Random Thought

I've had an ATM card since somewhere around 1981. That's, well, a really long time ago. Almost 29 years. I've been counting the money that comes out of ATM machines for 29 years. It's never been wrong. 29 years ago I used to take out $ 40 all the time, I'd count it. Then it went up to $ 60 then $ 100 and now it's up to $ 200. I count it, every single time. It's never been wrong. How do it know? And why do I still count it?

That's it folks....a random thought...

Last Chance?!

I know it's a bad picture, but really.....who would buy condoms at a Last Chance sale? Do you really think they'll work?

Porsche Mechanic

There is just no end to my talents....

Chicks with Wheels

In the ever ending quest to continue to do new and interesting things last night we ventured out into the truly different. I remember when I was a kid watching Women's Roller Derby. They were rough, tough and fast and it was just plain good fun. There has been a resurgence in women's roller derby over the past couple years and it's back with a vengeance. We saw the LA Derby Dolls last night and was it ever a fun time.

An eclectic crowd to be sure, a mixture of twenty somethings, white trash forty somethings, dikes and rabid fans. Security was provided by a rough looking group of what could only be categorized as ex-gang bangers. Food was provided by Hot Dog on a Stick and beer was available in 16 oz. cans. You can see the demographic catered to here I'm sure.

My verdict? I cannot begin to tell you what a fun time we all had. We really got into it and laughed, hooted and hollered through all 4 quarters. There are 4 quarters in a roller derby. There are penalties and rules and when I was a kid I don't think I knew how complicated the game was. Watching it made me want to strap on a pair of quad wheel skates and some knee pads and get out there and kick some ass. If you ever have an opportunity to see Roller Derby, I highly recommend it. The 2008 championship derby is November 8th - I suggest you get your tickets now!

Splicing Cable @ Hollywood & Vine

My talents knows no bounds......

The NLCS in Pictures....

4 Pictures for your viewing enjoyment - 1) Vince Scully and Fernando Valenzula stand for the National Anthem, 2) self explantory, 3) Joe Torre and the umps and that rotten Philly manager exchange lineup cards and last but not least 4) Me....holding my ticket and feeling all hopeful.

The Thrill of Baseball

There is something unexplainable that happens to you when you're at a baseball playoff game. Every strike is vital, every ball exciting or tragic. The roar of the crowd and beat of the organ pulsing through your veins. There is something very heady about it all.

We went to the NLCS (National League Championship Series) Game 4 with high hopes. So much hope that we were talking of the World Series as if it were a done deal. We would surely be at the fall classic. Baseball is a funny thing. You are up one minute and crushed the next. By the 7th inning we were flying on cloud 9 - fans waving their rally towels and chanting "Phillies Suck". Ah, how foolish we were. The top of the 8th sucked the life right out of Dodger stadium. You could hear a pin drop as the 2nd home run soared over the right field wall. It was 7 to 5, Phillies.

As I'm often fond of saying, hope springs eternal. The bottom of the 8th and the 9th brought little glimmers of hope but it was soon dashed and the crowd of 56,000 streamed out of the stadium, quiet as mice. We were down 3 games to 1. If ever there was a time for hope, it is now.

Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!

Can you hear the chants? I still can. One of the memories that will stay with me forever is the memory of watching the 3rd and final game of a best of 5 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs. The Dodgers win it, 3 - 1, sweeping the poor cubbies in 3 straight. On to the Championship series we go!!! In the picture, Dena, myself and our good friends and big Dodger fans, Irma and Brian.

Another State of the Economy Post

Sometimes I do things that are stupid. I admit it. Back in April I was shopping for new clothes for my new job. Gotta look like an executive right? There I am at a major department store and in a very unlike me move, I was convinced to go for the spiel of "if you sign up for our store credit card you get 15% off". I usually never fall for that. I have enough credit cards. I know they charge almost 30% interest, I know, I know.....but I fell for it anyways.

Awhile later I get a bill. There was a trick with the 15% discount. You see, first you paid the bill in full then they give you a 15% credit back to the credit line, thus forcing you to go buy more stuff to reap the "reward". That ticked me off. Also, I was a little miffed as I wanted to return something and just couldn't get over to the store. Time slipped away from me and I forgot to pay the bill. You know, I started a new job and was very busy and frankly, it wasn't on my online bill pay.

Another month passed, another bill came with late charges and the madder I got. I did pay the initial balance in full but was just pissed at myself for falling for the usual scam and refused to pay the late fees. It got to the point that the "major department store" bill came each month and I refused to open it and threw it in a pile. I suppose some of you might think I'm stubborn. That's probably true.

So yesterday I'm sitting in our house minding my own business and the phone rings. Is this Dawn Armstrong. Yes, who is calling please? They wondered why I hadn't paid. I was surprised it took so long. I told them the story of missing the first bill and being upset at the late charges. They waived all the late charges and zeroed my balance. And that, my friends, is where our economy has gotten us. A department store so desperate to keep its shoppers happy and charging on their credit card that they credited me over $ 90 in late fees.

Perhaps stubbornness pays off? Usually not.....

What Was I Doing? Update

So, for those of you following the blog, the post below this one with the funny picture of me holding a hack saw, container of Oil of Olay moisturizer and something else, let me tell you what it was all about. I like the Oil of Olay moisturizer as it contains no perfumes (which give me zits even at my advanced age) but the container and design of it all just pisses me off. It has a pump action but near the end of the bottle nothing will come out. There is usually about 1/2 an ounce left and for the last 2 bottles I've dipped the pump straw in and tried to get every last drop out. It is a $ 28 bottle after all. That stuff is valuable. This time however, I decided to just get straight to the point. I took a hack saw to the bottle to get to the remains. And yes, I did need a hack saw, that bottle is incredibly tough. So, that's my story.

Clarification:
Yes, I did tip it over on its side for a couple days and yes, I did tip it over upside down for a week. The moisturizer is very viscus and wouldn't move.

And mom.....The avon moisturizer gives me pimples. I'm too old for pimples.

A Picture is Worth a 1000 Words?

OK, not my best picture....but let's play a game. Click on comments and tell me what you think I'm doing, saying or whatever in the picture. For the visually impaired, one item I'm holding is a hack saw and one of the other things is a bottle of Oil Of Olay facial moisturizer.