I go online to charter/spectrum, and want to check out how much it’s going to cost me to add a new service to my account. They will provide pricing (via the web) if it’s a brand new account, BUT will not provide pricing if it’s an existing account. They force you into talking via phone or online chat to a live person. So, I open a stupid chat session, after actually logging into my spectrum … [Read more...]

Re: the Jeff Bezos, National Enquirer story and then totally unrelated Re: Alex Jones/Infowars website/“talk show”. I think, if I were Mr. Bezos, with the wealth he has, I would just buy up the parent company, if they were publicly listed on a stock exchange, and then shut them down. For the National Enquirer, it seems they are owned by a larger firm (Which also owns several other mags), so the … [Read more...]

Why is “Superman” (the movie theme song) playing in my head at one in the morning? … [Read more...]

Day two of sitting in the basement of Dakota County Courthouse, waiting to be selected (or not selected) for a jury trial. Me, and several dozen of my “closest friends”, twiddling our thumbs... Will provide an update at the end of the day. … [Read more...]

Admittedly, I’ve probably only gone to a handful of Halloween parties in my lifetime, but for someone to say, “oh my, I just don’t remember exactly which costume I wore that year in medical school, I know I was one (the KKK robe) or the other (being in blackface), seems to be stretching the truth a little bit. Or, am I mistaken? I mean, even if I had gone to forty Halloween parties over the … [Read more...]

Ok, I’ve shared most everything else about my life, here is something so very personal I’ve never shared with anyone before, in the last fifty plus years. I played with dolls as a very young boy (very early elementary school years). Both GI Joes, as well as “Barbie, and Ken”. Don’t ask me how I got started with Barbie, or which came first (Barbie or GI Joes), since I don’t remember. I’m sure my … [Read more...]

Was invited out to go see a local indoor flea market here in “Beautiful Downtown” Apple Valley, after having brunch at the nearby breakfast place (“Mason Jar”, in Eagan) with the little girl, her parents (Jordan & Katie), baby Ruby, and GranMaRose. Saw lots and lots of vintage / antique stuff, such as old cameras (1960’s plastic “instamatic” era, as well as perhaps, 1940’s “Brownies”, and a … [Read more...]

Two unrelated questions tonight, first one is not so serious, second one is. When choosing English Muffins at the grocery store, do you buy/prefer Bayes, or Thomas?? If you don’t know the difference between them, let me know, and I’ll elaborate. Who out there is willing to tell me (via commenting below or private IM) if you have sleep apnea, AND are using a CPAP machine? Do you feel it works, or … [Read more...]

Rented “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” on New Year’s Eve. I knew going in, only that it had won some academy awards, and that it was a drama. It turned out to be more of a black comedy, and everyone’s performance was excellent. Especially, as you may already know, Sam Rockwell (whom I have always liked), and Frances McDormond. Both of them won academy awards (best support actor, and … [Read more...]

Went and saw “The Mule” this evening. Got to say, I do still enjoy Mr. Eastwood’s stories. Glad to see he’s still got it at age eighty-eight (director, producer, and star). … [Read more...]

Wow, talk about being motivated. Did four to five errands this morning - yeah, I know, it’s not that big of a deal. But, it’s the simple things...lol Now, I’m going to sit down for a couple of hours and re-watch Amazon’s Jack Ryan (for the third time), before going over to the project bench to start work on either a new kit or finish one of the incomplete builds (probably a new kit!), having … [Read more...]

It’s Friday! I have the day off! And, I was actually able to sleep an hour past the usual wake up time! [yes, it’s the little things in life that excite me] Got so much to do today, hopefully the energy level will keep up with the motivation level, and today’s accomplishments will number in the hundreds! [ok, maybe we’ll try for just “dozens” of accomplishments] First things first: let’s … [Read more...]

So, I received a nice email inquiry from a special friend of mine just now. Here it is in its entirety. My response is below it. And, basically, I’m not just apologizing to my friend, but to all of you. ==== Brian, This afternoon I went on to facebook. My feed was overwhelmed by dozens of "Brian Williams shares a memory." Barely anyone else's posts got through. Do you do this? Is there a … [Read more...]

I had a simple choice: I could either fly or drive to Appleton. The inner voice (over the shoulder), speaking in my ear said, “hey, let’s drive, it’ll be fun”. Last time I’m going to listen to that little jerk, let me tell you. Honestly, if I can do 700 mile/12 hour drives to Detroit (and back), I should be able to handle a 285 mile/4.5 hour drive. I am just beat. The first couple of hours were … [Read more...]

What is it about me that dislikes going to get my haircut?? Been needing one for a week or two, but it’s always a struggle - ok, not always, since there have been times when I was getting my hair cut by the same person for years, and I didn’t dread going then. It’s just when I’m going to these non-appointment salons where you get a “new/different” person each time you go, that is when my … [Read more...]

Ordered something from Amazon the other day, it arrived last night, didn’t have to pay shipping due to Amazon Prime service. Item cost me ~10 bucks. It’s the wrong size (my fault, not theirs). Was about to return it, learned it was going to cost me $6 bucks to do that, as well as a trip to the UPS store. So, I can either order the right size version, and not return the wrong size, essentially … [Read more...]

Lump on a couch tonight. But here is a short story for you, before I turn on Season two of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon Prime). I went to the newly remodeled Tar’get tonight after work for the first time since its reopening (of a few months ago). The store went from being a “Target Greatland” size, to a “Super Target” size. We actually have two Targets in AV, the one furthest from me … [Read more...]

“He smiled up at Brigit from his seat beside the bed, her ample bosom framing her pissed-off expression perfectly. She was not a bad looking woman, truth be told; a couple of years older than himself, short brown bobbed hair, decent figure –she wouldn’t be launching a thousand ships any time soon but she’d undoubtedly create a fair bit of interest in a chip shop queue”. ==== “Launching a … [Read more...]