Embrace the Stereotype : City of Cleveland

Kudos to the City of Cleveland (Tennessee that it) and it's utilities department for having the guts to embrace the stereotype of the non-working government worker. This morning on my way to work the two lane road that I travel was down to one lane for some sewer work I guess. Now while several of the workers were indeed going about their job, two were merely standing on the side of the road watching with mild fascination. Now, I know they were "workers" because they were working their little orange vests, but honestly they needed some lawn chairs and a BBQ because they looked more like they were at a tailgate party than on the job. So I take my hat off to government workers everywhere that just stand around and watch their coworkers work while they just stand their taking up space. Thnaks for being the butt of many a comedian's jokes...at least then you were being usefull.

Mind blank...and hating it!

Well, today was a struggle. Normally I find writing to be fairly easy and don't have such a problem cranking out papers and such. Not today. I am taking an online class and while I was able to crank out the first two papers as easy as can be, I am struggling through this one. At the rate I am going I should have this paper done shortly before the next lunar eclipse (the next total lunar eclipse is in December, 2010 though there is a penumbral one in July of this year).

In other news, I was reading through the Book of Acts (as in it's in the Bible) yesterday morning. I was struck by the way the Apostles decided to replace Judas. In reading the last parts of the 1st chapter we discover that there are two candidates (Justus and Matthias). So being the good Apostles that they are they pray seeking God's will. When they are done, lo and behold they choose Judas replacement by (drumroll please) DRAWING LOTS (or Casting Lots depending upon your translation)!! So in essence they pray and then flip a coin. Personally I like to make life's big descisions by consulting the Magic Eight Ball, but then again I am not an Apostle.

Random picture time!

From time to time I will post random pictures. No rhyme or reason. Here is the first installment...

How hard can this be???

OK, so how hard is it to provide decent cable service? With my move to Cleveland this summer and the switch to Charter I was hoping for a better experience than I had with Comcast. HA! One of the things that we have noticed is that the volume fluctuates on just about every channel we watch. Now I am not talking about the fluctuation that occurs when there is a switch from the show to the commercial. You know it seems that somehow they think that you have suddenly lost your hearing so the commercials are suddenly twice as loud as the show you were watching.

No, I am talking about us sitting here minding our own business watching Two and a Half Men, when suddenly the volume randomly drops…during the show! One minute I can hear Charlie and Allen loud and clear and the next they are whispering. And NO it isn’t the station unless CBS, FOX and the History Channel are all involved in some sort of global volume conspiracy.

On the other hand at least Charter can provide me with decent internet service (though I fight with their on-line bill pay monthly). You would think that in the year 2009 when I can watch TV on my cell phone and HEAR IT, I could enjoy the same service at home.

...and don't call me Shirley...

What a Valentines pair my wife and I were. My darlin' was down with some sort of crud and I did something to my back. Needless to say that made for a less than romantic Valentines day. Plus, I was forced to go into work (hmmm....the Grinch that stole Valentines??).

On the positive side, I did find out just what a great pair we make. On Saturday night we picked up the movie Airplane! Now I thought that with all the dumb humor my darlin' would hate the movie. I was surprised to find out that she didn't hate it...in fact she kinda liked it. Now, don't misunderstand me I am not advocating a "Movie Test" to judge compatibility (that is what the "Cat Test" was for) but it is nice to enjoy sophmoric humor with the woman you love.

Cowboys

What is it about the Wild West that every red blooded American male loves? I'm currently reading Dee Brown's "The American West" and let me tell you there is something about the mythologized West that is quite appealing. Two years ago I was fortunate enough to visit the "Land of the Mormons" otherwise known as Utah. It was one of the best vacations I have ever had. The open sky, contrasting landscape, views that go on forever...all this came back to me reading Brown's book. Like a Billy Crystal character (the movie "City Slickers" comes to mind) I feel the pull from the romance (read that totaly bogus myth) of the Cowboy and the "Old West".

I've come to the conclusion that one of the reasons that I like American History best is that I can actually visit some of the places I read about (read that its cheaper and easier than travelling the world). Tombstone is one place I'd like to visit someday. Same with Little Big Horn...and a host of other places I've read about. But for now, I'll read, and dream, and virtually travel via Google.

Just Plain Irresponsible

Hello everyone. I need to pass along a warning - stay away from a company called Envrioguard...they are a pest control company. Below is an email I sent to the company around noon today. It should be self explanatory. I'll let you know if I get a response.

I was just in the Blimpie in Collegedale getting my lunch when a representative of your company entered the establishment looking for a check that the manager was supposed to leave for him. When he was informed that the manager was not in this individual began acting in an unprofessional manner. He threatened to blockade the store with a fleet of trucks, making the customers run a gauntlet. He continued to harangue the counter help. On his way out the door he addressed the customers in the store stating "I hope you don't get sick".

Frankly, his behavior was totally unprofessional and does not reflect well on your business. I regret that I did not get his name and address this matter with him directly.