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I think Blogger has some problems on the D&C site . . .

I Just Had The Weirdest Phone Call

Not that the call itself was weird, but the phone rang, I waited for caller ID, and then picked it up. I was watching some piano music on youtube with the score going past at the time, and as I clicked the phone on, I clicked off the website. Apparently the guy thought the "ding" of the piano was the beep of a phone machine, and delivered a message, as if said machine was recording. I figured it out midway through his spiel, when he said something like "I'd like to talk to you about it . .. " or whatever. so I just let him go, he finished his message, gave the number to call him back, and hung up, with that spritely little goodbye most people tag on the end when they leave a message.

Too funny.

The Election is over, and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omFdpnSu57U

This Is How We Should All Exit

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_story.aspx?storyid=100829&catid=14

Kelly Grant, RIP

The above photo is a picture of Kelly sent to me by Jeff Laben. She's the barefoot one in the leather jacket.

The above article was about a friend of mine. It is up for the Scorgies website, since I cannot post pictures there.

Palin the Turtle

The wisdom of a farmer

The old farmer said, "Well, ya know, Palin is a "post-turtle".

Not being familiar with that term, the listener asked him what a "post-turtle" is. The old farmer said, "When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a "post-turtle"."

The old farmer saw a puzzled look on the other's face, so he continued to explain. "You know she didn't get up there by herself, she doesn't belong up there, she doesn't know what to do while she is up there, and you just wonder what kind of a dumb ass put her up there to begin with."

Cunt-ry First

It's a horrible pun for a title, and even though I wince as I write it, I can't help but continue to be stultified at the Republican's choice for veep. Take a look at this op-ed in the NY Times if you want an interesting viewpoint about her and this whole mess. Better yet, head over to the MSNBC Countdown site and check out the segment called "Palin's Greatest Hits." If it gives you confidence in her, then you may as well stop reading right now.

We're at the point now where people are bitching back and forth, acting childish, pointing out minor flaws in each candidate, like, "Oh yeah, well he voted for this on one bill," and so on, where the point to discredit goes beyond logic. They say Obama doesn't have the experience. Well, the only people that really do have the experience for president are those who have already been president, right? Or any job seeker and their prospective job, for that matter. Take McCain's boast that he was suspending campaigning to go back to Washington and save everything. He didn't go directly, which tells you something about the man, but lost in the shuffle is that without him, there are still 90 something senators who could hammer out a proposal without him. Right?

I don't see McCain as bringing any hope to the White House, and while Obama might be an unknown, he could do no worse than the frat boy rodeo clown who held the job for the last 8 years. I say get Whitey out of the White House.

Want to see a powerful commercial?

Check this out - http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a30_1222709603

Skull whacked

I haven't written in a while, but that's fine, because no one reads this anyway. After fighting off allergic reactions to ragweed, I have conveniently found something more aggravating and painful to occupy my time, namely, the migraine headache. It's a sweet feeling, a combination of the feeling of a railroad spike through my skull, with the added benefit of feeling like someone or something is trying to kick out my left eyeball from the inside. I can't believe how fucking lucky I am.

Return of the Redeye

Allergy symptoms hit hard beginning a week or two ago. Now my day consists of waking up with a runny nose, eyes I want to claw out of my skull, and an itchy throat that could use a drubbing with some 80 grit sandpaper. The generic Zyrtec I got from Rite Aid seems to work randomly. Take the regular dose, and not much seems to happen. Double it, and for periods throughout the day, the symptoms are quelled, but not consistently. Aiding all the fun is the younger lad who wants to play catch outside 24 - 7. I thought staying in with the AC would help, but as evinced on Saturday, it didn't make a difference. So either the whole outdoors and indoors is saturated with ragweed, or I'm simply screwed. I'll suggest the latter, since that's the way my luck goes.

Nothing Says Happy Anniversary Like . . .

While most of the more romantic types might finish the headline with a swoopy, Harlequin Romance kind of rose petal filled bathtub with candles burning and dripping all over the sides of the tub, Michael Bolton music wafting through the smoke and incense infused air, and a slightly chilled bottle of the second cheapest bottle of champagne (actually sparkling wine) that New York State proudly offers, things are done just a bit differently at this house. And so, when I spied this gem in the big beer cooler at Wegmans yesterday, I knew my quest for the perfect evening and means of celebration were all wrapped together in this one little can. Clam juice, tomato juice, and watered down beer all rolled into one? Surely the gods are looking down upon us all.

On a more serious note, today does indeed mark the 15th year of unabated bliss here, and while I will not divulge details (personal information, is, after all, just that), if you do happen to see the missus or myself today, you may congratulate either one of us, and by that I mean rid your wallets of those unseemly dollar bills and hand them over immediately so we can get vittles at a place nicer than KFC.

And if you're thinking I am a total cad and behaving a bit cavalier, and how dare I and I should have at least made reservations somewhere, I defer to the demands of real life. As for a restaurant, provide your recommendation and why in the comments section, and if I use your suggestion, well, I'll send a can of Chelada your way. Second, with the reunion gig of the Press Tones around 48 hours away, any chance of dinner is overtaken by an imminent practice, and a performance the next night. Paltry excuses for the avoidance of a showering of love, but I'm not the best planner in the world. So on a makeup date, where would you go for a dinner, and why? And no, the place cannot have a drive through.

In the meantime, I have to hustle to get some flowers bundled together and ice some cupcakes. In closing, Fred and the boys said it best.

I'll never be well again

At the point now where it's a hack or two in the sink each morning, maybe a few more throughout the day, kinda the equivalent of smoking a pack a day. Though I am optimistic, I still have this nagging feeling that the cold or west nile virus or aids or whatever the hell is bothering me will be staying til the end. Its a drag, but there you go.

Almost Well

The pain in the throat is gone, now the only remnant of this horrid cold is a constant flow of mucus, usually from my lungs to my throat to a sink. Maybe by next week I will be whole again, and ready for allergies to attack.

Kill me please

So the cold that started out in the head, and then moved to the lungs, has now taken up residence in the throat. Feels like strep, but by the time I could get into the doc's, it'd probably be gone, so off I go to suffer some more. Feck me.

The Headache That Won't Leave

It is now July, and I am still sick. The most aggravating feature is a continual headache, at times low level, at times throbbing, that refuses to go away. Even now it pounds. How's your day?

Sick again, WTF?

So apparently, when the older son was sick on Friday and stayed home from school, he passed the disease onto me. It's a lethal sinus cold, where the right half of the skull throbs with all the frequency of a strobe light, the nose runs wild like the overflowing Mississippi, and the body feels, well, like it's someplace else. Needless to say my mood has not been good, as it hurts to talk or think or do anything, even though there is stuff to be done. Hopefully this nonsense will pass soon, because if it doesn't, I will be going over the edge. In a hurry. Why? Can't go to the gym, can't ride the bike, can't do work around the house, can't do squat. So it sucks. So it goes.

Tiger Woods Put Down - Drug Ties Found Between Golfers and Horses

Sadly, after going to a playoff round and finally winning the US Open, Tiger Woods has been humanely put to sleep. Although recent surgery on his knee held up long enough for him to play the Open, doctors discovered more damage that could not be repaired through surgery. Woods, collapsing out of the clubhouse on his way to the parking lot, was quickly surrounded by fans and security guards. After a doctor pronounced his diagnosis, the PGA trailer was brought into the parking lot, and the deadly injection given to Woods. Authorities are now looking into ties between golfers and thoroughbreds, as it appears a commonplace event that leg joints are cracking and popping like a bowl of Rice Krispies.

Weight Loss Woes

Ahh, the joys of a plateau. Still working out roughly 6 days a week, and though I am getting stronger and healthier, the weight seems to have stabilized and refuses to leave. Next up, two meals get converted to protein shakes, and dinner is the only real food. Searching the web for strategies about plateaus gets opinions on all sides of the spectrum, from eat less to eat more, work out more to work out less, or a combination of the four, to a host of other things. So who knows. Off to the gym now, and we'll see what happens today.

A small cycling victory

So far the biking season hasn't been too good - weather for the most part kind of sucked. Despite workouts at the gym, my average speed was still around 12 mph, not very good at all, at least I think so. Anyway, yesterday I figured I'd sprint all the way out to Mendon Ponds and back, just to see what would happen. And while there was a strong wind out of the west, which affected the bulk of the trip, I still managed a respectable 15.1 mph. Now if I can only keep that up for 50 miles, I'd be okay.

Mon Dieux! Je ne peut pas tomber!

This story cracks me up. Seems a French guy wanted to parachute from 25 miles up. Yeah, you heard me, 25 miles. Despite the hazards, blood clots, no oxygen, blood boiling, despite his pressure suit to fend off the dangers, seems Michel Fournier had one small problem, namely, a competent ground crew. Seems they let go of the balloon he was to ride up into the sky and then jump from. There's a video here . . .

Oh, if you don't speak French and need to translate the headline, check here.

Golfer Tom Watson Breaks Ankle, is Put To Sleep

The 69th PGA Senior Open is in town right now, and while watching on tv, I saw Tom Watson take a spill. You could hear the screams of agony, and help was soon at his side. Sadly, though, the decision was made to put him down. He was given some chamomile tea laced with arsenic. This casts a dark shadow over the event, but the game must go on.

For those looking for something to do, here's a nice game on the web you can play.

Got an Ugly Dog?

http://www.sonoma-marinfair.org/uglydogvote08.shtml

Still time to enter your pooch in the ugliest dog contest out in California.

support the troops, not

If you think the government really cares about the troops, really cares about people, just really cares in general, read this letter - if the link doesn't work, the text is below:


SUPPORT THE TROOPS Many soldiers missing out on Bush's stimulus checks In August 2006 the 10th Mountain Division, 2nd BCT, 1-89 Cavalry was sent to Iraq for 12 months. In April 2007, the troops were told the Army was adding three additional months to their time in country. In November 2007 the troopers of 1-89 arrived back in New York from their tour. They are now being told by the IRS, via the IRS Web site, that they haven't earned enough money to qualify for the economic stimulus check. One would think, after the Walter Reed Hospital scandal and other abuses of our military, that the conservatives would have learned that our troops have earned more than the country can ever pay them and that military members should be included automatically in every stimulus event. Where is the support for the troops?
Jeff Stephan, Peyton

Can you top this?

http://www.kcci.com/sports/16201286/detail.html

Pretty depressing, the above story. I mean, not for the guy, but perhaps for the rest of us. If a blind bowler can bowl a perfect 300 game, 12 strikes in a row, what does that say about what you did today? Try hard enough? That's what I thought.

first post in may

here's to having a bad attitude early in the morning.

Cancer prevention

the article says it all - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3072021.stm

biking luck

Last year, first ride of the season, I got about 200 yards from home and got a flat. Brand new tube in that tire. This year, on ride 2, out to Mendon Ponds, I got a flat. Brand new tube. Luckily, I had my cel phone with me, and called a pal to pick me up. I say luckily because I hadn't secured the air pump to the frame, which would have meant a 5 mile hike home. The rest of the day was spent getting a new tube, installing it, and securing the pump to the bike frame. Even funnier, the tube that was in there was one of those slime ones, the ones that are supposed to seal out little pinhole leaks so you can keep going. Well, I say don't believe the hype. And the downside, if I did have my pump with me, is I would have had to get the tube wet to find the hole, which would involve spitting and the hands, and I gather at some point I would have tasted that slime junk. Ugh. Back to regular tubes for me.

Pneumonia 1, me 0

It's been about a month, and I am still not recovered. I would just like to take this moment to say go to hell to everyone and everything, since I feel crappy. So there.

for crying out loud. . .

I think I am almost over the pneumonia. The lungs feel okay, and I don't know if I got strepp along the way or what, but my voice is shot by the end of the day, and in general, it sucks being me right now. Started cleaning up the garage, and though I have been going to the gym up until about a week ago, I messed up the lower back. So despite trying to get in shape, I have a few obstacles thrown in my path. Next week, I hope, all will be well, and I'll be back to the gym daily, and weather permitting, biking. This past weekend I just tried to do nothing as much as possible, and I think that helped a bit. But I'm not a doctor, so what the hell do I know?

still sick

did some yard work yesterday and felt like death all day. pretty much the same today. the lungs are relatively clear, just tired. phoque me.

Any day now

I'll clear my lungs of the junk that sticks to the walls like rubber cement. It's always nice to cough unexpectedly and see a stalactite hanging off someplace. Maybe another week, maybe two, who knows. It's also nice to see no one commenting on the D&C blog, which leads me to believe that either the whole town is technologically illiterate, just doesn't care, a combination of both, or something else. Since the D&C holds the stats, I have no ideas on pageviews or hits or anything. Maybe today I'll add another post. On a brighter side, tomorrow should hit 60 degrees.

Since I'm still sick

go here and get a good laugh . . .

the verdict - pneumonia

Looks like I'll be couch bound for a few days.

slowly getting in shape

Not that anyone gives a flying fuck, but I blew through 4 miles on the treadmill in just under an hour, meaning my average speed was faster than 4 miles an hour (let me do the math for you). I am currently stuck at a plateau, but that should change soon, since it usually does. There is not so much pain after a workout anymore, although there is always some, but soon I should be able to get on the bike and burn quite a bit of calories. In case you were wondering.

Ughh

Some sort of stomach virus is in its final throes right now, and it's not pretty where I am. Yesterday was worse, and despite being on the verge of puking, I still managed to drag my fat ass to the gym and blow off 3 miles on the treadmill. Today I will be again dragging myself there, with only Saturday, a rest day, a day off, to look forward to. I still have to finish painting the kitchen, which is about 70% done, but will probably drag into next week. At least it's getting a bit warmer around here, and geese are commuting all over the place.

Nothing of interest lately

Still debating whether or not to deep 6 this, but in the meantime, I figured I'd write something. The D&C blog continues, although I have no idea if anyone is reading it, since the hit counter statistics belong to them. No one seems to be commenting, so either no one is reading it, or they are reading it and don't want to comment, or my writing sucks, or a delicious combination of all three. Who knows.

hey hey

The D&C posting began, so we'll see what happens there. They said my mugshot might appear in the paper, and Sunday it did, on 2a. Sheesh. Got a few comments from people I know, and I apologized for the ugliness. Heh heh. Still haven't decided if I am going to bury this, we'll see. Have to paint the kitchen this week, and that should be fun.

ho hum, hi diddly ho

The kids have the week off from school, and it's pretty maddening. One just wants to play video games all the time, the other wants to play outside. Since that never works too well, both offer up that they are bored, and there is nothing to do. And those phrases echo in my head, almost an instictive howl from every boy that's ever lived. And of course, when an option is offered up, say, hey, let's go bowling, one wants to, the other doesn't. Only a few more days to go though, and then I am on my own, lucky enough to paint the kitchen.

any day now

I should start the D&C thing, as one of their guest bloggers for Pittsford. At that point, I'll probably either kill this or put it on the back burner. That is all for now.

good news, not so good news. . .

The good news is, I saw a ridiculously low number for a resting heart rate, 63, which, in my fat addled case, is rather good news. The not so good news is that the scale seems to have parked itself for a while, what's known as a plateau in weight loss circles. But I take note of the former, since continued success along these lines means I can rid myself of the stupid hypertension drugs should I stay the course. And I would guess that good news as far as the heart is concerned, particularly around valentines day, is better than a pound or two shaved off my svelte physique. Soon it will be warmer around here, and I can get on the bike and motor about for more varied and longer workouts, so that's something to look forward to. . .

Slugging away

Worked out this morning, upping the weight on the leg circuit. Went skating this afternoon. Tonight, I should be in a lot of pain. I can feel everything starting to stiffen up. With any luck, I can get up real early and shovel the snow that's supposed to pile up tonight. Woo fecking hoo.

My Son's First Poem. He's 7

Snow

Snow is
Like one million
Meteors that strike
The earth gently

Off we go

So today I met with the guy at Pittsford Nautilus, and he showed me a bunch of leg exercises. At the time, it didn't feel too bad, although by late afternoon, I could be doing an impression of Roosevelt at Warm Springs. Funny thing is, when I look in the mirror, That's what I see (arrow points to the right). Maybe I never should have put that poster up there, because if a real mirror was there, I'd see a horrendous gut. But the pounds are going, if slowly and steadily. By my birthday, with any luck, I'll have shed 20 pounds.

Let the fat burning begin

So today began the beginning of a 3 month relationship I will have with Pittsford Nautilus. They had a coupon on their web site for a discounted rate, so I took advantage of it and enrolled. Today I used my new friend the rowing machine, and before I crinkle and fall apart this afternoon, I figured I'd post about it. I wish I had one of these machines in the basement, as it is much more fun and more of a workout than the treadmill. In any event, I go back tomorrow for a bit of a directed workout, and then hopefully, I can go every day until I am as thin as Kate Moss or whichever of those models looked like a heroin waif. I can feel the muscles locking up as I type, so time to go get some advil in the system.

Bands Reunited

Well, a while back I had my good friend and studio wizard Dave Anderson at Saxon Recording transfer some old mixing board tapes to digital. These were tapes of the Presstones, mostly recorded at Scorgies, during the early 80's. I made copies and sent them off to all the band members, Pete, Tony, John, & Scott, and then got a letter from Scott (who lives out of town) talking about a reunion. So, feeling like the guy from VH1 show "Bands Reunited," I fired off e-mails about the possibility of getting together sometime this summer. Happily, everyone said yes, and so it looks like the Presstones could rise from the ashes at some point this summer and perform.

Here's a clip from the old days . . . .

hooray for me . . .

Well, according to the scale, 10, count 'em, 10 pounds have gone south. Think I'll celebrate with a 5 gallon tub of hagen das coffee flavor.

Last day of January!

And how are you celebrating it?

Remember when . . .

Yeah, it's been a few days since I've written, but so what? Does anyone read this thing anyway?

Cleaning up the old office I figured I'd toss this up on the screen, might give a few people a chuckle. Not much of a club scene around here lately, not like the old days, and that isn't just old man rant. Ah well, time to get the kids off the bus. Oh, this poster was fairly controversial at the time, believe it or not.

Finally, the scale, she moves

Well the scale moved, not much, but downwards, at least for a day or so. Much like the tanker turning analogy, losing weight now seems to be like an ice flow in the arctic breaking up and melting. First a few cracks, then more, then shifts, then all hell breaks loose. I just hope the later doesn't come in the form of bowel movements. And following that analogy with the phrase - a crack in the ice has begun - might seem a bit edgy, but it has. So now I'll just have to keep pounding out the exercise and see if it continues to work, although I suspect it will. So a small cheer to me, but now it's off to the treadmill, so I can complain about how much my knees hurt.

Help! I've fallen and I can't get up . . .

Well, not really, but I did some tricep work the other day for the first time in forever, and now it's hard to lift my arms over my head, or shoulders, or whatever. Even lifting a fork up to my mouth makes me grimace, so I can see how lifting weights will help you lose weight, because you can't feed yourself. Bingo, there go the pounds. The scale has still not moved much, despite me telling my body fat that it's a lot warmer down in Florida. Like a bad taste in your mouth, it refuses to leave. I would guess though that by now, central processing up in the brain realizes I am not being chased by lions or tigers, and the constant fitness quest is permanent. In no time, the fat should be leaving, but at the moment, it's still busy packing. For those of you out there looking to make money, buy stock in Advil, Alleve, and Labatts. Short term anyway.

Tom Cruise is nuts, period

It doesn't matter to me if he is gay or not, and personally, he's not that great an actor in my view, but his association with Scientology really bothers me. See this latest clip, and maybe you'll come to the same conclusion.

The fun continues; no one notices but me. . .

Three solid days of working out and sweating, the heart monitor strapped on just to make sure I am working hard, and no surprise, I am right where I should be. On the plus side, I have had a solid headache for three days now, and my shoulders feel like a well abused GI Joe doll - you could rip the arms off with a simple tweak. Does the scale care? Nah, despite me substituting protein shakes for one or two meals a day. Perhaps the payoff will come later in the week, or maybe next week, maybe then the body will realize I am not fooling around this time, and jar the old metabolism into gear.

On another note, two gigs this weekend - on Friday, the Squeaky Chair is at Starry Nites, and Saturday, I'm with the Steve Greene trio at the MAG.

Sigh

After 2 weeks of solid exercising, the news is not good. The weight has actually slightly increased, which may be a result of either muscle buildup, or eating more to compensate for the effort, or perhaps a combination of both. I am sure after another week or two the situation will change, but it's still pretty depressing. Anyway, that brings us to the photo at right, of a man who had a goal and met it. He's the one on the left, and he just passed away.

Oh the pain, the pain . . .

Well, after pounding away on the various exercise equipment in the basement, I found a new muscle pain. Just above the knees, and it kicks in every time I try to walk, worse going up and down stairs. It was a dvd that did this, a cycling get in shape dvd that starts off with, I think he said, Hindu crunches. Start with your arms straight out, palms down, then as you bring your arms in to your sides, your palms will turn up and into fists. Continuing, point your hands down to your feet, and as you bend at the knees, touch the back of your heels. Stand back up and return your arms out front. In the dvd, he opens with 100 of these gems. I think I got less than a third of that, pausing in spots. Now, 2 days later, the pain has dulled, but still hurts. Now I can't wait to see what happens to me tomorrow.

Happy new year - sobered up yet?

Hoo boy, wasn't 2007 fun? Personally, I'd give it a pass. Sure, there were moments, but overall, there's not too much of record I'd celebrate. For starters, the bathroom scale is telling me things I'd rather not hear. So this means exercise, and lots of it, which means aching joints and the locking up of an arthritic back, until enough weight is shed that it gets easier. But that won't be anytime soon, since I don't have those killer trainers you see on television prodding away at me. Mentally though, the recurring chant of "come on tubby," a nasty little dig, seems to get me motivated and moving. And aren't salads so refreshing and filling?