Chucking rocks at Airplanes

No I won't be throwing rocks at airplanes, I just couldn't think of a snappy title for today's topic.

Chucking rocks (Evolution decided to leave this in tact)
I work in a lab environment. We have about 12 people in a good sized room and we all have our own space, so please don't call OSHA. We have toys in our lab, a Zen garden (seriously), and a treat table with delectable treats from all over the world (look up Hawflakes). Getting back to chucking rocks though. One of my lab mates bought these puffy little balls from Target that we can throw at each other without causing harm or spilling drinks. There is little more satisfying than tossing the balls at an unsuspecting co-worker.
Which leads me to the time old tradition of throwing real rocks at your friends. I mean real honest to goodness rock from mother earth. Now, I don't know if I am about to be sexist but, ladies I don't think you know about this activity so much. Little boys will throw rocks at each other to try to hit each other. It's a fun game. I think this satisfies our need as nature's hunters to "hunt" things when we are young and can take a few rocks to the head. It develops your motor skills, dodging ability and pain tolerance.
It made me proud to see my neighbor kids throwing rocks at each other a few days ago and not my car or house. I wanted to go out and join them. I wasn't so much a rock thrower as I was a dirt bomb tosser. Dirt bombs are shaped like rocks but explode on contact for a much better effect. Less pain for the receiver and more collateral damage = fun fun fun.
You can find dirt bombs at construction sites or if they are tearing up the street in front of your house.
There were "rules" to chucking rocks. No head shots and stay away from the crotch. Other than that everything was fair game. Who doesn't remember the sting of the first rock hitting your leg and the thrill of tossing them back. Ahhh Youth. We didn't have Playstation, what do you expect!?!
 BTW...the Playstation is still broken, so if you want to donate to the "Rick needs to numb his mind Playstation fund" please do. My birthday is right around the corner in September, still many shopping days left. 
See ya after the Airshow which I am extremely excited about.

The Democratic Convention

Is on TV so check it out. You should watch it even if you don't belong to the party. It's a good way to see what the party is about and make your own choice. It's that time of year to see what each candidate is about and what they stand for. Be informed, get involved or shut up!  :)
Whew!, that took a lot out of me. It's easier to talk about semi funny stuff.

I am yelling at kids again...and they like it!!
Football has started again and I am excited. We only had five kids tonight, but we always start out slow. They were kids from last year and they have grown a lot. We had a good practice and reconnected. I am really looking forward to this season.
When I am out there with the kids, they are all I think about, no crap from work, no bills, and no mosquitoes. I have always thought it was important to give back and this is doing what I can. I urge everyone to find something they can do to give back, it doesn't hurt, it actually feels good. :) I know I sound like one of those commercials. I am a bit preachy tonight. It's part of my "What did you do last night?" line of questioning. About two years ago I asked a friend what he did last night or the night before or the week before that. Neither one of us could answer the question  without a ton of thought. My time was just going away. So I decided I needed to try and do more with my time and then another friend asked me to come see a football game and I was hooked.
I learned a lot from the kids, about me and about parents. Parents can be fun, lots of fun. Remember we try our best with your kids, but sometimes they suck.  Just kidding. The parents were cool last year and I hope they are the same this year.

 

About D@#$ Time

I finally got around to adding links to friends sites or blogs. Please enjoy yourselves and add to the online community. Join the Wave......Join the Wave (those of you Old enough to remember ABC After School Specials know what I speak of.)

Check out ma homeslice,  ma homeskin, ma grizzled nizzle of funk, Vic at BestAlbino.

My Playstation2 is out of commission. It is probably Karma. I received a gift certificate for some work I did. Someone asked if I was going to buy candy for the lab and I said "Heck no, I'm buying a videogame (Driver3)" and I may have ended the statement with  something  like Mr.T would say like "fool!" I was very excited to get my new game home and the stupid controller port doesn't recognize my controller anymore. I am screwed, it could be worse I suppose, I could own a Gamecube. Next time I get a gift certificate, it's treats for the lab!! I don't want anything else to break.

Needed: Free Playstation2
I promise it will have a nice home and be cared for and nurtured. I will even name it after you.

I wonder what the law is on asking people to give you free stuff via the internet? Say things like "Send me your pennies so I can buy a new house and I will send you this recipe for Oatmeal cookies" or "My options tanked, please send me money to buy a new car"
Does anyone know the law? Something to investigate.

Nine days until Oshkosh!!

Seven until I start bossing kids around again!  WOOOO HOOOOOO!!!

 

Laundry - The old fashioned way

I can't think of too many things more fun than doing laundry and watching Kung Fu flicks from the 70's while you do it. I went to one of the best and my most secret videostore in the Twin Cities and picked out 5 Fingers of Death.
It has everything you need. A Secret style (the IronFist which glows red when the power is activated), the death of a respected teacher of martial arts, rival schools of Kung Fu, eyes being plucked out and damsels in distress. Plus it has that funky high pitched kneee knaaaw, kneee knaaaaw sound from the Kill Bill movies.
The cool thing about this movie is that I remember seeing it as a kid in a downtown Mpls theater on a Saturday afternoon. My older cousins would take us younger kids to the Kung Fu matinees. You can find this and other classic gems at the Nicollet Village video store on about 16th and Nicollet. Remember this is a secret so keep it hush hush.
Dryer sheets make your clothes smell springtime fresh...mmmm mmmm!!

Soapbox, quick and clean

Friends forgive me, it has been almost been 2 weeks since my last post. My energy for this is coming back. I have been distracted a bit lately and have not either felt like posting or just returned home too late to do it.
I want to be serious for just a second and ask a question. "When was the last time you spoke with your parents, legal guardian, or parental figure?"
Easy question, but the answer may be hard. I know there are some people who don't get along with their parents, had a falling out, been disowned or whatever. It doesn't matter, get in contact with them today. Life is short. Talk about the old times, the new times, anything just talk. Extend the olive branch and any other cliche you can think of for this situation. Sometimes you have to swallow your pride. I know it may be complex, families are.
If you have a good relationship with your folks, don't be afraid to share your life with them. Once again, life is short. What I am trying to say in a round about way is, we don't know how long they will be around or in what state they will be when they are here.

Discovery weekend

Ok, I haven't posted in a while, but I have a good excuse. I was tired. Not the kind of tired when you have a child to take care of. No, this is the kind of tired stupidity brings on.
I discovered Red Bull and Vodka and staying up way too late and getting up too early. Actually I started the late nights last week, by staying up to see Spiderman 2. After that I don't believe I went to sleep any earlier than 3:30 the whole weekend. I know, "Boo Whoo!! Mr single guy doesn't know when to go to bed" well you're right I don't, but boy howdy did I have fun!

We are Family, I got all my sisters with me - Sister Sledge

Sometimes I dread the family get together. Families can be weird. My extended family is no exception. Something was different this time, there was no arguing, no bad feelings,just a really good time. No, this is not where I discovered Red Bull and Vodka.
I was the Grill Master for the whole deal. I think my father snuck the torch into my back pocket when I wasn't looking as far as the grilling goes. It appears he has relenquished the "Kiss the Cook" apron. We celebrated my father's birthday and the extra day off. We played volleyball, cards and enjoyed everyone's company. What the heck was that all about. :)

Bad, really bad TV
MXC - Most Extreme Elimination Challenge
This used to be a game show in Japan during the 80's. The contestants had to run through mazes, climb things, dodge stuff and fall down a lot.
Spike TV (the first network for men) has taken the show and dubbed a comedic sound track full of bad puns, sexual innuendoes and bad play on words. This show is my secret pleasure. The show has two hosts and they call out the contestants names. My favorite part of the show is "Kenny Blankeship's Most Painful Eliminations" during this part they replay all the really nasty chills and spills. Possibly the worst thing I have ever watched on TV, but very very very funny. Check it out if you have cable.

Coolest thing I did today
I met a friend for lunch at the Baja Riverside Grill. That in itself, not too cool. How I got there was the cool part. I took the lightrail to get there. I jumped on at 5th and Nicollet and after 8 short minutes I was there. The food was average, but the company was good. The lightrail was on time, smooth and buying the ticket was very easy. It reminded me of being in Chicago. I wish it ran closer to my house. The light rail was frickin cool. I am going to have to ride it to Fort Snelling sometime.