Just another day in paradise

California - the action state.  Motto:  all action, all the time (said in a Schwartzenegger accent).  Today we had hail, flash floods, mudslides, tornados, waterspouts, serious surf, and gusty winds.  Did I mentioned that it rained.  Gotta get going on that ark. UPDATE: We also had an earthquake.  More of the same expected for today.

Also, got rejected by Chase today.  At least they had the courtesy to call.  Thanks.  Decided to go with someone else.  Thanks for nothing.

Off to the little league baseball draft.  To draft Josh or not?

Date night

Went out to meet our old neighbors, Alan and Elaine, tonight.  I was excited about the early start to the evening, babysitter at 5:45, because I like me some early bird specials.  Got to the Irvine Spectrum Center at 6:15 and went directly to Javier's -- 2 and a half hour wait.  The mall was jammed.  What recession?  Seriously.  Luckily, we planned ahead and had booked a 6:30 reservation at PF Changs, all with the hopes of making a 7:50 movie.  Well, we got seated 15 minutes late.  The drinks didn't arrive until after the apps were eaten.  And we didn't make our movie.  We were wandering the mall, but I wanted to get home as Josh had phoned us twice to say that the dogs were being maniacs and barking incessantly.  Thus ended date night.

Alan recently started a job at JP Morgan Chase in corporate real estate.  I think he's already looking for the exits as his boss is a nut job and he still has no office or computer.  And he believes that they already over saturated.  But, he said he'd put in a good word for me if he could.  Thanks.

Things on my desk

Gnome, gnome on the....er, desk.  Please enjoy the following brief tour of things on my desk.  My gnome Ernie, no not the Travelocity Roaming one, is here to keep me company until baseball season returns - 82 days until opening day.  Camera wire in the lower right to upload pictures of Ernie.  Blank dvd-r's to make me seem techy/geeky.  Gary the gargoyle to ward off evil spirits and protect Ernie.  And my inbox, featuring a lovely present presented to mwa by my lovely bride to be utilized in the near future....a segway tour of Balboa peninusla.  Pretty cool, right....and that's only the right side of my desk.

Met with a landscape guy today to see what overhauling my yard would involve.  Anybody want to make a guess?  We'll see what the numbers come in at.

Had a very good interview at Chase bank today.  I was reticent to go, based on some one-sided internet boards, but was pleasantly surprised.  The ladies of SC liked me enough to send me onto their boss in Laguna Hills.  We'll see.  Oh, the dessert people want me and S to fly out to Tennessee.  Tennessee, there ain't no place I'd rather be.

The wife ran over Josh's new bicycle today.  That didn't take long.  At least Josh wasn't on the bike.

Attended a little league meeting today and got scared straight.  Snakes on the fields.  Parents physically threatening managers.  Meetings out the wazoo.  What have I gotten myself into.  We'll see.

Shout out to my Mom.  Hi Mom.

Hawk Skewers

Way to go Andre Dawson.  Not sure if you're the most qualified of HOF inductees, but you were sure fun to watch and played your heart out.  You made watching the Flubbies watchable and I'm sure neither of us miss the Expos (one of the most ridiculous ballparks I'd ever visited).


On an aside, Andre sure had the heart but other players had better stats and bigger impacts (McGuire, Sosa, et al).  Yeah, yeah, year...steroids.  A) they weren't illegal at the time, B) they were hitting off pitchers taking the roids, and C) don't tell me old time ball players weren't drinking, coking, taking greenies, etc.  Bonds is quite possibly the greatest ever, with or without the hormones.



My lovely bride, who happens to be a hospitality consultant, took me to Fogo de Chao today for lunch.  Fogo is a Brazillian  churracaria.  No, not a place that sells churros (although churros are a sweet treat), but an all you can eat steakhouse serving 15 types of meat on sticks.  I felt like a screaming banshee in a candy story.  We Chowed until we burst.  Bring on the meat sweats.


Today in the continuing saga of my search for employment:  as you recall, yesterday I mentioned I got an upcoming interview with a local Chase bank branch.  Today I got a corporate email saying that they received my resume and thanks....but no thanks!  I got that email....TWICE!!

Avatarrefic

Just got back from Pandora.  This flick is out of this world. Seriously.  The colors and detail, the flora and the fauna...it's impossible to tell what's CGI and what's not.  The colors rival those from an obscure movie I like, "What dreams may come".  The girl Na'vi was kind of hot.  When Jake rides the Banshees (sp?), it's a wild technocolor dream ride.  The battle scenes will blow my Call of Duty loving son's mind.  


Speaking of Call of Duty, I was playing campaign with Josh last night and got totally sucked in.  To the point of nausea.  Josh is addicted but it allows him to stay in contact with his AZ friends through xbox live.  Graphics are very cool, but it's totally violent.  The airport massacre scene....really?  Really?

Speaking of sick violence, I saw a preview for Piranha 3D today.  Looks wickedly sick.  And fishy.

On the job search front (to boldly seek employment where no me has been employed before -- hopefully, not a five year mission): have a lunch on Thursday re: becoming the OC developer for a dessert chain; also got called for an interview with Chase next week.

On a completely different point, it has come to my attention that KISS has been eligible for the Rock & Roll hall of Fame since 1999 and have not been selected.  Travesty and I'm not even a fan.  May not be the greatest band in any measurably musical way, but they certainly have had a major impact and influence.  I mean ZZ Top, but not Simmons/Stanley/et al.  I'm not ashamed to admit that I enjoy a saccharine Abba song now and again, but they belong in a Pop hall of fame, not the R&R.  Genesis, who also get in, is probably less deserving....but they happen to be one of my favorite bands.  You got to get in to get out....