A Bit Of A Rant

Recently, our government has shut down because a compromise between the House and the Senate cannot be reached. What I don't understand is how something can be open 24/7 under normal circummstances but if there's a government shutdown, barricades and gaurds are brought in to keep people out? Wouldn't it cost more money to close something up than to leave it like it always is? Veterens monuments and parks are being locked up tighter than Fort Knox. Even if money is offered from outside sources to keep something open, the answer is "NO!". I really don't understand. I'm not sure I want to.

Failure At Parenting

Former NFL player Brian Holloway (no, not the former Ohio Bible quizzer) won't forget Labor Day 2013 any time soon. While he was at his home in Florida, 300 teens decided to break into his vacation home in upstate NY and party. Before the police could break up the party, over $20,000 in damage was done to the home.

It was bad enough that the teens nearly destroyed the house, most of the also posted pictures of themselves on social media sites while doing it. That's where Mr. Holloway became proactive. Armed with the social media evidence, he began to identify the teens and post their names along with the pictures they took. All that evidence is going to the Sheriff's department.

Here's the kicker. Several of the parents of the teens have threatened him. They're angered that he posted the pictures. Excuse me, didn't the kids post them first? I know if I had done anything like that, I would have been a senior citizen before I could sit down again.

He tried to be nice and posted an invitation to all the teens to come help him clean up. Zero showed up. However, six teens that weren't involved did. Perhaps there's some hope for the future generation.

You can read the full story here http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/23754594/teens-trash-home-of-exnfl-player-teens-parents-threaten-player

Not Safe To Be A Buckeyes Fan Outside Of Ohio?

Being a big Ohio State Buckeyes fan, this article on Yahoo caught my eye. An elderly couple were pulled over in Tennessee because they had a buckeye leaf sticker (like the ones the Ohio State players wear on their helmets) on their back bumper. The police thought it was a marijuana leaf. They obviously were rusty on the 4th amendment and botany. You can read the full story here. BTW, while we were parking cars at the county fair, I spotted something that looked like a pot plant and called a deputy over. He took one look and assured me that it wasn't one.He said a pot plant has seven leaves, that only has five. It turned out to be mint.

I Had A Horrible Nightmare Last Night.

Last night I had a nightmare in which President Obama won re-election and we had to endure another four years of his presidency. You mean it really happened? NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

I Can't Believe They Stole The Church Van

This morning, as we were gathering at church for our Sunday school teachers meeting at 9AM, the morning van driver asked if I had seen the turtle top van. Our turtle top van is an older handicap van that has a wheelchair lift. It has body and mechanical issues, but it's the only way for some to get to church. It wasn't on the church grounds. He thought that another driver may have taken it out, so he picked up our two Sunday morning handicapped folks in his car.

As the morning progressed, our pastor had asked everyone who drives a van, Sunday or Wednesday, if they had taken the van out. Nobody had. He then called the police. He then asked, over the pulpit, if anyone spotted it (it stands out like a sore thumb), to let him know.

As church was letting out, and folks were going home, one of our members spotted it at the seediest motel in town. Pastor called the police and met them over there. When the police arrived, they looked at the van, and started laughing. "They stole THAT!" was there exclamation.




Whoever had stolen it had busted out the ignition switch and forced a screwdriver into the opening and drove off with it. It was fortunate that the Wednesday driver hadn't put gas in it before or after his route. The gas gage was on "EMPTY" when it was found. I know how much gas was in there when I left it Sunday night. If nothing was put in it, it wouldn't have had much left in the tank when it was stolen on Saturday.



Is nothing sacred anymore?

The Week Went "Whoosh" As Zoomed By.

I have to look at the calendar to believe that a whole week has gone by. I blinked, and it was gone. Last Friday, Lady Nottaguy-TYG and I had a date night. She had won tickets to the Gaither Homecoming concert in Columbus. We went out to eat, then headed to the concert. An accident had I-71 south at a crawl for several miles just inside Columbus. When we got the the concert venue, there was an unpleasant surprise. The seat were only a span wide (a span is the length from your elbow to the tip of your middle finger. I measured mine, 17") Those who know us know there is a bit more than 17" upon which we sit. After being uncomfortable for 2 1/2 hours, we decided to leave at intermission. Hint Schottenstein center: don't purchase your seats from elementary schools that are closing.

My work decided that since we have the 23rd off, we needed to make up for it. We had to be at work at 5 AM until 3PM from Monday-Wednesday. This coming week, since we have the 26th off, same thing only Tuesday-Friday. I'm wooped.

The boy had us laughing recently. We were discussing the sanctions handed down to OSU (don't even go there) and I mentioned that it wouldn't hurt recruiting since the oncoming Freshmen could become redshirts and still have four years eligibility. "The Boy" then said, "I didn't think it was good to be a redshirt. They always get killed off (reference to ""Star Trek") LOL.

I hope to be more active , but at least I'll make sure the "Flashback Friday" post keep coming.

Where Did She Go?

If there is anyone out there who is used to reading my wife's blog, and now you can't find it, send me an e-mail. Due to unforeseen circumstances, she had to take the old blog down and create a new one.

1-2 Punch

Yesterday, March 30, we got snow. I had no clue it was snowing until about 2 PM when I saw it through the dock door at work. The calendar says it's Spring. The Groundhog didn't see his shadow. Where is the 60 degree weather that was here just a few weeks ago? March certainly is going out like a lamb. White & fluffy. Then, coming home from work, I passed by a gas station and my eyes bugged out. $3.65 a gallon!!! It was $3.43 when I went to work. Go ahead, make my day.

Long Lines At The Pump

While travelling home today, I noticed that gas prices had shot up 20 cents a gallon from the price I paid this morning. While at a stop light, not far from my house, I saw nine cars vying to get into the local UDF to buy gas. There would have been more cars on the lot if the lot was bigger. Why the mad scramble to buy gas? UDF hadn't raised prices yet. They were at $2.82 per gallon while everyone else in town was at $3.05. I snapped a quick picture since the light was about ready to change.

Thank you big oil companies for gouging the public before the holidays. I hope you make it on Santa's naughty list.

Wait. Did I Miss Something?

We were in the store today (December 18) and saw the most amazing thing.

Easter Candy! Whoa, wait a minute. Winter hasn't even officially begun (that comes Tuesday), and Spring is in the air? Did the Easter Bunny throw a body check and take out Santa? In the movie Nightmare Before Christmas, the Halloween folks kidnap Santa and try to do Christmas. Are the Easter Folk plotting the same thing? Here is a current picture from our front porch:

I could hide plenty of Easter eggs under the snow!!!! Come on retailers. Let us enjoy one holiday before you start pushing another.

It's Bad Enough When...

How many of you put out bird seed in feeders? How many of you also have squirrels who raid your feeders? We do.



It's bad enough when a squirrel raids your bird feeder. It's even worse when they realize where you store the feed, and don't wait for it to get to the feeder. Here is a picture of the lid of the trash can that we keep on the front porch to keep bird seed in. The squirrels have chewed a hole in the lid:

Those little monsters (known around here as "tree rats") are constantly in the can gobbling up the seed. What is funny is when we hear the little boogers rustling in the can, if you pound on the window sill, they scramble out and climb the tree and squeak (cuss) at you. Here is a demonstration ( I cut it off before the squirrel cusses because this is a PG blog):

Happy Easter

I hope you enjoy this short flic as much as I did:

The healthcare debate

Here are some reactions to the healthcare vote Sunday. These were posted on Pundit Kitchen (part of the I Can Has Cheezburger network).

Wasting MY Money

We got a letter in the mail yesterday stating that we will be receiving our census form in the mail soon. Was this necessary? How many millions of taxpayer dollars (I'm a taxpayer) were spent mailing these notices to the millions of people in the USA? Hello, postage isn't cheap.

This ranks right up there with the road signs that state (paraphrase)"This project was paid for with stimulus money". Why not use the millions that it took to make the signs and do something useful (road repair, bridge replacement, fill potholes, etc.).

There must be a government agency that does noting but sit around all day thinking of new ways to waste taxpayer money.

I'll step off my soapbox now.

The Vote Heard 'Round The World

For those of you who have been in a cave for a few days, Massachusetts (the bluest of the blue states) elected a Republican senator to fill the seat of the late Ted Kennedy. Why is this news?

It's news because as long as I can remember (and I'm mid 40's), Democrat Ted Kennedy has filled that senate seat. The election of a Republican to fill that void breaks the 60 vote super-majority that the Democrats have held since President Obama's election. The right to filibuster has once again been given to the Republicans. Perhaps the back room dealings and the less than transparent government that has resulted in bills getting crammed down the throats of Americans will be a thing of the past. And then again, maybe the government for the people by the people exists only in my imagination.

I'll step off my soapbox now.

Who doesn't like Mad Libs

Mad Libs. We've all done them. A story with blanks in certain places. The person you are playing with gives a noun, verb, adjective, etc. when asked. At the end the completed story is read to hilarious results.

Here's a Mad Lib for you about our recent troubles:

Computer virus makers are ______ (adjective). If I ever got my hands on one of them I would tear off their _____ (body part) and feed it to a _____ (an animal). I would then tie them to a _____ (noun) and _____ (adverb) ______ (verb) them. I would then shout _____ (exclamation)! The whole event would be filmed and then posted on _____ (website).


If you haven't yet figured out, I don't care much for those who spend their time disrupting the computer use of common folks like me. Hopefully, our virus problems are behind us.

Keep your fingers crossed

Were back (I think, I hope, I plead). Due to this being a PG blog, I can't describe here what I would like to do to the people who spend their life creating viruses.

Lady Nottaguy-TYG, on the other hand has the perfect punishment for them. When they are caught, and sent to prison, let the punishment fit the crime. Since they enjoy so much taking technology out of other peoples hands, they get none while in prison. No TV, no computer, no radio, no phone, no nothing. If they want to contact someone, they must write a letter. If they are bored, they can read a book, play a board game or play cards. Is it cruel? Yes. Is it unusual? Yes. Should we allow it anyway? Absolutely.

Rumblings & Ramblings

Many of you know that our computer was fritzy for a while. There were some things in the news that I wanted to blog about, but I had no way of doing it (time was pretty short too). here are a few things that caught my attention while I was offline:

The Penguins win the Stanley Cup in a dramatic seven game series (I love seven game series). The NHL is beaming because their poster boy, Sidney Crosby, finally has his name on The Stanley Cup. On a related note, Marian Hossa didn't get his name put there. He signed a one year deal with the Redwings to make a run for The Cup. He turned down a long term contract extension with (drum roll please) the Penguins. I've heard that Starbucks is coming out with a new drink called "The Hossa". You get the coffee, but no cup.

David Letterman, you're not funny anymore. The joke about Sarah Palin's daughter "getting knocked up by Alex Rodriguez during the seventh inning" went beyond crass, seeing that Palin was touring with her 14 year old daughter. He said he thought it was her other daughter, then several days later offered an apology. Sorry Dave, you're just not relevant anymore. Open your eyes, your beloved political party of choice has a ton of material waiting for you. A good comedian can poke fun at BOTH parties.

Traffic construction in our downtown is nightmarish, to say the least. The semi route has been closed forcing the semis onto streets not designed for semi traffic. One driver who comes to our factory (and whom I have unloaded more times than I can count) was written up by his company because a resident called and complained that he was driving on a "no truck traffic street". The driver had just received an award for driving 25,000 accident free hours. It just so happened that his next delivery, after he was informed of the write-up was to the newspaper office. His rants were picked up by the paper and they called the city safety director. He in turn called the drivers company and explained that there was no other route to drive other that this "no truck traffic" street. The city was at fault, if anyone was he explained. The driver's company dropped the write-up off of the driver's record.

I'm sure there were other things that caught my attention, but I probably forgot them. Getting old is the pits. They say your mind is the first thing to go. I can't remember what they said the second thing was.

Save The Flag

On April 25, 1976, during a game at Dodger Stadium, two protesters, a man and his son, ran into the outfield and tried to set fire to an American flag they had brought with them. Rick Monday, then playing with the Cubs, noticed they had placed the flag on the ground and were fumbling with matches and lighter fluid; he then dashed over and grabbed the flag from the ground to thunderous cheers. He handed the flag to Los Angeles pitcher Doug Rau, after which the ballpark police officers arrested the two intruders. When he came up to bat in the next half-inning, he got a standing ovation from the crowd and the big message board behind the left-field bleachers in the stadium flashed the message, "RICK MONDAY... YOU MADE A GREAT PLAY..." He later said, "If you're going to burn the flag, don't do it around me. I've been to too many veterans' hospitals and seen too many broken bodies of guys who tried to protect it."

In today politically correct society, could Monday have done the same thing? Would the flag have been given back to the protesters? Would he have been disciplined? I still applaud his action.

Pirates, SEALs & Marshmallows

Hats off and congrats to the naval commander who gave the command to fire, and the highly trained SEALs. who carried it out. In the days of Blackbeard, Long John Silver, Brute Larson, etc. the penalty for piracy was capital punishment. Should it be different now?

I am surprised that the President didn't fall all over himself apologizing to the pirates and call our Navy arrogant for dispatching the trio of pirates. After all, we don't want the pirates to get mad at us.

Where's Ronald Reagan when you need him.