Miscellaneous

Great Lakes Regional Chili Cookoff

Keith — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:05:54 GMT

Today is the Great Lakes Regional Chili Cookoff and I'm goin'. We're riding our bikes and it's gonna be cold. There was frost on the grass the last two mornings but we're not leaving until around 11:30 so hopefully it will warm up a litte by then. Right now as I'm writing this it's a cold 44 degrees but at least the sun is shining and that should help. But still, we're only looking at the mid 50's by noon and a high of only 60 or so for the whole day. I put the windshield on my bike so hopefully that will block some wind and warm things up a bit..
Should be a good day though. We're starting our ride by going the opposite direction and heading in to New Boston for a beer at McNasty's. The Apple Fest is going on down there this weekend also so there should be a good crowd. After that we'll head back to Plymouth for the Chili Cookoff. There's also a big bike show going on there too. Maybe I'll throw my camera in one of the saddle bags. Good idea Keith.

OCD in Overdrive

Keith — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:23:14 GMT

So we have a full size refrigerator in the garage that I use for beer and pop. It's usually pretty full because well, when we run out of beer we get more. Duh! Anyway, the other day Gayla threw a bunch of beer in there and it wasn't like, straight. You know, in rows and columns? All neat and tidy? So when I saw it I was like, what the hell? And then I straightened it all up. Everything at right angles ya know?

She comes by later and takes a beer out. FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE ROW!!! So now, it has this big gap in it. Why wouldn't she take if from the end and move to the left? I had to let her know about it. It's just sick. Needless to say, I moved a couple cans over to fill the gap.

Sick I say. Sick. She's got a real problem.

Let the NON Crisis Begin

Keith — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:50:30 GMT

I haven't said much about it here, but I've been hinting about it to my family for some time now. Today, I guess I took the first step of this journey in buying a helmet. Tonight, I am going down to the local community college and try to get in the safety class.

You can call it a mid-life crisis but I'm gonna have to disagree. Oh, don't get me wrong. There is definitely a "mid-life crisis" component. But that is not the whole of it.

Instead, I prefer to think of it as I, along with my wife Gayla, have spent the last 27 of our 48 years devoted to raising our kids. I've spent countless weekends and evenings sitting on the floor in a gym watching volleyball practices and games. Helping with homework. Buying clothes. Shuffling them from one friend's house to another. And of course, supporting them (as best they would let me) emotionally and financially. But now they're on their own and doing very well. I'm very proud of them. So I guess you could say that part of my life is over.

I've also worked very hard the last 12 years to get my butt out of the airline industry and into a good paying career which I have succeeded in doing. That was probably the best decision I've made in my life. Other than, of course, the marriage thing, and kids.

With respect to Gayla, I've tried it all. Boating. She wouldn't touch it. Camping. Oh my God no! I can't go to the bathroom on that! Vacations. Nah, not interested. Golf. I've begged her to go but alas, all in vain. So this is for me and me alone. If she wants to tag along then all the better. But I wouldn't bet on it. She has however been strangely "supportive". Not once has she indicated she would rather I not do this. I asked her about it and she said she knows me and when I've made up my mind there's no changing it. I guess after 29 years together she does know me.

Anyway, that's why I don't want to call this a mid-life crisis. I want to say that I've worked hard and I've earned this. Hmmm. Sounds like I'm trying to convince myself!

The ultimate goal here is the Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic. (Disclaimer: This isn't my bike and I don't know whose it is. I "borrowed" the picture from Google Images.) I have no idea when or even if this part will come to fruition but I can say that this is one awesome looking bike and the one that I have chosen to get when I'm ready to purchase. This is also the "mid-life crisis" component of this story. I need something cool and shiny to polish in my driveway!

So that's it. Let the ~~crisis~~ ~~process~~ ~~hobby~~ new lifestyle begin. I hope to blog on most if not all of my experiences in the "new world" I seem to be entering. I gotta think it's gonna be a wild ride!

The Lawn, before and after

Keith — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:19:03 GMT

I mentioned in a previous post about my "magic fertilizer" and what a great job it did on my lawn. Well, here's a before and after set that shows what it looked like last year when no one lived here and what it looks like today. The before picture is from a Google Maps Street View image.

Before...

And After...

Can you say "magic fertilizer"?

Cold front! Movin' through people!

Keith — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 16:59:02 GMT

A couple of weeks ago "The Kode Man" and I were out front checkin' out the lawn, watchin' the sprinklers (I know, shut up), and having a beer after a long day of working in the yard. Sitting in the front yard by the way, is now Kody's absolute favorite thing to do. He actually comes to me and begs to go out and sit in the driveway! Strange.

Anyway, it was a pretty decent day but we were due to have some storms because of a cold front that was coming through the area. I snapped these pictures as it came through.

It's getting windy!

Kody's new favorite thing to do

You should have seen the yard last year when no one lived here! My "magic fertilizer" really did its thing.

Here it comes. This is supposed to show how windy it was but you can barely see the wind in the trees.

Kody's gettin' nervous! He hates storms.

Cool rainbow pics!

"As you were people. Nothin' to see here. Move along now." All clear.

My new toy

Keith — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 15:52:40 GMT

Yesterday I picked up a BlackBerry Curve in Red! Very nice, very cool. I've been putting off buying a smart phone like this because I have a Dell Axim pda and I didn't want to give up on it. But, it's been a real pain carrying around my phone and my pda. I was changing my cell phone plan anyway so I thought what the heck. Besides, I can't be a geek with a plain old cell phone!

World Clock and Life Expectancy Calculator

Keith — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:29:38 GMT

Very cool and somewhat depressing. I did the Life Expectancy Calculator and my virtual age is 59.8 and my life expectancy is only 64.2 years. I'm currently 48 years old. Yikes. The World Clock is pretty cool.

Super Bowl Road Trip

Keith — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:42:22 GMT

Every year I have a Super Bowl party at Big K's Pub in my basement. This year, I'm in dire need of a winter trip. I'm thinking Vegas. For the Super Bowl. Vegas Baby! I'm thinking the sports book at Caesar's Palace. Watchin' the Superbowl on a TV as big as my house! Sound good? I think so. Book it!

gubb.net

Keith — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 17:29:52 GMT

I am really lovin' gubb.net being the list person that I am. Very cool.

Update: And the more I'm using it? The more I'm liking it!

De-energized

Keith — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 02:13:34 GMT

Gayla and I when to Beaver Creek for dinner tonight. A commercial for Energizer batteries came on the TV. I told her I don't buy Engergizer batteries because of that stupid bunny. I hate those commercials! I hate that freakin' bunny even more! God they're annoying. Seriously. I won't buy them because of that. She thinks I'm stupid. Hmph!

Damn. I wish I was knew how to put one of those circles with the slash through it on another image. I suck at Photoshop. Oh well, you get the point. What the hell is that thing called anyway?