Another big visitor is in town this weekend:

Who is it you, ask? It is the giant dairy cow sitting in front of the Washtenaw county fairgrounds.

Dont you hate it when you come to town and your visit is overshadowed by the President?

My morning has been hijacked :

My morning has been hijacked by an overwhelming force of Stupid.

Snake in the Grass

Today at the park Tanner ran into this snake, trying to eat this frog.(if you cant see this try this link *here*). Seeing the frog struggle it reminded me that my problems seemed inconsequential in comparison. I was going to let nature takes its course, but in the end after the video was done rolling I picked up the snake , who released the frog who then was free to hop away. I figured, everyone can use a break once in a while. Even this frog.
Of course by doing so I was screwing with the snake.
Oh well.

Yep. The Prez is going to be here soon

Today several Marine Choppers were flying what I can only assume were
pratice runs downtown Ann Arbor landing on the pratice field in near
the Stadium.

Random Wednesday Observations:

Re: Apple, lost iPhone, and the ensuing stupidity and absurdity of it all.

Lets just face drop all pretences for a second and I will shout this one right out to Stevie J:

Look man, lets face it your super prodigy nerdling lost a prototype. He lost a prototype, Gizmodo got it, and called out on it. They made a big deal and it ticked you off. You cant have the nerdling killed, it would bring to much attention. Your thinly veiled hand behind the raid on Gizmodos editors home is just creepy and I will just say it a bit off putting. So I say this to you: with all reverence and respect, Steve.

Just let it go. Its no big deal

PS please don’t have me arrested.

(see what Jon Stewart had to say)

Re: The makers of Ford Snyc:

I. Love. You.

If I could have designed a bad ass voice recognition blue tooth using, phone book reading, music playing, direction giving, info displaying system… well I don’t think I could have done a better job myself.

Thanks Guys.

Re: The Guy in the truck that pulled up next to me in traffic… honking and making a ruckus.

Ok you look familiar, I probably know you. Hell we might have even bee friends once, but that was a long time ago and may dead brain cells behind me. Thanks for stopping by, but I am on the Snyc phone call, and we are in traffic so, stop acting crazy and try and concentrate on driving. Just for me, for old times sake.

Re: Obama in town on Saturday:

Is it sad that they are expecting 80,0000 people when an average football Saturday attracts 100,0000? Priorities?

End of observations

Cool gear: Quadski

O M G (new lust object alert)

I.
Want.
This.

A transforming quad- jet ski? Are you kidding me? Could anything be more cool?

Thanks uncrate for finding this one.

Tanner and Kitty exchange a moment of mutual tollerance

In a tiny little blurry miracle of timing and luck I managed to get a quick shot of Tanner and Kitty getting along and almost seeming like they care about each other.

It was cute, and fleeting, and all at once out of character for for the two of them who usually make ignoring each other
an art-form.

I guess it just shows how complex the relationship is and that mutual respect and love can be found in the most unlikely of situations.

Mmmmmm. New truck goodness

Today slipped away from me like sand through my fingers

Not sure where it all went, but it slipped away into the breeze leaving me feeling empty handed. With a slight gritty feeling.

The cool thing about the NASA app

Is the images you get for free like this one of our sun having a litte
flare.

Today it rained all freeking day.

Today it rained all day. Usually I dont mind a little rain. Today, however, the rain ruined the following things:

1) Any chance of mowing the lawn
2) Any chance of making the task of helping my bother easier.
3) My mood

It rained so much and so long the river was running high and fast. It was actually pleasant walking in the rain at the end of a not so pleasant day.

Sun, 25 Apr #2

I had a 45 min conversaton about why I am not getting an iPad

I had a 45 min conversation about why I am not getting an iPad the other day with a friend of mine. I had brilliant reasons, sound theories, and insightful points to back up my position. I almost broke out the color graphs/ and charts and market research data.

The suddenly I realized:

Its really only a matter of time until I get one.

Somtimes I am just a Speed bump on the long road to crazy town.

Overheard to day at the office:








Me: You sent this mileage statement in Saying your current odometer reading is “0”

Client: Uh-Huh.

Well last year it was 16k

UH-Huh

So see the problem, you could not have drove negative 16000 miles

Oh

So… see where I am going with this.

Yes.
Care to give me a more plausible number?
Oh- OK

Really… ok I am just going to hang up now. You can just let me know when you can figure this out

OK

*click* Sigh*

You know today is F'd when ...

You know today is F'd when ...I started making big decisions with coin flips.

I
Am
SO
Screwed
Today

I really have to start paying attention

I really have to start paying attention, going to bed earlier or
drinking less. I almost tried to brush my teeth with a Mach III
tonight. Thankfully I noticed when about to apply toothpaste.

It really is kind of a little sad: but Twitter is useful?

It really is kind of a little sad: but Twitter is useful?

Lately, without warning, I am finding twitter useful. I am getting more and more of my news from several local papers tweets.

Seriously.

Maybe I am going a little mad

Random Tuesday observations: Wednesday late edition

OK Lets just face it:
Its going to be Wednesday from now on.

To the guy how lost the prototype iPhone… in a bar.

Really good job hombre. The world was just WAITING for more apple news. Thanks dude.

To the Mcafee genius that did not test the new update on windows XP:

Last time I heard half the world still runs on XP (Microsoft: it’s a big company with lots of products, take some time and Wikipedia it). Untested corporate update push… genius. You and that iPhone guy should hang out. Thanks dude.

To the customer that thinks he should be entitled to special favors:

Did you just tell me you know its damage that should not be covered but you would appreciate it if we covered it anyway? I cant really understand why your adjuster said no to that, its such a good argument. At least you were nice about it. How about we pay for this, but next time you have something that should be covered we just say no. We have a contract? AHHH HAAAA.

To the European flight authority:

If the ash cloud is between 18 and 25 thousand feet, primarily, they why don’t you fly the planes below 18 thousand and above 25thousand feet primarily. I am just saying, they do go up and down right?

To the customer that thinks its ok to say one thing, then another to get what you want:

Did you just say the house is vacant? Then did you just say you live there? Ok I am not kidding; I need proof that someone is living there. You’re going to take your business somewhere else? Wow, I missed out on a lying customer… awwww.

To the guy on the bicycle that flipped me off today:

Really? Sorry you had to go around me, but I was at the intersection when you arrived. I don’t know what you problem is but I can tell by the fine quality of you personal conveyance device, your wild eyes and disheveled appearance that you are a man of to be respected. To that end this is all I have to say: on this day it will not take much more for me to snap so flip away asshole. Just don’t push me to hard.

End observations.

Why do I Have the Feeling

Why do I have the feeling that my slow decent into madness is about to get get fast tracked.

Monday: The Weekend continued

Monday seemed like an odd extension of the weekend, as even though I had to work, we had a guest in from out of town. Here for Tuesday morning business, we were more than happy to put him up and have dinner with him before sending him off to his meeting.

After a quick area tour, and a great bite to eat at the always spectacular Red Hawk in Ann Arbor the girl and I walked with him through the Diag and a quick walk through the law quad.

I sometimes forget how beautiful the quad is with its stone works and its corbels, it just exudes academia.

I wish I could say I remembered to take a photo, but I did not. Instead I borrowed this one from iancncc flicker photos.

In the end we had a good time, and sent him on his way hopefully with a better appreciation of central campus and Ann Arbor in general. Especially because he is from West Lafayette (Purdue) and spend some of his College carrier in that other rival school down south. We try not to hold that against him.

Twitter Fun:

Best Tweet of the day:

From *KartoonistKelly*
"That's enough of this for one day. Have to go meet with my ex-wife's goddamn son of a bitch lawyer."

Wow: Twitter is good for something.

Did anyone else notice:

Did anyone else notice that someone totally flattened the signs in the median at State and Eisenhower?

I mean Flattened.

Here is a quick shot of a crew working on it.

Its funny that I only takes one or two key things...

Its funny that I only takes one or two key things... going wrong to turn a Crap Monday into a total "reactionary mode” crap Monday.

This Weekend

This weekend was complicated and emotionally draining.

We mourned the passing of a good man and celebrated the engagement of a family member. We had birthday party and had rental business to attend to. We were here for a old friends and had dinner with new ones.

Honestly, we ran ourselves ragged, emotionally and physically.

Tonight at dinner I took a quick shot of my niece Mina attempting to blow out a candle across the table (While her cousin Morgan looks on). It seemed like a fitting image for the end of the day, at the end of a long weekend. Kind of like a “good night, and don’t forget to turn out the lights…” shot.

It appears, Ann Arbor has a fire bug.

It appears, Ann Arbor has a fire bug.

Several highly suspicious fires have happened in Ann Arbor, one of them hit rather close to home (metaphorically that is).

I cant imagine, what is running through a person’s mind (or peoples minds) that would make them want to start a car fire. Or any arson for that matter. These fires have already taken one life and have caused who knows how much damage.

I hope they catch the idiot/idiots that are responsible. The sooner the better.

Photo courtesy of Darren Levitt

I had the craziest dream:

Last night that the girl and I just up and bought a house in Poughkeepsie NY.

It was very real right doe nth to the part where I realized that we did not bother to get jobs, or plan it out in any way. We just bought a house and moved.

It was super detailed, I can remember so many details, of the house.

It was so real, I was a little surprised to be waking up here at home.

Tree in Bloom

On of my neighbors trees is in bloom and I took a quick shot to let
you all see how amazing it looks.

Downtown Ann Arbor

Downtown Ann Arbor is so nice right now!

Just a reminder: Starbucks free coffee day.

I was just reminded that today is "get a free cup of coffee day" at Starbucks. Just bring in your own cup.

So for those of you caffeinaticly inclined, get your butt over to your local barista and get your fix.

Just dont forget to bring your own cup.

read about it *here*

or

http://www.starbucks.com/thebigpicture

So today was crappy:

So today was kind of crappy.

With the bad , some good things did happen. The girl got her new car. Most stressful things were resolved, and no one was seriously hurt. As far As I know anyway.

So in the end Tanner and I went back to our old friend the river for a walk.

The river, where we could relax, and forget about the day.
Tanner is older and it is getting noticeable, as much as I hate to admit it, that she has lost a step or two. In fact she is starting to slow with her age. So much so, she no longer minds to stop and take a moment just sitting there with me.

For a while, she and I just sit and watch as the water goes by.

Finally the babbling din of the river allowed me to forget the happenings of the day. In these moments the days complications were reduced to the simple sounds of nature.

It reminded me of something.

I sat there and forgot and forgot, until what remained was the river that went by and I who watched. Eventually the watcher joined the river, and there was only one of us. I believe it was the river.-
Norman Maclean -A river runs through it.

Random Tuesday observations: Wednesday late edition

Today's Random Tuesday observation is brought to you by:

the number "3"
and the letter "S"

You know "S".... as in SSSSHHHHHHHHUUUUSSSSHHHH" what is that sound?

That, my good friends is the sucking sound of this day as it wizzes by us at the speed of CRAP

Entertainment: Comedy Central

I almost wish I would have never found out that Comedy Central streams full South Park episodes.

Almost.

Now I have something else to watch when Glee is on.

PS- I believe it pays in flash...hear that Apple?

Opera Mini Browser

In a surprise move by Apple the app store has approved the Opera mini browser for the app store.

This means you can use something, other that mobile safari, for surfing the web.

Big deal you say? I would say them same, until you tried it. Its not perfect. In fact its kind of jerky and unpolished. What it is, however, is blazingly fast. How fast? Well I would say Jaw dropping fast. So fast I am thinking it knows what I am going to ask and it starts loading it first.

There are times when a website is needed but I have been discouraged by a less than wi-fi connection and now I don’t really see that as an issue.

Forget the fact that I had to agree to a 92 page (all thought its iPhone pages) new app store user agreement. Really 92 pages? Are your f’n serious? I am not sure if I signed my life away or if it was dubious it was asking right when I tired to download the Opera browser but… Damn. I had to have it. Oh and it was priced right at *free*

If you have an iPhone you need to check it out. Especially if it’s a non 3G model. It will bring a little bit of joy in your otherwise bleak outlook especially in light of the new pending software upgrades, you will not be eligible for.

The Kitty knows exactly:

The Kitty knows exactly when it is most inconvenient, then curls up and looks as cute as possible so that I disturbing her becomes something you will feel guilty about.

All was good when it was the Girls lap, but I think she discovered it was way more obnoxious to be on my lap while I try to surf the web. Plus it annoys the dog, and to some extent the Girl.
Super.
Evil.
Kitty.

Monday by any other name...

Monday by any other name...
Is still a Monday.

I realize I spend a lot of time bitching about Mondays. Just as that thought enters my brain another: Nothing could follow weekend, even a short one, and come out looking good.

To make matters worse for this Monday nothing seemed to be what it was today, and everything just got a little more complicated right under the surface.

Peeling back the layers of simplicity only to find: no wonder my turtle is slow, it needs a damn tune-up

Thanks to BARAN for the photoshop.

Shop update: tool time

Among other things, I tried to get some shop time. I was side tracked
by a bad Bearing in the small miter saw. If it's not one thing it's
another.

In between flipping the steaks

In between flipping the steaks I took some time to enjoy a beer.
( while Tanner looks on)
I.
Love.
Summer.

Seriously? Frost?

I am so done with you. I should have just gone back to bed when I saw
this crap.

Cool gear: Ferrari 599 GTO

Since I will be in the market for a new vehicle soon, I thought I would check out my options.

The Ferrari 599 GTO is on top of my list.

Sure its impractical, and costs more than well... more than I can currently justify. (by justify I mean even come up with without knocking over a couple 100 banks). Still, if we are looking at all the options, well we might as well look at the best case scenario.

The total production run is: 599 so get your wallets out now if you want one.
Find it *here*

Why I have to stop wearing blue dress shirts

Today while stopping by Office Depot for a quick item.
Woman walking fast toward me: "Do you have a new ...(inaudible)"
Me getting off the phone: " What?"
Woman: " Do you have a new catalog?"
Me: "Do you think I work here? I don't work here." holding my item to
purchase.
Woman: "Oh. It's that blue shirt". Walking off.
Me: *blink blink*

Aparently I was only a name tag away from working there.

Tomorow I am wearing a paper hat in the fast food drive through.

Spring Rain Showers:

Nothing like a rain shower in Ann Arbor to bring out the spring in spring.

Thunder and light to moderate rain swept in this morning like a heard of wild horses off in the distance. It was a close rumbling, like a stampede across the region, bringing a certain electric feeling to the air an earthy smell and boosting the color saturation of the grass to a "off the scale" almost impossible deep green.

A short time ago, everything seemed impossibly cold and dark.

Thanks for the renewed confidence mother nature.

Random Tuesday Observations:

Re: Spirit airlines: charging for carry-on luggage… Congratulations! You just put yourself on the unpopular list just below Hitler singing Christmas carols and contracting an STD in a single move. Good work, genius.

Re: Apple. Well you did it again. You came out with a totally slick device that no one needs and everyone wants. I would like to tell you that I am not ever going to get an iPad but I wont. In all honesty, I realize I can’t be trusted (see my rant before about the iPhone *here* ). I totally said I would not get an iPhone, and I totally got one. Or was given one. So for now MUST.HAVE.WILLPOWER. Stupid Apple.

Re: Obama speaking at UofM: I know everyone is excited about your visit. How can I tell? Everyone is atwitter, and to prove it they are tweeting about it already:

AnnArborcom: Scalping tickets for Obama's University of Michigan speech? Don't even think about it, U-M says http://bit.ly/b8KrVx

Re: Me and my mental state. My dyslexia seems to be getting wrose. As is my compulsive tendencies. My slow decent into madness seems to be self completing. ( or maybe I should just get more sleep) Goodnight.

Top five things I would rather do than go to sleep.

Top five things I would rather do than go to sleep.

Watch really bad late night TV

Grow older, one second at a time.

Contemplate my next move.

Apparently, make stupid top five lists

Late entry.... Watch a lightning storm than rolled in while I was not watching.

The Hardest thing I do:

Sometimes the hardest task I have is conveying some info from my noggin into someone else's.

Often I wish I could just beam it in there.
Really, why don't we have some sort of information conveyance better and quicker than talking or writing?

I'm not saying I am a genius by any means. In fact most of this info is just basic stuff I have to convey over and over again.

Today was particularly annoying, like a dark stormy sea of confusion. I found myself just firing warning shots across a bow of the SS. "I just don't get it".

Happy Easter (Island) everyone:

I had a nice photo in mind for Easter, but this image made me laugh out.

Thanks to andrea z for the cool image

Happy Eater everyone.

Shop update: The 4-5 table,

Today, while hanging out in the shop, I managed to get a little work done. Here is the 4-5 table top coming together. If you click on the photo you can see the exposed edge that I think will be cool. The girl is not sold yet but I have a plan... lets hope it all comes together like I can see it in my head.

Now it's starting

Now it's starting to feel like summer.

Speaking Of April 1st:

Look a what those clever students did today to the cube sculpture in Regents square.

Those silly kids.

Appril's Fool

For me, this is the one day of the year I try not to do something foolish. Act foolish, or just in general be fooled.
You know, just to be different from my everyday life.

I am not doing so well.

I was up early to get at work before everyone, and ended up fooling myself by wearing a shirt I KNEW had a big stain on it.

BRILLIANT.

That is what I get for getting dressed in the dark.

Thanks to Community Friend for the photo.