Ha ha!I was going to buy this for Davin, but then I found out they're $135...
Too bad Davin.
Happy Thanksgorging.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Beard Cap
Ha ha!I was going to buy this for Davin, but then I found out they're $135...
Too bad Davin.
Happy Thanksgorging.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Yeah, but can he do Elliot's Exploding-Wine-Glass-Trick?
I busted out the Gyro Ring (aka Jitter Ring, Chatter Ring) at a party last night in an attempt to steal some of the fire out from under the Wii: that I knew would be otherwise dominating the nerdiest of party goers' attentions. I'm happy to say that my friends are at least as 'cool' as they used to be (I definitely am), and many of them really had fun with the toy - and Elliot even invented a new trick... (I wish we had a video of that... Sorry Baker and Marie!) :)
I got one of these at a toy store back in high school, right after the Yo-Yo craze, and recently decided to try to get my hands on one again. Not knowing what the thing was called, it took some creative Google searching to come up with the right item, but I eventually found them for sale (on Ebay) . I'm already as good as I once was, but that's not saying much. I expect that I'll play with it a couple more times in the next month or two, maybe learn a new trick, and then back to the closet it'll go.
But it'll be fun while it lasts.
Friday, November 16, 2007
SGIA '07 - Orlando
Me, working the booth in Orlando.
At the end of last month I got to go to Orlando with 'the guys' here at Northwest Graphic Supply and help out at our Screen Systems booth. Mostly, I acted as a general technician and TJET operator, but I got to try out my share of sales pitches on the passing crowds as well. (Usually my customer interactions went something like, "Oh yeah, that's a great product. What's in it?/What's it used for?/What's the distributor discount? etc... Oh, I don't know, I'm just the booth lackey, but I can have you talk to one of our sales people as soon as one's free... How 'bout this weather?") But by the end of the show I actually felt like I had helped out quite a bit.
These pictures are from inside the Convention Center. Uncrating (above), working the booth (left, below right). Bob, Dave and Ben (and me, in the right corner) are in the picture here to the right. Alan (my boss, the company owner) and John were also at the show, but we took turns manning the booth so everyone had time to wander the floor. You can see Canon has a booth a couple rows behind us, Anatol (a big screen printing press maker) is right next to us, 3M was off to the left a couple rows. Also at the show were Epson, Brother, HP, Graphtec... basically all of the big names in printers/printing, as well as thousands of smaller outfits you've never heard of.
It was pretty cool after all was said and done. And definitely a nice break from the day-to-day type of work I do at the shop. (And we actually got to go to some pretty incredible restaurants for dinner each night too!) I hope that they decide to take me again next time... or maybe I'll have to go as a representative of NWG to one of the international shows I hear my boss talking about.Paris anyone? :)
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Grounds for Impeachment
I started reading this article, Joseph A. Palermo: The Starr Report: How to Impeach a President, not knowing exactly what it was all about, but I quickly guessed where it was going... Still though, I thought the article well written and thought provoking -- enough so that I could realistically consider the points that it raises for the impeachment of our current president.
For the most part, the arguments I've heard for Bush's impeachment have come across as bitterly idealistic and as unhelpfully accusatory as the allegations against Clinton that are noted in the above article. (The Palermo article is mostly about Clinton/Starr, and builds a case against Bush by weakening Starr's and the public's attack of Clinton.) But this article seems sincere, and sincerely worried about the state of our country and it's unfortunate leadership.
And where I'll certainly agree (with my terribly limited knowledge of US and Presidential history) that Bush is the worst President of all time, I can't see him doing anything as horrible as people like Palermo are forecasting... Again, that kind of thinking sounds like 'bitter-liberal' to me... But after reading this article I have to agree, if Clinton deserved impeachment, so does Bush. Not that necssarily I think we should go there.
See, as partisan as this country is, I wouldn't want impeachment to become a trend for every President down the line... Then I suppose it just goes downhill until we have another civil war.
Sorry. Not funny. Thoughts?
For the most part, the arguments I've heard for Bush's impeachment have come across as bitterly idealistic and as unhelpfully accusatory as the allegations against Clinton that are noted in the above article. (The Palermo article is mostly about Clinton/Starr, and builds a case against Bush by weakening Starr's and the public's attack of Clinton.) But this article seems sincere, and sincerely worried about the state of our country and it's unfortunate leadership.
And where I'll certainly agree (with my terribly limited knowledge of US and Presidential history) that Bush is the worst President of all time, I can't see him doing anything as horrible as people like Palermo are forecasting... Again, that kind of thinking sounds like 'bitter-liberal' to me... But after reading this article I have to agree, if Clinton deserved impeachment, so does Bush. Not that necssarily I think we should go there.
See, as partisan as this country is, I wouldn't want impeachment to become a trend for every President down the line... Then I suppose it just goes downhill until we have another civil war.
Sorry. Not funny. Thoughts?
Thursday, October 18, 2007
ZIPskinny
Where are you? ... Who are you? Who are your neighbors? Is my 'hood denser than yours? Population-wise or education-wise? Richer? Culturally or Economically?
ZIPskinny.com has the answers! (In the strictly statistical sense.)
Based on the data from the last census. I found it pretty interesting.
Try popular zips, like 90210...
ZIPskinny.com has the answers! (In the strictly statistical sense.)
Based on the data from the last census. I found it pretty interesting.
Try popular zips, like 90210...
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
So... That shut me up.
Flaming Moe didn't qualify for Nationals 2007, where we likely would have been seeded, like, 5th. Weird? Frustrating? Absolutely. Every time I look at the Nationals seedings I realize I'm still looking for our name. But that's that. The season is over, and we're all still fine (and great Ultimate players). Maybe you can get more out of me in person, but that's all I plan on writing about it.
Fortunately, there's still cool stuff on the internet.
Like this ballerina image.
Apparently, some people can see this spinning one way, and some the other. I can only see it spinning one direction, but I won't tell you which until after you look at it (in case the suggestion could affect how you see it?).
And ok, one more thing about Flaming Moe.
We did have a great season. I'm not going to say that it was so good that not going to Nationals doesn't matter, but we still did get to play with the top teams in competitive games all season, and those are experiences that we shouldn't soon forget.
Best of luck to Poodle, the VBBs, Rackages...
Fortunately, there's still cool stuff on the internet.
Like this ballerina image.
Apparently, some people can see this spinning one way, and some the other. I can only see it spinning one direction, but I won't tell you which until after you look at it (in case the suggestion could affect how you see it?).
And ok, one more thing about Flaming Moe.
We did have a great season. I'm not going to say that it was so good that not going to Nationals doesn't matter, but we still did get to play with the top teams in competitive games all season, and those are experiences that we shouldn't soon forget.
Best of luck to Poodle, the VBBs, Rackages...
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
$499 to Ireland! Inclueds Flight, Car & Hotel!
Another great resource from The NYTIMES Freakonomics blog:
Arthur Frommer Online: Fly/drive Ireland (in winter) for only $499 is again available to each of two persons traveling together, for bookings until September 28
There are lots of great travel ideas and bargains that I shouldn't even be considering right now... but I'll be glad that this site is around someday!
Arthur Frommer Online: Fly/drive Ireland (in winter) for only $499 is again available to each of two persons traveling together, for bookings until September 28
There are lots of great travel ideas and bargains that I shouldn't even be considering right now... but I'll be glad that this site is around someday!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
What I've been saying for years. :)
"People often talk about saving the planet. But really, the planet will be just fine without us, and the issue is more whether our species will be smart enough to survive the climactic and biological changes we are wreaking on ecosystems."
I've been reading the Freakonomics blog on nytimes.com lately, and I came across this article about Global Warming today. Besides finding the above quote (basically echoing the argument that I use against 'environmentalists' when I feel preached at), I thought it interesting to discover that the article was repeatedly suggesting, if not promoting the unpopular?/realistic?/scientific? argument that one person really can't do anything. The real point being that it's up to our governments to do anything that would actually have a planetary effect.
Maybe it's just my personality type, but I find that kind of logical/cynical honesty refreshing. I feel that the One-Person-CAN-Make-a-Difference!-type arguments are generally corny and not-powerful. Sometimes I even think that they hinder the development of the kinds of technologies and legislature that could actually help these situations, because people start to think that turning off the lights is all it'll take... In the end it can really dumb down the issue.
And it seems like these contributors are all sticking with the argument (for action against Global Warming) that [I think] you're stupid not to buy into - no matter what side of the political scale you weigh in on - and that is: No matter what the cause of Global Warming is, it is happening, and it could make life for humans difficult in years to come, so why not try to do something about it? The cause matters in terms of HOW we fight Global Warming (whether it's a naturally occurring temperature fluxuation or completely human-caused, or whatever...), sure, but WHY NOT do something about it either way? The only reason that I see for the massive onslaught of GW Doubters is $. (Dolla dolla bill, y'all.)
And I'll be pissed if in 50 years I find out that all the penguins had to die because the US was too scared to offend Big Oil to not consider the funding and development of alternative technologies.
I've been reading the Freakonomics blog on nytimes.com lately, and I came across this article about Global Warming today. Besides finding the above quote (basically echoing the argument that I use against 'environmentalists' when I feel preached at), I thought it interesting to discover that the article was repeatedly suggesting, if not promoting the unpopular?/realistic?/scientific? argument that one person really can't do anything. The real point being that it's up to our governments to do anything that would actually have a planetary effect.
Maybe it's just my personality type, but I find that kind of logical/cynical honesty refreshing. I feel that the One-Person-CAN-Make-a-Difference!-type arguments are generally corny and not-powerful. Sometimes I even think that they hinder the development of the kinds of technologies and legislature that could actually help these situations, because people start to think that turning off the lights is all it'll take... In the end it can really dumb down the issue.
And it seems like these contributors are all sticking with the argument (for action against Global Warming) that [I think] you're stupid not to buy into - no matter what side of the political scale you weigh in on - and that is: No matter what the cause of Global Warming is, it is happening, and it could make life for humans difficult in years to come, so why not try to do something about it? The cause matters in terms of HOW we fight Global Warming (whether it's a naturally occurring temperature fluxuation or completely human-caused, or whatever...), sure, but WHY NOT do something about it either way? The only reason that I see for the massive onslaught of GW Doubters is $. (Dolla dolla bill, y'all.)
And I'll be pissed if in 50 years I find out that all the penguins had to die because the US was too scared to offend Big Oil to not consider the funding and development of alternative technologies.
Monday, September 10, 2007
2nd place is the first loser?
Heavyweights in Chicago lived up to its name this year with Elite contenders from all over the nation. Going into the tournament Flaming Moe was the 2nd seed to Slow White - we'd seen Slow once in Boston (where Moe won) and once at Spawnfest (where Moe lost). Slow proved themselves the better team once again in Chicago, beating Moe handily, 15-7.
What this means: Unfortunately, barring some disastrous upsets early in the series, Moe doesn't have a shot at a #3 seed going into Nationals.
What this also means: Holy sh!t Moe! So you lost to the [now] #3 team in the nation... That makes us what? The worst team ever to be the 4th best team in the nation? Yeah...whuh? Hell no!
Moe has earned it's place at the top this season. Start owning your successes Moe! Realize who we are. If you're on Flaming Moe 2007, you're on the fastest, toughest, hardest working, best looking team in Mixed Ultimate. It doesn't get much better. It CAN'T get much better than this.
Sure, there's room for improvement, and we're going to make adjustments. But from here on out, for every point and every game, you're going to know - but more importantly, we are going to know - that Flaming Moe is on the field.
P.S. - I don't think that my readership extends very far into the Ultimate world (or the world in general) but for those of you that do read this; yeah, this is a rather candid and personal look at Flaming Moe, but I couldn't be prouder to be the first to tell you how well this team is going to play throughout the 2007 club series.
...So watch out.
What this means: Unfortunately, barring some disastrous upsets early in the series, Moe doesn't have a shot at a #3 seed going into Nationals.
What this also means: Holy sh!t Moe! So you lost to the [now] #3 team in the nation... That makes us what? The worst team ever to be the 4th best team in the nation? Yeah...whuh? Hell no!
Moe has earned it's place at the top this season. Start owning your successes Moe! Realize who we are. If you're on Flaming Moe 2007, you're on the fastest, toughest, hardest working, best looking team in Mixed Ultimate. It doesn't get much better. It CAN'T get much better than this.
Sure, there's room for improvement, and we're going to make adjustments. But from here on out, for every point and every game, you're going to know - but more importantly, we are going to know - that Flaming Moe is on the field.
P.S. - I don't think that my readership extends very far into the Ultimate world (or the world in general) but for those of you that do read this; yeah, this is a rather candid and personal look at Flaming Moe, but I couldn't be prouder to be the first to tell you how well this team is going to play throughout the 2007 club series.
...So watch out.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Spawnfest Elite Highlights.
Flaming Moe went 3 and 3 this past weekend in Washington. We lost close ones to both Shazam Returns and Mischief (again, we lost to them in Boston too), but we also lost to a better looking Slow White (compared to in Boston, where they were still in try-out mode). We had close wins against Brass Monkey and the Flycoons, and a more decisive win against The Horde. I think that it was in the back of many a Moe's mind that we might crack Mischief or Shazam in Washington to go 1 and 1 with them on the pre-series season. Unfortunately, that didn't happen for us... It did, however, happen between us and Slow White when they beat us Sunday morning... So that'll make for an exciting Heavyweights rubber-match.
Someone said that someone said that "[we're] losing to the teams that we're supposed to be losing to this season," and I suppose that's right... however little it seems to matter when you're down by a couple points in the second half... But now, a couple days after the tournament, it does lend some perspective on where Moe is, and where Moe is going this season. And that's exciting too. Turns out I mis-quoted here. The original statement said something about how we were beating the teams we were supposed to be beating... but I'll stand by what I said about us losing as well. :)
Also in Washington, probably the most entertaining game of Ultimate I've ever watched...
The Buzz Bullets of Japan vs. Sockeye.
(and other clips from UltiVillage... the top 5 or so are from last weekend)
The Buzz Bullets (who won Worlds in Australia last year) had two close games against Seattle last week and displayed an incredible array of talent and athleticism - and spirit, despite the games not ending in their favor. Sockeye must have played well to have won both games, but it seems nobody was watching them... I will say one thing though: the reason the Buzz Bullets were so fun to watch (well, besides their awesome spirit), was because you could see them trying their hardest, every second of every point. Sockeye's game was generally dismissed as boring, but they won.... They win. They're a team that wins. By sticking to their game, with only those brief flashes of brilliance when something goes 'wrong'. Then they're right back on track again. Flaming Moe probably aligns more with the Buzz Bullets style of play, but could learn a lot more from Sockeye... Anyway, enough about that. Watch those clips. They're awesome.
Some more pictures of Moe's and other action from Spawnfest/ECCs (thanks for compiling Baker).
Moes:
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=4
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=5
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=11
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=12
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=14
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=17
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=33
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=35
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=83
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=84
Cool:
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=50
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=60
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=64
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=101
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=104
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=105
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=126
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=157
Someone said that someone said that "[we're] losing to the teams that we're supposed to be losing to this season," and I suppose that's right... however little it seems to matter when you're down by a couple points in the second half... But now, a couple days after the tournament, it does lend some perspective on where Moe is, and where Moe is going this season. And that's exciting too. Turns out I mis-quoted here. The original statement said something about how we were beating the teams we were supposed to be beating... but I'll stand by what I said about us losing as well. :)
Also in Washington, probably the most entertaining game of Ultimate I've ever watched...
The Buzz Bullets of Japan vs. Sockeye.
(and other clips from UltiVillage... the top 5 or so are from last weekend)
The Buzz Bullets (who won Worlds in Australia last year) had two close games against Seattle last week and displayed an incredible array of talent and athleticism - and spirit, despite the games not ending in their favor. Sockeye must have played well to have won both games, but it seems nobody was watching them... I will say one thing though: the reason the Buzz Bullets were so fun to watch (well, besides their awesome spirit), was because you could see them trying their hardest, every second of every point. Sockeye's game was generally dismissed as boring, but they won.... They win. They're a team that wins. By sticking to their game, with only those brief flashes of brilliance when something goes 'wrong'. Then they're right back on track again. Flaming Moe probably aligns more with the Buzz Bullets style of play, but could learn a lot more from Sockeye... Anyway, enough about that. Watch those clips. They're awesome.
Some more pictures of Moe's and other action from Spawnfest/ECCs (thanks for compiling Baker).
Moes:
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=4
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=5
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=11
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=12
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=14
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=17
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=33
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=35
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=83
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=84
Cool:
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=50
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=60
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=64
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=101
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=104
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=105
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=126
http://photos. scobelwigginspho tography. com/displayimage .php?album= 73&pos=157
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Post coming soon!
A real post, I mean.
I'm waiting to get some pictures back from our backpacking trip to do anything substantial here, but a quick update:
- The Hagstrom Family Vacation in Lusten was nice. We got to see more of Amy and her kids. It's nice to feel like I know my youngest cousin's personalities a bit better now. It was Änna's first time up there with a large majority of the clan, and she survived it. I understand how the constant 'togetherness' can be a little overwhelming. And especially, I assume, to an in-law. (Weird! I'm an in-law now too!)
- The Montana & Wyoming wilderness was awesome... and cold, and invigorating, and windy, and scary, and goat-filled, and familiar... I had a lot of good memories and experiences come back from the backpacking trip I took 10 years ago! I'm glad that my next trip will [very likely] be much sooner than that. (Davin, we should do that again! Dad, hope you can come with us next time too!) Unfortunately we got word two days ago that after we left early (to come back to work, etc), Jeff severely tore his quad (OUCH!) coming back down the mountain and had to be evacuated by horse... they finally got back late last night and Jeff has surgery scheduled for next Tuesday. I hope that all goes as well as it can!
- And we leave for Washington state tomorrow afternoon! Saturday/Sunday tournament in Burlington. Monday, a day in Anacortes on the WA coast... maybe some whale watching?
- Lastly, something cool. Check out this 'reverse graffiti'. They can't arrest you for cleaning up!
I'm waiting to get some pictures back from our backpacking trip to do anything substantial here, but a quick update:
- The Hagstrom Family Vacation in Lusten was nice. We got to see more of Amy and her kids. It's nice to feel like I know my youngest cousin's personalities a bit better now. It was Änna's first time up there with a large majority of the clan, and she survived it. I understand how the constant 'togetherness' can be a little overwhelming. And especially, I assume, to an in-law. (Weird! I'm an in-law now too!)
- The Montana & Wyoming wilderness was awesome... and cold, and invigorating, and windy, and scary, and goat-filled, and familiar... I had a lot of good memories and experiences come back from the backpacking trip I took 10 years ago! I'm glad that my next trip will [very likely] be much sooner than that. (Davin, we should do that again! Dad, hope you can come with us next time too!) Unfortunately we got word two days ago that after we left early (to come back to work, etc), Jeff severely tore his quad (OUCH!) coming back down the mountain and had to be evacuated by horse... they finally got back late last night and Jeff has surgery scheduled for next Tuesday. I hope that all goes as well as it can!
- And we leave for Washington state tomorrow afternoon! Saturday/Sunday tournament in Burlington. Monday, a day in Anacortes on the WA coast... maybe some whale watching?
- Lastly, something cool. Check out this 'reverse graffiti'. They can't arrest you for cleaning up!
Monday, July 30, 2007
"...and myyy, how soft your hands are!"
So last week was kind of unique. I got to go to Phoenix on a work trip Wednesday night through Friday night for a Dealer Training Course at US Screen Print & Inkjet Technology.
First, somehting about the Phoenix area:
I could not live there. No way. And it's not just the heat. (It was really hot though. About 100 each day, PLUS it was humid, which was unusual, but I guess it happens for a couple weeks each year.) But that heat makes the landscape really... well... UGly. Yeah, with a capital 'UG'. I know it can't be that UGly everywhere, but as far as my eyes could see beyond the city, everywhere we went, it was just this barren, rocky, red/brown/grey, dusty, hilly pile of a landscape. None of that beautiful desert you might see on nature programs either. No dunes. No canyons or rock formations. Just dry piles of rock and dirt.
I guess I'm used to seeing natural greens (grass, trees) when I look out my window... the nature that we have around here is somewhere that I want to get away to. To relax, run around, whatever. From what I saw (and again, I'll admit that my views were limited... I saw nothing like the Grand Canyon area I've been to before) The Outdoors around Tempe and Phoenix looked only like a place you'd get away to... to die. :) Driving back to the airport on Friday, I realized for myself what you hear all the time about how 'there just should not be a major city out on that desert'. It really looked like the surface of an uninhabitable planet. Like I wouldn't even be able to breathe out there. The Outdoors, as I imagine them, is something I value too much to ever live that remotely from it.
The actual city of Tempe, where we stayed each night, seemed nice enough. (We never got a chance to see much of Phoenix itself.) And the people at the Screen Institute, as they call it, were pretty cool. Most of our days were spent in a classroom setting. We learned about everything from inks and maintenance, to artwork and software, to what the competition has out there. We got to see some of their bigger printers in action. We met Scott Fresner. (He's like a celebrity in the screen print business.) And we ate. A lot.
The hotel that they had us up in served a full breakfast. Eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles, yogurt, fruit, cereal, juices, toast, pastries. So that was awesome. At The Institute, they brought in lunch each day, and they also had cookies, dough nuts and bagels around all the time to snack on. Thursday night they took us out to dinner, which I've learned means - start by 6 with rounds and rounds of free drinks for everybody, then eat a little, then go out drinking again - if you're on a business trip. Lots of food and booze went on not only US Screen's company card last week, but also the Northwest Graphic's card for Wedneday's and Friday's evening meals.
I don't think I'm cut out to be a salesman. I snuck off to bed earlier than the others each night. (Actually, both Wednesday and Thursday night I stayed up watching American Gladiators on ESPN classic. What a great show.) I had good trip over all, and it was definitely nice to break up the routine. I don't think I'd spend any of my own money to get back to Phoenix though.
--
Back at home Saturday, Änna and I decided to start in on our landscaping project. Our plan is to tear down half of the retaining wall that separates our yard from our garage, and then build it back up, but parallel to the house instead of curved out towards the alley. Our goal is to gain both more usable yard-space AND more driveway-space, which may not seem possible, but you'd get what we meant if you saw the yard. This, I recognize, will be a whole different kind of 'work' than the couple of days I'd just spent in Phoenix.... Like Boston's Big Dig, only without the tunnels and car crushing ceiling panels. :) Eventually a privacy fence and some more soft-scaping (plants, etc) would be nice, but we'll see what our budget allows.
I put in something like 6 hours Saturday and 11.5 hours Sunday of taking down 70 or so of the 50 lb. stones, stacking them up, digging out the new shape, and loading out fill. Last night my hands felt hot, bloated and raw because I was too tough to put on gloves after so many years of working on a landscape crew without them. And today my body feels like I played a tournament over the weekend, or at least had a really good Acceleration workout. I also lost the 4 lbs that I gained 'working' in AZ. :) I can't help but be amazed at my[former]self for being able to do that kind of work every day, every summer, for 7 years.... and I'm SUPPOSED to be in good shape right now! But I guess it's just a different kind of fitness.
We forgot to take before pictures, but maybe I'll get something up here as the work progresses. It will be pretty sporadic though. For the month of August anyway we'll be out of town quite a bit. There's our backpacking trip next week, the Hagstrom family Lutsen trip, the Spawnfest tournament in Washington state... But I guess that building a rock wall would be a good, symbolic way of spending our 1 year anniversary coming up at the end of this month!
First, somehting about the Phoenix area:
I could not live there. No way. And it's not just the heat. (It was really hot though. About 100 each day, PLUS it was humid, which was unusual, but I guess it happens for a couple weeks each year.) But that heat makes the landscape really... well... UGly. Yeah, with a capital 'UG'. I know it can't be that UGly everywhere, but as far as my eyes could see beyond the city, everywhere we went, it was just this barren, rocky, red/brown/grey, dusty, hilly pile of a landscape. None of that beautiful desert you might see on nature programs either. No dunes. No canyons or rock formations. Just dry piles of rock and dirt.
I guess I'm used to seeing natural greens (grass, trees) when I look out my window... the nature that we have around here is somewhere that I want to get away to. To relax, run around, whatever. From what I saw (and again, I'll admit that my views were limited... I saw nothing like the Grand Canyon area I've been to before) The Outdoors around Tempe and Phoenix looked only like a place you'd get away to... to die. :) Driving back to the airport on Friday, I realized for myself what you hear all the time about how 'there just should not be a major city out on that desert'. It really looked like the surface of an uninhabitable planet. Like I wouldn't even be able to breathe out there. The Outdoors, as I imagine them, is something I value too much to ever live that remotely from it.
The actual city of Tempe, where we stayed each night, seemed nice enough. (We never got a chance to see much of Phoenix itself.) And the people at the Screen Institute, as they call it, were pretty cool. Most of our days were spent in a classroom setting. We learned about everything from inks and maintenance, to artwork and software, to what the competition has out there. We got to see some of their bigger printers in action. We met Scott Fresner. (He's like a celebrity in the screen print business.) And we ate. A lot.
The hotel that they had us up in served a full breakfast. Eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles, yogurt, fruit, cereal, juices, toast, pastries. So that was awesome. At The Institute, they brought in lunch each day, and they also had cookies, dough nuts and bagels around all the time to snack on. Thursday night they took us out to dinner, which I've learned means - start by 6 with rounds and rounds of free drinks for everybody, then eat a little, then go out drinking again - if you're on a business trip. Lots of food and booze went on not only US Screen's company card last week, but also the Northwest Graphic's card for Wedneday's and Friday's evening meals.
I don't think I'm cut out to be a salesman. I snuck off to bed earlier than the others each night. (Actually, both Wednesday and Thursday night I stayed up watching American Gladiators on ESPN classic. What a great show.) I had good trip over all, and it was definitely nice to break up the routine. I don't think I'd spend any of my own money to get back to Phoenix though.
--
Back at home Saturday, Änna and I decided to start in on our landscaping project. Our plan is to tear down half of the retaining wall that separates our yard from our garage, and then build it back up, but parallel to the house instead of curved out towards the alley. Our goal is to gain both more usable yard-space AND more driveway-space, which may not seem possible, but you'd get what we meant if you saw the yard. This, I recognize, will be a whole different kind of 'work' than the couple of days I'd just spent in Phoenix.... Like Boston's Big Dig, only without the tunnels and car crushing ceiling panels. :) Eventually a privacy fence and some more soft-scaping (plants, etc) would be nice, but we'll see what our budget allows.
I put in something like 6 hours Saturday and 11.5 hours Sunday of taking down 70 or so of the 50 lb. stones, stacking them up, digging out the new shape, and loading out fill. Last night my hands felt hot, bloated and raw because I was too tough to put on gloves after so many years of working on a landscape crew without them. And today my body feels like I played a tournament over the weekend, or at least had a really good Acceleration workout. I also lost the 4 lbs that I gained 'working' in AZ. :) I can't help but be amazed at my[former]self for being able to do that kind of work every day, every summer, for 7 years.... and I'm SUPPOSED to be in good shape right now! But I guess it's just a different kind of fitness.
We forgot to take before pictures, but maybe I'll get something up here as the work progresses. It will be pretty sporadic though. For the month of August anyway we'll be out of town quite a bit. There's our backpacking trip next week, the Hagstrom family Lutsen trip, the Spawnfest tournament in Washington state... But I guess that building a rock wall would be a good, symbolic way of spending our 1 year anniversary coming up at the end of this month!
Monday, July 16, 2007
Cavalier de Moto
On Friday I took a [very] long lunch to drive up to the DMV/DVS testing station in Arden Hills. Basically, it was a 40 minute scoot down Lexington, each way... Definitely the most scooting I'd done at a time, or in a day. If better prepared (goggles, long-sleeves) I could see how a cross-country scoot would be fun, although a day-long trip would take a lot of stopping (for gas, and to rest), and with the restricted top-speed you really wouldn't get all that far. Someday though, someday.
Anyway, I took the scooter (the 'bigger', 150cc one, obviously) up to Arden Hills to take my motorcycle license road test. Without the full motorcycle license (with my bigger-than-50cc engined scooter) I can't ride at night, or with a passenger, or without a helmet, or go on a highway. Not that I mind those last two, but riding after sunset, and with someone on the back is something I want to do.
When I pulled up there were 3 dudes already waiting, posed by their bikes... 2 choppers and a crotch-rocket... "Great," I thought, whining up on my Honda. "I'm totally the tool on the scooter." Fortunately though, there ended up being 3 or 4 scooter riders that showed up by test time.
The instructor called attendance and gave us our testing order, I was to be second.
This is what the test consisted of:
1. The Sharp Left-Hand Turn Through Cones, Followed by Braking Test in Which You Must Smoothly Come to a Stop with Your Front Tire Resting in The Box test.
2. The Weaving Through Cones and then Making a Right U-Turn without Touching the Lines test.
3. The Quick-Stop Test in Which You Must Maintain 15 M.P.H Through the Cones and then Stop in an Appropriate Amount of Time test.
4. The Swerve Test that is Similar to the Quick-Stop Test in that You Must Maintain 15 M.P.H. Through the Cones, but then Swerve to Either the Right or Left Without Touching the Lines, or Crashing test.
Not bad, right? That's what I thought when I saw it on paper too. But looking at the course in person for the first time, I was like, "Dang! Those cones are really close together."
I was nervous.
And so was the first guy, on his crotch-rocket. You could tell. And I didn't think these other guys with there big fancy motorcycles COULD get nervous. I mean, come on. You OWN a MOTORCYCLE, MAN! But I guess that didn't matter. Because he failed. The jerk. Fails right in front of me on the slaloms. He went off course, missed a cone, and touched his foot down. That's 2 strikes. And that's enough at the DMV.
One up, one down.
My turn.
I scoot over to the starting T. ('Whiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnne.')
I take a deep breath.
And I perform. Beautifully.
I become one with the bike. I no longer have feet, but wheels. And I caress the pavement. It caresses back, urging me along. Through the cones and lines that are no longer obstacles, but ornamentation. The natural beautifiers of my habitat. I am in my element. The course begins to move beneath me as if I am sitting still. I am the Sun in a pavement universe.
And then... "Here's your paperwork," I hear faintly, as if spoken by a flea, or an ant. "You can go finish up in the office."
"Ok," I say, remembering human language.
I go to the office and wait in line. For humility's sake, I say to myself, knowing that no piece of paper or social institution's 'endorsement' could tell me now what I am, or am not.
Bjorn Hagstrom
cavalier de moto
Anyway, I took the scooter (the 'bigger', 150cc one, obviously) up to Arden Hills to take my motorcycle license road test. Without the full motorcycle license (with my bigger-than-50cc engined scooter) I can't ride at night, or with a passenger, or without a helmet, or go on a highway. Not that I mind those last two, but riding after sunset, and with someone on the back is something I want to do.
When I pulled up there were 3 dudes already waiting, posed by their bikes... 2 choppers and a crotch-rocket... "Great," I thought, whining up on my Honda. "I'm totally the tool on the scooter." Fortunately though, there ended up being 3 or 4 scooter riders that showed up by test time.
The instructor called attendance and gave us our testing order, I was to be second.
This is what the test consisted of:
1. The Sharp Left-Hand Turn Through Cones, Followed by Braking Test in Which You Must Smoothly Come to a Stop with Your Front Tire Resting in The Box test.
2. The Weaving Through Cones and then Making a Right U-Turn without Touching the Lines test.
3. The Quick-Stop Test in Which You Must Maintain 15 M.P.H Through the Cones and then Stop in an Appropriate Amount of Time test.
4. The Swerve Test that is Similar to the Quick-Stop Test in that You Must Maintain 15 M.P.H. Through the Cones, but then Swerve to Either the Right or Left Without Touching the Lines, or Crashing test.
Not bad, right? That's what I thought when I saw it on paper too. But looking at the course in person for the first time, I was like, "Dang! Those cones are really close together."
I was nervous.
And so was the first guy, on his crotch-rocket. You could tell. And I didn't think these other guys with there big fancy motorcycles COULD get nervous. I mean, come on. You OWN a MOTORCYCLE, MAN! But I guess that didn't matter. Because he failed. The jerk. Fails right in front of me on the slaloms. He went off course, missed a cone, and touched his foot down. That's 2 strikes. And that's enough at the DMV.
One up, one down.
My turn.
I scoot over to the starting T. ('Whiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnne.')
I take a deep breath.
And I perform. Beautifully.
I become one with the bike. I no longer have feet, but wheels. And I caress the pavement. It caresses back, urging me along. Through the cones and lines that are no longer obstacles, but ornamentation. The natural beautifiers of my habitat. I am in my element. The course begins to move beneath me as if I am sitting still. I am the Sun in a pavement universe.
And then... "Here's your paperwork," I hear faintly, as if spoken by a flea, or an ant. "You can go finish up in the office."
"Ok," I say, remembering human language.
I go to the office and wait in line. For humility's sake, I say to myself, knowing that no piece of paper or social institution's 'endorsement' could tell me now what I am, or am not.
Bjorn Hagstrom
cavalier de moto
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Sick List '07
Well, it's Tuesday, and that means that we have Acceleration training . It'll be my third session tonight, and I still get a little nervous about how I'll manage on the treadmill and doing all of those plyos. Really, I don't have any reason to be nervous. From what I've experienced so far, the training is much like a good high school XC workout, and I enjoy myself for most of the hour or two that we're there. Maybe I'm just going to be a bit apprehensive until I join the slew of people who have gotten sick so far this year... maybe puking at Acceleration is just a big milestone looming in front of me.
The Sick List '07:
Jeff - Well, duh. (He pukes all the time working out.)
Shwa - Seemed ashamed to admit it, but I might envy him.
Moss - Got the most out of that first workout.
Pat - Didn't fully 'lose it', but probably would have if he tried to get up from that chair after the tread mill.
Jeanine - Couldn't throw up, but wanted to at last Friday's workout.
Even in writing this list, I get the feeling that these people have been inducted to some hall.... But I haven't decided what adding my name to that list would feel like. (Fame or shame?) I guess there's always the chance that I'll find out tonight.
The Sick List '07:
Jeff - Well, duh. (He pukes all the time working out.)
Shwa - Seemed ashamed to admit it, but I might envy him.
Moss - Got the most out of that first workout.
Pat - Didn't fully 'lose it', but probably would have if he tried to get up from that chair after the tread mill.
Jeanine - Couldn't throw up, but wanted to at last Friday's workout.
Even in writing this list, I get the feeling that these people have been inducted to some hall.... But I haven't decided what adding my name to that list would feel like. (Fame or shame?) I guess there's always the chance that I'll find out tonight.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
iWant
Man do I want an iPhone.And I swear that I'm not just blinded by the hype...
Ok, don't believe me? For every negative aspect of the device, I bet I can list something that makes it worth buying. Just try me...
---
The iPhone is only available through AT&T (formerly Cingular).
Awesome! I already use AT&T! Sucks for you if you don't.
The iPhone only has 4 or 8gigs of storage.
Hey, that's 4 or 8gigs more than my phone now has!
You can't use the iPhone wearing gloves. It requires skin contact.
Cool. How does it know that? (Take off your gloves!)
There aren't any games on the iPhone.
I hear the internet has games.
But the iPhone's browser doesn't support Java, Flash...
Yet. Doesn't *yet* support...
The AT&T Edge network (for internet) is slow and outdated. The next-gen. iPhone will be on a faster connection.
You're slow and outdated!
And for $500-600, you could get a iPod video and a new smart phone or a Blackberry.
Ok, shut up. You're missing the point.
---
Well, and seriously you are, if you're one of the people out there telling everyone they're stupid to buy, or buy into, the iPhone. Of course there's going to be something better in a couple of years. When hasn't that been the case with consumer technology? I actually believe that Apple is delivering pretty much what they said they would be when they announced the iPhone last year. They're asking a pretty high price, but nothing worth complaining about. The real money spent is on the plans with AT&T anyway, and here, I'm surprised to say, things actually look pretty good. $60/month for all the minutes I could use, all the texting I'd ever do, and unlimited data (internet). Maybe not enough for some, but for me, that'd work. Especially when you consider the combined cost of voice and data plans for a Blackberry. Good luck staying under $80/month.
So what's stopping me? The fact that I don't actually NEED any of the things this phone offers (that took me a while to come to terms with), so even if I'm getting a good deal, or my money's worth, it's still a good deal of my money.
So maybe if I rake in a lot of money doing freelance, or I find $600 in my sweatpants pocket I'll go get in line at the nearest Apple or AT&T store... Otherwise, if you get one, could I just hold it for a while? Thanks.
Monday, June 25, 2007
2007 Boston Invitational
This kind of says it all:
http://upa.org/scores/tourn.cgi?div=68&id=3537
Or maybe it doesn't if you're unfamiliar with the UPA Score Reporter, or the Club Mixed landscape... (Hint: Those are considered 8 of the very top mixed teams in the nation. Look at our seed going into the tournament, and look at the final standings.)
Yeah, we did very well.
Exactly HOW well we did is just sinking in too. Especially considering how much room for improvement there is on our team (just having a full roster would improve us for our next big tourney). Certainly it's possible (maybe even likely) that the other teams we played in Boston will improve as much as I see Moe improving by the time the series rolls around. But even if that's the case, it feels like Moe is going to have a much more competitive, productive and meaningful season than ever before.
Speaking of productivity - I'm starting Acceleration training tomorrow. Yikes.
I'm still a little worried about burning out physically, but I should hit my peak just around the Spawnfest tournament (Burlington, WA) in August, which is pretty much ideal. Between then and now... I just hope I have all the energy that I want for practice, etc... not to mention life in general. (I think Jeff has me a little over-anxious about his sprint-and-jump-'til-you-puke training stories from Acceleration.)
I am really looking forward to having a more structured workout program though. The idea of having an authoritative training figure (like it was to have a coach) back in my athletic life sounds good. We'll see how it goes.
http://upa.org/scores/tourn.cgi?div=68&id=3537
Or maybe it doesn't if you're unfamiliar with the UPA Score Reporter, or the Club Mixed landscape... (Hint: Those are considered 8 of the very top mixed teams in the nation. Look at our seed going into the tournament, and look at the final standings.)
Yeah, we did very well.
Exactly HOW well we did is just sinking in too. Especially considering how much room for improvement there is on our team (just having a full roster would improve us for our next big tourney). Certainly it's possible (maybe even likely) that the other teams we played in Boston will improve as much as I see Moe improving by the time the series rolls around. But even if that's the case, it feels like Moe is going to have a much more competitive, productive and meaningful season than ever before.
Speaking of productivity - I'm starting Acceleration training tomorrow. Yikes.
I'm still a little worried about burning out physically, but I should hit my peak just around the Spawnfest tournament (Burlington, WA) in August, which is pretty much ideal. Between then and now... I just hope I have all the energy that I want for practice, etc... not to mention life in general. (I think Jeff has me a little over-anxious about his sprint-and-jump-'til-you-puke training stories from Acceleration.)
I am really looking forward to having a more structured workout program though. The idea of having an authoritative training figure (like it was to have a coach) back in my athletic life sounds good. We'll see how it goes.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
the raw story
I'm not entirely sure how accurate, or slanted, the views are over at rawstory.com, but I've been directed there twice by digg.com following interesting sounding headlines... Such as this one: "Cheney tells agency that Vice President's office is not part of the executive branch."
...ok, they're definitely slanted. But there seems to be some worthwhile content on the site. If nothing else, this was at least another endorsement of digg.com.
*Going to Boston for the weekend... wish us luck!
...ok, they're definitely slanted. But there seems to be some worthwhile content on the site. If nothing else, this was at least another endorsement of digg.com.
*Going to Boston for the weekend... wish us luck!
Monday, June 18, 2007
Tidbit.
A bullet shot from a perfectly level gun will hit the ground in the same amount of time as one dropped straight down, from the height of the barrel.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Poultry Days 2007
By far, the best Ultimate trip to Ohio that I've ever experienced. (In college I went to a tournament in Ohio, and with all of the crappy traffic we hit, and the crappy games that we played, I vowed never to return to that state... I've obviously, and gratefully gone back on that pledge. Flaming Moe and Poultry Days have saved Ohio for me.)
At the end of last week, Änna and I suddenly realized that we were actually going to play Ultimate - at a tournament - with Flaming Moe! ...something that we felt we hadn't done in a really long time... (7 months!) ...and something that we hadn't realized we'd been missing as much as we had.
Bright and early Friday morning, with expectations high, we got on the road.
The trip was relatively quick, and uneventful... which was great. We picked up Alicia in Rochester on the way down, ate some fast food, listened to some Dan Brown... We got into Versailles with enough light to set up tents and hang out/throw for a bit, before going to bed (early - like, 10pm... maybe trying to sleep a little extra for those who wouldn't be arriving for another couple hours).
Saturday we were matched up against a variety of teams that weren't as good as we were. :) Where every once and a while there would be a player on the other team that could match some of our players in individual skills/talent/speed, no team could match the cohesive offense and stifling team defense that Moe is already showing this early in the season. All of the tryouts vying for the last few spots on the team played well, both generally, and with in the Moe O and D systems. I do not envy the captains in their upcoming decisions.
Saturday night was fun. Much food was eaten. Lasagna, breadsticks, cheeseburgers, apple sauce... funnel cake! Watching Alicia in the All-Star game. Awkwardly walking through the carnival, waiting for it to get as fun as it looked. :) Circling back up at the tents, Moes expressing love via sarcasm. (Good point in your email, Dave, about how this can translate to the field.) Also, pistachios and vanilla wafers.
Sunday morning started off a little weird. The TD went nuts at us because we went into a huddle for a quick talk when the game was supposed to start. Instead of just letting us start a minute late, he yelled at us to get seven on the line, argued with us about the importance of starting on time, and caused us to start the game 2 minutes late. Pick your battles, dude. Anyway, Dave later talked to him and he regretted the incident, blaming the pressures of TDing for his attitude.
Then a major blow - Anton dislocates his shoulder laying out for a deep pass. It looked really painful. That sucks. Especially for Anton as one of the last few tryouts. I have no idea what the recovery process can be like for a dislocated shoulder (probably depends on if/what he tore), but I hope he can bounce back from this.
We got a bit down, and down on each other after this, and it showed in the game. Even up 7-4 at half some of us looked like we'd not only just lost the game, but that we'd caught our own teammates kicking puppies behind the wood pile on the other sideline. Dave said something like, "Come on guys! We're BFFs! We're winning! And those were evil puppies!" And everybody got there heads on straight to finish the game.
The next game we had was against a much higher caliber team. The kind of caliber that Moe most enjoys playing against. There were great plays coming from both teams, making the game easily the most exciting to both play in and watch. It seemed like we traded points in groups of three. Us, them, break, break. After our last run we were tied at 10s, they take a time out, and eventually score the last three. It'd been better if the pattern wouldn't have stuck there at the end of the game, but start-to-finish, each point was played hard, every disc contested, so I'm still happy with the result. Quarters finish for our first tournament.
Highlights: Mike and Elliot had some memorable layouts. Jaime ('that tiny girl!') kept beating everyone covering her. John was good in the air on 'O'. Mike's pulls. Jeanine and I got Callahans. Änna flicking everybody off.
I shouldn't have gone there...
The drive home's highlight was Ruby Tuesdays. We gorged on salad bar and burgers for a good hour. We got home just after 1am, which is so much better than 5am (although I think I'd still be able to blog at work either way). Meeting tonight to decide the final '07 team. I don't see how it can go smoothly. :) But I'm excited for the next tournament either way.
*Oh, and maybe I'll bring the video camera to check out footage from the weekend. I don't think I got anything awesome, but it could still be fun. (Could a Video Blog Post be on the horizon?!)
At the end of last week, Änna and I suddenly realized that we were actually going to play Ultimate - at a tournament - with Flaming Moe! ...something that we felt we hadn't done in a really long time... (7 months!) ...and something that we hadn't realized we'd been missing as much as we had.
Bright and early Friday morning, with expectations high, we got on the road.
The trip was relatively quick, and uneventful... which was great. We picked up Alicia in Rochester on the way down, ate some fast food, listened to some Dan Brown... We got into Versailles with enough light to set up tents and hang out/throw for a bit, before going to bed (early - like, 10pm... maybe trying to sleep a little extra for those who wouldn't be arriving for another couple hours).
Saturday we were matched up against a variety of teams that weren't as good as we were. :) Where every once and a while there would be a player on the other team that could match some of our players in individual skills/talent/speed, no team could match the cohesive offense and stifling team defense that Moe is already showing this early in the season. All of the tryouts vying for the last few spots on the team played well, both generally, and with in the Moe O and D systems. I do not envy the captains in their upcoming decisions.
Saturday night was fun. Much food was eaten. Lasagna, breadsticks, cheeseburgers, apple sauce... funnel cake! Watching Alicia in the All-Star game. Awkwardly walking through the carnival, waiting for it to get as fun as it looked. :) Circling back up at the tents, Moes expressing love via sarcasm. (Good point in your email, Dave, about how this can translate to the field.) Also, pistachios and vanilla wafers.
Sunday morning started off a little weird. The TD went nuts at us because we went into a huddle for a quick talk when the game was supposed to start. Instead of just letting us start a minute late, he yelled at us to get seven on the line, argued with us about the importance of starting on time, and caused us to start the game 2 minutes late. Pick your battles, dude. Anyway, Dave later talked to him and he regretted the incident, blaming the pressures of TDing for his attitude.
Then a major blow - Anton dislocates his shoulder laying out for a deep pass. It looked really painful. That sucks. Especially for Anton as one of the last few tryouts. I have no idea what the recovery process can be like for a dislocated shoulder (probably depends on if/what he tore), but I hope he can bounce back from this.
We got a bit down, and down on each other after this, and it showed in the game. Even up 7-4 at half some of us looked like we'd not only just lost the game, but that we'd caught our own teammates kicking puppies behind the wood pile on the other sideline. Dave said something like, "Come on guys! We're BFFs! We're winning! And those were evil puppies!" And everybody got there heads on straight to finish the game.
The next game we had was against a much higher caliber team. The kind of caliber that Moe most enjoys playing against. There were great plays coming from both teams, making the game easily the most exciting to both play in and watch. It seemed like we traded points in groups of three. Us, them, break, break. After our last run we were tied at 10s, they take a time out, and eventually score the last three. It'd been better if the pattern wouldn't have stuck there at the end of the game, but start-to-finish, each point was played hard, every disc contested, so I'm still happy with the result. Quarters finish for our first tournament.
Highlights: Mike and Elliot had some memorable layouts. Jaime ('that tiny girl!') kept beating everyone covering her. John was good in the air on 'O'. Mike's pulls. Jeanine and I got Callahans. Änna flicking everybody off.
I shouldn't have gone there...
The drive home's highlight was Ruby Tuesdays. We gorged on salad bar and burgers for a good hour. We got home just after 1am, which is so much better than 5am (although I think I'd still be able to blog at work either way). Meeting tonight to decide the final '07 team. I don't see how it can go smoothly. :) But I'm excited for the next tournament either way.
*Oh, and maybe I'll bring the video camera to check out footage from the weekend. I don't think I got anything awesome, but it could still be fun. (Could a Video Blog Post be on the horizon?!)
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Summer Plans, etc.
So are you anything like me? Are most of your weekends now busy... through, say, November?! This seems to happen every summer - being an Ultimate player, it's sort of expected, but it's still crazy looking at my calendar and seeing all the events that get packed into a summer.
It looks like it'll be a fun one though - there are some 'firsts' this summer that I'm especially excited about. Like backpacking in the Beartooths with the Melbys. We're thinking that'll happen the first full week in August. And I found out yesterday that I'm scheduled to go on a 'business trip' to Phoenix the 25th-28th of July. (Someone's moving up in the world!) On top of that, Flaming Moe has the most interesting and challenging schedule we've ever had.
So it looks like it'll be a good one, however busy.
Upcoming events:
Poultry Days in Ohio this weekend.
Film Club hopefully next Saturday.
Father's Day stuff next Sunday.
Boston Invite the 23rd and 24th.
*I've been really bad about posting my training stuff... mostly because I've been really bad about training. Tryouts always kill my motivation to workout, but at least they've been happening 3 times a week (keeping me pretty active). I've still been running a couple times outside of tryouts, and lifting maybe once a week. Last night I was really good - I lifted for 45 minutes AND THEN went on a good run. So that's that.
It looks like it'll be a fun one though - there are some 'firsts' this summer that I'm especially excited about. Like backpacking in the Beartooths with the Melbys. We're thinking that'll happen the first full week in August. And I found out yesterday that I'm scheduled to go on a 'business trip' to Phoenix the 25th-28th of July. (Someone's moving up in the world!) On top of that, Flaming Moe has the most interesting and challenging schedule we've ever had.
So it looks like it'll be a good one, however busy.
Upcoming events:
Poultry Days in Ohio this weekend.
Film Club hopefully next Saturday.
Father's Day stuff next Sunday.
Boston Invite the 23rd and 24th.
*I've been really bad about posting my training stuff... mostly because I've been really bad about training. Tryouts always kill my motivation to workout, but at least they've been happening 3 times a week (keeping me pretty active). I've still been running a couple times outside of tryouts, and lifting maybe once a week. Last night I was really good - I lifted for 45 minutes AND THEN went on a good run. So that's that.
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