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.

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.

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.

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: