Moved!

I've moved from Blogspot and onto something more simple.... blog.moottoast.com

Later.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

Fish Creek Wisconsin... In February

2005 Fish Creek 025
Originally uploaded by Moottoast.

Well, I figured with the whole Flickr thing, I should post some pics that I've had for a while. This set should be of particular interest to Jen, Ed, Jason, Tim and Sean.

Check out the whole set here.

Flickr

I love Blogger (...or Blogspot, or whatever the hell this thing is), but it's not exactly a photo sharing utility. It's been nice for people to check up on Dena and I in our travels and tropical living, but the quality of the photos here are pretty terrible. Flickr allows me to upload full-rez photos for everyone's enjoyment.

I've already posted some pics from this past weekend as well as all of the Owasippe Camp Wolverine (Zaxie!) Staff Photos I had.

Check out my Flickr Photostream at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/moottoast or click the Flickr badge on the right side of this page.

We Are Not Mean People

UPDATE: Okay, look. We are not being mean to the dog. People keep asking me, "why do you have a muzzle on the dog?" or "You know, you put that leash on wrong" and "You are evil people for torturing that dog." The thing on Cisco's face is a Gentle Leader and it is quite comfortable for him. It really keeps him from pulling on his leash, because without it he would sooner choke himself than stop pulling. It's good for him... honest.

Wet Cisco.

Cooper's Bayou

Dena and I decided to take Cisco for a walk to the park at the end of our block. As I said in previous posts, I finally got my good camera back from Nikon and I've been itching to use the 70-200 Sigma lens I bought for my birthday.

As soon as I opened the garage door, I saw this bird standing in the front yard.

Some kind of duck-thing in the pond. 

Hermit crabs. 

Dena and Cisco and a big cup of coffee. 

Dena and Cisco down by the water. 

This photo taken just seconds before Cisco chased the squirrel up the tree.