Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Beautiful Sky


2006 Sep - Un 001.jpg
Originally uploaded by Moottoast.

Heres a photo of the sky on my way to work this morning. Driving 60 miles an hour down the road isn't exactly the best way to take a pic, but it was worth risking my life to take the shot.

The sun is rising later and later now, usually just to get in my eyes during my commute. But, it's weird that the days are getting shorter and the weather just stays the same... hot.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Cisco's Smile


2006 Aug - Un 027.jpg
Originally uploaded by Moottoast.

Dena and Cisco left today to drive up north for our wedding. I'll be a bachelor for the next week and a half before I make my way up there to join them.

Here's Cisco smiling for the camera before he left.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

It's Getting Close

Well, I went to pick up my wedding ring this past Saturday. We had the same jeweler who made Dena's rings make mine as well, photo below. I never in a million years thought I would want to have a ring with diamonds in it, but we saw a similar ring at another jewelery store and we both really liked it.

Now I just have to keep from losing it.

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Drain Bamage

Well, my bachelor party was this past weekend and I'm still recovering. I'm at about 98% back to fully functional and it's already several days after the fact. Unfortunately, I didn't take a single photo all weekend long.

On second thought, and for obvious reasons, that was probably a good idea.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are one long booze blurry mess. But, a good time was had by all.

Monday, August 28, 2006

Tornadocane!

Hurricanes aren't fun for anybody, but they're much more enjoyable when they're not headed directly for you. Saturday night I saw the news before I went to bed and saw the current progress of Hurricane Ernesto and was relieved to see that it wasn't headed towards Florida. Here's the National Hurricane Center's 5 day track from Saturday:

Sunday, I get up, make my coffee, turn on the TV and see that now, just a few hours later, Ernesto is headed right for Tampa. I don't know what happened. Maybe some forecaster forgot to enter some key variable into their computer model, or New Orleans decided it wasn't ready for a repeat of Katrina, or Mexico became more hurricane repellent, but now Ernesto was predicted to take a sharp right turn to party in Ybor...

...and then, what a difference a day makes. I told my mother yesterday that I was actually happy to see Tampa directly in the projected path of a hurricane because you could guarantee that that was the one place it wasn't going to be.

For comparison purposes, here's what the NHC predicts now:


We're still in the "Cone of Uncertainty" but just barely. And given the trend, I'm thinking I'll still be flying to Chicago on Friday for my bachelor party... come hell or high water.

Friday, August 25, 2006

Attack of the Office Equipment

Dena got me a new camera for my birthday this year and I wanted to check out the macro setting while I was in my office so I took pics of what was on my desk.


I really love this stapler. When I moved to my new office I was asked if I needed any office supplies. The first thing on my list was a new stapler. "Swingline 747," I said, "it has to be a Swingline 747." Everyone in the office was kind of surprised I asked for a stapler by make and model.

Too bad it's not red.

Here's my calculator. I have no idea how to use any of these buttons.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Milwaukee is named 'Drunkest City'

No kidding...


Milwaukee is named 'Drunkest City' (AP)

AP - Milwaukee has been ranked by Forbes.com as "America's Drunkest City" on a list of 35 major metropolitan areas ranked for their drinking habits.


Hot Water Woes

Our hot water heater decided to expire causing me to miss work and a decent shower while it was being replaced by a qualified professional.

Here's the culprit:

The only real consolation was that the cold water in Florida isn't really cold. I remember sticking a meat thermometer under the tap in my last Chicago apartment and finding that the water was a striking 38 degrees Fahrenheit. It was probably wintertime, but the water was always remarkably cold even on the warmest of days.

Now, when I travel up north, I have to use warm water to brush my teeth.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Counter Struck

I suppose I've spent far too much time in First Person Shooters because I found this video hysterical.

Tampa Bay Bucs Game

2006 Aug - Bucs Game 001.jpg

Dena got tickets to last Saturday's Bucs game (pre-season against Miami). Not only were the seats good, they were in a skybox. Since then, we've been talking about getting one for ourselves and just living in it. More pics: