Month: June 2005

Any Port In The Storm

Well Mateys, it happened again this evening. I lost time. Fox Mulder would tell you that that is a sign of alien abduction.

After dinner I settled in on the couch to finish reading my current book, I had my headphones for music and a fresh Diet Dr. Pepper to slake my thirst when I made the fatal mistake of doing a quick check of the movie channels. It was about 20 minutes after 6PM when the channels stopped moving on Encore wam. Next thing I knew it was 8:20PM. If it was 9 minutes I’d have said Mulder was right, but this was 2 hours, that could only mean one thing….

Barbossa: For too long I’ve been parched of thirst and unable to quench it. Too long I’ve been starving to death and haven’t died. I feel nothing. Not the wind on my face nor the spray of the sea. Nor the warmth of a woman’s flesh.
[steps into moonlight becoming a skeleton]
Barbossa: You best start believing in ghost stories Miss Turner. You’re in one.

Started down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/05: 205

So If You Get Hurt And Miss Work, It Won’t Hurt To Miss Work

Our friend’s 11-year old son plays on a traveling baseball team. No, not like Bingo Long & 20 other guys in an old bus barnstorming the southeast, but more like 20 Chrysler minivans with rear seat entertainment centers filled with siblings who go from town to town all over the state every other weekend playing more teams just like themselves in tournaments. The teams have to pay to enter the tournaments and there are uniforms to buy and umpires to bribe and all manner of other expenses that are borne by the parents. To help offset these costs, they do what all kids are taught in school to do from an early age, they sell stuff.

The team’s current scheme promotion is selling raffle tickets to win a bat that has been signed by Yogi Berra. When we had a visit from them this evening to ask if we would like to take some chances, I asked, “Yogi Berra, isn’t that the guy from those Aflac commercials?”

Jared, just gave me as world-weary a look as an eleven year old could, like he had heard that a million times before and it wasn’t that funny the first time either, and nodded his head to say just fill out the back of the ticket fool.

Started down, went up, went down, back up, back down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/05: 205

Be Careful What You Write, No Matter How Inane, It Might Be Permanent

You cannot put the same shoe on every foot.
Publilius Syrus (c.42BC)
Writer

My manager at work has subscribed to a little monthly motivational handout called Bits & Pieces. The above quote came from the July 2005 issue he handed out today, it was the second bit, or piece if you will, in the magazine, right there on page 1.

My question is why was this particular piece of “wisdom” saved? Did someone other than Mr. Syrus hear him say those words and instantly think, “Ooooh, I’d better save that, it sounds like it will be inspirational in about 2,047 years?” Well, here’s hoping that the July 4052 issue of Bits & Pieces includes this:

Be careful what you write, no matter how inane, it might be permanent.
Brian the Red (c.2005AD)
Blogger

Started down, went up, back down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/05: 201

Update

Even though I tried to be obtuse enough in Sunday’s post – there was big doings elsewhere that I can’t talk about for fear of jinxing it (hint: American League East.) – the baseball gods saw right through me. The FRS lost last night and the damn Yankees won…

That is what I get for blogging early. Late last night a trip to the grocery store was required and because of the rainy weather in the area that meant down to the store up while inside and down for the ride home. The ride home was slightly damp too because it started sprinkling half way back, but not hard enough to scare us.

Started up, went down, back up, back down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/05: 199

Soooey

I grew up in Connecticut, but ever since I joined the Navy at 18, I have not been back north to live (except for that 2 year mistake in NJ.) I have lived in Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and South Carolina for a total of over 30 years. The last 16 have been here in Aiken, SC. While I don’t consider myself a Yankee anymore, I am still far from being a southern country boy and every once in a while I’m really reminded of that fact.

Here at ASCO the Activities Committee is forever raffling off one thing or another. They sell tickets for a dollar and all the money goes into a kitty to fund donations to worthy causes and a family fun day. The raffles are usually theme related to a holiday, like for Mother’s Day it was a basket with fluffy stuff & a gift certificate to a day spa. For Father’s Day, the prize was a combination smoker & grill.

Well, for fourth of July, they are raffling of a hog. A 50lb dressed, ready to cook, pig. Soooey.

Started down, went up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/05: 196

Commercial

For the reopening of my CafePress store I commissioned a professionally done commercial for airing during the baseball all-star game on Fox July 12th. I had it made in Brazil to take advantage of the lower production costs, but that might have been a mistake. The problem is not the quality, that is fantastic, but I think they misunderstood the product I have for sale. See for yourself, Life of Brian Stuff Commercial (1.8Meg video) and let me know, use it or not.

Either way, please buy my stuff.

Started down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 01/01/05: 195