Girls Jumping on Trampolines

Good Afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen,

Well, the Olympics have been a lot of fun to watch. I hung out with my dad last night for a bit, heard stories about storms during the Sturgis Rally, and in the past 24 hours or so, I have seen the USA women's beach volleyball team of May-Treanor/Walsh (107 consecutive wins now) take on the Brazilian beach volleyball team (hotchuma hotchuma), the USA women's indoor volleyball team take on the Italian indoor team (bellisima bellisima), and I be damned if there wasn't an Olympic sport called Women's Trampoline…straight out of a fellow pervert's fantasy. Though it wasn't quite as bouncy as expected, it was still an extremely hot surprise. Can't wait for tonight's Women's Mud Wrestling finals. Still think it's a little weird that Trampoline is a sport…but they're taking baseball and softball off the Olympic events because the USA wins soooooo easily every time. I mean…wasn't basketball pretty much the same thing up until the last decade? Are we just going to eliminate all national sports from the Olympics? Good bye hockey. Good bye soccer (not to be confused with REAL football). Good bye volleyball (Sri Lanka's). Good bye table tennis (host nation China). Even basketball would be gone thanks to Lithuania. By the way, did you know that Buzkashi is the national sport of Afghanistan? All this time I thought it was some kind of Japanese sex act…but apparently it's like polo. Anyway, you'll never know now…because it's a national sport…and therefore not part of the Olympics. Just makes more room for new sporting events like Channel Surfing, Madden 2012, Dance Dance Revolution, Blogging (I think I could medal in that one), Texting, Binge Eating, Binge Drinking, Sleeping, Rochambeau, Purple Nurple, Yo Mama, Quarters, Beer Pong, Head butting, Thunderdome, Ship's Mast (if muscle cars are allowed in), Stripping, Staring (also a possible medaling event for me), and Fornicating, the ultimate spectator sport.


Anyway, glad to be interested in the Olympics for the time being…except I think the events where judges are involved are absolutely rigged. I could say that I don't understand the criteria and all of that…but having watched the events for the better part of my life, I know a little bit…and what I know isn't being adhered to. I'd hate to say Conspiracy of the Day - The Olympics are Rigged…but it's pretty much common knowledge, not really a conspiracy. That's why I prefer to watch the timed events…and see the USA dominating most of those (thanks to Phelps & the 400 meter hurdles sweep). Good times. I even watched Table Tennis…and Fencing. Even that was interesting…because it's the Olympics.


Agony of Defeat - Liu Xiang is a national treasure of the People's Republic of China. In 2004, he became the first Chinese track & field athlete to win a Gold Medal when he won the 110 meter hurdles. He also won that event in the 2007 World Championships. He tried to live up to the expectations of a nation of 1.3 billion proud people...and of sponsors that include Coca-Cola and Visa. He has all the trappings of modern celebrity, rivaled among Chinese athletes only by Houston Rockets center Yao Ming. Liu croons in a music video, appears in TV commercials and looks down on China's streets from billboards bearing his image in a leather jacket for Cadillac and running gear for Nike. This is a man whose legs were insured for about $13 million…or roughly a penny from each Chinese citizen (Take that, Tina Turner). Sunday was the running of his event, the 400 meter hurdles…but he had suffered from a hamstring / Achilles tendon injury for some time. It had forced him to pull out of several meets over the last few months, appear in public rarely, and train in seclusion to try and overcome it. He took the field…but it was obviously that something was very wrong and he was in agonizing pain…but the nation of 1.3 billion was behind him. He had to show up. The 110-meter hurdles final was expected to be one of the highlights of these Olympics: China's Liu vs. Cuba's Dayron Robles, the man who broke Liu's world record in June — with a packed house ready to cheer on their man. Unfortunately, after a false start, it became evident that he couldn't do it…and he walked away in grimacing torture…and countrymen walked out of the stands, disappointed with their fallen hero. Is that some cold stuff or what? My heart goes out to Liu. To train so hard and for so long, be a national icon, be under such extreme pressure, and then…not sure exactly what but probably just roll an ankle or something…and it's all over. Shame to those people who walked out on him in the stands though…unless they were walking down to help him out. That's the only excuse.


Today's Special: Turtle Soup - As many of my fellow nature nerds know, every year when the sea turtles bury their little hatchlings on the sandy shores of the tropical seas, they face many challenges. The little turtle squirtles are alone, surrounded by natural predators, rough seas, tourists, and have really nothing other than an instinctual pull towards the light of a full moon to drive them to the relative safety of the ocean. However, with the development of those white-sandy beaches, light pollution causes problems with their genetic GPS. In the southern Italian region of Calabria, about 60 newly hatched sea turtles lost their way during their ritual passage to the sea and marched into an Italian restaurant instead. The baby turtles, which ended up under the tables of startled diners at the beachside restaurant, were probably thrown off track and lured by the eatery's bright lights. Antonio Colucci of the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature, not a wrassler) said, "They saw the artificial lights and took the wrong route. The diners were at first quite curious and then someone alerted the coastal authorities." Luckily these little hatchlings were saved and sent back out to sea…instead of becoming part of the menu. I hear they're delicious…and not just the chocolaty ones with caramel in the middle.


More Odd Italian News - Emboldened by a nationwide crackdown on crime and a government decree giving them extra law-and-order powers, Italian mayors have issued a string of often bizarre by-laws to enhance "public decorum." For example, when on the isle of Capri, don't wander off the beach in a bikini. If you go to the sea in Eraclea, near Venice, remember that building sandcastles is forbidden. Don't even think about mowing your lawn on the weekend in Forte dei Marmi (ah schucks…but wait, when can I do it then?). PDA's (Public Displays of Affection) in a car can earn you a fine of up to 500 euros ($745) in Eboli (not to be confused with Ebola). Feeding pigeons is off-limits in the centre of Lucca. In Novara groups of more than two people are forbidden from lounging around in parks at night. Italian newspapers have dubbed this year's holiday season "the summer of bans." This week though, one town hall was forced to acknowledge things may have gone too far. Rodrigo Piccoli, 33, called national radio to protest after he was fined 50 euros for lying down in a park in the northern city of Vicenza to read a book. The mayor has since promised to drop the ban. Which begs the question, if you had absolute power, what kind of laws would you pass in your land? Here are some possible laws for the Land of $tevonia (flag still pending from the Ultimate Challenge):

• Conflicts that cannot be resolved by rational communication, for whatever reason, shall be settled by either coin toss or dance off


• The method will be determined…by a coin toss (heads for coin toss, tails for dance off)


• Anybody who questions the method of determining the method will automatically be deemed "wrong"


• Failure to obey the rituals of Mistletoe will result in a $500 fine, so just kiss the ugly bugger


• Mistletoe will be above the doorways of government buildings…so at least you get a little something sweet before getting screwed


• Driving & talking on the phone for anything other than directions will result in a $500 fine


• Repeat offenses will result in Catapult


• If your dog barks in my general direction, I am entitled to $20 per yelp


• Payment can be substituted with the rituals of Mistletoe…but it had better be good at $20 a pop


• Frame of reference: Three-minute lap dances are usually $20…also acceptable bartering currency


• Something for the ladies, any man caught staring at a woman's cleavage must take that woman to a restaurant of their choosing for dinner


• If her dinner plans are full for the next month due to previous penalties or other engagements, she is entitled to a full-body massage…and it had better be good…otherwise, it's the Catapult for you


• Catapult will not be considered "cruel" punishment…just unusual…and therefore legal


• Persons caught vandalizing cars or houses will be prostituted to the fullest extent of the law…and yes, I did say prostituted…and you don't wanna know what I mean by "fullest extent of the law"


• When two people meet & greet each other, hugs shall replace handshakes as the preferred greeting


• If meeting for the first time, you are obligated to break the ice by saying your name, compliment the other person, tell them a lofty dream of a goal that you have, and then saying your name once again…so that they can easily recall it later.


• For example, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, my name is $teve. You have some of the most amazing blue eyes that I have ever seen. One day, I would like to roll around naked in a pile of money…preferably with a beautiful woman such as yourself. Again, my name is $teve…and you are?" "Tehehe, awesome. Well, my name is Gretchen. (Whiff) Mmm, that was your scent of major histocompatibility complex genes that was driving me wild. I too dream of rolling around naked in money…or feel the sensation of soft panda fur on my body. Ugh…oh yeah, Gretchen was the name." "I'm sorry, I was staring at your breasts. I guess that means that I owe you dinner."
  

This is just a small sampling of some of the laws that some would call absurd…but why not? If you have any better ideas, I'd love to hear them. Who knows? You may be bestowed with the title of Lawmaker in the Land of $tevonia.


I guess that'll do it for today. Called the dental hygienist earlier today…but have yet to hear back from her. We shall see how that goes. In the meantime, no real plans for tonight…but I'm sure the Olympics will be involved. Have a great day everybody!!!

Fraggle Rock Band Party this Thursday

Good Afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen,

To start things off, I'd like to extend an invitation to a Fraggle Rock Band party this Thursday (oddly enough my mom's 50th birthday) at my house, starting around…we'll say 7 PM just because I have nothing better to do that day. JL Clyde will be bringing Fraggle Rock, Filly will be bringing Dance Dance Revolution for anybody interested, I will have Rock Band & the usual fanfare…and plenty of booze as always. It'll be fun. Pinky swear.



Saturday saw me…not really doing much. I spent some time hanging with my mom, then my brother stopped by…after he took the family up camping with my long-time friends Isaihia & Spitsofrantic…and their families. It almost lasted twelve hours as the babies weren't sleeping in the woods, so they went home around 6 AM. He stopped by to drop off the trailer…and being his only friend, he wanted me to come down and hang out with him…as did his wife. I think they just wanted help babysitting…but that's been a theme this past week, so I figured why change it up? We watched some Olympics, some movies, played some Rock Band & Lego Indiana Jones, I played with the kids, then the day was over. Oh, there was this conversation with my brother that struck me as hilarious. "Hey dude, is it after eleven-fifteen?" "Yeah, it's like three o'clock." "No, I mean...like, the date." "You mean like November 15th? No, not this year." " Oh okay, what is it then?" "August 16th." "Oh okay...August is the...eighth month, right?" "It sure is." I had flashbacks of talking with the Dude on the Couch in "Half Baked." "August? Wooooow." Yeah, that was Saturday.



Yesterday started like any other at my brother's. Kids were there, we had quesadillas for lunch, drama ensued. What started it? My sister-in-law had left the dishwasher liquid out. My brother saw it…and made a sarcastic comment along the lines of "You left the dishwasher liquid out again. You know, this is great for kids to play with…which is why I ask you to put it away when you're done…all the time." The straw that broke the camel's back. She was reading her new book (something about vampire orgies…but that may have been a joke) and so without saying a word, she went upstairs to read. About an hour later, she came down and said she was going for a drive with my niece Kelaudri to the grocery store…but of course it was in that tone (you guys know what I'm talking about) so I know that something's up…but whatever, she's not my wife. Half-hour or so later, she starts packing up some of her stuff, so my brother asks what's going on, drama ensues, communication breaks down because they're both stubborn jackasses (and it's all been said before…about a month ago…coincidence?), and eventually the cops are called…because they were last time and my brother wanted some sweet revenge for that. I just stood by and tried to entertain the kids while this was going on. The cop (of course) made Kiel stand outside of the house (because of drunken hillbillies, guys basically have no rights in these situations) and we tried to pass the time (she was drawing it out) by talking to the cop, who actually worked with our dad back in the day. He wasn't very pleased to be called out on this BS because he kept saying stuff like "We have calls backed up, can we please move this along?" "Sure, you're the one that's letting her back in the house." Then there was a dispute about where the kids were going to stay…because again, she was drawing it out…probably waiting for my brother to snap (she's a smart cookie) but it didn't work…and the kids stayed home. Drama, drama, drama…and I think they're filling out paperwork today.



Later on, my mom stopped by so that I could take her to my place for the night then drive her to the airport early this morning (second straight Monday where I went to the airport at 5 AM - Thanks again, Bubbles!!!). She was worried about me because…well, drama seems to follow me around…but I do a really good job of handling it. She's just my mom and worries about me bottling things up or something. I've basically decided that I should start getting my own drama instead of borrowing from others. Sure, I miss being in a relationship (or really even knowing much about what one is like past the third date) but then again, it could be a LOT worse. The key is that I'm still trying and not letting my bad experiences sway me…and I learn from others mistakes…which is much easier than doing it firsthand. What have I learned? Here's a few in no particular order...

• Communication skills are essential, especially listening


• If you don't enjoy spending quiet time with them, it's not gonna last


• You can't save everyone (but I still try for some reason)


• You shouldn't have to save everyone


• Some people don't want to be saved


• People want different things…at different times


• You can't change people, they have to want to change


• That being said, Friends are people that want to help you be & feel better (not just accept who you are)


• People don't hear what you say, only how you make them feel


• On that note, listen to what the other person is saying


• Logic is pretty much worthless when it comes to matters of the heart


• Sadly, the Truth is usually not the best answer


• Even if you say the Truth, they probably won't believe you


• Women, especially between ages 18-40, have no idea what they REALLY want


• So just be yourself…and hopefully they'll like your quirkiness as well as your smoothness


• Cost / Benefits Analysis: Is the Juice worth the Squeeze?


• Name-calling is childish & ridiculous, just don't do it…even to hurt the other person


• People make mistakes, to err is human…but to cheat is completely f**ked up


• Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice…you ain't gonna fool me again (Damn, Bush is stupid)


• Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react, which can be good or bad


• Kids complicate everything


• The Waitlist to be on Jerry Springer is really, really long


• You can't kiss your problems away (though it's fun to try)


• Everybody has Drama, they just handle it differently
  

Anyway, even with this wealth of knowledge, all the theory in the world doesn't matter in the practice of it. However, you can't be discouraged. Why? Because though you may feel alone sometimes…and that no matter how hard you try, nobody will ever Love you for who you are and all that other stuff you tell yourself during Gloomy Gus Days, all you have to do is keep your eyes, mind, and heart open and you'll find somebody who feels exactly the same way (or hopefully a little more cheerful) and then you can try it out…and who knows? It may work out for you. If at first you don't succeed, try again. Sorry if that's kind of a downer…but I just like to share my nuggets with you so that you don't have to find out the hard way. Also, there's this...




Blessing & a Curse - A new study has found that birth-control pills could screw up a woman's ability to sniff out a compatible mate. While several factors can send a woman swooning, including big brains and brawn, body odor can be critical in the final decision. That's because beneath a woman's flowery fragrance or a guy's musk the body sends out aromatic molecules that indicate genetic compatibility. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are involved in immune response and other functions, and the best mates are those that have different MHC smells than you. (Compliment each other and make the whole better than the sum of the parts) The new study reveals, however, that when women are on the pill they prefer guys with matching MHC odors. MHC genes churn out substances that tell the body whether a cell is a native or an invader. When individuals with different MHC genes mate, their offspring's immune systems can recognize a broader range of foreign cells, making them more fit. Past studies have suggested couples with dissimilar MHC genes are more satisfied and more likely to be faithful to a mate. And the opposite is also true with matching-MHC couples showing less satisfaction and more wandering eyes. "Not only could MHC-similarity in couples lead to fertility problems," said lead researcher Stewart Craig Roberts, an evolutionary psychologist at the University of Newcastle in England, "but it could ultimately lead to the breakdown of relationships when women stop using the contraceptive pill, as odor perception plays a significant role in maintaining attraction to partners." There's more in the article about the study and findings…but basically, it all makes sense now. I'm a great mate…genetically speaking and otherwise…but now even the Pill is screwing me over…and not the good way. Oh well, the world without it would be…well, pretty much the same for me…but more complicated for others (the kids thing). You take the good, you the take the bad, you add them up and there you have…my little news clip. Sit Bubu, sit. Good dog.



Today, I'm doing much better after a few 2-3 hour naps last night and will probably go see my dad tonight to hear about stories from his trip to Sturgis in the Bat-Hummer. He suggests that you check out the Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota too. He enjoyed it immensely…even after my Dark Knight-esque hype surrounding it. Well, that'll do it. Let me know if you're interested in the Fraggle Rock Band Party on Thursday and I'll be sure to have enough seats or something. Have a great day everybody!!!

It Rubs the Lotion on Its Skin

Good Afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen,

Last night, I drove to my Aunt Faye's new house (nice place) and watched the Olympics with about a dozen of my aunts and uncles...and my mom & grandma. I was the youngest in the crowd by...about ten to fifteen years...and that was just one uncle that close. However, the company was excellent. We caught up on going-ons, discussed theories of politics, and tried to make sense of what we were watching. "Why do none of the divers or runners have (breasts)?" "Well, for the divers, it's because that'll cause a splash that will negatively effect their score...and for runners, it's hard to race 10,000 meters with the girls jumping around. I'm sure that aerodynamics are involved too. You don't see cars shaped like that." "Not since the sixties. I used to have a Cadillac built like Dolly Parton...but yeah, it got about five to the gallon."



"Is that guy crying during the National Anthem?" "You're representing your country, you wuss. Man up!!!" "I'm sure he's just got chlorine in his eyes or something." "Yeah, it's the lights. Quit being like the Frenchie, you won!!! Stop crying." "His sister in the stands there has a huge mouth...oh, and it seems to be a little cold there in the Cube. Turkey's done." Great times. In honor of the host nation, we had Chinese food to go along with the usual brownies, cookies, and beer.



My Fortune Cookie of the Day - "Your will have a great journey to a land far away." Yes, it said "Your" on the fortune cookie instead of "You", that's how you know that it's authentic. Anyway, don't want to spoil the end results for those who have yet to see it or TiVo'd it. Check out the Michael Phelps race though. It just goes to show that you have to give it your all, all the way to the end to be successful. Here's some news...



That's How You Debate - An argument between two debate coaches that was caught on video was not the sharp-witted dialogue typically associated with college debate teams. Instead, the two traded profanity-laced barbs and one of them pulled down his shorts, exposing his underwear. An eight-minute segment of the argument, in which each cursed repeatedly and one student near the camera can be heard crying, was posted on YouTube on Aug. 2 and has garnered more than 100,000 hits. In the video, Fort Hays State University debate coach William Shanahan (Go TIGERS!!!) is shown arguing with Shanara Reid-Brinkley, debate coach at the University of Pittsburgh (Go PANTHERS!!!), during the competition's quarterfinals. The argument, which appears to be at least in part about race, is punctuated with frequent cursing and name-calling. Shanahan, who is white, and Reid-Brinkley, who is black, scream criticisms about one another's body language during students' debates. At one point Shanahan screams as he jumps up, then yanks his shorts down to his knees and points his rear end at Reid-Brinkley. I'm not one to promote this kind of behavior…but do you wanna see the video? Here you go…



Now that's how you debate!!!


Jealousy's Ugly Head? - A British man has been banned from visiting his girlfriend's home after neighbors complained about noisy sex, a local official said Thursday. A court barred Adam Hinton, 32, from being within 110 yards of his 29-year-old girlfriend Kerry Norris' apartment, Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman Mike Taggart said. Residents of Norris's publicly owned home had been complaining since 2006 about thumping music, banging headboards and screamed obscenities. Neighbors also complained about Norris sunbathing naked in her yard, and were upset that a 6-year-old child in the building had been "subjected to the sort of obscenities you wouldn't want a 6-year-old to hear." "She is a classic nightmare neighbor (or dream depending on your perspective of her sunbathing)," Taggart said, insisting the case was not about sex. "It's about allowing your neighbors to have a normal decent life without being disturbed." The court granted the city council's request for an injunction banning Hinton from the apartment because Norris had ignored a previous court order demanding that she be more quiet. Norris last week was forced to pay $560 in fines and court costs for breaking the noise abatement order. Nude sunbathing? Thumping music? Banging headboards? Screaming orgasms? That takes me back. More things that I miss. Well, except the sunbathing. More of a moon bather when it comes to that.



Beer Goggle Study - For the first time, scientists have proven that "beer goggles" are real - other people really do look more attractive to us if we have been drinking. Surprisingly, the beer goggles effect was not limited to just the opposite sex among the ostensibly straight volunteers recruited for the study - they also rated people from their own sex as more attractive. Scientists in England gave 84 heterosexual college students chilled lime-flavored drinks that were either non-alcoholic or given a dose of vodka equivalent in alcohol to a large glass of wine or a pint-and-a-half of beer. After 15 minutes, the volunteers were shown photos of 40 other college students from both sexes. Both men and women who drank booze found these faces more attractive, "a roughly 10 percent increase in ratings of attractiveness," said researcher Marcus Munafo, an experimental psychologist at the University of Bristol in England. The researchers also asked volunteers to rate their mood, "and there were no differences on those measures in the alcohol group compared to the no-alcohol group. This suggests that the effect we observed wasn't due to a general change in mood." It did not escape Munafo that the results are rather obvious. "Everyone knows about beer goggles, but some of our results suggest that there's more going on than we might have thought." The discovery that the effect is not specific to the opposite sex was surprising. One possibility is that alcohol generally makes us see things as more attractive, but when this occurs in social situations, such as at a bar, "this might become targeted at opposite-sex faces," Munafo said. By repeating the experiment with video clips shot at bars, the scientists hope to recreate those social cues and see what happens. "The main question is whether these effects are specific to faces, or whether we would rate anything as more attractive after a drink." Future research could expose people who have been drinking to landscapes or the faces of puppies and other animals, "to see if alcohol has a more general effect on perceiving beauty in the environment." However, one important scientific question still remains…how does this help ME get laid?



Gatorade Should Get On This - Some of Britain's top athletes have decided to bare all ahead of the Beijing Olympics. Triple jumper Phillips Idowu, cyclist Rebecca Romero and swimmer Gregor Tait have all been photographed taking part in their individual sports stark naked as part of an advertising campaign for a sports drink. "Everyone is used to seeing athletes in competition or winning, but we wanted to give people the chance to see the real make-up of an athlete and their muscle and power," said Cathryn Sleight, marketing director for Coca-Cola Great Britain, which launched the Powerade campaign. Idowu said the photo shoot was "definitely one of the more unusual shoots I've taken part in, but also one of the most enjoyable." Obviously because voting Americans seem to be a bunch of conservative prudes, these advertisements will have to be regulated to foreign countries (and possibly the internet) but I like the idea. Not just because there's a slim possibility that I could see Ana Ivanovic, Amanda Beard, Sue Bird, Gabrielle Reece or anybody with an ice-skater butt in the buff…but because it shows the physical effects of watching what you eat & drink, working hard, dedicating yourself to good physical health, and the positive emotional benefits that come from it by being able to look at yourself in the mirror (apparently on a bicycle) and saying "I really am a gorgeous creature. Now I know why $teve (or perhaps the name of a significant other) keeps telling me that." Just a thought…



Sexbot Update - Meet Gordon, probably the world's first robot controlled exclusively by living brain tissue. Stitched together from cultured rat neurons, Gordon's primitive grey matter was designed at the University of Reading by scientists who unveiled the neuron-powered machine on Wednesday. Their groundbreaking experiments explore the vanishing boundary between natural and artificial intelligence, and could shed light on the fundamental building blocks of memory and learning, one of the lead researchers told AFP. "The purpose is to figure out how memories are actually stored in a biological brain," said Kevin Warwick, a professor at the University of Reading and one of the robot's principle architects. "If we can understand some of the basics of what is going on in our little model brain, it could have enormous medical spin-offs," he said. Looking a bit like the garbage-compacting hero of the blockbuster animation "Wall-E", Gordon has a brain composed of 50,000 to 100,000 active neurons. Once removed from rat fetuses and disentangled from each other with an enzyme bath, the specialized nerve cells are laid out in a nutrient-rich medium across an eight-by-eight centimeter (five-by-five inch) array of 60 electrodes. It's primary function now is to avoid objects in its way when rolling along…and it has no additional control from a human or computer. Observing how the nerve cells cohere into a network as they fire off electrical impulses, he said, may also help scientists combat neurodegenerative diseases that attack the brain such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. They may say that it's to combat those diseases…but that's only until it becomes self-aware and adapts…and then Skynet will launch the missiles…and the Apocalypse will be upon us. That's right, cyborgs taking over. Oh wait, this is Sexbot Update…so I guess they're either making a sexbot that can adapt to the subjects' needs (because the last thing we need is another free-thinker…am I right?) or just a robot that feels more real…because its skull is full of rat brains instead of a standard motherboard. Yeah, probably the first one…and we can combat Alzheimer's. I'll go with that too.



Well, that'll do it for today. Olympics are still going on. USA!!! USA!!! USA!!! Maybe a little love for Germany since I think my buddy Ruben still reads this blog once in a while. It hurts me to say it...but a little Love for France too (you're welcome Lilie). Have a great weekend everybody!!!

Mein Hut, er hat drei Ecken

Good Afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen,

First off, allow me to apologize for the negativity over the past few entries. I rambled on about my aunt…and I love her and all…and she even made me some delicious peppermint patty brownies to show her appreciation for helping her out with her trip to Anaheim & San Diego in November…but she does just get on my nerves pretty easily, which normally is kind of difficult. Also, I'd like to apologize for my sexually frustrated ramble last night about things that I miss. Apparently Lilie thinks that I should write romance novels or something because she got chills a little…as I hope that most of you out there did too. I did end up cutting out most of what I wrote though (that "time passes" portion and a few others) because it was PG-13 per se…but it was innuendo…and I like to be a little mysterious about my tactics. What? Why are you laughing? Is it because I said I like to be mysterious and I basically bare all on this blog? Well, you may be right…but still.

I watched a little of the Olympics last night, including Michael Phelps getting Gold #6 and Nastia Liukin (beautiful eyes, by the way) winning the women's gymnastics all-around gold medal. Tonight after work, I'm actually going to hang out with my mom and her family at my aunt's house (another one that I actually like, I have over twenty aunts) for an Olympic party, so there'll be plenty of drunken good times with my hillbilly kinfolk. It'll be great. Other than that, I might have a blind date…but I'm not exactly holding my breath or anything…because stuff always seems to come up…and I think I'm going to try a whole reverse psychology approach to it and see if that works…or works against, I guess it would be. Anyway, tragedy tomorrow, comedy tonight…as they say. Here's the news...

Bulletproof Bras - Thousands of German policewomen will receive what media have labeled "bullet-proof bras." Made of white cotton and featuring the word "Polizei" (Police...but sexier because it's foreign) along the seam, the bras are meant to better protect police women who wear bullet-proof vests. A spokesperson in Hanover said, "There was a slight safety risk for women wearing normal bras with metal parts underneath a bullet-proof vest. If the vest is hit by a projectile, this can have an impact on the metal bit in the bra underneath and cause injuries (and policemen are in the sometimes awkward position of "kissing it better")." Some 3,000 police women working for Germany's federal police will be equipped with the new bras which feature no metal parts and look like sports bras.

You know, maybe I need to move to Germany. No really, I was thinking about this yesterday at the training too. See, I used to speak fluent German but it's been the better part of a decade since I've used ANY other than immediately after somebody sneezes…or singing Schnitzelbank, just because I can. One of the speakers yesterday mentioned that when he was being interviewed for a job in Berlin, they basically took them to the bar, had a few beers, and had the interview there…and this was for a six-digit Euro job. I love the food, the beer, the culture, the curvy girls, and it'd be a new experience to say the least. There was a time that I really thought about moving to Salzburg, Austria and maybe playing some pro basketball for chump change (by NBA standards at the time…but with the current exchange rate…) and living in the land of the Sound of Music, meeting some Swiss Miss (or perhaps a Fritalian, it's a central location in Europe) and just traveling Europe with the team and documenting my adventures for future memoirs that only I would be interested in reading. Somehow that didn't happen (at all). Now that I know that the German economy is great, the food keeps getting better, and even the needs of the supple breasts of their law enforcement agents are being met, I don't know. Maybe I need a work visa or something to go over there. My company was locations there. I could even drive a Beemer…or a Benz…or a Bicycle…and be just like everybody else. Honestly though, in Salzburg, I could do the bicycle thing…maybe even in winter. It's a small mountain town. Anyway, just a thought that I had…and then I see something like this...

German Gelato Tragedy - Four people were killed in a shooting at an Italian gelato shop in western Germany on Tuesday. Shots rang out around 8 p.m., with one man killed outside the Eis de Rocco cafe in downtown Ruesselheim, near Frankfurt. A man and a woman were killed inside the cafe, and a fourth victim died of his wounds on the way to the hospital. Officers mobilized a manhunt after the shooter fled the scene of the attack in the town's pedestrian district near the main train station. Police blocked off the center of Ruesselheim and were searching for the shooter with the aid of dogs and helicopters. I guess even Germany isn't a paradise, right? I mean…I like my gelato but the article also talks about another incident a year ago at a gelato stand involving an organized crime syndicate (the Mafia?). Another good thing about being in Germany is that I could take a train on the weekends to somewhere else cool in Europe.

Roman Holiday - With the ruins of ancient Rome, the splendor of Vatican City, gelato and countless Renaissance art treasures, what does Italy's capital lack to attract tourists? The answer, according to the mayor's office, is a Disneyland-style theme park. "The model is Euro-Disney in Paris," said Deputy Mayor Mauro Cutrufo, announcing plans to build a vast ancient Rome theme park just outside the city which he says could be up and running within three to four years. The park would provide family-friendly attractions to show visitors what life was like in the Rome of 2,000 years ago. To be built on an as yet unspecified 1,000-1,200 acre site, it would put a Roman twist on rides like Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean, in which visitors float on boats through a fantasy pirate world. "You would relive scenes from the Colosseum, from ancient Rome, gladiators or maybe Julius Caesar or other things." (Orgies?) A decision on whether to go ahead with the park could be made as early as next month after market research has shown potential demand for the plan. Now, I don't mean to ruin their parade or anything…but is Euro Disney still around? Is it still the only thing that Disney has done that DIDN'T make a scatload of money? The New Coke of theme parks, if you will? Having been to Rome twice (thanks to the legend of the Fountain of Trevi…and awaiting a third time), I can tell you that one of the major draws of the city…is that it does NOT have a family-friendly theme park. You would think that an incredible culture spreading over thousands of years, ruins of the quintessential ancient civilization, the world's largest church, the foremost collection of arts from all of the over the world from the Sistine Chapel to Egyptian obelisks to Monica Bellucci, some of the finest cuisine in the world, some of the most beautiful people in the world with among the world's sexiest accents, and literally history stacked on history stacked on history beneath their sewer lines that people would just want to visit Rome for being Rome. I mean, it wasn't built in a day…or in even three to four years…and frankly, do we really need another Disneyland? Not in Italy. Oh well, that's why it's their decision (like when they elected a porn star). Do yourself a favor and visit Rome if you ever get the chance. Or if you can't afford it, visit it through my eyes.

Norwegian Knights - Nils Olav already has medals for good conduct and long service. He made honorary colonel-in-chief of the elite Norwegian King's Guard in 2005. And on Friday he was knighted. Not bad for a 3-foot tall penguin — actually, three of them. A resident of Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland, the original Nils Olav was made an honorary member of the King's Guard in 1972 after being picked out as the guard's mascot by lieutenant Nils Egelien. The guards adopted him because they often toured the zoo during their visits to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, an annual military music festival, according to zoo spokeswoman Maxine Finlay. The king penguin was named after Egelien and Norway's then-King Olav V. When the penguin died, he was replaced by a second penguin, who inherited Nils Olav's name and rank. The current Nils Olav, the third penguin to serve as the guards' mascot, was promoted from honorable regimental sergeant major to honorary colonel-in-chief in 2005. The knighthood ceremony began Friday morning with speeches and a fanfare before Nils arrived, under escort with the King's Guard Color Detachment. Nils then reviewed the troops lined up outside the penguin enclosure at the zoo, waddling down the row of uniformed soldiers, occasionally stopping to crane his neck and peer inquisitively at their crisp uniforms before being guided forward by his handler. Nils was then knighted by British Maj. Gen. Euan Loudon on behalf of Norway's King Harald V. Loudon dropped the king's sword on both sides of Nils's black-and-white frame, and the penguin's colonel-in-chief badge, tied to his flipper, was swapped for one symbolizing his knighthood. "He'll be a "sir" now," Finlay said. That's right, ladies & gentlemen. A penguin has been knighted. There is hope for us all.

Anyway, that'll do it for today. Thanks for a quick run across Europe with my random thoughts. It's always nice to have company. Have a great day and cheer on the USA!!!

Sittin' On the Dock of the Bay

Good Evening Ladies & Gentlemen,

First off, I'd like to wish a very happy birthday to my Wingman yesterday. Yes, I'm aware that it's a day late (and possibly a dollar short) but I did a really short one yesterday...and I did tell him happy birthday...just not on my blog. Besides, he got third row tickets to Les Miserables from Mrs. Wingman...so there was really no way for me to compete with that.

Last night, I watched "Vantage Point" with Dennis Quaid, William Hurt, Matthew Fox, Forest Whitaker, and a bunch of others...and I'm not going to lie, I only rented it because I got a free Redbox rental promotion (thanks Alisa) and it was the best thing left that I hadn't seen. The plot is that the President of the United States is at a meeting of world leaders in Spain...and he's about to give a speech...but gets shot in the chest...and chaos & explosions & car chases ensue. However, the fairly unique approach to the story is...that it's told from different perspectives in a gradually revealing method to give more clues to what's going on...as opposed to just doing the straight-forward storytelling. There's a number of twists and turns...though if you're expecting them and/or pay attention, they're not exactly Bruce Willis being already dead...more like Soylent Green being made out of people kind of surprises. It is a fairly intriguing story though...and there's a great car chase through the crowded city streets...and Spanish with subtitles...so it may be worth a gander if you're into those kind of suspenseful movies that tell stories differently.

Training today was a lot of fun once again...and most importantly, educational. The morning started (early) with me picking up some coworkers for a carpool...and the commented on my Poor Man's Maybach as a "Pimp Car" as they relaxed in my sofa-like seats enjoying the smooth Otis Redding tunes, crisp air conditioning, and the soothing baritone driving them around downtown Slick City to our training. The training itself was a great opportunity for networking with other trainees from all over the state and just meeting new & interesting people which I really enjoy. Oh...and there were more movie clips too from the interview scene of "Night at the Museum" to Rodeo Drive in "Pretty Woman." However, there's one thing about that scene that always bothered me. Now, certainly the saleswomen at Louis V or wherever should've been able to look past her shotty wardrobe and offer her some customer service...but she didn't JUST DRESS like a prostitute, she really was one. I mean...think about the safety of other shoppers there...after she tries on a few things that she doesn't buy. Do you think that they disinfect everything after you try it on at those places? Now what do you think about it, ladies? Anyway, don't judge a book by its cover...but it really helps you out and gives you confidence if you have a pretty nice cover.

For your information, I was wearing my creme-colored suit with light gray shirt and red silk power tie from Shanghai. I learned a few things about my appearance and fashion that I didn't know. For example, my socks are supposed to match my pants...not my shoes. The belt is supposed to match the shoes. Now I know...and knowing is half the battle. We also did that "telephone" game where you line up and whisper a message into somebody's ear, then they pass it on to the next person, and so on and so on...and you'd be proud to know that I didn't include "purple monkey dishwasher" just to mess with people...though Lilie knew that I was thinking about it. Frankly, it really didn't need my help in getting muddled up. Good times.

We had a wonderful lunch at the hotel's restaurant (though the waiter was lacking), including Amelia who I hadn't seen in a long time. We also did role playing (the non-sexy kind) and I'm not going to lie, I tried to start a flirtatious conversation with one of the young ladies there...but before you know it, we were talking about her two young kids, her husband, and my niece & nephew. Schucks. The training was still good...and now I just have my certification is less than two weeks...then I'm sure that the job offers will be coming in so fast that I'd better wear kevlar, just to be safe. Oh...and while we're on that subject, my blind date Porsia has to reschedule because "something came up" this weekend...and now, my mom is trying to hook me up with a dental hygenist that she met today. Apparently, she's 28, gainfully employed, 5'9" with a cute face, lives by herself, and admits to being shy when on dates. We shall see how this turns out, I guess.

You know, I'm not going to lie. I've been thinking a lot lately about how much I miss certain things. What things you ask? You probably already know based on the tone of the last half of that last paragraph. I've pretty much forgotten what making out feels like. I miss it. The kissing, the giggling, the fondling, the slow steady build coupled with deep, passionate embrace, fingers in hair, running down her spine and basically feeling that electricity run through her body with my tender touch, the moaning, the gentle rubbing, the firm gripping, the sudden adjustments, even the awkward ones, the whispering of desires in one another's ears, the slow stroll around the diamond, her breath on my neck, feeling her heart race, sweaty bare skin on sweaty bare skin, wondering how the hell the clothes got off...then suddenly not caring, and...yeah, it goes from there..."time passes" as I would say at work...and it ends with our sweaty bodies intertwined and/or collapsed on one another...and then her head resting on my chest, listening to my heart and I gently stroke her as she goes to sleep having some of the greatest dreams of her life & I sit there thinking that mine have just come true...but I'm basically just frustrating the hell outta myself right now, so I'm going to stop typing. Anyway, I miss that stuff. A lot. It's only been...siiiiiiigh...too damn long. Bleh. I'm done with it...for now.

Let's see, gotta end on a high note. How about something to do with the Olympics? Organisers of the Beijing Games are hoping 100,000 condoms will satisfy the needs of Olympic athletes. While sex is not an Olympic sport it is expected to be an activity in the Beijing village housing 10,500 athletes, all of whom are in great shape and with plenty of free time on their hands once knocked out of the Games. Athletes have received free condoms at every Olympics since Barcelona in 1992 to help raise awareness of AIDS, and Beijing is no exception. "There are many young, strong, single people in the athletes' village and, like everywhere, some will fall in love or other things so we need to make condoms available," said Ole Hansen, spokesman for UNAIDS China. "A lot of these young people are not married or in relationships so we want to make sure they have the information and tools to protect themselves if they have sexual encounters." The UNAIDS, the Beijing organising committee BOCOG and International Olympics Committee are providing 100,000 condoms as part of a campaign on HIV prevention and anti-discrimination. At the Sydney Games in 2000 athletes quickly exhausted a supply of 70,000 and another 20,000 had to be brought in. The Foundation for AIDS Research, amfAR, said 100,000 were distributed at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002 after a plan to distribute 250,000 condoms met protests by religious groups and was scaled back. Yeah, that's Slick City, the environment that I was raised in. Maybe that's part of my problem...and once I move to Vegas, my stock shall rise (along with other things) and my streak of frustration may come to an end...and I can train for a marathon indoors. We shall see. In the meantime, at least all those athletes that you're watching on TV are gettin' some...and seeing a lot of those female swimmers, gymnasts and volleyball playettes, I can definitely imagine.

Enjoy the Olympics and wish the U.S. luck in their pursuit of medals...because China's really whooping on us with the gold medals this time around. USA!!! USA!!! USA!!! Have a great night everybody!!!

Ducks Fly Together

Good Evening Ladies & Gentlemen,

Last night, I watched an interesting little movie that didn't get a whole lot of billing called "Doomsday" starring Rhona Mitra, Bob Hoskins, and Malcolm McDowell. The story is that in 2008 (yes, it came out a few months ago) there's a deadly virus that infects Scotland, so the rest of the UK build a giant wall (conveniently along the old wall they used to separate them during the Middle Ages) and quarantine them for about thirty years. Well, then in 2035 or so, the virus is now in London...and a brilliant scientist that was quarantined (McDowell) may have a cure...but during the generation of isolation, Scotland has become an apocolyptic wasteland that's Mad Max one minute and Castles & Knights the next. A kick-ass superhottie (Mitra) is the only hope to find a cure before it's too late for London...and the world. It's actually a great little gory guilty pleasure kind of a flick...like I said, it's Mad Max...with a dash of Resident Evil...a smidgen of Warriors, gladiator fight scenes, eccentric craziness, car chases, political conspiracy, big explosions, funny accents, token Black English guy, futuristic technology meets blunt objects and molotov cocktails kind of fun...if you're into that kind of stuff...which I am. Just remember that a little disbelief may be required at some points. I would recommend it if you like that kind of stuff. Oh...and did I mention that this lady is the kick-ass superhottie sent to get scientist? Becaues that's kind of important...and really really hot...



Today was the first day of manager training...and it was a lot of fun and extremely helpful. Met some great people and possible future contacts, learned a few things about methods in motivating, and there's more of it tomorrow. That being said, it involved seeing the Locker Room pep talk scene from "D2: The Mighty Ducks" by Emilio Estevez. You know the one. "Why? Because Ducks fly together!" I also learned more in the Art of Scarfing (girl ties, not binge eating), and I got to coach people in the making of a paper airplane...and yes, I did use terms like "Fuselage", "Integrity", "Lift/Drag Ratio", and "Aerodynamics" but surprisingly...I refrained from saying "Cockpit" or doing any "Airplane!" jokes. Good times. We also had lunch at a place that I'd like to recommend called the Chubby Toad Grill. A former boss of a boss started this company when my workplace became...well, questionable back in January...and it's some great wraps. I had a Spicy Thai Pork Tenderloin wrap and some mashed potatoes in a red pepper reduction sauce...and they were exquisite. They officially open on Monday...but go check that stuff out. It's great food at a great price. They also do catering. Do yourself a favor...and make sure that you try the taters in reduction sauce. I guarantee you won't regret it.

After work, I spent a few hours with my Aunt Pat and 12-year old cousin Alicia. Now, I love my family. I really do. You all know this. However, I simply cannot stand being around my Aunt Pat for too long. She's just...everything is always negative, she has this piercing high-pitched bitchy voice (even when she's not particularly bitchy which is rare) and it just pierces through straight to my soul...and makes me die a little inside. She complains about EVERYTHING...and I'd love to challenge her to find somebody who cares that her mashed potatoes were a little overdone and gravy isn't the best...but I know that she wouldn't and it would just make her bitch more. Also, my cousin Alicia is pretty much like her. Neither has inner monologue. Now, picture the ramblings of my blog...but not funny and/or interesting (it's easy if you try) and including stuff like, "this seat isn't very soft" or "I like tacos (while we're at a gritz & gravy kind of restaurant) but they don't have any wraps." Just every little thing...and it's always negative and it always just drives me nuts...because you'll try to have a conversation but my aunt's the only one that talks and I'm the only one that listens. She has plenty of advice to give other people...but is much too conceited to head the advice of others. I found out tonight too...that in her SUV, the center console is literally OVERFLOWING with coupons. Not a few stacked up...but the thing is FULL plus about three inches thick and the top of the console just kind of sit on it keeping it down (really pushing it forward onto the ground). I thought it was funny for some reason. Not that she's clipping coupons...but that she's a packrat...and borderline OCD or something. Also, my little cousin has a crush on me...which is weird on many, many levels. She's a kid though. It happens. Really couldn't wait until the meal was over because my aunt was going on and on about her mashed potatoes having gravy on them and it was supposed to be a baked potato and Alicia didn't need a diet Coke and greasy food makes her sick (then why the hell did we go to Anna's Restaurant where they had a Bacon & Eggs special and you ordered pork chops?) Yeah, it's over now...and I'm gonna have a drink before bed. Love my family...but cheese & rice...

Kind of a quick one today...but more training tomorrow...and frankly you probably don't want to hear any more from me anyway. Have a bite at the Chubby Toad Grill. The name may be...questionable, but the food is spectacular...and tell the owner Greg that $teve (or Dr. Mookie Love) said what's up. Maybe he'll gimme a free wrap for lunch sometime. Have a great night everybody!!!

Shipoopi

Good Afternoon Ladies & Gentlemen,

Last night, I took a nap as predicted...then hung out with JL Clyde & Filly. They convinced me with a meal of rice, bread, and cheesecake to drive across town. Let it be known, offer me good food, you have just purchased my company for the evening. We ate, watched "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay" (reviewed here) and then a few episodes of a TV series that I watched the few months that it was on...but I may have been the only one, "Tru Calling" with Eliza Dushku (Hotchuma hotchuma) and apparently half the case of the new Battlestar Galactica series. It's about a young college graduate hottie who takes an internship at a morgue...but the corpses ask for her help (because she hears dead people) and then she "propels" back in time to that morning with a chance to save them from their death later that day. It's like Quantum Leap...but with a hottie who runs everywhere (oh yeah) and even when the dialogue's a little ridiculous...it doesn't matter...because you get to look at Eliza Dushku the whole time. Anyway, I highly recommend it. Can't wait to see all the episodes that I missed back in the day...like the one where she gets "propelled" back in time but without her clothes (don't ruin my dream).

Today was a standard day at work...but the next few days will be managerial training classes, so that's groovy. By groovy, I mean different, which is great for me. I'm also really thinking about a trip to New Orleans for Halloween...but we'll see how my living & working situations are that ten weeks from now. Worst-case, I may just have to settle for Halloween in Las Vegas, which may be just as groovy. We shall see. Other than that, not really much going on. So here's some news starting here in Utah...

Keepin' Out the Neighbors - In the home of my junior high school (Hooper, UT - GO GRIZZLIES!!!), farmer Rhett Davis has erected a backyard fence made of three old cars sticking up in the air to send a message to new neighbors that he can do whatever he wants on his property. "This is just a fun way for me to say, `Hey boys, I'm still here. This is my redneck Stonehenge." Davis came up with the idea after neighbors who recently moved into homes next to his hayfield complained about his farm. "The people who bought the homes say, `Well, we love looking into your yard and seeing the horses and the cattle, but we don't like the flies, and we don't like the mosquitoes,' and when I cut my field to bale it, they say, `We don't like the dust in the air,' " Davis said. Now, knowing exactly where he's talking about, they basically took an enormous amount of farmland and turned them into little subdivisions...surrounded by farms. It's actually kinda sad because there were many a beautiful sunsets that I saw out there in the open cow pastures that are now full of cookie cutter homes. Oh well, it may be the redneck in me that says, "Git 'r done!!! OOOOOWEEEE!!!" By the way, he doesn't intend on keeping them up permanently. I just like the redneck picture...and the fact that I probably bagged this guy's groceries a decade ago. Awesome.

Local Lucky Guy - In the city were I bagged this guy's groceries (West Haven, UT), a 23-year-old man who left an engagement ring on the hood of a car went from extremely unlucky to lucky when another man riding a Harley-Davidson noticed a little black jewelry box in the middle of the road. "I never thought we'd see that ring again," said Karen Jones, whose son Tyler forgot he had put the $3,000 diamond ring on his girlfriend's car. After some frantic days, turning the house upside-down looking for the ring, the Jones family had just about given up hope. They placed a classified ad in the Standard-Examiner (a.k.a. Standard-Exaggerator) knowing the chances of anybody seeing it (or wanting to give back a diamond ring) were slim. What they didn't know was that Monte Kirk had found the ring as he was riding his Harley one day. "I opened the box and found a diamond ring inside," he said. "You don't find that every day." Kirk took the ring home to his wife, Debbie, and she said they would watch the newspaper for anyone missing a ring. Jones waited all week and decided to still propose to Amanda Anderson — with or without the original diamond. He decided to buy another ring Saturday afternoon and be more careful with this one. However, Kirk and his wife had noticed the ad and were trying to reach Jones and tell him. When Kirk finally got through, he said Karen Jones answered. "She was so happy," Kirk said. "Her son works two jobs and was going to propose that very day." Kirk asked Karen to describe the ring in detail to make sure it was the right one. When he was sure it was the same ring, Kirk and his wife hopped on the Harley and met Karen Jones at a nearby store. "He suddenly brought out the ring from behind his back, and I just started bawling," she said. "I asked him to follow me over to the bank to give him the ($100) reward. He wouldn't accept the reward, though." Kirk said he never thought of keeping the ring. "I know my wife would be sick if she lost her ring," he said. "There wasn't anything else to do. It wasn't rightfully mine. I had to find the owner." Later that day, Anderson said "yes" to Jones' proposal. Tell me that's not a heartwarming tale. It just goes to show the kind of moral base that you're raised with growing up in cow country. Just remember to keep your engagement ring on you at all time...not on the hood of your girlfriend's car.

New Career as Porn Inspector? - A man suspected of posing as a police detective and telling an adult novelty shop to give him free X-rated videos so he could check for underage performers was arrested Tuesday. 33-year old Drew Libby of Longmont, CO was arrested on suspicion of impersonating an officer, possession of an illegal weapon and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Investigators said they believe Libby made three unsuccessful attempts to get free videos from the store, showing a badge and leaving a business card from the Longmont police "age verification unit." There is no such unit. Libby was identified by a police officer and tipsters after photos were distributed from a surveillance camera in the store. Now, I wonder if that would actually work in Evanston. It's worth a shot, right? As long as I don't flash a gun or a badge, I should be in the clear. It's all about charisma. Honestly, why wouldn't the guy just get a job at an adult novelty store? If that's what your fix is...and you know that a chunk of your earnings is going to something like that, why not go for the employee discount and work a couple weekend nights? He obviously wasn't doing too much other than smoking and firing off a few rounds (I mean on his illegal weapon, by the way) and probably playing some video games. You can do that and help point out to other perverts where to find the buttplugs. Watch out for the real Age Verification Unit though.

That'll do it for tonight. Have a great night everybody!!! I'll keep you posted on the happenings when and if they happen. Shipoopi!!!