On right is possibly one of the funniest graphics I’ve ever seen on the internet. Found it on Kat’s blog. She just turned 29. I have some stuff in the mail to send her as a late b-day present that I hope she’ll like. Happy 29th by the way, Kat. You old fart. :-D
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Once again I will be heading to Universal Orlando. This will occur at the tail end of this week. I’ll be taking my sister. Turns out she’s visiting at the right time because Universal is having a special where the self-parking is free and a park ticket is half off up until May 6th. This is especially cool because I’m footing the bill.
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A memory from high school:
For my freshman and sophomore year I was enrolled in a Catholic Preparatory high school before transferring to a public one for my junior and senior year. No, I didn’t get kicked out. It was my decision. But I digress.
During lunch, someone sat down at the table that close milk as his drink.
“How good is the milk?”
“It’s excellent.”
“Should be for what is paid to get into this place.”
“Didn’t you know? This place has a self-homogenizing cow.”
“Where?”
“It’s in the back. We can’t see it.”
“Oh.”
To this day I still think “self-homogenizing cow” is one of the funniest things I’ve ever heard.
I noticed today that one of the hard drives I just replaced (connected via USB caddy) wasn’t working. So I popped out the drive and took a look. This is what I found.
Uh-oh. A burn mark. Not good. Not good at all.
Hang on, it gets better. I took a look at the hard drive.
Above is the back of the hard drive. Burnt chip. This drive is literally fried.
I tried moving the plates from one IDE to another but that didn’t work. It appears the plates are FUBAR as well.
This sucks.
I lost all my MP3’s, a crapload of video material, a TON of photos..
Bleah.
And to think, I was going to transfer the data from there to my new drive before the end of this week.
Okay, it turns out I wasn’t a total moron. I did in fact back up some stuff to my new hard drive before my old one decided to burn to a crisp. It was mostly photos which is something I’m very happy about. All my Universal trip photos were saved.
Also, I’m thankful for a few things.
All my mail is on Gmail.
Several times in the past I’ve lost all my mail. This is part of the reason I decided to go 100% web-based with my current e-mail setup, and I’m glad I did because I know all of it is still there.
Many of my old photos are on this site.
I may have lost a crapload of photos, but the majority of the ones that count are right here.
All my apps were put to DVD a few weeks ago.
If I had to re-find, re-download and “re” a bunch of other things concerning all my apps, I’d be one hurtin’ dude right now. I use a ton of different programs to do what I do, both for personal things and for my work.
So needless to say, I’m very relieved my apps are all backed up.
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Even though I can’t stand optical media, I’m going to start having to use it more often. Fortunately I’ve got a new DVD burner for the task.
Simply put, optical media does last a very long time as long as the drive you use it with is recent and the data side is fingerprint, scratch and dust free.
I just got home from delivering my sister to Pop’s. It’s close to three in the morn’ as I write this and I really need a shower. Right after I finish this I’m going to do just that.
Pop is well, sis is well, and the cat is well. Yes, Tux (the cat) is back home. He’s been away for a while in my sis’ care, but seemed to recognize where everything was on return. He didn’t look too disoriented.
A good chunk of the drive home was eerie, and I’ll attempt to explain why, but I have the notion I’m the only one who feels the way I do when certain weather is about. You’ll understand what I mean in a moment.
There is a weather condition that I have no name for which is this:
1. Bright moonlit night.
2. Light fog.
3. A muggy feeling in the air that’s not muggy enough for air conditioning while driving (because you’d freeze), but just muggy enough to bother you.
The bright moonlight gives a dark slate blue color to the sky. Trees in the distance all look one color - a darker blue. Flat fields look like ponds. Any source of light looks too bright and glows due to the fog. Reflectors on signs also glow when your headlights hit them. The only thing clearly visible are the road markers in front of you.
As I said above, all sources of light look too bright even with the moonlight above you. You pass by street lamps and lights you’ve seen a thousand times, but on a night like this, they look strange and unfamiliar.
When stopping by any convenience store (one of the few businesses open at this time of night), you feel like a stranger even if you’ve been there before.
On the interstate, you are reminded the road is long and solitary, with your only company usually being 18-wheeler trucks that you pass or pass you.
On certain country roads where there are no street lights, this is where you get the eerie feeling the most. When you pass by certain areas, you think I know where I am, but I really do not want to get a flat tire here. Or break down. Or whatever. Okay, eyes on the road. Keep drivin’.
This is somewhat of a fear of the dark, because you can see about 250 yards in any direction, but it’s not clear enough to see what is out there.
When not driving in this type of weather where you’re just walking around somewhere outside, a sinking feeling develops where you feel very alone.
A moment of panic sets in but doesn’t last long. Maybe about ten seconds. Probably less. But it’s an instinctual feeling.
Danger..
It’s something that clicks in your head letting you know you must be somewhere safe - and it’s not where you are.. even though you’re in a place very familiar to you.
I’ve encountered this feeling on a few occasions in various parts of the country. Seems to crop up under specific weather conditions.
It’s not necessarily fear, because right after that hint of panic you say to yourself What the frig am I scared about? Then you just carry on as usual.
This is an intro I just made today for use on future video presentations on a specific web site. All of it (with the exception of the main logo) was created by myself. Music, animation and all.
– edit –
I should note that “Title Goes Here” is for whatever title the video is about. This intro is one of the templates I use.
It’s 3:34 in the morn’ as I write this. Instead of sleeping over at Pop’s, I decided to stay at my apartment, crash early, then wake up early and go to Pop’s (which is where I am now). At 8am I’m getting an oil change performed on my truck, then it’s off to Universal Studios with sis.
You read before about how I prattled on about eerie feelings when night driving under certain weather conditions. This drive was 100% opposite compared to the other night concerning how I felt. Same drive, same distance, etc.
The weather was nearly identical with one very minor difference. The temperature outside was slightly cooler, meaning there was less fog although it was still present. When I say “slightly cooler”, I’m talking about five degrees F in the colder direction. Maybe a little less.
That seemingly insignificant temperature difference changed the way I felt entirely.
Instead of getting the willies when night driving in the wee hours of the morning, I felt more upbeat, breathed a whole lot easier and got the feeling of Yep. Brand new day is comin’ soon. I mean, yeah, the stroke of midnight technically is the start of a new day, but you get the idea.
Lights didn’t feel too bright. They were “just right”. The moon felt warmer when looked upon. And not once was there that Danger… feeling at any time.
It’s interesting how a five degree change in temperature outside can change the way you feel, isn’t it?
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well done
On arrival to Pop’s, there was a plate of food waiting for me in the fridge. A few slices of steak, corn and a potato. As soon as I saw the steak, I cringed.
Why?
Because it was 90% red.
My father and sister both prefer their steaks rare. Long ago I discovered I can’t stand any cut of meat cooked that way. It tastes absolutely horrible. “Gummy” is the best way to describe it.
The first time I discovered how awesome “well done” was, I never went back. If you’re gonna cook a piece of meat, COOK IT. Don’t just warm it up. That’s what “rare” means in my book.
These days I prefer cuts cooked well done with the edges slightly burnt. I don’t want to see a millimeter of that steak with any red in it whatsoever.
I don’t eat red meat very often, but when I do, I want that red gone.
My solution to the redness was to chuck it in the microwave and cook it (badly) until the red was gone. At that point it was palatable. :-)
Last night I went to bed at 9pm or so. Yeah, I was completely worn out.
Why?
Because sis and I spent all frickin’ day at Universal. Arrived at 11am and stayed ’til 6pm. If you don’t want to do the math, that’s seven hours. Seven hours at a theme park is a long, long time. (more…)
May 6th 2007 marks the three-year mark that menga dot net in blog form has been online. In celebration of this momentous event, I created this video from a turtle I spotted hanging out near the edge of Pop’s lawn yesterday.
Sis arrived safely back in Massachusetts on Sunday. She was supposed to have a short layover in LGA then proceed to BOS, but it didn’t quite turn out that way. (more…)
Seventeen years ago I began my search for a particular car that my father owned before it got wrecked in the early 80’s. It was this Buick pace car. My intent has been all along to find this car, restore it, then “give it back” to Pop.
Recently I received not one but two e-mails from two different people stating they each had this car.
Was I overjoyed?
Sort of.
This is what I’ve found out about this car to date. This is a bit of a re-hash from my other Buick post but it’s relevant nonetheless.
1. Placards are never there.
The red and blue placards were usually removed by the dealership before retail sale. Why? I HAVE NO IDEA. What this means is that you’ll usually find the car in white. What this means to me is that I have to put the placards back. Problem is that they don’t exist anywhere, so I would have to have them custom painted on the car once received after a repaint of white.
2. Hawk emblems are usually missing.
Behind the opera window on each side was a hawk emblem. The original pace car (as in the one that paced the track) had gold ones. Most consumer pace cars had silver ones, or none at all.
3. Interior color is always blue with white seats.
This was a centennial car, so the red-white-blue motif shows throughout, even in the interior. The vinyl and plastic were colored in a “glacier” blue.
4. Custom cut t-top glass.
These days, t-tops are a thing of the past, but they were available as an option on many cars up until the early 90’s. This Buick pace car came with them as standard equipment.
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This is a short list of what I have to deal with if I had to restore one of these pace cars:
Interior
The carpet will need to be torn out and replaced with new. This will be custom cut fabric and it won’t be cheap.
The seats will need to be reupholstered. The original material used was naugahyde, a.k.a. pleather. Reupholstering isn’t necessarily expensive, but they are large seats, so who knows.
The doors will also need reupholstering.
Some faux wood inserts may need replacement. Typical to the 70’s, this car has wood trim interior. Not a big deal, but the pieces have to be custom cut.
There’s also the headliner, interior lamps and some other stuff I’d need to attend to.
Mechanicals
I don’t believe I’d have too much trouble in this department. To the best of my knowledge the car comes equipped with a 2bbl GM 350 and TH 400 auto transmission. As far as brakes, steering, suspension and the like, again I don’t think it would be too much trouble - so I think. :-)
Exterior
This is the one thing that would keep all would-be owners of this car away from it. You’re gonna spend a lot of loot. Strip it, prime it, paint it white, then a custom stripe job where the placards used to be. The painter guy who does this for you will literally have to take his best guess where the stuff should go based on photos. We’re talking at least $5000 for a correctly done job.
And those hawk emblems? I’d be lucky to ever find one, let alone two.
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Basically speaking, no one wants this car. Actually, let me say that a different way. Some people want this car, but no one wants to take on the challenge of restoring it.
The “some people” I refer to are select few Buick fans who know what this car is. I am one of those people.
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And this leads me to the last few e-mails I’ve been sending and receiving recently.
Car #1: It’s in Arizona. The car’s got well over 200,000 miles on it. No placards. No hawk emblems. It’s white. Waiting for more photos on it because the ones I received didn’t show much.
Car #2: Not sure where it’s from, but received photos. T-tops are cracked. Impossible to replace unless I were willing to spend $1000 for each side for a custom glass job - and I don’t have that kind of cash. Plus it had a landau top which was most likely added later (the originals never had them). Had to refuse the car because of the cracked t-top glass. Had a long talk with Pop before saying “no” to this car. However, I may have use for this as a parts car later. More on that in a moment.
I am praying that car #1 has the t’s fully intact. The t’s above all else are the one thing on this car that absolutely have to be undamaged and work properly. Otherwise it’s not worth owning the car. If they rattle, shake and leak, that’s fine. It’s the glass and mounts that count.
Car #1’s problems are that the rear trunk lid is a bit eaten up and the rear bumper is shot.
But car #2 has the rear bumper and trunk lid intact. Maybe I’ll need to pick up both to rebuild one car?
Hm..
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Pop and I have had several long (and I mean long) discussions about this car. The car is first and foremost for him.
My car of choice is the DeLorean DMC12. I yapped about this car a while back and I want one. In Florida they’re very easy to get.
The Buick can obviously blow the doors off the DeLorean. A small block V8 can run circles around the DMC12’s underpowered V6.
It would cost me less to restore the Buick compared to buying a DMC12. Way less.
Owning a DMC12 requires no restoration whatsoever. Just go to the dealership in Bonita Springs and buy one. Simple as that.
The Buick has t-tops that allow for open air. The DMC12 doesn’t and never did.
There are other considerations, but at the end of it all it would be better to put my money towards the Buick. The DMC12, while the epitome of coolness, doesn’t have the flair of the pace car.
Also, the challenge of restoring this car is appealing to me. Getting a DMC12 is easy, but getting this Buick isn’t. After acquiring this car comes the long arduous process of restoration. It will take a lot of time and effort to bring this car back to pace car glory.
But once done, look out. She’ll turn more heads than any DMC12 ever did.
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