Maybe I’m just behind the times, but I didn’t know something like this even existed. I definately Laughed out loud in my office reading this one.

City bans marijuana-flavored candy

So I have sat down in front of a computer many a times lately and opened up the page to post a new entry, but I never seem to get more than a sentence or two into it before I either completely lose desire to make a full update, or I get horribly distracted by something more important, like work for Computers @nonymous, Practical Innovations, Two-Eagles ScoutCrafts, and yes most often by Lauren, or beer. This is not to say that I necessarily always enjoy what I am doing, but that it definately occupies a bit more time than I am used to. At least I know that Tod will find things for me to do, whether or not I want to, to keep me busy after Lauren heads off into the deep south.

Apparentle it has been quite some time since I made a post with actual content rather than just links to interesting articles I’ve read or other silly things I have found online. Well it is official, I have registered our team for the LATE ride, which will consist of 7 riders, I look forward to meeting the 3 of Todd’s friend I have not yet met. I am sure if he is willing to ride with them, they must be good people. I still have not made the venture out into the HOT outdoors yet to see where my bike legs are, I am debating trying that before the ride, then again maybe I will make it truly a hell on myself. Either way, I am sure it will be a memorable ride, Todd assures me that he will be in the same shape post ride this year. I am still trying to figure out where exactly things will fall, whether it be with the ODRAM or the ACC(Apple Cider Century) I would like to do both, but who knows if I can afford/handle it.

There hasn’t been too much excitement at work really to speak of, for those of you interested in what happened at the RCA General Synod Council meeting would be able to check it out on the RCA website. The actions taken by the judiciary committe against Rev. Kansfield are still being questioned by people all over. With the office fairly empty throughout the week+ that they were gone, I was able to basically convert all of the remaining Windows User accounts to a naming convention in our Active Directory. A few machines rebuilt and upgraded, some cleaning in the server room, and just generally some maintenence and other random problems to be dealt with. All in all it was a rather quiet time around the office, which I cannot say that I really was all the upset about. The Boss has given the go-ahead to get Dell Certified to be able to more effectively be abel to support our users. Next to get Mac certified so I can be like .hw, if that is really something that I should aspire to.

I did pass on the opportunity to see Batman Begins or ends or before the rest of the other Batman movies or this is in place of the other batman movies, and you should forget those were ever made. In any case, I was not all the thrilled or looking forward to seeing it, so I decided to pass on the opportunity to spend around $20 on a movie for myself($12 IMAX ticket + popcorn and drink). I felt that the money would be better spent adding mass to my beer belly. So off to the Hideout it was, where I ended up just chatting for a while and sampling some of his new brews. Which I might say the ESB has come out pretty good, as well as his 3rd batch IPA and the Red is reall smooth.

It has been an unfortunate time for people with personal computers that I know. Hard drives have been failing at an alarming rate. I am assuming this is because we demand such low prices we are willing to sacrifice true quality just to save a buck. Isn’t that the American way after all. After moy horrible time losing my Maxtor drive, Tod’s of the same model failed last night. One of the computers I was working of for steve was having some issues with a drive. I recieved a HD from a coworker of my brother, but alas I believe that thing is beyond hope, which may or may not have bene the case before shipping. It was sent in a padded envelope wrapped in bubble wrap. Yesterday also saw the failure of a co-worker’s drive. Not to mention the SATA drive we had fail in the Iowa office, that we can do nothing about.

On a positive computer note, I have received my laptop back from Dell relatively quickly(less than a week). The motherboard DVD/CDRW drive, and the Keyboard have been replaced. As of now no problems really aside …… from the fact that the screen brightness seems to vary while on battery power. Maybe I call them and complain about it this time, or I just wait until I am DCSE and replace it myself. The desktop seems to be running much better with 1.25Gb of ram as well.

In other news, life has been pretty good. Nothing terribly detrimental has happened, Bev is feeling better which is good, that means she will keep treating me right. Otherwise I have been to the beach a few times with Lauren for an evening sunset. Which was enormously fun. I have finally made it to drop off a roll of film, yes I said film, which I should be getting back soon to get those photos all good to post. Hopefully they turned out at least a little bit like what I had hoped. I am especially looking forward to the ones of Miss Lauren in front of the setting sun, she was looking quite cute at the time. More so than usual, which is a hard feat to accomplish.

Things may be turning upward for business as well. I have been getting some work through Computers @nonymous and it looks like we should be able to work through TES to engrave the Mug Club Mugs for Ken down at the Hideout, next I just need to convince him to let me redo the logo on his site for a free beer. But it would be nice to be able to get a mass order of stuff done and actualy start showing some cash flow. The sale of flasks, otherwise known as “pocket canteens” is still proving to be one of our best sellers. I am sure there are many other things I wanted to write about, but I haven’t, because I cant remember things. Oh well I will start leaving the post-its around to help me remember what I want to rant about. At this point I know I want to complain abotu short uirnals, automatic hand dryers, bathroom doors that dont lock.

Chi-town becoming Drytown?

Wow, shall we attribute this to the trend in todays society for people of all ages and background to appreciate a good beer, thus bringing them to higher class pubs and microbreweries. I can say for a fact that I do not typically go to these neighborhood taverns that serve nothing more than bottom shelf liquors and bad domestic brews. But maybe I have grown too accustomed to the bars of Grand Rapids, specifically the Brewpubs I enjoy frequenting. Even the bars, I do not associate with any low life activities liste din this article, though I do not hang out in every neighborhood. Though I do hit enough variety I shoudl see something.

For those of you who I have knoen for a while, this has probably at least come up once or twice before in conversation. Years ago, about six or so I would say, Todd and I wrote a short play for the theater merti badge. Granted I was working on a palm and I believe that he may have been as well, it was just really a fun time to hang out and work on something. What we came up with was a silly little skit, but it was well recieved by STAGE (Student Techincal and Actors Guild for Entertainment) at GVSU. If not for the use of talking animals, they said that it would be a entertaining short little show to put on during SOAP (Student One Act Plays). I will now post for your reading pleasure a link to the PDF of this play. Give it a read through if you are so inclined, and I Would like to hear comments, of how screwed up I am or whatever.

The play

N.C. hospitals washed surgical tools with hydraulic fluid

Seriously, wouldn’t you notice something like this?

Alright this amuses me, especially the part, “police bike patrol officers step up their presence on the path during summer and issue citations for bikers going too fast for conditions. (There is no posted speed limit.)” It is nice to see some of Chicago’s finest enforcing the “laws”? In any case, the lycra wearing cyclists are supposed to be savvy road bikers, so they should know how to deal with pedestrians. I think this would clearly fall to the people out there who don’t belong. I will have to agree that most of the cyclists I have seen and ridden with in Chicago do show little to no regard to the Cycling rules of the road. I am surprised that I have never seen a horrible taxi-bike accident on one of the rides I have been in, obviously due to both having no regard for common sense or the rules.

It also falls a lot to pedestrians out there. I have seen stupid people walk right in front of moving bicycles, roller bladers and vehicles. While A car/Taxi going at “slower” speeds can stop for a pedestrian quickly and safely, many times a cyclist cannot. If I were to try to avoid a random pedestrain in my path, I would most likely putting myself in much more jeopardy by getting myself in the path of a motor vehicle or other hazzard. Cars and trees are not all that forgiving at 12 mph on a bike, more or less the 18-22mph I like to do on an open road.

It’s bikes vs. pedestrians

I don’t really know what the point of this post was, maybe just a mindless (mindful) rant, whatever. I feel better.

05odraminfo.pdf (application/pdf Object)

Maybe this will be a suitable replacement for the Holland Hundred. Yes it will be a bit longer and be a completely different route, but I would be willing to give it a shot. If there is anyone who would be willing to provide me with support and a ride for the day, I would be open to entertaining options. But this would give me even more reason to brag than doing the Century ride, it would be the sucess of a century and a half. I guess some training rides would be good to get me in shape as opposed to what I have been doing in the past.

So well first off it was about a year ago (6-2-04) when I first posted about a kegerator, and most of the feedback that I had recieved was regarding Walmart and how much people dislike that place. I can’t say that I am all that big a fan, or that I go there often. But it is a good place to go for some things, well not in Chicago ….. but thats another story entirely. I have achieved that dream that I had so long ago, and now I am happy to have Goose Island on tap, I just need a kickass taphandle to bring it all together. I will be turning to my business associate who happends to be quite the craftsman for this type of project. I am debating between a turned handle of some sort of exotic wood, or something more easily lending itself to being engraved.

In other news, I believe that I will not be participating in the Holland Hundred bicycle ride this year. As disappointing as this may be, that weekend lends itself much better to camping. And more than that, I will not be out riding my bike alone for 8 hours this year. I will be spending some quality time with someone special out in the woods up north. This will save my bottom from the rigors of 100 miles, so I guess I will have to locate another lengthy ride to participate in this year. I will still be partaking in the LATE ride with a group of friends so that should be absolutely wonderful.

Lately in life, I have been working and spending time with Lauren as well as other friends. It has been some wonderful times lately just enjoying life and spending times with people and living for all its worth. I think living for all its worth may have taken a bit of a toll on me this past week, when I was horribly ill on Thursday. But such is life, I was able to get Bev up and fixed on Wednesday, she now has a new Waterpump and serpentine belt. I attempred to replace the turn signals up front, but I fear there is a problem with the drivers side sicket as there was some melted bulb in it and it doesnt work right with a new bulb either. I wonder what that will cost to replace. Hopefully I can just get the socket and put it in myself, that I should be able to handle. I can solder and tape electrical connections. Next I will need to give Bev a wash and wax and show treat her like the beautiful lady she is.

In other news, adios to Miss Rooks, you shall be missed. Those of us stuck here in West Michigan envy your getting out of the state and to a place where you will actually be able to enjoy yourself, too bad youre not all into the camping and outdoors things. Well to my knowledge anyways, my only consolation will be that you missed the arrival of Pizaria Uno to Grand Rapids. Obviously the dutch kid is doing well in Chicago, though how would we know since the death of theamsterdam.us. It was good to see Jason and Nicolette when they stopped over for a drink this past weekend, and I look forward to the LATE ride with that happy couple. I also hope to hear from Nicolette so we can grab a bite to eat or drink while she is awaiting her leave to Chicago. I just seem to be finding the time to get to know people well enough for them to take off for the far reaches of the Country. At least I still have some very good people around here for a while yet, such as Deanna and Darrin and of course not the last or least of these is Tod.