and it hasn't worked since. I'm constantly cussing out my computerized partner for this folly, but he won't listen. Because he isn't real.

I'm pretty sure that, if I ever have an actual human partner, and he or she leads trump on defense, I'll just have to kill him or her.

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chivalrous

posted by dave at 12:51 AM in category pictures, ramblings

the block where I work

Okay, so the red X is about where I was standing, just outside the building where I work. To the left of the X, directly across the street and about 50 feet away, is the 21C Museum/Hotel. So, imagine my surprise when two girls, who were walking around looking lost, stopped and asked me how to get to the 21C Museum/Hotel.

Nice guy that I am, I gave them directions. "Go South and turn left at the light, then go East and turn left at the light, then go North and turn left at the light, then go West and turn left at the light, then go South. When you get back to this exact spot again, go across the street."

Then I had to get back inside to work.

I hope they found the place okay.

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things are looking up

posted by dave at 12:34 AM in category pictures

I couldn't think of anything to write about, so I just figured I'd cheat and post this picture I took yesterday when I was waiting for AlliGirl to drag her ass out of bed and call me.

Straight up

If I was a kid again, I would totally climb that shit.

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i know exactly how he feels

posted by dave at 2:36 PM in category pictures

me have more to love

comments (0)

catching up

posted by dave at 2:10 AM in category daily, drink, pictures, ramblings

Sunday night, the pizzeria side of the NABC complex was open for some sporting event. Usually, they're closed on Sundays, so it was a special occasion, and I usually go. Just because it's such a rarity. I really couldn't care less about the sporting event.

Anyway, while I was on the way there, OddlyFamiliarGirl called. I'd texted her Friday night because I had a question about astrology. She's into that stuff, she's just not into returning text messages in a timely manner.

While I was talking, and driving, I happened to glance down at my odometer. I quickly said goodbye to OddlyFamiliarGirl and pulled off the road at the earliest opportunity.

The earliest opportunity, it turned out, wasn't quite early enough.

darn

That there, even though it's really hard to see, is the odometer on my truck showing 100001 miles. I think it would have been cool to get a picture of it at exactly 100000 miles, but it wasn't meant to be.

Here's a close-up. Still hard to see, though.

so close

Once at ~~Sportstime~~ The NABC Pizzeria, I had myself a couple pints of their Old Lightning Rod (490). The place was really dead. I guess nobody cared about the sporting event. Or maybe they were all at some cool party to which I wasn't invited.

So they closed the place down at 7:30 or so. I went over to Tucker's and had some cheesesticks and a glass of Guinness (1783). I'd been thinking about having a steak, but I changed my mind for some reason.

And that was Sunday. Pretty exciting, huh?

Monday wasn't anything special except that while I was at ~~Rich O's~~ The NABC Public House, waiting for my pizza and having a yummy NABC Old Lightning Rod (510), OddlyFamiliarGirl and NotHideousGirl came in for a bit. It had been a million jillion gazillion years since I'd seen OddlyFamiliarGirl. It had only been a couple of days since I'd last seen NotHideousGirl, but it always seems longer when it's her. I just thought I'd better mention seeing them, lest I get into trouble for some reason.

Then tonight it was really warm, so I sat out on my swing and enjoyed a Schlenkerla Urbock (286) and smiled a lot. I thought about all of the times I'd sat out there and thought about sad things, and about how much happier I am now. It really doesn't take much to make me happy. Even the tiniest things can do it, especially when the tiniest things are so incredibly huge to me.

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not too bad

posted by dave at 11:31 AM in category pictures, weather

Walking out my front door this morning, I was able to confirm what I'd suspected last night. It was a big tree.

fallen tree

I got pretty lucky, though. The tree barely reached my house.

fallen tree

lucky

This section of gutter is toast. I've got a guy coming out to see if there's any damage to my actual roof. He'll also give me an estimate on repairs. This is the same guy who replaced my entire roof a few years ago.

smashed gutter

This hole in my yard is going to be a pain to fill, I just know it.

broken roots

I got lucky.

fallen tree

comments (4)

strange, but nice

posted by dave at 10:42 PM in category pictures

Monday, as I mentioned before, I went to Rich O's after work. I got a pizza to go.

What I didn't mention before was that I got a special pizza. Or at least a special pizza box.

The kitchen staff, led by MisunderstoodGirl, all signed the thing.

Then a bunch of other people who were standing around signed the thing.

You can click this image to see a large version.

comments (0)

thingy

posted by dave at 9:53 AM in category general, pictures

Last night I whipped this together and sent it to a few people. I mainly made it for RockGirl. She was looking for ideas on what to send her boyfriend.

RockGirl decoded it in about two seconds. HatGirl came very close right away, but may have given up. LaptopGirl is probably forwarding it to her attorney. WeirdGirl cheated, but she said it was only to check her answer.

I could have picked another image altogether for the third image. I don't know why I didn't.

whatever

comments (0)

once upon a time...

posted by dave at 1:28 AM in category morals, pictures

...there was this stupid dog named Fido. Really original name, I know.

Fido liked to eat dead animals.

But, besides being stupid, Fido was also lazy as fuck, so he never bothered to actually hunt and kill anything. Nope, he'd just look for something that was already dead. Like road-kill and other gross stuff.

Fido gnawing on a dead rat

Then he'd bring the rotted carcass up onto the porch and gnaw on it for a while, until this kid named Dave took it from him and threw it in the trash barrel.

The moral of this story is that random dead things are disgusting.

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friday beer report of sorts

posted by dave at 9:33 AM in category drink, pictures

I got to Rich O's early, about 7:20 or so. I hadn't really been planning to go at all. I was just going to sleep and wake up whenever I woke up. But then HatGirl texted me that she was at Rich O's. So I went to Rich O's, even though I was very tired, because, duh, HatGirl!

Also, Thursday I went there after work and saw this bit of loveliness on the board.

Cone Smoker is coming soon yay!

I asked Roger when he thought it might be available, and he guessed that it would be around the first of December.

So, imagine my surprise and glee when I went in on November 9th and saw this.

Cone Smoker is here yay!

Cone Smoker was on tap! Yay!

I went into Rich O's proper and sat on the sofa. I said hello to everyone around me. MusicalYuppieDude, some dude without a nickname, LuckyFucker, HatGirl.

HatGirl!

Yay!

Then, after about 10 minutes, I realized that none of the bartenders were going to ask me what I wanted, so I went up to the bar and ordered my first Cone Smoker in 18 months or so (1936). It was a little darker than I remembered. More malty, and not as bitter. Quite yummy, though - that hadn't changed.

I ended up having a second one (1956) then most of a third one (1974) before my stupidity irritated me to the point where I became unfit for human company. At that point, I came home.

I don't feel like writing anything.

comments (0)

pictures

posted by dave at 11:22 PM in category pictures

Tonight I looked through my photo album for a certain picture. I never did find it, and so I fear that it's in South Dakota, but I did find a few that were worth posting. So long as I don't care about the things I post being interesting. Plus, this counts as an entry for today. So, ha ha!.

foxy girl and friends

I took that picture in the cafeteria at school, in 7th grade. On the left was FoxyGirl, my first love. Her friends were quite cute, too.

ufo girl and friend

In the 8th grade, I'd completely gotten over FoxyGirl, and UFOGirl was my new obsession. She's the one on the left.

dina and the gay guy

This picture has nothing to do with the previous two pictures. I've just always thought it was funny. That's my sister Dina. I still think of her with huge 80s hair like that. Also, when I was a kid, I didn't think that gay guys really existed. I thought they were just something that adults made up to scare little children. Like the boogie-man and Jesus. By the time I'd reached adulthood, I'd begun to suspect that gay men might actually exist. This picture provided absolute proof.

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treeface

posted by dave at 10:47 PM in category pictures

Here's the view from my deck. If you would indulge me for a minute, please. Ignore the rotting woodpile and the bird feeder, and just look at the tree. See anything? About ten feet up, on the left side?

Tree from deck

Maybe, maybe not. I certainly notice something, whenever I'm out on my deck. Here's a closer look:

Zoomed a little

How about now? See that damn face, turned to the left? I'll tell you, once you notice it, as I did a couple of weeks ago, it's impossible to look at that tree without seeing that face.

One more picture, zoomed even more:

Zoomed way in

Now, to me, the face isn't as obvious as it was in the last picture. But it's still there and, at this magnification, I can see just a tiny hint of an eye. An eye looking right back at me.

This tree-face, along with Dilly the Armadillo, is one of my best friends now. I call him Treeface, which is a stupid, albeit descriptive name.

Upon seeing Treeface for the first time, I was of course reminded of all the Jesus and Virgin Mary sightings that keep showing up on the Internet. Pieces of toast, rust stains on sidewalks, stuff like that. I thought, for just a brief minute or two, about announcing that The Face Of Jesus had appeared on a tree in my backyard. I figured that maybe there'd be profit to be had.

But then I remembered, I certainly don't want those people here. Weeping and wailing at all hours of the day and night as they prostrated themselves all over my lawn.

I also thought about that Face on Mars that so conveniently ~~was photoshopped away~~ disappeared soon after it was first noticed. I thought that maybe Marsface had somehow relocated and changed his identity to Treeface. Via some kind of interplanetary Witness Protection Program, perhaps.

But I certainly couldn't disclose that theory to the world. The freaks who would show up then would be even worse than the bible thumpers. If you can imagine that.

comments (1)

some friend i am

posted by dave at 6:34 PM in category daily, pictures

I have a doghouse, out behind my detached garage. It came with the house. I haven't had a dog in a million years; certainly not since I bought this place. But that doghouse is out of the way. So I've just left it there. Out of sight, out of mind, as they say.

I was outside messing around today, and I took a good look at that doghouse. It's bigger than I'd remembered. And in a lot better shape. It's actually useable as long as you're a dog.

The last time I thought about that doghouse was back in July. I took NotHideousGirl to a pet store so she could buy a doghouse. I told her that I had one behind my garage, but I was pretty sure that it was too small for even her medium-sized dog. And besides, it must be a really crappy doghouse after sitting there behind my garage for all these years.

See? Not that bad at all.

I don't remember what NotHideousGirl paid for the doghouse she ended up buying, but it was certainly more than free would have been. So now I figure I screwed her out of whatever she spent, because I was too lazy to walk behind my garage until today.

comments (2)

also

posted by dave at 12:27 AM in category daily, pictures

I'm in a better mood now. Not that it was a great feat or anything, as there was nowhere to go except up. But still, it's something.

Today I was treated like shit. By someone who is, ostensibly at least, a friend of mine. I may have deserved it. I almost always deserve it.

And you know what?

It was okay.

I got over it.

Also, maybe to make up for being treated like shit, I made a brand-new friend today. Here's a picture:

Dilly

This is Dilly. He's an Armadillo. I never saw him before today. He stands on a shelf at Rich O's, and he moves his head up and down and side to side, following the whim of the air currents in the room.

He's fucking awesome, and I may steal him.

Also, I'm feeding these dogs while my friend is on vacation. One of the dogs is a major pain in the ass. It won't let me even think about petting either of the other dogs. If I try, it starts growling and biting. It's an asshole.

Also, my friend's cat is still afraid of me. But for the last two days I've given it kitty treats, and it's at least eating them. After I've left the room, of course. Maybe, in a zillion years or so, I'll be able to actually pet that cat. This has become my new goal in life.

Also, I'm pretty sure that, after a week of taking care of this 8,000,000 gallon aquarium with its $8,000,000 worth of exotic fish, I'll qualify for a commercial pilot's license. That will be cool, I think. Chicks dig pilots.

Also, I really need to take a break for lunch tomorrow. I hope I can spare the time away from work. I want to see BikerGirl and NotHideousGirl. And I really should talk to NotHideousGirl before it's too late to talk. If it's not too late already.

Also, they're having a sex clinic or something across the street from my work tomorrow. I don't know much more than that, but the information is here.

I guess that's it.

comments (0)

fun with wildlife

posted by dave at 1:26 AM in category daily, drink, pictures

the compound

Dedicated stalkers will, of course, recognize that this is where I live.

Between my house and my detached garage? That little structure is my swing. One of my favorite things to do on the warm nights is sit on my swing and contemplate various things. So, Saturday night, hoping to somewhat salvage my mood, I got myself a Left Hand Smoke Jumper (100) and went out to my swing to do some contemplating.

Right behind my swing is a tree. You can probably see it in the picture. Anyway, As I sat down, I heard this rustling from under the tree. My eyes hadn't adjusted to the dark yet, so I couldn't see anything. Then I heard the rustling again. Closer this time.

"Kitty kitty?" I asked hopefully.

Then there was more rustling, and something, some thing ran under the swing and across my driveway to the front of the house.

And it wasn't no damn kitty.

From what little I could see about its size and the way it moved, I'm guessing it was a big raccoon. Or a small grizzly bear.

Yes, it freaked me out a little. Rabies probably wouldn't be a fun way to die. Being mauled and/or eaten probably wouldn't be that great either.

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truth in advertising

posted by dave at 8:53 PM in category drink, pictures

Okay, when I was sitting at Famous Dave's this evening, having some yummy catfish tenders and a yummy Newcastle (7327), I noticed this coaster under my glass:

truth in advertising

This struck me as being really funny. Because whoever made this up probably thought it was a good slogan which would cause lots of Miller Lite to be sold.

Anyway, I turned over the coaster, and found this:

not a classification

And this struck me as being even funnier. Because saying Best American-Style Light Lager is kinda like saying swilliest swill or pissiest piss.

Somebody needs to tell these Miller people, who keep bragging about this award, somebody needs to tell them that American-Style Light Lager is NOT a classification.

It's a diagnosis.

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eeek!

posted by dave at 10:44 AM in category pictures

eeek!

comments (6)

sunday beer and kitty report

posted by dave at 10:00 PM in category daily, drink, pictures

so very true

I stole this from somebody at fark.com the other day. I wasn't going to post it because of copyright concerns, but it's just so damn fitting and accurate that I couldn't resist.

Just like I couldn't resist going to Dina's today to see her new kitten.

A new kitten!

Yay!

It is, of course, a comfort kitty, which is one of the best kinds of kitties. It's a Siamese, and it's about the size of my hand, and it likes to meow and climb and sit on people.

I could have stayed and petted that kitten for weeks, but I think that it might have become awkward for my sister's family after a week or so. So I tore myself away, and I tore the kitten from my lap, and I went to Hooter's in Clarksville.

While there, I had some yummy mozzarella sticks and three yummy glasses of Newcastle (7107), then I bought some crab legs and brought them home.

I never said that this would be an interesting entry.

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friday beer report

posted by dave at 10:14 AM in category drink, pictures

After a quick meal at Wendy's, I got to Rich O's at 8:45 or so. The place was packed. Seemed to be an even mix of regulars and strangers.

Oh yeah, they finally got their order of Schlenkerla beers in. This was good news, but it caused me a bit of a problem right off the bat.

See, Rogue Chocolate Stout was still on tap. And I have a contractual obligation with my liver to drink Rogue Chocolate Stout whenever it's available. But I really wanted to have a couple of Schlenkerlas at the end of the night, and I knew that there'd be much clashing of flavors if I had the Rogue first.

So I broke my contract, and I had a couple Dirty Helens (202). I sat at the bar and talked to some dude who should probably get a nickname, I got a text message from NotHideousGirl featuring the drunk womanese word wrAnfo and deciphering that word occupied a good part of my brain for the rest of the night. I still haven't figured it out.

I talked to MusicalYuppieDude and TremensGirl for a bit, and some people cleared out from the sofa so I moved over there. I talked with a chick who I shall call FirstGirl. Not, as one might suspect, because she was my first girl, but rather because she was the first person to ever talk to me at Rich O's after I started hanging out there. Anyway, FirstGirl was puzzling over her own little mystery.

She'd found this napkin on the table, and her brain was about to explode from trying to figure out its meaning. We spent some time trying to figure out the napkin, and we spent some time trying to figure out NotHideousGirl's wrAnfo, but we never did decipher either one of them.

My next beer was a Schlenkerla Weizen (222), and I overlapped the last part of that with a Schlenkerla Marzen (547). I wanted to do a side-by-side comparison of the two. I don't think that I can really declare a winner. The Weizen is certainly lighter, and it would make a better session beer than the Marzen. But the Marzen is flat-out yummy.

Even though the Marzen was flat-out yummy, I only drank about 8 ounces of it before I cut myself off and then snuck out and came home. I don't think I missed much, because they'd declared last call at 11:30 even though the place was still totally packed.

comments (2)

contrast or something

posted by dave at 1:28 AM in category pictures

Wednesday night, when I was waiting to see if BikerGirl was going to join me for dinner, I took this picture. On the left is the building where NotHideousGirl works. On the right is a building where irrelevant people work.

louisville buildings

comments (0)

friday beer report, updated

posted by dave at 2:57 AM in category drink, pictures

Two fucking fifty three. In the morning.

I'm so tired. I've got so much crap to do tomorrow. I've got to work early Sunday morning.

Basically, I'm fucked.

I won't get anything done tomorrow before I go to my nephew's graduation party. I won't be able to get to sleep after the party, so I'll go to Rich O's or something. Then I'll be up all damn night until it's time to start work.

That's when I'll suddenly get tired.

Anyway.

Tonight was kinda fun. I got to Rich O's a little after 8:00. Had a Dirty Helen (122), then TremensGirl and I split a bottle of Allagash Grand Cru (63), then I had another Dirty Helen (142). When I first arrived, NotHideousGirl was there at the island with OddlyFamilarGirl and MusicalYuppieDude. I joined them for a while, but eventually I moved to the living room for my Allagash. It was a little strange to have to share NotHideousGirl with a group. I've become accustomed to having her all to myself during our lunches. I guess I've been spoiled. As has she.

After a while, ArtGirl came in, and I pretty much spent the rest of the night waiting for opportunities to talk to her, and then taking full advantage of those opportunities once they arose. Had her completely to myself for an hour or so at one point, then we moved to the red room and sat with some people there. That's why I was out so damn late. I wanted to leave, but ArtGirl was totally kidnapping me and keeping me trapped in the corner. But it wasn't so bad. She's warm. She's pretty and nice. So of course she has a boyfriend.

ArtGirl and I not only closed out Rich O's, we stayed almost three hours after closing. Not even during the days of LaptopGirl have I ever stayed there so late. I felt pretty guilty about it, but one of the owners was right there with us, so I guess it was okay or she'd have kicked us out a long time ago.

Man, I need to get some sleep. I'm rambling.

---

Oh gee wowie zowie. I managed a whopping four hours of sleep. Damn circadian rhythms.

There's some shit I forgot to mention about last night.

tower thingy

At one point this one dude and I were talking about mechanical engineers. Specifically, we were talking about how much they piss us off by being so damn smart. I mean, a mechanical engineer could have told us whether our little tower was stable without having to build the thing.

At one point I found myself back at the island with MusicalYuppieDude and PillowDude and PorterBob. They were sampling some beer. I had a very small sample myself.

Nøgne Ø Imperial Stout (2)

(bottle) Black with nice brown foam. Aroma of roasted malts and not much else. Flavor of roasted malts and not much else. Quite a bit of malt bitterness at the finish. Everyone around me was raving about how great this beer was, but I didn't share their enthusiasm. Decent, but no better than that.

Also, at the very end of the night, I was sitting with ArtGirl and OddlyPrettyGirl in the red room, and there was a half a Smithwick's there, so I drank some of it (1658).

ArtGirl asked me how old I am, and for some reason I told her. When she didn't run away screaming, that earned her some points. Not that she needed any more points.

I also found myself writing down my website address for her. I don't know why I do crap like that. Now she might actually read some of this drivel. Just in case, Hi ArtGirl!

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random pictures

posted by dave at 1:32 PM in category pictures

From the other day at lunch, incontrovertible proof that NotHideousGirl is strange.

Ketchup Face

A couple of weeks ago, NotHideousGirl and I both found ourselves missing HatGirl terribly. This picture was taken to document our sadness.

We Miss HatGirl

Okay, what the fuck is this thing? It's on the shelf at Rich O's.

WTF

NotHideousGirl and BikerGirl missed me a lot while I was in Las Vegas. I like to think that they consoled each other in various ways.

They Miss Me

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las vegas thursday

posted by dave at 12:17 AM in category drink, entertainment, pictures, travel

The conference ended at 1:00 on Thursday, which was quite cool because it gave me some time to attempt to take a nap. It would have been even cooler if the nap had actually happened, but the construction going on in the room above me prevented any Zs from being caught.

I managed to snap a picture of the construction equipment as it was heading to the room above me. How they fit all that shit into one room I'll never know:

After I gave up on sleep, I took my last bottle of Alaskan Smoked Porter down to the race and sports book place. They were perfectly willing to let me use one of their glasses, but they said that some ~~red tape bullshit~~ rule prevented them from opening the bottle. Then this one dude took pity on me and showed me how to open a beer bottle using a lighter. I've already mentioned learning this valuable skill. The Alaskan Smoked Porter (589) was yummy, by the way.

Then I had a Fat Tire (587) and played video poker and glared at my phone for an hour or so. See, I maybe had a date. I wasn't even going to mention it here, in case it didn't pan out. But I had a maybe date with StupidGirl, because my new best friend had told his girlfriend that I was in town, and then his girlfriend had told StupidGirl. She finally called me at 6:00 or so with the excuse that she just got off work.

For those joining me late, I realize that StupidGirl is a terrible nickname. I would change it to SweetGirl, but StupidGirl actually likes her nickname. She says that it gives her a story to tell. So the nickname stays.

Anyway.

StupidGirl and went up to Fremont Street and dicked around there for a while. We were going to have dinner at Main Street Station's brewpub, but they were out of their Triple 7 Porter, and all of their other beers suck. So, in protest, we ate at this Grill Bar Saloon place. I drank Diet Coke, and StupidGirl had some foo-foo thing.

After dinner, we went back to The Strip and took in the volcano at the Mirage and the fountains at Bellagio. Walking down The Strip holding hands with a pretty girl is still one of life's perfect moments for me. I wish I could do it every night. In front of the Bellagio fountains there was much slaking. I think it was all the gushing of the water that gave us the idea. Some lady took our picture slaking in front of the fountains. I gave her my email address so she can send me a copy.

This part is probably going to seem pretty lame, but nothing reportable happened beyond that. I really like StupidGirl, and I'm going to leave it there. Maybe next time I'm in Las Vegas...

comments (0)

las vegas wednesday

posted by dave at 5:00 PM in category drink, entertainment, pictures, travel

Here's some crap I wrote Wednesday night.

Another Las Vegas Wednesday. Another night when I get to realize that it's the last full night I'll have here for months. Another night when I get to wonder if I could have done more with my week. Well, this time it's more like a certainty than a wondering, and it's more like a lifetime than a week. But, that's just my mood right now. It fluctuates, in case you haven't noticed.

I'm sitting at the Tilted Kilt, drinking a yummy Tilted Kilt (656) and just kind of soaking in the place for the last time. See, it's going away. Probably late this Summer. And I won't be back until November, so tonight is the last time I'll sit at this bar. This sucks. This place has been my main escape and distraction during an awful lot of troubled times. Las Vegas just won't be the same for me without it.

Also, I really like the free shows here at The Rio. Here's a crappy picture:

Rio Show

See, that kind of thing almost never happens back at Rich O's. Not even for DaveFest. Plus, it's kinda funny to see five of the gayest guys on Earth, trying to feign interest as they dance/grope five of the hottest girls on Earth.

Much time passes...

I've stayed here at the Tilted Kilt longer than I'd planned, and I've had more glasses of Tilted Kilt (720) than I'd planned, because I've realized that when this bar goes away, it takes this beer with it. This makes me even more sad, hence the staying and the drinking.

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las vegas monday

posted by dave at 5:25 AM in category drink, pictures, travel

Monday morning, circadian rhythms forced me awake a little before 4:00, so I played some video poker and drank diet cokes for a few hours. Yes, I rock.

Then I remembered a couple of cool things. First, there's a free shuttle running between The Rio and Harrah's. Second, there's a monorail servicing the strip.

So, guess what I did.

Guess where I am now? I mean now as I write this, not now as you read it.

I'm at The Rio. Yay! One thousand DavePoints for anyone who guessed correctly.

I love The Rio. It's a much better place for someone like me. The Venetian is for millionaires. So I went to The Rio, and I immediately felt better. Just being in the place did me worlds of good. And then, and then I saw something that lifted my spirits to new heights.

Tilted Kilt

The Tilted Kilt is still there! Yay! I'd heard that it might be gone.

They weren't open yet though, so I couldn't go in, and I couldn't quite read the taps to see what was available. I'll be going there Tuesday night though.

---

I wrote the above stuff sitting at The Rio. Now I'm back in my hotel room and it's pretty damn late and I'm wide awake but little hung-over.

I'm hung-over because, when I left The Rio, I went to The Freakin' Frog. First, I took the free shuttle back to Harrah's. Then I bought a three-day pass for the monorail. Then I took said monorail to The MGM Grand. Then I took a cab to The Freakin' Frog.

Their draft list didn't impress me too much today, but I got over it quickly enough, as soon as I confirmed that they had Alaskan Smoked Porter in bottles. They had four bottles left, and I bought all four, and I drank three of them (567).

And that's why I'm a little hung-over.

The fourth bottle is here in my hotel room. I haven't decided if I'm going to drink it this week or if I want to try to figure out a way to get it home.

comments (1)

fame

posted by dave at 7:42 AM in category daily, pictures

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that StoreGirl and I had been photographed and interviewed by a dude from one of the local free newspapers. Well some of the fruits of that session made it into this week's issue.

Apparently, space was an issue, because none of the stuff about how awesome I am made into the final article. I guess they decided to cut out the obvious stuff first.

But still, pretty cool.

And I've thought about it, and I've decided that I will continue to associate with the little people in my life. I won't let this new fame go to my head.

I will, however, still accept groupies.

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in my beer fridge

posted by dave at 7:55 PM in category drink, pictures

purchased today

Malheur Dark Brut
Malheur Brut Reserve
Gouden Carolus Grand Cru
Gouden Carolus Classic
Malheur 10
Abbaye d'Aulne Triple Brune
Gouden Carolus Triple
Konigshoeven Quad

Except for the Koningshoeven, these are all new beers for me.

already in my fridge

Rogue Ten Thousand Brew Ale
Allagash Curieux
Rodenbach
Rodenbach Grand Cru
Ommegang Three Philosophers
Avert The Reverend
Three Floyds Behemoth
Canaster Winterscotch
Cassissona
Delirium Tremens

All new to me except The Reverend and Delirium Tremens.

And I actually have even more waiting to be enjoyed. I just didn't want to post a picture of everything because I didn't want people to think I was a freak.

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random

posted by dave at 12:08 AM in category daily, pictures

This is what happens when I'm in a weird mood.

I can't focus on any thoughts long enough to coax a decent entry out of them.

So you get this crap.

---

A former coworker of mine died yesterday. He was 35, and he was a cool guy. So on Friday I'll go to the visitation, even though I didn't really know him that well.

---

Rogue Smoke is finally available at Rich O's. Yay!

---

I forgot to mention that, the other night, HatGirl graduated from college. In addition, she surprised absolutely nobody by making the dean's list.

Yay for HatGirl!

---

For the next two days there's an art show at Rich O's. I already bought one of NotHideousGirl's paintings:

RedDanceBlue

We've talked about this painting over lunch several times. I just had to have it. But this time I'm going to pay her in person, because she still hasn't got her money from the last one I bought, when I paid the guy running the art show.

---

Oh yeah, at the art show tonight it was movie night. I didn't stay for it, but I read about it. One of the films is about Darfur, so that's probably the feel-good movie of the year. Not.

---

You know how to piss off a stray cat?

Well, I'll tell you.

Go outside at night, and watch said stray run and hide underneath a pine tree with low-hanging branches. Then, walk right up to the tree and call out, "Hi there kitty! It's so nice to see you!"

See, it pisses the strays off because they think they're being so sneaky and feral.

---

I have no idea what happened to SassyGirl and JauntyGirl. They're probably off on another one of their adventures.

---

TremensGirl showed up at Rich O's this evening with red hair. She then claimed that it's always been red. I'm not fooled though.

---

I have to pee.

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shaved pussies

posted by dave at 7:16 AM in category pictures

Before:

before

After:

after

after

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saturday beer report (part two)

posted by dave at 1:26 PM in category daily, drink, pictures, ramblings

So why do I keep spouting the same drivel over and over, even long after it's become perfectly clear that it does more harm than good?

Because it feels right in my head. Because it fits onto my heart like a glove fits onto my hand. Because it belongs.

Because one night I leaned against a railing, and I looked at her as she sat and cried on this little wall...

boo

and I broke through the clouds, and I saw how far I was going to fall. And I knew, right then and right there that my life would never be the same again.

That's why I keep writing crap like this.

Because I was right. Everything changed then.

Anyway.

My next stop, after Buffalo Wild Wings, wasn't the BBC after all. It was the ~~Haunted~~ Highland Tap Room. I had a couple Newcastles (4682) and had a little séance. Funny, we only came here once, but this place seems as haunted as any other. Maybe even more than Rich O's, because there are fewer memories competing for attention.

Next, I went over to The Pub. Actually I went to Hard Rock first, but CoolHairGirl wasn't working, so I went to The Pub and had yet another Newcastle (4702) and talked to BikerGirl for a while.

My sister Dina called to see if I was going to Rich O's later. I hadn't really made any plans to go there, but I told her that I'd meet her in about an hour. I invited BikerGirl to come to Rich O's when she got off work at 8:00. I wrote down directions for her, just in case. I think going to Indiana was about tenth on her list of possibilities for the evening.

But at least she didn't laugh when I invited her. So that was cool.

Got to Rich O's a little after 7:00. I sat at the kiddie table with Dina and had another Diet Coke. Her husband Kenny came in after a while. BadPickleGirl came in with some dude, but I think it was just a coincidence that they came in. Unless she's stalking me.

Eventually, I had a bottle of yummy Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier (1805). Once everyone else had left, I waited until about 9:30 to see if BikerGirl was going to show up.

Then, some fucked-up shit happened.

Then, I stopped at White Castle on the way home.

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goddess with a fat guy, at lunch

posted by dave at 10:59 PM in category pictures

trust me, she was beautiful

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you just wait

posted by dave at 5:38 PM in category pictures

I'm easily amused. Found this at kottke.org.

you just wait

This is the type of fame for which Nugget is destined. I'm sure of it.

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couple of pics

posted by dave at 11:20 AM in category pictures

This first one was a week ago Friday. I was with NotHideousGirl and I tried on her glasses. So this blurry images is probably what she saw when she looked at me. Both because she'd been drinking and because I had her glasses on.

blurry

This one we took this past Friday night. I then sent it to HatGirl, hoping that it would inspire her to show up and give me someone who didn't hate all men to talk to. My plan didn't work.

blurry

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bored

posted by dave at 5:12 PM in category pictures

I found this Face Transformer site that lets you do shit to pictures. Here are some of the manglings it came up with for my picture:

Hi there Hello
Hiya Hey

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everywhere a sign

posted by dave at 4:14 AM in category daily, pictures

Now this is exactly the kind of thing for which I wanted a camera in my phone!

thud

Sunday I was sitting at a red light, minding my own business, and there was suddenly a loud crash to my left.

The sign says "No left turn" and it seems a lot bigger when it's lying on the ground than it does when it's 20 feet in the air.

I bet it's a heavy fucker too.

I wish I'd been thinking more clearly. I could have jumped out of my truck and grabbed the sign. Then I could have mounted it in my basement or something.

There are way too many people making left turns in my basement.

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quickie

posted by dave at 8:12 AM in category pictures

RIght after I got my new Blackberry I took this picture of the stuff adorning my desk. Many of these are things that I've posted here before.

eclectic

From top to bottom, then left to right:

My cat Buddy after he got shaved.

An image I made of three of me on my couch.

BadPickleGirl and me and BadPickleGirl's cousin at Rich O's.

My sister Dina's kids.

MisunderstoodGirl wearing a shirt that says I agree with Dave.

A picture of HatGirl that I really like.

A whirlpool that RockGirl drew. I think of it as my department's unofficial logo.

A little saying I got from somewhere. People who stay calm all the time just don't have all the facts.

A picture I took at the Grand Canyon in August 2006.

Another Grand Canyon picture.

Me and SassyGirl at DaveFest last Summer. This picture also hangs on the wall at Rich O's.

A picture of HatGirl's ear. This picture doesn't taste very good.

And now, that picture I took of NotHideousGirl yesterday is up there too, just below the HatGirl picture.

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my fun thursday

posted by dave at 7:34 PM in category daily, drink, pictures

I had fun today.

First, I overslept. So that was cool.

Then at lunch - Newcastle (3334) - I ran into NotHideousGirl. First time I've seen her since HatGirl's birthday party in December. So that was way cool.

Then we went to Borders so she could buy some CDs. This was about as useful as taking a blind man to the paint store, but I went anyway.

Oh yeah, I got a new Blackberry yesterday, and guess what.

It's got a camera!

Yay!

First time I've had a camera phone in months.

NotHideousGirl was kind enough to let me test the camera on her, and post the results here.

still not hideous

So that was fun. It was a little strange to leave a bookstore without any books though.

Then, after work, I went to the local hardware store to buy a bunch of PVC shit for my sink. I figured that I'd go ahead and give it a try, and then if I screwed it up Kenny could always come and laugh at me as he corrected my mistakes.

Well, I managed to twist the PVC stuff around enough so that now I have actual drains running from my sink. I also managed to install and wire up the new garbage disposal without killing myself.

Anyway, here's the old ugly sink.

hideous

And here's the new sink. Ta da!

Ohhhh! Ahhhh!

Just so none of you people start to think I'm infallible, here's what's under the new sink.

leaking

Those bowls are because the new drain lines leak. Not very much, but enough to be annoying. So I called Kenny and apparently I need some Plumber's Putty to put between the sink and the traps. Either Kenny or I will get some of that, we'll tear everything apart and reinstall using the putty where appropriate, and then this project will be done!

Except that I think I need Kenny to use one of those snake thingies on the drain line that goes into the wall. Everything still drains pretty slowly.

And the garbage disposal works too! Nugget is scared of it.

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my fun weekend

posted by dave at 2:18 PM in category daily, pictures

Every now and then I'll get a bug up my butt about my house.

There are about a zillion things that I hate about this house. Cosmetic stuff mostly. But back when I bought the place, I was making a lot more money, so I figured I'd just throw cash at the ugliness and make it all go away.

But no! Once the Internet bubble burst, I had to get a real job, at substantially less pay.

And so the ugliness remains.

Flowery wallpaper.

Yikes!

Gross!

Striped wallpaper.

Barf!

Grotesque light fixtures.

Shit!

Aaaaaah!

Eeeeek!

Brown shag carpeting.

Puke!

Hideous cabinets and countertops.

Hideous!

Ugh. Even all the dark brown doors and trim are ugly and dated.

Ugly!

And I didn't even show you the light fixture in my bedroom, or the floor in my bathroom or bedroom, or the painted wall in my downstairs bathroom. Had I posted pictures of those things, I'd probably have been shut down for running an obscene website. And I didn't want to take that chance.

Anyway.

Friday I got this bug up my butt to do something, anything to reduce the ugliness.

So I decided to replace my kitchen sink and faucet. While I was at it, I figured, I'd get a garbage disposal too.

Yesterday, I had my sister's husband Kenny over to look at my sink area and tell me what I'd need to buy. He's a professional Mr. Fixit.

Then I went to Lowe's and spent an hour or so picking out stuff that (a) looked cool, and (b) wasn't laughably expensive.

Did you know that there are $600 kitchen faucets? That's just ridiculous to me. Who needs a fucking $600 kitchen faucet?

So I piled all the shit in my cart and, when I went to pay for it, they declined my card.

I became a little concerned. There certainly should have been money in my account. I mean, Thursday was payday I hadn't taken any money out for at least a week.

But oh well. I figured that I'd call my bank on Monday and see what the deal was. I apologized to the checkout girl and went home.

Then last night I had the brilliant idea that maybe they'd declined my card because they'd tried to run it through as debit instead of credit. The card can be charged either way, but there's a $200 daily limit on debit transactions.

So I went back to Lowe's today. I picked out all the same shit I'd picked on Saturday.

This time I told them to run it through as credit instead of debit.

It fucking came back declined again.

Fuck!

After I'd apologized to the second checkout girl in as many days, I left scratching my head. What if something was going on with my checking account?

I needed to find out. So I went to my bank, and did a balance inquiry at the ATM thingy.

There's almost $3000 in my account right now. That seems about right to me.

The shit I was trying to buy was $580 or something like that.

Now I'm no math whiz, but I'm pretty sure that $580 is less than $3000. I'm also pretty sure that $580 is less than the $1000 daily limit on credit transactions.

So I don't know what's going on. All I know for sure is that everything in my house is still ugly. Including my kitchen sink.

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friday beer report

posted by dave at 10:38 AM in category drink, pictures

Okay, so that one particular cool thing didn't happen. But it was still a pretty nice night. I got to relax and look at pretty girls. And I got to wear my cool new t-shirt.

what a crappy picture

this is a little better

They're having a big S.I.G.H. convention around here somewhere, and all the girls seemed to have picked Rich O's as the place to unwind. From their hotness seminars or pillow fight tournaments or whatever they do at those things.

So the place was packed, but there were at least ten very pretty girls there. This is at least nine and a half more than usual. Pretty girls definitely make the crowd bearable.

When I first arrived, I sat on the loveseat. Some semi-acquaintances were scattered about the rest of the living room area. They know SassyGirl, so I told them about how I'd finally been getting emails from her. We talked for a bit about the good old days of lesbian mud-wrestling parties. I had an NABC Old Lightning Rod (190).

After a bit I moved up to the island and sat with MusicalYuppieDude and some PBDs. My second beer was a Wostyntje (119).

CoffeeDude and WomanRepellant came in at some point. I was talking to them when the President of S.I.G.H. arrived with some dork. I almost lost all self-control, and it's only thanks to CoffeeDude's impromptu therapeutic intervention that I kept from making a complete fool of myself. I did, however, have a Rogue Smoke (450) and then couple of Diet Cokes to kill some time so I could keep looking at Madam President when the opportunities arose.

Oh yeah, at 10:00 or so I drunk-emailed BadPickleGirl. This is always a waste of time because she won't even get the thing until Monday.

Anyway, I've been developing this theory about beer. About me and beer actually. There are some beers, and some combinations of beers, that I simply should not be drinking.

Last night I stumbled on one such combination.

I felt fine when I left Rich O's, at about midnight. I spent some time digging around for some batteries for my camera. Then I took those two awesome pictures above.

Right after I took the second picture, I fell back against the wall, and I was immediately drunk.

Spinning room drunk.

Pretty damn weird.

So I didn't get to practice pool last night. Instead I went to bed and hoped that I wouldn't get sick.

I didn't.

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sunday night

posted by dave at 11:53 PM in category drink, general, pictures

Tonight, for a change of pace, I had a beer. This was the fourth bottle that I took to BadPickleGirl's house on Friday. We didn't get to it then, so I got to it tonight.

Bluegrass Mephistopheles Metamorphosis (25)

(bottle) No foam at all. I mean none. I've seen tap water with a bigger head. Other than that, poured a slightly hazy orange. Taste was, as expected, fairly flat and generic. Yeasty and bland in flavor, this beer did grow on me as time went by. I'd love to try this in draft form someday. Maybe there'll be some fizz then.

Meanwhile, I sit here with three ideas for blog entries. All of them good ideas, but none of them exciting enough that I'm going to start typing them up now.

I think, instead of trying to tackle any of my new entry ideas, I think I'll just quote from my friend NotHideousGirl's blog:

Dave Siltz is the weirdest normal person I know, and I love him for it.

So, isn't that just the sweetest thing?

In response to that, I'll say this:

Kat is the most beautiful girl I know, who doesn't act like she's beautiful, and I love her for it.

Also, today I didn't talk to BadPickleGirl at all, and that bothered me a little. Uh oh.

Finally, my sister Neisha accused me the other day of killing and eating my cat Nugget, since she hasn't seen him in years and years. As proof that Nugget still lives, I present this picture (taken tonight) of him in all his fatness, along with the scratching post that he's slowly but surely shredding to bits:

hail his fatness

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google earth

posted by dave at 6:47 PM in category general, pictures

I was dicking around with this today, showing a coworker the route to the expressway, and I noticed that the resolution seemed to have improved. Intrigued, I directed the application to a little town that had always been nothing more than a blur of pixels.

Now it's much better. I guess Google Earth has updated its database with new images.

Very cool.

coolness

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the others...

posted by dave at 12:13 AM in category entertainment, pictures

...on Lost! are real dicks.

Except for this chick. I have a massive crush on her:

Tania Raymonde (Alex)

Probably in part because she used to be this girl on Malcolm in the Middle and she's the one that started the whole perverted brunettes with glasses thing for me.

Tania Raymonde (Dorky Girl)

If only there'd been a dorky girl like that when I was in school.

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fun with photoshop

posted by dave at 1:33 AM in category pictures

they should make good pajamas

Sorry, ladies, but your dreams have not come true.

There are not three of me.

I got this idea from netmale a long time ago and completely forgot about it until MixedSignalGirl "found" some scrubs for me at work today.

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tuesday, wednesday, and saturday beer report

posted by dave at 11:26 AM in category drink, pictures, travel

Man I'm so behind on these things. But I don't feel like writing so I'm just going to rush through this.

---

On Tuesday, I went to Rich O's to see SassyGirl and JauntyGirl. This could be the last time I get to see them in that place, so it was kind of bittersweet for me. I took a picture to remember them by.

SassyGirl and JauntyGirl

To drink, I had myself three glasses of Delirium Tremens (712).

After the girls left I stuck around and talked to CoffeeDude for quite a while. I think I bored him with my stories, but at least we didn't talk about coffee. I also tried to get MixedSignalGirl (yes, we're talking again) to come but we got into a fight instead.

---

Wednesday night, I was in Broomfield Colorado. There was a brewpub right next to my hotel. I think it was called CB & Potts, but it was the Big horn Brewery too. Or maybe Ram brewing. It was quite confusing.

Anyway, I had myself a yummy steak dinner, and with it I had a couple of beers:

Big Horn Hefeweizen (20)

(draft) Served in a glass that was way too cold. There were ice crystals in the beer. Once it had thawed out a little, this was a pretty good beer. Very much a German-style wheat, but with the tiniest little bite of hops in the finish. I liked it.

For my next beer, I asked the girl to thaw me a glass out ahead of time.

Big Horn Total Disorder Porter (20)

(draft) Very nice. Chocolately and roasty and malty. If this was available near my home it would be one of my favorite beers.

After that I went to this place who's name escapes me. I'd gone in there earlier to see what they had on tap, and the hot bartender had told me to come back after I'd eaten, so I did.

While I was there I talked to the hot bartender and I had several phone conversations with MixedSignalGirl. To drink, I had a 24-ounce glass of Fat Tire (403) and then a regular 16-ounce glass of Newcastle (2348). Then I ordered some chicken tenders and went back to the hotel.

---

Thursday I didn't drink anything. I didn't do anything except go to class and then read a book in my room.

---

Friday I didn't drink anything. All I did was check my email every 10 seconds and try to avoid having a total meltdown.

---

Saturday I flew back home.

After a nice meal at the haunted Burger King, I went to Rich O's and got there at about 8:00. I waved at MusicalHippyDude and GlassesGirl who were sitting at the island, and I sat in the throne and talked to a couple that seemed to know me. I will now christen then Scarecrow and HopGirl.

I had a Delirium Tremens (722).

After a while everybody around me started talking about boring stuff so I moved up to the island. This was about the time I had another Delirium Tremens (732).

Then those people started talking about boring stuff. I realized that I was just bored and that it had nothing to do with anyone else. So I texted HatGirl on the off-chance that she'd come to Rich O's.

Well it worked! I got a reply back that they'd be coming in! Yay!

I think that this was about when I ordered my third Delirium Tremens (742).

After a million years, during which I tried somewhat successfully to lure MusicalHippyDude into interesting conversations, HatGirl came in to say "Hi." She and her sister and LuckyFucker were sitting out front. So after a suitable interval I went out to sit with them.

HatGirl!

Yay!

I spent the next hour or two migrating back and forth between the island and the front area.

Sometime during that period I had a fourth Delirium Tremens (752).

After HatGirl and company left I moved back to the island for good. WomanRepellant had snuck in at some point, as had Bubbles and NoNickNameDude. So I finished my beer and talked with them for a while. I also had a couple Diet Cokes to give the beer time to wear off.

I came home at 12:30 or so.

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saturday beer report

posted by dave at 10:57 PM in category drink, pictures, ramblings

I feel kind of silly writing this, my Saturday beer report. More than that, I feel a little bit guilty about writing it. 'Cause see, I can't or at least won't write about what was important. And I don't want those things that I do write to take away from the significance of those things that I can't or won't write about.

Did you ever see a shooting star so brilliant that it just took your breath away, and you just stood there watching it blaze across the sky, so awestruck that you forgot to make a wish? Did you ever then realize that you're wish had come true anyway?

Yeah, well me too.

Saturday I needed to get to Rich O's early. It was imperative. There were people that were going to be there and I needed to have suitable seating available.

So I left my house a little before 7:00. I was on my way to the haunted Burger King to get something to eat when HatGirl went zooming by me, honking her horn and giving me a heart attack. HatGirl was one of the people I was supposed to meet at Rich O's. One of the reasons that I needed to be there early. But she called to let me know that she'd be later than expected. Didn't matter though. I still had to find suitable seating. There was another.

I grabbed a quick meal and got to Rich O's at 7:30. There were already strangers in the living room area. Fuck! The island was empty though so I went to sit over there, but I glanced at the bar and saw MisunderstoodGirl. That was a very nice surprise. I sat at the bar and talked with MisunderstoodGirl and QuietDude. I also kept looking behind me to see if the fuckheads would be leaving any time soon. It didn't look good. They seemed to be well entrenched.

My first beer was a Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier (1483). Actually, so were my second and third beers (1523).

After much discussion about such lofty topics as boobs and lesbian mail-order brides, some other stuff happened. This is the part where I shut up for a while.

After that, HatGirl and LuckyFucker came in.

HatGirl!

Yay!

MisunderstoodGirl left, so I moved down one spot and HatGirl and LuckyFucker joined me and QuietDude at the bar. I continued to turn around to check out the living room area. Actually I increased the frequency of this quite a bit. I really really really wanted to move over there.

(Seriously, I really did. The opportunity just never presented itself. I was not afraid.)

But it was not to be. The fuckheads had given their seats to some new arrivals, and so I spent the entire night sitting at the bar.

As the night at Rich O's wore to a close, the living room area did eventually empty out. Not that I cared by that point. I and QuietDude and FutureDude and DooRagGirl all moved over there.

Oh yeah, HatGirl and LuckyFucker had gone, and DooRagGirl had come in. Try to keep up please.

Then they closed Rich O's up. The four of us went over to this Mac's place that I don't like. They had a band that was covering Pink Floyd and AC/DC though, so that was pretty cool. It was quite loud there. I had a Newcastle (2308) and we sat around for an hour or so basically shouting at each other because that was the only way to be heard.

At 2:00 or so, DooRagGirl suggested that we all go to her house where we could hear ourselves think and hear each other talk. I thought that this was a great idea because we'd been talking about her pussy and I'd become obsessed with the idea of getting to pet it.

So we all went over to DooRagGirl and FutureDude's house, and I got to pet her pussy. Several times in fact. I'd heard some scary stories about her pussy but it was really quite nice. You just have to know how to treat them.

Nice pussy

I also got to meet the famous Harry the dog.

I also had another Newcastle (2320).

At about 4:00 or so I left and went to White Castle then came home.

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happy kitty

posted by dave at 1:58 PM in category pictures

happy kitty

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written friday morning

posted by dave at 12:56 PM in category pictures, ramblings

very convincing

We'll see how well this works. My laptop is broken, and I'm sitting in the New York New York casino, in the shopping area. At a little table with a pizza design painted on top. I'm sitting under a fake tree, surrounded by fake streets. Above the storefronts are the illusions of second and third story windows. It's all fake, but still very convincing. I half expect to get mugged.

What was I getting at?

Oh, yeah.

This place certainly has style, but there's no real substance behind it. Concrete and cold steel. Plaster and paint. Break through these facades and the illusion is revealed.

I had a conversation last night. At least it started out as a conversation. It ended up being more of a sermon, or an impassioned plea for understanding.

The things that you read, the things that I write, they're not fiction. I am not a storyteller. I'm not even much of a writer most of the time.

My writings describe my thoughts and my feelings and my life. Strip away the facades of flowing phrases and you really lose nothing. What you're left with may not be as refined, but it's no less real. Hell, it might even be more real.

The point I need to make is that it's often too easy for people to have a disconnect between the words that they read and the people and events behind those words. I see this reflected all the time in the comments and emails I get. People complimenting me in something I've written.

But the thing is, I'm am not an actor performing in a play. This is my life. These events are real. And beyond that, they're happening right now. This is not an historical account of my life that you're reading. It's a play-by-play description.

So, if I write about pain, then I'm hurting.

If I write about confusion, then I'm confused.

And if I write about being in love, then I'm in love.

Just not with you.

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grandeur

posted by dave at 3:26 AM in category pictures, travel

grandeur

Continue reading "grandeur" »

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monday las vegas report (part one)

posted by dave at 11:41 AM in category drink, pictures, travel

Monday morning, after I'd won a little bit of money playing video poker, I did some walking around. My plan had been to walk up to The Riviera where there's a pool tournament going on, but I only made it to Caesar's Palace.

I took a bunch of pictures.

Paris Las Vegas is quite photogenic.

paris las vegas

I did another zoom test with my camera. Here's the unzoomed view of New York New York.

nyny

And here's the zoomed view.

nyny zoomed

I think this stained glass dome was inside Paris Las Vegas.

I took a lot of pictures of fountains. I like fountains.

fountains

I stopped at Planet Hollywood inside Caesar's and this creepy thing was on the wall.

creepy thing

More fountains.

fountains

cool fountains

These were cooler in person.

more statues
statue chick

Here's the obligatory strip shot taken from just outside New York New York.

obligatory strip shot

The first time I ever came to Las Vegas these talking statues were probably the coolest things in the city. Now they seem kind of cheesy.

talking statues

I really wanted to jump into the water in front of Bellagio.

cool cool water

That's the Rio way out there on the right. It was too far to walk though.

too far to walk

A tower.

tower

For lunch, I had three Smithwick's (1004) and then I had a Guinness (1277) for dessert. I'd still like to duplicate this bar in my basement some day.

nine fine irishmen

nine fine irishmen statue

Then I came back to my room and took a nap.

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plus, they're pretty

posted by dave at 11:48 PM in category general, pictures

I want a mountain.

Yep, that's what I want.

Not my own personal mountain. That would be way too much responsibility. But I want to live by a mountain again.

(Image stolen from some USGS site)

Mt. Rainier

I miss Mt. Rainier. Even though I could go for months without ever seeing it, I always knew that it was there. And, on those days when it would appear, it never failed to impress and inspire me.

There are no mountains here, in Southern Indiana.

It's kind of boring.

LaptopGirl once said something to me about The Grand Canyon being this gigantic hole that would suck the creativity out of everyone around it. That got me to thinking that maybe mountains would do the opposite. Maybe mountains exude creative energy.

Somebody should look into getting us a mountain.

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pictures

posted by dave at 9:46 PM in category pictures

Figured I'd clean out some of the pictures on my phone.

This was a couple of weeks ago, when we all wondered if we were going to die. It's hard to tell from the picture, but a storm had gone through and left the sky an eerie purplish-brown. I went outside to check it out. With the sunset giving some context to that color it wasn't nearly as freaky.

Brurple Sky

This is just a smoldering hot girl that was at White Castle one night. She had brown hair and glasses. I was smitten.

Hot White Castle Girl

One night, when nobody was looking, I hung a picture from DaveFest on the wall at Rich O's. I figured that none of the bartenders would be motivated enough to take it down. It's the picture on the left, and it's of me and SassyGirl.

Sneaky Pic

Saturday they had this art thingy at Rich O's. This here was done by MisunderstoodGirl.

MisunderstoodArt

I just took a picture of this because I thought it was stupid. Maybe that's what the artist was going for.

Mirror Thingy

This statue thingy reminded me of allaboutme's profile picture.

AllAboutArt

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whatever

posted by dave at 11:23 PM in category dreams, pictures

Clicking the image should pop up a larger view, if you're really bored.

Okay, this is a little disjointed.

That field to the right of the highway - that's where I grew up. There used to be a house there. There used to be a lot of shit in that area that isn't there anymore, and there's a lot of new shit that wasn't there when I was growing up.

Anyway, I had my pillows and my sleeping bag, and I was camping right on the edge of the road in front of my old yard. The pillows that I had - I had three pillows with green pillowcases, which is weird because I only have one pillowcase like that in my house.

There was a kind of theme to what I was doing. "Roadside 'Blogging" or something equally nonsensical. I kept getting annoyed because passing cars would keep zooming by me without even slowing down. I kept thinking that I was going to get run over, and I didn't want to die in my sleep like that.

I was trying to get some sleep, but there were some kids across the street setting up for a concert or a huge party or something. Also, I was right near this drainage pipe (you can barely tell where it is in the picture) and there were rocks that were digging into my back.

So I gave up on sleeping, and I decided that I was thirsty and that I'd go to Polly's Freeze. Polly's is the building at the top of the picture. So I walked passed my grandmother's old house (center right of the picture) and I was almost to Polly's when I realized that it was only 10:00 or so, and that I could go to Rich O's and have a yummy Rogue Chocolate Stout instead.

I picked up a ladder and I started running back to my old yard, where I'd parked my truck. Some black guy came out of Mildred's house (on the left side of the road in the center of the picture) and he started hollering at me about something, but I couldn't understand what he was saying.

When I got back to my old yard, there was a big giant house that was being delivered. I couldn't get my truck out because the big giant house delivery had the driveway blocked. So I tried to drive my truck up the hill at the front of my old yard, but the hill was too steep and I flipped my truck.

Now, this damn dream was chock full of symbolism, and I think I get most of it. But the thing I really want to know is, What the fuck did the ladder have to do with anything?

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birdies!

posted by dave at 10:48 PM in category general, pictures

Birdies!

These things were outside my window when I got up this morning. There were actually about twice this many. There was another adult and another half-dozen chicks.

The reason it's so out of focus is that I took this picture through the glass in my window, and the glass messed up my camera's auto-focus. By the time I figured out how to focus them, they were in the bushes.

I think they're turkeys, but that's just a guess.

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cleveland monday

posted by dave at 10:11 PM in category drink, entertainment, pictures, travel

On Monday morning they must have declared some kind of ice shortage or something, because the ice machine, located conveniently across the hall from my room, was in constant use from about 6:10 in the morning until I left at around 9:00.

What I'd decided was that I'd go and try to find a Best Buy or something so I could buy a new power adapter for my laptop.

And that's just what I did. It took a long time to find a Best Buy though.

When I got back to my room, it hadn't been touched. Big surprise.

Monday afternoon, after I'd done a little writing, I walked down to this Cleveland ChopHouse and Brewery place that the cabbie from Sunday night had recommended.

Cleveland ChopHouse and Brewery

With my very yummy sirloin and my kinda rubbery shrimp, I had a couple of beers:

Cleveland ChopHouse Stout (16)

(draft) Black with cream-colored head and incredible lacing. Flavor slanted a bit more towards coffee than chocolate. A decent beer.

Cleveland ChopHouse Saison de Chop (16)

(draft) Wow! Unexpectedly good. Extremely well-balanced and very refreshing. It also tasted like it had a higher ABV than it really does.

Then I went back to my room (still no maid service) and dicked around for a while before it was time to go to the Indians game.

It was a pretty good game. Indians vs. Yankees. I heard from somebody that it was the first time this season that Jacobs Field had been sold out. I believe this is because the Indians suck this year, but I'm really not sure.

Jacobs Field batting practice

Jacobs Field Scoreboard

Also, and maybe it was just the area where I was seated, but there seemed to be more Yankee fans than Indians fans at the game. That's kinda sad, I think.

As is my custom, I bought a cap and rooted for the home team.

The Indians actually won. I gathered that this was a surprise to everyone, especially the Indians.

After the game was over they had fireworks, but I wanted to beat the crowd so I high-tailed it down to the Winking Lizard and grabbed a seat at the bar. I had myself an Edmund Fitzgerald (144) and then I realized, quite suddenly, that I'd be leaving Cleveland in the morning. I decided that, no matter how yummy the Great Lakes porter was, I just had to try something else.

They have a pretty impressive beer menu. You can actually see it here if you want to play along at home.

The first choice was a no-brainer. I'd loved the Harpoon Winter Warmer so much, when I'd had it in Portland, that I just had to try their Hefeweizen.

Looking at the bottle, I should have known that something was wrong:

Harpoon UFO

Look a little closer:

Aaaaaaaaaaah!

That's a fucking citrus wedge, right there on the bottle!

Well I told the bartender that I didn't want the damn fruit wedge, bottle artwork notwithstanding. I used my standard "I'm straight" line as an excuse.

Harpoon UFO Hefeweizen (12)

(bottle) Despite the name Hefeweizen, this is an American wheat beer. Despite that, I liked it anyway. There was none of the hop bitterness that I usually associate with this style. The thing tasted like a Belgian wheat, and it tasted good.

The next beer choice took a little longer. There was this banana beer on the menu that looked intriguing, but it was an awfully big bottle and there was no guarantee that it wouldn't be disgusting. So I chose instead the following:

Unibroue Blanche de Chambly (12)

(bottle) Although supposedly a Belgian wheat, this had much of the aroma and flavor of a German wheat. If I had to put a label on it, I'd say that is was a blend of those two excellent styles. A very good beer from what is becoming one of my favorite breweries.

During all this I spent most of the time talking to a couple of Clevelandites about various crap.

Then I walked back to my hotel.

The fucking bitch maid had not visited my room all fucking day.

After I tried to write some entries, I went to sleep, then I got up and made sure that the manager knew how lazy the maid was, then I drove home.

Yay!

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cleveland sunday, part two

posted by dave at 9:25 PM in category drink, pictures, travel

I feel like I need to say something here, before I say anything else. One of the things that I really hate about traveling is having to work my schedule around the hotel's cleaning people.

On Sunday morning, I was gone from my room for about four hours. When I returned, my room hadn't been touched yet.

During my driving around I'd passed this Winking Lizard place that I'd remembered from my pre-trip research. It was close to the hotel, so I decided to walk. After I'd walked a couple of hundred yards, it started to sprinkle. After I'd walked another couple of block, it started to pour. By the time I got to the bar I was soaked to the bone. I guess this Winking Lizard place is pretty famous or something. They had a decent draft selection, and a very good bottled selection. What I did was have three Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgeralds (112) and some Cajun-spiced chicken tenders while I watched the Indians game on TV.

Here are a couple pics I took inside the place:

Winking Lizard

When it was time to leave, I went out front and bought a t-shirt, and took this picture of what I must assume is the bar's mascot:

Iguana

Either that, or they have a really bad pest problem.

Oh yeah, there was a smoldering hot girl sitting at the next table. She had very thin straps holding her top up. I tried using my mental powers to unravel the straps, but it didn't work. Oh well.

So I walked back to my hotel room at about 5:00, and my room hadn't been touched. I grabbed my dirty towels and went out and tracked the lazy bitch down and traded for some clean towels. I also told her that I wouldn't be needing any additional service that day.

Then I took a nap. Then I watched Catwoman on TV. Halle Berry is hot, in case you've been living in a cave on Mars and didn't know yet.

We're up to Sunday night now. I took a cab to the Rock Bottom. While there, I bought a t-shirt from an improbably cute hostess, and I had some beers.

Rock Bottom Walleye Wheat (Cleveland) (16)

(draft) No detectable aroma, and not much flavor. I can't tell if this is an American or a German wheat. It's very bland, but still good.

Rock Bottom Riverbend Red (Cleveland) (16)

(draft) Looks and tastes like weak tea, but with the slightest hint of creamy caramel. Not too bad. If a beer like this is too much for you then you probably shouldn't be drinking beer..

Rock Bottom Dawg Pound Brown (Cleveland) (16)

(draft) Very dark brown - almost black, with a nice tan head. Very roasty and malty. Not sure that this should be called a brown ale, but whatever you want to call it, it's still good.

Then, once the bartender found out that I wasn't driving, he gave me this on the house:

Rock Bottom Le Flats Saison (Cleveland) (16)

(draft) Clear gold in color. Looks like a lager, so scary. The flavor is awesome. There are the typical apple undertones, but this is a lot thicker-tasting than most saisons I've had. Damn good. Yummy actually.

The place closed up early, because it was Sunday, so I went out and stole a cab from somebody who'd called for one but didn't get there in time.

I told the cabbie to take me back to my hotel, but about halfway there I changed my mind and had him take me to the Winking Lizard instead. While there I had a Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald (128) and got some chicken tenders to go, then walked the short distance back to my hotel.

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cleveland sunday, part one

posted by dave at 4:11 PM in category pictures, travel

Sunday morning I got up way too early. I dicked around the room for a while and watched some movie that I can't remember.

Then I went and got my truck and went driving around. I had no particular destination in mind - I mainly just wanted to see the lake.

Where I ended up was this Great Lakes Science Center thingy, which is a very cool interactive museum. It's mainly for kids I guess, and about 75% of the patrons were children, but it was fun for me too. I didn't take any pictures because if I had then there would have been kids in it and I didn't want to get arrested for anything I wasn't doing.

Oh, I guess I did take one picture. They had a giant turbine thingy outside the place:

Turbine Thingy

The science center was cool, but it was actually pretty small. I was able to see every exhibit in about an hour, and that's even accounting for the time I spent explaining things to the ubiquitous kids.

Before I left, I went into the gift shop to browse for a while. At one point I came upon a stand of rocks. Rocks which were, in fact, very much like my own rock. Since my rock is always in my pocket, I became concerned that I'd get accused of shoplifting. But I didn't.

Next I went to this Edgewater Park place that the hot blonde bartender at Bier Markt had told me about. I took pictures.

There was an actual beach, which I wasn't expecting.

Edgewater Park

The lake was, of course, there. It was windy as fuck.

Lake Erie

Here I was testing my camera's zoom on a lighthouse thingy.

Lake Erie Lighthouses

They had a pier thing that I wanted to walk out on.

Lake Erie Pier

At the end of the pier I found a dead fish.

Lake Erie Dead Fish

I really wanted to get on top of one of these things.

Lake Erie Concrete thingies

But I couldn't see how to do it. The birds have it easier.

Lake Erie Concrete Thingy With Birds

There were also sailboats. Did I mention them before?

Lake Erie Sailboats

I took a picture back toward the city from the end of the pier. That blue Toyota pickup is mine.

Cleveland from Lake Erie

Finally, I did another zoom test.

Cleveland from Edgewater

Zoom!

There were storms out on the lake, but I never got lucky enough to capture any lightning with my camera. It was windy as fuck though. A bad hair day for everyone.

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cleveland saturday, part three

posted by dave at 3:32 PM in category drink, pictures, travel

The Bier markt was a weird place. It was, for one thing, huge. For another thing, it was empty. At least until 9:30 or so. Before that point there had been more bartenders working the place (2) than there were customers (1, my lovely self).

Bier Markt

The draft selection was indeed impressive. I wrote them all down but I'm not going to bore you people by listing them all here. There were a half-dozen or so Belgians that I've never even heard of. I had two:

Ommegang Rare Vos (16)

Dark copper-colored, firm head. A neutral flavor, with perhaps a touch of apple. A very fizzy mouthfeel. A good beer. The aroma was a little perfumy.

Leffe Blonde (16)

Looks like a lager, so scary. Smells like unpeeled apples. OMG tastes fantastic! I may just cream. Fucking yummy.

So, I liked the Leffe okay.

I spend a good amount of time talking with the hot blonde bartender. Then I found out that she's only 22 years old. Seeing nothing handy with which to kill myself, I decided to hang in there. Who knows? Maybe her grandmother is available.

At about 9:40, the place became packed, and 90% of the customers were hot girls. I decided that I loved the Bier Markt.

Also, no matter what city I go to, no matter what bar I visit, no matter where at the bar I sit, I always end up having people hovering all over me while they order their beers. Must be my after-shave.

By 11:00, I was pretty well-lit, so I walked outside to look for a cab. I ended up talking with some Clevelandites out on the patio for a while. One chick wanted a DaveFest shirt, but the one I was wearing was the only one I'd brought with me. She ended up still wanting it. So I put on my Bier Markt shirt and sold her the DaveFest shirt. Then I went back to the hotel and crashed.

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cleveland saturday, part two

posted by dave at 12:58 PM in category drink, pictures, travel

(Today I went and found myself a mall and bought myself a power adapter, so I'm free to type away. But, since I'm typing into this tiny laptop keyboard, I cannot be held responsible for any typos. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.)

People that don't know me very well, people that perhaps only know my online persona, they might think that they know why I chose Cleveland for this trip. "It's the baseball," they might say. Or maybe, "It's gotta be the lake and the other scenery."

Wrong and wrong.

Other people might guess that I picked this city because of the Great Lakes Science Center or other cultural crap.

Again, wrong.

All of that shit did play a part in my decision, but the real reason, and the only reason that could have stood on its own merit - is the Great Lakes Brewery.

Great Lakes Brewery

I took a cab to the place, though as it turned out, it was probably within walking distance. I took a few notes which I will now transcribe:

Patio area outside, packed as fuck. Not a good sign. The bar area inside, also packed. But wait! There's another section upstairs! Also packed. Shit. But wait again! There's yet another area down in the basement! Fuck, it's packed too, but I manage to cram myself in next to a guy that looks like ExBartender from Rich O's.

I figured that, as long as I was there, I'd have some beer.

Great Lakes Market Street Wheat (16)

(draft) Almost overpowering aroma. Flavor was good, but much more subdued than the aroma had hinted. The head disappeared almost immediately. Zero fizz.

Great Lakes Holy Moses White Ale (16)

(draft) Smells and tastes more like a German than a Belgian wheat. As a German, it's quite good. As a Belgian, it's a little musty.

Great Lakes Elliot Ness (6)

(draft) No aroma to speak of. the taste and the mouthfeel reminded me of a dopplebock more than anything else. Not worth a full glass.

Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter (64)

(draft) I've had this before, but I don't remember what I wrote about it. Right now I want to write "yummy and roasty."

The main thing about the place, aside from the beer of course, is that it's completely non-smoking. I think that the main effect that this kind of policy has on me (aside from the occasional urge to murder everyone) is that I drink very quickly. I mean, I had all of the beers listed above in one hour. Somebody should do a study on this type of thing. Instead of drink, drag, drink, drag - it was drink, drink, drink, drink.

So by 8:30 or so, I was ready to leave. I was also half-shitfaced. I'd been talking to the bartender and she'd recommended this Bier Markt place around the corner. "They allow smoking," she said, "and they specialize in Belgian beers." Once my erection subsided I bought a souvenir t-shirt and walked out to find my Mecca.

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cleveland saturday, part one

posted by dave at 11:42 PM in category drink, pictures, travel

I got to Cleveland right on schedule, a little bit before 4:00. Right at my exit was Jacobs Field, home of the Indians.

Jacobs Field

This was also the point where MapQuest let me down. I had to drive around for quite a while before I found my hotel, and I had to drive around even longer before I found the parking garage.

I'd been pretty tired, and a little hung-over, during the drive up. But my arrival gave me some new energy. I was quite suddenly alert and starving. So I threw my shit into my room and I went to find the local Hard Rock. I already knew that it was close because of my pre-trip research. It turns out that it was inside a mall called The Tower Mall or some such. Here's a shitty picture I took inside the Hard Rock:

Cleveland Hard Rock

Oh yeah, here's one of he inside of the mall:

Cleveland Mall

After I'd had a mushroom cheeseburger and fries, and a souvenier glass full of Guinness, I bought myself a t-shirt and then went back to the hotel.

Here are some more pics I took:

Cleveland

Still Cleveland

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davefest report (night nineteen)

posted by dave at 10:00 AM in category daily, drink, pictures

First things first. Yesterday I had the first half of the day off work, but at noon I had to go to Churchill Downs for a work thing.

I guess I'm kind of anti-horseracing. It just seems a little cruel to me, especially when they use the whips. Maybe that makes me a pansy. I dunno.

Here's a picture I took:

Go Baby Go!

Anyway, that's how I spent the day Friday.

Friday night I was on my way to Rich O's, and I ran into VigilanteGirl in the parking lot at the GasNStuff. So I talked to her for a half-hour or so. This was quite disconcerting because she was looking very sexy. I displayed willpower that I didn't know I possessed by keeping my eyes locked on her own. Mostly. Drift was inevitable, and understandable, I think. Damn she's hot.

She bought a DaveFest shirt. That was nice of her.

So by the time I left GasNStuff, I was running late, but I still needed to eat something, so I stopped at the haunted Burger King for a quick meal.

While I was waiting for my food, my cousin Jeff called to let me know that he'd be coming by Rich O's later to get his DaveFest shirt.

When I finally arrived at the bar, it was crowded as fuck. A couple of PBDs were on the loveseat. ActualGeorge was at the kiddie table, and strangers and assholes were everywhere else. How could I tell the difference between strangers and assholes? I'm glad you asked. The assholes were the ones sitting on the sofa, eating, and drinking fucking water.

Water.

What a bunch of assholes.

Anyway, I stood at the end of the bar and had myself a yummy Rogue Chocolate Stout (576) and glared at the assholes. At one point I went and sat with ActualGeorge for a while but then WomanRepellant came in so I went back and stood with him.

It was pretty boring, but I didn't mind too much.

After a while the strangers left the island so WomanRepellant and I and some PBDs went and sat there.

My second beer was a half-pint of Rogue Smoke (100). I like that beer (another DaveFest selection) a lot, but I wanted to save room for more Chocolate Stout.

At about the time Jeff arrived, The PBDs were leaving the loveseat, so we went and sat there. Then the assholes left the sofa and the throne.

Yay!

I guess that was pretty much it. I gave Jeff his DaveFest shirt, and we sat and talked for the rest of the night. A couple of times somebody would come in and interrogate me about DaveFest, and I did my best to sound humble about the thing. But it's hard to be humble when you're me, I suppose. At least when you're me and people are wearing shirts with your likeness on the front.

Oh yeah, that one girl that looks like Ella came in and sat out front. With her was, I shit you not, the hottest girl who has ever sat foot in Rich O's. You could hear straining zippers all over the place as erections formed on every man there.

So the night was pretty tame. WomanRepellant joined Jeff and me in the living room, and I had a couple more Rogue Chocolate Stouts (616) before they started kicking everybody out of the place.

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davefest pics

posted by dave at 1:14 AM in category pictures

Talked to SassyGirl tonight. She's been laying low since JauntyGirl is out of town.

She sent me a shitload of pictures from the first night of DaveFest. Some of the pictures are suitable for public viewing.

Going clockwise, my sister Neisha, her husband Chris, my lovely self, my other sister Dina, her husband Kenny, DooRagGirl, and SassyGirl.

DaveFest

Pretty much the same people as before, with JauntyGirl added next to SassyGirl, and WheatDude and MisunderstoodGirl on the loveseat.

DaveFest

That's GlassesGirl talking to Neisha.

DaveFest

DooRagGirl got fucked up.

DaveFest

SassyGirl trying to embarrass me.

DaveFest

Shortly after this picture was taken, things got out of hand. Sexual harrassment took place. I liked it.

DaveFest

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yikes!

posted by dave at 6:56 PM in category pictures, weather

Yikes!

I drove into this loveliness on my way home from work this evening.

I wish I had a wide-angle option on my phone. The sky was incredible.

Somehow, the lack of lightning made it even scarier.

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uncanny

posted by dave at 11:15 AM in category family, pictures

My sister Neisha sent me this picture of us siblings.

whatever

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davefest report (night five)

posted by dave at 7:47 AM in category drink, pictures

Ugh.

How, I wonder, do you get a hangover without being drunk the night before?

I dunno, but I seem to have stumbled upon the secret.

Too bad I still don't have a clue what that secret might be. Maybe when the cobwebs clear out of my head.

Anyway, last night the DaveFest t-shirts were to be delivered, so I made a rare Wednesday night appearance at Rich O's, arriving at 7:00.

Some stranger was eating in the living room area, so I sat at the island and had myself a Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier (1021). After a short while, some old lady showed up and sat across from me. I decided that the lesser of two evils was the eating guy, so I picked up my shit and moved to the loveseat.

TShirtDude arrived at about 7:45 with my shirts.

Yay!

I put one on almost immediately, then I sold one almost immediately to one of the PBDs sitting at the bar. I'd kinda been hoping that HatGirl would buy the first one, but we don't always get what we want.

HatGirl (yay!) did come in a little after 8:00 to drink a beer and buy a shirt. It's always nice to see HatGirl, but seeing her wearing a DaveFest shirt was positively sublime.

My second beer was a Piraat (165).

Let's see, I also hung a shirt on the wall so people would know they're for sale:

DaveFest Shirt

After HatGirl left the place got really boring really quickly, but I stuck around anyway and had a couple of Newcastles (2100) and talked to TShirtDude and some guy from some website for a while.

And tonight I get to do it all over again, except I think I'll skip the Piraat.

Ugh.

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davefest report (night one, part two)

posted by dave at 1:45 PM in category drink, pictures

(continued)

The first two arrivals besides myself were TallLady and UplandWheatDude. I sat in the throne and talked with them for a bit until the floodgates opened up and people started flocking to the area. Before too long, the scene looked like this:

DaveFest people

Let's see, going from left to right: My sister Neisha's hand, UplandWheatDude, My lovely self, MisunderstoodGirl, my sister Dina, Dina's husband Kenny, DooRagGirl, SassyGirl, and TacoBell. Just off-camera to the left was GlassesGirl, and off-camera elsewhere were MusicalHippyDude, TallLady, HornDog, and Neisha's husband Chris.

Notably absent when this picture was taken were HatGirl and LuckyFucker. They didn't show up until later.

Oh yeah, and EwokGirl and her posse were all out sitting in the loser section:

EwokGirl and posse

My sisters and their husbands all feel left out because they don't have fancy nicknames. I've been giving this some thought, and so maybe they'll get some before too long. We'll see.

The biggest surprise of the night, for me, was definitely the appearance of MisunderstoodGirl, who has been absent from my life for over six months now. I was so excited to see her that I leaped out of my chair and pretty much threw myself at her.

Let's see, my second beer was a Goose Island Honkers Ale (94). It seemed a little flat to me.

A grand time was had by all I think. One of the reasons that Roger chose me for this honor is that my beer tastes aren't too extreme. So everyone was able to find something that they liked. Even Neisha.

My third beer was a Weihehstephaner Hefeweissbier (1001).

I'm having a tough time figuring out what to write here. I guess I'll think about it some more. I've got to go to Dina's wedding reception now anyway.

(to be continued)

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davefest report (night one, part one)

posted by dave at 12:07 PM in category drink, pictures

The hard part about writing this will be remembering what the fuck I had to drink.

But wait!

I wrote it all down!

So I guess the next hardest thing will be remembering who all showed up.

But wait!

There are pictures!

Maybe the hard part will be writing something that does justice to how much fun I had. Especially since I don't have much time to write anything. I've got to go to my sister's wedding reception before too long.

Oh, and I must buy cat food first.

For my cats, not for the reception. How white-trash do you think we are?

I took a day of vacation Friday, mainly to make sure that I could get my sleep schedule back on track, but also to play the new Half Life 2: Episode One game. I managed both feats, so it was worth it.

I left my house at about 5:30 and stopped by GasNStuff for some provisions.

VigilanteGirl was there!

Yay!

I hadn't seen her since she left for her new job, and I actually hadn't seen too much of her in the weeks before that. She's as pretty as ever. I invited her to DaveFest though I knew very well that she wouldn't come. It was nice to see her though.

Went to Wendy's for dinner, passing up the haunted Burger King because I didn't want my mood to be spoiled. Plus, I like Wendy's. So there.

I got to Rich O's very early for me, at a little after 6:00. My first evidence that this whole thing is real and not some kind of sick joke was the front door:

DaveFest front door

They probably scared some customers away with that sign.

The next evidence came in the form of the beer board:

DaveFest beer board

The DaveFest beers are the ones with the logo next to their listings.

Finally, this is the sign that announced that the living room area was reserved for me and my group:

DaveFest reserved sign

Now, having 10 of my favorite beers on tap at the same time presents a bit of a logistical problem. Especially when I start drinking before 7:00. I knew that I'd have to really pace myself if I was going to make it through the night. So I resolved to only have half-pints, and I also resolved to start out with the lower alcohol selections.

Accordingly, my first selection was a Two Brothers Domain DuPage French Style Country Ale (210), or "that frenchy beer" as I like to call it, just to save time. I hadn't had this in a couple of years. It was yummy of course. As good I remembered.

(to be continued)

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how cool is this?

posted by dave at 10:43 PM in category pictures

real not real

On the left, my lovely self, trying to make SassyGirl regret taking my picture.

On the right, the DaveFest t-shirt design.

Uncanny, isn't it?

I could have done without the jowls, but I've got my likeness on a t-shirt, and that's more than I ever thought would happen to little old me.

If you don't know what all this is about, you can go here and read Roger's explanation.

I'm going to be all famous and shit.

T-shirts will be available over the Internet to any of my readers that have nothing else to wear. When I find out pricing I'll post it. I'll pay for shipping on Internet orders.

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how to waste gas

posted by dave at 3:44 PM in category drink, pictures, travel

It's been a pretty fantastic weekend here, weather-wise.

I realized this fact yesterday, after RockGirl's incoming email woke me up at the crack of noon, and I made the momentous (for me anyway) decision to (a) get off my ass, (b) leave my house, and (c) maybe even go someplace.

But where?

Why, Madison, Indiana of course.

But why?

Because they were having some festival or such and the NABC had a booth and they had Cone Smoker with them. And, you know, if there's anything better than drinking a Cone Smoker, it would have to be drinking a Cone Smoker in Madison.

Right?

So, basically, it gave me something to do. It also gave me a reason to take my new digital camera.

I've never been to Madison. It's about an hour up river from New Albany. I took the "scenic route" which so-named, as far as I can figure, because it's curvier than the other route.

After I'd driven for 45 minutes or so, my phone started vibrating. It was Awesome Larry, an old pool-playing friend from Omaha. So I pulled off into this ice cream place and talked with Larry for 15 minutes or so.

I know, this is boring.

When I was almost to Madison, I passed the entrance to Clifty Falls State Park. Hey! I didn't know that was by Madison! I'd gone there once as a kid with Boy Scouts or something and I remembered that it had been pretty cool, so I postponed going to the festival thingy, turned around, and went into the park.

I paid $5 to get in. I think I want my $5 back.

When I was a kid we'd been able to climb these stairs all the way down into the canyon. Then we'd been able to actually walk behind the falls. It was awesome.

Remember that scene from "The Last of the Mohicans" where they're all behind that waterfall while the bad guys are chasing them? It used to be kinda like that, except without as much water, and without people in funny wigs shooting at you.

But that was then. It was very cool.

Now, it's pretty much the exact opposite of cool.

Now, you can't do shit.

The stairs leading down to the base of the falls are gone. As near as I can tell the only ways to actually see the falls are to either jump and get a good look before you splatter onto the rocks, or hike approximately 8,764 miles up though the creek.

No thanks.

* drumroll *

And now, without further delay, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Clifty Falls!

Ooooooh!

What's that? You can't see shit?

Okay, I'll move over to the left and zoom in a little.

Ahhhhhh!

And that's all you can see. The falls are like 60 feet tall but you can only see the first few feet, and even that I don't think is the real falls.

It's not even impressive enough to make you want to pee.

So I didn't pee. I just left.

On the way back out of the park I stopped at this one overlook place and took a couple of pictures to test out the 12x optical zoom on my camera. Here's the normal shot:

not zoomed

And here's the zoomed shot:

zoomed

Pretty cool. If there was a naked chick over there by that thingy, I'd totally be able to see her boobies!

But there were no boobies to be seen, so I left the park and continued my original journey into Madison.

zzzzzzzzzz

This was the street down by the river where this festival was supposed to be going on. There were about 50 people there. I stopped by the beer tent and had a Cone Smoker (1796) in a plastic cup and talked to Roger.

Then I drove back home.

All in all, I'd say that the day was more interesting than doing laundry would have been, but not by much.

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there is no god...

posted by dave at 5:42 PM in category general, pictures

...and I have proof.

After I got home from Madison this afternoon, after I finished my dinner, I went downstairs to shoot some pool.

And I tripped over this:

Luckily, I seem to have killed it by tripping over it. Otherwise I'd have had to move out of my house.

I dropped the pool ball on it just in case.

Yep, it's dead.

Now I have to find my shovel so I can dispose of the thing.

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thursdays are boring

posted by dave at 2:11 AM in category drink, pictures

I went to Rich O's after work today for a Cone Smoker (1770), and PhotoDude told me about this:

blackboard

That's the blackboard over at the Sportstime side of things. Nothing written on the Rich O's side yet, but maybe they've decided to go with neon, or maybe a blimp.

Dancing girls would be cool too.

---

I found a picture today that makes me sad. This is good timing because the picture that I used to use for that purpose only makes me happy now.

I'm weird, I know.

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i now pronounce them sister and brother-in-law

posted by dave at 5:11 PM in category family, pictures

Yesterday my sister Dina finally married Kenny.

It was originally going to be a nice quiet affair in Dina's back yard, but because of the rain, it ended up being more like a Keystone Kops skit, with 8,000,000 or so people all crammed into Dina's living room.

I filmed the thing, as best as I could, with Dina's camcorder, then I took a few pictures with my cellphone. One of the latter is this one:

Mmmmm, cake

I left the rest of the picture taking to the other 7,999,999 people.

Also, because of the weather, the happy couple decided to postpone the reception and leave for their honeymoon early.

Guess when they're doing the reception now?

June 3rd.

Right at the beginning of DaveFest.

It'll probably come down to a coin flip for me. DaveFest is a huge honor, and not one I intent to take lightly.

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weekend beer report

posted by dave at 7:30 PM in category drink, pictures

Friday night was kind of a bust.

The place seemed more crowded than it was, mainly because of the presence of certain assholes.

I sat at the bar and had myself a Founder's Black Rye (32). I was pretty sure that I'd had this before, but the bartender didn't remember them carrying it. Well, I was right - I've had it before and I liked it okay.

Then some bullshit happened.

Then this one douchebag finally left the island so I moved my shit away from this one asshole and sat up there.

Coincidentally, or maybe on purpose, Rich O's also had Founder's Red Rye on tap. So I had one of those next (100). It was pretty good.

After a while, WomanRepellant came in and sat with me. Then some other people came and sat with us. Then some other people came and stood around us.

I was feeling pretty claustrophobic, and plus for some reason those two beers were going straight to my head.

So I went home.

On Saturday, SassyGirl called to see if I wanted to go over to the Cumberland Brewpub. Well, duh. Of course I did. They have such a yummy porter there.

I braved the weekend Bardstown Road traffic and met SassyGirl at about 6:30. I'd actually gotten lucky and I got to park right in front of the place. This is different than usual, when I have to park on Mars and then walk the rest of the way. So Yay!

I had a burger and fries, and a couple of yummy Cumberland Nitro Porters (160) while SassyGirl and I caught up on what's been happening since we last saw each other. We also talked about stuff like how her gaydar is quite accurate and mine sucks. I guess that makes sense though.

There was a chick at the bar that I thought was hot, and I was sure that SassyGirl would think so as well, but she once again baffled me by going, "Ehhh."

When we left Cumberland we went down the road a little to this place called Willy's. I'd never been there before, but I'd heard that they had a lot of beer on tap.

Well that part was true. Here's a picture of some of their 68 taps:

Taps at Willy's

Pretty impressive, but also quite hard to read all those taps. Luckily they had a beer menu so we checked it out.

Proving once again that great minds think alike, except when it comes to which girls are hot, we chose the same beer:

Bert Grant's Perfect Porter (24)

(draft) I guess this place has gone out of business. Hmmm, I wonder how long this beer has been sitting in the keg. The first thing I noticed was that it was quite thin. Like water. It took me a long time to figure out how to describe the flavor. That's because there was nothing. It was all roasted malt. I think I'd have liked this better if it wasn't so old-tasting.

Seriously, the beer compared to a porter the way a 7up compares to a Coke. The underlying structure was there, but it wasn't holding anything up. Plus, it had an extremely watery mouthfeel.

SassyGirl had to get ready for work, so we left Willy's at about 9:00. I took this picture of the dance floor on the way out:

Where is Willy?

Apparently there's a giant iguana that lives under there. Those are Mannequins of The Blues Brothers. Weird.

So I dropped SassyGirl back off at her truck and headed back to Indiana.

First thing I did, because I was in a mischievous mood, was go to Buckhead's. I didn't really plan to heckle my friend who recently started working there, but I wasn't feeling averse to making her think I was going to heckle her. For a minutes anyway.

Well, she wasn't there, but sometimes shit happens even when it's not the shit you were expecting.

MixedSignalGirl was there.

I was walking around the bar, looking at all the waitresses to see if my friend was working, and I nearly ran into MixedSignalGirl. She'd been walking around the bar, in the opposite.direction, looking for me.

Okay, to be fair, she wasn't quite looking for me. Just wondering if I was there. Well, I was. And so was she.

We spent a good few minutes joking about how fate had once again thrown us together. That's kind of a theme with us.

But she couldn't stay. She'd ordered food for herself and the asshole, so we went our separate ways.

It was still early, so I went to Rich O's next.

The place was actually pretty dead. I loved it. I sat at the bar and had a Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier (873) and talked for a bit with ElPresidente.

Once the PBDs cleared out, I had a bit of an episode. I looked at this...

Empty

...and felt a little nostalgic. Okay, a lot nostalgic.

Luckily that wave of emotion passed through me quickly, and I felt fine after that. I came home and shot some pool until about 4:00.

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st. louis saturday, part two (saturday beer report, part one)

posted by dave at 9:41 PM in category drink, pictures, travel

Everybody told me that I just had to go to Schlafly's bar slash brewery.

So I did.

I went there at around four I think. I drove myself, figuring that I could always take a cab back to the hotel if the situation warranted.

It's a pretty big place, and at first I thought they might be closed because the parking lot was almost completely empty. Inside was almost empty too. There were just two people sitting at the bar. Some dude and some lady.

I recognized the dude!

It was EvilLou, a pool player I know from my days on the rec.sport.billiard newsgroup and also from the Derby City Classic.

Man what a small world it is.

Of course I knew that EvilLou lived in St. Louis so I guess I shouldn't have been that surprised. I, on the other hand, surprised the shit out of him.

So I sat at the bar and talked with EvilLou and his wife while I had some beer.

Schlafly's Hefeweizen (20)

It's always a crap shoot as to whether a hefeweizen is in the true German style or the crappy American style. This was American, so I didn't like it. As with most beers, however, this did get better as the glass got emptier. By the end, it was passable. This is not the beer's fault - I just don't like the style.

Here's the only picture I took inside this place:

Schlafly's

My next beer was much better:

Schlafly's Scotch Ale (20)

More malty than other Scotch Ales I've tried, and that extra maltiness was needed to help mask the alcohol. A very good beer.

EvilLou and his wife left while I was drinking that last beer, so when I looked at the beer list and saw nothing interesting at all, I decided to head over to another brewpub.

The place I went to was called the Square One brewpub.

Square One Brewpub

I guess they're affiliated with the Augusta brewery because all of the coasters were from that place.

I had myself some yummy beer-battered chicken tenders, and a beer sampler tray. They had a Belgian Red listed, and that sounded intriguing, but the waitress said they were out. Oh well.

Square One Nut Brown Ale (6)

Pretty good. Malty with a hint of cola to balance it out. A lot like Goose Island Hex Nut Brown Ale.

Square One California Common (2)

Hoppy and malty, with a bitter finish. Common is a very good name for this beer - there are a zillion just like it, and I don't like any of them.

Square One Bavarian Weizen (6)

The aroma is fantastic, as is the flavor. Maybe a bit more mellow than other German-style wheats. A very good beer.

Square One Stout (6)

A typical dry stout. Nothing wrong with it at all but nothing great either. Quite roasty, and better than average I suppose.

I had myself another of the Weizens (26) and that was it for me for a while.

I ended up taking a cab back to the hotel.

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st. louis saturday, part one (the arch)

posted by dave at 9:04 PM in category pictures, travel

Saturday morning I was, remarkably, not hung-over.

I know you were all worried.

I had a 12:40 ticket to go up in the arch, but I woke up at about 8:00, so I spent some time walking around downtown St. Louis looking for something to eat. I was really craving an omelet and sausage, but I settled for Burger King. It was good though.

At around 10:00 I walked down to the arch. I took more pictures. The sky was really cool looking. Even my crappy cellphone camera did a good job.

edge-on

This is my favorite picture out off all of the ones I took. This was looking straight up at the arch while I was standing in the security line.

straight up

If you've never been under the arch before, there's a whole Westward expansion museum down there. It's pretty cool, and I don't understand why I didn't take any pictures. I just dicked around for an hour or so while I waited for 12:40 to arrive.

I was pretty excited to be finally going up in the thing. I must have visited the arch a dozen times in my life, but I never went up in it before.

At about 12:20, I got in line. The chick that was checking everybody's tickets looked at me and asked me if I was alone. I said, "Yes I am. Hard to believe, isn't it?"

That's one of my standard jokes.

Then ArchGirl told me that they had an opening for a single in the trams that were leaving next, so she gave me a red boarding pass and I got to walk right by all those other suckers and go join the group that was just getting ready to board.

I really had no idea what to expect. I mean, I knew enough to know that regular elevators would not be able to negotiate the curve of the arch, but I guess I was expecting something that at least looked like an elevator from the inside.

Nope.

What they do is, they have you climb through these tiny doors into these tiny compartments. It must be an awful lot like climbing into a front-loading washing machine would be. Sharing compartment #5 with me were some dude and his two cute daughters. In compartment #6 was the guy's wife and their four other kids. Wow.

The littlest girl kept asking her dad if she was going to be "sceered." It was the most adorable thing I'd ever heard.

Her father told her that she might get a little "sceered" once the thing turned upside-down. That was funny.

I didn't take any pictures of the capsule thingies either. I don't know why. I guess I was just too excited.

The ride up was pretty cool. There were tiny windows in the tiny doors and I could look out and see the staircase that people had to use back in the olden days. Actually I think the stairs looked like fun. I wish they'd have given us the option of taking them on the way down, but they said that the stairs were only for emergencies.

After about a four-minute ride, we reached the top.

Yay!

The observation deck is pretty small, and this chick to the left didn't help matters.

inside the observation deck

Of course I took pictures out the windows of the thing:

the city form the arch

the river from the arch

This next one is looking straight down:

straight down

A British guy asked me to take a picture of him and his wife, so I did. Then I asked if they'd take mine, so he did. An added bonus in this picture is BritishGuy's finger:

inside the arch

Another thing that was funny was that I told the little girl who'd been in my capsule with me that the maintenance hatches in the floor were actually trap doors. Her sister asked me why on Earth they'd put trap doors in the arch, and her dad piped in with, "They let people bungee jump through them. Didn't I tell you? We jump in ten minutes."

Both girls ran screaming to their mother.

On the way back down I had to share a capsule with the fat chick from the picture up above. That's karma for you.

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st. louis friday, part three (friday beer report)

posted by dave at 8:06 PM in category drink, pictures, travel

Friday night after the game I hailed a cab and took it to this Growlers place that I'd heard about.

Growlers Pub

It's easy to get to: You just go to the Moon and then take a left.

That means that it's pretty far away from downtown. The cab ride cost me forty bucks with tip.

Anyway, I did something kind of stupid, but there was just no way I could have known.

I sat at the bar.

There was a constant crowd of people standing all around me, leaning all over me as they tried to get the bartender's attention to order their drinks. I got extremely claustrophobic and I actually started regretting my decision to come to the place.

But I had to justify that forty buck cab fare, so I drank.

The place has a pretty impressive beer menu, both in selection and in price. The selection part is a good thing. The price part is not so good. They charged $8.50 for a bottle of Delirium Tremens. That's just ridiculous.

But I wasn't going to be drinking bottled beer anyway, so no skin off my back. I checked out the draft selections. There were maybe 30 beers on tap, almost all of which I've had before at one time or another. There was nothing that really jumped out at me, so I just had myself a Newcastle (1856).

The place was a freaking madhouse!

a madhouse I tell you!

While I had my Newcastle I kept looking around for a more private place to site, and eventually one of the tables opened up, so I hightailed it over there. I had that table to myself for maybe five seconds before three people joined me. I'll call them OriginalDude, PlayaDude, and SweetAssGirl. These three ended up being my companions for the rest of the evening.

My second beer was a Fat Tire (105). I hadn't had this in a long time. It was good.

The three of us sat around for a while and talked. They all knew each other but obviously they didn't know me. I told them about my Easter trip custom and shit like that.

My third beer was another Fat Tire (125).

Here's the view from where I was sitting. Those are barrels up there. It's kind of hard to tell though.

Growlers Pub Barrels

So, as near as I can figure it, OriginalDude and SweetAssGirl have been friends for like their entire lives. OriginalDude is clearly in love with her, but SweetAssGirl is either clueless about that fact or she's just choosing to ignore it. She actually spent most of the night either flirting with me or with PlayaDude.

Towards the end, PlayaDude was falling victim to SweetAssGirl's charms much more readily than I was, so I spent most of my time talking with OriginalDude.

My fourth beer was a Guinness (1217).

At one point these four chicks joined us. I think they knew SweetAssGirl and OriginalDude from before. One of them was quite pretty - she actually looked a lot like this girl.

Oh yeah, I had myself some very yummy blackened chicken quesadillas.

My fifth beer was a Diet Coke. I cut myself off after that Guinness.

I guess Missouri must have some draconian blue laws in place, because the place was still packed as shit when they did last call and eventually kicked us all out.

The cab back to the hotel cost me another forty bucks.

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st. louis friday, part two (the game)

posted by dave at 6:39 PM in category entertainment, pictures, travel

After I left Morgan Street, it was time to hit the Cardinal's new park for the game.

It was fun. I always like going to games. Of course the Cards lost, but I guess technically I'm supposed to be more of a Reds fan anyway. I didn't tell anyone that though. I even bought a Cardinals cap.

Anyway, I took some pictures.

outside Busch Stadium

my hotel and the arch

view from my seat

play ball!

The new park is a pretty confusing place. Parts of it are like a maze. I think it might be my least favorite of the new parks I've been to as far as getting around goes, but it's got a lot more character than the new parks in Cincinnati or Chicago, so I like it.

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st. louis friday, part one

posted by dave at 6:21 PM in category drink, pictures, travel

Both Friday and Saturday were quite busy, so I'll be breaking this trip report up into several entries. Otherwise it's just seems like too daunting a task and I'd probably never get to it.

So, Friday afternoon. I checked into my hotel. It seemed like a cool place at first.

a hollow hotel

I wonder if anyone has ever dove in from the ninth floor

But I quickly discovered that the "free Internet access in every room" was simply a myth to lure in customers. I had no signal in my room, and when I called them to complain they basically told me that I was SOL, and why not just take my laptop down to the lobby? There's a strong signal there.

So that sucked, but I wasn't supposed to be sitting at my computer all weekend anyway.

Once I'd checked in, I took off down the hill to see the arch. Should that be capitalized?

The Arch?

I dunno. Or care.

view from the arch grounds

I took a shitload of arch pictures. I'm only going to post a few though. You'll thank me later.

hey look! it's an arch!

This next one is semi-interesting. This was the first time I'd touched the arch in twenty years or so. I didn't cry though.

look ladies, no ring!

As I'd expected, the ride to the top was completely sold out, so I bought a ticket for 12:40 on Saturday. Then I walked over to Laclede's Landing to check out this Morgan Street Brewpub place. Behold my photographic prowess.

I don't remember it being that blurry

While I was at Morgan Street I figured what the heck, I'll have some beer.

Morgan Street Honey Wheat (4)

The bartender didn't know if it was a German-style or and American-style wheat, so I just had a sampler glass. It's American-style, so I didn't like it. The honey was not apparent except that the usual hop bitterness I find in this style was not there. Bland and boring.

The bartender said that it was their most popular beer by a wide margin. This did not bode well.

I also had a sample of this Winter Lager stuff (4) which I'll get to in a minute.

Morgan Street Irish Stout (16)

Fucking yummy and chocolately and yummy. Whoever says that there's no good beer at Laclede's Landing is an idiot. This beer was worth the trip all by itself.

Morgan Street Dopplebock (4)

Quite boring and generic. No hint at all of the strangeness that I usually associate with this style. I see no point to even making this beer.

Morgan Street Winter Lager (20)

Despite the name, this is an oatmeal stout aged in used Jack Daniel's barrels. The bartender says that every beer in the place is "lager-style" which to me means yeast. Whatever they call it, this beer is yummy.

I really wanted to talk to the brewer to see if the bartender was full of shit about the "lager-style" stuff. But he is apparently out of town. I have to ask some of the homebrewing PBDs at Rich O's.

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more bonus pictures

posted by dave at 7:02 AM in category pictures

SassyGirl finally managed to send me these pics she took Saturday night:

This was before they made me put on the hat.

Me and SassyGirl. The hat was her idea.

SassyBoy joined us for the next picture.

Then SassyBoy's boyfriend joined us.

This me trying to look like I really don't know what happened to the hat.

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bonus picture

posted by dave at 7:46 AM in category pictures

Me and SassyGirl acting like idiots Saturday night.

Me and SassyGirl

There were many more pictures taken. The others she must have deemed too hideous to send me.

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saturday beer report

posted by dave at 11:57 AM in category drink, pictures

Last night was SassyGirl's party. Of course I went.

I only knew a handful of the people there, but I think that's part of the appeal of the thing. I don't know them, and they don't know me. It usually takes a while for people to figure out how fucked up I am.

Here are some people I didn't know. The King Kong Bundy guy I have seen at Rich O's before though.

strangers

SassyBoy, TacoBell, and SassyGirl hamming it up for the camera. SassyBoy got fucked up.

hamming it up
hamming it up more

SassyGirl had a keg of some NABC beer (I think it was the Bob's Old 15B Porter), but I took my own stuff. I had three bottles of Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier (799) and a bottle of Baltika 6 (324) plus a sip or two of Panil Barrique (10), which I'd brought for SassyGirl.

It was fun I suppose, but (surprise!) I'm not much of a party person. For me the fun part is watching everybody act like fools. I also spent a lot of time trying to convince SassyGirl's cat that I wasn't going to torture and kill and eat it.

here kitty kitty

I got bored and left at about 12:30.

Then, as is usual, I got sad on the drive home because I couldn't help but think about how the last time I was ever happy was driving home from a party at SassyGirl's house back in 2004, with LaptopGirl beside me I think I need to find a different route to take home the next time.

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danger! do not open!

posted by dave at 3:10 PM in category pictures

box

This was spotted with the rest of our incoming mail at work today.

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paco

posted by dave at 4:09 AM in category drink, pictures

Paco the Alpaca

Here's a picture of Paco the Alpaca, brought to me all the way from Peru by SassyGirl.

Paco is admiring my second yummy bottle of Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier (606).

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haunted

posted by dave at 1:28 PM in category pictures, ramblings

burger king

On Grant Line Road, in New Albany Indiana, just South of I-265, there is a Burger King. Just like uncountable Burger Kings scattered all over creation. You either like the food, or you don't. You either like the convenience, or you feel that it's too high a price to pay for what places like that do to local mom and pop restaurants. You certainly don't go there for the atmosphere and the ambience.

At least most people don't go there for those things.

I'm not like most people. And, to me, that Burger King on Grant Line Road is not like most Burger Kings.

To me, that place is haunted.

Not haunted the way Rich O's is, with memories of better times, and a sparkling presence that sits beside me when I feel alone, and a million reminders of what was, and a million more reminders of what might have been.

Nope, not like that at all. That Burger King is haunted by me.

For that Burger King, on Grant Line Road, in New Albany Indiana, just South of I-265, in the third parking spot on the right when you pull in, that's where I died. That's where pieces of my shattered heart fell onto the pavement on that night back in October 2004. That's where my long scream began. That's where the echoes of that scream are the loudest.

When I go there, I always park in that same spot if it's available. It usually is. Like it's waiting for me.

I remember, back in Junior High, walking through the field at Gettysburg during a field trip, and imagining all of those that had perished there. Trying to pick up any sensations from souls that might still linger around that blood-soaked ground.

I wasn't able, back then, to feel anything out of the ordinary. Maybe that's because it just didn't seem real to me, and I had no connection to those poor soldiers, and it had all happened so long ago. Or maybe there was truly nothing there to feel. Maybe it's all a bunch of mumbo jumbo.

Maybe this is simply my imagination, yet another manifestation of my unwillingness to let all this go. Maybe this is just another symptom of my insanity.

But whatever. When I pull into that parking spot, I feel something there. Something that carries me back to that night and forces me to relive it.

I don't struggle, when my ghost bullies me like that. It's actually kind of nice, in a weird way.

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messed up

posted by dave at 6:23 AM in category pictures

overhead view

Okay, so the house in the lower left is mine, and the house in the upper left - two houses up from me - that house isn't there any more.

Pretty messed up.

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much better

posted by dave at 4:06 AM in category comics, pictures

that's more like it

go me, it's my birthday!

I don't know why the picture turned out so small. I guess the guy that took the picture messed something up.

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early birthday present

posted by dave at 2:01 AM in category comics, pictures

Yay!

That's right, suckers! I got a new rock for my birthday! And this one I get to keep!

Ha ha!

So, ha ha!

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a small price

posted by dave at 1:12 AM in category drink, pictures, ramblings

This entry brought to you by:

Zinnebir XMas (25)

(bottle) The aroma was almost overpowering at first, but after that it was difficult to even detect. The flavor was mild and tasty. It was kind of strange to pull a cork from a bottle of beer and find something this generic inside. Good, but not great.

I'm not complaining.

Really, I'm not.

I did this to myself, on purpose, with full awareness of what it was going to do to my mood. I knew what was going to happen, and I did it anyway. For several reasons. Eight or so that I've mentioned publicly, and at least one that I've kept private. I did it because it was necessary.

So I'm not complaining.

Just observing.

Observing that this can, and has, picked up exactly where it left off. I sort of thought that it might have faded a little bit after so many months. I sort of thought that, like a two-liter bottle of Coke, that things might have gone a little flat despite being so tightly capped.

Didn't happen.

The only thing that's different, the only thing that's different this time is that I seem to be able to withstand it better than I did before.

Which is, of course, not saying much, because before I couldn't withstand it at all. Because before, it was killing me.

Now, I think I just might survive. Whatever that means. However I might define who I am. What I am.

Lonely.

Heartbroken.

Empty.

Pussy.

But you know, that's okay. It's nice to feel something again. It's nice to just let things wash over me again. It's nice to just let these emotions flow through me and dictate my moods. It takes all the pressure off my brain when I let my heart run things for a while.

I'd thought that, once I'd proven my point, that I'd put those corks back in. I'd thought that, once I'd reassured myself that what was truly important to me hadn't changed one fucking bit, that I'd bottle these feelings back up and get on with my life again.

And therein lay the problem with my great plan. There might not be a life to get on with.

I once wrote these words:

For he died in the depths, and he was reborn in the depths. Without their cold embrace he cannot exist.

The he referred to was, of course, my lovely self.

You know what? I miss her. I have no reasonable rationale for still missing her after all this time. I have no justifiable excuse for what happened to me when she left. I have no logical explanation for how these feelings can still flow through me so strongly.

And right now, right now I don't want any of those things.

Right now, I just want to lie back, and remember, and imagine, and wish, and smile, and hope, and cry, and long, and laugh, and wait, and dread, and hurt, and love.

What's a little insomnia if it gives me all that? That's a pretty small price to pay, if you ask me.

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evil update

posted by dave at 8:50 PM in category general, pictures

Because I'm on this poll again over at Ella's journal, I figured that I'd post some pictures.

I also owe you an evil update.

So I'll kill both birds with one stone.

I'm all efficient and shit.

Tonight I was downstairs making a little practice video for myself, and when I was finish with that, I took advantage of the camera and the lighting to check out my evilness.

muhaha
muhaha
muhaha
muhaha

I guess I'll keep it for a while longer. It's still got some filling in to do.

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tuesday beer report

posted by dave at 10:02 PM in category daily, drink, pictures

I don't know where to start this entry.

At the beginning seems like the logical place, but it just doesn't read correctly in my head.

Oh well, I'm going to start at the beginning anyway.

I took the day off work today. One hour of sleep just wasn't going to cut it. I had some comp time coming to me from having to work all day Sunday. I'd planned to use that to have my birthday off, but there was no way I could have gone into work today, so I used my comp time a month early.

Anyway, I didn't do fuck all day long, really. I slept until 11:30 or so, then dicked around on the computer and downstairs on the pool table.

At 2:30 or so, SassyGirl invited me to meet her at Rich O's after work.

Little did she know, I wasn't even at work. Muhaha.

Since I had laundry going, I agreed to meet her at 4:00.

Once there, I had myself a half an Upland Winter Warmer (120). Why just the half-glass? Because I'd decided that I'd go ahead and buy myself some new glasses. So I'd called in to LensCrafters ahead of time to make sure that they had everything in stock, and I figured I'd go there and pick up my glasses after Rich O's.

Since LensCrafters has glasses in about an hour, I had an hour to kill between the time I got my pupils measured and the time I'd be able to pick up my new glasses. To kill that time, I invited SassyGirl to go to Red Lobster with me (it's right across the street from the mall) and she agreed.

Let's see, during dinner SassyGirl's phone rang, and she saw that it was TrainGirl, so she handed me the phone so I could answer. TrainGirl didn't recognize my voice, not that I can fault her for that.

Also, with my dinner, I had a glass of Blue Moon (210). I'd remembered to asked for an unchilled glass, but I forgot about the fruit garnish so they put a fucking orange wedge in the thing. I guess I got it out before it completely ruined the beer, because it tasted okay.

After we left Red Lobster we went back to get my glasses. Here they are:

new glasses

And here are the old ones:

old glasses

After that we went back to Rich O's.

While there, I had myself an NABC Old Lightning Rod (110), and later a half-glass of Guinness (1040). DooRagGirl came in and sat at the kiddie table and talked to me for a while. She kindof noticed my new glasses, but only because I'd taken them off and was waving them in her face.

Tonight didn't feel at all like a Tuesday night, but it was. I do have to work tomorrow, so I came home early.

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friday beer report

posted by dave at 1:46 PM in category drink, pictures

Man, what a difference a day makes!

The past two nights had been pretty much unbearable at Rich O's, but Friday night was pretty decent. Good in fact.

I arrived a little after 7:00. It was pouring down rain. There were some strangers scattered around but the living room area was empty except for DooRagGirl and LaptopGirl's ex, who I will start calling WheatDude for reasons that should be obvious.

I ordered an Upland Chocolate Stout (180) and enjoyed that while marveling at our ability to have an actual discussion without having to shout. Mostly we just talked about how pleasant it was. I also made a couple of beer recommendations to WheatDude.

A little before 8:00 HatGirl called me, I guess because DooRagGirl's phone was broken. She wasn't sure if she was going to come in. I handed my phone to DooRagGirl so she could talk some sense into her friend, then I crossed my fingers and toes and eyes.

It worked! DooRagGirl went to pick her up.

Let's see, I talked with SassyGirl. She was on her way for a quick drink or two before work. That's okay though - she just drives zillion-ton trains for a living. But you don't have to steer them.

At about the time DooRagGirl came back with HatGirl I was finishing my second Upland (200), and I'd started my third (220).

I took the girls over to see the port tasting party going on in the new area:

Oooooooh, fancy!

We were very quiet, so as not to startle the port people.

From my fourth Upland, I only drank about half the glass (230). This was because I'd had the brilliant idea of having an Alaskan Smoked Porter put on ice for later. Everybody wanted to try what I'd been touting as one of the world's best beers, so I let everybody have a sip.

I think they all liked it - especially DooRagGirl who tried to steal my glass.

I feel the need to interject here that I'm probably going to have to have a talk with WheatDude. Just because a girl is in a slightly bad mood, that does not mean that she's "ripe for the picking," as he so crassly suggested. Plus I'm a gentleman.

Once WheatDude had left, and SassyGirl had left, and these other two people who are friends of SassyBoy had left, it was just Me, DooRagGirl, and HatGirl. I moved over to the throne and HatGirl moved over to the loveseat. It was like I was in a little cocoon made of hot girls. Hot girls with boyfriends, as I'd had to remind WheatDude several times.

At one point I started craving Steak N Shake, and I decided that I was going. This extra driving meant that I had to cut my drinking off a little early. DooRagGirl was more than happy to relieve me of the last of my Alaskan Smoked Porter (238).

I had a couple Diet Cokes. HatGirl wanted to go to Steak N Shake. DooRagGirl didn't want to go unless her boyfriend could get off work, so I ended up taking HatGirl in my truck. Good thing I'd just given it its annual cleaning.

Well Steak N Shake was a bust, and we ended up going to Denny's instead. This was the first time I'd been in this particular Denny's since about a zillion years ago when I took SpoonsGirl there. The food was yummy, the company was charming.

I dropped HatGirl off at her house and managed to find my way out of that maze of streets, then I came home and dicked around until a little after 4:00.

I've got a couple of days to try to get my sleep schedule back to normal, or Tuesday morning is going to really suck.

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evil update

posted by dave at 12:52 PM in category daily, pictures

Well my initial plan was to try this evil thing for a month and see if it worked out.

My own opinion is that it isn't working. My hair is just so damn fair you can hardly tell it's there. And there are still some gaps around the edges that I'm not convinced are ever going to fill in. There's also a bit of a symmetry problem.

But my sister Neisha says she'll kill me if I don't give it at least another month, and MixedSignalGirl gave me a grooming kit for Christmas, so I'll be sticking with it for a while longer.

Forgive me for this. I'm having one of those bad face days. Plus the phone always does this fisheye thing with close-up pictures. My nose really doesn't take up half my face.

EvilDave

It is kind of neat though. To look at more or less the same face in the mirror for forty years gets a little old. I only wish this face I still see didn't look so old sometimes.

I was also expecting some gray in my facial hair, but there's none. My dad had very little gray when he died at age 56, so I guess I get that from him.

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monday beer-off report

posted by dave at 11:43 PM in category drink, pictures

Before going out tonight, I first had to get ready.

Tonight was going to be the big beer-off between two of my all-time favorites; Rogue Chocolate stout and Upland Chocolate Stout.

I was way too excited over a couple of beers being on tap at the same time, but I'm bottling everything else up and I need to have some outlet for my emotions, so fuck off.

Besides, I take my duties as unofficial Rich O's beer reviewer very seriously. So seriously, in fact, that I had VigilanteGirl help me put together a special uniform for tonight's activities.

Behold me in all my scruffy and/or evil glory:

Evil Dave

If you look closely enough (not at my crotch you perverts) you may notice a reflective patch on my shirt. This shirt normally says Irish Stout Official Taster on it but tonight, for one night only, the word Irish has been replaced:

Ta Da!

At around 4:30, I called the bar and asked Roger, the owner, if he was going to shatter my dreams again. He assured me that both of my favorite chocolate stouts were indeed on tap.

Having thus confirmed that my mission was still a go, I arrived at Rich O's a little after 5:00 PM. Right off the bat, I checked the board:

Yay!

Yay! They were both listed!

Did I mention that I was excited?

Well, I was.

I ordered a half glass of Rogue Chocolate Stout (318) and a half glass of Upland Chocolate Stout (70), which will hereafter in this entry be referred to simply as Rogue and Upland, and I sat in the throne with my beers and my notebook to begin my beer-off.

With both beers in front of me, calling to me, I tried to remain as scientific and impartial as I could. I alternated each beer through each of the following tests:

Color

Upland: Jet Black
Rogue: Jet Black
Conclusion: Tie

Head

Upland: Beige, faded quickly to a thin coating
Rogue: Light brown, lasted forever
Conclusion: Rogue easily wins this contest

Aroma

Upland: Good chocolate aroma, a bit sharp when inhaled deeply
Rogue: Rich and malty chocolate aroma
Conclusion: Rogue easily wins this contest

Flavor

Upland: Dryer than I remembered, with a touch of coffee but mostly a slightly bitter chocolate - yummy
Rogue: Tastes like it smells, rich and malty and chocolately - fucking yummy
Conclusion: Rogue easily wins this contest

Mouthfeel

Upland: A decent thickness, more syrupy than anything else
Rogue: Thick and creamy
Conclusion: Rogue wins this contest by a nose

Overall Winner

Rogue wins in a landslide.

I want to make this perfectly clear: The Upland Chocolate Stout is a fucking fantastic beer. On any night in which the Rogue wasn't on tap, the Upland would almost definitely be my favorite. There's not a damn thing wrong with the Upland - it's just no Rogue. And that's not such a bad thing. I, for example, am no Brad Pitt, but give me a try and you'll keep coming back. Unless Brad just happens to be in the room, then I'm screwed.

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saturday beer report, part two

posted by dave at 11:03 PM in category drink, pictures, travel

Prologue: Same as last night. I sat at the bar and wrote in my notebook when I felt like it.

8:14
I arrive and order a Rogue Chocolate Stout (80). Tastes awful because I just brushed my teeth. The solution: Drink faster.

Here's my rock admiring the Tilted Kilt glass.

Rock and Rogue

8:18
It's pretty dead in here right now, at least at the bar. Good.

8:25
A couple in their forties just sat next to me. They're looking at the beer list. I'm going to guess: Bud Light for her and Sam Adams's for him.

8:28
I was off, but not as far off as you might think. He got a Sin City Amber and she got a Sprite. I hate them.

8:35
One of the waitresses was complaining that somebody took her picture without permission. I told her that it happens to me all the time. I'm not sure what's so funny, but she laughed and touched my arm. She must want it up the butt.

8:40
I'm revising my opinion of the couple next to me. The girl is in her mid-thirties, and the guy with her may be her father.

8:41
Another Rogue (96). Fucking yummy.

8:44
Another revision. The chick is a pro and the dude doesn't know it. He actually thinks that she's interested in him.

8:45
The john just got a black and tan. He's telling the hooker that it's what everybody in Europe drinks. What a dork.

8:49
I wonder if every entry I make this week is going to be this boring.

8:50
There are some incredibly ugly people in the world.

8:55
Some fuckers just sat to my right. I'm guessing three Foster's. I may have to close my notebook as one of the fuckers is being nosey.

8:57
Two Grey Goose Martinis and one Bacardi & Coke. I should have known, but my brain is geared toward beer.

9:00
I'm taking off my glasses. Watch out ladies!

9:10
Steve the bartender is working tonight. We're talking about how freaked out I was at this time last year.

9:12
Showed PictureGirl my rock. She thinks it's cute. She definitely wants it up the butt. My dick, not the rock.

9:15
A hot girl just sat to my left.

9:22
This glass is almost empty. Do I want another Rogue?

9:25
Yes. Yes I do (110).

9:35
The hot girl left. Oh well.

9:40
I can feel myself being pulled to the Southeast. I wonder, if I'm being pulled by her, am I not also pulling her toward me?

9:45
Time to take a piss.

9:50
A goth couple just sat to my right. My guess: Guinness for both of them.

9:51
I nailed it.

10:00
GothGuy is smoking a clove cigarette. Now I'm starving to death.

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saturday beer report, part one

posted by dave at 6:40 PM in category drink, pictures, travel

Today I went up to downtown and dicked around for a few hours.

Here's a picture of the famous cowboy on Fremont Street.

Fremont Street Cowboy

To eat and drink, I went to the 777 Brewpub at Main Street Station.

Fremont Street Cowboy

I mentioned back in May, but the Black Chip Porter there is world-class. I had a large glass (69) and chased it with a small glass (81).

Here's my rock being all jealous of my yummy beer.

Beer and Rock

Now it's time to take a nap before I head back to the bar tonight.

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why i like this casino

posted by dave at 12:26 PM in category pictures, travel

Rio Dancing Girl

Because even at 7:00 AM, even if I'm the only person at the bar, a beautiful girl will still get up on the stage thingy and dance for me.

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friday beer report, part one

posted by dave at 9:33 PM in category drink, pictures, travel

After checking into my room, and managing a fitful nap, a woke up a little after 5:00 and went down to the casino.

First things first. I needed to eat. So I went to this All American Bar place for a burger and fries. That's not why I went there though. I went there because they have Alaskan Amber, one of my all-time favorites.

I ended up having two of them (2024) with my dinner. Absolutely yummy.

This is just a picture of the bar. Exciting, isn't it?

All American Bar

Next, and if you've been reading me for more than six months you already know this, I went to The Tilted Kilt. Probably my favorite bar in Las Vegas, and definitely my favorite place on the strip.

Tilted Kilt Bar

The only person there that I knew is this one waitress. She remembered me, which I will consider to be a good thing because I'm not the type that gets remembered for being obnoxious.

To drink, I had some of the best beer I've ever had the pleasure of drinking.

Rogue Chocolate Stout (32)

(draft) A fantastic beer, from the intense chocolate syrup aroma through the creamy mouthfeel to the delicious finish. Beyond yummy.

I kinda wanted to just stay there and drink these all night long, but I'm still, even in Las Vegas, a lightweight. So I came up here to write some journal entries.

Now I'm going back down to drink some more.

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wednesday beer report

posted by dave at 6:00 AM in category drink, pictures

After work Wednesday, as I said in my last entry, I went to Rich O's to see RealTainGirl.

Checking the board, I saw quite a few beers that looked interesting. One that I'd never heard of before. I asked the owner to describe it, then tried it anyway:

Rogue Honey Cream Ale (4)

(draft) I just had a small sample glass of this, as I was not expecting to like it. I was right. Had that dirty sock aroma that I associate with too many hops. It was very watery tasting, but had sort of a thick mouthfeel. Hard to believe that this comes from Rogue.

Because I hadn't expected to like the Rogue, I'd also ordered an old favorite that hasn't been available since this time last year. A pint of Goose Island Christmas Ale (120) went down quite nicely.

There was something strange going on in the red room. Roger was having some kind of private tasting for a bunch of guys in suits. That was odd enough, but the really weird part was that they had a spit bucket! RealTrainGirl and I decided that they were a bunch of pussies.

Since we were enjoying ourselves so much making fun of the spit bucket brigade, I decided to stay for another half pint. At about the time I ordered my Spezial (950) these people came in:

Odd People

I know, that's a pretty useless picture. That is a picture of a hot girl carrying a microphone, and another hot girl carrying a camcorder. With them, but not pictured, was some dork with a notebook.

They were doing some kind of profile on Rich O's for IUS, the local small college. The hot girl with the microphone interviewed a couple of the after-work PBDs, then she came over and interviewed me for a bit. She could tell that I was interview-worthy because I was sitting on the throne.

I showed great restraint by actually looking her in the eyes instead of at her chest. The concentration needed for this, unfortunately, also prevented me from saying anything funny. RealTrainGirl was clearly disappointed that I hadn't used my camera time to poke fun at the bucket brigade.

See, this is what happens when I forget my rock. I end up on TV or something. If I'd had my rock then it could have been on TV too.

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rambling incoherence

posted by dave at 12:00 AM in category pictures, ramblings

Delirium Tremens

For those of you with lives, those of you that don't have the great beers of the world memorized so you can recognize them simply from the bottle, this is Delirium Tremens. One of the world's finest beers.

This is my desert island beer.

And it's fitting that I'm drinking this now, because while I often feel like I am very much alone on an island, this day, with its crowding and its socializing and its obligations, this day magnifies that feeling more than any other. You can be completely surrounded, but if the right person isn't there, you're still alone.

That's an official Delirium Tremens glass, too. I used to have two of these glasses. This one's mate is far away now.

Part of my problem is that I read too much into things. I look for hidden signs everywhere. And not just signs. I have to look for the bad in everything I see. And I keep looking until I find it.

I can take the most heartfelt compliment and twist it into an insult. I can take the simplest greeting and turn it into a goodbye. This is my super power. But I don't use it to ward off evil, I use it to ward off everything and everyone.

Well, almost everyone.

Why, I wonder, can't I ever recognize good for what it is? Why is it that I can immediately see the bad, but when something good presents itself I must transform it into something else?

I dunno. Probably because I'm a dumbass.

So I'm drinking my symbolic beer (379), my second of this night. Later I'm going to have a third. Good thing I'm staying home tonight. After I drink my beers I'm going to go downstairs and shoot some pool. Maybe make some movies if I can remember to turn the camera on.

It's midnight now. November 24th is over. Good riddance.

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saturday beer report

posted by dave at 1:15 AM in category drink, pictures

Tonight, I was in a strange mood.

Not good, not particularly bad. I guess nostalgic would be a good description. Makes sense, anyway.

I tried a couple of times to call SpikeBoy to see if he was in the mood to do something besides Rich O's tonight, but I couldn't get in touch with him. Oh well, can't say I didn't try.

So what I ended up doing first, to help make up for not going to the cemetery today, was go to The Hitching Post and have myself a Falls City (24) in Dad's honor. Straight from the can like a real man would drink it.

Falls City Beer

Disgusting.

I talked to the bartender for a bit, told her what I was doing there, but she'd only been working there for a couple of years so she didn't remember Dad. On the way out some dude initiated the brief conversation depicted two entries ago.

Next, big surprise, I went to Rich O's. There, big surprise, I had a Bell's Kalamazoo Stout (95).

I started out sitting at the island, talking with ExBartender and CoffeeDude, but then this old fuckhead sat with us and he pissed me off so I went and stood at the bar and talked with FutureDude for a while.

My next beer was an Avery Old Jubilation Ale (50), which I haven't had in a year and which was quite yummy.

After a while DooRagGirl (FutureDude's girlfriend) came in so I went to White Castle and then came home.

The kitty wasn't at White Castle tonight, for those of you who care about that sort of thing.

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friday beer and cat report

posted by dave at 1:10 AM in category drink, pictures

Today I slept a lot.

I slept from about 10:00 until 7:00, then I decided that going to work would be stupid.

So I slept from 9:00 until 1:30.

Then I had to do some work. I had a conference call with some vendor support people. It was quite trippy trying to deal with technical issues with a fever.

Next I slept from 4:00 until 9:00. I had the strange dream.

After that I took a long, hot shower and I actually felt better. I felt halfway normal actually.

So I went down to Rich O's.

All I did there was have myself a Bell's Kalamazoo Stout (70), and talk to BamaCouple for a while. Once they left I had part of another glass of the stout (75) and then I went to White Castle.

Here are some pictures of the cat at White Castle, which I have named Slider and which I hope to be able to actually pet some day.

White Castle cat

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the wasted year

posted by dave at 11:22 PM in category drink, pictures, ramblings

This entry brought to you by:

Rogue Imperial Stout

Rogue Imperial Stout (26)

(bottle) Hard to find anything wrong with this beer. If I had to pick something it would be the high ABV which limits the amount that can be consumed. A yummy chocolately flavor with a fairly intense alcohol burn. Quite good, and I will be buying more bottles which I will try to let age.

So, this is tough, writing this entry.

I can think of a million reasons why I've been putting it off, and I'll list them right now, one by one.

No, I'm kidding. I'd never do that to you.

Instead I'll just start typing and hope that the main reason reveals itself quickly before I die of boredom.

This entry will close out the period from October 9th, 2004, until middish/lateish September, 2005.

I will call this period The Wasted Year for reasons that are probably already evident to some of you, and which will become evident to the rest of you.

If you don't die of boredom yourselves before I finally get to the fucking point.

So, where was I?

Oh yes, I was dead. I died on October 9th of last year. I'd call my death a metaphor. Some may call it an exaggeration. Others may call it whiny crybaby drivel. But whatever you call it, it's all the same thing.

When I found out that she had left, I was devastated. Obliterated. I'd waited 39 years to meet someone that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, but I fought it and denied it and ignored it until that veeeeeeeery moment when I couldn't deny or fight or ignore it any longer. That very moment when I brilliantly figured out that I'll probably only meet the love of my life but once in my life so I should probably stop being so fucking scared and just take a fucking chance for once. So, I decided to take that chance, and I was too late. She was gone. And every last bit of anything and everything that she'd inadvertently reawakened inside me died.

(I have this yummy beer I'm drinking to thank for that last paragraph. I'll probably read it tomorrow and delete it.)

You know what really pisses me off about the past year?

There was a girl. A girl that was everything I ever wanted. In a companion. In a girlfriend. Maybe even in a wife. She was everything I ever wanted except for one thing. She wasn't the one I was in love with. I tried so hard, I tried for so long, to divert my attention toward her, but it seemed like the harder I tried the more resistance I met. And, and this is what really pisses me off, all of that resistance was coming from inside me. My own heart betrayed me on a daily basis. Every minute, every fucking second, my heart waged war against me.

I could spend the rest of my life telling MixedSignalGirl how sorry I am that I didn't love her. I probably will spend the rest of my life at least thinking about what a colossal failure I was when it came to her.

I was supposed to be her hero, and instead I was the dragon and the black knight all rolled up into one.

Almost an entire year. Wasted on a dream that I never wanted to have in the first place. Almost an entire year, searching for answers to the questions I was afraid to even ask. Almost an entire year, hurting someone that truly cared about me while I longed for something that was simply not meant to be. Almost an entire year, wasted.

I think I was supposed to make a point here. Why has it been so hard for me to write this entry? To close out this chapter of my life?

For a while, I thought that perhaps some hidden part of me was actually still clinging to hope.

Wrong.

For a while, I thought that perhaps some small part of me was still waiting for some answers. For some closure.

Wrong.

What's been holding me back from writing this entry, what's been holding me back from closing out that period of my life when all I did was mourn and hurt and miss and long, what's been holding me back is that...

...I died, and whatever it was that arose from death wasn't me anymore. It was something that only existed to feel pain. If I let the pain go away, there will be nothing left, and I'll have to once again start over.

So that's one reason. The other is...

...The last time I had to start over, it wasn't a choice. Oh, I thought it was a choice for a while. I thought I could control my own emotions and my own destiny and my own happiness. But I was either lying to myself or fooling myself. Probably both. There was no choice in the matter. At the moment that I first looked into her sparkling eyes, the number of paths available to my heart dwindled to one. I would love her.

But this time, this time it is a conscious decision on my part. The things that I've finally done and finally found to stop the flood of pain - I could switch them off in an instant.

It's ironic really. This 'blog is to blame for a lot of the problems I've had. If I'd been able to restrain my writings way back in the Summer of 2004, things might be a lot different for me now. The irony is that it's this 'blog that has enabled me to be sitting here writing this entry.

There's this one girl. A regular reader of mine. She is the one that pointed out to me that the pain was killing me all over again. She's the one that suggested that I had to try something different. Instead of trying to deal with the pain, she asked, why not try bottling it up?

And then there was this other girl. My kindred spirit. A series of coincidences led me to her, and she has given me what nobody else has been able to give. Understanding. Not judgment. Not argument. Not even pity. Simple understanding, from someone going through the same thing I'd been going through.

I don't know which girl deserves the most credit for curing me. I suppose they're equally responsible. On the Internet, everybody is secretive, but these two girls have shown me trust and understanding that I never could have found anywhere else - not even from my family and my closest friends. I've already said this, to each of them, many times, but I feel compelled to say it here:

To T and to N, what you have given me can never ever ever be repaid, but I vow to do the best that I can, for as long as it takes, to repay it anyway. You have helped me to get my life back, and I seriously didn't think it was possible.

Anyway, where was I?

Oh yeah, the choice thingy. This time, ending this era, this wasted year, this pain-filled period, this time it's a choice. And with this choice comes responsibility. What if I'm fooling myself once again? What if suppressing these emotions and getting understanding isn't enough? This hasn't been tested, after all. I will be tested again. Eventually.

I sit here right now, and I know that I'm not ready to be tested. How can I truly consider myself healed, how can I honestly feel like I'm ready to close out this past year, when I know that all of that pain is still there inside me, building up pressure, ready to explode the next time she walks into my life?

I dunno. It just feels like I should close it out, this past year. Even if I'm not ready to be tested, everything else has changed over the last few weeks. I was in pain every day. Every single fucking day, I missed her. And now I don't. Even if it doesn't last, even if this turns out to be yet another false sunrise, and even if the darkness returns, this is still the end of an era.

I wasted a year, missing her. But I no longer fear spending the rest of my life missing her. I know that I can feel better, because I feel better right now. If I, reborn into pain, can still manage to live for a few weeks without that pain, then anything is possible.

This leopard can change its spots.

This scorpion can change its wicked ways.

This once broken man can have a life worth living.

And now I've got to go out onto my deck and finish this beer, to complete my little stupid tradition.

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falls of the ohio

posted by dave at 6:44 PM in category daily, pictures, travel

I always wanted us to go, but she kept putting it off. "One of these days," she'd always say. She was never much of an outdoorsy person.

Well, today I realized that there was no point in waiting for that magical day any longer. We weren't going to be going anywhere anymore.

So I went to the damn place by myself.

Going with a broken toe? Maybe not so brilliant. But I had a fucking point to make.

Since I'd never been there before, I just parked at the first parking lot I saw. How was I supposed to know that there was a real visitor area just down the road? Anyway, here's the view from where I parked.

Ohio River Falls

For some reason when I got here I had to pee.

Ohio River Falls

Looking up at the old bridge. I think they're talking about making this a pedestrian walkway, but it may be a completly different bridge for all I know.

Ohio River Falls

My cellphone camera couldn't handle the contrast apparently.

Ohio River Falls

I was surprised, for some reason, to see sand on the river's bank.

Ohio River Falls

Waaaay over there is Kentucky.

Ohio River Falls

At one point I found that I'd left the beaten path, so I beat my own.

Ohio River Falls

These rocks were pretty cool. I wish my toe had allowed pain-free jumping around on them.

Ohio River Falls

Just a bunch of logs that the river has deposited over the years.

Ohio River Falls

The tree was pretty much growing out of solid rock.

Ohio River Falls

A view back toward the bridge from the real visitor center.

Ohio River Falls

---

After I left the park, I went over to The Pub and had a Newcastle (1704) and then a Young's Double Chocolate Stout (243) with my lunch.

That Young's is a beautiful beer in draft form. Yummy.

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saturday beer report

posted by dave at 8:19 PM in category drink, pictures

Hmmm, I would have sworn that I started typing this before I went out earlier, but it's not here so I'll start over. Strange.

All day yesterday I tried to make up my mind what I'd do that night. The only thing that I knew for sure what that I didn't feel like going back to Rich O's.

I toyed with the idea of making a little circuit of the four brewpubs in Louisville. I thought about going to Jeffersonville and hanging out with my cousin. I even thought about just staying home and catching up on the television that's been tivoed over the last couple of weeks.

In the end, I went over to Fourth Street Live, which is part of Louisville's downtown revitalization vision. I kind of like it there. It makes me feel like a tourist. Like I'm on vacation or something.

So they were having this OktoberFest thingy, which in Louisville at Fourth Street Live, means that they ID you when you enter the block, and they have booths with BudMillerCoors beers in the middle of the street.

I wandered up and down the block a couple of times, looking to see if there was anyone I knew. I seemed to remember RealTrainGirl talking about OktoberFest recently. I don't think this is what she was talking about, but I figured that it would be a nice surprise to run into them.

I ended up at this place called The Pub. They have the best beer selection at Fourth Street Live. I ordered myself a Newcastle (1684).

While I was drinking my beer, I sent out a couple text messages, and I looked around the place to check out the local talent, as they say. There was one girl that sort of looked familiar, and she caught me looking at her and smiled. Yikes.

After about 15 minutes the girl started inviting me over to join her and her friends on their side of the bar. I declined politely because (a) Her friends were two guys and I figured that at least one of them was probably her boyfriend (maybe both of them from the dirty looks they were giving me), and (b) I'd texted MixedSignalGirl and was hoping that she'd show up, and (c) Normal girls do not invite me to join them in bars. I did not want to wake up in a tub of ice missing a kidney.

Seriously, what is it about women and their radar for when a man is vulnerable?

Anyway, after my Newcastle I had a new beer for me:

North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout (20)

(draft) A wonderful beer. Intensity everywhere from the aroma to
the flavor to the finish. Dark chocolate and quite a lot of roasted malt. A sweet burning finish that made me want another sip right away.

At one point KidneyGirl and her two guy friends were joined by two other girls - the actual girlfriends of the guys from the looks of things. This left KidneyGirl alone, and it left me with only two reasons to not join them. It was probably too late by then anyway.

I had another of the Rasputins (40).

At one point I got a call from RealTrainGirl. There weren't at Fourth Street Live, but they'd be at Rich O's later. She and GreenBeerDude were going to "show me something." Yikes!

I hadn't heard from MixedSignalGirl since the early evening, so I figured that she wasn't coming. I shot off a message telling her where I'd be, and that I wanted to talk to her, then I drove back to Indiana and to Rich O's.

When I got there the usual assortment of idiots was in the living room area. I stood at the bar, ordered a half-pint of Guinness (871) and talked to Bubbles for a while until RealTrainGirl, GreenBeerDude, and MisunderstoodGirl arrived.

Here's what they had to show me:

Matching Pizza Guy Tatoos

Matching tatoos of what looked like a logo for a pizza place or something. I'm just guessing here, but there was probably alcohol involved in their decision to have them done.

So we just hung out for a while. RealTrainGirl and GreenBeerDude were quite animated, probably from the pain or something. MisunderstoodGirl was busily plotting revenge on the world or something, so she didn't say much.

It was a nice end to the weekend festivities, and it took my mind off MixedSignalGirl, who I still haven't heard from as I type this entry.

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muhaha

posted by dave at 6:48 PM in category pictures, ramblings

Why? Why would someone do this to me?

It's just so unfair!

Waaaaah!

*sobs uncontrollably*

Somebody erased what I'd written on the board at Rich O's and rewrote it!

Why Oh Why?

*breathes into paper bag*

Okay, so maybe I forgot to write how many ounces it was. Maybe I wrote a little small. Maybe I got the price wrong. Maybe my writing looked left-handed (inside joke ha-ha Hi M!) but c'mon! What I'd written was a zillion times better than what had been there, which was absolutely fucking nothing.

*tries to slash wrists with keys*

If I hadn't noticed the Smithwick's tap behind the bar, and written on the board, the place might not have sold any Smithwick's all weekend.

How would you have liked that, Roger? Your precious Smithwick's just sitting in the keg, going all stale and shit.

Everyone I asked, of course, denied erasing my legacy from the board, but there was one guy that got so flustered that he spilled an entire thing of straws all over the floor! Clearly there was a guilty conscience at work.

I KNOW YOU DID IT!

But I still don't understand why.

Oh BartenderDude, why hast thou forsaken me?

*grins in an evil manner*

They say that revenge is a dish best served cold. My revenge will be frigid. A veritable iceberg of revenge. You just wait.

*begins plotting revenge*

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saturday beer report

posted by dave at 8:41 PM in category drink, pictures

This entry is late because I had to work all day. It sucked, but it doesn't happen very often that I have to work on a Sunday, so I guess I'll live with it.

The entry is boring because all of the passion has either been sucked out of me or bottled up inside me. I'm not really sure which is the case, and it probably doesn't matter very much at the moment. The end-result is the same - a boring entry.

You have been warned. I suggest that, instead of bothering with this entry, you go read PassionateKisses instead. She's funny as fuck.

I feel like a visual is needed here.

Seating

Last night, when I got to Rich O's, I was sitting in the chair, which we all call the throne. NotGeorge was on my right, and WomanRepellant was on my left, and there were a couple of other guys that I don't know all that were sitting around as well.

I had myself a Delirium Tremens (357), and the group of us bullshitted about various fluff. I was already feeling a little bit claustrophobic because WomanRepellant was sitting just about as closely to me as he could while still maintaining some ass-sofa contact. I have no idea what that was all about.

Anyway.

To my immediate right is the kiddie table. This dude comes up and grabs a chair from the kiddie table and turns it towards our group so he can talk with us. Mainly he was just talking with WomanRepellant.

So I found myself stuck in the middle of a conversation between two people who were way into my personal comfort zone. I put up with this for about 10 seconds, but that was all I could stand. I grabbed my shit and went and sat at the end of the bar next to the idiots that had been there Wednesday.

I ordered one of these:

Upland Wheat (3)

(draft) Very fizzy. Too damn fizzy. There was too much citrus and it was a little sour tasting. I didn't care for it at all.

To wash the taste of that crap out of my mouth I ordered a Spezial (740) - a new keg since I'd blown the one on Friday.

At one point WomanRepellant came up and stood at the bar. He'd apparently gotten sick of all the football talk that was going on, and he knew that football was the last thing I'd want to talk about. So we talked for a while about anything but football.

Next I had a Weihenstephaner Dunkel (140).

At one point I returned from taking a piss and my seat had been taken. So I grabbed my shit again and moved over to the other end of the bar since the idiots from Wednesday had left.

At about this time I noticed that there was a Smithwick's handle attached to one of the taps behind the bar. After confirming that they did indeed have Smithwick's on tap I found some chalk and went out and wrote it on the board.

I wrote this!

So finally, I've been able to leave my mark in this world. I've always wondered what form it would take.

Once my Weihenstephaner was gone I ordered a Smithwick's (500).

I guess that's about it. I had a fairly enjoyable night, probably because I was irritated for having to pick up my shit and move not just once but twice. Irritated is close to being an actual feeling, and feelings have been hard to come by lately.

As long as I'm trying to break my own record for the most boring entry ever posted, I'll include a couple more pictures:

Mad Bitch

I'm so going to steal this Mad Bitch poster some night.

BBC Taps

This was a picture I took of the taps at the BBC when I went there recently.

Finally, here's an awkward ending to a pointless entry.

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aminoes!!!

posted by dave at 11:26 AM in category pictures

Here are the pictures I took at the Louisville Zoo yesterday before the Brew at the Zoo thingy started.

Please keep in mind that I'm not a professional nature photographer.

zoo pic

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friday beer and beffie report

posted by dave at 10:50 AM in category comics, drink, pictures, travel

I ended up, as directed, going to Bloomington yesterday. I actually took a half day of vacation so I could get there early. This ended up being a good thing, but I'll get to that later.

During the drive up I ping-ponged between two thoughts.

First, I was a little excited to be doing this spur of the moment thing and following the sign I'd imagined getting on Thursday. I had no idea what to expect in Bloomington, but I figured it must be something interesting or I wouldn't have been led up there.

Second, I felt a little silly. I was basically driving up there because a coaster had told me to. I was also a little afraid that maybe I was missing something exciting and/or interesting at Rich O's. Of course maybe that's what the coaster was really trying to do - just keep me away from Rich O's for the night.

Those coasters, you never really know what they're trying to accomplish. They're sneaky and mysterious.

The first thing I did after I got to Bloomington was get a hold of my niece so I could check out her new dorm room. Here's a pic:

messy

Next I went over to the Upland Taproom. Here's another pic:

Upland Taproom

It's a smaller place than I'd imagined. It was also quite crowded especially when you consider I got there at 6:00. I noted the complete lack of a smoking section and grabbed a seat at the bar.

I told the bartender that I was looking to taste some beers and that the first thing I wanted to taste was their Chocolate stout. So she poured me a little sampler glass (4) before I could stop her. I drained that and asked for a 12 oz. glass.

Upland Chocolate Stout (16)

(draft) Incredible head and lacing. Had a strong coffee aroma but the flavor was an incredible blend of both coffee and chocolate. Very creamy and very yummy.

So this is now my favorite stout in the world, and I almost decided to just stick with it, but in the end I figured that The Coaster would want me to sample some other beers. So that's what I did.

Upland Bad Elmers Porter (32)

(draft) Had a very strong roasted malt aroma. The flavor was quite nice with roasted malt and a mild chocolate. A dry finish that made me want to take another drink right away.

Upland Valley Weizen (12)

(draft) Very fizzy but sweet. A mild banana aroma and flavor. Mouthfeel was fizzy wheat. There was a slight tartness to the finish. I liked this, but I've had better dunkels.

I'd actually drank, and rated, the Porter before, but I went ahead and updated my old rating because I like to think that my palate is a little more sophisticated now than it was back then.

During the time I was drinking my beers I found myself looking around, trying to figure out just what I was doing up there. The place was completely packed, but everyone was with their own little group. The only person I really talked to was the bartender.

cheesy

By the time I'd had my three beers it was only about 6:45. This is something I've noticed each time I've gone into a non-smoking bar. I drink a lot faster. Now some people might consider this to be a good thing but I'm such a lightweight that all it means to me is that my nights end early.

I ended up having a final Chocolate Stout (28) and starting back towards home a little after 7:00.

By the time I got back to New Albany it was only 10:30 so I (of course) went to Rich O's. I ordered a Smithwick's (460) and was just settling down on the sofa when something cool happened.

My friend Eric and his wife Terri came in!

So what had been slight disappointment from not having anything exciting happen in Bloomington turned into a pretty good mood by the end of the night.

Man, I've written this long rambling entry and I'm going to stop now. Nobody reads this far anyway.

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friday beer report

posted by dave at 9:38 AM in category drink, pictures

Last night I went to the Cumberland Brewpub in Louisville and met up with RealTrainGirl and GreenBeerDude.

This was my first time going to this place, despite (a)It being a brewpub and (b)It being only about 30 minutes from my house. The first thing about the place is that it's very hard to find a parking place. Luckily it wasn't raining. The second thing about the place is that there were a lot of pretty girls there.

These aren't particularly good or even interesting pictures, but they're all I've got:

Cumberland Brewpub

I arrived before my friends and ordered some food and my first beer. I ended up drinking two of these:

Cumberland Nitro Porter (40)

(draft) Took a long time to pour, but worth the wait. Very smooth. Nice chocolate aroma and flavor that reminded me of Young's Double Chocolate Stout. This is a very good beer. Yummy.

After a while we went to the upstairs (which I didn't even know existed) and I had a small glass of the only other beer that seemed interesting to me.

Cumberland Nut Brown Ale (10)

(draft) Another winner from this small brewpub. Quite malty and nutty, but enough hops to keep it nicely balanced.

Then we all went to Rich O's. I'd been wanting to try this Rogue beer, but by the time I got there I decided that it was too late to be cranking open a 22-oz. bottle, so I just asked the bartender to set one aside for me to drink Saturday night. I just had some Diet Cokes.

We sat around at the island. NotGeorge joined us and then, lo and behold, MisunderstoodGirl came in! Very cool to see her after what seemed like forever. RealTrainGirl gave me shit for not talking up a storm, but really I was just basking in the glory that is MisunderstoodGirl. Words were unnecessary.

After the girls (ha ha again) left NotGeorge and I talked for a while, then I came home and shot some pool until the Sun came up.

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tuesday beer report

posted by dave at 11:02 PM in category drink, entertainment, pictures, travel

Tuesday was actually a pretty interesting night.

There were a couple of reasons for this.

First, we all went to a Chicago White Sox game. I took pictures of their new (to me at least) park.

US cellular Field

My company had rented this party deck waaaaaaaaaaay out past center field. Kind of prestigious I suppose, but not much chance of a ball ever being hit there. Especially without Frank Thomas playing.

This ballpark has no good beer at all. I only tried one that I thought sounded a little interesting:

Canoe Honey Wheat Ale (2)

(draft) Lord, why hast thou foresaken me? I thought this was crap. I only drank about two sips and then I threw the rest away. Blech.

The White Sox lost their game, just like the Reds lost their game when I went to see them. I wonder if I'm cursed.

I of course bought myself a Sox cap. I also bought myself a Cubs cap because I was planning to head over to the Wrigley Field area later and didn't want to be murdered for wearing the wrong cap.

As it turned out I didn't make it to Wrigleyville. I instead went to this Piece Brewpub that Roger from Rich O's had recommended to me.

A pretty nice little place, though a little bit too dark for pictures. The pizza smelled fantastic, and I'm kinda kicking myself for not trying any of it.

I did try several of their beers though:

Piece Hoppy Ending (4)

(draft) An otherwise bland vehicle for a bitter hoppy aftertaste. What's the point?

Piece Golden Arm Kolsch (4)

(draft) Very light and citrusy. Tasted like a Bud Light to me. Supposedly an ale but I'm not convinced.

Piece Dysfunctionale (4)

(draft) I've rated this right down the middle in every category. Nothing at all stands out. I don't like the style, so I don't like the beer.

Piece Dark Bier (20)

(draft) Dark Lager, almost black. A light coffee flavor. Fairly thick mouthfeel with some lagery fizz at the end. Not too bad, but not great.

Piece Belgian Three-Way (24)

(draft) Citrusy aroma. Light apple flavor, with maybe a little apricot? No finish at all. Decent, but the apricot turned me off a little.

So I ended up liking the Belgian okay, and I had two glasses.

Then I went back to McCormick and Schmick's to drool over the pretty waitress some more. I had a couple of Guinnii to give me an excuse for being there.

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boring

posted by dave at 7:38 AM in category pictures, travel

So I'm in Chicago. Whoop de doo.

Our entire week is choreographed, but I did find myself with a little bit of time yesterday afternoon. I tried to walk to the lake but couldn't find a good place to cross Lakeshore Drive. Hopefully I'll have a chance to try again before I leave.

Hancock Tower

Our hotel is a couple of blocks from the Hancock Tower.

McKormick and Smicks

There's a good restaurant across the street from the hotel. They have Guinness and several Goose Island beers. So guess where I went last night after my t-shirt buying trip to The Hard Rock?

I have a feeling that this is going to be the most exciting entry I make all week. We'll see.

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vroom vroom

posted by dave at 11:53 AM in category pictures

Here are some pics I took the other day. The Jack Daniel's racing car showed up for this thing at work.

vroom

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hi ho hi ho

posted by dave at 1:29 AM in category pictures, work

oh, crap

This is a picture of the controllers for one of our storage arrays at work.

It's broken, so I'm still at work waiting to see if it can be repaired.

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peeing in style

posted by dave at 9:00 PM in category pictures

This is part of the mens' bathroom wall at Rich O's. MisunderstoodGirl painted this months ago.

jazz mural

I so want a pool-themed mural in this style on my basement wall. Maybe someday.

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pictures

posted by dave at 10:43 PM in category pictures

Just some pictures that I cleaned out of my phone.

baltika

This is the Baltika beer I had the other night. I didn't say these would be interesting pictures.

staring contest

Happy and Buddy have these staring contests all the time. Here, Buddy is trying to use his laser vision to force Happy off of his favorite lounging spot.

up to something

For a while, they crammed both of their fat asses onto the coffee table.

playing dead

Eventually Happy moved to the floor, allowing Buddy to stretch out.

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lunch

posted by dave at 1:43 PM in category daily, pictures

Polly's Freeze

Took this picture while eating lunch at Polly's Freeze today.

I didn't say it would be an interesting entry.

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some pics

posted by dave at 12:50 PM in category pictures

I don't have time right now to get into my trip too much. I had fun. I drank beer. I'll post more later, but for now, here are some pics.

Buckheads Interior

This is just a picture of the interior of Buckhead's in Jeffersonville that was in my phone.

Rich O's Expansion

The last three pictures are of the new Rich O's expansion area. Roger was kind enough to take us on a little tour the other day.

Freaky Glass

Rich O's has been using these glasses a lot lately. The freak me out because they look frosted. But they're not.

Hofbrauhaus

The Hofbrauhaus in Newport. Pretty decent place, but LOUD.

Hofbrauhaus

These are what they call half-servings. These are 20 ounce glasses. The full-servings are like 5 gallons or something.

Hofbrauhaus Band

This polka band is why the place was so damn LOUD.

Beer Sellar exterior

The Hofbrauhouse guy told me about this place called the Beer Sellar on the river.

Beer Sellar interior

They have 60 taps. Wow.

Downriver from the bridge

I walked back to Cincinnati across this purple bridge. First time I've ever walked across the Ohio river. Pretty cool.

Down from the bridge

Looking down from said purple bridge.

Great American Ball Park

Just a couple of views of the Reds' new ballpark. Not nearly as impressive as I'd been hearing, but shitloads better than Riverfront/Conergy was.

Nicholsons

This Nicholson's place has a couple of dozen good beers on tap and what's touted as one of the best scotch whisky selections anywhere.

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pics and shit

posted by dave at 10:56 PM in category pictures, ramblings, travel

I don't know why, but about halfway to the Hard Rock tonight I had a realization. I realized that it was one year ago (not exactly 365 days but during the same conference this time last year) that everything started to go to shit.

Before one year ago, I had a friendship that could have lasted the rest of my life.

But nooooooooooooooooo!

Part of me (rhymes with fart) decided that it wasn't going to be satisifed with just a friendship. Part of me decided that it had been left to atrophy for far too long, so it teamed up with another part of me (rhymes with lock) and staged a little mutiny against my brain.

So now a year has passed since things started, nine months have passed since everything I used to be was destoyed during the mutiny, and two months have passed since I finally allowed myself to acknowledge what it was that I'd gotten myself into. I wrote about how stupid I was, once it had finally sunk in that I'd destroyed a sure thing for a pipe dream.

But this entry is about tonight, and tonight I'm not in any particular mood at all. Maybe a little pissed at myself, but that's it, and that's certainly something I'm used to. Kind of strange to be thinking about missing her and not getting sad about it. I send text messages to my friends back home and I wish I could divert them Westward. But I can't. Or won't. Or shouldn't. I don't fucking know.

Anyway, tonight I went to the Hard Rock to get some t-shirts and eat dinner. I took pics.

Universal Ball

This is pretty famous I guess. It spins around.

Hard Rock Orlando

A fairly big - and fancy - Hard Rock. This was to be expected I guess.

Hard Rock Orlando

This car was spinning around above my head. It was pretty cool.

Orlando City Walk

With my dinner at the Hard Rock the bartender made a big production out of how good he was at pouring a proper Guinness. I guess he did well (he drew the clover and everything) but the spell was definitely broken when, for my second pint, he poured it into a frosted glass.

When I left the City Walk area I stopped at the Ale House and had, as I've done every night this week, a couple pints of Newcastle.

Tomorrow I go home. I looking forward to it I guess, but not that much. My ambivalence isn't caused by any fondness for Orlando, or by any indifference towards Indiana - it's caused by the knowledge that the place I really want to be (or two-thirds of me does anyway) is 2000 miles away from either place.

Oh, well. It's my own damn fault.

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buttload of pics

posted by dave at 10:54 PM in category pictures, travel

Okay, so here's what I've done so far in Orlando:

Orlando Alehouse

The only place with any decent beer within walking distance of the hotel. A lot of taps, but only a few drinkable brews.

Today I went over to Epcot Center and took some pictures.

Inside Limosine

This is the limo that I rode in to the park. My friend EmptySpace joined me. Koko got pissed about Florida's anti-smoking laws and went back to Indiana on Monday.

Epcot Ball Thingy

This is everything I knew about Epcot before I arrived there.

There was this loop around a lake where they pretended that they were different countries. I took a picture of each area:

America

China

France

Germany

Italy

Japan Drum Dudes

Mexico

Morocco

Norway

Also on the loop was England, where I for some reason didn't take a picture but instead ate some fish and chips and drank a half-yard of Guinness.

Beatle Dudes

Wait, this counts as England. These were some people impersonating the Beatles. I don't know if they were any good or not because I never liked the real Beatles.

Mission Space

I guess some kid died on this ride yesterday. I hope his family got their money back.

Lizard

Floriday is absolutely infested with these little lizards.

Anyway, I'm not really having very much fun, but at least I'm not just sitting in my room all the time. Tomorrow night I need to go to Hard Rock to get myself and VigilanteGirl some t-shirts.

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and now for something completely different

posted by dave at 8:52 PM in category daily, pictures

Today we had a work meeting at Churchill Downs.

Even though I grew up here in Indiana, and have spent 24 years living here, I've never bothered to go to this track.

I wouldn't even have gone today if they hadn't made me.

Being around horses reminds me of things I'd rather not be reminded of.

Anyway, I took some pics.

Churchill Crystals

This was display stand, made up to look like the track and stands, just filled with hundreds and hundreds of little crystal figurines. It was very cool, and it looked very fucking expensive.

Churchill Spires

We had our meeting in the new "luxury box" addition to the place. I guess a lot of people are mad that the spires no longer stand out above everything else anymore. I guess I can understand their feelings.

Churchill Downs

I ended up staying to watch one race, then I went to work and caught up on some stuff.

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Awwww!

posted by dave at 12:26 PM in category pictures, web

Ran across this site the other day.

I'd say that the Internet has officially peaked.

I'd also say that if I had a better quality version of this picture:

Buddy in a bowl. Awww!

I would enter it and it would be a champion.

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muddling through

posted by dave at 1:51 AM in category daily, drink, pictures, travel

(I'm putting this in the travel category because I kind of felt like a tourist.)

Saturday night I was irritated. The girl at the Gas'N'Stuff had put me in a bad mood, and I never really got a chance to improve my mood because my fucking phone kept vibrating.

That's how my Saturday night went. Pleasant conversations at Rich O's interrupted every half-hour by MixedSignalGirl calling or texting me about how pissed she was at me for what happened in Las Vegas.

Because I'm such a selfish asshole, I didn't return any of the calls until this morning.

Because I'm not a complete selfish asshole, I called her right after I woke up.

To make a very long story short, we agreed to meet up at this place called Sully's for dinner so we could, once again, hash things out and, once again, decide that we are completely wrong for each other and/or our timing sucks.

Fourth Street Live

LaptopGirl used to call this place Fourth Street Dive but I actually kind of like it. It reminds me a little bit of Fremont Street in Las Vegas. There are good bars and lots of neon. Pretty damn cool for Louisville if you ask me.

I arrived at Sully's about five minutes late, and had myself a Smithwick's. I'm really really starting to like this beer. It just goes down smooth. I feel like I could drink it all night.

I like the layout of this Sully's place. A long and narrow room with a bar running the length of one wall and tables and booths for eating scattered about. The entire wall opposite the bar was glass so we could see out into the street.

Sully's

MixedSignalGirl arrived about a half-hour late, and I suppose I should say that if she was late because she was busy making herself up, then it was worth it. I've never seen her look so pretty.

Sully's

So despite the near-frantic calls Saturday night, she decided tonight to completely ignore the burning issue of her being pissed and we proceeded to have a fairly standard date. I had a burger and fries that were very good and she had some chicken fingers and fries. We mostly just talked about how cool the bar and Fourth Street Live was, and how it'd be nice if they did something like it in New Albany.

Eventually our conversation became more serious and I'm not going to get into it here except to reiterate what I told her, more or less:

I'm very sorry that you were hurt. I've never meant to cause you any pain at all. I really didn't think you'd care. We broke up months ago, and you told me you were doing fine. I told you that I wasn't ready for a relationship, and that's still true. What happened in Las Vegas was a simple one night stand. I don't even have her number, and I don't expect to hear from her again. It was not about you, or because of you, or in spite of you. I wasn't about anyone. Just two people that happened to hit it off and decided to enjoy each other with no strings or baggage to worry about.

During all this I had myself another Smithwick's. MixedSignalGirl was drinking some foofoo thing that was green and brown.

Once we left Sully's we went briefly to the Red Star Saloon and then into the Hard Rock where I bought us t-shirts, then we went to this place called The Pub.

The Pub - Louisville

This was another very nice bar. They also had a pretty impressive draft beer selection. I had myself a four-beer sampler:

Whitbread English Ale

(draft) No head at all, but somehow managed to have very good lacing. A hint of caramel in the flavor. A slightly lagerish finish but not too fizzy. Not bad at all.

Young's Double Chocolate Stout

(draft) Good head, good lacing. Subtle chocolate aroma and more subtle chocolate flavor. Nothing else to distinguish it at all. It did kind of grow on me though.

Black Sheep Monty Python's Holy Grail

(draft) No head. No aroma, No flavor. A very dry and fizzy mouthfeel. Probably good for an upset stomach but little else.

Tetley's English Ale

(draft) Good lacing. No detectable aroma, flavor, or aftertaste. There was just a hint of bitterness that faded before swallowing was complete. Not bad, but very boring.

So the beer, while new to me, turned out to be pretty boring. I'd like to try the Young's again someday though. It was intriguing. This place had at least a half-dozen other beers that I've never seen on tap at Rich O's, but I think most of them were IPAs so I wasn't interested.

The Pub - Louisville

At The Pub I bought another t-shirt. The staff was all wearing shirts with the bar's logo on the front and different bits of English culture on the back:

Bollocks!
Abbey Road
Another pint, love? (Something like that anyway)
Piss off! (I really wanted this one)
Wanker! (MixedSignalGirl made me get this one)

We ended up having a pretty good night together, getting along great. That was never our problem when we were together. Our problem was that at different times one or both of us would have our minds someplace else or with someone else. We were always just using each other as placeholders, as safe havens against the unknown, as crutches to help us get through the tough times.

Tonight, we said goodbye and once again went our separate ways. I hope I managed to smooth things over a little. I think I did. She's very sweet, and her feelings are important to me. It's just that, like I've said before, those things she sees in me are not meant for her. In the end, I have to be true to myself. I cannot lie my way through a relationship. It wouldn't be fair to either of us.

I will, however, admit that I've often caught myself imagining a deeper relationship with MixedSignalGirl. Hell, I caught myself doing it tonight. I see in her eyes something I haven't seen in many others - genuine affection. For me of all people. But I also see something else. My own eyes reflected within hers. That's what gives me pause and reminds me that there's a reason we're not together.

My own eyes remain focused a million miles away.

(I'm going to update this to say that there are real reasons that things would never work out for us. It's not all because I'm insane. We both know what those reasons are, and I'm not going to get into them here. Hell, I wouldn't have even written about tonight if she hadn't asked me to.)

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las vegas wrap-up

posted by dave at 3:06 PM in category pictures, travel

My main goal for this trip was to enjoy myself. To not let the admittedly unlikely ruin my trip like it did the last one.

Well the admittedly unlikely did not, in fact, happen, and for that I'm grateful.

I did spend a good part of my time conjuring up various scenarios and planning how I would react. I'm glad that it turned out to be for naught.

So anyway, here are some pictures that I had on my phone.

beer tower thingies

These beer tower thingies were at the Monte Carlo brewpub. They fill them with up to 5 gallons of beer for parties and shit. When I told the bartender that I'd seen them at the Great Lost Bear in Portland he got a little huffy - like he'd invented the things or something.

monte carlo brewpub

Just a pic of the vats behind the bar at the Monte Carlo brewpub.

four of a kind

I got into the superstitious habit of taking a picture of the video poker machine every time it gave me 4 of a kind. This is just one of those times.

strip from ny ny

Just a picture of the strip from the bridge outside New York New York. I took this Tuesday night trying to track down Awesome Larry.

inside the freakin frog

A view of the bar at the Freakin Frog. That girl in the black is smoking hot.

inside the freakin frog

Another view inside the Freakin Frog.

inside nine fine irishmen bar

Took this picture looking up from the bar at the Nine Fine Irishmen while I was drinking with the Irish guys.

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now, where was i wednesday during the day?

posted by dave at 10:42 AM in category pictures, travel

Wednesday was another very long day.

It started out at 4:52 AM when my phone went off. VigilanteGirl calling to tell me that she was in Atlanta and wanting to know where I was. I need to tell her that the next time she decides to wake me up before 5:00 in the morning I'd prefer a nudge to a phone call.

After that I couldn't get back to sleep so I went down and played video poker for a while. I'd found myself a very nice machine that kept giving me 4-of-a-kind. Five times it did this for me, and I won over $600. I would have kept playing but then this old guy sat to my right and destroyed my mojo by moving my ashtray.

Armed with my newfound wealth, I went and rented a car and started driving Southeast.

My original plan had been to just go to Hoover Dam and back, but the trip to the dam only took an hour or so so I decided to spend some time in Arizona.

At one point I saw a sign indicating that I could get to the west rim of The Grand Canyon in only a couple of hours, so that's what I decided to do. I never actually made it to the canyon - at least not to a point where I could look down into it - because all of the indians there kept telling me I needed to pay them $15 before I could move on. Since none of them would offer any kind of receipt or day pass in return I just kept turning around and trying to find another route.

Here are a buttload of pictures I took, mostly of Hoover Dam. I'll probably come back and put in some descriptions of these pics later.

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sunday so far

posted by dave at 5:51 PM in category daily, drink, pictures, travel

Today I kinda impressed myself.

I walked from The Stratosphere to Mandalay Bay, a distance of approximately 664,323.4 miles.

I'd never been to The Stratosphere before. I was pretty impressed with all the restaurants and shit they have there. I guess because they're so far out of the way that they pretty much have to be able to provide for their guests.

looking up

Walking up to the thing is pretty impressive. I mean, you know it's tall, but you might not know that it's fucking tall. Don't feel bad. It's a fine line between the two.

looking down

Down there somewhere is the place I stood when I took the first picture.

retarded people

Here are some people that may be about to die. Or at least buy some new underwear.

some idiots

The elevator operator was telling me that when they first opened up this ride they had problems with it. I asked if he meant that it was flinging people to their deaths and he said no just with the wind, where the whole thing would shut down and leave people hanging there.

strip view

another strip view

Anyway, once I left The Stratosphere I waked down to The Riviera. The BCA tournament is going on and I thought I'd look to see if anyone I knew was there. I did see a couple of people from Louisville, but nobody from Omaha or Seattle or New Orleans or Memphis. I plan to go back sometime this week, and I also called a couple of people to see if anyone I knew was at the tournament.

waterfalls in from of wynns

After The Rio I walked to Wynn's new place and checked it out. Pretty cool, but so crowded that I didn't stick around for very long.

When I left Wynn's I walked and walked and walked and walked and walked and walked and walked and walked and walked and walked and walked to New York New York and went into this place called Nine Fine Irishmen for lunch and some beers.

nine fine irishmen

A pretty beautiful place. I took other pictures but they're all shaky and unviewable, like this one:

shaky bar

I've been thinking about putting a bar in my basement. I don't I could pull something like this off though, what with 7-foot ceilings and all.

Kinsale Irish Lager

(draft) Nowhere on the tap did it have the word lager. That's false advertising as far as I'm concerned, but so is the lack of the phrase watery baby bunny piss. This just might give a Stella a run for its money as the weakest non-American lager in the world.

To wash the taste of that stuff out of my mouth I had a Smithwick's with my lunch, then had another beer that was new to me.

Ballingarry Warehouse Stout

(draft) Lacing doesn't even begin to describe the foam that clung to my glass. A very nice stout - reminded me a lot of Murphy's. There was just a hint of chocolate, but nothing overpowering or pretentious at all. Yummy.

One more thing. The other day I saw a living creature draw its last breath and fall over dead. I thought I'd seen everything after that, but I was wrong. Here's how my fish 'n' chips came packaged:

food as art?

The server told me to just dump the contents of this paper cone onto the plate. I did, but I really felt like I was desecrating a work of art when I did it.

The meal was delicious though.

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finally...

posted by dave at 6:48 PM in category daily, drink, pictures

...the recognition I deserve!

ultimate shirt

Here we see the lovely MisunderstoodGirl modelling the next big thing in fashion.

Also, the NABC surprised us by unveiling a new beer today.

NABC Blonde Abbey

This is what I've been waiting for! A Belgian that won't kill me if I have more than one in a night! Very good, it reminded me of NABC's Tunnel Vision except not quite as sweet. Could use a little more carbonation, and it lacks the appley taste I've become accustomed to from Belgians. I liked it a lot, and I'm looking forward to the next batch to see if they up the carbonation a little.

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just some pics

posted by dave at 6:47 AM in category pictures

Cleaned out some old pictures from my phone this morning.

greenish sky

With this one I was trying to capture how green the sky was after a storm. My grass, which obviously needed mowing, was practically glowing. The camera did not do justice to the green I was seeing.

ground cover

This is some of the landscaping at work. I'd love to know what these bushes are and get some around my house.

you tell me

A few days ago I took my phone out of its holster and saw that it was in camera mode and that it had taken this picture. I have no idea what this is a picture of, but I thought it looked pretty cool.

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ouch

posted by dave at 7:55 AM in category daily, pictures

Got a call from the mechanic about my Monte Carlo today.

So far, they've determined that:

I need a new battery (no surprise there)
The gas in the car went bad over the Winter.
The carburator is probably fucked up because of the bad gas.
There is a mouse nest in the insulation on the hood.
A part of the exhaust system is getting red hot, probably due to a blockage.
This same blockage is probably what caused the split I mentioned before.
The aforementioned mice have chewed several wires.

So far I know I'll be paying $70 for a new battery. After that it gets a little muddy.

If my entire exhaust system needs to be replaced I'm looking at about $1000.

The carburator work is mostly labor and is estimated at $200 to rebuild, or maybe $400 to replace.

For the wiring, he can't really give me an estimate until he surveys the damage done.

Then there's draining the fuel system to get rid of all the bad gas, and there's also the regular tune-up stuff I want done.

I'm starting to think that my initial $2000 estimate is going to be pretty close.

This of course sucks, but it sucks even more right now because I've got two bills I'd really been planning to use my tax refund to catch up on, and my property taxes are due on May 10th.

I need to figure out a way to keep the damn mice out of that car during the Winters. I've thought about installing a cat door but then I imagine I'd have all sorts of woodland creatures in there. Creatures even more destructive than mice.

I miss the days when I was rich.

field and garage

Above is a picture of my childhood neighborhood. The buildings on the right are where my car is getting worked on. The empty field to the left is where my house used to be. This is why I trust these people - I grew up across the street from them. At least I did after the dog beater and his family moved away and their house burned down and the mechanic built his business.

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just some pics

posted by dave at 2:56 AM in category pictures

Here are some pics I've cleaned off my phone.

World's Hottest Girl

It's kind of hard to tell from this picture, but that's WorldsHottestGirl sitting over there in the red room.

Now I've sat everywhere

Just took this picture from the red room. This was the first time I'd ever sat at this table.

lampshade

SpoonsGirl has a purse that exactly matches this lampshade. It's uncanny, really.

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pretty damn cool

posted by dave at 3:02 AM in category pictures

My House

That's my house. Or at least what it looked like in the Spring of 2002.

Today I have a gray roof, and the clubhouse in the backyard is gone.

TerraServer USA

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saturday beer report

posted by dave at 10:05 AM in category daily, drink, pictures

It seems that there was a sporting event of some kind last night. People stayed home to watch, then when it was over, I guess they all went and threw themselves off the Sherman Minton bridge. Whatever people were doing, they weren't at Rich O's.

Here's Rich O's at 8:45 on a Saturday night:

where is everybody

man is it dead or what

LaptopGirl and I used to say, on those nights when Rich O's was dead, that all of the cool people must be at some fantastic party. A party to which we weren't invited. Last night was like I was the one having the party, but nobody felt like coming.

Anyway, the place was dead. I caught a glimpse of CoffeeDude, and DisgustingMakeoutCouple showed up after a while, but other than that it was me and the bartenders. By the time I left at midnight a whopping dozen or so strangers had managed to push aside their grief over some guys scoring more points than some other guys, so the place was only quiet, no longer dead.

To drink, I had (surprise!) an NABC Noble Smoker. DayShiftDude recommended a Schlenkerla Fastenbier so I had a half-pint of that.

Schlenkerla Fastenbier

Supposedly lighter in smoke than Schlenkerla's other rauchbiers, and I guess that's right because I didn't feel like I was eating a charcoal briquette. I'd say it was pretty good for one glass. By the time I finished my second glass I was pretty much smoked out.

I drank my beers in a silence interrupted only by the occasional interloper to the living room area. I had some news on my mind that I was trying to come to grips with. Not sure that I really made any progress, and any that I did make was overshadowed later, so I guess the night was pretty much a wash for me.

Oh, yeah. I stopped and protected VigilanteGirl from some mumbling crazy guy. He was really creepy so I stayed for a while to make sure he didn't come back.

I'm such a stud.

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back home

posted by dave at 4:38 PM in category drink, pictures, travel

Okay, I'm back from my Portland trip.

It was, as I'd expected, a very nice diversion, and a welcome respite from the suprisaphobia I've been experiencing back home. Not once, over the entire weekend, did I find myself jerking my head up to see who had just entered whatever room I occupied.

Portland Snow

The first thing I noticed about Portland was all the snow on the ground. I know they had a pretty substantial storm a couple of weeks ago, but I guess I wasn't expecting there to be between one and two feet covering all of the grassy areas. The photo above is of a snowdrift next to the ramp leading to the rental car desks.

Portland Coast

The weather was beautiful - not a cloud in the sky - for the entire time I was there. It was a little chilly - in the high 40s - during the day but there was not much wind so it was quite nice. Above is my first view of the Atlantic Ocean in several years. I was standing in about a foot of snow when I took this picture. Weird.

Also weird was that all of the dry rocks near the water were just covered with buzzing flies. It was like something out of The Amityville Horror.

Portland Surf

There's just something about the ocean that's always fascinated me. I imagine how the biggest swimming pool, pond, or lake, that I've ever seen would be completely swallowed up by this expanse of water. I imagine how the waves crashing against the rocks could have started halfway around the world. It's just neat. The relative proximity to the ocean is one of the reasons I chose Seattle over Colorado Springs back in 1992 when I was deciding where to move.

Portland Fort

All of these waterfront pictures were taken at a park called Fort Williams or some such. There were a dozen or so of these old structures scattered about. I actually took a lot more pictures but my camera's batteries had given out so they're all dark. I spend about four hours on Friday just exploring the old buildings at this park.

Great Lost Bear Taps

On Friday night I went to The Great Lost Bear, the bar I've heard the most praise about in Portland. I guess I liked it okay. The beer selection was very good, and the layout was something I could see working with a place like Rich O's. I guess my only complaints about the place would be (a) the lack of parking, (b) the crowd, and (c) the food. The latter was greasy and cold - not at all what I was expecting when I ordered seafood in Portland Maine. I guess I should have gone to a real restaurant instead of a bar for dinner.

Anyway, the picture above is of about half of the beer taps at the place. There is another row around that corner to the left.

Great Lost Bear Best Seller Board

They had a board up which listed, in order, the best-selling drafts for the previous month. I thought that was a pretty cool idea.

Great Lost Bear Samples

My first beer of the night was a Harpoon Winter Warmer. More on that later. Next I had a sampler tray consisting of five 5oz beers. I took notes on each one:

Sunday River Alt

A decent, but not great, alt beer. Balance favored the hoppy side, especially in the aftertaste. Looked and smelled great, but the taste was a little disappointing.

Allagash Double Ale

Yes, Virginia, there is indeed such a thing as too much malt. This beer just needed something to balance it out. I don't know what it needed. It had nothing but malt. Seven different kinds according to the web page.

Atlantic Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale

I had high hopes for this one. Blueberry flavor in a beer would definitely be something new and unusual for me. This actually ended up being my least favorite beer of the weekend. It tasted to me like an IPA. If there was any berry component to the flavor it was too subtle for me to detect it behind all the damn hops.

Harpoon Smokey Porter

I told the drunk next to me (he had asked) that I predicted that this would be my favorite beer of the night. I was wrong. The smoke was reminiscent of bacon, or perhaps beef jerky. Probably the only smoked beer that I've ever had that I didn't like.

Gritty's Scottish Ale

Creamy and malty. Very good, and I ended up having a second one. The best lacing I've seen in a long time.

My last beer of the night was another Harpoon Winter Warmer. More on that later. Took a cab back to the hotel but I probably didn't need to.

On Saturday, after getting completely lost about a dozen times trying to get to the "Old Port" tourist area of Portland, I gave up and headed West instead. My plan was to drive through New Hampshire and into Vermont. The thing I found out is that even though these states are pretty close geographically to Portland, you just can't get anywhere very quickly. I ended up turning around after about five hours, only having made it into New Hampshire. Vermont will have to wait until another day.

Once back in Portland, having spent a fruitless hour or so trying to find another bar for Saturday night, I just gave up. The streets in Portland are, I believe, nothing more than paved cow paths from the 1500s. They wind around, merging and splitting, changing direction often. It was difficult to go more than a few blocks without getting lost.

Great Lost Bear Crowd

So I ended up back at The Great Lost Bear for Saturday night.

I had another sampler tray, this time with only three beers:

Smuttynose Robust Porter

With a name like Smuttynose, it has to be good, right? Right. A very strong chocolate aroma and flavor. Like the NABC Haggisdaddy Stout it reminded me of, this would probably be good poured over ice cream

Sheepscot Valley Bold Coast Pemaquid Ale

Thick but fairly mild. Not sure what I was expecting, but this wasn't it. I got a little coffee flavor and a little butterscotch. No aftertaste at all.

Geary's Hampshire Special Ale

Smelled and tasted like an Alt, even though it's supposed to be an English Stong Ale. The only non-Altish characteristic was that the aftertaste was quite bitter - too bitter for my tastes.

Great Lost Bear View

So that was the end of my experimenting. I went back to the one truly great beer that I'd encountered. The beer that I found myself calling CoffeeDude about. The beer that actually made the trip worthwhile.

Harpoon Winter Warmer

The web page says cinnamon and nutmeg. I got none of that. What I got was ambrosia. The most unusual beer I've ever had, and it took me a while to pin down what I was experiencing. Copper colored, good lacing, and an actual flower aroma. The flavor was incredibly indescribable, but I'll try anyway. Take a beautiful woman, have her bathe in lilacs and Mr. Bubble. Now perform oral sex on her. That's how good this beer was.

If my work schedule and my vacation pool would have allowed it, I would have extended my stay in Portland just to keep drinking this beer. Hell, I'm already trying to figure out when I can go back next year, when it will be available again. It's brewed in Boston so maybe that city will be my Easter trip next year. I called CoffeeDude Saturday night and asked him to have Harpoon Winter Warmer written on the board at Rich O's for Roger to see.

Anyway, Saturday night there was this girl sitting by herself at the other end of the bar. I heard HotBartender ask her what was wrong, saying she seemed to be in a bad mood. The girl, who I will call MaineGirl, told HotBartender that she was just fine, and that she didn't know why everyone always thinks she's a grouch.

So this girl is apparently my female counterpart in Maine. I ended up talking with her for several hours while we compared tales about how everyone thinks we're so anti-social. MaineGirl, and of course DrunkGuy from Friday night, were the only people I had any actual conversations with all weekend. MaineGirl reminded me of TrainGirl (who is from Maine so I guess that kind of makes sense) and, like TrainGirl, she had no problem at all having a long conversation with someone she'd just met in a bar.

I went back to the hotel at around midnight, slept fairly well, and arrived back home (pouring down rain in Louisville - surprise - not) at about 3:00. VigilanteGirl was in one of her moods, so that made it official. I was back.

The guess the main question (or the Maine question, ha ha) I had before going on this trip was: Would I be able to enjoy my own company without constantly thinking about missing my friends and my established routines? I'd have to say that I did enjoy myself immensely. I think that anytime you return from a trip and wish that you'd had more time that's a pretty good indicator that you enjoyed yourself. I could have spent several more days in Portland.

I will go back again someday.

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this explains everything

posted by dave at 6:33 PM in category drink, pictures

Okay, here's a picture of me in October 1965.

Me Like Beer

This is what I looked like back then, at least on the outside. It is also, coincidentally, how I sometimes look on the inside here in 2005.

At least my taste in beer has improved since then.

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okay, one more

posted by dave at 10:03 PM in category pictures

For my birthday card, Dina found this picture of me from the future.

me in the future

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picture day

posted by dave at 9:10 PM in category pictures

Today I was digging through all of my picture boxes, looking for one in particular. I didn't find the one I was searching for but I did find some that prove that I used to be a pretty cute kid.

me in 1965

This was taken on my first Mother's Day. Despite what some may think, color film had been invented in 1965. I was just a black & white baby.

me in 1970

Here I was in 1970, apparently having just kacked at my hair with some scissors.

me in 1971

1971. My mom always took me to this evil barber and I always hated it. I think you can see why. Many years later, at my dad's funeral, that same barber had the nerve to try to extort money from me.

me in 1972

Ah, 1972. The Age of Groove may have been coming to an end, but I wasn't going to let it go without a fight. The really neato thing was that I had pants to match this vest. What made it even keener was that my cousins Jeff and Chris had matching outfits. This was the height of my coolness.

me in 1973

This was 1973. The neat thing about this shirt was that it matched everything. I wish I still had one like it.

me in 1975

1975. I kindof look like I might have been hungover here, but I'm pretty sure I wasn't.

me in 1976

The year 1976 was apparently a pretty rough one for me. I obviously used hedge clippers to cut my own hair, and needed a patch on my jacket to remind myself of my own name.

me in 1979

My 8th grade picture from 1979. This was the last decent picture ever taken of me. I remember that shirt. It was one of my all-time favorites. Also, check out the bling around my neck! It was an arrowhead necklace.

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a freakin' madhouse

posted by dave at 12:14 PM in category drink, pictures

Whereas on Friday night the Rich O's crowd seemed fairly typical for a busy Friday night, last night's crowd was all Gravity Head.

Standing room only. If you were lucky enough to find a place to stand.

The place had been invaded by a bunch of Daytonese, and they filled every available nook and cranny. It was only through my charm and good looks that I was able to get a spot on the loveseat within an hour after I arrived.

Gravity Head crowd

Daytonese Invasion

Many of the Rich O's regulars were there as well, crammed into whatever spot they could find (and manage to hang on to) and most of us spent the night exchanging empathetic glances.

As for me, I was pretty much in misery. I don't like crowds. I especially don't like crowds of strangers. I should have left but I'd sort of promised NotGeorge that I'd give him a ride home so I was stuck.

To drink, I had a couple of the NABC Noble Smokers and a Delirium Tremens. The Tremens I had to get from a bottle because the Belgian wave of high gravity beers hasn't started yet. This weekend was mostly about the hops and the stouts. I did, however, manage to have small samples of the following:

Avery "The Beast" Grand Cru
Bell's Batch 6000
Great Divide Oaked Yeti Imperial Stout
Rogue Old Crustacean Barley Wine

Once the Daytonians had left - there were mumblings about skinny-dipping in the hotel pool - CoffeeDude and NotGeorge joined me in the living room area. By that time I'd switched to Diet Coke, but NotGeorge had just ordered a Bell's Batch 6000 so we sat around for a while. It was actually kind of nice to be able to have a conversation. It'd been way too loud earlier. Our conversation consisted mostly of wondering whether ExoticGirl tasted as good as she looked. Neither of us will ever know.

Fairly late in the evening DooRagGirl came in looking all rastafied, and I gave her my sister's e-mail address.

Left at about 12:30, dropped NotGeorge off at his house, and came home.

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pouring down snow

posted by dave at 1:52 AM in category drink, pictures, weather

When MisunderstoodGirl annouced that it was "pouring down snow" I thought it was a pretty odd thing to say.

After driving home in the stuff I can't think of a better way to describe it.

I haven't driven through snow this heavy since I experienced some blow-back in Juneau, Alaska, 10 years ago, and that wasn't officially snow at all.

Snow was piling up on my windshield faster than my wipers could take it off.

But anyway, I obviously made it home, and here I sit.

I had pretty much decided that I wasn't going to Rich O's tonight. The dreadicipation (I just coined that word) was giving me an actual anxiety attack. I was freaked out about the Gravity Head (Rich O's strong beer festival) crowds, I was paranoid about the numerous times I'd been quizzed about my plans for the night, I had gotten to the point where I could only imagine the worst possible outcome if I went to the bar.

While I was quietly having a nervous breakdown at home, however, two things happened.

First, RealTrainGirl contacted me and promised to be my rock if the Gravity Head crowd started to get to me.

Second, if you think I'm going to write about what was second you're wrong. Let's just say that my full Moon theory has been blown to bits.

So I ended up braving Rich O's, getting there at about 10:00.

Gravity Head Crowd

The place was pretty damned crowded, though it wasn't as bad as I'd feared. I'd had the good timing to arrive when the island was unoccupied so I grabbed a seat and RealTrainGirl and MisunderstoodGirl joined me.

To drink, all I had was a couple pints of NABC's new Noble Smoker. I really like it, and I didn't feel at all like experimenting with any other beer. Not tonight anyway.

We ended up staying until 12:30 or so. RealTrainGirl once again impressed me with her ability to drink. MisunderstoodGirl did not emanate a "fuck you asshole" vibe, so that was good.

I had a good night. Much better than it would have been if I'd shut myself in a closet and sucked my thumb at home, as was my original plan.

Oh, yeah. RealTrainGirl told me a little bit of gossip that I found intriguing, and she also agreed with me that a certain dipshit must have been lying to me when he told me that TrainGirl didn't remember me. I of course knew that already, but it was nice to have a second opinion.

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exploring a little

posted by dave at 6:13 PM in category daily, pictures, travel

Today I went on a little trek.

I went to this little town (and using the word town here is quite a stretch) named New Boston.

RealTrainGirl and MisunderstoodGirl had told me about this place and I was bored today so I decided to check it out.

Just driving around and exploring is one of the few things that my ex-wife and I enjoyed together, but the women in my life since my divorce have always found it too boring. As a result I haven't really done a lot of exploring lately.

This little town (there's that word again) is easy to find. Just go like you're going to Caesar's and then keep going another 167 bazillion miles until you get to this:

end of the line

That spot marks where Indiana 111 ends, and if you're sitting where I was as I took this picture, New Boston is behind you and to the left. Right behind the barking dog.

To get home I took some backroads. I know it's actually pretty hard to get lost, but I gave it a hell of a try. I knew I'd eventually hit Hwy 11 or 131 so I basically just kept pointing my truck North as much as the winding roads would allow.

I had fun.

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blah blah blah

posted by dave at 3:04 PM in category drink, pictures

In my never-ending quest to become the most boring person in the world, I present this, yet another entry about going to the bar on Friday night.

Actually, I went to two bars last night.

Woo hoo.

The first one, recommended by some people who's opinions really shouldn't matter to me as much as they do, was this place called Mac's Hideaway.

I was there for thirty, maybe forty seconds.

My new enemy was there, probably hiding from my hatred by avoiding Rich O's, and I didn't see anyone else I knew, so I left.

When I got to Rich O's it was after 10:00, and it was only moderately crowded. I tried to grab a seat on the loveseat but some assholes told me that they might be expecting some people to join them. My official Rich O's regular card must have been lost in the mail so I couldn't pull rank on these jerks, and I sat at the island instead.

some assholes

My first beer was a Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale. I thought I had tried it last week and wanted to give it another try.

The first big mistake was that I hadn't tried it before - it was Goose Island Honker's Ale I'd been thinking of.

The second big mistake was actually trying this Sierra Nevada crap.

I took one sip and decided that it was just too disgusting for me to risk another. I had the bartender take the vile thing away from me and pour me a Guinness instead.

After a while CoffeeDude came in and joined me and I had an NABC Community Dark. I don't know if they've tweaked the recipe or if my tastebuds simply weren't suffering from sensory overload like they usually are, but it tasted different to me. In a good way.

At one point, lo and behold, the assholes did have some people join them in the living room area. I decided to forgive them for their rudeness because (a) they hadn't been lying to me earlier, and (b) their friends consisted of SweetLookingGirl and TooHotGirl.

I chose that nickname for the latter because after she came in I went out to the front area to make sure that NotGeorge had seen her, and to invite him to join me and CoffeeDude. He told me, "Dave, I just can't go in there. She's just too hot."

Indeed.

At one point some young girl came in and sat with us at the island. I've decided to call her HairGirl because she just wouldn't and/or couldn't stop twisting and twirling with her hair.

Okay Dave, time to start wrapping this up.

Once the living room people left, and the temperature dropped about 20 degrees, CoffeeDude, HairGirl, and I went over to the living room area and I had myself a Piraat.

Once the conversation turned back to coffee I got bored and came home.

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that last couple of nights

posted by dave at 10:06 PM in category daily, drink, family, pictures

Okay, so this will be quick because I don't really feel like writing anything right now. Maybe I'll come back tomorrow and add some stuff. Or maybe not.

Friday I had one of those fucking nice and pleasant evenings at Rich O's. Boring boring boring. I'm pretty sure I had a Corsendonk Christmas Ale and a couple pints of Guinness.

On Saturday my sister Dina had arranged for several family and friends to meet up at Rich O's to help usher me into my forties. It was supposed to be a surprise but I ruined it by showing up early, plus I'd already had my suspicions when Dina called me a week before to ask what my Saturday night plans were. I ended up leaving and then coming back in so I could let them surprise me.

surprise

From left to right: Dina, my old friend Eric, Dina's fiancé Kenny, Eric's wife Terri, my sister Neisha, and her husband Chris.

Making later appearances were Dan "Holy Shit" Kruer and his lovely wife Kris. CoffeeDude also came in but I don't think Dina had a hand in that.

My first beer was a Piraat, back on tap after a long absence. After Dan and Kris had arrived, and Eric left the kiddie table, I moved over there and spent a while talking with Terri about books and the intriguing fact that she has single sisters.

CoffeeDude had been recommending a Goose Island Honkers Ale so I had one of those.

Goose Island Honkers Ale

(draft) A great beer for starting out an evening, yet interesting enough to make an entire session out of it. Smooth and malty. Tastes like it should have a higher ABV.

Once Terri had relinquished the throne I moved there and had a Guinness in honor of LaptopGirl, who was of course still absent physically but was nevertheless present in my thoughts.

Also in my thoughts were TrainGirl, gone for months now, and MisundersoodGirl and RealTrainGirl. MisunderstoodGirl is not working there anymore so I fear that I won't see either her or RealTrainGirl very often. Oh yeah, NotGeorge was supposed to be there but was a no-show. He'll be pretty bummed when I tell him that Dina was there.

For my final ceremonial beer of the night I had an Alaskan Smoked Porter and, once everyone else had gone home, I found myself sitting nearly alone with CoffeeDude as the big and little hands met at the top of the clock behind the bar.

So I began this new year in my life as I'd spent most of the previous one - sitting at Rich O's talking with a good friend and enjoying a good beer.

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friday night

posted by dave at 1:00 AM in category drink, family, pictures

"Watch this, CoffeeDude. I bet I can get that girl to come sit with us."

CoffeeDude took a look at the girl at the bar, then took a look at me, then took another look at the girl at the bar, and then gave a little chuckle. "Go for it." CoffeeDude was skeptical.

He was more skeptical when I began flailing my arms and calling out "Hey you!" trying to get her attention.

He was the skepticism king of the universe when, having failed to lure her gaze with my flailing and hey-youing, I wadded up a napkin and threw it at her head.

Hey, girls like that stuff, right?

Right?

Well my aerial bombardment did indeed get her attention, as I'd known it would, and I patted the couch and told her that a seat was available. She got up and made her way over.

We couldn't very well turn CoffeeDude loose upon the world, thinking he'd discovered a new secret of chick-magnetism, throwing stuff at all the women he encountered, so after enjoying a couple of seconds of being CoffeeDude's hero, I introduced him to my sister Dina.

meanddina

Dina's fiancé was out enjoying a boys night out so she came to Rich O's to have a couple of beers with her older brother. Awwww.

Other than this little bit of rarity, it was a pretty tame night. We all sat in the living room area and talked. I had a Gulden Draak and a Delirium Tremens. I introduced Dina to NABC Tunnel Vision, and she seemed to like it.

Also, I guess the place where my uncle and cousin have been doing karaoke has decided to stop for a while, so unless they get another gig somewhere I'll be going straight home from Rich O's.

That's what I did last night.

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friday beer report

posted by dave at 9:56 AM in category general, pictures

I hadn't even planned to go to Rich O's last night.

Well my plans for a night in Cincy fell through, partly because of the uncertain weather forecast but mostly because of MixedSignalGirl's unwavering propensity for indecision.

At around 9:00 RealTrainGirl called from Rich O's demanding to know where I was. I told her I was on my way, and indeed I had been in the process of getting dressed when she called.

Rich O's was just barely standing-room-only when I arrived, with an even mix of regulars and strangers. I stood at the end of the bar talking with RealTrainGirl and GreenBeerDude, who looked like they had a jewel heist or something to go to after the bar closed.

RealTrainGirl and GreenBeerDude

GreenBeerDude was also asking everyone he could find what the best and/or cheesiest pickup lines they'd used and/or heard were. Here are three that came to mind:

That sweater looks great on you. It would look even better on the floor of my bedroom.

(In Las Vegas) This is a city just full of beautiful women, yet you make me stop and gasp for air.

(Lick finger and touch their shirt) Let me help you out of those wet clothes.

Rich O's finally had Rogue Smoke, promised to me since Tuesday, on tap, so that's all I drank. Still very good, and actually becoming my favorite rauchbier because it's not that intense.

After a while the throne and the sofa opened up so we all went over there and I stayed until 12:30 or so mostly listening to everyone else talk but also trading a few text messages with LaptopGirl.

While I was (I thought) wrapping up the night listening to karaoke the phone rang. There was an apology, then an invitation. I actually just got home, so I guess I did get to break out of my rut a little, and I guess things between us are actually progressing a little.

At least until the next time.

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tour of rich o's

posted by dave at 6:48 PM in category general, pictures

entrance

Our tour starts off, appropriately enough, with the main entrance to Rich O's.

loser area

The losers all sit here.

beer board

Upon entering, and briefly checking out the loser area, I usually check the beer board right away.

overflow area

On busy nights the regulars will overflow to this front room. Sometimes I sit here even if the bar area isn't completely full - just to get some breathing room.

entrance proper

To enter Rich O's proper, you pass through this doorway. Every single time someone darkens this door I get a brief spark of hope.

landmark

The toilet seat from the blue bus, a local landmark.

from throne

The view from the throne, where I usually sit if it's available and there aren't any idiots on the sofa or the loveseat.

red room table

One of the two tables in the red room. I couldn't get the whole room because there were people sitting at the other table and I didn't want to take their picture. The red room seems to be mostly used by couples. MixedSignalGirl and I sat here once but I think that's the only time I've ever been in the red room.

the bar

The small four-seater bar. Only pleasant if the place is empty. Plus, it messes up my nerves.

the island

The island, where I usually sit if the living room area is full of strangers. My seat provides a good view of the bar and the living room area.

your host

Your host for this brief tour. I'm drinking a Gulden Draak here in case you're wondering.

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saturday beer report

posted by dave at 1:01 AM in category daily, drink, entertainment, pictures

A little bit different tonight.

Rich O's was my second stop. My first stop will remain private.

Anyway, at Rich O's I had an NABC Tunnel Vision, a Hitachino ricey beer (can't remember the name, but I find it oddly appealing) and finally a Gulden Draak.

Rich O's was moderately crowded but I was able to grab a seat at the bar before my second beer.

One of my friends is in a band, and they were playing a gig at this dive down by the river so I went there. MisunderstoodGirl and OddlyPrettyGirl came in a little after I did and joined me.

charm school dropout

One of my friends being all dainty and ladylike and shit.

OTTO

My friend Tim rockin' away.

While there, I tried my very first Blue Moon Belgian Ale. I actually liked it a lot, but my taste buds were a little overworked from my earlier beers so I'll hold off on doing an official review until another day.

I'm home fairly early because the place where I've been going to listen to karaoke was mysteriously closed.

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cleaning out my pictures

posted by dave at 5:58 PM in category general, pictures

Here are some of the pictures that have accumulated in my camera phone over the past few days.

some idiots

Some strangers at Rich O's

more idiots

More strangers.

more like it

The way I wish it would look, sort of.

bob

My old friend Bob from my Omaha days.

camera shy

This bartender at Rich O's is camera-shy.

camer shy again

So is this one.

beer glass

This glass has a cartoon of a pig flossing its ass with a towel.

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no wonder i'm nearsighted

posted by dave at 8:30 PM in category pictures, ramblings

The other night a guy at Rich O's recommended an author (Ayn Rand) to me that I'd never read before. As I'm always looking for new people to read I made the trip to Barnes and Noble on Saturday to check her out.

Nothing by her on the shelves. I guess she's been inactive lately.

Of course that didn't stop me from spending $250 on books while I was there.

I'm with books the way some women are with shoes and some guys are with tools. I simply cannot leave a bookstore empty-handed.

These are just the books in the basement. I've got two more of these shelves, full of technical books, in my office, and another 50 or so books scattered about the house.

I will say that I've read nearly all of the fiction books. I usually go through a book a week. Right now my unread book stack has about a dozen books on it - including the six I bought on Saturday.

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weekend beer report

posted by dave at 1:04 AM in category daily, drink, family, pictures

Actually more of a Saturday beer report as Friday I stuck to Diet Coke, but let's not get too picky, okay?

Friday night I arrived late, mainly to get some food for my flu-ravaged body. The place was incredibly crowded.

pandemonium

Even after 10:00 it was mostly standing room only.

At one point, however, I did grab a quick seat on the loveseat and I and some people I didn't know got to comparing cell phones.

blondie

I took this picture of the cute blonde sitting on the sofa and sent it to her phone eventually. My first attempt went to some random number and some guy called me back and asked "Who's the blonde? She's hot!"

coffeedude and musicalhippydude

This picture was not from Friday night - it was just in my phone from the week before or something. These are a couple of my Rich O's friends.

oddlyprettygirl

OddlyPrettyGirl paused long enough to smile for the camera.

After I'd left Rich O's and eaten some food I felt a lot better so I went to where my Uncle Wayne does karaoke.

wayne and carol

This is my Uncle Wayne and my Aunt Carol and some Hispanic guy that I don't know.

On Saturday I felt pretty much back to normal so I went to Rich O's and had some half-pints of several beers.

Some other stuff happened but I'm keeping it to myself.

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post-its

posted by dave at 10:33 AM in category pictures, work

People at work give me a hard time about my Post-Its.

postits

They're all important though. Really.

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meanwhile

posted by dave at 10:30 PM in category daily, pictures, weather

It's supposed to get fucking cold tonight. Of course that's not exactly what the weatherguy said, but I'm sure that's what he was thinking.

Because of the fucking cold and the even more fucking cold (fuckinger?) forecast for tomorrow night, I've made a little bed/house/fort for this stray cat that lives under my deck.

Spooky Kitty

She's just the sweetest thing, but I cannot allow her into the house as I'm afraid that she'll get my cats sick.

Normally I don't worry too much about her, but it's supposed to be so fucking cold for the next two nights that I just had to do something.

I took my cat carrier, stuffed a pillow into it, wrapped it in a beach towel, and put it in my garage. My back garage door I propped open about six inches so Spook (the cat) could enter and leave the garage as she saw fit.

So now Spook is laying in her new little shelter, just purring like crazy when I went to check on her. She's just such a good cat. I wish I could find a home for her.

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couple more pics

posted by dave at 7:46 PM in category daily, family, pictures

Well we all ended up driving to my completely snowed-in sister's house for gift exchanges.

oops

Down the road from my house there's this overturned snowplow. Not the best omen.

oops

This is my sister Neisha's road. Actually this is the good part of the road. What doesn't really show up in the picture is that the "plowed" part of the road is still over a foot deep.

An added bonus in this picture is a part of my finger.

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snowed in

posted by dave at 12:03 PM in category daily, pictures, weather

They say Floyd County got 14" of snow. It's really hard to tell with all of the blowing and drifting, but I'd guess that my house got closer to 20".

Just thought I'd put up some pics of what I'm trying to deal with here.

122304snow

This is as far as I got trying to shovel my driveway out from under the multiple layers of snow and ice. Usually one of my neighbors will bring a plow and clear my driveway for me. I'm still hopeful that they'll do it again.

122304snow

I did, however, manage to shovel a path down my walkway. Because of the drifting the snow here was up to 36" deep.

122304snow

The prints I left this morning going to the detached garage to get my snow shovel and look at my useless snowblade mower attachment.

122304snow

My deck always seems to be a magnet for snow.

122304snow

The snow piled up against my basement door - at the North end of the house.

Multiple Christmas activities are being either cancelled or postponed. One that's still on is that I'm supposed to have a lot of people over tomorrow night. If I don't get that driveway cleared visitors should have a real adventure.

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amateur night

posted by dave at 12:23 AM in category drink, pictures

Tonight was the beginning of the Saturnalia Festival at Rich O's.

Unlike Gravity Head and the Hop Festival, I've really been looking forward to this festival. Nearly every beer on the list is one that intrigues me.

As a special bonus, interspersed with my beer ratings in this entry will be some pictures!

My first selection from Rich O's pink Saturnalia menu, and this is no big surprise when you consider my love for Delirium Tremens, was this:

Delirium Noel

(draft) Dark brownish red with a very dense head that lasted forever. A very nice completion to the Delirium triad. Not as much spice as I was perhaps expecting, but very drinkable. More similar to Delirium Nocturnum than to Tremens.

This first beer was consumed while standing at the end of the bar waiting for anyplace to open up where I could sit.

One funny thing during this time - some girl forced her way through the crowd and ordered two glasses of wine! The bartender's eyes rolled so far back in his head I thought he'd turned into a zombie for a second.

Just a couple views of how crowded Rich O's was. These pictures were taken from the kiddie table - the only place I could sit for the first two hours.

some idiots

Once I'd managed to worm my way onto the sofa I was ready for my next selection, a Grottenbier Bruin, or Grotten Brown as the menu listed it.

(draft) A nice spicy aroma that led to a fairly tame-tasting beer. There was a slight mustiness to it that didn't exactly thrill me. By the second half of the glass the head had dissipated so both the spice and the must had gone. What was left was good but not great.

One annoying thing - at one point I looked to my left on the sofa and saw an empty space. That empty space beside me in such a crowded bar reminded me that I'm supposed to be sad, so I got a little sad. Then I moved to the loveseat so some friends of DayShiftDude could have the sofa.

More idiots - but not the people on the loveseat - they are actually pretty cool.

some idiots

My third beer was something which I can't for the life of me remember.

(draft) Fruity and spicy and citrusy. It was the citrus that turned me off this beer.

By the end of the glass I'd warmed to it a little but not enough to have another one of whatever it was as my last beer of the night.

At around 10:00 it got crowded again. This lady's ass didn't help matters.

Ass Lady

My last beer of the night was a Great Lakes Christmas Ale. I've had this before and like it a lot.

DayShiftDude and I talked for most of the night.

DayShiftDude

My lovely self, with ElPresidente in the background. I'm drinking a half-pint of Great Lakes Christmas Ale here. Yummy!

Your Host

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Robitussin Red

posted by dave at 6:30 PM in category daily, pictures

Today I went to Home Depot to check out flooring materials and left with a hundred dollars worth of paint and painting supplies.

I've had this bug up my butt for months about the walls in my house - specifically my hallway. The off-white color just seemed too bland.

A couple of years ago there was a wall where I worked that was painted a pretty cool watermelon color, and I'd always told myself that I should paint some wall in my house with that color.

Well I tried. The paint, which looked very cool on the little "Ruby Ring" sample card I chose has ended up looking very very very red on my walls.

I mean, it really looks like crap, and I don't think that's solely due to the fact that I need to put another coat on.

yuck

I'll put that second coat on tomorrow and cross my fingers.

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