Rake

The Planning Begins

2012-01-20T11:34:00.004-05:00

I have sketched out about 15 day trip to Europe.
The trip moves me through both Western and Eastern Europe via Eurail.

I did find this photo of Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland.

#Awesome

Starts in Paris for a couple of days. (Maybe Plug In Hostel)

Moves over to Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland for a few days in the mountains. (maybe Valley Hostel)

Next is to travel south to Venice. (looking at hostels: Venice Fish or Venice Museum)

North is the next direction all the way to Amsterdam. (Hostel: Durty Nellys or Flying Pig Downtown)

After a few days in Amsterdam the plan is to travel to Prague in the Czech Republic. (Hostels: Old Prague Hostel or Hostel Elf are on the list)

Leaving Prague moving on to Budapest, Hungary. (Hostels:Big Fish or Downtown Oasis)

Moving back east to Cinque Terre, Italy. (Hostels: Le Sirene or AltraVista Culturale)

Ending the trip in Rome, Italy. (Hostels: Eurorooms or Funny Place hostel)

Please comment if you have suggestions or advise. This is subject to all kind of changes based on my preference.

Do tell of your European travels. Point me to interesting sites. Useful sites.
Teach me to read a Eurail train schedule.

Looking forward to European Culture.

Oh by the way, I received a preliminary ok today from Boss. (yeah!)

Backpacking Europe - 2012

2012-01-18T12:20:00.008-05:00

I have the okay from the wife.
Next up - scheduling and get approval from work (should be okay).

Since this will be a solo trip, I am leaning towards making this an Eastern Europe trip. I find the culture and places of Eastern Europe more attractive than those of Western Europe. Also, it leaves the newness of going to Western Europe if the wife and daughter ever want to go.

I have long desired to visit Prague. That is a definite on my list. Combine that with limited time - tells me I need to stick to Eastern Europe.

My first pass at a possible route with more cities/places than I can visit is:

Stockholm, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Zuric, Bratislave, Belgrade, Budapest, Venice, Rome. I would need 30+ days to slowly enjoy those places. I will probably be limited to 16 days. So, that list will probably be limit in a big way.

I need suggestions people......

Good Hostels (clean)
Excellent small pubs/diners
local spots that shows off the areas culture

Soon.... Rakethetable will leave the continent.

It's time to have a little fun

2010-09-04T08:38:00.001-04:00

Let's Go Stallions

Hello, from the back side of another weekend.

2007-09-09T12:26:00.000-04:00

Here we sit at the tail end of yet another weekend. My beautiful wife is in the kitchen cooking us some Sunday chicken. Little One is off doing her thing somewhere in the house. She comes by every few moments whining about wanting to go to the pool. Maybe we can go after lunch. It is a beautiful day today and pretty dog-gone warm!

So, here dad sits hammering out another blog for the world (or family and few friends). I was teasing the family on the way home form church today that we are going to have so much fun on our getaway to the mountains. I still haven't told them where we are going. My wife would know if she ever read my blog. But, that doesn't hardly ever happen.

Saturday night. We did go see friends and had a wonderful time with them and their baby. Cloe is 8 months old and has the biggest and brightest eyes. We arrived late afternoon. Cloe's dad had not yet returned from his hunting camp cleaning day. He arrived later. As my wife and child played with Cloe in the floor, I watched Oregon whoop up on Michigan. I couldn't be happier. There are some schools that carry an arrogance about them - they no humility. Well, Michigan is learning some humility these days. Next up - Southern California. I watches the whole game. It was awesome. Dixon is a real threat. He has some talent around him. We will see how far the ducks can go this year.

I was embarrassed by the bulldogs play. I am really re-thinking this Bobo calling the plays thing that Coach Richt established this year. Bobo wasn't all that great of a quarterback while playing at Georgia. I don't think he can handle the pressures of the SEC competition. Good game South Carolina. You played well on defense.

The dinner was a success. We had Bacon, Sausage, eggs, biscuits, gravy and hash browns. That is a good meal. After dinner, Little One and I headed across the street to a small park. There was a geocache over there I wanted to try. However, it was getting dark and showed over 400 feet from the trail. We skipped it and headed over to the play ground.

I will leave you with a few pictures of the family with Cloe. Have a great week.

Little One with Cloe:

Cloe and her mom:

My amazing wife:

Me smiling at the camera:

Cloe and her dad:

Little One being all crazy with a scoobie doo mask:

Little One stiking a pose:

Little One showing off her flipping skills:

Swooosh!!

2007-09-08T10:44:00.000-04:00

Wow! Did you see that week go by?
It was so quick. In that, I have nothing to report.
Tuesday ~ Friday not much of anything happened - work.

Friday night my wife and I finished up our date we started
two weeks ago. Jason Bourne Rocks!

Today, my wife is at church for a board meeting.
Little One and I are being lazy around the house.

Tonight, We will head over to McDonough, GA.
We are heading over to a friends house to visit.
They have a baby and I am sure my wife and Little One can't wait
to get their hands on her.

We are going to cook a breakfast dinner and visit for a while.
It should be relaxing.

I have no new pictures to share. I have everyone has a wonderful weekend.
Adios.

A whirl of Photo's - Try and Keep up

2007-09-03T20:45:00.001-04:00

Little One with extended cousins from Birmingham

Geocaching at Fort McClellan
Pet Cemetery

By far the most interesting geocache - I called it the bazooka

That is my truck and not a toy truck.
Oh, what we see when out geocaching.

Friday night lights

2007-09-01T12:03:00.001-04:00

I didn't get to go to a high school football game last night. Instead, Little One invited a friend out to dinner with us and a bowling game or two.

We had a blast. We ate at Ce Ce's pizza. They girls got their faces painted. I stuffed myself with salad, pizza, cheese bread. When I say stuffed - I mean it. I didn't even get me any dessert pizza nor Cinnamon rolls. That's how stuffed I was. Here is a photo of them with their faces painted.

After dinner, we drove to the local bowling center. The lights were jumping and the beat was a rocking. The last time we went bowling my wife broke a fingernail. This time she didn't want to bowl. So, the three of us were up for 2 games each. I almost let these 2 6 year olds beat me. I manage to pull out a win in both games. The best part was that Little One came in second once and her friend came in second once.

She's picked up my bad habit of flashing the peace sign.

There was one scary moment while we were eating. The evening thunderstorms blew into the area as we sat there. Out of nowhere this huge lighting bolt strikes close. The power goes out and my wife and I see the elderly man fall to the road in the parking lot. Another patron and myself quickly make our way out to the man and his wife. We arrive and he is still on the ground laying on his back. He is trying to get up. The other customer tells him he should just lay there a moment and asked if he is okay. They guy replies he thinks so and asked to be helped up. We assist him in getting back to his feet. He collects himself and he is okay and we all begin to walk back to the sidewalk. Whew. Lots of people thought he was struck by lightening. Me included.

As you can see, these kids are awesome bowlers. Little One broke 100 both her games. I was very proud of her. We had a blast. I don't think my wife and Little One's friends father liked me too well after I purchased the kids a slushy on the way home from the bowling center at 9:30PM. Hey - It was fun!

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday. Stay safe.

Across the street, Vacation and Radio

2007-08-23T20:14:00.001-04:00

An appropriate title to the things that are on my mind.

The house across the street is coming along quickly. Less than a month ago, they poured the concrete foundation. Today the roof is complete. Here see:

Fall vacation plans are stitched up and deposits made. I will be taking the family to Dillsboro, North Carolina. We will be staying at the picturesque Dillsoro Inn. This quaint inn sits along the Tuckasegee River. We will be treated to breakfast in our room. Our room will open up to a private porch overlooking the river.

While relaxing in the North Carolina mountains, we will be spending a day aboard the Smokey Mountain Railroad.

We will spend one afternoon aboard the Smokey Mountain Rail riding from Dillsboro to Bryson City, North Carolina - 1 hour layover - and back to Dillsboro. While in Bryson City, we will visit the Smokey Mountain train museum. Our trip on the rails will include an upgrade to the Crown Coach rail car. We will sit in luxury all the while watching the beautiful Smoky Mountain's roll on by.

Also in our trip, we hope to visit the Cherokee nation. Cherokee, North Carolina. There we will be enthralled in the "Unto these hills... A Retelling" outdoor drama. I am sure we will come back with plenty of great crafts.

Radio. I listen to an array of different music. My taste for radio varies like the wind. My mood, while riding in my SUV, can be full throttle to easy going. I have found my home for morning radio. It is the Rick and Bubba show. I hear it from a rural radio station out of Hogansville, GA. Magic 98.1

These guys are right up my alley. My age. My general views and funny as crap. They have a solid show filled with many laughs on my 20 minute commute. They are Christian men who can cut up and have a great time while putting on a radio show. Look them up at their website and see if they are on in your area - or listen to them via the Internet from one of their affiliates. You gotta check these guys out. Atlanta Radio has nothing on these Alabama boys!

I hope everyone is having a good week. Have a wonderful weekend. My wife has asked me out on a date tomorrow night. She isn't telling me where we are going. Only that I should dress comfortable. Be sure to guess where we are going. If you get it right, I will send you a prize.

Back to the routine

2007-08-21T09:04:00.000-04:00

Okay, to say the last week has been off track would be close. More like upside down and twisted counter-clockwise would be better. I have taken a vacation day and bereavement day and traveled several times to here and there and back. However, today is a new day and it is back to the grind of every day life. I think I like that idea.

Hey LOOK everyone - Words off paper is back! How cool is that? I return from a week of twisted time and a favorite blogger is back in action. I am doubly happy.

More to come later - I am just happy to be back!

Have a great day.

A Patriarch has passed away

2007-08-15T09:10:00.000-04:00

Dennis R. Thomas

For the last 10 years I knew "D.R.". Weekend visits to Anniston Alabama. Christmas's where upwards of 40 family and friends would gather at his house to celebrate the birth of Christ. I married into the family and was always welcomed warmly. D.R. was a Godly man who held his family close to his heart.

ANNISTON — Funeral services for Mr. Dennis R. Thomas, age 85, of Anniston will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, August 16, 2007, at Edgewood Congregational Methodist Church with Dr. Bill Snow and the Rev. Wilburn Clark officiating. Mr. Thomas will lie in state one hour prior to service. Interment will be at Forestlawn Gardens. Visitation will be at Chapel Hill Funeral Home this evening, August 15, 2007 from 6 until 8.

Mr. Thomas is survived by his wife, Mary Thomas, of Anniston; 4 daughters, 8 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Thomas was a native of Limestone County and resident of Anniston for forty-nine years. He was employed as a cabinet maker with L & L Cabinet and Lott's Cabinet. He was a member of Edgewood Congregational Methodist Church.

Chapel Hill Funeral Home will be servicing the Thomas family.

Cuteness Defined

2007-08-13T22:19:00.000-04:00

I ran across this photo tonight while organizing my picture folder.

Laziness / blissfull

2007-08-12T20:24:00.000-04:00

Is it my laziness in not blogging or is it the blissfulness of life in general? Maybe both. The last part of the week was fairly uneventful.

With Little One starting school and all the homework she has, my evenings have been fairly full. I have been pretty busy at work also. My mind is very tired by the end of the day. That's my excuse for not blogging.

However, I have a little time now on Sunday evening to sit and fill in the gaps since the last blog.

Friday evening our family took the evening to enjoy a night out on the town. We started off by eating at Texas Roadhouse. My wife had the chicken salad and I had the sirlon steak. Little One ate a cheesebuger. I love that place. I always get my fill of a good dinner.

Next on the list was a trip to the bowling alley. We took to the lanes and busted out a good game for the three of us. On my wife's first bowl, she broke her thumb nail. She hung on for a couple more frames and then Little One took over bowling for her. The bumpers were up for Little One's turn but not for her mom's. With the bumpers up, she rolled it right down the middle. With the bumpers down, she would bowl straight to the gutter.

With the exception of a few open frames in the middle, I closed with a strike in the ninth and two of the first three in the 10th.

Saturday, we slept in and took advantage of the pool later in the afternoon. We closed the evening down with some chicken fingers and a movie.

No poker lately. I guess I am still trying to adjust to this new schedule. I am sure I will get things worked out and get back to the tables soon.

Tuesday, Oh, Tuesday!

2007-08-07T19:53:00.000-04:00

I was hog tied and placed in a room full of middle and executive management today. It seems we need a little training. We had some pesky yellow jacket stiffs there talking about lean manufacturing. It's good stuff-really. It's just I have heard it about a dozen times with the same big pep rally and then the eventual fizz of emotion only to be dropped along the curb in order to make way for more "production time" and less "non production time". We can't meet customer needs if we are sitting in some room talking and not out producing product. We never hang onto the training part long enough to see the results of a better employee.

Hence my question/discussion to my readers. What motivates an hourly employee these days? Our plant workers make somewhere between $10 per hour and up to probably $16 to $17 per hour. An 18 year old walking from his high school graduation dripping from his ears will start at $10 per hour. Then you build from there. At $10 per hour, that is $20,000 per year.

Now, let's talk motivation. Our plant is air conditioned, clean (Japanese style) and set up fairly nice. Good 401K, insurance and paid time off. Trust me, it's not labor intensive. What motivates an employee to get up and show up everyday?

The stiffs say it's employee empowerment and feeling of worth and trust. Walk out on the shop floor and all you hear is "we need more money". We joking use the phrase "the beatings will continue until morale improves". The culture is one where a director can only sign a purchase order up to $500. That doesn't sound like trust to me.

What motivates you to put a good days effort into a good days work?

*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#

Family - After dinner tonight, I was out taking pictures of the house they are building across the street from us. Little One started posing and asked if I would take her picture. These are the results.

My plans are to take a photo just about every day until completion.
Then make a movie maker video of it.
(set to brooks and dunn - "hard working man" song of course)
That's my humble plan - execution of that plan is subject to my laziness.

Now that you have read my blog - read it as Gizoogle would have it.
Click the link and paste my website address in the box.
Thanks for the link Kajagugu Poker

Gymnastics

2007-08-06T21:22:00.000-04:00

Tonight was Little One’s first night at gymnastics. I think she had a wonderful time. We went out to eat afterwards to steak and shake. She fell asleep on the way home. Fist day of school and first day of gymnastics. She was “plum tuckered out”.

Have a nice evening everyone.

Comments Wanted

2007-08-01T12:24:00.000-04:00

Okay - now that summer vacation is in the books, it is time to start planning and booking fall vacation.

Come on commenters. Get busy and tell me where to go!

In general, the plan should be somewhere along the eastern united states in a mountainous environment.

The previous fall vacations were to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge. Due to just too many people now ascend onto that place in the fall, I am in need of a new fall home.

I have done a little research on places like: Brevard, N.C., Snowshoe W.V. and Dahlonega, GA. The events should center around peaceful events like Fall Festivals, BBQ gatherings or large Art shows.

I dropped a hint to Duckie at Duck notes to let me know when a good festival is planned. He seems to always get some good photos of local festivals around his area. Maybe he will comment????

The place should be within 6 hours of driving from Atlanta, GA.

Do you have a place that has impressed you in the past? Ashville?, Charlotte? Chattanooga? Kentucky?
Let me know - I have only been back to work a week and I am in need of a long weekend vacation. Or at least the promise of one on the horizon.

Please Help!

Home Project - Completion

2007-07-28T15:15:00.001-04:00

Our daughter's room re-decoration project is coming near the end. When we returned from our vacation, we visited Rooms to go kids. Little One had her favorite day bed there. They were having a sale. So, we went. Everything was on sale except her bed. Oh well, we needed to bring this project to a close and we purchased her the day bed and dresser. We were able to set delivery for 1 week later - today! That was great.

Only the underside trundle was not ready to be delivered today. That will have to wait another 2 weeks. The second issue was a missing handle for her dresser. That will be shipped UPS Monday. I am considering this home project complete and a success. I hope you have enjoyed watching as we turned our little girls room into a more "little girl's" room.

Here are the final pictures.

Just in case you forgot what we started with. Or you are joining us late.

Have a great weekend.

WDW Trip Report - Day 5 & 6

2007-07-28T10:47:00.000-04:00

Okay, I have been back a week and haven't completed this trip report yet! The last couple of days the pace slowed and the photo's were less often. We hung out around the pool and went shopping at downtown Disney.

We did get a little photo happy on the bus over to downtown Disney.

Here I am smiling at my family.

Someone offered to take our picture.

Here is Little One playing in the water at downtown Disney.

The last night we were there we went over to Fort Wilderness to enjoy a movie on there large outdoor screen. Here we are watching the pre-show entertainment.

Here Little One is hanging around Dale.

We really enjoyed our trip. If you are planning a Disney trip, I don't think you will be disappointed in staying at the Wilderness Lodge. I hope these recaps have helped. Some other advice: We found out starting in January 2008 - gratuity will no longer be included in your meal plan. So, those $100 dinners will start costing you $15 to $20 in tips.

WDW Trip Report - Day 4

2007-07-24T16:20:00.001-04:00

Okay our fourth day inside the walls of Disney World and I make my first real boo-boo. I a 36 year old man was so enjoying my time at Disney, did not review our pre-planned daily events the night before. Our family got up and hurried to get ready for our day. It wasn't until we were about to head out the door that my wife looked at the sheet. What she discovered was that this was supposed to be a day off for us. You know - a kind of sleep in day. She had been so looking forward to a day she could relax and sleep in. It was spoiled.

Luckily she and my daughter agreed that we should go ahead and visit a park. Since our scheduled showed Magic Kingdom the next morning, we choose to swap days. We would sleep in tomorrow. We headed for breakfast all clear with our updated schedule. Unfortunately, this was the early park open day for Magic Kingdom. It was already 9:00AM. It would be packed. I didn't mention this to my co-parts.

On the way to the dock from breakfast, my daughter decided she wanted to start in the tradition of pin trading. For those who don't know, many cast members at Disney have lanyards with Disney pins on them. You can trade pins with them or other people. So, we purchased Little One a lanyard with 6 different pins of her choosing. She was happy, I was happy and the wife was skeptical. Off we went. She did a good job of trading over the next few days and ended up with some cool pins.

After another delicious breakfast at the Roaring Fork cafe we decided to take the boat over to Magic Kingdom. It was a pleasant ride over. As we pulled up to the dock in front of the gates we were amazed at the floods of people pouring into the park. By now it was 10AM and already nearing 90 degrees!

We found what I expected inside the gates - crowds and crowds of people. We made our way back to the far side of the park. This is adventure land I think. It has the attractions: It's a Small World, Winnie the Pooh, Dumbo and the carousel. All these are right up Little One favorite rides/areas. We rode a few rides and sweat was dripping off me just standing in the shade.

By this time, Little One was tired of the camera and I had to resort to action shots.

It was HOT. Little One wasn't feeling well complaining of stomach pains. We decided to head back to the lodge for a restful afternoon. Even some more time at the pool.

After a few playful hours at the pool, we all headed in and got ready for dinner.

This evening was planned to be at Epcot for both the dinner and the fireworks/show. We had reservations at San Angel inside Mexico Pyramid at Epcot. We were running it close to getting there on time. We cruised into the restaurant about 5 minutes before our reservations. I was a little antsy to see a long line in front of hostess stand. We were soon handed a beeper and walked around the shopping area. I liked the piggy bank painted as a strawberry. However, since Little One already has a piggy bank that was a no sale.

A nice restaurant with exception of that you are eating in almost complete darkness. The back wall of the place is painted with a pyramid and a volcano. Nice ambiance. The tables were a little cramped together. Our waiter was really nice. I could barely see him. However, from what I could tell he was in his 50's , short and of Mexican decent. I think he had a mustache. Even if I couldn't see him, I could have probably guessed his heritage. I made the comment to Little One and my wife that I think he is speaking English. However, it still sounds like Spanish.

The golden rule of satisfying me as a customer was broken - my glass going empty and making a slurping sound. But wait! Don blame our waiter yet. As we were sitting down, a group of 15 were being seated next to us. That was his table also. I watched as this family from grandchild to parent to grandparents took FOREVER to make their drink orders. Each time our waiter visited that table he was there forever for them to make their selections. So, I forgave him and blamed Mickey Mouse. Not to mention the place was packed. I had witnessed the Hostess turn people away with no reservations. I thought this a much better tactic than I had witnessed previous nights when customers were told it would be an hour and half wait. Just tell them you are all booked up and send them on their way.

For Appetizer: I had the nachos while my wife had the Snope Tradicional (Grilled Chicken burrito)

For the main course: My wife and I both ordered the Plato Mexicano (Beef tenderloin Tampiquena, chicken enchilada, and beef Flauta served with sour cream, black refried beans and mexican rice) and Little One chose chicken Fingers and Fries. That seems to be the staple in Mousetown for kids menu Chicken Fingers and fries. San Angel were the best of all Mousetown. (P.S. Don let your child get the pizza from the Concourse Steak house icky).

For dessert: I had the cappuccino (not good to me it was very strong like it was made with espresso). My wife had the Flan de Vanilla (vanilla Custard in syrup with roasted almonds) and Little One had vanilla bean ice cream. I ended up eating/consuming all three. Little One didn't want hers. My wife didn't like the texture of hers. My wife is one of only a few people who (no matter what the taste is) cannot eat certain types of textures. That pudding is one of those that my wife cannot eat. I thought it was excellent the taste and the texture. Of course the ice cream was awesome vanilla bean is my favorite.

I waddled out of the restaurant and out into the hot evening only Disney World is known for. We were staying for the laser and fireworks show that evening at Epcot. So, I waddled as the rest of my family walked around to some of the other places in Epcot.

We made stops in China, Japan & France. The China show is awesome. It a 360 degree overhead video of a tour of China. I love the Asian area. The sights to see, the food and the people make it a very interesting place. Give me lots of money and I will go.

Japan was the next stop. For some of my readers that may not know, I have worked for a Japanese company for almost 15 years. I have been introduced to many aspects of their culture. Yes, even sushi. I like some and dislike others. While we were touring the Japanese shop, I tried to get my wife to purchase one of their beautiful silk blouses. She didn't . She did pick up a pair of flip flops and after trying them on stated 'these are the most comfortable flip flops I have ever felt'. I looked at the price tag and I said 'for $65 dollars, they ought to feel good". She quickly placed them back on the shelf. Outside the Japanese shop, we purchased Little One a tangerine snow cone. I was very happy that she handed it to me after only eating about half of it. It was delightful.

A short stop at the French building and Little One and her mom was squirted with ol de toilet or something by some bottle toting French guy smiling like someone was tickling his bottom side. Outside, I determined it to be a nice smelling perfume and we continued on our walk.

We stopped on the nearby bridge to settle into our spot for the show. We enjoyed the show over the water and quickly made our way to the exit as the show was nearing the end. Unfortunately, we had stopped on the far side of the park and it took us nearly 20 minutes to reach the gate. We found our bus stop and waited only a short time before one pulled up to carry us back to the soft pillows awaiting us back at the lodge.

A near mess up turns out to be a pretty good day. Good night Mickey and Donald.

WDW Trip Report - Day 3

2007-07-22T20:54:00.000-04:00

Our third day in Walt Disney World was spent pretty much all over the place. We started with a great meal at the Roaring Fork. I filled up on Eggs, Bacon, Potatoes, Biscuit with milk and orange juice. My wife stuffed her pie hole with Bacon and pancakes while Little One got her gauge filled with Frosted flakes and milk.

Our plan started us on a path to the Animal kingdom. We were there a little later than we really wanted to be. It was around 10AM and we headed straight for the Safari. I was able to take quiet a few photos of the animals. Some of the photos turned out blurry due to the bumpiness of the ride.

Little One just after we board the safari jeep.

A gator wanting a bite of this big DAWG.

As we were leaving the safari area, we actual won something.
Being the "Year of a million dreams" slogan from Disney, they are giving away something like a million and a half dreams. We won a "fast pass" for all the rides in Animal Kingdom that day. Yippie!

That was all I needed to know - I headed straight for the roller coasters.
I was first able to ride Expedition Everest. - AWESOME!!

After that we headed over to another section of the Animal Kingdom where I rode another ride (primeval whirl).

Then I used my pass for Dinosaur. Don't ride this with small children. I am not sure what is with Disney lately. All they want to do is scary you. This ride will definitely scare younger children. It was fun for me. Although, it was a bit jerky for my back.

After I rode that one, we headed over to "it's tough to be a bug".
That's still a great 4-D show. I love it. Even more when I have
easy fast pass tickets.

After all the fun I was having, Little One was ready to go back to the lodge and go swimming. We gave the rest of our fast passes to some family and got back on the bus to the Wilderness lodge.

We were surprised when we arrived back at our room. We were greeting by some additional guest left by housekeeping.

We played all afternoon at the pool.

Little One and the wife must have got camera happy - I had a few surprise photos upon downloading.

We had gotten her pooh bear the day before at Downtown Disney.

After wrapping up the pool time and getting cleaned up, we were ready to try out the concourse steak house at the contemporary hotel. Since the Contemporary Hotel is next to the lodge, we were able to take a small boat ride across bay lake over to it. It was a nice touch to our day.

Little One being her normal goofy self.

Our bill this time added up to a whopping $110. Thanks to the Disney Meal plan it and the tip was included. Sweet.

Appetizer: Me=Sesame Chicken Wings, Wife=Onion Rings, Little One=Chicken Soup.

Main Course: Me=Filet Mignon over mashes potatoes, Wife=sirloin with baked potato, Little One=Pizza.

Dessert:Me=Butter Finger Cheesecake, Wife=Carrot Cake, Little One=Ice cream with various toppings on the side.

After our meal we headed over to the Magic Kingdom for the parade and fireworks. Going there we took our third type of transportation of the day - The monorail. We had started our day on a bus to the Animal Kingdom, a boat ride to dinner and then the monorail over to Magic Kingdom. A pretty neat trifecta.

Pictures from Magic Kingdom.
I didn't think to waymark this statue.

Little One tuckered out after the parade and before the fireworks.

Time for a good night sleep - that was a long long day.

WDW Trip Report - Day 2

2007-07-21T19:43:00.000-04:00

Our Second day started early at MGM studio’s theme park for a Character meal with Jo Jo and Goliath from Jo Jo’s Circus. Also Leo and June where there from Little Eienstein’s. We arrived at the park a little earlier than our scheduled breakfast. We took the opportunity to get a few pictures of Little One with some of the characters that were nearby the restaurant.

The first one we saw was Chip-n-Dale. Little One wanted her mom to go. She went with her finally.

The next group we saw was Minnie Mouse and Goofy. We had a funny circumstance during this line wait. We were waiting in line behind this Mexican mom and her daughter. When they were next to get their photos - all of a sudden - there appeared to be around 13 Mexican members of their family coming over. Each one getting their photo taken and then there photo taken with another member of their family. It was taken so long that the managing cast member had to ask them to move along. We finally got our photo - our one photo.

Our Breakfast was at Hollywood and Vine. If you are going to do a character breakfast, this is a good one for the fact that the place was near empty. It was 10:00AM and I counted 5 other families in there having breakfast. That tuned into plenty of time for the characters to spend at the tables with the guest. They had a sing along with all the kids and maybe 5 kids were there to join in.

The character meal breakfast counted as a table meal on our meal plan. The dollar value came out to $63 dollars.

The First picture is of Goliath. I think he was mine and the wife’s favorite. His hair is awesome.

The second picture is of Leo giving my wife a kiss on the head. I think she secretly liked it.

The next one is Leo with Little One.

Up next is June - Little One looks so comfortable with June.

Of course the star of Jo Jo’s Circus - Jo Jo and Little One.

Here is a photo of the group sing and dance along - not crowded at all.

We saw a few things and Little One was ready to go. We did get to see the Indiana Jones show. It was really good. I suggest that you go see that one.

I did snap a shot of a clock - maybe it will not already be waymarked.

We returned to the lodge and went swimming. Little One returned to the slide where she had a blast. Even that was cut a little short by an incoming afternoon thunderstorm. That was okay. We used the opportunity to go upstairs and get ready for the evening.

Little One and I went down to the lobby to people watch while mom was getting ready.

The Elevator.

The Lobby.

We changed our dinner plans from the Whispering Canyon to Captain Jack’s at Downtown Disney.

We arrived late to our dinner reservation’s at Captain Jacks. Seems we didn’t have the bus thing down just right and had to do some bus jumping to get over to Downtown Disney.

It was a delicious meal. For the appetizer, I had the mixed green salad (or what I call the weeds), my wife had the spinach and artichoke dip while Little One had Clam Chowder. I ended up eating my salad and most of Little One’s chowder and some of mom’s dip. For the main course I order the 2 lobster tails, mom ordered the chicken pasta and Little One ordered the chicken sandwich. (She’s not happy it doesn’t look like Chick-fil-A’s chicken sandwich).

Appetizer:

The lobster tails were excellent. For dessert I had the triple chocolate cake with ice cream, mom had the cheesecake and Little One had a smoothie.

Main Course:

The dessert:

The dollar value of this meal was $93. Thank you Disney for the meal plan!

After we ate, we headed over to Magic Kingdom for the nightime show fantasmic. I took several photo’s here most are very dark . It was a good show. It was a mad house trying to get out of the park with so many leaving at the same time. We made it to the dock where we took the boat back to the resort for a good nights Sleep.

WDW Trip Report - Day 1

2007-07-20T19:05:00.000-04:00

Trip Summary: 7 days - 6 nights inside the Walt Disney World complex at the Wilderness Lodge. 4 day pass hopper. Family Meal Plan.

My wife and daughter were the two that were awake and ready to go early Saturday morning. For once, I wasn’t pushing everyone to hurry up and get ready. Over the years I have come to appreciate a 4:00PM check in. Many times I have been stuck in a vacation town not able to check into my room. I didn’t want to get to Walt Disney World too early and have to wait on a room.

Our trip started around 6:30AM. It was about 7AM when we passed the airport on the south side of Atlanta. We looked as if we were moving. We had many bags, hang-ups and groceries.

We were making good time and pulled into Perry, Ga. Somewhere around 8:30. Our standard road stop - Cracker Barrel. It was very good. I had the Biscuits and Gravy, my wife had a breakfast platter and Little One had a pancake with no butter. We all enjoyed it and were soon back on the road.

I was in the middle row of seats in the van, Little One was in the back row and the wife was driving. I took the opportunity to take a quick nap. I was doing a good job at it until Little One was kicking me and asking me a question. Oh well, we were near the Georgia Florida state line and I wanted my wife to fill the van up with gas before crossing the line. We did and I took over the driving.

I was only asleep for a little bit. I am not sure how fast my wife drove but if the upper right number is the "max speed" generated by the GPS. She has a lot of explaining to do. I only hope it is a mistake!!!

We arrived at the Wilderness Lodge a little after 3PM. We checked our bags at the curb and as my wife and daughter went to check us in, I parked the van. They were ready when I returned to the lodge. After waiting for the bell hop to bring up our bags, we went on a tour of the lodge. Here are a few pictures of what greeted us:

Our Room

A bubbling water spring inside the lobby.

Everything in large proportions.
Entry doors to the lodge.

Silver Springs-outside the lodge.
That's a real rabbit in the grass near their feet.

Another one of silver springs.

The Pool.

***
The Meal Plan. 1 counter meal - a quick service (fast food). We used it for mainly breakfast. 1 Snack - That’s a drink or popcorn or bagel, etc. 1 table meal - that’s a sit down full service table meal. (Appetizer, meal and dessert).

Dinner: Oh my goodness. If you stay in the park, GET THE MEAL PLAN. We paid $39 per adult (2) and $11 per child (1) for each night we were staying. I am not kidding - we eat the $89 per day in just dinner alone.

Our first nights reservation was at the Whispering Canyon Café at the Wilderness Lodge. This is an interesting restaurant. It is loud. It is moving. However, they feed you a cowpokes portion. For the appetizer: I had the Chicken Wings, my wife had the Chips and salsa/cheese dip and Little one got a bowl of watermelon.

For the main course, I ordered the ribs, mashed potatoes and green beans. My wife had the Chicken pasta and Little One ordered the cheeseburger and fries. Little One and I both ordered unlimited refill milkshakes while my wife had a coca-cola. Wow - that was a lot of food. The ribs were the dry spice kind with side order of B-B-Q sauce. I could only eat one rack. I hope someone in the kitchen got to eat the other - It would have been a shame to waste the second slab.

Oh yeah, if you ask for ketchup - you'll get it.
Every table will bring you their bottle!

Our waitress was really nice.
Thanks Allison!

I was so full that I didn’t order a dessert. Little One was too full also. My wife had saved a little room and ordered the Carmel Apple pie. That meal alone cost $83.

We ended the night at the pool. The pool has a slide. Little One loved it and even mom and dad got to enjoy it. Wwwwwweeeeeeee.

Stay tuned to day two where we travel to MGM.

I call her Chainsaw

2007-07-09T18:43:00.000-04:00

A nice smile - for a 6 year old.

Stonemaps GPS

2007-07-08T20:49:00.000-04:00

I was wondering if anyone out there in blog space had downloaded maps from stonemaps. I have been reviewing the software from afar. I couldn't find anything out there about this company and it's software except from their own reports.

They offer detail maps for GPS units on places like Walt Disney World, High profile ski resorts, and other places.

......

okay! I took the plunge and purchased the $20 "Orlando Pass Hopper" from them. Everything seems on the up and up so far. I have went through their webpage and purchased the software. I was able to complete the transaction and immediately download the software. At the executing of the setup file, it was easily loaded and presented an option for viewing the users manual.

I quickly went to get the Garmin GPS unit and hook it up. In the first few pages, it showed how to transfer the maps and points of interest to my unit. I did those things and everything seemed to go fine.

I disconnected the unit and found no waypoints. My heart sunk. No problem. A few pages further told how the program doesn't use up your waypoint file. It uses four different areas (maybe adds one or two).

Attractions: Amusement park entrances and ticket booths.
Geographic: Amusement park rides.
Services: Restrooms.
Entertainment: Character Greetings.

I flipped through all these screens and was fairly impressed with what was coming up. I even flipped over to the map page. There I backed out the view, scrolled down to Orlando and zoomed in over Walt Disney World. There to my amazement were detailed maps of the pathways and areas in each park.

I really think this is going to be well worth the $20. The biggest selling point to me was that they claimed twice as many restrooms as the park maps themselves. That should be a blessing walking around with a 6 year old. You know - they don't tell you that they need to go until they NEED TO GO.

If any readers find this blog that have used this software, please drop a comment and let me know how your experience was. If you have any good tricks on using a GPS around Disney, I am all mouse ears!

Just for fun - if you run across this and are looking things up for GPS and Walt Disney world, check out Patty's website. Disney Benchmarks. I hope I can find some new ones - that would be a thrill. But alas, I will settle for just finding some that are noted there on her page.

Have a good week everyone.

Home Project - Paused

2007-07-07T16:55:00.000-04:00

I started this home project knowing I was behind the 8-ball on the furniture side. Well, as the weekend comes nearer to an end, I have no new furniture to fill the room. I am still clinging to a white wood daybed hope on craigslist. It looks promising and the lady says she has it. However, my window of opportunity squeaked by yesterday. My contact did not get back with my until late in the day and by then it was too late to get a trailer for transporting the bed.

That's the bed. The dresser we are still looking for. I have a few on the hot list. However, I am holding back until I get the day bed to ensure closeness to the bed style. So, we are looking at next weekend maybe getting something rolling.

Artwork and decor. Now that the colors are up, we can go shopping for the wall decorations. That should be fun. We shall see how that turns out.

Curtains. My wife informs me that 1 sheer per window is not enough. They can't be stretched that far - doen't look right. So, we will be heading back to JC Penny's for 2 more.

TV Stand. I kinda stuck out there. Maybe a looping hit. The jury is still out. Several places I went to on Friday did not carry white furniture. It's like it is out of style. (What would I know about style?) I did buy a silver TV Stand. I used the paint I purchased for the chair rail (that I did not use) and painted it white. We will see how that works out.

For now I am placing this home project on the blog pause while we try and pull the last few detail together. I call it an 80% success. I was able to complete the painting and put up the ceiling fan during my days off.

Here is a freshly painted room with little furniture and no decorations.
I kinda feel I did my manly part by putting up the ceiling fan and painting. Now it's the wife's turn to go shopping for decorations.

P.S. $1,000 freeroll poker tournament
I did fairly well. About 130 people showed up to play. I lasted for 3 and half hours until the blinds were to high to overcomer. I busted by pushing Queen Jack. I was called by Ace eight and lost to a pair of eights. That's the way it goes.

Jason Bourne

2007-07-06T12:28:00.000-04:00

The Bourne Ultimatum

The time is coming and you can be assured I will be in my seat for the viewing of this third movie. Jason Bourne is coming - are you ready?

I have enjoyed these movies for a few reasons.

1) Matt is awesome. He uses his intellect not his brawn.
(most of the time)
2) Epic style action. There is something around every corner.
3) Language. It's very calm compared to most movies these days.
4) My wife likes this series - that says a lot.

just go see it!

Home Project - Chapter 3.5 - Sheer Curtains

2007-07-05T16:51:00.000-04:00

Okay - I am back from a shopping trip.

I decided to go and get the sheer curtains.
I also needed a hair cut - really more than one.

We have added another $52 US Dollars to the cost.

We will still need to return and get the beads that
match the sheer - they actually give it the right look.

My wife took this opportunity to make the guest room
her display room for her cherished teddy's. We will
be looking for a night stand for this room.

Home Project – Chapter 3 – Painting

2007-07-05T12:50:00.000-04:00

Painting went very smoothly. I have a few areas to touch up. The tape performed a good job in most areas. It or me had some issues with the outlets on the purple walls. I guess the darker color shows the previous off white wall a little better than the pink.

I guess you can tell by now I didn’t go with the chair rail I purchased. My wife talked me into solid walls. I chickened out of all that work.

I started around 8:30AM and took about an hours break at 10:00Am. I finished up a few minutes after noon. I took pictures and came down stairs to email them to my wife and have lunch. Chef Boyardee – Beef Ravioli. It has been a favorite of mine since childhood. A Gatorade and chips to go with it.

I probably need to get to JC Penny’s to pick up some curtains we saw there last week. They would match great. They are sheer with alternating pink and purple. They also had some purple beads to go along with it. Who knows – I may just jet and go get that stuff.

Have a great day!

Home Project – Chapter 2 - Ceiling Fan

2007-07-05T00:58:00.000-04:00

Ceiling Fan Installation.

Since it is the fourth of July, I wanted to spend the day with my family. However, I thought during down times of family activities I could get the ceiling fan installed. I was correct. I installed the ceiling fan in less than two hours working over 3 different time segments.

I started by opening the box and laying out all the parts. I pulled the instruction out and actually followed them through this process. This is my first time for a ceiling fan installation. I really don’t want this to fall on my little angel. No problems getting setup.

I removed the old light fixture. I took advise from my boss and recorded the wiring once I had it removed.

Wiring:

The wiring is the most worrisome part of the project. It’s not that difficult if you take it slow and following the directions. However, I worry that something will be crossed and I will leave the house when the project is complete and a fire will start. It’s just my way of life. We are going on 12 hours from completion and no smoke yet!

I had my self-made wiring diagram to help. I have a dual switch on the wall that only turned on the single light source before today. When disconnecting the original housing, I was happy to see a black wire not connected. I was hoping that this was the second control on the switch that would control the fan.

Mounting Bracket:

The first frustration didn’t take long to develop. When attaching the mounting bracket. It was clear that the builder didn’t take his time to level the mounting base. Thanks Martin Homes. With the base mounted and the cover on, a ½ inch gap is noticeable on one side. The other side is fairly flush with the ceiling. I continue on – what else am I suppose to do. The thing will balance itself out. It will just not look the best.

Main Assembly:

The main assembly was a fairly smooth installation. I was able to sit it up in the mounting bracket and connect the wires fairly quickly. If you are not comfortable with wiring, take this segment slow. You will be connecting bare wires and using a bell housing to secure them. Just make sure they are well connected and well secured. I then used the cotter pin to secure the main assembly in place and tightened the setscrews. I quickly affixed the cover and was done with the main assembly.

Fan Blades:

Simple. The blades and the mounting brackets were easy to attach together with three screws. Then it was two screws to attach that assembly to the main assembly.

Lights:

Plug and Play. Since this assembly was attaching to the main assembly, the manufacture made it simple to plug wires and mount. A quick placing of the light fixtures and bulb installation and we were done.

I cleaned up the loose bags and packing material from the fan and got ready for the moment of truth. I check the whole assembly – nothing loose – no rattles. I headed downstairs and out to the garage. I flipped the breaker on and headed back upstairs in a hurry – just in case a fire had already erupted in the room. To my delight – everything was still peaceful.

Operation:

I reached for the light switch. Let there be lights! – There were lights.
I reached for the fan switch. Let there be wind! – There was wind.

I called downstairs for my wife and daughter to hurry upstairs – they hurried.
(They had puzzled looks as why I was yelling to get up stairs quickly).

We all gazed in amazement at the accomplishment.
(sometimes eeerrr always – my wife takes my laziness as inability).

No more – Today I am King.

Painting starts tomorrow.

Happy 4th of July – America

2007-07-05T00:05:00.000-04:00

I trust each of you got to spend time with your family. My family and I spent the whole day together. It was a long day to say the least – yet – a very good day.

I had told my daughter to wake me and not her mother this morning. Mom wanted to sleep in and Little One is notorious for getting up early. She surprised me and woke me up around 8:00AM. That’s an hour – maybe an hour and a half later than normal. We didn’t wake mom.

My daughter and I got up and sat on the floor of our bedroom sitting room and played board games. My wife had slept upstairs with Little One since she wasn’t feeling good when she went to bed. (Also to let the tooth fairy “in” since she had lost another tooth on Tuesday).

We played: Clue Jr., Connect Four, Hi-Ho Cherrio before mom got up and came downstairs. That spelled the end of daughter dad time. She stays under moms’ feet. I headed upstairs to work her bedroom. (More detailed post on that later)

I was called downstairs a little later to eat breakfast. My wife and daughter had made blueberry muffins. They were delicious. I ate 2 and the wife ate 3.

We showered and got ready to go to the pool. Little One stated she wanted to stay there 4 hours. Whew. I would be toast! We gathered a small cooler and packed it with water and snacks. We arrived at the pool around 11:00AM. We were the 2nd family there. I was surprised. I figured the pool would be packed. It wasn’t the whole time we were there. Never more than 4 families there. We ended up staying only 3 hours. I slept in the shade of the pool house for the last 30 minutes or so. Best I can tell - I didn’t get totally toasted.

We had told Little One if she wanted to see the fireworks that she would have to take a nap. She doesn’t do naps too often. However, I guess she wanted to go and she was probably drained from swimming. She didn’t give us any trouble. She took a long 3-hour nap.

Little One’s nap gave me just enough time to enlist the help of my wife to move the remaining furniture out of Little Ones’ room. We got that accomplished and I finished up the taping. We called around to see what the plan was about the fireworks and found that some were already headed that way and others were gathering at the pastor’s house. We got our things ready and went to the pastor’s house. (They promised to feed us – we jumped on the offer).

Here is a picture of some women there at the cook-out.
My wife in the center.

We arrived helped ourselves to hot dogs, hamburgers and the fixing’s. Soon a large group of us was headed to Newnan high school football field – Drake Stadium. The first picture is the best I could do to get most of them in the picture. They were well over 40 people there from our church. The second picture is one I snapped of the wife and Little One people watching. It was a great time.

Day over and 3 whipped puppies head home and crash. Well 2 of them – daddy puppy fires up the computer and post this blog. Good night all – Happy Birthday America.

The Video is of the fireworks finale. 2007 - Newnan High School - Drake Field.

Home Project - Chapter 1

2007-07-03T17:33:00.000-04:00

Preparation: All good projects start with preparation. You acknowledge an area to improve and then go about thinking out the process in which will help you succeed. As you may know by now, I have chosen to upgrade my daughter’s bedroom. We have been in our current house a little over 2 years. We plan to stay here until she graduates high school. In the past, we have moved about every 2 and half years. This time we are settling in.

Here is where the project starts: Her room.

Once we committed to upgrading her room to a “girlie” room, we chose the color(s) to use. With Little One’s help, we/she picked Pink and Purple. With the colors picked out, we moved to furniture. We would replace her hand me downs with something of her very own. She wanted a bunk bed. However, her mom ruled that out quickly. She picked a very nice white day bed on our first shopping trip. We all liked it. The price we can beat.

Our baseline is http://www.roomstogo.com. I have always been pleased with their furniture. I am not a high-end furniture shopper. I don’t see the value in it. That’s just me. Our last purchase was with Ashley furniture and we will never make that mistake again – ever! So, a good white wood day bed w/out trundle at roomstogo is $599. Unfortunately, our buyers group (Team National) didn’t have daybeds. 1St option out. 2nd option – craigslist. We are negotiating currently for a very similar bed as roomstogo for about $300.

To paint - you have to have supplies. That means a trip to your local Home Depot. In my case: Paint, Chair Rail, Ceiling fan, Tape, Bucket with Roller and extra rollers all for the cash disbursement of a little over $200 US American dollars - ouch. (Good thing I may save $200 on the bed)

Back to preparation. We needed to start moving things out of the current room. I was the only one here so I moved what I could without sending my back into spasms. Too late – I feel the nerve already. Anyway, I got lots of stuffed animals and small things moved to the playroom. However, that room is starting to get messy.

Behind the mattress are a whole slew of stuff animals and dolls.

Once I moved most of the things out of the room, I got started prepping the accent pieces. I am a true amateur home improver. I am way too lazy to do this stuff for any reason other than making my beautiful daughter smile. This amateur swears by the tape. The masking tape that is. I find taking the extra hour taping up the boarders and door frames will save me much cussing later.

Some would say to just remove the light and outlet covers. I have a 6 year old running around and just don’t need or want the possibility of her getting a finger in one of those things. But, if it fits you, remove them.

Tomorrow is the 4th of July. I may work on it some tomorrow or I may just wait until Thursday. I will need help to move the rest of the furniture. So, have a wonderful holiday. Celebrate the independence we all cherish so much. I think we will either go to Newnan’s firework show or we may head over to Atlanta Motor Speedway for a legends race and fireworks afterwards. AMS is a $5 adult and $1 child entry – Newnan is free and will probably be the choice by most our our church. Last year we had about 20~25 people from church sitting together on the Newnan high school football field. It was a really good time. The adults chatted while the younger ones tossed the pigskin.

God Bless.

Starting Balance

2007-07-01T17:35:00.001-04:00

Okay. Here goes: We start with Little One's Current Room.

and here

This is what I have to work with. The bed is coming out. She inherited that one from my wife and me me when we moved to our previous house. A 700 square foot master suite needed a king size bed and Little One got the queen size.

We went shopping Saturday and Little One picked out a day bed. It's nice. We were at Roomstogokids. I will look on the Team National website. We can get a discount there. I will go and buy the paint early this week. I really want to do the chair rail. I really do. The laziness in me says to take words on paper's advise and just do solid walls. However. 2 opposite walls are dominated by either windows or doors. We will see. I will make the decision later.

I didn't post any pictures from our trip to Anniston Alabama last week. So, here goes. Little One attended one of her cousins birthday party. It was a blast. They had a great time and we all ate like pigs.

Little One - Head first slide

Little One - Normal slide

Birthday Boy

Rakethetable with Birthday boy's big brother - Playing video games

Little One - Slip and slide - whheeee!!!

Room Upgrade 2.0

2007-06-29T09:13:00.001-04:00

Things are about to get a little hectic. Things are about to get a little peaceful. I will be taking a few vacation days after the fourth of July. My plans are to give my little angel a room to be a little girl in. We have procrastinated about buying new bedroom furniture for her. Therefore, it will not all be complete when I wanted it complete. I will get the basics done this next week while I am “on vacation”.

I have been thinking of how to document the process. Is it enough to take a photo before and a photo after? Should there be one of me covered in paint? Should I get one of Little One coloring on the walls before I get started? If any of you have a creative Idea, I am open to your suggestions. I might as well involve you into the process. Why else would you come by here and read this stuff I lay out for you most days?

I also plan to work on my tan. I should be ashamed to be as white as I am. I have been lathering on the sunscreen this year. My plan is to paint in the mornings. Let it dry as I relax by the pool mid day and then continue the work in the afternoon. That is if the nap monster doesn’t ensnare me in his hold. I am sucker for a nap. The wife will be working and Little One at camp during the days. I may just run around the house naked. You never know. (Sorry for the gross mental image-not really)

So, if any of you want to donate your Lowe’s and Home Depot gift cards, I will be accepting them until Tuesday. Little One says she wants Pink and Purple. I am undecided if we should do a chair rail and do purple on bottom and pink on top. Or, as my wife suggested, no chair rail with each wall a full color alternating colors on each wall. Any suggestions?

We will be installing a ceiling fan in her room. That should electrifying.

This weekend – not much planned. We will be at the pool and shopping for those items for the room upgrade. We will probably swing by rooms-to-go kids for furniture or ideas.

Everyone have a great weekend.

Stop It!

2007-06-27T11:25:00.000-04:00

Someone had some serious bad mojo on yesterday. Or, you really didn’t mean the good luck wished upon me. I may have to change my last blog where I said I was improving. I didn’t win a single hand last night in the tourney. Well, I didn’t win any hands that called my preflop all in. I entered maybe 5 pots through the first 3 blind levels. I lost all 5 pots. I was missing every single flop. I was also at a super aggressive table. I never saw a flop for the big blind. The absolute worse run of cards/luck/skill every experienced by me at the poker tables. I did push all in twice and got the blinds to fold. Both times, I would have liked the action. Pocket Kings one time and Ace Jack Suited the other. I eventually had enough and was ready to go home. I pushed with 9 6 offsuit for twice the big blind and was called by 2 players. Actually, it was worse than that. I pushed, the guy to my left pushed to isolate and the guy across the table called us both. 1st guy had pocket 8’s and the caller had poker Queens. I came close with pairing my 9 and four flushing.

I must say I saw an incredible sight last night. This guy shows up and is wearing a Saprano’s Bowling polyester shirt (Red and Black), wrap around sun glasses. I peg him for a newbie real quick. I beg for a hand against him. Can you say “donkey”? I knew you could.

First off, the outfit was ridiculous. I can only imagine the things Carmen sees out in Vegas with all the tourist. That’s a photo write-up I would love to see. A sunburned tourist shipping his chips to some rock across the table. Anyway. This guy messes up the deal, he bets/folds out of turn. His first words, after the game got started, was some hand he watched on ESPN about a guy laying down trips. I never got my chance to bust him. Oh it would have felt good. But alas, someone’s bad mojo was all over me.

Stop it.

Little One’s Big Steps

2007-06-25T10:57:00.000-04:00

Okay – we are overly protected parents. Our daughter is 6 and half and never really stayed away from home other than my wife’s parent’s house just down the road. For 1 night at a time mind you. We don’t let her out of our sight. It tore us from head to toe to leave her at cheer camp for a couple of hours in the hands of strangers.

Last Sunday, my wife and I drove up to Dalton to drop Little One off to stay there for a week. That’s an hour and half away (3 hours if you are grandma stuck on traffic going home – sorry mom). We were pretty cool about it. We are learning to let go. Little One is learning to be without us more and more.

Sunday night, my sister came and whisked Little One away from grandma and took her to spend the night at her house. Little One loves her cousins – they are older boys and she is just in love with them and their girlfriends. Little One was excited. Monday, them and a couple of others went swimming and shopping. I think Little One enjoyed that. Grandma had to work Monday and Tuesday and was sharing Little One around the family.

Little One spends the night back at grandma’s house. Tuesday morning she is shipped to Great Grandma’s house. Great Grandma has her Grand daughter over that is about the same age as Little One. My Uncle is younger than my mother and waiting a long time before having children. They played and played and played. I spoke to Little One on Tuesday night and she sounded really tired. I am sure those two girls had a blast and probably wore my Grandmother out. Tuesday night she again sleeps over at my parent’s house. The earthquake hit then – The next three days are vacation days for my mom to spend with Little One. However, Little One is tired and announces she wants to go home. Being late and all – she tells her they will discuss it the next day.

Wednesday morning is finally my mom’s turn to spend the day with her grand daughter. She takes her shopping and does a few girlie things. Mid day Little One again says she is ready to head home. My mother calls me and we discuss it and decided she can continue her visit with her granddaughter at our house. So, Little One and grandma pack up and head to Atlanta.

Thursday and Friday they spend time splashing around the neighborhood pool and at night we all play board games. Friday afternoon has grandma heading back home trying to beat the Atlanta traffic. She doesn’t beat it but she does have a very interesting story about her trip.

We Georgians were honored or dishonored (your choice) enough to have the Vice President of the United States visit our city. With the Presidential treatment of traffic control on Friday afternoon, the protection giving to him had a mess made of traffic. However, this is where grandma has an interesting story. Seems she was riding along on the interstate and noticed no one was behind her. She thought that very strange. Even more strange, she noticed many police vehicles stretching across the highway behind her with their lights flashing. They were taking up all lanes of traffic and not really catching up to her. She flipped the radio on and caught the news where the V.P. was leaving Atlanta and then things weren’t so strange as they were a little un-nerving for a grandma. She was just outside the rolling road block of security.

Little One has been itching for a Nintendo DS Lite for a while. A couple of girls at church have them. Her cousin has a GameBoy. I told her, if she could raise the money by selling old toys, she could get it. Last weekend we sold her electric Barbie VW bug. Friday night we sold her Little Tykes Kitchen. This raised enough money for her to buy her a DS Lite and 1 game.

So, Friday night we headed towards Douglasville to meet up with the Kitchen buyers and swing by Circuit City to pick up her Prize. I don’t think my wife understands what I was trying to do in teaching her the “economics” of her choices. If she grows up and can wheel and deal to garner things she wants, then good for her. I know we already spoil her. This is just my way of trying to get her to understand that she must sometimes give up something to get something else. I couldn’t help but to spoil her more by buying her a hard carrying case and a 2nd game for her DS Lite. (I am wrapped around her little bitty finger).

Saturday, we headed towards Anniston Alabama. Little One’s youngest first cousin was having his 2nd birthday party. It was a fun time. They had a slip-n-slide and a water slide along with a mini pool. We ate hot dogs and cake. Soon it was over and we stopped by the rest home to visit my wife’s grandfather.

Sunday activities were church and a nap and evening services then lying in bed watching TV until the nap wore off and I was able to fall asleep again. I played one sit-n-go while lying in bed Sunday night. I came in second after getting crippled on maybe the 4th hand. I didn’t feel the winner was a better player. They just caught cards while heads up. I had paint only a couple of times and when I did he had the same paint with a better kicker.

I am happy. Are you?

It's summer - not you - I promise

2007-06-20T19:17:00.000-04:00

The Summer has me.
I am a slave to its' power.
Its' power to send me outside to enjoy the weather.
I am a slave to the calls it makes to me.
I am here and there and back over there.
The summer is a great companion.
When it's not beside me, I feel lonely.

The blog is my home but the summer
beckons me out into the world.

So, until next time I sit to relax -
I will see you outside in the big world.

Good night.

An old picture to keep you company.
Pie anyone?

Short Fathers Day recap

2007-06-18T16:45:00.000-04:00

This weekend passed by fairly quickly.

Saturday we had a cook out at the wife's
uncles house. Many cousins of Little One
was there. It was a fun time and good food.
Thanks Uncle Charlie!

Sunday, the wife took me to Hardee's on the
way to church. (My request)
Bacon Egg cheese biscuit. It was good.
Here is Little One enjoying her food.

Sunday a quick trip to Dalton and back and
our weekend was over. Captain D's on Sunday
afternoon. It was good also.

D-ville almost conquered

2007-06-14T23:59:00.000-04:00

With Little One and the wife away at the in-laws.
I have taking time in the evenings for live poker.
No, I don't live in Vegas. But, it's the best
I can do here in Atlanta, GA.

Tonight I called upon buddy Justin. I coaxed him
to ride with me to Douglasville for a game. This
tournament was slightly smaller than the ones
that we have been playing here in Newnan. Only 50
players showed up tonight.

I was crippled mid way through but played my way
back to normal stack. When we were down to two
tables I was crippled again by the same guy. As
he was raking MY chips he leans over to me and
says "I guess I am your anti". What the heck?
I guess he had to twist the blade as it was plunged
deep into my back. Yeah, I guess you are (tonight).

I folded around until I was all in in the big blind
of T1,000 for only T100. I won that pot for T300
with two pair. Aces and fours. But I was again
all in for T300 in the small blind of T500. I lost
that one and checked out in 12th place. Just missing
the final table by 10 minutes or so.

However! Justin, my man, put up one heck of a fight.
He started on a tear around the time I got busted
and went to the final table with a chip stack. About
the third hand in he doubled up through the chip leader.
He was rocking. He was poised to take Douglasville by
storm and kick'em all out.

The chips got passed around the table for a while.

UNTIL. He is heads up withsome local.

He doubles the guys big blind and induces
him to push all in. The guy thought Justin was making a
play and pushed. Justin inta-calls and
turns over Ace(Updated)Ten.
the other guy turns over 10 7. The turn is a 7 and Justin
is rewarded for 2nd place.

Congrats Justin - job well done.

Quickie

2007-06-09T18:21:00.001-04:00

Last night our family went to Taco Mac for dinner.

Mom and Little one looked so pretty so I took their Picture.

I enjoyed myself also.

Today, I broke down and played golf.
You gotta understand. I don't play golf.
I don't like it. I am not good at it.
I just don't play it.

But I did and here is the proof.

BT played - a longtime resident of Newnan.
His friend hop.

Roy was on my team - we lost. We fell apart near the end.
Hop never lost his swing.

Who do you love?

2007-06-07T19:22:00.000-04:00

Realized I hadn't downloaded the camera in a while.

The first set of photos are Little One with my 2 nephews
and their girlfriends - I think my sister is in one.

The later is her at the pool today.

Enjoy:

Checked Out

2007-06-04T09:01:00.000-04:00

I will be slow to update for a while.

I will be mostly reading over at: www.pokerwire.com

and at:
Life as a Vegas poker dealer

and at:
Murph's Musings

and at:
Poker Girl In Vegas

and at:
CarmenSinCity Behind The Ropes!!

The 2007 World Series of Poker is in Vegas baby!

Geocaching

2007-06-02T10:45:00.000-04:00

Look outside.

Another great day for Geocaching

This time it will be an urban hunt.

Those are less fun than the woodsie ones.

However, I will take an afternoon Geocaching any day.

Have fun this weekend and get out and enjoy the world.

Holiday Weekend Recap

2007-05-29T13:45:00.000-04:00

Where to begin? In my last blog I noted I was headed out of town for some parental visitation and get some much needed outdoor time logged for Geocaching. Side Note: This past weekend was the Mega Event in North Carolina for Geocaching and I didn't go. However, our dear friend Embarrassing Boring Babble (Angela) did attend the event. I am anxiously awaiting her post(s) about her trip. I want to know what I missed. I am sure she will have plenty of good stories to bring back to the ATL.

Friday, both my wife and I took a vacation day. Little One had her last day of Kindergarten. We checked her out after her ceremony. Her class (all Kindergartener classes) presented a show of a few songs. We then went to her classroom where individual awards were given out. Little One was awarded the "Most Pleasant". I think that fits her personality fairly well. She is a very happy child (why wouldn't she be - we spoil her rotten!) The most interesting award went to a young boy in her class - "Best Engineering Mind". That caught my attention. Seems this 6 year old boy can create 3-D moving parts models of houses, Airplanes and other objects with construction paper with no guidance from his teachers. How cool is that?

We arrived home and I quickly took off to downtown Newnan for some governmental activities (big brother always gets his taxes). While I was gone, Little One and the wife were busy packing for our trip. I upset the wife slightly with a change of plans to leave earlier than I had originally told her. Since my parents were working, we didn't need to arrive before 5PM in Dalton. I had gotten the bright idea to stop, eat and play at Red Top Mountain State Park. I knew they had a beach there and thought Little One could get in some swimming.

So, we rushed things up a few hours and headed out the door. I should know by now that last minute change of plans do not settle well with my wife. I should also know that I am not all that bright in solving all issues in said quick plan changes. I thought we would grab a fast food drive thru and proceed to the state park. Well, something I didn't contemplate was that we needed to carry the Guinea pigs with us. They would need shelter & attention while we baked in the summer sun (the same for my wife - since she wouldn't be swimming). I remembered that there are no fast food places near Red Top Mountain State Park. I didn't think that Wade Greene road would be so packed on a Friday afternoon. We ended up getting lunch from Arby's. We ate our lunch at the park and Little One played on the playground. The wife read a book. Little One and I also took a stroll along the beach of the lake. I wasn't all that impressed with the beach. So, we didn't go swimming.

We arrived in Dalton without further lost of control. We took a quick visit up to my grandmothers Friday afternoon. My aunt was there until Saturday when she was flying back to Texas. (go longhorns!! lol). Friday night we ended up just chilling around the house.

Saturday morning, my dad and I took off on a Geocaching trip. We picked Aaron (or outdoorliving365) in Resaca at 8:00AM. With a quick find there at the flying J truck stop, we were on our way to the Chattahoochee National Forest for a day of fun. We trekked through Snake Creek Gap and up to John's Mountain overlook. We climbed to Keown Falls. We discovered "three car pile up" buried deep in the north Georgia woods but did not find the cache. All in all we had a great time. My legs were really starting to feel the burn as we climbed up to the falls. Aaron showed me the graph of our climb but failed to mention the amount. Several hundred feet up and still less that a mile from the vehicle. We got some amazing photos while we were up there.

Aaron - Climbing for the cache.

Dad - Found it!

Once we returned Aaron to his truck and made our way home, I crashed for a short nap. I was totally spent. I hadn't done that much hiking in a long time. I thought I had done a good job of keeping hydrated. I guess my body thought otherwise. I awoke just in time for mom to have made a wonderful birthday meal. My favorite: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, rolls and of course Chocolate birthday cake. Thanks mom - it was GREAT!.

We settled into the movie "Facing the Giants". It was a typical tear jerker. Sometimes I wish I wasn't so darn sensitive!

Sunday morning we attended mom's church. A nice new building with fine folks welcoming us in. Little One went to help mom teach her Sunday School class. I heard she helped songs and the lesson. It must have made a good impression on a little boy in that class. He ended up sitting with us during the service. Little One was oblivious to his flirting. Since he was about 2 years younger, she dismissed it as just friendly. He really turned on the charm as we left after the service. Out in the parking lot he was cranking up the flirting meter. We all got a kick out of that. I couldn't blame him. Little One was decked out in a foral purple skirt and blouse with her hair pulled back in a head band. She is such a knock out if I can brag. Takes after her mom I guess.

Sunday afternoon found most folks back at the homestead wanting to take a nap. Little One was having none of that. I asked if she wanted to go to the mountains with me. She didn't but she didn't want to take a nap either. She ended up going with me and we found one more Geocache at the Pinhoti trailhead. It ended up being a major hike. However, Little One hung in there and was a real trooper. We then headed over to "The Pocket" where we paid a state park fee and Little One played a little in the cold mountain stream at the picnic area. She was worried before we left about "the ride" up the mountain. She didn't want to wreck. As we were leaving the picnic area, I ventured up to John's mountain overlook. She said it wasn't scary - "just bumpy".

Sunday night my nephew and his girlfriend came over and we all sat around and talked and played board games. Little One was the life of the party. She was hyper and bouncing off the walls. ( I think mom secretly gave her another piece of chocolate cake).

Monday, my parents hosted a family gathering. Both my Grandmothers were there. My sister and her husband were there. Both my nephews and their girlfriends were there and my Uncle. Dad cooked hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill. My mom prepared carrot salad, baked beans and watermelon. There was even cake left over. We had our fill of food - thanks mom and dad for it all.

It was soon time for our trip to close with the ride home back towards Atlanta. We got home, cleaned the pig cage, washed a few loads of cloths, ate some popcorn and watched a movie with Little One and called it a night. I was too tired to write a post and organize the photos. Hopefully, I will be able to get the pictures posted later.

This week: I should have a poker game to attend tonight. Friday is a date night with my wife for my birthday.

Get out and enjoy the world.

Memorial Day Crunch

2007-05-23T22:23:00.001-04:00

Hello Friends.

I am sitting here tonight preparing for a long weekend.
As we move into the holiday to remember those that
have served to protect and provide freedom, I am truly
grateful for the life that I have because of them.

I am sitting here preparing for a trip to see the folks
up in Dalton, GA. I am hoping to get away for a morning
run of Geocaching in the north Georgia mountains.

I have a laptop computer hooked up to my Palm TX.
Those two are communicating and syncing information
about the details and hints of the local Geocaches.

I have the desktop computer running. I am using it
to download 200 Geocaches within a 20 mile radius of
"the pocket" as the area is called. I am running the
search on www.geocaching.com and moving that data over
to the Garmin Mapsource software. Once I feel I have a
good read on the 200 caches near the zero point,
I will download that data to my Garmin. Along with
all the geocaching information, Mapsource will also
give me the turn by turn directions of all the roads
in and around the area. Mapsource will give details
of places to eat, places to get gas, car services,
hospitals, shopping and a whole slew of stuff.

So, you wanna know what it takes to be a 21st century
hiker/geocacher? 2 Computers, a Palm TX, a Garmin GPS,
a digital camera and a bag of goodies to trade =
Priceless. (or about $1,700) - I am such a geek.
Since Aaron (Outdoorliving365) is more geeky than I,
I am sure he probably has a little more value in
his equipment. I am really just a geek wanna be.

If you haven't had a chance yet to visit the newest
blog link on my page (Ducknotes), do so now. Interesting
stuff over there at Ducknotes. Also, he is a great
photographer. One of the things I value while out
geocaching is a good photo opportunity. However,
as mentioned above, this hobby has it's cost and
a very good camera is just not on the list of things
to buy currently.

Friday morning we are attending Little One's Kindergarten
graduation. Yes, in a few days, she will be a 1st grader!

It's getting late and I am experiencing problems
syncing on the other computer. I will end this here
and wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.

2007-05-22T19:59:00.000-04:00

Today, Little One brought home a friend from school.

The two girls have known each other since early
babyhood. They attended day care together and now
elementary school.

We had a good time and both girls did really good.

Poker should be on the ticket for tonight.

Vistors are great!

2007-05-13T21:09:00.000-04:00

The weekend wrap should be short on words.

I am tired and want to go watch TV.

**********************

Friday night we go to Crackle Barrel to eat with the In-Laws.
Here is Little One with grumps.

After dinner, we headed over to the mall and walked some
of those calories off. Here is Little One getting luck
by donating to the fountain.

Okay - Saturday my mother and nephew came down with
my nephews girlfriend.

Little One had a Game Saturday morning everyone came down for.
Here is her team.

After the Soccer game, we came back to our house
to go swimming.

Here is a picture of Kat (nephew's girlfriend)and Little One
at the pool eating Hot Dogs and Chips.

A little later we all pile in the van and go eat.
I pick Texas Roadhouse - I love it.

Here is everyone but me waiting to go inside.

Our family crashed once our company left. Little One
feel asleep on my bed and I was kicked to the couch.
I didn't sleep all that well. Next time she goes to
her bed!!

Sunday after church, Little One, the wife and I headed back
to the pool. Little One made friends with some older girls
and the wife and I got a little sun.

My Oasis

2007-05-10T19:53:00.002-04:00

Serendipity now. The routine of life had me stuck in a rut. Today I took charge of my life and had to take time for me. Today I had to escape the norm and slip off somewhere with calmness and isolation. My oasis point keeps drawing me back to Cochran Mill park in Palmetto, Ga. This 800+ acre park is idea for me to slip off to after a long days work. It’s less than 10 miles from house and provides hours of hiking in the woods with little interaction with others.

As I drove home from work, the sun was shining. I could feel the sting of the sun on my arm as is rested up on the window of my Honda Passport. My mind was wondering in and out places. Then it hit me! Cochran Mill. A perfect day to visit. I quickly called my wife at work and asked what plans she had tonight. She picked up on the urgency in my voice and asked what I had in mind. I explained I needed time at Cochran Mill. She agreed and said her and Little One would do fine without me for a couple of hours.

I rushed home. It seemed every slow poke and school bus was in front of me. Really! At one point going down a straightaway, I was literally behind 3 school buses. I rushed through the house changing clothes, gathering electronics. I can’t go without my Gamin, Palm TX and a digital Camera. Who knew it took a $1,000 to go hiking. That’s just the geek I am.

I pulled up to the parking spot with only one other car in sight. Great! Slow day. This park can either be busy or slow. Just what I needed – a slow day. Before I could strap on the fanny pack with the water and trinkets, another truck rolled up. I had a good 3-minute jump on the guy. I crossed the river at the swimming hole – no one there. I then started down the Oasis trail. A trip to sort things out – a trip to align the priorities.

However, I was in no hurry and the guy quickly caught me on the trail. Nice guy. A fellow Geocacher. We discussed the park and Geocaching for a stretch of the trail and then split company. He had a beautiful boxer dog with him. She really enjoyed the opportunity to run free in the woods.

Along the trail I allowed my mind to roam free with thoughts. My wife, our daughter and other things went through my mind. I had hooked the headphones into the palm and was listening to some good 80 rock n roll. Memories. Lost on the trail in a grown mans mind.

My views were excellent. Like this one of the first river crossing. Looking out over the river and hearing its call was just what the afternoon called for.

As I reached the waterfall area, I decided to pull up and take a short sit. There I sat upon this huge rock that the water cascaded over and splashed into the pool below.

I had two water bottles in my pack and decided I would quench my thirst. When I pulled the bottle from my pack, it was very warm. So, being the smart kind of guy I am. I realized I was sitting next to a “mountain stream”. South Fulton county isn’t exactly the mountains. However, its as close as it gets around here. So, this picture shows me cooling my warm water bottle. Look close.

I sit there probably 10 minutes or so and don’t see a soul the entire time I am there. Awesome. I gather my gear and start up a new trail I haven’t been on. The water falls are a good 30 minute hike back and I usually cross the river here and head along the other sides trail. Not today. I am staying on this side and seeing where this trail goes. I don’t have my GPS on. I am not really in the mood to hunt for geocaches. There are plenty in the park. I just want to be there. Nothing else.

I travel down this trail for about a mile and come upon a trail intersection and find it’s about ¾ of a mile to the right back to the main trail and a ½ mile the other way. I take the cheap way out and head back to the main trail. I stop and think that I need a self portrait. I am always behind the camera. So, here is a shameless self promotion of me!

Back on the main trail I run into a young couple decked out in bathing suits. They ask where the waterfall is and I direct them to it. A little further down the trail as it swings back down by the river (just below the bridge above) there is a family and friends sitting and playing along the waters edge. They have a youngster with them that about 10 months old. They seem to be having fun. I wave and keep on walking.

Through all this about 2 hours have past and I head back out the way I came. I hear lots of noise by the swimming hole at the entrance of the park. It’s there that I find several hippie redneck boys and girls splashing around. They are having a good time. I walk up to where they are. Something has peeked my interest and now I am ready to see if it is true. I see a man perched upon the edge of the hill. He looks as if he wants to jump. The shallow pool area where he is jumping into is about 6 feet deep. I am sure I am about to witness one of those events you see on the news.

“Local man dives into shallow creek and breaks his back. He is now at the local hospital suffering from internal injuries, broken back (no pun) lacerations and a whole lot of drunk friends at his bedside.”

I walk out on the rock where I survey the situation. I count 6 males and 2 females. The females have taken just out of sight in the woods. Hmmm. Anyway. We greet each other and have a little small talk. I see they have an IPOD with stereo speakers pumping out Lynard Skinard. Sounds good – I like it. One of the men is wedging a box of wine into the side of an old stone fireplace. Where, he sets up shop to dispense said liquid into Sunkist Orange soda cans. Can you say first class entertainment? I knew you could.

I ask is that guy going to jump from up there. They said yes and he did. It was a miracle he didn’t die. My brain popped into gear and mentioned to him if he would do it again I would like to take a picture. He was thrilled to look death between his cross eyes again. The previous said redneck (wine pourer) burst out and mentioned he would video it with his cell phone. Wine pourer whips out a blackjack phone and started getting ready. Jumper now heads upwards the hill this time taking a fellow “juice drinker” with him. Could two rednecks see death and laugh at it? I guess strange things do happen. I thought to heck with just a photo. My readers will not believe me unless I also provide video proof that when rednecks give a rebel yell of “Watch this Bubba!!!” They really are about to die or come very close. So, without further agonizing words – I give you the proof.

Everyone have a great weekend and get out and enjoy it. Pool opens SATURDAY. Look for pictures of me in my speedo’s. Just kidding……….hmmmm eeewww!!!

Surprise Friday Night date

2007-05-05T11:15:00.000-04:00

Friday, after work and school, we took Little One to Cheerleading camp at the local high school. Since my wife and I wasn't invited to stay and watch, we had a surprise date night. Like most married couples those are few and far in between. However, we made the most of it.

We went grocery shopping and looking at a houses in a nearby neighborhood. No, we aren't moving. Great date I am aren't I? I did take the wife to a small park area I discovered while out Geocaching a couple months back. We got out and walked the paths down to the river. We walked along holding hands and just talking. It was a nice break from it all.

We did manage to get back to pick Little One up early - on purpose. I snapped a few photos but the battery was going dead and the flash wasn't working. Today Little One returns for the second day of the camp. I have charged the battery and emptied the memory card. I am ready today. My wife has a baby shower to go to. So, it will be me picking up Little One. I will go extra early and get some photos and videos I am sure.

Until later - get out and enjoy the weekend.

I am not sure this is a real jump.
But she gets an "A" for effort.

The Hunt

2007-05-03T21:54:00.000-04:00

Volvo has sunken a treasure chest with $50,000 and a key.
See ad here.
and here...

Sounds like my Geocaching buddies should have a pow wow
and think this out to see if we could find it.

sorry for blog vagueness this week. True to my word I
spent my time on the computer working the extra job.
4 hours work and $158 pre tax dollars was worth it.

Little One is participating in a cheerleading camp
this Friday and Saturday at the high school. She
is pumped up about it. We'll see how it goes.

It's late and I headed for bed. night all.

Aaron I wanna hear about the idea of a John's mountain
geocaching trip. I think it would provide for great
photo op's.

Night all

Funkiness and the Breakthrough

2007-04-30T10:09:00.001-04:00

Aaron over at outdoorliving365 has blogged about being in a funk. Others have commented about one as well. I haven’t been in a full swing funk. However, I have felt my mind and body trying to head into one. I haven’t been sick. I feel like I have been on the way to being sick. I really haven’t had a whole lot of energy lately.

I was hoping that spring time would awaken my body and spirit. I am still waiting. This week should be a warm and sunny one. Maybe I will perk up soon. Our neighborhood pool should open in a couple of weeks and that should do wonders for my spirit. It will probably dampen a lot of others though. My white skin should be a real good reflective surface for the first couple of weeks up there.

On the Geocaching front. As you heard above, I haven’t had the energy lately. I haven’t even had the will to look up any new ones nearby. I need to get back out to Cochran Mill and walk the trails. That place always seems to lift my spirit.

An old Friend. I was called this weekend by a man who has work for me to do. I blogged about this last year. I sit at the computer and watch video of sewer pipe and get paid. Before you think it’s all gross and stuff – it usually isn’t. It’s cleaned before filming. I watch the video and code the defects (Cracks, holes, junctions & stuff) for data entry. Very easy money. So, as I took the family out to eat Saturday night, we dropped by his place and picked up my first packet in about a year. If he keeps me supplied with work for the remaining year, I can supplement my income by $10,000 ~ $15,000 this year. That will go a long way for vacation. Just in case you were wondering - we ate at Texas Roadhouse. Awesome.

On the Vacation topic. I did book our trip to Disney World. I booked a week long stay at the Wilderness Lodge. Everyone I have spoken with says that it is a great place. Along with the stay I also booked the meal plan. We get breakfast and dinner and a mid day snack for each day we are there for $39/adult and $11 per child. Dinner comes with appetizer, main course and a dessert. The dinner alone covers that cost of the meal plan. We also have 4 day pass hoppers each. I have called ahead and made dinner reservations for each night. We have one character breakfast reserved with the cast of JO-JO’s Circus and Little Einstein’s. Now, I have to find a way to pay for it all. (The extra work should do the job).

On the poker front. I didn’t play a single hand all weekend. I was that lazy. I took naps and went to bed early. That’s the reason I think my body was really wanting to get sick. The poker thing will probably be pushed to the side in favor of using computer time to make guaranteed money. I would love to jump into some of these blogger tournaments. However, the times just don’t jive with my schedule. Maybe someday soon. I hear the poker bloggers are heading to Las Vegas in June. If I can make tons of money with the extra job (pay for the real vacation and Vegas), I would love to make it out there and see them all. Who knows? If you are proficient in finding cheap airfare – hook me up.

Soccer. Little One didn’t have a soccer game this week. She visited an old neighbor of ours. When we lived in Clayton County a neighbor lady with no grandchildren adopted Little One as one of hers. We stay in touch and give them visitation rights. They are really a great couple. Through our contact they now go to church with the in-laws.

Currently, I have plans to pay homage to Carmen over at Poker Girl In Vegas. Carmen does a real “GIRLY” thing and gives her weekly run-down of Dancing with the stars. She does others but that is the one of juice lately. While Carmen is an excitement to read no matter what the content is, I think we men should have something more geared towards our mindsets. I have conceived a notion that I would give an update to some show that I have viewed. While I don’t watch any show religiously week in and week out. I do turn the tube on while heading to bed and usually watch some show on Discovery, TLC or A&E. I am sure my first show run down will be survivolman. Everyone needs to know how to live 7 days with no food, water or shelter when they all of a sudden find themselves alone in the artic circle. Don’t they?

Breaking free from the funk.

A fun Friday night

2007-04-28T11:51:00.000-04:00

We spent last night at church with the Childrens Choir
putting on a good show.

Gilad Shalit

2007-04-24T12:40:00.001-04:00

Some days I am reminded by a strong smack in the face that I am an unappreciative snobby American. I hear the news and wonder what makes people around the globe hate each other at the intensity that is currently present. My world is shaped by the news that I choose or choose not to consume. I have expanded cable and could easily soak up a lot more than I do.

My daily routine continues in the face of all the chaos that happens in this sin filled world. I make decisions that hopefully guide my life and my family’s life away from stressful ways. Can I exist in a world where I travel the path of least resistance? Should I?

The man behind the name that titles this blog is being held captive somewhere in or around Gaze. Gilad is an Israeli soldier. He was captured in a raid on an Israeli Army outpost by Palestinian militants on June 25th, 2006. A young man doing his job and along comes someone with hatred in their heart and takes him away. You may remember the American news about the Israeli crossing over into Khan Yunis in a search/rescue attempt. However, that news story has subsided. Gilad; however, is still held captive. He has already spent his 20th birthday no doubt in some awful place. In about 4 months he will celebrate his 21st birthday. Where will it be?

I spent my 21st birthday taking college finals during the day and moving between nightclubs in Roswell and Marietta that evening. As that still learning unappreciative snobby American, I don’t want to think of where Gilad will be spending his. Hopefully, he will be at home with his mom and dad.

As I told you a couple of days ago, we are planning summer vacation. A week hopefully filled with smiles, laughs and good eats. Then SMACK! I am brought back down to earth with a story like this. I was going to write a happy blog today about how we are going to blissfully splurge in the Orlando sun. However, please forgive me if I devote more space to some scared kid who is growing in manhood more than I will ever know as a man. I will keep Gilad in my mind. I will say many prayers for him and others like him.

Gilad – when you get home and settle things out, look me up. I want to see you emerge from this with good health and high spirits. Your ordeal has helped me look inside me for something more.

Gilad Shalit - God bless you.

Short mid-week update

2007-04-18T10:08:00.000-04:00

Tuesday’s home game was NOT raided by the mean ole coppers.
And the hero (yours truly) left ahead.

Two different poker blogs I read had inserts today about a
Bowflex being a new item in their home. Are poker
players fat and out of shape or are they the type
to stay in shape? If it’s the latter, then I have to find
another hobby. I don’t do exercise.

Little One was chosen to be in the “gifted” program at school.
I guess she gets those genes from mommy. Miss Valedictorian.

*********
This section removed due to I would like to continue to
receive a paycheck......
*********

What makes matter worse is that corporate management continues to
create bonus structures that encourage and support these types of
management decisions. It encourages them to inter-fight
among the departments for bonus whoring. We, in the end, do not work
as a team – we just work to increase our own bonuses –
crap on the next guy to get our side clean and lean.

I gotta take a walk!

Parental Visitation

2007-04-15T20:14:00.000-04:00

The weekend was full of fun.

My wife went to Alabama to visit her ailing grandfather.
Little One and I went to Ce Ce's pizza, PetsMart.
We also got in a little Geocaching.
All this Friday evening.

Saturday, my parents visited from Dalton, GA.
See them looking at the day's photos.

They came down to see Little One play soccer.
It was an awesome game.
Seconds after this photo was snapped, Little One scored.
**notice the background where a mom is holding her daughter**

Little One thinks it's all good!

I take the group out to find a Geocache that has stumped me.
I am thinking the more eyes the better.
Well, it still stumped us.

We ended up going to Taco Mac for dinner. I had the tortilla soup and a soft taco. My wife had the Chicken finger sandwich. Little One had the chicken finger basket. My mother had the Nachos and dad had a burrito. We all enjoyed it except for my wife. She said the Chicken was dry and over cooked.

We soon bid my parents well as they headed back to Dalton. I sacked out on the couch. I was totalled drained. I slept a couple of hours. I awoke to Little One in bed and mom in her room reading a book. I climbed into bed and watched National Treasure. I love that movie. I have seen it several times.

Here is the wife looking all beautiful and stuff like she always does.

Everyone have a great week. I am playing a home game this week.
I hope it's not busted. I don't want to have to make that post.

Walking Small captures limelight

2007-04-11T09:04:00.000-04:00

Embattled Clayton county sheriff is walking tall today as his department is in the limelight of a poker bust. This is the second bust for the Atlanta area in 2 days. Walking Small has had his public battles in the past. This time in the limelight – He says “his department isn’t for sale”. I lived in Clayton county when he was elected. I elected to move soon after that.

If you play poker in Atlanta at an “Illegal” establishment, you better pack your chips and move elsewhere. Study up on the laws to determine what makes it illegal. First and foremost – the house must not take a rake. Bring your own drink and snacks.

There’s my two chips worth.

Second Gambling Bust Made

Reported By: Elaine Reyes
Web Editor: Josh Roseman
Last Modified: 4/11/2007 8:22:57 AM

For the second time in 48 hours, an illegal gambling outfit has been busted in the Metro Atlanta area, this time in Clayton County.

Among those arrested: a Clayton County magistrate judge.

The Clayton County Sheriff's Department broke up the illegal game. Representatives with the department said there was an attempt made to bribe Sheriff Victor Hill to provide protection for the gambling operation.

Investigators arrested several people at the Poker Palace on Tara Boulevard. Sheriff's deputies and Morrow Police, as part of a joint vice squad, conducted undercover surveillance for a month before making the bust. Members of the squad called the Poker Palace an illegal gambling outfit.

Sheriff Hill planned to release more information about the arrests later Wednesday morning, and also said that more charges were pending. Regarding the bribery attempt, Hill said his office is not for sale.

On Tuesday, Roswell Police arrested nearly 30 people involved in an illegal gambling operation. The two men accused of running it, Dan Tyre and Glen Gilbertti, were to be in court Wednesday. Investigators said they were running a high-stakes poker game out of a home on Nesbit Ridge Drive, with a $10,000 buy-in. Officers seized $45,000 in cash and cocaine from the home.

Atlanta Home Poker Game

2007-04-10T09:02:00.000-04:00

Sounds like someone in atlanta was running a smooth operation of a cool $10,000 buy-in game. However, sounds like police put the ultimate smack down on the group.
**************************************

27 Suspects Busted in Gambling Raid -ATLANTA, GA

Reported by: Paul Crawley
Web Editor: Tracey Christensen
Last Modified: 4/10/2007 8:47:09 AM

Police in Roswell, Ga., raided a high-stakes gambling game in a quiet neighborhood, pulling 27 suspects out of a home where two children were living.

Police said it is the biggest gambling operation they have ever broken up in which participants in the invite-only game had to pony up $10,000 just to play. The game was held once a week in the basement of the home in the Nesbitt Ridge subdivision near Centennial High School.

Police said they believe the operation had been going on for months. The investigation started when police got complaints from neighbors about a large number of cars parked on the street in front of the home in question. Police obtained a search warrant, which SWAT teams executed there late Monday night.

"We found evidence that commercial gaming was going on at this location," said Sgt. B.C. Brackett of the Roswell Police Department.

The losses and winnings were tallied only on paper in what is called a safe game because the operators were fearful that, if they played with cash, they could be the target of thieves.

"Because they have had incidences of home invasions and people ripping off the game, that's why it was known as a safe game," said Sgt. Brackett.

After taking the 27 suspects to jail using three police vans, police started towing away the vehicles that lines the streets. Some had license plates from as far away as North Carolina and Mississippi.

Police also took gambling tables, chips, and poker cards out of the home where they reported finding $45,000 in cash. They also seized 200 ecstasy tablets and a couple of pistols from one of the automobiles.

The homeowner and an accomplice both will be charged with a felony of running a gambling operation. The other 25 will be charged with misdemeanor of gambling. Two women hired to serve drinks were among those arrested.

As Promised

2007-04-09T18:50:00.000-04:00

Over Post

2007-04-08T20:48:00.000-04:00

Okay - I haven't been the best blogger lately.

I haven't posted much. I haven't been a positive poster.

Heck - I have been down right ugly.

No, I am not sorry - just admitting what I have been.

It's a new dawn.

I have a bunch to post and will probably do it mostly in a photographic way.

Late last week I brightly got the idea to get out of dodge.
Even if getting "out" wasn't really more like getting "away".
I bounced around the Internet looking for a hotel in Atlanta with an indoor pool.

I booked our family for a mini-retreat.

We stayed at the Embassy Suites Atlanta-Galleria
I have to say it was a nice get-a-way weekend.
A cooked to order breakfast included.

We stayed 2 nights (Thursday and Friday).

Little One and I went swimming 3 times. Mom read as we swam.

Looking down to the common area from out Lofty top floor suite.

My wife and Little one as we head out for dinner.

Thursday night we went to the Cheesecake Factory.
An interesting place to drop a few dollars for grub.
It's all about the desserts.

Friday was Little One's special Day.

She was treated to a day at Club Libby Lu's. She had a blast.

They had a special going on with Hannah Montana theme.
Little One got a wig and all the "fix'in's". It was a very nice time.

I think was all enjoyed our time there. Look for the video soon.

Little One getting her hair ready

Little One mixing lip gloss

Little One being Hannah Montana

Friday afternoon we took "take out" to a park.
I think it was Nickajack Park- but I am not sure.
The Trusted Garmin GPS - found the closest park to us and we went. We ate, Little One played on the playground. We left. It was a very nice time outside - a little cool - but good.

That evening we retired to the Embassy Suites restaurant for a nightcap. We had the Chicken Quasidias, Fried Cheese Sticks and Triple
Chocolate Cake. MMMMM good. Excellent.

Saturday we had to get back for last minute Choir practice. No - I don't sing. Wife Sings - I run the soundboard. That afternoon we had an Easter egg hunt at our pastor’s house.

The wife keeping vigil over the children during the egg hunt.

After filling up on hot-dogs and chips at the egg hunt.
We returned home with Little One's cousin in tow.
Little One and him played with the pigs as I cleaned out their cage and my wife ran to the grocery store.

Snoopy

Little One with Jack

Cousin with Jack

We ended up going to the in-laws for dinner and to visit my wife's brother’s family that was in town.

Today the Easter Cantata went off without a hitch.
They did a really good job. I snapped this photo of
"Jesus and a Roman soldier" before they went in.

Today for lunch we went back to the in-laws. After gorging myself on lots of food. I talked a few into going Geocaching. I thought the kids would enjoy it. They did and so did I. It gave me a reason to walk off some of those many calories I had just eaten.

Tomorrow is back to work. Maybe I can carry this positive energy through the workweek.
Hm - whom am I kidding!!.

A soccer game picture thrown in for good measure.

Too bad Little One's hair is in her face.

I am alive

2007-04-03T09:05:00.000-04:00

Is it vacation time yet?

I haven’t been in any mood to write lately.

I sleep – eat – work – and do it all over again.

The weekend is Soccer on Saturday and Church on Sunday.

Routine – welcome to adulthood children.

A few interesting points:
Poker: I attended a home game last Saturday night.
I didn’t win. I didn’t win because I played lousy.
It was a Texas Hold’em Tournament.
I knew I was beat and I still called off most of my chips.
I am glad I left early. I heard things got a little wild after I left.
Seems a guy got a little aggressive and wanted to fight.
Such drama I don’t need.

Poker: I am attending a different home game tonight.
I played in this game a couple of weeks ago.
This game is dealer’s choice.
I walked away from it last time ahead.
Hopefully, I can do it again this week.

Lawn: I worked my lawn last Saturday. It looks nice.
The rain this weekend has made it looking much greener.

Geocaching: I haven’t turned my GPS on in over a week.

Seat is empty.

Doghouse Weekend

2007-03-26T10:41:00.000-04:00

The last week has been a whole week of the dull-drones. Work, sleep and eat is about all that I can say we accomplished. The good news is that spring is here and things are starting to come alive. My wife and I toured our grounds of out home this past week looking over last years plantings. She (and I) are disappointed in the growth (and death) of some of last years plants. One corner area in particular we were depressed about is where we planted some shrubs to hide a culvert. About 50% of the shrubs had died and the others showed little or no growth. Now, before you start feeling all sorry for me and my wife, know that we planted them, watered them for about 2 weeks then left them alone. So, it’s my fault for not taking better care of them. I have looked and I don’t see any part of my thumb showing signs of being or even turning green.

My lawn is the next sore spot. I don’t spend a lot of time, energy or money on it. I mow it. I fertilize it a couple times a year. I may even water it during the hottest part of the summer if I am in a giving mood. Therefore, don’t feel sorry for me in that matter either. I plan on this week working on the grass and maybe the shrubbery. Maybe I can still rescue my lawn from those pesky weeds. But, I am not promising anything.

Another weekend goes by without any geocaching. I haven’t even been a good student where I research an area in preparation. I was never a boy scout – but I do like to be prepared. Geocaching for me is mostly an impromptu activity. It usually springs up out of an unexpected time without the family. Usually my wife tells me she and Little One have plans without me and I grab my gear and head out the door. I should have everything already downloaded just waiting to spring into action. No. Not this big boy. I have been lazy here during the first signs of spring. Maybe this week I can get in gear and get an area mapped out.

Fun leads to the doghouse. Saturday, our family started the day off great. Little One had a soccer game at 9:30AM. Her team technically won while at the same time tied. Politically correctness has lost something with me. Either you win or lose – pansies. However, I digress. After her game, we stayed for the next set of games. Little One had a couple of friends playing on the same field as she did in the next set of games. We found out that another girl from her class also had a game on the next field over. So, we enjoyed three different games after hers. I was the cheering section. Electing to stand and walk around cheering for her friends on each field.

A birthday party was next on the schedule. We had a few minutes to get home – get Little One a shower – and get her back to the party. I left that up to my wife while I found nap time much better to my liking. The sad part – I ended up sleeping the entire afternoon away. This is where the train started to have trouble.

My wife had asked earlier in the day if we could go eat supper at her parents. “Sure” - I said. However, after being awoken from my nap, I wasn’t in the best of moods and said I would stay back. This wasn’t received all that well. Little One and mom left me there. I stretched and yawned and focused on Classic ESPN. A marathon of poker was on. I had fallen asleep to it, dreamed about it and woke to it. As time past, I found some grub in the refrigerator and heated it up for my dinner. I returned to my TV and poker. I was still hungry. I returned to the refrigerator and found more of the same left over grub. I ate it too. As I was finishing off the second plate, the phone rings.

2nd part of train trouble. Roy, my partner in most crimes called with an intriguing situation. Roy has a four wheeler. I want a four wheeler. I don’t have one. Therefore, most of his exploits on these machines goes on without me. However, this wasn’t the case building today. Roy had teamed up with a few riders and one rider was blessed with multi machines. Can you feel the wheels of this train starting to jump and wiggle back and fourth? Roy says “come ride with us – Scott has an extra four wheeler. Okay – I leave the wife a note saying I am riding four wheelers and will be home late.

Scott is a very interesting and good guy. What little I could piece together, he was once very active on the professional scene of motor-cross here in Georgia. He has 2 speeds stop and all out fast as it will go. I think his stop even out paces me. He’s just a fun guy to be around. Well, the extra machine he had is a Rhino. This machine rocked. Matt rode shotgun with me in the Rhino. Scott road a monster of a beast – a Polaris 800. Mark (Tunica attendee) rode with Scott. Roy tore the woods up on his Honda. Another machine and driver rode a short time with us but hung his helmet up early. We continued to ride – stop and tell stories and ride some more. Time escapes us.

The train has definitely jumped the track. I pull up to the house and open the garage door just as the clock in my truck clicks over to 5AM. Yeah – the wife was more than a little concerned for my well being and wasn’t too happy with this kind of behavior out of her husband. I showered and climbed into bed for a 3 hour nap before having to get up for church. I guess you’re not too surprised to know that Sunday afternoon was also wiped out to a nap.

That was my weekend. I hope you enjoyed reading about it. Now, it’s time for me to take my dinner back to the doghouse and wait for green light to come back inside.

Full Sunday

2007-03-18T21:51:00.000-04:00

Today after church - my wife and little one took off to Alabama to see my wife's ailing grandfather. He is in the hospital suffering from conditions of diabetes. He has been there about a week and the returned message was that he wasn't doing well.

I stayed back in Georgia and took the afternoon to visit a few Geocaches that were near my home. One was new and the other I hadn't gotten over that direction to retrieve. I spotted both fairly quickly. One of those caches will be muggled quickly. It is under some rocks right at a boat ramp. Kids will spot that one as soon as the weather warms a bit. I was alone in my search. Not a soul in sight. Today was a beautiful day with only a bit of crispiness in the cool air. The sun was bright and inviting. It was interesting that both caches I went after were at 2 boat ramps at 2 different lakes. I guess my mind is trying to tell me it's fishing time.

I returned home for a quick sit-n-go where I placed 2nd. Then retired to the bed for a good nap. Tonight as I ate supper, I jumped into another sit-n-go. I was chip leader after about the 4th hand where I picked up a wheel draw on the flop and bet it until the miracle 3 came on the river. 2 people paid my all-in bet off with aces. From then on I was chip leader except for one section where I called off a stack of chips with top pair not thinking they made the flush. They did and then became my target. I quickly regained the lead never to look back. Later, when I put them out - it was sweet. It was very sweet. It went to heads up with me a little over T10,000 and the other two fighting for about T1,800. enots made a vallant effort but came up short. The cards were very good to me. I didn't have a long dry spell the whole game. It was the first sit-in-go I played in a while that took 5 people to the 1 hour break. It was a very cautious table.

I did feel bad about one suck out on someone. I had a gut shot straight draw and they just didn't bet enough to throw me off my hand. When the card came on the river, they also went down.

It's late and I am ready for bed. night all.....

GOAL!!!!

2007-03-17T11:13:00.000-04:00

Little One is on the record books !

She made her first goal today.

Her team won. (they dont keep score - but I do :-) )

They only gave up one goal to the other team.

The kids played excellent. Clearing the ball well

whenever it was in front of their goal.

The hockey game was good. Only 1 good fight.

It was tied when we left near the eng of regulation.

Atlanta won in overtime. The suite was nice.

Yes Carmen - our own bathroom - that was GOOD.

I splurged for the group and purchased the "snack attack".

It was an assortment peanuts, cashews, chips, pretzels and trail mix.

Listed at a whopping $36 I was fine with that since the

tickets were free. The bill rang up $45 - a little different

than advertized. I gave them a tip and sent them on their way.

19 people showed up to enjoy the suite - there was snacks

left when we left. Sorry - no photos of the hockey.

Here are the photos from todays game.

As you can tell - it was a cold Saturday morning.

Goodbye Stardust

2007-03-15T12:02:00.000-04:00

For some excellent reporting from the scene of the
imploded Stardust Hotel and Casino - in the great
Las Vegas - visit Linda’s page over at Table Tango.
She has some awesome pictures of it.

Yes, Aaron. The previous post was aimed at my
2 Geocaching readers.

That’s all folks!

Revival Week

2007-03-14T10:27:00.000-04:00

This week has been revival week at out church. So, to say I haven’t had much time to venture outside much. All day at work – pick up Little One – wife gets home – we head out to church for dinner and revival – drive home and get ready for bed. Okay. Now you know how my week has been so far.

The week has been a good week. I am lifted up from the revival services. I have a new outlook on life. I am emerging from the rut of the drums of life. The project that I was covered in is coming to closure. Life outside is coming alive. The weather is warming up. Bills are paid. All signs point to a few good times in the near future.

I splurged after Little One’s first soccer game Saturday and took the family to KIKU – Japanese steak house. Hibachi style! Little One hadn’t been since she was about 2 and she doesn’t remember that time. So, there we sat with two other couples ready to eat very well. The Japanese cook was young and not all that polished in his twirling of dangerously sharp knives. His spinning of the egg and cracking it open with the spatula was off and took him to his second egg to get it correct. The food was good. I was the only one at the table to get steak. All others had chicken. No one in our family tried to “catch” a shrimp flipped from the chef. However, the other couples were there ready for their try. Most missed – due to flight path totally missed the mark. We walked out paying slightly over $54 for lunch. Combine that with a Red Lobster Friday night supper and it nears $100 for 2 meals. That stings a bit – but what the heck. Sometimes you just have to live life.

HOCKEY. Thanks to a well connected friend at church, we will see the Atlanta Thrashers take on the New York Rangers this Friday at Phillips Arena. No just any tickets but suite tickets. He works for a very large corporation in downtown Atlanta. This corporation has a suite in the area and he was able to lock down the suite. I think about 4~5 families are getting to go. We are taking my mother-in-law. My father-in-law will be out of town for a team national meeting I think. She will be spending the night with us on Friday and attending Little One’s soccer game on Saturday. I am a true southerner. I don’t know squat about Hockey. But I will attend any sporting event that creates excitement. I have only been to 1 other hockey game. Phillips arena has two large “Thrasher” heads mounted above the ice. (Thrasher is Georgia’s state bird). When the Thrashers score the mouths on these birds open and shoots out a large flame. You can feel the immense heat from any seat in the house. We should have fun.

Geocaching: None, nope, notta, haven’t been – It is killing me. I have the surrounding area fairly well covered with my signature. I prefer non urban caches since I do most hunting alone. I really don’t like standing in the rear of a store picking through some bushes looking for a 35mm film canister. I much prefer to trek miles through the Georgia forest looking for an ammo box stuff full of trinkets. I will have to plan a day get-a-way soon. Maybe somewhere like Savannah. Any takers???

Quickie

2007-03-10T12:46:00.000-05:00

A quick mid-day Saturday update.

We just returned home form Little One’s first soccer game. She enjoyed herself. Mom and dad are proud of her. She did fairly well in her first game. She was timid at first. However, after a few minutes she was in there fighting for the ball.

Here are a few photos from this morning. I was so excited during the game that I totally forgot to take pictures then. Oh well. Maybe next time.

Hanging on

2007-03-08T20:59:00.000-05:00

It’s a little past mid week here and I am fairly tired today. Another staff meeting presentation looms on the calendar next week. This time I am almost finished ahead of time. I need to polish the presentation and we will be set to deliver it.

Poker is hot. Well, at least my game was. I told you a couple blogs ago that I haven’t really played since returning from Tunica. That inspired me to log in and test the waters. 1st sit-n-go. BAM! First place. 2nd sit-n-go BAM! First place. Then reality – 3rd one I am chip leader with four left and one sitting out. A player gets put on the ropes and I go after him – every hand hard. He starts gets hit in his fat face with the deck. He out pairs me. He 2 pairs over my pair. I can’t get a break. I slow down – I know when someone has my number. I lay off a while and start working on stealing some of the other players blinds. I out last the sitting out guy and then get caught with deck face with A9 on an A ten eight flop. He holds A ten. Go figure. So, we will see if I can recover. That game hurt my ego. I owned the table and couldn’t pull off the win. That hurt.

I had in interesting day today both business and personal. It started off with a trip to our secondary facility several miles from the headquarters. It constantly amazes me the level of garbage that people will spew from their mouths while presenting in a meeting. Do they think we are dumb and weren’t listening last week? Do the “real” executives (not me) hear the same things I hear in these meetings? They must be asleep. I wouldn’t think they would let them get away with it week after week. I know I am being non-specific – but I have to keep it that way (family needs me to keep my checks rolling in). Let’s just say it went from bad to worse then a second meeting confirmed the proverbial train wreck. It’s frustrating having all the answers and no one else seeing the forest for the trees. I have to say I have seen a couple of key people coming to me and telling me I hit the nail on the head and that I made the presenters look like a deer in the headlights the last couple of weeks. I need to be quiet and not draw attention to me. That’s the way you get more work dumped on you.

Personally, I jumped at the chance to go geocaching today. Little One wanted mom to pick her up from school today. That gave me a chance to exit stage left and get out of the house for a while. I quickly downloaded a couple of places and off I went. I found 3 out of 4 I looked for. A good day for me. These were out in the woods. I prefer these. I am about frustrated to my eyeballs on urban caches. I don’t like them and they are not worth it to me. Standing behind a bank walking around in the shrubs is not my idea of a geocache. An afternoon in the woods on a beautiful 70-degree day is a wonderful day. It also helps in blowing off the steam from the business day. Worked for me. However, now I have to deal with a slight back pain. Advil and an ice pack – ahhhh.

I am becoming more computer savvy – An old dog learns new tricks. I logged my “rakethetable” name at youtube. One of these days I am going to have to copyright/trademark the name. If you know how, let me know. I have a reason to be on youtube. A blog is a great way to keep the extended family updated on our life’s. I guess it take away from a old form of a Christmas letter. However, this fat boy gets to also share of videos of our lives.

**Comment needed** - if you know how to shrink the size of videos - please let me know.

Last but not least – I have a special surprise for all the family readers (that never comment – an aggravation of mine). I took a video of Little One for you to enjoy.

Oh the joys of parenting.

Little One showing me a song she is learning in Children’s Choir.

Good night and God Bless

Saturday Review

2007-03-05T10:42:00.001-05:00

Little One did awesome in her Mathfest competition. The first round started at 8:30am with all students, parents and teachers in a huge ballroom at the Georgia International Convention center. It was loud and confusing. My opinion is that was a very poorly run stage of the event. Little one was sitting on the end of a row with lots of parents within feet of her talking and moving around. How she concentrated I will never know. They needed established boundaries that allowed for the students to be significantly away from the crowd. A very short introduction of how to answer with no instruction on when the clock started was also a very poor performance on the organizers. Little One pressed on and had cards remaining when the stage ended. The concept is that they get about 5 cards to begin with. As they miss questions, cards are taken away. Out of a couple hundred kindergarteners she made it to the 2nd round of 75 students.

The second round students were taken away from everyone into a smaller room. This was a much improved process. However, Little One had a panic attack at this stage. She is NEVER without a teacher or parent that she knows. When they closed the doors to this room and no one she knew was in there – she freaked. I was called into the room to settle her down. I placed my arms around her and told her we were right outside and that this was normal and that her friend was next to her. She calmed down and I was whisked away. All of us parents were waiting outside this room. We were pacing the floors. We were sitting along the hallways. Some of us were standing viliagently outside the door to peek in any time it was opened to allow students to leave or staff to enter.

As the second round progressed, students would file out as they ran out of cards. The crowd would greet them with applause. I thought this was awesome. Some students took it well to have them cheer. Other students didn’t take it so well. They knew their day was over and sobbed. We were told the next level would be when they were down to 17 students. We told us that there were 18 students left. Little One was hanging in there and was smiling as I could see each time the door swung open.

This time when the door opened, Little One suggested to mom by hand motions that she we down to 1 card and didn’t know the answer. Sure enough, with 18 students remaining and the next stage beginning when 17 were left, about 5 small math wizards walked out of the room and Little One was one of them. Mom scooped her up into her arms and gave her a big hug. We all told her how proud we were of her. She handled it well. Little One and her friend (who had been knocked out a few moments earlier) exchanged hugs and smiles for the hard work they had accomplished. Soon we were headed out into the brisk cool windy Atlanta day. Little One with a calculator received from the staff of the event.

While we were at the competition, we were told by other parents with soccer kids that they had received emails saying the fields were closed and the soccer games cancelled. It was while waiting on the event to start, I whipped out the trusted Palm TX and obtained a wireless signal from the conference center and checked my emails. Sure enough, the game was cancelled. We didn’t break it to Little One until the event was over.

We headed home. We all had a few things to get done with the gift of a few hours handed to us by a cancelled soccer game. I cleaned out the piggy cage (also took a nap), mom handled the dishes and laundry. Little One amused herself upstairs in her play room and also took a nap. That afternoon we headed out to catch up with Little One’s Great Grandparents from Alabama who were staying at Granna and Grumps house. Two of Little One’s Great Aunts also came over to visit with their mom. I did my best to pick on Maw Maw and stay out of the way the rest of the time.

Later, my father-in-law and I headed out to pick up dinner. We hit Captain D’s. I went inside to use a 10 piece meal deal coupon while he headed through the drive-thru to use another 10 piece meal deal coupon and pick up Little One a Chicken dinner. I was starving by the time we returned to the house. It smelled so good. I don’t eat Captain D’s much. However, I do like it. I ended up eating three pieces of fish, fries and 2 hush puppies.

This is one fat happy boy here. Bring on the work week.

Math and Soccer

2007-03-01T20:10:00.000-05:00

Did Someone say football?

Let the spring season begin and let the hustle and bustle of new life spring forth. We have returned from Phoenix. Things are starting to seem like they are falling back to normal. I have a week of work under my belt and have recovered from what piled up while I was gone. The house is somewhat back to normal. Now......

Saturday morning will be a rush. Our Little One has been selected to participate in the Mathfest in College Park. She will be one of the students representing her school in a math competition. We are proud of her. I can’t imagine at 6 representing my school for a math competition. The categories she will have to compete in are: Adding whole numbers, telling time, value of Coins and adding objects. We have to be at the venue at 8:00am Saturday morning.

Soccer season starts on Saturday as well. Little One’s first practice / game is at 11:30am. I am not sure if we will make it back by then. If the printed schedule for the math competition is correct, she should be completed by 11:00. I am guessing that things will be running late. There are suppose to be hundreds of kids from K~8th grade there competing.

Our pigs are doing great. They survived the boarding while we were away in Phoenix. They are eating very well and seem to be adjusting back to us well. Snoopy is more relaxed around us. We pick him up and pet him the most. Jack is our skiddish pig. If we come near the cage, he will run and hide in their plastic house. Snoopy will just freeze.

Little One is getting better and better with them as well. She is now wanting to get snoopy out more and petting him without direct supervision. Snoopy is great because once you get him into your lap he just sits there all quiet and content.

No poker this week. To tell the truth - I have really been burned out lately on it. While I am a profitable player the drag of the grind is really torture to someone who has a full time job and a family and other activities of interest. The tournaments no longer are much interest due to you always get the player playing ace anything calling to the river ace. I don’t have the stomach much for limit. Fold, fold, fold, play hope they don’t hit their flush by the river. Then the no limit these days are filled with the "all in" player. They have no "game". Just one move. So, the poker content here has just about dried up. Maybe the spring sin will bring more interest back. If it doesn’t return, what ever will I do with a blog named rakethetable. It’s hardly fitting for anything other than poker.

I don’t like to talk (or write) politics. However, I am thinking more and more about politics, economy and the balance lately. I am sure a lot of people are. With the current administration, our futures are tossed about at the whelm of an failing foreign policy. I usually sit in church and hear some pastor preach about the end of times. At which time I tune them out and start thinking about lunch. However, things seem to be different. Not the end of times different. Just different in that you know the icy lake we are currently traveling on is very thin and just one small wrong step and all hell can break loose. I love my country and I support our soldiers. However, we are in a pickle and there is no good answer to exit our current situation. We stay - we continue to die and make more and more enemies. We leave and Iran takes control of 50% of the worlds oil and they have us by the nuts. If you are thinking of running for the presidency, take my advise and wait about 12 years. The next president has some really hard challenges ahead of them - whoever they are/whichever political party affiliation.

Ideally, I have left the building

Arizona Trip Report - Day 4

2007-02-28T20:46:00.000-05:00

The last full day in Arizona had a few high points in it. Breakfast again was pretty good - sausage gravy and biscuits. The conversation was good around the table. There were a couple of people around the table that my wife knew. So, conversation was less forced than normal. There were plenty of smiles and jokes to go around. I got the feeling that each of us were feeling the end of the trip and were ready to head back home. It’s been several days now since I have seen Little One and I miss her.

The morning session was pretty good. On stage was Coach Wooden. He had an impressive run of 10 NCAA Division 1 Basketball titles while coaching at UCLA. He was named by ESPN as the "Coach of the Century" for the 20th century. He is in his mid nineties and his mind and body is still sharp. He spoke about team building on individual character.

The afternoon was an eventful 4X4 Jeep ride in the desert. We had a box lunch and boarded the bus just before 1PM. The bus ride was about 30 minutes out towards Fort McDowell. Specifically, it was the Fort McDowell Indian Community. The bus pulls up to the stables there. The activities could have been Hiking, Horseback riding or the Jeep ride. We had chosen the jeep ride. We boarded the jeep along with some others. The jeep took us out a couple of miles and stopped. We along with about 10 other jeep occupants disembarked on a short walk. There two guys talked about the desert and the plants and animals that make it their home. Interesting a bit. I still wished to see some wildlife. But Alas, it is the desert and most animals are nocturnal.

After that, our jeep took us back to the stable area. There was a picnic covered area there. We picked up a cold drink and fruit there. A couple of us sat around and chatted. I got the chance to speak to a couple from Texas about the power of GPS. The guy had been introduced to the GPS in a Boy Scout Orienteering class. I explained the "extras" that today’s GPS offers. Of course the turn by turn directions. But also, the "Find" function. I think this function is what the manufactures should be advertising. A wife/mother broken down - the GPS finds the closest Wrecker service - gives the address and telephone number. Also, she gives the Wrecker operator turn by turn directions from the wrecker service to where she is. Or, a kid is snake bitten while out hiking with his family. You guessed it. The GPS quickly finds the closest Hospital and gives them the phone number and turn by turn directions on how to get there. They’ve called ahead and the hospital is awaiting his arrival. These are 2 awesome "shocking" views of the use of these gadgets. Things the consumer will remember the next time they are browsing at their local Best Buy. Not just the trivial ideas of finding the local shopping mall.
We get back to the hotel with time for a short shower and rest. The closing session was a couple of comedians. Brian Reagan was the head liner. You may recognize him with the skits of: "cup of dirt" science project or "you too" response when not appropriate. He was pretty funny.
With the winding up of our Arizona trip we were tired and really ready to head back home. We missed our Little One. And with this last post, I also hope you have enjoyed your trip to Arizona as told by yours truly.

Good Night.

Arizona Trip Report - Day 3

2007-02-24T19:05:00.001-05:00

Day 3 started much better than the previous day. I did awake around 4:30. However, I rolled over and went back to sleep until 7:30. After the daily ritual of getting ready, we headed down for breakfast. The breakfasts here are hit and miss. Some of the food is good and some is just lousy - speaking from a southerners view. The grits and oatmeal are lumpy - I say that really meaning like kernels are in there. Weird. However, we had biscuits and gravy this morning and it was pretty good. Combine that with some fruit and I was satisfied.

The morning general session passed without much hoopla. My wife had signed us up for a 1 mile walk. Thankfully, she didn’t sign us of for the 5K run. We make good time and finish within 15 minutes. Interesting seeing several thousand people walking and jogging.

After our short walk, they serve us lunch out on the lawn. It was a lunch I didn’t eat very much of at all. I didn’t think it was good idea to serve steak and halibut just after a brisk walk or run. I ate a small steak and called it quits.

We left the group to head upstairs. The day was beautiful and I had Geocaching to get to. I quickly changed and kissed my wife bye and headed out. I stopped at the front lobby and got a ride to Horse Lovers park from one of the town car drivers hanging out in front of the hotel $12 for a 2 mile ride - I am living it up!

Horse Lovers Park (Pheonix, AZ)

I am a little disappointed in the desert out here. It is very plain and nothing special like I had envisioned. I thought I would see a little more wildlife. It may just be the small sampling that I have seen. However, to me a man who grew up in the north Georgia mountains. it doesn’t impress me. I am sure there is much more life underground. I walked about 5 miles again today. This time is was all off the beaten path traveling. I didn’t see a single person once the driver let me out. I did see lots of holes and Burroughs in the sand. I didn’t try and dig any up to see wildlife. I am crazy - but not life altering stupid. I say a few birds and rabbits. I will say they have lots of rabbits out here. If you are a rabbit hunter - retire here and you’ll have lots of busy time.

I did tear a brand new button down shirt. I was traveling towards a cache and chose to crawl under a fence and it snagged on my shoulder. Oh well, Thankfully it was clearance $8.50 at Kohls. I just laughed and kept going. I found that one under the overpass of the 101. I am also surprised at the caches out here. Like I said before, I didn’t see anyone while I was out. And all I found in this wasteland of a desert park were micro’s or mini’s. Have they ever heard of an ammo can? Oh, by the way - do you know how difficult it is to find a mini in the desert bushes?
It was an hour and a half from dinner time and I was almost 3 miles as a bird flies from out hotel. No ride back for me - I would be hoofing it. I started back and made it in about an hour. Of course I didn’t walk a straight line. I had to follow a fence line that surely added at least a mile. I returned to a note in our room that my wife was already downstairs. I showered and made my way down.

After a nice diner and some chat with our table, I have retired to the room. My wife is in a night session and I am typing out this report. I am ending today here with me headed for the soft bed and long nights sleep.

Arizona Trip Report - Day 2

2007-02-23T19:38:00.000-05:00

The second day of our trip started with me looking up at the ceiling around 4:30AM Arizona time. Seems my body thought I was back in Atlanta and it was time to get up - I wasn’t and it wasn’t time to get up. I tossed and turned - rinsed and repeated until 5:30 when I got up and started typing out day 1 trip report.

I got most of that done and went to post it. I am constantly surprised in life. My wallet holds a Holiday Inn Priority Club Rewards card in it. I got it because I think Holiday in has the best value. I am staying in a Marriott where the rooms go for over $500 a night (not my $500). I plug into the ethernet port on the desk and pull up the internet. The first page welcomes me and asks if I would like to pay $9.95/day for internet service. Heck No. $10 on top of probably $550. Are they freaking out of their minds? Now, don’t get me wrong. I understand that the usual clients could probably pay the $10. However, at $100 a night Holiday Inn, they give you that for FREE. I have even stayed in a Holiday Inn in Huntington, WV that had a computer in the room - to use for free. Principles are what I am talking about here. Even their wireless connection isn’t free. WHAT? Have they lost contact with the outside world? So, You are not reading this unless I am back home with my wireless network. (off soap box now)

We shower and get ready to head downstairs. We get down there early and see no one we know. So, my wife and I share a nice quiet breakfast alone. Small chit chat and sweet smiles. We had decided to leave our notebooks in the room as we would have time after breakfast to retrieve them. So, off we go to get them.

We stop at Starbucks and get my wife a tall white mocha before meeting up with Cliff and Laurie before the morning general session. I head to the popular coffee table outside the conference ballroom. I get Starbucks coffee with creamer and caramel flavor for free. We are a little late getting downstairs and all the seats around Cliff and Laurie are all taken. We head off to find some in a very crowded ballroom. We find some on the other side of the room off to the side of the stage.

There were several speakers all with good topics. Encouragement. Hebrews 10 speaks of encouraging one another. One speaker spoke on strengths and weaknesses. His push was to get people to not focus on improving your weaknesses but rather increase your strengths. Made sense in a weird kind of a way. Your weaknesses will always be your weaknesses. Surround yourself with people with strengths that are your weaknesses and each work to grow in your strengths. He even had an example to take that with your children. If they are good in math and get lousy grades in language, work on the language part to improve but recognize that their future is probably better suited for a more successful career around math. So, really work on math and make them the best they can be in their strength.

We sat with Richard and Susan at lunch. Conversation was good. It ranged from British wit to vasectomy. Yeah - wide subject topics. We had tacos, burritos and the likes. Some was good some was okay and some was spit out.

While Richard and Susan ran off to go to work their shift, my wife and I headed to the room. I got all dressed up to go geocaching. My wife was going to stay in the room and read. I got packed and kissed her on my way out the door. I headed down to find a ride. I hit the doors and it was pouring rain. In just minutes to get downstairs the bottom dropped out. The wind was blowing - cold for Arizona. I didn’t get too upset - I looked at it that I was glad it happened then instead of while I was out on the trail with no ride back to the hotel.

So, here I sit updating the trip report waiting and seeing if the rain will go away. I don’t think it is going anywhere anytime soon. I am headed off to who knows where. Catch you later.

I am back. As I finished up the segment above, I noticed my lovely wife asleep with her book by her side. I quietly gathered my things and headed out the door. I went down to where the buses were shuttling people to another hotel and jumped bandit style and hitched a ride. It took me to the Keirland Westin Hotel and spa. No. I didn’t go in. I got off the bus and headed straight out into the wide open for a cache run. It wasn’t raining over there. I have to say that the area was definitely upscale. I hang in Peachtree City and this place made it look hickaberry hill.
First off, the condo’s being built next to the Westin were advertised as starting in the $700,000 range. Ouch. I hope that doesn’t mean someone is going to be forking over that for a small studio condo. Double Ouch.

Next up, were all the upscale shopping that was very apparent. I wasn’t in Kansas nor Atlanta anymore. Buckhead - keep trying, you’re way undervalued. I hope to download pictures as I upload this back home. However, if I am amiss with all the updates. The cars - wow. All major luxury vehicles were everywhere. I snapped a shot of a Ferrari. That is one sleek car. I walked about 5 miles total on my little geocaching adventure and saw lots of upscale restaurants and stores. I never saw a McDonald’s nor a Wendy’s. Incredible.

I returned to the hotel and got a quick shower. My wife and I toured the grounds of the hotel in the daylight and got some good photos. We headed out to the pool area. I say pool area - meaning the pools. There are about 4 pools, 1 lazy river and a small lake. That, in combination of simulated waterfalls and rushing streams, made for an area you could easily spend endless days lost in serenity. The area is also surrounded by a wonderful arrangement of flowers and shrubs.
We met up with Cliff and Laurie for dinner. It was the typical conference food. Its’ presentation is really nice and colorful. Its taste is lacking - well taste. I am sure that’s why the super rich are usually skinny. If they go places that feed them food like this, then they probably don’t eat very much. I didn’t eat very much.

There was a concert in the ballroom outside the dining hall. However, my wife and I, along with Cliff and Laurie sat at the dinner table for a couple of hours talking with a couple from Nashville Tennessee. She is a restaurant owner and he is a pilot for American Airlines. Pama is her name and she is a hoot. Her husband is Steve. She is very interesting and full of good stories. When she talks and goes through her stories she uses many facial expressions that keep you drawn into the conversation.

Not sure if you remember a flight from the west cost to the east coast that landed in Oklahoma City under emergency. Well, if you do, Steve was the pilot on that flight. Hearing the stories of this couple kept us on the edge of our seats until late in the night. The wait staff had cleaned the dining hall and was just hanging around awaiting for us to leave. I enjoyed the time spent after diner more than any conference session.

It was 11:00PM as we retired to our room for some needed rest.

Arizona Trip Report - Day 1

2007-02-22T20:35:00.000-05:00

Our first day traveling and getting settled was good. We were at the airport bright and early. This year we used one of the offsite park and rides. They were polite and delivered us promptly. My wife and I made it through the kiosk check-in at Delta and checked our luggage. Our largest case weighed in at a whopping 46lbs. 4 lbs shy of the 50 limit before extra charges apply.
As we circled the Delta counter and headed for the security check-point, I remembered the Garmin was still sitting on the dash of the van back at the park and ride. I went into shock mode. Here I am carrying Computer, Palm and wires out the ying yang and it’s for nothing if I don’t have that device. I stop and tell her to continue through and I will meet up with her at the terminal.

I caught a quick ride back to the van and picked up the GPS. I made it back to the airport and headed for security. I was making good time. I was standing in the line when it was my turn - I had forgotten to take off my shoes. STOP the line take off my shoes and step forward. Bells and whistles go off and the security guy asked me to step back remove my belt. Okay, no problem. I am a little frustrated with the GPS thing and I just want all metal off me. So, I start taking off my ring, my belt and my watch. That’s when the proverbial crap hits the fan. You ever have one of those moments when you know someone has power over you and you are helpless. This guy comes from the other side of the screening machine and starts barking orders at me like I am a recruit in basic training. "I didn’t tell you to remove your ring or your watch". " You’re not listening to me and we are going to have problems." I look him square in the eye with no emotion. I wanted to hit him but thought better of it. As I listened to his orders to place only my belt in a gray tub and step back through, I felt helpless. You read of those stories where people lose it with these people and now I am about 5 seconds from laying this punk on the floor with a good old fashion southern butt whooping.

Okay, belt in tub and me back at the portal. The same bells and whistles go off. A#*&$. He says "step back". About this time another man walks up. He asks "do you have a computer?". I respond in my extremely mild mannered "yes". "You will need to take it out and lay it in a tub by itself. Luckily, there are about 5 empty tubs there. I pick one and quickly get the computer out and in it. Back to the first guy. He says "place your watch in the tub". Back to my original wanting to get all metal object from my body - but resisting. I place the watch in a tub and walk through. Sing praises and shout glory - I make it though. However, I feel half naked and my stuff is scattered in about 4 different tubs. I grab the computer and bag and get all that stuffed back together. Then my belt, watch and shoes and find a corner to collect myself and get dressed for the second time of the day.

I make my way to the terminal and my lovely wife is there awaiting her idiot husband. She greets me with a smile and we head off to find something to eat for breakfast. No man should have to go through all that before he has had his first cup of coffee and a biscuit in his stomach.
Our flight is good. I watch the travel channel and alternate between checking our air speed and elevation with the GPS and playing games on the Palm TX. My wife reads a book and she makes it through (she has difficulties flying - motion sickness).

We arrive at the beautiful JW Marriot in Phoenix and get registered and a bite to eat. My wife had to do her duties from 2 until 3 PM. I walk about the resort getting acquainted with my surroundings. I head back up to the room just in time to see some punk take Tony Stewart out of the Daytona 500. Soon, my wife returns and we head down to the Expo to meet and greet. After seeing several people and sharing photos of the kids (theirs and Little One) we decide to head back to the room to rest and freshen up before dinner.

We meet Cliff and Laurie outside the ballroom and head inside for dinner. The spread was caesar salad (Yuck), asparagus (okay), grilled chicken (better than it looked) and lasagna (I didn’t go there). There were some other items but I didn’t give them a second look.
After dinner we walked around the resort. We showed Cliff and Laurie the rabbits that are outside. We walked around to the pool area and took a few photos - they are a bit dark.

The last thing for the evening was a love and respect marriage speaker (Mr. Emerson Eggerishs). He was good. He talked about how women need to know their husbands love them and men need to know that their wives respect them. Nothing to fancy or earth shattering.
There was coffee and desserts out by the pool area after the speaker. We decided after the day we had that we would retire to our comfortable room. It was 10:00PM Arizona time.

Phoenix on the Horizon

2007-02-14T10:31:00.001-05:00

A trip to phoenix is coming up soon and I have begun the preparations. No I haven’t purchased toothpaste or shampoo. I haven’t done laundry or started to pack the cloths I will need. I have though started downloading GPS coordinates in and around the hotel where we will be staying. I have to get my priorities straight. I think I have. Next up will be to charge the Palm, Camera and phone. Take a few extra set of batteries for the Garmin® GPS. I need to do some laundry – my hiking shoes need a run through the washer. A trip to a Geocache that had me wade through water in a tunnel under I-85 got them a wee bit dirty. It was a good one.
While in phoenix, I should have plenty of free time. I just hope I can make it to some of the nice parks and hiking trails out there. I may have to take a couple extra bucks for cab fare or car rental. Phoenix seems to be a Geocaching nut place. They seem to be everywhere. Wish me luck there.
Poker: Haven’t played a lick since returning from Tunica. I skipped out on last night’s tournament – being all close to Valentine’s Day and stuff. I am not sure I will get to play in the next couple of weeks either.
On the poker subject – Reading Daniel’s blog lately it is easily seen that “Hollywood” has truly invaded the Vegas card slingers lives. The talk about rumors and someone talking about someone else is overwhelming. Sounds like the Hollywood I know. Gossip is king. Someone writes an article critiquing another players’ skill and someone else talking about that person – whew. A mess. Boys (and ladies) it’s life. You should not let the “talk” consume you – let it go.
Stocks – Garmin is back up around $52 a share. I don’t own it. Sold it a while back on a high and didn’t buy back in on its late January low. Garmin, while a great stock, doesn’t fit squarely in my stock strategy. That’s not to say there is no room for it. It just sits on the fringes of my long term goals. The price increase is there; however, I am turned off by the low dividend rate. Can you make money on it – you bet. GPS is here to stay in the worlds lives – it will continue to grow for many years to come. Good growth outlook. Come off the hip for more dividends and I am a really happy camper.
Okay – make that $58 a share – what an opening day for Garmin. Currently seeing 12% increase in early day trading on good earnings outlooks. We will see what the rest of the month holds for them. Right now the P/E ratio is sitting at 30.14. That’s a little high for this old timer’s stock evaluator.
I am looking to diversify into some transportation stocks. I have mentioned this before. The US trade deficit is growing. I read yesterday that the exports would have to grow at 50% to just keep the deficit even. WOW! Okay. On that news – if we are bringing goods in from around the world, it leads me to think that we will have to move those goods throughout the country. Railroads and solid trucking companies should be well positioned for this. Even a few ocean liner companies. I am probably about 7 years later than I need to be into this area – but good growth is due to this sector.

I received an email with the quote below in it. I thought it was cute so I included it here today.

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them. -Phil Pastoret

Enjoy the rest of the week.

Technology

2007-01-16T11:55:00.001-05:00

As an adult, I have always been the one to lag technology & style trends. I refuse to pay the “new” technology / fashion price. I don’t own Abercrombie & Fitch. I never thought about buying an IPOD.

The last couple of years I have purchased a few computers and a digital camera. I don’t spend a huge amount of time learning “how” they work. I just want to use them as they are advertised. I recently purchased a Palm TX. This is supposed to be the Mac daddy of non-phone gadgets. I would love to have a Trio. However, I am not paying monthly moneys to cingular or anyone else for that toy. I am spending more and more time – figuring this thing out than in technology past.

The Palm TX. This puppy rocks. It does the normal calendar, contacts and solitaire. It has a great list of extras: SD card expansion (games, books, music, pictures), Wi-Fi for those hot spot layovers, Speaker and headset jack, MP3 and other music capabilities and a huge color screen.

I am still learning all this thing will do. I hope to interweave this into my Geocaching hobby. Using the internet and storage capabilities to be able to view the cache pages while out on the trail. This will surely beat lugging around a notepad or a laptop.

The SD card slot is awesome. I have already downloaded all of my 2006 pictures and ripped all my CD music onto a 2 Gig card. I have now lots of family photos and an MP3 player to go with me at all times. Speaking of MP3. I told a friend about its capabilities of MP3 and my travels through learning how to create, save and listen to it. He went out and purchased an MP3 player and immediately I was looked upon as the expert. That hasn’t happened in a while. Me an expert on Technology? – don’t laugh too hard. I was able to help him and now he has rock n roll to listen to.

The Wi-Fi is awesome. I can link up to a wireless network and surf around – even checking both internet mail and business mail. I was online last night on CMT trying to get it to play some videos from that website. Maybe it has limits but I didn’t figure out how. The best thing was it was a cinch to figure out the security set-up with the wireless at home. Now, if Full Tilt will create a Palm Internet Poker program – I will be set.

Tonight is Poker night. Jason and I have agreed to meet up and take the tournament by storm. I am not sure what strategies I will employ. It really depends on how I feel when it starts. Sometimes I am not really in the mood to play and get really aggressive. Usually this works to build a chip stack and then I have to stay and play while not in the mood. If I want to try and last in the tournament, I will play like scared money and lose it slowly and miss the cut-off. Tight the first couple of rounds and tight/aggressive in the middle rounds and tighten back up near the end. Maybe this is the style I will employ. Any comments?

Birthday Party photos

2007-01-14T20:30:00.000-05:00

Little One = What?

Mom and Little one - Wheee!!!

It's my party and and I will smile if I want to.

Best Friends!

The Gang

I am ready to be in the military!

Yes - I am Queen.

My Castle

Catch up

2007-01-12T12:24:00.000-05:00

Topic 1 – Garmin stock
The stock slide I mentioned earlier is in full swing. The stock is down a little over 3 dollars a share from its late 2006 high. I am closely watching it and hoping to pick it back up around $48 ~ $49 dollars a share. The slide was initially fairly steep just after ringing in 2007. However that slide angle is growing less and less. This is leading me to believe that the stock may not make it back under $50. If it does, I am going to have an itchy trigger finger. We’ll see.

Topic 2 – Aaron (outdoorliving265) and his dating endeavors into Match.com. You’ve seen the ads and you have discussed it around the water cooler. Hear first hand accounts of a man’s trek along this information age dating avenue. Aaron is a good writer and opens his heart and mind for all to see. A true blogger is he. Go check this blog out. It’s a good read and will tempt you to look into your own soul for truths that may or may not come to the surface often. I was fortunate enough to meet Aaron one day and spent the majority of that day with him and his friends. They are true honest souls walking this earth, living the life and enjoying their ride.

Topic 3 – My life. The wife, being the ladder climbing corporate accountant she is, I have had an increase level of house and family duties this week. A lame excuse for me not blogging. I have cooked dinners, washed dishes, washed cloths, gave baths, disciplined, watched over homework, played games, ate out (because I can), generally cleaned house and I am plum tuckered out. When is my wife coming home….. Lovely wife of mine – I do so sincerely appreciate you. With good fortune, she will be home today at a decent time. I think I will reward her with her choice of anywhere on the planet to go for dinner. I need her. I want her. Little one wants her. Little one needs her. Our house / home is hanging on but I am not sure it will continue without her womanly ways. Okay – enough of my whining.

On the brighter side, I have a game plan for accumulating our tax documents. I said I have a plan, I don’t know if it is a good plan or not. We will see in a month or so. I am sure my follow through of the plan will fail before anything. Child care, stocks, mortgages, 2nd mortgages, employment, and side employment –how are common folk supposed to keep track of all this stuff? I am the type that likes to deliver all my documents to our tax accountant in a neat and orderly manner on February 1st. I think it is the thrill of the return check I expect. I know when you pay as much mortgage interest as I do, I better get some back! I am thinking of a nice weekend trip to the Pocono’s with the return. I am sure my wife is thinking of fattening up of the savings account. That’s our battle. I am sure she will win. Oh phooey!

Topic 4 – Geocaching. Plain and simple. I haven’t been. I haven’t hidden and I haven’t researched. Review topic 3 for hints why. I am itchy to get back out there and hunt for these darned things. I was picking up the occasional micro urban cache. However, most of the ones around the house and along the work route are done. There is a meeting of us GPS geeks in a couple weeks in Columbus Georgia at Port Columbus. I am aiming at attending this one. It is on a Sunday afternoon. I will push for it to be a family event. We will see how the family thinks of this idea. Tomorrow will mark 7 days in a row without a cache find – unbelievable!

Topic 5 – Birthday plans. Little one turned 6 this week and Saturday will be filled with family and friends and party goers. My family in coming down from Dalton. The wife’s family is coming in from Alabama. A wide and excited ride for all will be had. Unless I pick up a cache that is over near the “pump it up” in Tyrone, it will be 8 days without a Geocache.

Topic 6 – Poker. I haven’t done a lot of this either lately. I have played a few sit-n-go’s online. I have some good showings. Some getting my hands caught in the cookie jar. I can’t relate it clearly now – days later. But, I was in a 48 player sit-n-go and got caught early in a hand I should have known better in playing. I was caught with second best 2 pair and lost 80% of my starting chips within the first blind level. I took 285 tournament chips and a lowest 47 position and worked it all the way to a 2nd place finish. The blinds were still low enough I could wait for a hand. I moved in a couple of times and about the third time I tripled up and got back even with the rest of the field. From there I worked wonders with the chips and by the 3rd level was swapping the lead with another player at a different table. I picked up hands and I was stacked repeatedly by players thinking I was bluffing. Who me? I was not pleased with the 2nd place finish. I went to heads up a slight chip leader. I was totally juiced about making up the ground I had lost in the beginning of the tournament. However, I could have not got more lousy cards than I got in heads up. If I made top pair, my opponent would have an over pair. Nothing was coming my way. That was so upsetting. To have come so far only to be thrown out to the dogs in a fleeting moment was unsettling.

Well, I guess that sums up a week past and a few days future. I will catch up to you peeps later.

At Peace

2007-01-07T13:29:00.000-05:00

How is everyone?

Okay, I started with a question. Did you answer the normal – without a thought – "Im all right." Or, did you think for a few minutes and come to a formative conclusion about your true state of being? This Sunday afternoon I am good. Things are good in our life. 2007 is starting out on good notes. My wife and I have good jobs. We are making enough money to pay our bills and everyone in our close and extended family has relative good health. I truly hope 2007 is starting off very well for you also.

I recently was out Geocaching in Peachtree City, GA. On this recent outing, I traded for a rubber bracelet. I normally don’t take to fad items – like the yellow lance Armstrong rubber bracelet. The traded for bracelet hit a spot with me. The inscription on it is “LIVE LIFE LIKE YOU MEAN IT”. I am taking this statement into 2007 and I am going to live life like I mean it. I may look like an idiot wearing an outdated fad item. However, when you see me with it on, I should be living life like I mean it.

We had one more beautiful Saturday in Georgia. Near 70 degrees and the sun was shinning. Next week is supposed to turn cold and produce highs in the 50’s. That should put a brick wall around the Geocaching front. Next week will also be the first week back to normal with work and Little One’s school.

We do have Little One’s birthday party next Saturday. Can you believe it? She will be 6 years old. We have reserved her party at Pump it up. An interesting place of jumbo jumps and items. We went to Publix’s last night and ordered her birthday cake. She picked out a “Castle” cake. Should be a good cake.

Well, I will drop a few photos of Christmas and be done. See you later!

Little One

Rakethetable

Little One, Landen and Tanner

Kim and Trent

Little One

mom/wife

Happy New Year

2007-01-01T21:54:00.000-05:00

It's 2007 and I have started getting more organized.
I went to Lowe's today to finish off a gift card and
purchase some shelves. Our computer desk had been
getting pretty messy lately. I have now put them
together and set things on the shelves and we are back
in business. Feels really nice to sit here and not have to
knock over 10 things to grab a pen or to place my drink
down.

Little one is spending a couple of days at Granna's house.
Mom and I go back to work tomorrow and she is still out
of school for 2 more days. I should get a few things done
around the house done - more organizing.

I mentioned last blog that I haven't played much poker
lately. Well, I ventured online at Full Tilt yesterday. I managed
to loss a couple of 1 table sit n go's. Then I settled into a
3 table sit n go and really paid attention. I went to the final
table as the short stack and turned that into a WIN baby!
Glad to know I can still nickle and dime them when I am down.
I won the thing with a full house. Sweet baby!

Tomorrow starts new management circus at work. We will
see how it goes. Should be good for a while. I don't see anyone
making any big moves until they are settled down a little bit.

Geocaching: I have done a little over the last couple days. Not
enough to write about and take up your time. I have placed a
few more and still have two ammo cans to place somewhere.
Those require a little more thought as they are large and must
be hidden much more cleverly.

This photo was taken on Dug Gap mountain in Dalton, GA.

My father and I saw this view while Geocaching during

Christmas Break.

Thanks for stopping by - hope you have a great 2007.

Looking Back

2006-12-27T15:31:00.000-05:00

As I sit here pondering the moments, minutes and hours of the previous week, I am reminded of the yearly routine of it all and wonder (again) why we do it all. The gifts are nice, the smiling faces of the children are heart warming and the moments of joy seeing people that you may not see again until next year are needed. Can I learn anything from this year’s activities? I am bound by the schedule of it all. The trip north and the trip west are not set by me. They are a large part of the joy. I think it is the weeks’ previous build up only to come to a crashing thud in 1 day. One 24 hour period of time. From noon Christmas Eve to lunch Christmas day is the ultimate joy and the ensuing crash of its completeness.

How can we stress less in the preceding weeks and coast off the high as it winds down?

**************************

Changes are afoot at the workplace. Promotions and lateral moves are happening with the new year. I avoided the shuffle. However, I didn’t avoid getting a new boss’s boss. It will be a change from the previous administration. I new look - a new voyage. The last trip was wild and turbulent. I smile as I watch the setting of the sun on that experience. I grew during it. I traveled places I would have rather not gone. However, I emerge the other side and see a new sun rising on the horizon. I choose to see clear skies, a warming sun and a calm tide. That is how I choose to wake up this new year. I will watch and listen to the winds and surf for shifting of the calmness that January brings. We shall see. We shall indeed see.

******************************

Poker. It hasn’t bee much lately. A chance to play here and there. I don’t get online much anymore to play. I all but gave it up a long while back on a bad beat. While mathematically possible, not without raising an eyebrow. I am losing touch with the poker blogger community. I read a few blogs and post/reply on fewer. My afternoons are now filled with the joys of my daughter where they once were filled with turn hoorays and river rats. I am pleased with the change. The post change seldom gives me a headache or instant gut checking agony. If I am online now, I am watching the high limit players win and lose the value of my house in less than an hour’s time. Or, I am playing around to past time. I don’t see things changing much this year. Not on the poker front. I am focused on family this year. The poker is a hobby. A hobby that must not consume me or control me.

I have a high passion level for hobbies. I can get all consuming in what I want to do. I understand that. My wife can live with me getting exciting about heading out early Saturday morning to be the first to find the latest Geocache. She doesn’t take to kindly to all niters behind the poker screen only to drag along behind her on our Saturday & Sunday errands. I recall this past year and the general decline in my health from the lack of body movement online poker capsulated me into. I am feeling better and enjoying the outdoor activities of Geocaching and Waymarking. Yippee – a hobby that is good for your health. A winner winner in my book.

*****************************

Now, the sun is setting on this one day and I have Geocaching to do. Little one is out of school and with mommy today/tonight. I have a few hours of fun – I mean exercise.

If you see me standing near a bush/tree/light post all bent out of shape acting like I lost my glass slipper, just wave and say “good luck!”

No Lies

2006-12-23T18:25:00.000-05:00

Since I give stock tips on things I am thinking of buying, then I should tell you when I shed stocks as well. This past week I shed my Garmin stock. I haven’t lost confidence in the stock. However, I purchased the stock six weeks ago and the stock was up almost $10.00 a share. I was starting to see downward pressure on the stock and thought I had a nice profit to take off the table. So, I raked the table. Took my cash and invested elsewhere. I will be looking to pick up more Garmin stock in mid January. I still feel this is a good long term stock choice. I am convinced it will double in less than three years. Lately it has been getting good reviews and was a Motley Fool "best international stock of 2007". The television is routinely showing Garmin commercials. I think all these things have led to a short term inflated price. Look for a small dip in price after the new year. After it fads from peoples memory.

I picked up the stock "MIC". This is another international company who makes most of its money in the United States. This company invest in infrastructure type businesses. Mostly airport parking and some energy pipelines. It has routinely issued 6.5% and 7.0% dividends in the few years it has been traded. I am a dividends type investor. A $1,200 investment will yield me a quarterly dividend of $18.70. That’s over $78 to reinvest next year in more dividend paying stocks. I call that compounding dividend interest. I figure, If I do that often enough for long enough, I will have a retirement income.

I am currently updating this blog from the great area of Dalton, GA. I am here visiting my parents. Well, I am here letting my parents visit with their granddaughter. My father and I went out Geocaching today. We had a hit and miss kind of a day. Dad has trouble with his knees and back and was unable to traverse some of the steep slopes on some of the surrounding mountains in Dalton. However, he was a trooper while I dragged him out and about. Dad is more into metal detecting. Metal detecting is fairly more active in that area. There are many civil war sites in that area. Resaca to Chattanooga was a total war zone during the war of northern aggression. An interesting spot we visited today was a mountain ridge that was used by the confederate army in holding off part of Sherman’s troops. It was a great view of the area called mills creek. I didn’t see the state line but I am sure I was looking over into Alabama.

Well, I had better get off here. Company is coming.

Last day of weekend

2006-12-18T09:07:00.000-05:00

I am very proud of my girls. Both did a very good job in their choir specials Sunday. Mom and her solo went very well. She was awesome. Little One was also wonderful in her own. Like most children’s choir specials, chaos was the norm. The youngest boys were pushing each other, playing with their ties, wrapping the microphone cords around their ankles. All this going on around Little One and she kept her composure, she said her parts correctly and on time. Mom had instilled in her to be a “lady” and be aware of her dress and what she didn’t want to show the audience. I thought the lesson was comical before the show. However, after watching other little girls sit like male baseball players, lift their dress up to look (apparently at what their parents were pointing at) but missing the point that the parents were pointing to get them to sit correctly. I then understood the lesson my wife had planned in advance.

Sunday on the Geocaching front was interesting. Wading through a stream under an interstate in December was very interesting. Luckily, Georgia is having wonderful winter weather in the 70’s. I found the cache, signed the log book, traded an item and was back home just in time to enjoy Sunday lunch with my family. A good quick trip to satisfy that Gotta get it urge. The cache was a new one placed only the day before. I was the second to find. Someone got up early and beat me to it. Seems it gave a few others fits as well. One Geocacher lost his $400 Garmin along the way. (maybe he will buy another one and help push the stock higher!!) Another took his kids along and didn’t find. I really wish I was retired so I could do this stuff 24/7.

Article on Geocaching: Poconos

Poker night is Tuesday at the Ruby Tuesday’s in Newnan. Show up if you’re not too scared.

Birthday parties and traveling

2006-12-17T13:51:00.000-05:00

Saturday was a very busy day for our family. Early morning moms choir practice followed by Little One’s choir practice. Then we jetted out to Anniston, Alabama for a birthday celebration. Then a return trip bogged down in I-85 Construction. Thankfully I live in the GPS age and we took the first exit and was quickly back on our way home at a good speed.

Saturday was also a good day geocaching. I was able to introduce 2 more people to the activity. Jason (Tater66) was the first –He’s our youth pastor. He and I went to pick up a few quick ones near the church while Little One was practicing. The second being my wife’s cousin David (Yell4Bama). While the family was socializing at the birthday part, I took him to a nearby park for some quick finds. I was sure to tout the greatness of Garmin.

I also got a few quick finds along the way to and from Anniston by using the Google Earth® function of routing. The first was outside a gas station along I-85 in Alabama. The second was at the Georgia rest area on the way home. Using the light function of the cellphone - was an easy find.
I hope everyone has a great weekend and see you along the trail.

Photo's of the past 48 hours.

2006-12-17T13:39:00.000-05:00

Jason (Tater66) being introduced to Geocaching.
70 degree December weather will make anyone crazy.
Even Jason wearing that shirt!

Mary Thomas (Maggie)

Celebrating her 77th birthday with Family

Part of the exhibit at the Anniston Museum of Natural History

Sunset from the hilltop at Edgewood Congreational Methodist Church

Anniston, Alabama 12/16/2006

Stocks and passing time

2006-12-15T09:28:00.000-05:00

The news is Garmin has planned a 2 for 1 stock split today. The share price has risen 14.5 % since I purchased the stock back in the first part of November. I was thinking about selling today if the price hit $57 dollars a share. I know I called this a long term stock hold a couple of weeks ago. My name is rakethetable. I was thinking of raking a $200 profit before Christmas on this one and then picking it back up after Christmas when all the hoopla dies down and the price retreats a little. With the stock spilt plan today, I think I will watch it and maybe pick up some more of it. Depends.

I am heading to Alabama Saturday. There is a family birthday party for my wife’s grandmother. First thing Saturday morning my wife has choir practice for their Christmas Cantata. I am running the sound board for that so I will have to be there also. After that, Little One has choir practice – she may have to miss hers since we have to be on the road to Alabama. I plan on hitting a few Geocaches while I am in Anniston. Maybe I can take an in-law or two with me. Give them a good taste of Geocaching and tell them they need to get into the activity. Then sell them on a Garmin unit. I always have an angle. Sell more Garmin units and retire early. Suggestion – Garmin, increase your dividends – you are a debt free company with about 18% of your value in cash. Come on guys – loosen up on the wallet.

Last Stock tip. MIC This is a pretty good looking stock. It is a trust company that invests in infrastructure type companies. This is not a glamour tip or a get rich quick idea. The company shows good steady growth over the years and pays a whopping 6.5% dividend at the current price. 6.5% baby! Currently, my wife is a fan of her savings account. It pays her .5%. I am a fan of dividends and especially of the ones that pay 6.5% baby!

Little one at Six Flags this past summer

Have fun – catch you guys later.

Meeting New Geocaching Friends

2006-12-10T20:40:00.000-05:00

Saturday morning little one and I left home around 7:30AM. I first traveled to Fayetteville to drop little one off at Grumps and Grana’s house. Little one didn’t want to go Geocaching. So, she gave her sweet charm to Grumps and he said he would keep her. Mom was going to a meeting early at the church and then was headed to Fayetteville to pick her mom up for a full day of shopping. She said she would probably be finished around dinnertime. That gave me a full day of Geocaching.

After leaving Little One and giving her a goodbye kiss, I headed 40 miles north to the December breakfast meeting of GGA. (Georgia Geocachers Association). It was my first official event. My first unofficial event was a week earlier. The northside gang met at Golden Corral in Marietta. I am not sure of the final count but I would guess in the neighborhood of 75 people. All great folks.
While I was there, I was fortunately to meet some really nice people. The great thing was that some were fellow Southern Tech alum and students and their friends.

Aaron, Angela, Clare and Tyler were gracious enough to allow me to tag along and enjoy the whole day Geocaching with them. They were set to do just about the same run I had downloaded to my GPS. I didn’t know that – it just worked out that way. With Aaron driving and human GPS Tyler leading us, I was a learning machine. These guys are good. Clare with her electronic gadgetry, Scottish humor (and accent) was a treat to meet and be around. Clare, as I understood it, has only been in the states about 3 months. She picked a great set of people to befriend. Bamadaisy rode shotgun and was the resident navigator. She kept us in sidesplitting stitches all day.

We had a few other cachers with us at start up but they didn’t last long. I think the two that dropped out early had visited most of the caches that were on the list for the day. Being I was 40 miles from home, none were on my already done list. They were on my TO DO list. Thanks guys for letting me be your special guest – I truly enjoyed your company, your jokes, your knowledge of the game and you Aaron for driving. They definately taught me a few more hiding places. I will have to backtrack and look for those that have stumpped me in the past.

Bamadaisy and Clare using a stealthy sit-n-search method.
No luck - this is the only DNF of the day!

I believe the final total of caches found including the event itself was 32. The gang had a good laugh at my expense. Seems they doubled my total finds in one day. When I started out Saturday I had a total of 25 finds to my credit. Now, I think I am sitting at 59. Now that’s Geocaching! I was tired. Being that the gang was slightly younger than me, I was the old man of the group and at the end of the day I was really feeling like an old man.

I mentioned before about the human GPS. Tyler who lives in the Marietta area had already found probably 25 of the caches we done. Sorry dude – thanks for taking one for the group. Maybe someday I can be the driver and invite the motley crew to the Southside for a run on this side of town.
Well, it’s late Sunday night and time for bed. Work calls mighty early in the morning.

Photo Drop

2006-12-10T20:06:00.000-05:00

The Sunday School Christmas Party at out house.

This is Little One playing dress up.

This is Emily and Christa doing ....well I am not sure what they are doing

This is Little One, Brianna, and Britton in the play room.

Promises

2006-12-09T06:47:00.000-05:00

Okay - I have been busy. no post lately.

I will publish a longer post soon. I am headed out this Saturday
morning to a Geocaching Event. When we get together and eat,
I have to be there :-). See you in Marietta today.

Then a full day of Geocaching and maybe some shopping.

I primise. Pictures even. I have some of little one I want to share.

Bye!

Saturday = Peaceful

2006-12-03T07:24:00.000-05:00

Saturday started out good with meet & greet and eat time at Golden Corral for Geocachers. It was my first Geocaching event to attend. I placed a good many faces with the names I see on the forums and caches. Little One really enjoyed playing and laughing with the kids of Atlanta Beach Bums – thanks. I didn’t win the raffle – Oh well. Maybe next time.

Afterwards we headed back towards Newnan so Little One and mom could have a movie date with a friend Little One hasn’t seen in a while. They went to see happy feet. I thought there might be a movie for me to see. I was wrong. I ended up taking a good nap in the van. After eating all that food, I needed a nap.

A good and peaceful day. I definitely needed one of those.

Holiday wrap-up

2006-11-29T09:33:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving holiday was a good one. I ate a lot of food and had some good time Geocaching. Thursday was spent with my wife’s family at her parent’s house. We had about 20 people there. Little one got to play with several cousins she gets to see here and there around most holidays. We had a large spread of food. Afterwards there was a kick ball game in the back yard for the kids. My father in law and his son spent most of the weekend cutting trees.

Thursday afternoon was all mine. The ladies and kids went to see a new house of one of my wife’s cousins. I took advantage of it and went Geocaching around the Fayetteville area. It was a very nice day. It was a pleasant temperature outside and the sun was shinning. I think I found 5 in about an hour and a half. One was a nice walk around a lake in a subdivision.

Friday – Shopping. I know I said I wasn’t going to do it. However, I felt like time with the wife was the best thing. Little one had spent the night with Granna. We tore out at about 7 am and hit Wal-Mart first. The Peachtree City Wal-Mart was pleasantly noncrowded. We shopped there for a while. We visited an aunt-in-law’s shop. We even went to the Avenue. My wife wanted to visit Kirklands. She did and she bought a few things (can’t say for who!!!). I talked her into doing some Geocaching with me along the way back to Fayetteville to pick up little one. She amused me and we got a few on the way.

We stayed a while at the in-laws and ate some of the leftovers. Little one really didn’t want to leave. Her cousin from Anniston, Alabama was there and they had a blast playing around the house. He is 6 or 7 and not much of a rough wrestling type like some of her other male cousins. We ended up heading home and getting a few things done around the house.

Saturday little one and mom headed out for more shopping. I spent the day – you guessed it – geocaching. Saturday proved to be a little more difficult than Thursday and Friday had been. Sometimes you run into those kind of days. Since I was using Google earth and the route function, I was doing a more “urban” cache run. Those can be hit and miss types of caches. As I discovered on Saturday, most of mine were misses. I found the first one just fine. The second was near a soccer complex in the woods. I got cut, scrapped stabbed and anything else that you can think of looking for that one. I didn’t find it. However, I did see a very large hawk. I think he was laughing at me. So, I left disappointed. It didn’t end there. Next was a micro cache in the bushes of a parking lot. Well, there was a family hanging out right there in the spot. They were not geocachers and wouldn’t leave. So, I left that one disappointed also. Next up was a cache in the rear of the Wal-Mart complex. Well, guess what. They had a shipping container sitting near the cache. I thought it best I pass that one by as not to make anyone think I was a thief. Next up was one near target. The same thing – I guess the holiday rush has extra stock everywhere. I gave up and went window shopping at BJ’s and Dicks sporting goods. It was my first time in Dicks sporting goods. I was not impressed. It looked more like a yuppie clothing store than a sports store. I guess I am an old timer when it comes to my bait and tackle stores. I didn’t look close but I could tell everything was overpriced to pay for the motif of the store. I left and went home to take a nap. Good thing there was a James Bond marathon. Nice TV for the rest of the weekend.

Have fun and see you around.

Good time to GEOCACHE

2006-11-22T10:20:00.001-05:00

No doubt that Thursday will be spent with family eating my fill of turkey, ham, dressing, cranberry sauce, green beans, slaw, potato salad, cream corn, macaroni and cheese, pumpkin pie, pecan pie and aunt Faye’s delicious strawberry Jell-O® pretzel pie ( I am not sure it has an official name around the family). Just thinking about all that food gives me a smile and heartburn all at the same time. I had better stop by the local supermarket and pick up some TUMS®.

Friday is typically a shopping day. However, my wife and I swore off that day a couple of years back. Seems we didn’t know what we were getting into when we showed up at Wal-Mart® near 6:00AM the day after thanksgiving. We had a small child at Granna’s and the toy we wanted to get little one was on the “sales” list. We saw the crowds as we approached. We exited our vehicle and stood in line (luckily inside the store), they released the crowds to the store at 6:00AM and I have never seen a more unruly, disrespectful group of American in all my life. We lasted all of about 5 minutes and we headed out the door with nothing but out dignity still in tact. So, I don’t think much shopping will be on the activity list Friday.

Saying that, something I am placing on the list early is a good day of Geocaching with a waymarking or two thrown in there. I have several waymarks located and photographed. However, I haven’t loaded them to the website. I should go home today and map out a good route for a day of Geocaching. I will look for somewhere not near a mall – that’s for sure.

Last night I spent the night downloading and learning an awesome new tool. I downloaded Google Earth® onto my home computer. www.geocaching.com and Google Earth® have a way cool application. Let me explain. (But first - $500 a share for Google® incredible! – I thought people were crazy in August 2004 for $84 a share).

Everyone is probably familiar with the Google® and the mapping and directions part of the software. Well, with Google Earth® you can create a “route” and directions of that route and save them in a .KML format to your computer. What does this do? You then log onto www.geocaching.com and upload that .KML file to their server and set a few parameters and press BINGO! (Not really BINGO – But it feels that way) What www.geocaching.com calculates for you is a day of Geocaching along your route.

For instance. I loaded the directions route from my house to my in-laws to their server, set my parameters as: 0.5 miles from route, single cache only, and all sizes, and pressed BINGO (not really Bingo remember). Their server calculated 17 different caches that met my set parameters and listed them for me. Now, that is a lot of the hard work out of the way. I have 17 caches that are less than a half mile from the road I will be traveling on that are simple enough that should be “quick” drive by’s.

Taking that technology to Geocaching was brilliant. It is ideas like these that lead me to inform you “the public” or the 1 or 2 people who actually read this to the Garmin® stock. Each week the latest technologies are being innovatively weaved into popular activities. If you take a 5 to 10 year span of continuous weaving and creating, you will have a winner in stocks. I didn’t buy Google® (go figure) but I am not going to miss out on a Garmin® (GRMN) who is using Google® and its’ technology to lead us into the clear blue (or green if you buy the stock and make millions) yonder.

So, there it is. I have said a lot of stuff without saying much. Friday, I will take this new technology mix use and apply it to a fun filled day of Geocaching. Currently, my mind is thinking about a southwestern tour of suburban Atlanta. Starting my directions from my hometown of Sharpsburg, GA. I will set the route towards Columbus or LaGrange Georgia circling around and returning through Warm Springs and back home. This route should be a good one for some excellent Geocaching.

It sure should work off all that ham and turkey I plan to eat on Thursday.

Cache in – Trash out!

Stuffing days are upon us

2006-11-21T07:49:00.000-05:00

It is quiet this week at work. Most working stiffs don’t find enough time throughout the year to use their vacations. The end of the year rolls around and there are all these people taking vacation days. It’s peaceful around here this week.

Stuffing. I will eat a lot of stuffing over the next couple of days. A full feast on Thursday at the in laws is scheduled. I am sure leftovers will be in store for me for several days afterwards. Yum yum!!

Everyone have a good turkey day!

Score

2006-11-19T20:11:00.000-05:00

Mississippi boys 1
Georgia Boys 0

The trip is over and it was not successful. A lot of locals and not enough time to make a dent in the game. I did place 12th in a re-buy tournament at the Gold Strike. It paid out to 10 places. I was not too bummed because I could look back at a few choices I would have changed. The overall rating was “card dead”. In a three hour session when we first arrived, I won 2 hands. I won the first hand about 2.5 hours in with a pair of 4’s. Yeah- that was a large pot!! (NOT) The second hand I won with middle pair on a 10 high board a few minutes later when I pushed after the flop. A few minutes later Justin told me he had dropped his buy in and was ready. I was still down but up from my low so I said I was ready also.

We did hit two Geocaches while out there. They were good ones. One was soaked and the other was in a very nice place in the woods. I came home to find this article linked in a weekly email from www.geocaching.com. It helps support my idea that GPS units are a big hit and will continue to sell. Buy your stock now.
It’s late – I am tired. Later.

Photo Download

2006-11-15T18:49:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I downloaded photos.
Cleaning out the camera for the next trip.

Here are a couple (Hundred)

Halloween

A geocache goodie box

At a Dakota's Birthday party

Same Birthday party - Swing Little one swing !!

Little one at her first school play (She's a pumpkin)

Let’s talk stocks

2006-11-15T09:19:00.001-05:00

Blogsphere is in slow motion lately. Many blogs aren’t updated regularly. With the warm sunshine days a distant memory, people are not blogging. Fall brings on many activities that may interfere. School starts back, football, basketball. Is it these activities or is it the cooler weather and more slumber moods.

I gave you a promise a couple months back to try and blog a couple times a week. I picked up new hobbies of Waymarking and Geocaching. I have settled into a new lifestyle with little one starting school and our afternoon together. My life isn’t much different from any other average guy. I do a little of this and a little of that. I write a blog, tend to my wife and kid and eek out a living doing the daily grind behind the desk.

Today’s topic is not poker but stocks.

My stock tip (already a little late but not too late): I picked up Garmin about 2 weeks ago. It was in a slump from a previous high. Today it is $2.00 higher per share than when I bought in. Garmin is a manufacturer of GPS units. It is my belief that this industry is sitting on an explosion in use. I know they have been around for several years. However, I think they are now in the stage where intelligent people are creating innovated ways to use them. That is why the industry is going to explode. Cramer from MSNBC is hesitant on the stock. The last statement I read from him was he didn’t like the quarterly report from the company. Like it or not, Garmin is the industry leader in an industry that is going to burst at the seems.

We all know that when you rent a car you can get a GPS unit. However, watch TV tonight and see how many new car ads show GPS units preloaded in their vehicles. This will be a hot race between Magellan (Tom Tom) and Garmin to capture the hearts of automakers to ink partnerships. While both companies will see incredible growth, Magellan is a subsidiary of a much larger company and the impact on the bottom line of that publicly traded company will be a lesser impact than Garmin.

Don’t believe me. Talk with runners. They probably own a Garmin unit that tells them all the information of their run. Distance, speed, etc. Talk with Geocachers and waymarkers. We buy a new unit every other year to keep up with the latest and greatest. The biking industry is the same as runners. It is not too much to think that in the future these guys will not get a printout of the race map but will get a downloadable GPS map to load onto their GPS units. Hikers and sportsman (land and marine) are learning the importance of GPS. Garmin has a hammerhead lock on the sportsman and marine industry GPS units. All these areas I wouldn’t expect Cramer sitting in his lofty New York office to understand. This is a product for the masses across the world (not just USA baby). For those market makers living their life in a 10 square block area in New York riding in a taxis everyday, I don’t expect them to understand.

Let’s also look at the replenishment market. Like computers, these things have a short lifespan. So, mix that with the way they are going to weave their way into our daily lives over the next 5 years and you have a “computer” like revolution on your hands.

Buy it for long term 5~10 years. Come see me when in 10 years that $5,000 investment has made you a millionaire.

Let’s not forget about my trip to Tunica ( I will be taking my GPS unit). See you across the felt. Hopefully with me looking over my large and growing chip stack at your dwindling and re-buy stack.

Solo to Duo

2006-11-12T13:54:00.003-05:00

Watch out west Mississippi. The solo trip has turned into a duo trip. The many pot slaying (but Aces cracked by Rake’s QUAD KINGS) Justin is now loaded and on board for the trip. As planned, we will be arriving late to the Gold Strike Casino on Thursday. Batten down the hatches it will be an all out assault across the felt. I feel good about the trip. With Justin traveling along, I feel more confident that play on the felt will be increased to a better skill game. I will be working on my reading skills while there. I will play tight aggressive and look for those small fish swimming around in the big School Yard.

If I have any readers out that way, I hoe you will stop by and say hello. You may even sit and play a while. Who knows, we may even leave a little behind. I will tell you though. Justin is coming off a live tournament win down on the Gulf. So, his expectations are high and his confidence is even higher.

Where will this tyrant end on the mighty Mississippi River? Only the future holds that.

When you look up and see the mighty hand of the Hammer fall upon you, then you will realize that the Georgia Scorchers have landed at your table.

See you soon Mississippi.

Case Closed

2006-11-10T16:21:00.000-05:00

My last vacation day is come due.
I have to take it before December 1st.
Thanksgiving week is out - everyone else beat me to it.
I am taking it November 17th.
I will be heading out like a fireball on November 16th to Tunica, Mississippi.
That's right. I am going to do a little trip. A solo trip.
Me, myself and I.
I will cruise the Casino's. I will cruise the Geocaches.
I will see what waymarks lay out there to discover or visit.
If you are in the area and want to try your luck across the felt from the famous Rakethetable, then move your sorry excuse for flesh over to the Gold Strike and see if you have what it takes. I am sure I will be there as the night falls on the 16th and most of the afternoon and evening of the 17th. Do you feel lucky punk?

Well, DO YOU? ( LOL )

I will catch you next time.

Is life insurance outdated?

2006-11-08T16:03:00.000-05:00

Let’s face it. Some of the largest companies in America are Insurance companies. I am in my mid thirties (dead nuts mid thirties). I have a wife and a kid. Comparing my life with my parents and grandparents life I find some remarkable ideas for not holding $$ in insurance policies. We are talking about comfortable middle class America. This example cuts out the high and the low wage earners.

Grandparents / Parents: The concept of the American family life was different in account holdings back then (1900 ~ 1980). The typical American household had a male working bread earner. The wife stayed home and the male had either a pension plan or nothing. The majority had the nothing choice. My linage is the later. Social security was their path to retirement. My Grandparents still keep all their life savings in CD’s. CD’s are safe and secure. Sure, they are not gaining anything on inflation. However, they are not losing value. What they have should carry them out – not withstanding medication cost. I am not touching that issue.

My parents in the family building stage started as a male bread earner and a stay at home mom. Things changed and both parents were eventually working. So, we developed the latch key generation. I am smack dab in the middle of that one. While I was young, my parents purchased life insurance. After the bills where paid and a little deposable income was spent on life’s pleasures, there wasn’t much left to save. Savings accounts at the time paid fairly good return. Many times better than they pay these days. So, an insurance policy where you pay $20 a month (not too painful) ensured a $100,000 pay out upon death. You sure weren’t going to get to a $100,000 in your savings account. This ensured your spouse would not starve to death. Stock purchases were out of reach as a savings path since the starting balance and agreements made them out of reach for this class of society.

After raising their family (my sister and me), my parents were introduced to a new thing called 401K. This is a good way to invest. However, by the time they are entered and the remaining years to participate, there is not a long time to build that nest egg. After all, this is the generation that is going to break the social security bank. Thanks mom and dad! Just kidding – I am not relying on that one. Insurance policy – okay, I understand the value here.

Now, here I start speculating. My generation is so totally different from the two I describe above. The tools and avenues in which I have to garner a nest egg are so vastly improved from my parents. If I am savvy enough, I should be able to bypass the insurance scam (life/annuity/term/whatever).

I started my career in 1994 with a 401K plan after my 90 day probationary period. I socked it away. Let’s put the whole amount away. If I don’t have it from the start, I will never miss it. Currently, here I sit with as much money at 35 in my 401 as my mom and dad. I will pause here and say the $100,000 example is covered. Let’s continue before conclusions.

I married in 1998 and my wife walked into one of the sweetest jobs on the planet. From the start she had a good salary, great benefits, well stocked selection of 401K items. She starting putting away before tax income and has built a really nice account. Hers blows mine away if you ratio it out by Total dollar value / Years of participation. Together, we are comfortable sitting in the middle class. We don’t have visions of being ultra rich. We are down to earth people who make good money, pay tithes, save good money and spend good money. We don’t have extravagant taste. My vehicle is 7 years old and paid off. We purchased her a used van last year. As long as the creek don’t rise and well don’t dry out, retirement is covered very well. (Southern slang thrown in for effect).

The Internet Boom: One of the best avenues of saving was brought to the masses via the internet. Online stock trading rivals sliced bread for the greatest thing ever. How Edward Jones and others stay in business is just a testament of how lazy American have become. I have an online account. I am building it larger and larger every year. I have learned a lot over the last 4 years of having that account. This account isn’t sitting in some large company’s coffers paying bonus to jerks that make cold phone calls or door knocks to the mindlessly lost buying annuities. Side note: Every Blogger either dreams of writing a book or will be dreaming of it one day. My dream is the common investor book. I just know I have some wisdom that can help many people. (It’s not time for that now.) For less than $10 you can buy and sell stock. You can buy as little as 1 share. This opens up the door to stock investing to anyone with the brain power of how to turn on a computer.

Little One: Our child was born in January 2001. She barely missed being a binary child. By that, I mean she could have had a binary birthday code. 011001. The geek in me is laughing even if you are not. Around that same time a system came out that I think is still way under used. Can you say 529? I bet you can. (Mr. Rogers – remember the latch key segment). Another savings avenue that allows you to save post tax – tax re-credit dollars. Little one is only 5 and she has thousands tucked away and growing for that important time of party days – I mean college days.

This post is getting long and I am exhausting my thoughts. Let’s ask some questions.

If a middle class family:
Who both parents are employed by established companies.
Who both participate heavily in their 401K plans.
Who are routinely buying stock and seeing standard stock gains.
Who are stock piling college funds in 529.

Extras:
Live in a low crime area – “odds” of us dying in a midnight drug raid is slim

Drive small distances to work, school and around town mainly – “odds” of us dying in a midnight high speed chase is slim.

Healthy and come from healthy families. Diabetes is the only odds that get any mention of validity.

Young enough to be able to change a few things to overcome a young death of a spouse to compensate for the loss in income. (Just downsize to fit single income source – either income could pay a middle class starter home mortgage (might even be able to pay cash for it with 401K beneficiary payout))

Does this situation lead you to think they need to purchase a Life Insurance Policy?

I just don’t see the point. Insurance is a “bet” on things going wrong. As a very amateur poker player, I can’t calculate any odds that would make me place my money over the insurance line. I prefer to place it in stocks and own the money 100% and make the small gamble that while it builds in value, nothing will happen to me. Betting that once the value is grown, my payback benefits will be expedientially higher than the comparable insurance policy pay out.

I need to hear some comments on this one – Please. Anonymous or not.

Weekend Review Plus

2006-10-31T14:42:00.000-05:00

Well, let's see. Where was I when we left off last time?

The skinny of it. Friday not much happened. No high school football. I am not even sure we went out to dinner on Friday. Hmm Maybe it will come to me. Saturday, I think I was starting to be sick. I stayed home the whole day. I got up long enough to make it to the couch. I watched movies all day and night. I took a small nap in there. The wife and little one went out for a little while. Little one went to see our neighbors near our previous house. They adopted her as their grandchild. Wonderful people.

Sunday night was the harvest festival at our church. It was good and I think everyone had a good time.

Monday and Tuesday I took vacation days. Monday I spent the day Geocaching. I also had time for a movie in there. Marine is an action packed movie. There was one cache that was a good hike. Just the reason I have embraced this activity. I need the excersise. If you are in the Douglasville, GA area, check out Rapids overlook.

Tuesday (today) I went with little one and her class on a field trip. We went to Uncle Bob's pumpkin patch. It was a pleasant day and the weather was very nice.

I still can't remember Friday. Oh well. Little one wants me - gotta go!

Passing Notes

2006-10-31T14:40:00.000-05:00

Grown men passing notes in Church.

Justin passes me a note in the sound room Sunday.

It simply stated KKKK not equal to AA.

:-) that's right Justin. My Quad Kings can Crack your Aces anyday!

Orange Eggs and Green Pancakes

2006-10-24T19:42:00.000-04:00

What’s for dinner? Yeah – That’s right! Oranges Eggs, Green Pancakes with bacon and Gatorade is what's for dinner. As you have probably already guessed, mom is away at a Team National business meeting. Little one and I have the evening to see what kind of trouble we can get into. I decided dinner is where we would make our mess. This picture is little one starting out on the right path of a mess.

The usual is putting food coloring in milk shakes. I purchased a bullet mixer a while back. The most use I have for it is a quick milk shake after dinner. I think it is awesome. Little one’s favorite milk shake is a blood red vanilla milk shake. I like mine with some M&M’s or Heath bar mixed in with it. One of these days I am going to try the whipping function of it – Chocolate Mousse mmmmm.

Here is the mess coming to life on the heat.

I didn’t have a successful geocaching trip today at lunch. I went in search for 2 near my place of labor and came up with nothing. One I was muggled. That means spotted by someone who isn’t a geocacher and he wanted to know what I was doing. I dodge that one with some GPS speech and he was off to other things. I left that one and search another with no luck. I will go back and try again soon.

I just thought I would leave you a picture of tonight’s dinner.

Since mom took my poker night, I will have to find another night to indulge on the felt.

See you later!

Saturday Night Fever

2006-10-22T19:34:00.000-04:00

Just when I thought I was ready to change from Geocaching to Waymarking a trip to woodbury and warm springs changes my mind. Wife, little one and I left this morning about 11:30 am to go geocaching. I know I told you before that we were going to go look for a new vehicle. The wife wasn't in the mood. So, I suggested geocaching and see excepted. I quickly got online and downloaded about 7 places around Warm Springs, GA. This is a special place. A small town with lots of tourist. We head out and it's about a 45 minute drive to the area of the first hide. It's an awesome location. It is the oldest covered bridge in Georgia. The builder "King" was well known for building covered bridges here in the south. It was truely a unique place. I am glad I got to see it with the family. I have a picture look! Here is the weblink: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=10addb30-6006-434a-861c-cf77c911f734

So, the next stop on our tour took us to a really neat place off the beaten path. It reminded me of the north Georgia mountains. However, it is located in middle Georgia. We traveled shortly down the dirt road and pulled over and I was the only one to get out. The site was some sort of major communications location. There were satelite recivers as large as my house! I found the small cache, signed the log and moved on. By now, we are all getting tired and hungry. Little one was the only one that ate before we left the house. We headed to downtown - whatever town we were near. By this time, even I wasn't sure. But we ask the GPS to take us to a chicken eatery and off we went in that direction. Well, the small town we landed in I really didnt find anything I would like to eat at. However, I was very near another cache. Little one had dozed off to sleep. Mom was hungry. I talked her into letting me look for one more. As we pulled into the location, we noticed a playground right next to the cache. Little one awoke when I opened the car door and her and mom went to the playgrouond. This one was a micro cache near a fairly busy park. Those are the most difficult. I looked for a while. Luckily, I had brought my laptop with me and I open it up and located the saved page of the cache. I took a hint and went right to it. Signed the log and returned it. I then watched little one play for a few minutes and then we were off again.

This time we drove the 5 miles to downtown Warm Springs. We found a pizza and sub resturant that looked good and we went in. I ordered an italian sausage sub, little one ordered a pizza and my wife had the hot ham and cheese. We both got Onion Rings with our orders. The food was excellent.

After our meal, we did the touristy thing and toured some of the downtown shops. We even ran across a bear.

My wife had a candle party to attend at 4:00pm so we headed back towards Sharpsburg. I stopped on the way back at Greenville, GA. The Greenville court house is awesome. It was built in 1904. It's a mamouth of a building. On top of the court house is a clock. So, I waymarked it for town clocks on waymarking.com. This is the current location of the waymark. It may change when it is approved by the site. http://www.waymarking.com/wm/details.aspx?f=1&guid=b8812444-9b63-4713-a954-8e47126ec637&r=100&tp=6

The party is over and we are all back home. I hope you have enjoyed my daily update.
See you soon. *Edit: posted Sunday due to Blogger issues**