Got Them No Brakes Blues Again

I am not a huge fan of cars. Don't misunderstand, I love getting in a car and it taking me to my destination so I don't have to walk, but I prefer it to be simple.

Get in.

Insert key.

Drive.

No headaches, no hassles. Change the oil? Not this guy. I'll pay someone to do it. Camshaft, crankshaft, tie-rod, piston...just words to me. No idea. This is probably why I really hate when my car has a problem. I know nothing about them, so I feel like someone is always taking advantage of me.

Wouldn't you know it, Becky came home the other day (actually about 4 months ago) and said her brakes were "squealing." After months of putting it off, I finally took the car in to the shop.

We needed:

Brake Pads, Rotors, and a new front tire, as ours had a gash in it. Total = $370.

Ouch.

Then, the guy calls back and says:

"the piston is cracked in half and is leaking brake fluid...I need to put a new caliper on there, and it's another $70. Do you want me to go ahead and do that?"

No, moron, slap some duct tape around it and let's call it a day. YES, I WANT YOU TO FIX IT!!

After waiting all day, I finally called to see if the car was finished at 4:45 pm. They informed me that it was. Thanks a lot for letting me know!! At this point, I had no one to take me to pick up the car, and they closed in 15 minutes, so I took the work van, drove it to the Brake place, paid my $470 bill, drove our car home, had Becky (who was home at this point) drive me to the van, follow me back to work, and take me home.

What a nightmare!!

I sure hope they did all they said, cause I wouldn't know the difference anyway.

Under Attack

SQQQQUUUIISSSHHH...

Me: "I totally just smashed a huge spider."

Becky: *yawn* "Good for you."

Me: "Did you see how big that thing was?!!

Becky: "Yeah."

Me: "Does that make me a killer? A murderer, maybe?"

Becky: "Nah, it was self-defense."


(Self-defense...where does she come up with this stuff? She's so funny!!)

Concert Tour 2005: The White Stripes

Date: September 9, 2005

Time: 8:00 pm

Location: Murat Theatre, Indianapolis, Indiana

Seats: Balcony Center, Row K, Seats 16 and 17

"Every breath that is in your lungs is a tiny little gift to me." White Stripes - Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground


I can't, at this point, say The White Stripes fall in the catergory of "Living Legends," so including them in the LL Concert Series would be inaccurate. I WILL, however, go on record right now as saying this band deserves all the respect and accolades of any current band, and several bands of the past.

If there was ever a band that should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 20 years, it is The White Stripes.

Now, on to the concert. Before we arrived, I knew this was going to be like no other concert I had ever been to. I was expecting weird looking people, loud music, and in general, an atmosphere unlike the shows we were accustomed to attending. After all, this was one of the first concerts I have ever been to featuring a band from my generation. (except Counting Crows, and John Mayer...but they are a lot lighter than The White Stripes).

We weren't disappointed. Becky and I immediately began noticing things. We were shocked by the number of:

1. Odd looking couples...i.e. two people you wouldn't expect to be together.
2. Red pants (Jack White wears red pants frequently, hence the trend.)
3. High fives (must have been drunken frat night)
4. Gay people (The White Stripes must have a BIG gay following...not that there's anything wrong with that!!)
5. People younger than us (which is weird since we are use to the McCartney, Springsteen, Petty, James Taylor type crowds.)

The opening act, The Greenhornes, were decent, but oh so loud. I couldn't understand them at all.

After they left, the stage was transformed into a visual delight. Everything from the lights, the amps, the guitars and the drumset were red and white, except for the piano, which was a stark black. It was by far the most visually stimulating set i've seen.

Then Jack and Meg hit the stage. They immediately ripped into the Hardest Button to Button, and didn't come up for air until at least 6 more songs were played in a medley format...one after the other. The sound was loud...so very loud. But I knew the songs, so I could understand them all.

Meg's drum kit sounded like a sonic boom with each bass kick, while Jack's guitar brilliantly outlined the familiar sounds of songs I knew and loved. I was constantly amazed that it was only 2 people making these songs come alive.

Jack White is a genius.

They continued to tear through songs. Jack would stop only to switch guitars, or when he would swing his guitar to his back, and sit at the piano to play the melodies of Apple Blossom, and the other piano driven songs. At one point, Jack went to the front of the stage, and defiantly tuned the guitar, while the static from the amp hissed at the audience.

The balcony was rocking. No, literally, it was rocking. People were jumping and the balcony was bouncing up and down enough to make me grab ahold of Becky's arm, and give her a sideways look. If the balcony collapsed, I thought, the people below us are screwed.

The show, overall, was nothing short of amazing. Pure and simple. If you don't have a White Stripes CD, buy one, and if they come to Indy again, go see them...I guarantee you will enjoy the show!!

The Dreaded Three Day Weekend

Ah, the three day weekend. Sometimes it's great to have three days of fun, relaxation, and in general, no responsibilities. But every once in awhile, you have the dreaded "home improvement" weekend.

Yes, the 3 days of back-breaking labor, all in the name of updating your home's appeal. Usually a three day weekend is great, but the home improvement three days weekend sucks more than a Hoover vacuum.

Mom and Dad came down to help, since I am notorious for not being able to measure things with any accuracy whatsoever. I had a plan to get a lot accomplished in only 2 days, leaving the third day, Monday, to recover. Well, the projects ran a little long...

PROJECT #1:

KITCHEN: BEFORE




The plan was simple. Mom and Becky would paint, while me and Dad did some other stuff. Dad and I would then add new counter tops and the project would be complete. The painting went smoothly. It was the counter tops.

Dad says: "It shouldn't take more than a half hour."

After mis-cutting the counter-top, going to Menards for a new one, and finally getting the stupid sink back in, the task was accomplished...

IN 3 HOURS!!

KITCHEN: AFTER



PROJECT #2:

BATHROOM: BEFORE



The bathroom wasn't very bad before, as we just remodeled not very long ago. The problem was, when we put down the vinyl tiles, the nails holding the sub-floor down started to pop up, creating a very unsightly problem. The solution? Ceramic tile!!

None of us had ever layed ceramic tile, so it was a new experience. I figured since our bathroom is about 50 square feet, it shouldn't take much more than 4 hours.

After precisely cutting tile around the toilet, the shower, the angled walls, the sink...and after Dad cut his hand on tiles 5 TIMES, and his toe once, the task was accomplished...

IN 10 HOURS!!!

BATHROOM: AFTER

PROJECT #3:

GROUTING THE BATHROOM TILE

It was about midnight on Sunday, and the list was still long with things to do on Monday. So me being the genius that I am, decided that Becky and I should grout the bathroom, so we could put the trim up Monday.

Tony says: "Being this bathroom is so small, this should only take about an hour or so."

I am an idiot.

At 3 am, some 3 hours after we began, the bathroom was grouted to excellent results. We popped some popcorn (our dinner) and went to bed.

PROJECT #4:

LIVING ROOM: BEFORE

We needed to re-paint the top half, and add wainscoting to the bottom. Again, the painting went well, probably because Becky and mom painted. It was the dang wainscoting. I really thought it would take 5 or 6 hours to do the entire room. However, because you had to measure each piece, cut, put in place, re-cut if necessary, glue, adhere...

well, we worked for about 5 hours and got half finished. It looks fantastic, but we aren't finished quite yet. Here's a sneak peek, just for you!!

LIVING ROOM: AFTER (ALMOST)

We still have half a living room and trim in the bathroom, but all in all, a pretty productive weekend. I am super sore, but I can't image how Dad feels. After all, he did the largest percentage of the work!! Thanks, D!! Sorry about all the cuts...floor, hand and toe!!

D's Poor Toe

What you Crave

Have you been to White Castle lately? In the drive-thru, they have the credit card machine hooked to the outside of the window, so you can swipe the card yourself...kinda like a grocery store.

This sucks. Especially it you have a small car, short arms, etc.

Well, every machine is different, so when we pulled up to pay, Becky waited for instruction from the White Castle guy. Does he have to push a button inside first? Can we swipe away?

When he finally came to the window, Becky held up the card, and the guy began to walk away.

Becky: "Do I go ahead and swipe it?" she called in the half closed window. No response.

Becky: "HEY!! Thanks a lot for your help!!" she screamed as she angrily swiped the card.

Me: "Becky, don't do that, it's rude."

Becky: "RUDE?!? What's rude is that guy NOT HELPING ME..." she continued as she turned her head towards the window.

Me: "Ok, maybe it's not rude of you, but could you calm down, I don't want them to spit in my food!"

Spit in the food is always bad...but ladies, if you ever want to start something with a rude guy, please make sure the following:

1. They aren't in food services, where they could do something to my food.
2. The person isn't big enough to kick my ass, because no guy is going to try to kick yours.
3. If the guy does try to kick yours, make sure I would actually step in and save you.

Becky should know better...I'm a wuss, but I would take a beating for her.

I don't think he spit in my food, in case you were wondering. If he did, then it tasted like chicken!!