Unfortunately, I do have a hammer...and now I have a purple thumb to go with it because I suck at using said hammer, and I, repeatedly, hit my thumb instead of the nail.
Roofing sucks.
What else is sore besides my thumb? My back, my shoulders, my legs, my arms...my knees are the size of Texas, with a pain to match...
I shouldn't complain. This long weekend, we decided to re-roof the shed. The roof on the shed consists of a flat carport awning, and a peaked roof for the actual shed. My friend Shannon did the peak opposite of the carport (where if he fell, there is only ground to catch him) and I worked on the flat part and some of the peak on the carport side.
But giving credit where credit is due, the person who did almost all of the peak on the carport side, and half of the flat part, was Becky.
Yes, I made Becky roof the shed with me. Actually, she volunteered, and I, being very afraid of heights, didn't stop her. Boy, you should have seen her shimmy up that peak...actually, I couldn't watch her do it...like I said, I was scared!!
The flat part took about 6 hours, Shannon's peak took about 3, and we finished the other peak in 2 or so. Not too bad, I guess. (I won't count the 3 TRIPS to LOWES!! Why can't I get what I need in one trip?)
What a way to spend a long weekend. Ain't homeownership fun?
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Tickle Monster
The other day, while sitting on the couch with Becky, I decided to break into the impromptu "Tickle Monster."
Me: "Here comes the Tickle MONSTER!!" (Yes, I am that sappy.)
Becky: No Reaction
Me: "Ah, Tickle Monster, Tickle Monster."
Becky: No Reaction.
I finally gave up, and sat up with a look of dispair in my eyes.
Becky: "What do you call tickling, when it doesn't tickle?"
Tony: "Besides a mood killer?"
Becky: "No, I'm serious."
Tony: "I guess it's just called, running my fingers across your body."
Becky: Yawn..."Whatever."
Me: "Here comes the Tickle MONSTER!!" (Yes, I am that sappy.)
Becky: No Reaction
Me: "Ah, Tickle Monster, Tickle Monster."
Becky: No Reaction.
I finally gave up, and sat up with a look of dispair in my eyes.
Becky: "What do you call tickling, when it doesn't tickle?"
Tony: "Besides a mood killer?"
Becky: "No, I'm serious."
Tony: "I guess it's just called, running my fingers across your body."
Becky: Yawn..."Whatever."
Monday, May 23, 2005
The Mother Lode
For those of you who know me, you know that I love records. You know...vinyl. 33 1/3...45 rpm ... records. I am constantly searching for new stuff to add to my ever increasing collection.
Well, last week, I hit the mother lode.
While combing the hundreds-of-thousands of records on EBay, I came across the listing of a guy selling his "entire collection." Usually, this means 50 records or so, scuffed and tore all to hell. Curiousity got the better of me, so I clicked on. The pictures showed a pretty goodly amount of 45 rpm records, some sleeves, etc. I glanced at the description:
Selling my collection of 45 rpm records. Between 10 and 13,000 records.
Did I read that right? 13,000? Yikes!! The opening bid was $1,000...that's darn cheap for 13,000 records. So, I monitored the auction. Days went by.
On the last day, I opened my watch page, and the listing had changed.
100 45 rpm Record Lot
Damn. Too good to be true, I guess. After the bidding produced no buyers, I emailed the guy and asked if he still wanted to sell the lot of 13,000. To my surprise, he did. The catch...his price went up to $1,700.
I was game...Becky was not.
I had to negotiate now with two hostile people. Becky came up with a solution.
"You can buy the records, if I can get a motorcycle." Since Becky is all of 5 foot tall, I was sure she was kidding, so I went about my negotiating tactics with the Record Guy. The only way I would get these records, would be to get him to agree to a low ball offer.
I had to weigh my options carefully. Throw a real low-ball offer at him and potentially piss him off to the point of no return, or semi-low-ball him and potentially piss Becky off to the point of no return...
After carefully weighing the options for 2 seconds, I decided to low-ball him, and potentially kill the deal. $300. I know, it's laughable. I laughed. That's 2 cents per record. What a shame.
I sulked back home and told Becky I low-balled the guy, and the deal was probably dead.
"I guess I can't get that motorcycle then, huh?"
I laughed and said nope...but instead of laughing, she looked sad. Did she really want the bike?
"You weren't serious about the bike were you?"
"Well, yeah!!" Well crap. I just low-balled this guy and now you tell me you really meant it? Damn, I'm really bad at reading women!!
The next day the return e-mail came back. He said no to the $300...go figure. The worse news was he decided to not sell them after all. He didn't want to negotiate.
Deperate times called for desperate measures. I called him. For those of you not in the know, I HATE picking up the telephone to call someone else (getting calls are great, making them suck) but I felt it was my only option.
We talked for awhile, hashed out some terms, and finally decided on a price that was right for both of us. I am not at liberty to discuss the final terms with you, unfortunately, due to the legal implementations (actually, I just don't want to tell you!)
With money in hand, we borrowed Dad's van and travelled down South to Tennessee. Loaded the van down with 83 boxes of 45's, and returned home. After 30 minutes of un-loading boxes, the basement was filled. I had 5 very realistic goals for the lot of records:
1. At least one Chuck Berry 45 on Chess records (I ended up pulling about 7).
2. At least one full box of picture sleeves (I ended up with 9 boxes!!)
3. At least one Buddy Holly on Coral records (several re-issued Buddy Holly...none on Coral)
4. Beatles...Atco...Sweet Georgia Brown (NOPE)
5. I can't remember #5, but it must not have been very important...and I do know it didn't happen.
2 out of 5 may seem bad to you, but I got so much more that I didn't expect. So many mint condition records...not just new records, or junk records...but a lot of older stuff, and actual good stuff, even several boxes of mint promo records! It took 28 hours to look through the lot ONCE!! It was taken a full week of looking just to begin the organizational process, and I have a feeling I will be at this for a very, very long time!! Now, I have to find Becky a motorcycle...
PS...If you have a Sweet Georgia Brown on Atco by the Beatles, please let me know...I will buy it from you!!
Well, last week, I hit the mother lode.
While combing the hundreds-of-thousands of records on EBay, I came across the listing of a guy selling his "entire collection." Usually, this means 50 records or so, scuffed and tore all to hell. Curiousity got the better of me, so I clicked on. The pictures showed a pretty goodly amount of 45 rpm records, some sleeves, etc. I glanced at the description:
Selling my collection of 45 rpm records. Between 10 and 13,000 records.
Did I read that right? 13,000? Yikes!! The opening bid was $1,000...that's darn cheap for 13,000 records. So, I monitored the auction. Days went by.
On the last day, I opened my watch page, and the listing had changed.
100 45 rpm Record Lot
Damn. Too good to be true, I guess. After the bidding produced no buyers, I emailed the guy and asked if he still wanted to sell the lot of 13,000. To my surprise, he did. The catch...his price went up to $1,700.
I was game...Becky was not.
I had to negotiate now with two hostile people. Becky came up with a solution.
"You can buy the records, if I can get a motorcycle." Since Becky is all of 5 foot tall, I was sure she was kidding, so I went about my negotiating tactics with the Record Guy. The only way I would get these records, would be to get him to agree to a low ball offer.
I had to weigh my options carefully. Throw a real low-ball offer at him and potentially piss him off to the point of no return, or semi-low-ball him and potentially piss Becky off to the point of no return...
After carefully weighing the options for 2 seconds, I decided to low-ball him, and potentially kill the deal. $300. I know, it's laughable. I laughed. That's 2 cents per record. What a shame.
I sulked back home and told Becky I low-balled the guy, and the deal was probably dead.
"I guess I can't get that motorcycle then, huh?"
I laughed and said nope...but instead of laughing, she looked sad. Did she really want the bike?
"You weren't serious about the bike were you?"
"Well, yeah!!" Well crap. I just low-balled this guy and now you tell me you really meant it? Damn, I'm really bad at reading women!!
The next day the return e-mail came back. He said no to the $300...go figure. The worse news was he decided to not sell them after all. He didn't want to negotiate.
Deperate times called for desperate measures. I called him. For those of you not in the know, I HATE picking up the telephone to call someone else (getting calls are great, making them suck) but I felt it was my only option.
We talked for awhile, hashed out some terms, and finally decided on a price that was right for both of us. I am not at liberty to discuss the final terms with you, unfortunately, due to the legal implementations (actually, I just don't want to tell you!)
With money in hand, we borrowed Dad's van and travelled down South to Tennessee. Loaded the van down with 83 boxes of 45's, and returned home. After 30 minutes of un-loading boxes, the basement was filled. I had 5 very realistic goals for the lot of records:
1. At least one Chuck Berry 45 on Chess records (I ended up pulling about 7).
2. At least one full box of picture sleeves (I ended up with 9 boxes!!)
3. At least one Buddy Holly on Coral records (several re-issued Buddy Holly...none on Coral)
4. Beatles...Atco...Sweet Georgia Brown (NOPE)
5. I can't remember #5, but it must not have been very important...and I do know it didn't happen.
2 out of 5 may seem bad to you, but I got so much more that I didn't expect. So many mint condition records...not just new records, or junk records...but a lot of older stuff, and actual good stuff, even several boxes of mint promo records! It took 28 hours to look through the lot ONCE!! It was taken a full week of looking just to begin the organizational process, and I have a feeling I will be at this for a very, very long time!! Now, I have to find Becky a motorcycle...
PS...If you have a Sweet Georgia Brown on Atco by the Beatles, please let me know...I will buy it from you!!
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
The 10 Most Depressing Songs Of All Time
Sometimes, a song is so sad, it make you feel like crying. Sometimes, it's so in your face, it makes you feel uneasy when you hear it. Some songs are so unnerving, they crawl under your skin and die...
Without further ado, I give you:
The 10 Most Depressing Songs of All Time
10. Too Cool For This World - Josh Clayton Felt
--And every time you turn away
All the colors of the day
Reach the sky
Wonder why
You don't see them at all,
When it's only you're reflection
You're passing by...
9. In The Ghetto - Elvis Presley
--As her young man dies,
On a cold and grey Chicago morn',
Another little baby child is born
In the ghetto
And his mama cries
8. Gravedigger - Dave Matthews
--Gravedigger
When you dig my grave
Could you make it shallow
So that I can feel the rain
Gravedigger
7. Landslide - Fleetwood Mac
--Well, I 've been afraid of changing '
Cause I 've built my life around you
But time makes you get bolder
Even children get older
And I 'm getting older, too
6. Raining In Baltimore - Counting Crows
--And I get no answers
And I don 't get no change
It's raining in Baltimore, baby
But everything else is the same
There 's things I remember and things I forget
I miss you I guess that I should
Three thousand five hundred miles away
But what would you change if you could?
5. Girl of the North Country - Bob Dylan
--I 'm a-wonderin ' if she remembers me at all.
Many times I 've often prayed
In the darkness of my night,
In the brightness of my day.
So if you 're travelin ' in the north country fair,
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline,
Remember me to one who lives there.
She once was a true love of mine.
4. 100 Years - Five For Fighting
--Half time goes by
Suddenly you 're wise
Another blink of an eye
67 is gone
The sun is getting high
We 're moving on...
I 'm 99 for a moment
Dying for just another moment
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
15 there 's still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose
Hey 15, there 's never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live
3. Space Oddity - David Bowie
--Though I 'm past one hundred thousand miles
I 'm feeling very still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
Tell my wife I love her very much she knows
"Ground Control to Major Tom
Your circuit's dead, there's something wrong
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you...."Here am I floating round my tin can
Far above the Moon
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do."
2. Mad World - Gary Jules (originally by Tears for Fears)
--All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places
Worn out faces
Bright and early for the daily races
Going no where
Going no where
Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression
No expression
Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow
No tomorrow
No tomorrow
And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles its a very very
Mad world
Mad world
1. Dust In The Wind - Kansas
--I close my eyes, only for a moment, and the moment's gone
All my dreams, pass before my eyes, a curiosity
Dust in the wind,
all they are is dust in the wind.
Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do, crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see
Dust in the wind,
all we are is dust in the wind
[Now] Don't hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away, and all your money won't another minute buy.
Dust in the wind,
all we are is dust in the wind
Dust in the wind,
everything is dust in the wind.
...........................................................
There you have it. The 10 Most Depressing Songs of All Time. Disagree? It's cool. Maybe some Honorable Mentions will help:
Honorable Mentions
Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum (because it's creepy!!)
Angel - Sarah McLachlan
Streets of Philadelphia - Bruce Springsteen
Masters of War - Bob Dylan
Hear You Me - Jimmy Eat World
Hurt - Johnny Cash (and Nine Inch Nails)
Without further ado, I give you:
The 10 Most Depressing Songs of All Time
10. Too Cool For This World - Josh Clayton Felt
--And every time you turn away
All the colors of the day
Reach the sky
Wonder why
You don't see them at all,
When it's only you're reflection
You're passing by...
9. In The Ghetto - Elvis Presley
--As her young man dies,
On a cold and grey Chicago morn',
Another little baby child is born
In the ghetto
And his mama cries
8. Gravedigger - Dave Matthews
--Gravedigger
When you dig my grave
Could you make it shallow
So that I can feel the rain
Gravedigger
7. Landslide - Fleetwood Mac
--Well, I 've been afraid of changing '
Cause I 've built my life around you
But time makes you get bolder
Even children get older
And I 'm getting older, too
6. Raining In Baltimore - Counting Crows
--And I get no answers
And I don 't get no change
It's raining in Baltimore, baby
But everything else is the same
There 's things I remember and things I forget
I miss you I guess that I should
Three thousand five hundred miles away
But what would you change if you could?
5. Girl of the North Country - Bob Dylan
--I 'm a-wonderin ' if she remembers me at all.
Many times I 've often prayed
In the darkness of my night,
In the brightness of my day.
So if you 're travelin ' in the north country fair,
Where the winds hit heavy on the borderline,
Remember me to one who lives there.
She once was a true love of mine.
4. 100 Years - Five For Fighting
--Half time goes by
Suddenly you 're wise
Another blink of an eye
67 is gone
The sun is getting high
We 're moving on...
I 'm 99 for a moment
Dying for just another moment
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
15 there 's still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose
Hey 15, there 's never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live
3. Space Oddity - David Bowie
--Though I 'm past one hundred thousand miles
I 'm feeling very still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
Tell my wife I love her very much she knows
"Ground Control to Major Tom
Your circuit's dead, there's something wrong
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you...."Here am I floating round my tin can
Far above the Moon
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do."
2. Mad World - Gary Jules (originally by Tears for Fears)
--All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places
Worn out faces
Bright and early for the daily races
Going no where
Going no where
Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression
No expression
Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow
No tomorrow
No tomorrow
And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles its a very very
Mad world
Mad world
1. Dust In The Wind - Kansas
--I close my eyes, only for a moment, and the moment's gone
All my dreams, pass before my eyes, a curiosity
Dust in the wind,
all they are is dust in the wind.
Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do, crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see
Dust in the wind,
all we are is dust in the wind
[Now] Don't hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away, and all your money won't another minute buy.
Dust in the wind,
all we are is dust in the wind
Dust in the wind,
everything is dust in the wind.
...........................................................
There you have it. The 10 Most Depressing Songs of All Time. Disagree? It's cool. Maybe some Honorable Mentions will help:
Honorable Mentions
Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum (because it's creepy!!)
Angel - Sarah McLachlan
Streets of Philadelphia - Bruce Springsteen
Masters of War - Bob Dylan
Hear You Me - Jimmy Eat World
Hurt - Johnny Cash (and Nine Inch Nails)
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Dual Disc = Big Mistake
I recently purchased the new Bruce Springsteen CD entitled "Devils and Dust." I am a Springsteen fan, so this isn't a big surprise. I won't bore you with a track by track review, but I do want to mention a big problem with the disc...
IT WON'T WORK IN MY CAR...ON MY WORK COMPUTER...OR IN MY CD PLAYER.
Oh yeah, you read that right. This CD has the new DualDisc technology, which, for those of you who aren't in the know, means one side of the disc has the CD, and the other side is a DVD which has videos and bonus stuff. It's a good idea...in theory.
Well, the good idea ends there, because I couldn't get the disc to play on anything except my home computer and our laptop. So, I had to burn the CD onto the hard-drive and make a CD from the hard drive, just so I can enjoy the CD at work and in the car.
What a pain in the behind!!
I understand that CD sales are down, and the CD companies feel they need to give you more so you will buy...but honestly, this makes me want to NOT buy Dual Discs and instead make a copy off the internet which is WRONG. I have always perfered the real deal, because I like the artwork, and the satisfaction in having a real copy. But if the real thing doesn't work...
Then what?
People are going to stop buying altogether. I don't think that's what the industry wants. Wake up and fix these crap CD's...before it's too late!!
IT WON'T WORK IN MY CAR...ON MY WORK COMPUTER...OR IN MY CD PLAYER.
Oh yeah, you read that right. This CD has the new DualDisc technology, which, for those of you who aren't in the know, means one side of the disc has the CD, and the other side is a DVD which has videos and bonus stuff. It's a good idea...in theory.
Well, the good idea ends there, because I couldn't get the disc to play on anything except my home computer and our laptop. So, I had to burn the CD onto the hard-drive and make a CD from the hard drive, just so I can enjoy the CD at work and in the car.
What a pain in the behind!!
I understand that CD sales are down, and the CD companies feel they need to give you more so you will buy...but honestly, this makes me want to NOT buy Dual Discs and instead make a copy off the internet which is WRONG. I have always perfered the real deal, because I like the artwork, and the satisfaction in having a real copy. But if the real thing doesn't work...
Then what?
People are going to stop buying altogether. I don't think that's what the industry wants. Wake up and fix these crap CD's...before it's too late!!
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