Saturday Photo Hunt #12 - Sweet

Friday Flashback #31 - Female Lead Singers

Greetings 80's video mavens! This week we're at Flashback #31 and the theme is bands with female lead singers. Now, don't get your panties in a wad because I don't have the Bangles or Go-go's here, it would be a different category, perhaps even next weeks category. But, for tonight, it's Berlin featuring Terri Nunn with the Metro (my fav of theirs will always be No More Words), Scandal featuring Patti Smyth, the same girl who sang sad songs with Don Henley years later, and Missing Persons, I have no idea what the singer's name is and I didn't care enough to look it up, in fact, if not for the breasts, I might debate if she was even female and even human! What a weird voice. So enjoy til next Friday!

Berlin - The Metro

Scandal - The Warrior

Missing Persons - Words

Friday Feast # 15

Appetizer - How many pieces of jewelry do you wear most days?
Most days, 3, my wedding ring, a watch, and my cross (a gift from my Nana's last trip to Greece before she died). I sometimes still wear a Greek ring on my right hand and I used to wear a single stud or loop in my left ear).

Soup - What is your favorite instrumental song?
"Summon the Heros" by John Williams, written for the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Salad - Who has a last name that you like?
Sting. Prince. Madonna. Pink.

Main Course - Name a popular movie you’ve never seen.
Current - Pirates of the Caribbean : At World's End
Classic - Citizen Cane

Dessert - Fill in the blank: Nothing makes me ___________ like ____________.
Nothing makes me HAPPY like A PHILLIES WIN.

Madonna e Gorillaz - Grammy

i can't say why, but I have always liked this song by Gorillaz, the only song I know by them, and the combined performance with Madonna both animated and real was very cool.

A better day

Things got a bit better later in the day yesterday, not in the area of the job search, but in the general emotional health.

We received a call around 5:30 or 6 from a couple we know through our adoption process. They are both teachers and offered to take us to dinner so the husband could talk with me and see what counsel/advice he could offer. We agreed and had a lovely social time followed by an hour or so at their house during which Amy learned all about the baby plans and I related my past experiences and future desires with my new mentor.

This morning I am at my father's house, house-sitting for the arrival of a contractor who is coming to do some repair work for them.

Amy called me on the way over to tell me she had some good news. The Kennesaw, GA Police Department called and said I had passed the written exam with a 92%! I do not know what passing score was required, but it means I can now go pick up an application for the actual job as a recruit and I will be taking the physical agility test in about three weeks!

Unemployable

So the latest encouragement in my job search arrived today in the form of two emails from my wife's employer, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

It appears I am unemployable as a Supply Chain Tech/Courier or as a Transportation Specialist. These jobs are pulling supplies and delivering them to other places within the hospital network where they are needed, and driving patients families and guests around.

I am not qualified to even get an interview for either of these jobs.

And did I mention yesterday I got an estimate on the repair of my car door? $1200 to have a door that will close and latch on a car that is worth less than $3500 (if it had working air conditioning, which it does not).

In Memorium

In Memorium

Chris Benoit

May 21, 1967 - June 25, 2007

This afternoon professional wrestler Chris Benoit, a Canadian native living in Atlanta with his wife and son was found dead in his Fayetteville, GA home. His wife and son Daniel, age 7, were also found dead. Early reports are that police are investigating this as a murder-suicide.

What is publicly known is that Benoit left a WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) show on Saturday before performing due to a family emergency and it was said he had returned to Atlanta. He was a no-show at the WWE Pay-per0view event held on Sunday night.

Tonight's WWE Raw television broadcast, a weekly live show airing on Mondays on the USA Network was cancelled. The arena is empty, and the broadcast team is leading a memorial show in Benoit's honor.

The sad irony is the episode tonight was to continue a storyline in which the Chairman of the board of WWE, Vincent McMahon, was murdered in a limosuine bombing and the focus tonight was to be a tribute to the late McMahon. This is a STORYLINE, a fictional subplot used to carry conflicts between wrestlers in sports entertainment. McMahon introduced the show tonight standing alone in the middle of the ring, in an empty arena in Corpus Christi, TX.

Benoit held several titles during his time in the WWE, and wrestled previously in the defunct WCW brand owned by media mogul Ted Turner. Whereas the outcome of matches are scripted, injuries can be real, and Benoit was always known as a great "technical" wrestler, meaning that his actions in the ring did not center on gimicky moves, but actual wrestling skills as you would see in amatuer wrestling in high schools, colleges, and the Olympics.

Jury Duty

My lovely wife had to get up and out early this morning to serve Jury Duty in Cobb County, GA. It appears they are keeping her this time. She got called up when we lived in Fulton County and was dismissed for working in the healthcare industry.

I have never had to serve, though I would like to. I reeived notices a few times when we lived in Florida, but my number was always on the "you don't have to report" list when you called in the night before.

As for Amy, my brother and I shared the same suggestion. If you want out, tell them you listen to talk radio, in particular Neil Boortz.

Prayers for a friend and his family

Our friend Jeff's grandmother (mom mom) passed away this morning at 78 years old. She got to see Jeff marry the lovely Valerie last October More can be learned at Jeff's blog, www.eeyorejeff.blogspot.com

Friday Flashback #30 Australia

Okay Boys and Girls, this week's trip back to the 80's is a trip down under. No Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee here, not even the Crocodile Hunter. Men at Work, Olivia Newton John, Crowded House, and if I can get it to work, Falco. Granted, Falco is from Austria, not Australia, but it's close enough to merit a cool song being added. And before you ask, there's no INXS because I never liked INXS and thought they were pretty overrated.

Olivia Newton-John - Twist of Fate

Men at Work - Down Under

Crowded House - Something So Strong

Falco - Rock Me Amadeus

Friday Feast #14

Appetizer : Name a funny habit you have.
I am exceedingly curious about body smells. In particular, my wife freaks when I check the smell of my navel.

Soup : If you could instantly know how to play a musical instrument, which one would you pick?
Guitar, though piano and saxophone are right up there.

Salad : How long is your hair?
Not too long, I'm a guy and I work in public, so barely longer than collar-length is the most I've ever had it.

Main Course : When was the last time you forgave someone, and who was it?
Probably tonight, I went out to play cards and had the same waiter who ignored me last week. Things were much better this week and I tipped appropriately.

Dessert : What is your favorite kitchen appliance?
Hrmm, I'm a guy so it will probably have to be the microwave. A hot dog in 30 seconds at 8am is a definite work of God.

Givens

Before reading further and possibly getting very upset, Amy and I have a slightly weird relationship, whereas most people would read this post and think, "how disrespectful" we both know that neither of us have any desire nor will we ever be unfaithful to each other. This subject is more about crushes than infidelity because I for one know that none of these people would ever have much of anything to do with me. :)

I guess this goes back to a Friends episode or just a party conversation/discussion thing. Have you heard of a given? It's a list (6 to 10 people long) of members of the opposite sex that you were allowed to have sex with if the opportunity would ever present itself, without consequence involving your current boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse.

So, with no repercussions, no guilt, no blame... who are your 10 givens?


Reese Witherspoon

Shania Twain

Jennifer Anniston

Jessica Simpson

Julia Roberts

Cameron Diaz

Carrie Underwood

Drew Barrymore

Evangeline Lilly

Deborah "Debbie" Gibson

Thursday Thirteen #21

Thirteen Things about Michael 13 Things I need to reduce or give up to lose weight. 1. Hot Dogs 2. Pizza 3. Submarine Sandwiches 4. Rice (therefore) Chinese Food 5. Potatoes 6. Pasta 7. Ice Cream (not common, but I like it) 8. Milk (I'm told it's not a good sugar) 9. Bread (in most every form) 10. Candy (not a big factor, but I like Hershey's w/almonds) 11. Alcohol (again not a big one, but I like rum) 12. Snack Chips (Doritos and Cape Cod chips (which are like crack)) 13. Donuts (I live in the lqand of Krispy Kremes, but Dunkin Donuts Apple and Spice are the bomb). Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Job Prospects

Today I went out and applied at the PGA Superstore - they do golf and tennis, and my hope is to work there as a cashier and work my way up.

Afterwards I went by Family Christian Stores (a company I worked for for 3.5 years when I first got married). They have had two district managers since I worked for them, and the current interim DM is familiar with me (we have the same last name, which is not that common). It turns out Scott is in town this week, and he has a need for a Senior Sales Associate and an Inventory Control Specialist at a store about 5 miles from my house. I will meet with him tomorrow night!

I also went to Barnes & Noble to apply for work and to get material to study on interviewing. One guy commented on the application when I sat down at a table in the magazine area and it started a concersation involving him and two very talkative ladies who went on and on about their job searches in the legal and educational fields.

Wordless Wednesday

We had a cat that looked exactly like this one when we were kids.

Trivial Tuesday

Okay, so Amy and I did not go to trivia tonight, we gave up on Tuesdays because of a lot of reasons including the distance to hte venue, the cheaters, and the poor waitstaff there.

Today we went out to buy supplies for the garage sale, had dinner at a Chinese buffet, picked up Lucy from doggie daycare and then came home to watch TV together. That centered mainly on the audition episode of Last Comic Standing (aka last gay comedian standing) and Dog: The Bounty Hunter.

Tonight I looked at IMDB.com to check on some stuff and I found I knew the answer to the trivia question of the day.

"Though originally cast to star in this movie, Bruce Willis dropped out of the project, but appeared in the sequel as himself."

Ten on Tuesday #4

Ten Movies I love to Quote...

What a great theme!

In no particular order...

Blazing Saddles - "Excuse me while I whip this out." "More beans Mr. Taggert? I think you've had enough!" "Are we awake? I don't know, are we....black? Yes, we are. Then we're awake, but we're VERY confused."

The Blues Brothers - "What kind of music do you usually have here? Oh, we have both kinds! Country AND Western!" "It's 106 miles to Chicago. We have a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses. Hit it!"

The Princess Bride - "My name is Indigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." "Have fun storming the castle!" "There's a shortage of perfect breasts in the world, would be a pity to damage yours."

Any and all Kevin Smith Movies (Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, Dogma, Clerks II) - "Why do you want to go you hate people? But I love gatherings, isn't it ironic?" "Tell her about the elevator. What about the elevator? It goes up and down." "Fictional characters!" "In our day we walked everywhere, ever heard of a fat apostle?" "We prefer to call it inter-species erotica."

That's 10, but I'll call the Kevin Smith ones as one...

Major League - "This guy's dead! Well, cross him off then!" "Is very bad, to drink Jobu's rum!" "Who's that guy she's with? I'don't know, he's not wearing a name tag. Want me to drag him outside and kick his ass?"

Tin Cup - "You can't ask advice about the lady you're trying to hose from the lady you're trying to hose!" "You just threw that in the spa." "It was a defining moment, and when a defining moment happens you either define the moment or the moment defines you."

Animal House - "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" "Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son." "It's not going to be an orgy. It's a toga party"

The Breakfast Club - "Neo-maxie-zoom-dweebie" "Does Barry Manilow know that you raid his closet?" "Claire is a fat girls name"

Top Gun - "Hey Goose! Yeah baby! Take me to bed or lose me forever." "I feel the need, the need for speed." "You must have carnal knowledge, of a lady this time..." "Negative Ghost Rider the pattern is full."

Braveheart - "Every man dies, not every man really lives." "God tells me He can get me out of this mess , but He's pretty sure you're F____d." "Before we let you leave, your commander must cross that field, present himself before this army, put his head between his legs, and kiss his own arse. "

Water Damage

Last week we had water in the garage due to a clog in the air conditioning condenser drain. We had someone come out Thursday and fix it. The problem is they did not fix it and it continued overnight and through Friday. I called the AC people again and they came out Saturday morning and found and cleared the clog.

The problem is, as it continued to leak, it seeped under the wall between the garage and kitchen and it saturated the pad under the laminate hardwood and warped the hardwood. So we now have a homeowner's insurance claim with a $1000 deductible. We are hopeful that the insurance company will be able to recoup this from the AC repair company, because we certainly cannot afford it right now as we have one of us out of work.

The Job Search

So, a new week, and the first one during which I am technically unemployed. I did do some work this weekend, mystery shopping 5 Kroger and Walmart Superstores, and that will net me $90 for the effort, inventorying their charcoal.

As for the job search.... Jobs applied for so far....

1. Store Manager for Kauffman Tires - shot down after 80 miles roundtrip for a 15 minute interview.

2. Target - Any job - got a postcard Saturday saying no thanks after two great interviews on Thursday and being told I would hear from them to come interview with the unit director this week (which makes the postcard mysterious).

3. Kroger - worked for them as my first job ever.

4. Blockbuster Video - worked for them in the 90's.

5. Kennestone Cardiac for office jobs.

6. JC Penny - applied online for anything.

7. A couple of accounting jobs that were in the paper a few weeks ago.

8. Chick-fil-a near my house - shot down without an interview.

9. Kennesaw, GA Police Department - today I went and took the preliminary written exam. I felt I did VERY WELL. I now will find out if I passed withing the week and I will then have to pass the physical exam on July 17th in order to be able to fill out an application for the actual job. The physical test includes vertical leap, seated reach, sit-ups, and a timed run. I will be hitting the gym with a fury this month, especially as the final one month of my agreement was billed today, so I have 30 days to drop a good 15-20 piounds and make those sit-ups and puch-ups work. BTW I think it was 21 push-ups and 29 sit-ups in a minute.

Weird Long Day

So I went to bed last night about 10pm, which was a little early for me, but I did not sleep enough Friday night, so it made sense. I spent a good bit of time Saturday conducting 5 mystery shops, all for $18 a piece. This was visiting SuperWalMarts and krogers to count their selections of charcoal, by price, UPC, location, and quantity. I took a break between shops 4 and 5 to play cards and I won the loser's tournament after suffering two bad beats at the main tournament. My pocket Aces got beat by 4-7 offsuit which lead to a full house.

I went back out and finished the last shop, including buying Amy a treat (Kroger had a 6-pack of Heath Bars on sale). I also stopped at Subway because they were having a sale on 2 footlongs and that brings us to the next part of the story. I woke up at 2am with a really badly upset stomach. I took some imodium and tried to rest, but no help came. I wound up awake from 2 til 5:30 during which at least I got to apply online for jobs with Kroger and Blockbuster (both of whom I've worked for before).

Back to bed from 5:30 til 10 when Amy woke me up to take over the bed. I did not find a great deal in the paper this week, but I did apply online for JC Penny stores.

Yesterday (I forgot to mention) I got a postcard from Target saying thank you but no thank you. This is really weird because on Thursday I had two interviews with them and they wanted me to interview with the unit director for another interview. You tell me what happened......

So tonight, a glimmer of happiness. We went out to dinner with Amy's sister Kelly. She flew in for a week of training/meetings with her company so we picked her up at the airport, went to Romano's Macaroni Grille and dropped her at the hotel.

Dinner was nice, nicer than Jeff's dinner experience. Click his name for the details.

Show your Age

In the past two days there have been two concerts held at the Hi-Fi Buys Ampitheatre here in Atlanta. My question is which one is more important culturally or has the greatest impact as an event.

On Wednesday night it was the opening date of the 2007 tour by Rush. My brother got to go, and sat about 20 rows back under the covered area. His response was this was a show by three guys all of whom are over 50 years old, so F*** You!

The other show was by a group called Fall Out Boy.

I will let you decide, 3 guys over 50 or 4 guys under 25. Here are two live videos.

Rush - Spirit of Radio

Fall Out Boy - Dance Dance

Friday Flashback #29 - Hooters!

No! Not THOSE Hooters! The cool band from Philly that made it big in the mid-80's broke out with their album Nervous Night. I could not get these to all work on the same post, but please enjoy and post. In particular, listen to the lyrics on "Brother Don't You Walk Away."

Also, most of these say "Owner will not allow imbedded play" or something, so just click on the arrow on the video two times and a new window will open with the video playing.

The Hooters - Day By Day

The Hooters-And We Danced

The Hooters-Karla With A K

The Hooters-Johnny B

The Hooters-All You Zombies

What's Up

Well folks, I did not get the job I had hoped for with Kauffman Tires. I had an interview today with Target and it went well. I actually had two interviews, one with each of their two HR executive team leaders. They have an opening for a team leader in logistics, which sounds pretty much like a FT overnight position handling receiving and processing of stock. I can definitely do the work, and it would put Amy and me on the same schedule at least 3 days a week.

I also picked up a few other applications and am working to find something I can at least start in the next week or so.

What else. Pixel had fun trying to meet new people today. We had visits from the exterminator and the air conditioning man. As I never got around to paying the last exterminator visit, the two times charge was $130 but we are covered through September now. So, then, the AC guy showed up. For about 4 days now we have had water leaking from the evaporater/condensor drain in the garage. We called yesterday to schedule someone and the lady was pretty hung up on calling it emergency service, which I was trying to convince her it was not. So the guy came out today and we signed on for the annual service agreement. This gets us 4 visits a year for regular maintainence and they provide 3-month filters and today he thoroughly cleaned the drain and the coils. End price, $230 so checks written today totaled $400.

As for Pixel, he tried to climb the bug man, and he tried very hard to figure out a way through the gate from the back yard to the side yard. He tried, and we saw him, but he could not get through, but it was cute.

I went out briefly to play cards, losing moderately into the game on a bad beat. I had Ace-Jack. The guy to my right went all in with garbage and I called him. One other player to my left called and raised to put me all in. Ideally, he should have folded, but he had pocket jacks. We turned up cards and I hit my ace on the flop, putting me well in the lead. He caught a miracle thirds jack (the ONLY one left in the deck) on the river, putting me out.

I came home and took Lucy for the long walk Amy promised her. We ttok a walk from our house to the neighborhood pool and back. Lucy was very thirsty and my blood sugar was at 74.

Emotional Why?

I spent some time wondering to myself yeasterday why I am as emotional as I am when it comes to being affected/effected (never could get those straight) by movies/tv.

I cry at movies and tv shows and hearing stories of great and horrible things.

Last month it was the watching of another couple's video of their call about their baby in China being selected.

Any time there is a fireman's funeral in a movie or on tv.

Most recently a three-fold regarding the season (and I believe series) finale of Studio 60 on Sunset Strip which my wife and I love. She has not seen the first part of this three-part finale so baby, stop reading now....




The rest of you pan down....







They are doing three things which hit me.

1. A major character is suffering emotional trauma because his brother has been captured and is being held by enemy combatants in Afghanistan.

2. A major character is in danger due to complications in her pregnancy, both the mother and baby are at risk and they are being rushed to surgery.

3. Two other major characters are having a heated argument (which has gone on for the entire 8 years they have known each other) about her devout Christian faith, and his Jewish, how-can-you-believe-in-a-fairy-tale? mentality. He is starting to come around because of the events happening around them. He asked her if her praying was just busy-work or if it had any real influence on the other two situations. Then, as they were leaving to head to the hospital, he looked up and said "Show me something."

I have to believe (or want to believe) this is more about him wanting to find a reason to believe more than it is about him wanting to end the debates he and his on-again, off-again girlfriend have been having for so long.

Saturday Photo Hunt #11 - Shoes

Friday Flashback #28 - Debbie Gibson

Six Videos This Week! Yes, thanks to a young girl named Scamehorn (or her mother), a point was made last week about my everlasting fan appreciation of most every thing Debbie. I did then and now Friday Flashback once, but ths is a spotlight on her big singles from '87 to '89. As for me, I saw her in concert in the Fall of 1989 and met her for the first of four or five times in '94. Enjoy.

Thursday Thirteen #21 - Baseball Movies

Having watched my
Philadelphia Phillies
win their second straight game over the New York Mets tonight, I felt inspired to write a list of my 13 favorite movies that revolve around baseball. These are NOT in any specific order...

For Love of the Game - Costner and Preston

Bull Durham - Costner and Robbins

Major League - Sheen, Snipes, Ueuker, Haysbert, Russo

The Natural - Redford and Brimley

Bad News Bears in Breaking Training - "Let them play!"

The Rookie - Dennis Quaid

Field of Dreams - Costner, Jones, Liota

A League of Their Own - Hanks, Davis, Petty, Madonna

Fever Pitch (this one grew on me) - Fallon, Barrymore

The Benchwarmers - Heder, Lovitz, Spade

Little Big League

The Fan - Deniro, Snipes

Mr. Baseball - Selleck

Wordless Wednesday # 17 Lucy & Pixel

Saturday Photo Hunt #10 - Art

Friday's Feast #13

Appetizer - Name something you think is “the best.”
I think Krispy Kreme donuts are the best sweet snack (especially while still warm).

Soup - On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 highest), how stressed are you today?
Eh, I don't know, 8? Money is tight and my job is ending.

Salad - What kind of cleanser do you use to wash your face?
I'm a guy, I don't cleanse/wash my face.

Main Course - Tonight is a blue moon! What is something that you believe only happens “once in a blue moon.”
I believe there is only a second full moon in a single calendar month once in a blue moon. (i'm such a smartass). Click HERE for a real definition.

Dessert - When was the last time it rained where you live?
Peter says he got spritzed a little yesterday morning, beyond that, I don't know, but it's been a LONG time.