Year: 2008

I'm 27… beeeeeeeyotch.

Life

I fought for my right to party this weekend at the homestead, not much of a fight really.  We had a good turnout, saw some people we hadn’t seen in a while, and others we hadn’t seen that drunk ever. Laurel’s food was great (the stuff she remembered to bring out of the oven anyway). The cornhole set was a success (if a bit bouncy). And I think everyone had a good time and got home safe (most importantly)

I like having parties at the LM ranch, I just don’t like planning for them or cleaning up afterwards. It’s monday and there’s still work to be done cleaning. Then we leave Thursday for WV and All Good. I’m really excited about it!

Later!

Handyness is next to Godliness

Projects

Not only has being handy saved me plenty of money in the last few months, but it feels awesome too. In the span of a few minutes the other day I fixed 1 cell phone and two digital cameras. Then I walked around the house triumphantly for a few minutes looking for something else to fix because I was on a hot streak. I thought about breaking something just so I could then fix it. But I decided to quit while I was ahead.

Word to your mother.

Mark

The "disappointment is" Happening

Entertainment, Movies

I trusted Mr. Shamalyan to make anything interesting. It’s true his movies have been getting less interesting with every one, but I usually find something in them redeeming. The movies are artfully shot and the pacing is good enough to make the tension build. I just think this one is a misfire. I knew the plot was a little goofy going in (thanks internet spoilers) but I thought he could make anything into a thriller. But the problem is any creepy visuals and unnerving moments are shown in the trailer. Once he sets up the plot in the first 20 minutes of the movie there’s just not enough sense of danger to keep the tension building. The ominous shots actually had people laughing in the theater, there just wasn’t enough to keep the audience from going “Oh come on” in their heads. On top of that we get no realy resolution, the Happening just stops Happening, there’s nothing we can do. Which I guess is the point, but this is a movie and I want closure.

I’ll give it 1.5 Schus just for the effort.

But it’s not enough to stop me from seeing his next movie.

Later!

Suburban Superman

Life

It’s a pretty good feeling when you do something that saves you money and do it right. Yesterday I was the model of a resourceful suburbanite. I changed the oil and filter in my truck, then I moved the yard, then I changed the brake pads on my car, then I had a beer.

Merchants Tire thought they had a sucker when I came in and wanted my alignment done and oil changed. Probably because I used a coupon and was still dressed from work. When I came back to pick up the car they told me that my brake pads were down to 1mm and I needed to get them changed. I thought, well maybe, because I do have almost 30000 miles on the car. But then the guy looked me right in the face and said that it would be $295.00. That included $135 for the pads, $90 for labor, $35 for rotor resurfacing, and some extra because I was a “city folk”. Well how much did it end up costing me? Well the rotors were fine and the brake pads were $20 , I bought a set of C-clamps for $5…. for a savings of…. $260.00.

Man I hate mechanics… except for that guy Alex… i’m cool with him.

Later!