Outdoors

Camping 2005-1

Jenn and I went on out first camping trip of the year Tuesday. We ran to the dollar store on pine for a tarp, but they didn’t have a big enough one, then we went to Meijer for some pop and pillows. Next was Meats and Moore for some hot-dogs and to Wal-Mart for an air-mattress. Finally, we went to William’s Cheese store and to Frank’s for a cast iron pan, followed by a few last things at Pinny Plaza. Finally, we went and set up camp.

My tent is huge, the air mattress that filled Jenn’s tent barely made a dent in mine. We cooked dinner, some hamburgers and veggie burgers, in my new pan right on the fire, and it worked well. We got bored a little later and walked down to the water. There were 2 or 3 pike eating, and they were fun to watch. Like little sharks kinda, with their fins sticking up. Later we played Trivial Pursuit for a while but got bored with it, and it was too dark to see anyway.

Finally we went to bed, but barely slept because it was a bit too cold, and quite humid. I slept more than jenn did apparently. When we woke up there were a few sprinkles here and there so we decided to pack up and head home before we got more rain.

So that was camping. It was fun, and we will go again, and you can come if you want.

What else…

I busted up our sidewalk from the patio out to the fence over the last few days. We are getting more done in the backyard gradually, though I know my Mom wishes we were going faster.

I think thats it.

I am going to get ready to go out with Jenn, today is our 1 year anniversary.

Bye

nick

sorry, no quote, brain fart

The Local Fishwrap

That would be a good name for a newspaper huh? Too bad I have no news. Well, some…

I bought Trivial Pursuit at St. Vincent’s. Is the 1981 edition, and it makes Jenn and I feel stupider every time we play it. There are alot of questions in, for instance, the entertainment category, that are about actors who died 15 years ago, or movies from the 60s that we’ve never heard of. Oh well, used game for $2.50 still isn’t bad,

The problems with the template have been decidedly resolved. Still though, if you have problems let me know. I still make minor changes here and there, like making links become underlined when you point at them, too make them easier to find. Also, if you would like to see anything added, changed, etc…, feel free to let me know.

OK, Jenn and I are going camping now, so goodbye. We will be in Pinconning until tomorrow some time.

See you back here Friday,

nick

Shearer’s, It’s Grandma Good…

251

I am now up to 21 free songs, thanks to mostly Jenn, but also Scott and my Mom. I have all the songs picked out, and have till May 23rd or something to buy them.

Jenn and I were bored Sunday, so we bought a pair of kites at a dollar store and flew them in a field behind her building. It was much fun, though mine wouldn’t stay up.

I have rode my bike quite a bit in last two days. I would be sad that its rainy tomorrow, but my ass is starting to get sore.

We went to ABC Warehouse today and got her a new TV. Err, she got it, I just stood there, then drove it home in the truck. She got cable hooked up today too, so she can now go online, and watch more than just WNEM/CBS.

And now for the techie part of the entry…

I’m sure most of you know who Adobe and Macromedia are (Photoshop and Acrobat/PDF for Adobe, Dreamweaver and Flash/Shockwave for Macromedia). Well, apparently they are merging. This is big news, especially since I can’t remember hearing a peep about this. There are 2 possible outcomes.

The first is the fear that Adobe will improperly utilize this new acquisition and end up killing Macromedia’s great products, much like it wound up doing with GoLive and others. It really isn’t Adobe’s fault, it is just that they began as a print media company, and that’s where many of their customers still are. So, web media, though still a focus, can not be their primary focus without alienating loyal customers. Hence, though Adobe knows there is money to be made in the web, and they have tapped into it on several occasions, they tend to end up with alot of misses for every hit, and this record may prove bad for Macromedia.

The second possibility is that Adobe leave’s well enough alone, and lets Macromedia continue on much as they have, but as a sort of web division. Let the current Adobe work on print media, and Macromedia work on web media, with collaboration between as needed. Drop Adobe GoLive, but keep Macromedia Dreamweaver. Drop Macromedia Freehand, but keep Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Keep the best of each, drop the weaknesses, and let each group do what they do best. It seems like common sense, but in the business world it is far harder to achieve, and easier to loose, than you can imagine.

But, I digress. Nobody knows what will happen, and the shareholders and SEC haven’t even approved it yet, so all we can do is wait.

And as a last note, Apple claims “Over 200 new features” in OS X 10.4 Tiger, that ships later this month. Well, they finally released a list with them all. Check it out here.

OK folks,
Friday,

nick

If you find handcuffs in the girls night stand, be mildly concerned.
If you find saw marks in the handcuffs, be very concerned.

The Big 250!

Yay! It’s blog entry 250! That means, well, that I have written crap like this 249 other times. It is quite an achievement though really. And the 2 year anniversary is just over a month away! Go me!

We got jenn moved into her new apartment yesterday, and picked up a few straggling items today. She has no cable, and no internet, so we have only 1 channel to watch. There is an antenna on the roof, but her coax cable is a bit chewed up so the signal gets lost some over it. Maybe swapping it will improve reception a bit.

It is finally nice out, yesterday, today, and from what I hear tomorrow too. I should get out on my bike or fishing or something.

I posted a test of the blog template, and it looks like I need to make some adjustments to the stylesheet. Nothing too bad, but it will probably be a week or so, depending on my mood and activities.

OK, thats all I think. See you all Tuesday I suppose.

nick

It’s slicker than the back seat in Shaft’s ElDorado.

General 193

Nobody has an opinion? I mean, yeah, Scott already gave his opinion on the poll before I had posted it, but still, nothing? Geesh.

Family Guy returns to Fox with new episodes on Sunday, May 1st. Also, American Dad starts the same night, but I didn’t much care for it.

Want to see how new HDs will hold 10x more data? OK, how about a funny ass flash cartoon? Maybe you like stuff that is informative yet incredibly stupid at the same time? Well your in luck, all three are available from Hitachi in this cartoon.

I bought a fishing license. When jenn and I go camping we want to fish some, and I want to do some fishing around here too. It was $7 a day, or $15 for a year, plus another $13 if I want a trout/salmon stamp, but I’m not getting that yet.

OK, thats all for now I think. If you people would voice your opinion in the poll, you will get the new version sooner, and will get a new poll too.

Til Wednesday,

nick

1-800-QUIT-AOL
– Former EarthLink sign-up number

Getting Close

The template is nearly done. It actually is done, I am just being obsessive because I’m good at it. I would say end of month latest.

I bought some Vanilla Cherry Dr. Pepper. It tastes pretty much like regular Dr Pepper, but has a slightly more cherry taste, and a very weak vanilla. It’s not bad, for sure, but I don’t think its really very different.

Jenn and I went for a bike ride today. My bike is at Bay Vac and Pedal, so I rode my brothers, which wasn’t great. Bike ridding is still fun though. We rode to A&W, which opened yesterday.

Also today, I registered for fall semester at Delta. Hopefully I get fin-aid.

OK, thats all. See you Thursday.

nick

Mealy mouthed crotch pheasant!

Various Stuffs

Well, we watched most of the Superbowl, with the exception of while we were cooking. I pretty much knew New England would win.

We made jalapeno poppers and buffalo chicken fingers for dinner. Too much fried food I think.

The very hyped Simpsons was decent, but not great. American Dad was good, but not Family Guy.

I found a cool pic.

Bridge
Is from a highway opening, bridge goes from right to left lane. MDOT set it up. I thought it was funny.

Jenn and I went to SnowFest in Frankenmuth on Friday. It was ok, not all I hoped.

OK, go about your lives.

nick

Wow, hi, if I knew you were coming I would have gone and got some donuts or something, about 30 seconds ago.

Number 191/129

Just for the sake of maybe something to write about, I looked at the post from one year ago today. I actually remember writing it, which is more than a bit scary. That is a main goal of the blog though, to provide a way for me to look back at what was happening on whatever previous day, and a point I have been neglecting. The bad news is though, that there hasn’t been anything happening lately. The only things I really do are with Jenn, and I deem many of them unfit for sharing (get the dirty thoughts out of your mind people, its not bad stuff, just personal stuff, or just rather boring).

Anyway…

We went golfing yesterday. I never knew how much goose shit you can pick upon your shoes. Jenn did not bad, I did do bad. I had an 18 on the first hole, which was a par 4. I did progressively better as the day went on, but we had to quit because it was getting rather dark. I owe Jenn 4 balls, that I lost to the water.

This morning we went to the Career Fair at SVSU, if you can call 8 hospital reps a career fair. I guess it should be refered to as a job fair, as the career has clearly already been chosen in this case.

Afterward we went to Chen’s, which was good (as always, except the chicken strips (inside joke, sorry)). Then a nap followed by Jenn going to class.

After her class, we watch TV and after Good Eats, Jenn decided she wanted to make Sweet Potato pie. So, we ran to Meijer and got what we needed, and picked up Mr. Deeds and Shrek 2. Shrek 1 was good, and I must say so was 2. Mr. Deeds will be tomorrow.

Also tomorrow, is the making of the sweet potato pie and apparently a parade down Broadway. Not supposed to be anything big though; Marching band, commissioner, Mayor, fire trucks, etc…

Ok, I think that’s plenty for today. Will update again Saturday.

nick

So, the sun’s a giant star?
Actually, its only a medium star.
Oh…

Little Stuff

Lets see…

I have added a few links on the links page.

My Mom, Scott, Jenn and I went to Golden Dragon today for lunch, then I sat for 2 hours as my Mom and Jenn had their nails done.

Jenn, my Mom, Dan, Chris, Steph and I went bowling tonight.

Jenn and I took the camera we bought in Mackinaw to Meijer and had the pics developed, will post scans soon.

I found my GT2 discs. Still pissed that the Simulation mode disk is cracked. Also pissed I have no idea where my PS1 or PS2 memory card is.

I think thats it. See you Monday.

nick

Eww, Monday.

Jenn and I went for a bike ride Friday night to see the progress of the River of Time, they were pretty well set up by 9 ish when we were there. We went back Saturday to walk around. She seemed to enjoy it, and has become addicted to the kettle corn, likes the cream soda, and was having alot of fun watching this red bearded Scottish guy officiate a weird form of tug-o-war.

We were both sick over the weekend. Jenn is pretty much better, and I am not quite, but close.

We made shrimp stir fry last night. It was pretty good. My “Alton Brown’s Sweet and Sour Pork” is still the best chinese I’ve ever made though.

Thursday Tim came in from PA. He left today. I think i saw him for all of 10 minutes. Oh well, he is always busy when he comes into town, and now that I kinda have a life, it’s worse.

Also on Thursday, we had a plumbing problem. After work, there is nothing like a shower. I however, didn’t get one. As I ran water to get it at the right temp, I realized it wasn’t going down the drain. So, I shut off the water and tried plunging. I realized most of my suction was being lost to the overflow, so removed and plugged that. Then, I remembered that the tub, bathroom sink, and kitchen sink are all on the same sewage line, so plugged all them. After a few minutes, I went to see if the other drains were working, and they weren’t. I had worked the clog deeper along the pipe, rather than out like I had hoped. So, I began plunging on one of the two basins of our kitchen sink, and began getting hair and strings out. After this stopped producing much, I tried the other basin. A few moments later, the water started going down, and I was happy. The kitchen, bathroom, and tub all drained, but not where I wanted. I had heard a “waterfall” like noise just after the clog busted, coming from the basement. Upon inspecting, the pipe had burst. The old cast-iron pipe had all but rusted through, and the pressure from me plunging must have been the final straw. It was not pretty. I went over to Jenn’s to shower, as it had been about an hour now since I came home and was actually dirtier than when I started, and my mom called my uncle for assistance.

Two hours later my uncle showed up to help fix the pipes (Help is way understating it. He did pretty much everything as I had no clue. PVC – PVC is fine, but the whole PVC – Iron thing I don’t like, especially the cutting iron part.) It turns out the pipe was at least 50 years old, and had an opening about 1/2″ diameter through the 2″ pipe. Thats a lot of yucky buildup. All is well now though.

OK, that is all till Thursday.

bye

nick