Monday, March 28, 2005

Slow news day, eh?

I guess it was a slow news day for the Washington Post. On the front page, and two full pages inside, was a story on Sgt. Brett Parsons, the head of the DC Police Gay & Lesbian liaison Unit. (GLLU) OK. This is front page news? Come on the Post, you can do better than that. I've met the guy before, on a ride along with DC Police. He's a big lumbering goof of a guy, I can see why he is very well liked in both the gay community and the police world. But a 2.5 page article, complete with about ten pictures? Geez, the amazement and wonder.

Today, I got the pleasure of trying to get a building permit for the concrete work at my parents rental property. It's basically a process of: #1. You wait for your name to come on a screen. #2. Spend two minutes talking to someone #3. Sit down for 45 minutes and then wait to repeat #1 and #2. It was the most disorganized process and waste of time that I have been though since I was in high school. My mom used to work at the permit counter, being on the customer service end of dealing with the public. I am sure she got yelled at by people from time to time, because the process is so utterly ridiculous.

When I got home from geting the permit, a truck had come down our driveway. The truck ran off the driveway, got stuck in the yard, tore up the grass, etc. Aparently the UPS person came and delivered some stuff my dad had forgot in his hotel room a couple months ago. In the process, he had tried to avoid hitting the tree, and got stuck in the yard. A report has been put in to UPS, and they are going to pay for a landscaper to come in and fix the damage.

This evening, my parents have started to have a war of annoyance. My mom came into the TV room and started talking on the phone to her friend Cathy during the middle of the news. I go lay down because my stomach is bothering me, and I come downstairs. My dad has the TV in the family room at FULL sound, my mom has the TV in the TV room at a high sound level too, and is talking on the phone. The kitchen is a total mess, with $10 worth of cold cuts laying on the counter, because my dad did not feel like putting them away, because he left them out for my mom, who thought my dad was being careless. My dad cooked my mom breakfast yesterday, and in the process, got egg all over the stove, and has never cleaned it up. There are cupcake wrappers all over the place, plates stacked up, etc. I've spent virtually no time in the kitchen, and they have messed it up. I told them both that they are acting like little spoiled brats and that they need to find a hobby outside the house that gets them interacting with other people. I'm sick and tired of having to play parent for my parents. It is becoming painfully obvious at an accelerated pace that they are not able to take care of themselves and get along anymore. I am going to have to move out in the near future, because they are bringing me down to a level that I can't live with.

Last night in the middle of the night, I felt like I had ate a box of thumbtacks and I was trying to digest them. My guts feel like they are inside out, and still feel that way. I am completely miserable. I doubt this is related to my parents, instead, my guess is food poisoning.

Friday, March 25, 2005

I'm a d100



I am a d100


Take the quiz at dicepool.com



Again, why are we not surprised?

I am about to go run and get a building permit for the driveway at the rental property.

I paid Dan $60 yesterday to help out with a run to Lowes and to do some electrical wiring in the rental property. It really sucks that some of the outlets wont "sit" right, because the boxes are warped.

It has recently been pointed out by some friends that very little, if anything has been said about the Red Lake Minnesota shooting rampage among our nations elected politicians. They right now are more focused on keeping a brain dead vegtable alive, than comforting the families of fifteen victims. Many are wondering "If this had been at a white majority high school, would it be getting more attention." I unfortunately think the answer would be yes. I doubt the answer would be, no, we are getting "used" to these type of attacks.

I remember back in high school, a some of my fellow classmates expected me to go off on a shooting rampage, complete with Ralph running around the school. Um, no. Yes, I was teased, but I knew one day, I would earn the respect that I deserved back then. Even at my five year class reunion, a lot of people were surprised at what I had accomplished, while others said "I knew you would be involved in something big." While this teasing was awful, hurtful, and juvenile, each person involved has entered an age of maturity and looks back and thinks it was stupid. I was able to deal with it while it was going on, beacuse I knew it would not be forever. And maybe that's what the public education system should be emphasizing, that high school is not forever. That middle school is not forever. That elementary school is not forever. It's just thirteen years of a person's life, and what they make of it afterwards is what counts the most. I feel the pressure put on high school students, to get 4.0 GPAs and be involved in twenty extracurricular activities is just insane. And it leads to more teasing, more drag racing, more drug use. These are all escapes from the over pressue being put on young people today. When I was in high school, I did my own things. I knew I could get into college by going though a community college. To me, there was no shame in going that route. But teachers and parents seem to think there is shame in going though community college. I had the best years of my life at PGCC, earned over a 3.9 GPA, earned a internship with the Park Police, and earned the respect of people of all ages. And in high schoo, I tried, depsite the teasing, to have a good time, to relax and to be myself. And at nearly 25, I feel like a better person, because I did not sircume to the rat race that has become high school. And I never, back then, nor today, felt that the answer to being teased was with a gun or bringing my sheep to school.

Off to pull a building permit.

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

I have to admit

I have to admit; I like the new play list at 107.3.

The question though is this some sort of ratings stunt or a real wake up call here in DC with a major radio personality calling the entire industry onto the carpet? Either way, the outcome sounds the same to me. I've noticed that the radio personalities on 107.3 sound more cheerful than they have sounded in the past, and I can't predict what they will play next. Yes, they are still playing Maroon 5, but not every hour. I have a feeling that this expanded play list is here to stay, and demographic ratings management will be loosened up enough. DC needed a jack of all trades radio station. 107.3 and Z-104 were virtual clones of each other, both playing off the same small demographic plate. Granted, I wish the 107.3 play list would play more R&B music, I've yet to hear any Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston, Monica, Montel Jordan, or any of the like. I predict that some will filter in, giving the station even more variety that was sorely needed. Right now on the air: Passion by Rod Stewart.

Now to transition to another subject. Already this year, I have been to every county in Maryland, Delaware and Connecticut. On Saturday, I visited Carroll, Frederick, Washington, Allegheny and Garrett Counties. On Monday, I visited Talbot, Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset, Worcester, and Caroline Counties yesterday. Add in the fact I got Kent County DE and Sussex County DE too, and the rest were either covered by my trips to MA, or a going to the new years party in St. Mary's County, or my run to Dunkirk Supply, and I will have officially got every county in Maryland this year. Delaware too, because when I came back from Rehobeth Beach, I took DE/MD 16, instead of 404 across Delaware, and 16 briefly goes into Kent County before crossing into Maryland.

Now it's Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day transitioned to Bonnie Rait's Love's Sneaking Up on You. Which I have not heard on 107.3 in like five years. Wow.

Jack Diamond Takes Over

This morning, Jack Diamond took over Mix 107.3. The programing director said that he has taken the station hostage. However, I have never heard such a good mix of music in my life on any radio station. My prediction, the station, with a greater expanded play list, could see its rankings go from the range of 10th-15th to 5th-10th. Most people I know are sick and tired of hearing the same fifty songs played over and over again. I'm just waiting for Ru Paul's Supermodel to come on the air. I've already heard Fleetwood Mac, Maroon Five, Pink Floyd, Alisha Keys played in a row.

Today I went to Ocean City and Rehobeth Beach. I did some outlet shopping, Tara dropped a large sum of money at a craft store in Ocean City. Saturday, Tim, Trish, Dan and I went out to Western Maryland. Got to see some waterfalls, had a lot of fun. I always enjoy going out to Garrett County at any opportunity.

Anyhow, It is time for me to go to bed. Good night.

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Heads popping up

Hehehehe.

I am driving down my street. At the driveway to the barn, I catch a mid 1990s red Nissan Sentra with FOP plates parked there. A man was sitting in it, and then lo and behold a woman's head pops up from the passanger seat. I know what they were doing. I think my stare of disgust made for a deflating experience for the both of them.

Today I worked on Capitol Hill. I reassembled some cabnets, screwed them together in a whole bunch more places. Hopefully they will hold up for another couple years until Adam is ready to gut that house and refurbish it.

I'm looking forward to Saturday when I go to Garrett County with Tim, Trish and Dan.

Oh yes, my dad is still in an angry mood. He's mad at my mom and I because we want to hire a tile person to do the floor.

Anyhow, good night for now.

Thursday, March 10, 2005

And why are we not surprised?

The first shocker:
Today was my dad's 71st birthday. He was in a fowl mood. I took him to the rental property to do some work. He really wants to work, but the entire time he is crying and he takes 30 minute breaks after working for ten minutes. I would feel more sorry for him, if he was not cursing at me and making my life a living hell.

The second shocker:
I'm doing well with my Futurama game for my XBox. I am so surprised I did not get one of these gaming systems before. Oh well.

The third shocker:
Aparently Wal Mart wants to open a Supercenter in Dunkirk MD. The locals, as usual, are opposed to it opening. They claim it will kill small business. What small business? Wal Mart does not compete against dry cleaners, or most any of the rest of the businesses in Dunkirk, at least directly. There are no clothing stores, no shoe stores, who the hell would buy hardware at Wal Mart (except in a pinch), Blockbuster won't close because of a Wal Mart. Calvert County has an ordinance that would make the Wal Mart too large. The solution? Split the store into two or three stores, each with it's own cash registers, bathrooms and whatnot, and connect them via a breezeway. The supermarket would be in one part, the general merchandice would be in a second part, and the home improvement center would round out the third part. I gotta admire Wal Mart's slipperyness on this idea. Oh yes, and it would be the first Wal Mart to ever be constructed in this way in the United States. Calvert County's other claim to fame: The oldest Pontiac dealer still in opperation is in Prince Frederick.

And for the fourth shocker:




1985 by Bowling for Soup





"Where's the mini-skirt made of snakeskin?
And who's the other guy that's singing in Van Halen?
When did reality become T.V.?
What ever happened to sitcoms, game shows?"

You took the bitter with the sweet in 2004 - and kept laughing.


Tuesday, March 08, 2005

Looking for Ladder 49.

Trying to buy a copy of Ladder 49 was not the easiest thing in the world. I went to Wal Mart, K-Mart and Blockbuster Video in Clinton. All three were sold out. I ended up going to Bowie to Wal Mart, and I was able to get both a widescreen and a full screen copy. Good for me. My house is at 18:23 in the movie, the one with flames coming out. My reference point is Paul's house at 2240 has form stone on it. Three houses up is 2246, and it has flames coming out the 3rd floor window. The castle still has phone booths in front of it, so the scenes were filmed before July 2003. The grafiti on the brick next to my front door is still present to this day. The rats are coming down the stairs from the 3rd floor to the 2nd floor. Then I think they transition into Kate's house, Because there is no such massive damage in my house, and Kate's has huge amounts of damage. Then it transitions to a scene outside my house.

I can point out other "flaws" in the movie. Why would a fire unit, based in the North East part of the city go up Fulton Ave. to get to my house? Why would they be shopping at the Save-A-Lot in Fells Point? I can continue on down the line.

The "Check Engine" light is on in the Camry. I was cruising along, came to a traffic light. The car spuddered and then the light came on. Then the car started to burn gas like my old hooptie van. I guess it will have to go in for it's 120,000 mile service a little earlier than planned (the odometer is at 117,500 or so). We average about 22,000 miles a year on the Camry.

The head of the Franchise that owns the McDonalds called my parents house yesterday. I was not home to take the call. My dad explained the situation. The owner said that they had replaced the manager last week. I think the new manager was the guy that went off on me. I've been too busy with the house to get my complaints filed with the AG's office and the BBB.

My dad believes that he is getting some of his sight back. He's been testing his eyes every day and he can see more and more out of the right eye, the one that was basically blind. Either he is adapting, or the damage is somewhat reversable. I'm glad to hear this, because I am going to need his help to renovate my house, the one mentioned above, used in the movie Ladder 49.

Anyhow, back to the movie. They just had the goose scene.

Good night.

Saturday, March 05, 2005

XBox and Dad

My dad is home from the hospital.

I got an XBox on Thursday. I enjoy it a lot. I am obsessed with playing Futurama. XBox is so much better than my old NES system. Dolby digital sound coupled with high definition video. Sweet.

I am still planning my moves against that McDonalds. They caught me on the wrong day.

Anyhow, back to the XBox. Good night.

Friday, March 04, 2005

The Customer Is *ALWAYS* *WRONG*

I blew up today at the McDonalds in Marlton, MD.

I went inside, ordered two McChicken sandwitches with cheese, a double cheeseburger and two apple pies. They ran out of chicken pattys and the wait was about five minutes. OK, that's fine. Other people after me ordered McChicken sandwitches too. However, they recieved their sandwitches before me, and they ran out of chicken again and I had to wait. I asked for a refund. The manager was hostile, and I started yelling at him. The store would not provide me a copy of my recept, despite me asking for the recept I handed them back. I called McDonalds corporate headquarters and complained. I've had it with this crappy service. I should not have to wait 20 minutes to find out that I need to wait another ten for my food. That's absurd. That's So Prince George's County!!!

Oh yes, on a note that could fry my nerves, my dad is going to be permanantly blind in one eye, and partially blind in the other.

New England is looking to be a better option every day.

Good night.

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

Back from New England

Tim's grandmother died on Tuesday at about 4:45 AM. I pass along my sympathy to his entire family.

Tim got back to the DC area around 10:15 PM from New Jersey, we left the DC area around 10:30, got into Falmouth MA around 7 AM. Tim and I ended up not going to Worcester, but directly to Cape Cod, because of the gravity of the situation. The drive up was super easy, two stops for coffee, one in Maryland near Joppatowne and one in New Jersey at Fort Lee was all I needed to make the all night drive. Road conditions were good, we outran the snow by a large margin. I prefer driving at night, the traffic is nice and light and the idots are sleeping. Tim got to say goodbye to his grandmother. The entire imediate family made it to town, one came from Hawaii, another from Californa, one from Florida and of course Tim from DC. I can offically say I have clinched I-195 in RI and MA, giving me all milage of interstate in RI. Too bad it was not for a happy trip though.

I drove back from MA today though. I left Falmouth at around 10:45 AM. Made good time until I got to Bridgeport CT. Got stuck in a five mile rolling backup. Just as I was about to start heading towards Long Island, I called my mom. My dad was being admitted to the hospital in Baltimore. So I just stuck with I-95. Big mistake. It took me a hour to drive about 3/4 of a mile on the Cross Bronx Expressway. I ended up bailing and taking the expressway service road and some surface streets. New Yorkers are scared of my truck. No one pushed me around. I also got stuck in Wilmington DE's rush hour. Blah. I got to Baltimore, and had my mom follow me home, since she had no clue how to get home from the hosptial.

Aparently my dad has an infection in his optic nerve. They are giving him injections to reduce the swelling to determine what should be done next. I am guessing some sort of surgery. I'll be focused on my dad for the next couple days, instead of going to work.