The famed Monte Cristo eating contest

The prepartion was arduous. The event was even more so. As with most things I am a legend in my own mind. I was running pretty high after winning the event last year (I ate 2 3/4 sandwiches in five minutes). For those of you who don't know, there is an annual St. Patrick's Day Monte Cristo eating contest at the Bennigan's in Plymouth, Michigan. I was determined to win it this year. I am not quite sure why I care but I suppose it is something to do. There is a prize of $250 that goes to the winner, and in my best Viper from Top Gun voice, "There are no points for second place." I drank 128oz of water on Friday in preparation. Prior to the start I wasn't feeling that good but I was rather hungry. I thought that I would best my record from last year but as fate would have it that was not the case.


Last year there were four people (including myself) in the contest. This year there were ten (again, including myself). Between the increased competition and the fact I wasn't feeling that great I was not very confident. This year they started each contestant out with eight pieces (each 1/4 of a sandwich) on their plate. After the contest I found out that they based that on how many I ate last year. A little over three mintues into the contest I was getting refills. Some of the pieces had just come out of the fryer and were very, very hot (my mouth still feels burned). I suppose I did slack a bit during the contest as I actually stopped at one point and kept raising my hands to get the crowd cheering. As it turns out all of my worry was for naught. I ended up eating nine pieces in five minutes with the next closest coming in at eight (the same as the closest last year). I retained my title and will be back next year to defend it.

The call

On my way home last night I got a call. "Do you want the good news or the bad news?" I asked for the good news. "The house didn't get damaged." And the bad news? "You know the giant pine tree by your pond? It got snapped off at the base and missed your house by a few inches, literally." As it turns out, it wasn't actually at the base. It was a couple of feet up. On the upside, if anyone knows someone who could use some pine to build something I have wood available.

I only heard one song from the office singer yesterday....Crazy by Seal.

Special request

Someone asked me why I hadn't posted something about my beard on my blog. I gave the person the story but for those of you who haven't heard it, here it is. It started off with not having enough time to shave for a few days. I liked the scruffy look so I let it go a little longer. Two weeks (or so) into it I thought about shaving it but decided to let it grow so I could avoid coming up with some reason why I only shave every two weeks. Then (the beginning of December) it was getting cold so I thought I would keep it through the winter. I may extend it a few months until I get my Lotus.

In other news there is a person in the office who likes to sing. I decided to start keeping track of the songs. For some time Mr. Brightside by the Killers was a favorite. Yesterday the songs I heard were:

Abba - Dancing Queen
Green Day - Basket Case
Minnie Ripperton - Loving You (Is Easy Because You're Beautiful)
Unknown - Bah, Bah Black Sheep (Have You Any Wool?)
Unknown - Knick, Knack, Paddy Whack (This Old Man)
Chicago - Feeling Stronger Everyday
Rick Springfield - Jesse's Girl
Ernie (from Sesame Street) - Rubber Ducky

More pictures

Quarterly update

Since January I have gone on a couple of trips for art-related business (Miami in January) and New Orleans this past weekend. Miami was nice. I stayed right on the beach in what is quite possibly the worst hotel ever. On the upside it was only $69/night, so what do you expect? New Orleans is just as dirty as I remember. It was odd seeing a waterline four feet up a building in a downtown setting. There will be a couple of places open then a couple of places closed. Then there are the large chain stores that look like they have been looted (everything in the Virgin Music store was gone, down to the fixtures). I went to the zoo Sunday (the pictures are below). I got the camel pictures just for Moe!

Efficient update

1. I missed the office party.
2. I had a *GREAT* time in Chicago (even though I was working, mostly).
3. The art keeps accumulating around the house.
4. I need to clean the garage so I can park in it.
5. I don't like snow on the roads.
6. Christmas was great, except the part where my dad had a heart attack (midweek before).
7. Florida was great and he got to go. I need a job where I can live there three months a year.
8. #7 is also known as 75 and sunny is better than 35 and flurries.
9. Next on the radar is trip to Miami this month for an art show and Vegas in May.

Goings on

The Christmas party at our office is the definition of excess. A $35 glass of whiskey? Enough said. It is something I look forward to. This year, unfortunately, my art business is going to get in the way. I am going to be missing the party of parties and going to Chicago for a couple of days to slave away. It is a full-time job to resist having a good time in Chicago. It will be that time of year and Michigan Avenue will be full of tourist-types and money will be flying like snowflakes. While I am missing the party I keep the Lotus in my mind as the reason why. Hopefully having that exact car in the garage will be significant motivation.

Wah, wah, wah wah, wah wah, wah (and Paddington)

I have this friend that we shall call Harry. There are some things that bother him. He does not like clowns. He really doesn't like dolls when their eyes open and shut. Friday was a difficult day for him. I do an eBay drop-off "business" and have a location in a town I used to live in inside a doll shop (the location, not the town). While we were there putting some art on the walls he had the displeasure of seeing a doll that would breath. You squeeze the doll and its chest moves in and out. He was not comfortable. While I was there I saw a Paddington Bear that they have had for a long time. I almost bought it over the summer at a sidewalk sale but didn't. I made them an offer they couldn't refuse and I now own a life-size Paddington.

I have been busy doing accounting for my business mostly due to the art I am selling. Nothing comes free......some things just come easier than others. I haven't gotten much new art up lately but I have done almost an entire year of accounting which is no small feat. Balancing the different accounts is a full-time job in itself. There is more yard work than I know what to do with. We are getting a new dishwasher on Tuesday and I still don't have my Lotus.

I may have to go to Chicago in December for art again after the first trip in October. Chicago is a wonderful town. Everytime that I approach the city (especially at night) something comes over me and I feel like I need to move there ASAP. I probably will eventually but it hasn't happened yet.

More thoughts as they appear.

Songs that move me, for now

My most recently created playlist (in this order):

1) Depeche Mode - Precious
2) Counting Crows - Holiday in Spain
3) Bright Eyes - Easy/Lucky/Free
4) Apotheosis - O Fortuna
5) Dinosaur Jr. - Start Choppin'
6) Eminem - Sing For The Moment
7) Faithless - Insomnia (album version)
8) Hum - Stars
9) Massive Attack - Angel
10) Ministry - N.W.O.
11) Moby - Go (original mix)
12) Moby - James Bond Theme
13) My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult - Shock Of Point 6
14) Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Grey Cell Green
15) Orbital - The Box (radio edit)
16) Sloan - Coax Me
17) Smashing Pumpkins - Snail
18) Smoking Popes - Megan
19) Groove Soundtrack - Wanna go to the endup?
20) Scott Hardkiss - Infinitely Gentle Blows (Scott Hardkiss' Aural Halluciniation Mix)

Wedding, pizza, Chicago, pizza, Gmail

I suppose I could be more irregular with posting. Since the last post I went to the wedding of my long-time friend from the cottage, got rowdy in Chicago, ate some pizza, drank some beer, and ate some more pizza.

The wedding was nice, although we were a few minutes late. We got there as the wedding party was getting ready to head down the isle. The upside to being late was that we got to see her before everyone else. The reception was a good time as I got to meet some of her friends she has been talking about for the last decade (I started to wonder if they existed). I was beat so we left early to avoid falling asleep at the table.

The next weekend I went to Chicago with a buddy. It was a business trip to pick up art. I rented an Explorer and it ended up getting filled to the brim. We got to the hotel (the thin crescent shaped building) late (after a detour to a casino) and were too tired to head into the city so we went directly to the sports bar type place in the lobby. It was right outside a place called Andiamo (I am not sure if it is part of the Andiamo we are familiar with). After a little over and hour there our bill was over a hundo. They closed up shop and E went to sleep, fast, thanks in part to the best bed ever! I think that between the feather bed, the down comforter, and the pillows that were oh-so-soft and cushiony yet supportive, it was, well, exciting. Saturday was spent packing and organizing art. Another buddy came into town from Cincinnati to participate in the hijinx. We went to Gino's East on Saturday night. We headed back to the room to recharge the batteries before heading out to Rockit. E made it a night and retired well before the other two. On Sunday we wrapped up the art, fixed a computer, and headed back to Motown.

This weekend was uneventful. I watched the Lions game (a rarity) and a buddy came over with his homebrew and we ordered a pizza from Pizza Papalis. It was a good afternoon. U of M pulled out a win on Saturday with one second left in the game. I guess it was good that Lloyd fought for getting those two seconds put back on the clock.

If anyone wants a Gmail account please post a request (with your email) or email me and I will send you something.

Creature of habit

I was eating with a long-time friend yesterday and he said, "You know, we are really creatures of habit. We find something we like and stick with it." I paused for a few seconds and said, "Somebody told me not that long ago that what I am about to say is rude. Duh!"

There is one restaurant that we go to where we sit down and, without ordering, our food shows up. With other restaurants we always order the same thing, literally. There was a restaurant added to the mix last week that will become a part of the regular rotation (Bahama Breeze) because of the Tostones (Caribian nachos) and the tomato salad with goat cheese.

When in high school I was a DJ on our school station an hour per day. I didn't realize it at the time but when I listened to my monitor tape I realized that I played the same songs 80% of the time. I suppose I am still like that as I stick with something I like and don't add to the mix unless I hear something that I don't have to go searching for....basically, I don't wander the web looking for music.

That being said, I am still in shuffle mode on my iPod. What spawned this post was I wanted to post about a song that came across a few minutes ago.....

I'm Too Sexy by Right Said Fred

It is 'nice' to hear songs that I haven't heard in recent memory.....even if some of them are no good.

Along for the ride

I can't imagine that I am really that different than most people. Done laughing? No? I'll wait.











Now that you are back I know what you are thinking. I know I am wierd. You know I am wierd. What I meant above is that I have a habit of getting roped into things that I am not terribly excited about and then actually have an ok time. This weekend was one of those occassions. I was along for the ride. "So what are you doing this weekend E?" "I am going somewhere in Ohio," I said. "You mean you don't know where?" "Nope," I said. "I am just along for the ride." Literally. Neen drove almost the whole way down while I worked on the ol' Celeron laptop (ok, 75% work). There is just something cool about surfing the web while cruising down the highway.


We did touristy sort of things. There are lots of caves in the area with waterfalls and the like. The site for the area is here. After arriving in town we went to a place called Rooster's. It is sort of like Hooter's but without the girls in tight shirts. I was in pretty good shape by the time we were done. :)

After we got back we started playing pool. What kind of pool? Guess.

On Saturday we went to garage sales. I know, I know. When in Rome......
There is an annual thing in the area that is touted as "10 miles of garage sales". I did get a cool "Danger Ahead" road sign and a nice etching. After all of that we went to "Old Man's Cave" and walked around for at least an hour. We went to another place but E was tired so he stayed in the car and took a nap while the others wandered.

This is the place we stayed:



I meant to be at work an hour ago (by 7AM) but then again I always do...so it is off to get ready and make the morning stop at the coffee shop.

I still want to fly Jet Blue

A couple of notes:

1) I have wished (for a long time) that Jet Blue would service Detroit because I really want to fly them.

2) I have had a feeling (again, for a long time) that I was going to see a plane crash. I am not sure whether I would see it in person or whether it would be on live TV/internet.


I almost thought that #2 was going to come true tonight. The landing was perfect. It was better than most landings where the equipment is functioning properly. Kudos to Jet Blue! I look forward to you coming into the Detroit market.

Position changes

I am still in Google (quote) and will likely hold some of the position until the end of time. I got rid of JDS Uniphase (quote) and split the position evenly into two stocks. I am not overly crazy about Hot Topic (site and quote) but what I do like is their Torrid chain (site). It is "fashionable" clothing in plus sizes. I like the idea of the chain and since it is completely owned by Hot Topic the only way to buy Torrid is to buy Hot Topic. The other half of the JDSU position went into Fuelcell Energy (site and quote). I am looking for a trade up to 15 or more.

Sunflowers

When I was young I never thought that I would be/get into flowers, gardening, and the like. Even though I spent a lot of time down on the farm (literally) and loved it I never pictured myself defining much of anything by plants. We learn that beauty comes in many forms as we grow (no pun intended) older. Neen and I were on the west side of Michigan this past weekend visiting a friend and his wife and spending some time by the lake. On the way over/up I saw two fields of sunflowers. It wasn't a farmer/gardener with a twenty foot square of them. It was acres upon acres of them. I suppose it sort of struck me because I have never seen a field of sunflowers before. I was in awe as I drove past. After it was out of view I said out loud, "I guess sunflower seeds have to come from somewhere."

Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock

What came across my iPod this morning? The 'classic' It Takes Two by the aforementioned duo. It was a remix from '96 but it still took me back to junior high. Is it weird to remember the words of a song that you haven't heard in a long, long time?

Update

I still own GOOG though I dumped MSO some number of months ago. I picked up JDSU instead. It (JDSU) is up about 10% now though it was up around 25% a month ago.

We have emptied out our old place and everything is in the new house. It isn't unpacked, mind you, but at least it is all there. We never unpacked about half of our stuff from when we moved the previous summer so things weren't as bad as they could have been.

I am starting an eBay "drop-off" business. What is that? You bring in stuff that you want to sell, we take pictures and list it, then we take around 35% of the selling price. The trouble for you is minimal. You bring in what you want to sell, fill out a form, and let us take care of the rest.

My current motivation for working hard (as if one should need motivation) includes:

The Lotus we rented in Vegas

The cross between a 911 and a Boxster

My geek factor.

I was in the office kitchen today when I thought about my geekiness as I put my leftover Chinese food in the microwave for 53 seconds. Why 53 seconds? Because it is a prime number, of course. The problem was that it wasn't quite warm enough. The second time around it went in for 31 seconds. Guess why.

Symetrical things make me happy. I wear rings on the ring finger of both hands. Three pictures on a wall? One is centered and the other two are equidistant from the center. The outline of my house is symetrical.

If I tap my feet I try to tap them an even number of time. If my left foot 23 time I try to tap my right foot the same amount.

Back from Vegas...

...and in one piece. We didn't get too rowdy. Carter and Stirk had a couple of late nights out while Big E stayed back on the ranch and wondered whether they were alive. The Lotus was GREAT! Check out my blog of the trip with pictures. We didn't lay out in the sun at all this trip due to weather and some of us sleeping until noon.

I don't like junk mail

Really, it gets to me more than spam (not the uber-processed meat). I get at least three or four pieces a day. My recent thing is to take whatever I receive, remove anything that could identify me, stuff it in the nicely-provided postage paid envelope, and send it back.