Independence Day Update

It's 9:45 (roughly)

I got home from the race around 12:30, having stopped at Publix for subs for lunch, bananas for potasium, and a dutch apple crumb pie because it was on sale and it was right at the front of the danged registers.

Ate lunch with Amy and went upstairs to soak in the tub which is a nice garden tub, but about 3 inches too short for me to extend my legs all the way, which I REALLY wanted to be able to do. After the soak I napped for about an hour and a half (I was up at 4:30am, on the train by 5:45 and at the station nearest the starting point at 6am, which wound up being 2 and a half hours before we started the race).

Amy woke me up and we dressed to head out to Dad's for his bar-b-que of burgers and brats. He and Basil (our awesomely cute 2 y/o nephew) made the potato salad together this morning! After dinner we sat and talked and had some watermelon and now we're home.

My plan is to soak again and then probably head to bed with another banana and some Advil. Everything from my thighs down are sore and barely functional, worst parts being my feet in general, my knees, and the muscles in the back of my thighs. Oweeee.

Wordless Wednesday # 18

Three things about today's running of the Peachtree Road Race - the annual 10K held every July 4th in Atlanta with over 55,000 participants....

1. It was cool out at start time (68 degrees at 7:30am)
2. My group did not start until 8:35am
3. I finished with my worst time ever and the most pain, I almost did not finish, but as you can see by the photo, I have the coveted t-shirt, which means I crossed the finish line under my own power!

My very aware wife

The other day we were hanging out and watching TV. I guess I was channel surfing (imagine that) and she noted that there are certain movies that no matter how many times I have seen them, and no matter whether or not we own them on DVD, I will always stop and watch them if they are on a regular (broadcast or cable) channel.

So here's a partial list as I immediately think of them.......

Never Been Kissed
10 Things I Hate About You
Braveheart
Gladiator
The Blues Brothers
The Princess Bride
Fever Pitch (this one grew on me)
any Die Hard movie
Animal House
PCU
Harold and Kumar go to White Castle
Eurotrip
Notting Hill
any Star Wars movie
Heat
any John Cusack movie
The Italian Job
Gone in 60 Seconds
National Treasure

My Italian Dinner

I call it ziti - my brother says it is not.

I cooked tonight. I made a dish I created on my own. Amy said it was the best batch I have ever made. I've done it about 8-10 times, including a double batch that was sent in to Amy's workplace for a potluck they had one time.

Michael's Not-ziti

Ingredients
1 pound of ground beef
1 jar of Ragu - you pick your variety, I like the chunky mushroom version.
1 box of rigatoni/ziti pasta
1 12oz pack of shredded mozerella
1 container (15-16oz) ricotta
1 pack (usually 5 pieces) fresh italian sausage (mild or hot) from the meat dept.

Procedure
brown the ground beef, pour off the grease and add the Ragu - simmer until needed
boil the pasta as described on the box
prepare the sausage as described
mix 3/4 of the mozerella with the ricotta in a bowl

when the sausage is ready, slice it into pieces about 1/4-1/2 inch thick (coin style) and set aside
coat the bottom of the casserole dish with a thin layer of the meat sauce
make the next layer using all of the sausage
make the next layer using the pasta
spread the cheese blend evenly over the layer of pasta
add the remaining sauce, covering all of the cheese and pasta
spread the remaining mozerella over the top of the dish and place in the oven

bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes

serve and enjoy - we like a little parmesean sprinkled on top

A terror question

Yesterday I was at Winston's and they had a tv on FOX News covering the attempted attack on the airport in Glasgow, Scotland.

The headline said... "Two men in flaming SUV crash into Glasgow airport."

My question is this, how did FOX News know the SUV was gay?

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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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.