Here's a sample:
Thbbp
Round trip airfaire to India: $3216.10
Entry fee to Sanjay Gandhi National Park: 20 Rupees
Being put in your place by a louse-ridden monkey: priceless
I brought sexy back, but I had to throw it away because it smelled rotten.
So...yeah...I think Pink was much better than Justin Timberlake, but that may have been the Cirque du Soleil style show and the outfits. I think I enjoyed James Taylor more...I'm getting old. I must applaud Justin for doing a tequila shot on stage. I have to try that one.
Question? Why is it that when an artist says I love it here in <insert your town name> or I heard y'all like to get buck wild in <insert your town name>, people go nuts? Did they not know that they were in <insert your town name> before? Did they not like <insert your town name> before? Clearly <insert artist or group here> likes <insert your town name> because <insert artist or group here> is getting paid <insert percentage of exhorbitant ticket price/person or slang term for 'lots of cash'> to be in <insert your town name>.
Well, at least Timbaland was there.
So...yeah...I think Pink was much better than Justin Timberlake, but that may have been the Cirque du Soleil style show and the outfits. I think I enjoyed James Taylor more...I'm getting old. I must applaud Justin for doing a tequila shot on stage. I have to try that one.
Question? Why is it that when an artist says I love it here in <insert your town name> or I heard y'all like to get buck wild in <insert your town name>, people go nuts? Did they not know that they were in <insert your town name> before? Did they not like <insert your town name> before? Clearly <insert artist or group here> likes <insert your town name> because <insert artist or group here> is getting paid <insert percentage of exhorbitant ticket price/person or slang term for 'lots of cash'> to be in <insert your town name>.
Well, at least Timbaland was there.
I am writing this post from the lounge in the Frankfurt airport, where I am partway between home (Dulles) and my final destination (Mumbai, or for those of you still stuck in 1990, Bombay). Dulles to Frankfurt to Mumbai: a triple-play for the ever flattening world.
I bought Indian Rupees. The exchange rate, after commissions, fees, and blood-letting, worked out to 30rs per $US. For those of you keeping score at home, that's a 33% price premium (the US dollar equals about 45 rs). Didn't some guy from Nazareth have something to say about the money-changers? But no, these must be different people.
I remarked at a party once that I preferred obvious bigots to the subtle, insidious kind. I stand by that statement, particularly after meeting a fellow from Canada in line to get my Lufthansa boarding pass. He was standing there with a cart of luggage and a neon sign that read, "I hate the swarthy." It would light up when he talked. He was truly entertaining, and went on at length about the Italians. There was a family of four in front of us bearing Italian passports. But his sign blinked on and off (mostly on), and I rather enjoyed watching him be a complete ass.
I am thankful for business class. He could not follow me past the door.
I bought Indian Rupees. The exchange rate, after commissions, fees, and blood-letting, worked out to 30rs per $US. For those of you keeping score at home, that's a 33% price premium (the US dollar equals about 45 rs). Didn't some guy from Nazareth have something to say about the money-changers? But no, these must be different people.
I remarked at a party once that I preferred obvious bigots to the subtle, insidious kind. I stand by that statement, particularly after meeting a fellow from Canada in line to get my Lufthansa boarding pass. He was standing there with a cart of luggage and a neon sign that read, "I hate the swarthy." It would light up when he talked. He was truly entertaining, and went on at length about the Italians. There was a family of four in front of us bearing Italian passports. But his sign blinked on and off (mostly on), and I rather enjoyed watching him be a complete ass.
I am thankful for business class. He could not follow me past the door.
Escape the Bombthe cross goes on the table next to the dresser and the code on the ripped up note is 2-10-4420. I have no idea where to go next. don't take the drug - it will kill you.
Just an update...
Since the guy that rear-ended us (while drunk) and drove away 14 months ago was convicted of leaving the scene and paid a $50 fine, he has also been convicted of:
Being drunk in public - Guilty in Absentia, $25 fine
Speeding (79 in a 65) (so you know he was going faster than that) - Guilty in Absentia, $70 fine
Driving on a suspended license, 3rd offense - Guilty - he showed up for this one!, sentenced to 6 months, with 5 months and 20 days suspended sentence, 30 day suspension of license (like that's going to do any good!)
Expired State Tags - Guilty in Absentia, $30 fine
Expired Inspection - Guilty in Absentia, $30 fine
And this is just in Albemarle County, just in the last year. There's also a $96 fine for doing 64 in a 45 in Fluvanna County...it's amazing, they just can't seem to catch him doing more than 15 mph over the limit! He must be a very consistent speeder.
And his birthday is in 5 days! Happy Birthday, man!
Since the guy that rear-ended us (while drunk) and drove away 14 months ago was convicted of leaving the scene and paid a $50 fine, he has also been convicted of:
Being drunk in public - Guilty in Absentia, $25 fine
Speeding (79 in a 65) (so you know he was going faster than that) - Guilty in Absentia, $70 fine
Driving on a suspended license, 3rd offense - Guilty - he showed up for this one!, sentenced to 6 months, with 5 months and 20 days suspended sentence, 30 day suspension of license (like that's going to do any good!)
Expired State Tags - Guilty in Absentia, $30 fine
Expired Inspection - Guilty in Absentia, $30 fine
And this is just in Albemarle County, just in the last year. There's also a $96 fine for doing 64 in a 45 in Fluvanna County...it's amazing, they just can't seem to catch him doing more than 15 mph over the limit! He must be a very consistent speeder.
And his birthday is in 5 days! Happy Birthday, man!
Irony.
So I get to work this morning a tiny bit later than usual (10 minutes or so). The lot turns out to be full of cars as there's a meeting here today. As I drive up the far row, someone leaves. AWESOME!
As I sat listening to an interesting XMPR piece on the history of election fraud, I realized that I was missing my laptop. Obviously there was no parking available when I returned 20 minutes later.
Damn you Murphy.
So I get to work this morning a tiny bit later than usual (10 minutes or so). The lot turns out to be full of cars as there's a meeting here today. As I drive up the far row, someone leaves. AWESOME!
As I sat listening to an interesting XMPR piece on the history of election fraud, I realized that I was missing my laptop. Obviously there was no parking available when I returned 20 minutes later.
Damn you Murphy.
If anyone wants to come to Florida (Destin in particular) to celebate their Irish Heritage, just let me know when to pick you up from the airport. All you need to bring is a green dress, some running/walking shoes, and your drinking A-game. I promise you won't be disappointed.
In case my dear husband forgets to mention it, I want to let everyone know that for the second time, UVA has decided to admit him as a student.
Yes folks, that's right...Mr. B is going to be a double Hoo.*
*According to the Admissions webpage, this means that he is "academically competitive; [has] successfully held positions of professional responsibility related to the management of information technology; and demonstrate[s] qualities of character such as motivation, maturity, tenacity, integrity, ability to work with others, self-reliance, and leadership. " I don't know about the ability-to-work-with-others part, but the rest sounds about right. Congratulations, hon.
Yes folks, that's right...Mr. B is going to be a double Hoo.*
Wa-hoo-wa!
*According to the Admissions webpage, this means that he is "academically competitive; [has] successfully held positions of professional responsibility related to the management of information technology; and demonstrate[s] qualities of character such as motivation, maturity, tenacity, integrity, ability to work with others, self-reliance, and leadership. " I don't know about the ability-to-work-with-others part, but the rest sounds about right. Congratulations, hon.
I apologize for the late entry, but this race was particularly damaging to many parts of my ego, manhood, and life in general.
This past Saturday was the Hog Wild Five-Mile Run.
Having spent the last couple of months running 5K's and the occasional 4-mile race, I spent the week before this race running a few more miles than normal and doing a hill workout instead of a speed workout.
The race was in Dothan, Alabama about an hour and a half from Crestview, Florida (you know where I live and you never visit).
I showed up to the race confident that I would complete the race in 37 minutes or better. Before I left for Dothan, I went to the Dothan Runners website to get a description of the race. I remember it saying something like, "a challenging course with rolling hills" to which I responded, "Nonsense! I live on a hill - I'm a climber dammit!"
Well, while we were standing at the starting line (I was doing the leg kicking thing that all runners do for some purpose - I do it becuase I think it looks cool), this man approaches me and says, "Have you ever run this race before?" "No." I replied. "In fact, this is my first race here and my first five-mile race ever." "Congratulations," he replied. He then inquired about my 5k time to which I proudly replied, "I can do a low 22, high 21." "Hmm, you will do this in 39 minutes." "No way pops," I arrogantly retorted."I am covering this thing in 37 minutes or less." He then took the time to warn me that the first three miles were easy and that the course was really a bitch, but I continued to reassure him that a 37 minute five-mile time was in my near future. And then the race began.....
As we sprinted out of the parking lot, I realized that the pace was rather slow, so I took it upon myself to run with the leaders and, I got to tell you, it felt great. I felt so proud of myself. Running with the leaders, pushing the pace, and, unknowingly, making myself a huge target. In this race, they called out the splits at each mile. Ladies and gentleman, I am proud to say that my splits were 7, 7, 7, 10, 8. If you know anythng about road races then you understand the possibility of the 10-minute mile. If not then you will understand that the entire fourth mile was up hill! Completely and totally up hill! There were times in the fourth mile that I wanted to cry tears of what I hoped were saline, but knew would be blood. At the end of the race, I was in blinding pain, literal blinding pain - I could not see. In my entire running life, that has only happened once before at the East-West Championships my senior year in high school. My coach told me I had to place tenth or better or we would lose. I placed tenth and we still lost to Wilson (AKA the bastards), but I digress.
After the race ended, I wandered around for what felt like hours, but was probably hours. I looked at the race results and out of 250 participants, I placed 4th in my age group and 51th overall. Realizing that I was still alive and able to change out of my sweaty clothes, I looked at my free sweatshirt only to discover that this was the five-mile championship for the Southern Region of the Road Runners Club of America - I am almost positive, nope, actually positive that I did not qualify for the national championships. Next year, I run a 37 come hell, high water, or blindness (again).
As for the man who predicted my time at the start of the race - he was dead on - I finished the race in 39:46. I spent the next day sore, drunk and fantastically happy. Until the next race... some 5k, somewhere, sometime.
This past Saturday was the Hog Wild Five-Mile Run.
Having spent the last couple of months running 5K's and the occasional 4-mile race, I spent the week before this race running a few more miles than normal and doing a hill workout instead of a speed workout.
The race was in Dothan, Alabama about an hour and a half from Crestview, Florida (you know where I live and you never visit).
I showed up to the race confident that I would complete the race in 37 minutes or better. Before I left for Dothan, I went to the Dothan Runners website to get a description of the race. I remember it saying something like, "a challenging course with rolling hills" to which I responded, "Nonsense! I live on a hill - I'm a climber dammit!"
Well, while we were standing at the starting line (I was doing the leg kicking thing that all runners do for some purpose - I do it becuase I think it looks cool), this man approaches me and says, "Have you ever run this race before?" "No." I replied. "In fact, this is my first race here and my first five-mile race ever." "Congratulations," he replied. He then inquired about my 5k time to which I proudly replied, "I can do a low 22, high 21." "Hmm, you will do this in 39 minutes." "No way pops," I arrogantly retorted."I am covering this thing in 37 minutes or less." He then took the time to warn me that the first three miles were easy and that the course was really a bitch, but I continued to reassure him that a 37 minute five-mile time was in my near future. And then the race began.....
As we sprinted out of the parking lot, I realized that the pace was rather slow, so I took it upon myself to run with the leaders and, I got to tell you, it felt great. I felt so proud of myself. Running with the leaders, pushing the pace, and, unknowingly, making myself a huge target. In this race, they called out the splits at each mile. Ladies and gentleman, I am proud to say that my splits were 7, 7, 7, 10, 8. If you know anythng about road races then you understand the possibility of the 10-minute mile. If not then you will understand that the entire fourth mile was up hill! Completely and totally up hill! There were times in the fourth mile that I wanted to cry tears of what I hoped were saline, but knew would be blood. At the end of the race, I was in blinding pain, literal blinding pain - I could not see. In my entire running life, that has only happened once before at the East-West Championships my senior year in high school. My coach told me I had to place tenth or better or we would lose. I placed tenth and we still lost to Wilson (AKA the bastards), but I digress.
After the race ended, I wandered around for what felt like hours, but was probably hours. I looked at the race results and out of 250 participants, I placed 4th in my age group and 51th overall. Realizing that I was still alive and able to change out of my sweaty clothes, I looked at my free sweatshirt only to discover that this was the five-mile championship for the Southern Region of the Road Runners Club of America - I am almost positive, nope, actually positive that I did not qualify for the national championships. Next year, I run a 37 come hell, high water, or blindness (again).
As for the man who predicted my time at the start of the race - he was dead on - I finished the race in 39:46. I spent the next day sore, drunk and fantastically happy. Until the next race... some 5k, somewhere, sometime.
This editorial has it wrong. Here's the assertion:
But that second paragraph misses the point; if a middle-class family with no insurance at all has an incident requiring hospitalization, the out-of-pocket costs likely will exceed the $14,000 bill for medical coverage ($4,000 for catastrophic coverage plus $10,000 out-of-pocket maximum). So which is better: potentially unlimited losses in the event of a catastrophe, or defined, limited losses with known costs? One major problem with healthcare in this country: everyone carries risk, but too few people plan for it.
A middle-class family whose employer provides no health benefits would not get a subsidy, nor would family members be able to buy coverage through the state purchasing pool — even if their employer paid into it in lieu of providing health benefits. Such workers, who would be mandated to carry insurance, would pay about $12,000 a year for comprehensive family coverage. Individual policies would cost about $4,500.
That means that a typical family of four earning about $60,000 a year would spend about 20% of its income on premiums — not counting deductibles, co-pays and non-covered medical expenses. A catastrophic plan would cost less — perhaps $3,000 to $4,000 a year — but that family would still face a $5,000 deductible and an out-of-pocket limit of $10,000 a year. One hospitalization could easily hit that limit, again causing the family to spend about a fifth of its income on medical care.
But that second paragraph misses the point; if a middle-class family with no insurance at all has an incident requiring hospitalization, the out-of-pocket costs likely will exceed the $14,000 bill for medical coverage ($4,000 for catastrophic coverage plus $10,000 out-of-pocket maximum). So which is better: potentially unlimited losses in the event of a catastrophe, or defined, limited losses with known costs? One major problem with healthcare in this country: everyone carries risk, but too few people plan for it.
Wow,
It's late...my first post this year and it's late...3 AM. I really just wanted make a statement:
If you're using food stamps to buy sodas, maybe you shouldn't be using your cash to buy cigarettes.
It's late...my first post this year and it's late...3 AM. I really just wanted make a statement:
If you're using food stamps to buy sodas, maybe you shouldn't be using your cash to buy cigarettes.
In what can only be described as a herculean bout of regression, I ran the Pensacola Extravaganza Shinding (The real name is the Pensacola Beach Run, but I like my name better). So, at the Shindig, all runners started at the same time and mid-race you decided which distance you wanted to run (5K, 10K, half-marathon). I was runing with a bunch of people at what I perceived to be a decent pace until I saw the turn off for the 5K. Realizing that I was alone, it dawned on my that I was keeping pace with the wrong bunch of people and well, the rest you can figure out.
Out of 449 5K participants, I placed 48th and 7th in my age group with a time of 24:12 - it even hurts to type it. There is, however, good news, the BEER WAS ALL YOU CAN DRINK as long as you had a race number! I may not be a runner or even a decent jogger, but it is pretty hard to find something that beats ALL YOU CAN DRINK BEER.
I also discovered that I am over training, which is causing my body to get weaker. Without taking any supplements outside of a multivitamin. I have been running at least four miles a day, taking a 45-minute spinning class and lifting weights five days a week. With that in mind, I have accepted the challenge to drop the spinning and just run for two weeks. If my time improves, I will stick with that plan. If my time does not improve, I will buy some sort of supplement (which I liken to corking the bat).
My next race is the 7th Annual Chiropractic Run For Health on 20 January 2007. Fingers and public hairs crossed, here's to hoping for a better time.
In essence, crappy race, no medal, over training, next race in two weeks and FREE ALL YOU CAN DRINK BEER!
Out of 449 5K participants, I placed 48th and 7th in my age group with a time of 24:12 - it even hurts to type it. There is, however, good news, the BEER WAS ALL YOU CAN DRINK as long as you had a race number! I may not be a runner or even a decent jogger, but it is pretty hard to find something that beats ALL YOU CAN DRINK BEER.
I also discovered that I am over training, which is causing my body to get weaker. Without taking any supplements outside of a multivitamin. I have been running at least four miles a day, taking a 45-minute spinning class and lifting weights five days a week. With that in mind, I have accepted the challenge to drop the spinning and just run for two weeks. If my time improves, I will stick with that plan. If my time does not improve, I will buy some sort of supplement (which I liken to corking the bat).
My next race is the 7th Annual Chiropractic Run For Health on 20 January 2007. Fingers and public hairs crossed, here's to hoping for a better time.
In essence, crappy race, no medal, over training, next race in two weeks and FREE ALL YOU CAN DRINK BEER!
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