For a few reasons…

First my main intentions of this blog were to focus on funny stories about my work, after I wrote a blog about it I decided it was not a good thing to be doing just in case any of my co-workers came across this.  I don’t believe they would but wifey told me it wasn’t a good idea and I listen to her on the little things in life.  On the important things I put up a fight and give my opinion, let that be known I’m not a complete pushover.

Second, I decided that until I make money, not only do I make money but I have intentions on running this business someday.  Meaning I am not making the effort I feel I should (even though this is done on my breaks).

Lastly, I have applied for and become the Chester County Conservative Examiner.   Yes I know some of you won’t read the articles that I write about, but I don’t care.  I listen to the news and am constantly keeping up with politics, at least as much as I can.  You may call me a nerd for listening to talk radio, and for switching to the news as soon as wifey falls asleep on the couch at night.

To my friends and family that read this, I thank you and I may start updating this again at some point, but for now I no longer have the time to do this.

I will post on this blog one more time with the address of my examiner articles.

Saturday was good got some golf in earlier in the day.  Played well shot an 82 which is ok since par for the course was 68.  I did get a chance to see a buddy I haven’t seen in a while and it was fun playing with him.  Bro-in-law also went and this time he got to golf in a more relaxed atmosphere with me.  It was the kind of round on a typical good day early in the season, you hit and wait, hit and wait.  I could have played better but my putting skills Saturday were putrid.  I don’t remember three putting so many greens in my life.  On the other hand I don’t recall hitting my driver so well.  Almost drove a couple of short par 4′s as I was about 10 yards right on the 305 yarder and one yard short on the 310 yarder.  I did actually drive the first hole but that is an extremely short par 4.  It’s 245 yards and I knocked a three iron barely on the front of the green and I FOUR PUTT.  Ridiculous.

Anyway while I was doing all that Precious was at home doing massive amounts of yard work.  I’m sure she’ll describe what she did and I will only praise her work here.  If you want to know what she did she will probably put it in her blog.

Saturday night was cool, her cousin’s son turned two and there was a good time at the party, as family was in from out-of-state and it was fun watching all the kids run around with squirt guns and buckets of water.  I remember exactly how fun it was to run around with the supersoaker 100 and nail people.  well maybe it was fun back then because I actually caught myself thinking man if one of those kids gets me I’m not gonna be happy.  Hold up, that shouldn’t have been my reaction, it should have been I’m gonna get the hose hook it up and watch them run.  but the kids seemed to have a good night and it’s always a good time when we go there.

Sunday was a relaxing day where we got to do pretty much nothing.  We went shopping and watched the Pens game but after that we decided to rent Avatar as most of the reviews raved about it and it won awards after awards, and of course there were the reviews that called it political and racist.   Let me start by saying we rented it and even though the 50 inch plasma is a great TV, I do see how it took a substantial amount out of the movie by not watching it in 3D.  All in all it was a good movie.  The best part of the movie was definitely the SFX.  I am however glad that I didn’t see it in the theatre and pay $12 to see it.

The plot was ok, if you’re looking for it to be political it would be I guess.  Humans taking over another world pretty much.  I didn’t take it as political or racist at all and if I didn’t I don’t think most would.  I don’t look for underlying themes to be played out to make a political stance.  It wasn’t exactly my typical movie choice (usually a comedy or quality action film).  The action was okay and for how long it was I thought there was going to be more action throughout the movie.  There was a good bit of action at the end, but more than anything seemed like a love story and I will leave it at that.

Farewell for now.

I see my pictures on facebook and myspace still of my weight loss and it almost discourages me.  Well it discourages me in one aspect, my parents spent the money to do something like that for me and it worked for a short amount of time.  After speaking with Precious last night albeit briefly, I believe the right way to go through this new change I’m going through is going to be through eating right with exercise.  I don’t know many people who tried the “fad diets” and kept the weight off so I’m doing this via Precious’ home cooked wonderfully delicious yet light meals and EXERCISE.  I don’t know why I don’t exercise that much anymore I always felt good afterwords but starting with something tonight that’s my goal.  Lose the right way and let the weight come off slowly.

Again I didn’t mean for it to come across as I have diabetes, he just wants to check for that, cholesterol and make sure I’m healthy.  I worry a lot about certain things and when I heard that word, I almost flipped out.  I’m just mad at myself for my own behavior.  It’s time for a change and I’m gonna make it happen.  That is all.

It isn’t really a big deal, he just wants to make sure I don’t have anything wrong with me like high cholesterol or diabetes or anything of the like.  Huh?  Did you say diabetes?  For some reason that word is like the plague to me.  I had a friend quite some time back who had diabetes, he was very in shape (in fact we played on a traveling soccer team together)  who happened to develop diabetes. He passed away indirectly from diabetes I guess would be the best way to put it, but still it’s one of those things you don’t want.

I know quite a few people who have/had diabetes. I would be willing to bet most people know someone or aren’t far removed from someone who has it.  Even though the doctor said he just wants to make sure, I can’t help but think to myself, I’m an idiot.  I may not have been skinny after I hit Junior High or High School but I was always in shape and didn’t think diabetes was a worry or I would be getting checked for it with all the activities and sports I played I really got banged up and never kept up on my fitness. I know he didn’t tell me he was worried about it, but just hearing that word is enough for me.

That’s where I’m hoping this change may come in.  I’m doing it and i hope it’s one of those life experiences that really make my life take a turn for the better.  I’m going to start exercising, and eating right.  I have been eating healthier but only because Precious has been cooking better AND controlling my intake.  There’s no more of that junk food, there’s no more being “too tired” to take the dogs for a walk, there’s no more exercise equipment collecting dust from non-use.  It’s coming up on the season where I play tennis with my friends anyway so I know I can get active and I really hope I stay that way.

I turned to encouragement from Wifey and she was supportive but I think we are going to sit down and go over exactly what has to happen in order for me (us, even the dogs) to get in shape. No more sedentary lifestyle, it’s so nice to get home and not do anything but it needs to stop.  I don’t know what the heck to do at this point, but I do know one thing it’s time.

Got to see some friends this weekend, which was the first time since we have been back from “vacation”.  It was nice, friends are good.  Sadly not everyone could make it and not so sadly others couldn’t either.  Some had commitments and some were having fun elsewhere.  It was a good time Saturday night,  had a fire going which was perfect for the weather outside.  Sometimes I miss the good ole days of hanging out like we used to and then there are the days after which remind you, “you idiot you’re way to old to be staying up after midnight drinking”.  I already called my self a wuss in a previous post I yam what I yam.

Anyways I’m glad to say even though I had drank a good bit on Saturday I wasn’t bad Sunday for my second round of golf this year.  I’m starting this year off well and having two rounds in before the beginning of June is more than I have ever done in my life.  I played well, shot an 87 and in the weather we had I thought it was pretty good, winds gusting up to 20 mph.  The biggest thing about golf ing this weekend was actually going to hit some balls at the range on Friday after work with my Precious.

She was hitting the ball very well, and though not all of them had great hang time she was hitting them hard.  She even talked of taking lessons.  I am hoping she is serious about this, she also said she wants her own clubs (she has some but she may want to pick out her own) and if she stays with it she will have her own in no time.  I need a golf partner, or at least if she gets more into golfing I will be able to golf more, at least that’s the theory. I’m really hoping that she takes some lessons and begins to really enjoy the game, I think it would be a great bonding time for us since the only real activities that we do together are watch TV and take the dogs to the park.

Well I am keeping my fingers crossed on that.

I’m apparently very busy today so, peace I’m out.

Anyway, I decided to splurge since we had the gift certificate and try a couple of the micro-brews that they have.  Before I get started on what I had I must say this place has one of the better selections of beer as well.  I tried two different beers last night and walked out drunk, yes I may be a wuss and I’m okay with that.  I don’t drink often anymore and that’s good for me and the people around me.  LOL.  So the second beer I had was not quite as good as the first, it was “Alba” and it was a Scottish Ale, it claimed.  This beer was very unique, just a bit hoppy a solid flavor but the after taste was delicious, and finished with a slightly cinnamon flavor.  Definitely one of the best beers I’ve had although I the Belhaven Scottish Ale outranks every other beer I’ve had.

I’m not a big beer drinker however, I do like to try different micro-brews.  The normal boring taste of the big beer companies pretty much bores me at this point.  If you have want to try a different beer than your normal, I’m recommending to anyone that likes a good beer to try Belhaven.  Troegenator used to be my favorite by I now have a new favie.  The Belhaven came in a 14.0 oz. can with the nitrogen ball just like guiness does which kind of surprised but this was a good thing as I love Guinness as well.  This beer had one heck of flavor to it and just seemed to me to be the right mix of everything.  Not an overpowering taste whatsoever, perfect hoppiness for me, a nice creamy head on it and an awesome bouquet.

I walked out of the bar a very satisfied man and From the Jamaican Jerk Wings to the Belhaven.   I already have done a search for who may carry this beer and it looks like Kunda in King of Prussia is the only place around me.  I’m hoping to talk the Wifey into letting me go out and splurge just a little on a case or two.  Actually check that, since she informed me that “While I do the yard work she is going to go get her nails done on Saturday”  I will have no problem with this as long as when I’m done I have a Belhaven waiting for me.

Have a good weekend I’m out.

Ridiculousness I don’t know how an airline can do this to people and speaking of people let me tell you about the others that were standing in the mob of angry “passengers”. The first being the j/o who cursed out the attendant, she threatens to call security on him but does she, no. So his wife chimes in and looking back at it it seems miraculous that she was able to be nice enough to get the attendant to calm down enough to not actually call the cops. He said something to the effect of “I know what you people do, you take all our money and just five us a big f you” right in her face. It was at that point that said attendant was furious and tells the guy that he “won’t be flying US Air today, tomorrow or ever”. Sweet! Get them out of the way.

So the another group of people were the husband and wife who were supposed to get on in front of us but the husband was busy eating or making a call to stand at the gate to see if they would be able to board. The wife requested that “since there are so many people, why don’t you get a private charter to fly us all done?” Shaa right, like that would happen.

Anyways the group that was the biggest annoyance yet most sympathized with was standing next to us and I’m not sure anyone is ready and going to believe this as I still don’t think I’m 100% convinced.  The woman next to us starts telling the managers who were “working their magic” (their words not mine) on trying to get us out that it is imperative that they get down there tonight.  Her brother went out on an earlier flight because they couldn’t get the enough seats on one plane, so they sent him down by himself and EIGHT of them were flying down on the flight we were supposed to be on.  Here’s the thing, that one person they sent down by himself wasn’t exactly the one person who should have been flying by himself.  On top of dying from brain cancer, he was dyslexic and they told him to wait in the airport until they got there I suppose.  You do not have to ask if I said that correctly, I did.  Out of 9 people they sent the one who should NOT be by himself, well by himself.   I don’t usually sympathize with total morons, but I guess I did at that point.

In the meantime, my mom and dad were calling, and thankfully my mom found a flight out of Lehigh Valley direct the next day at 11 am.  Amazing!  Now all we have to do is argue with the stupid US Air managers about what they can do for us and to make sure we STILL have our flight back and our seat assignments on the flight.   So first things first, we want our “denied boarding” check which is just enough to keep us from screaming bloody murder.  Next we try to get our rental car refunded and our hotel room refunded.  I don’t think it’s asking for a lot, in fact I think that when a company tries to stick it to you like US Air is doing especially in that industry we are entitled to try to get whatever we can from them.  The only thing they can do for us about that is to tell us to send in the receipts and see where it gets us basically.

Making our way from the gate we hurriedly go over to baggage claim to try to call a rental car company, since our car is parked in the long term valet service and we will be flying back into philly we can’t take it to Lehigh Valley.  Trying to do this wasn’t too bad it only took four rental car companies to find one that could accommodate us.  A little bit of  fun was had though, our car was from Quebec and the spedo was in Km/H, so it was interesting when I looked down and was doing 120 on the turnpike and not seeming to go all that fast.

The rest of the trip down hardly goes pretty smooth.  WooHoo, we started our vacation and only about 14 hours late.  Of course we were a lot more tired and didn’t feel like doing much but relaxing on the first day but whatever it was worth.

I am skipping our vacation details in this post for two reason 1) the details I would talk about are very private 2) it takes too much time.

Well, we are wrapping up our vacation and come Thursday at exactly 24 hours before our takeoff, I go to check in, and I hope you’re sitting down for this, we can’t check in.  After a lengthy phone call to US Air and a few expletives later they make arrangements where we get seat assignments on our flight home.  Two things about this are kind of funny 1) while at the gate in Philadelphia Wifey Poo made the manager at the gate repeat to her FOUR times that we are on the flight coming back and she made her tell us our seat assignments and 2) they told me we didn’t have seats on our flight going back because we WEREN’T ON THE PLANE.  Ridiculousness, I tell you.

Anyway we’re home, and we have been extremely busy.  So busy we haven’t been able to have a minute to ourselves.  Thankfully it’s slowing down and everything is ok now.

I am not sure where to begin this epic story of my vacation so I guess it will begin the Thursday.  Our flight was on Friday but as every passenger of the airlines knows you should check in at the beginning of the 24 hour allowed online check in period.  Well, Wifey and I had just gotten home from running around that night and me, being my paranoid self about traveling, was on edge to just make sure we checked in so we didn’t have to worry about it.  So at exactly 24 hours before our flight we go online to check in, UH OH! What does that error message say?  “Sorry we are unable to process your request at this time”.  HA figures.  Refresh, do it again.  Same thing, okay refresh do it again.  Same thing.  Hmmmm, okay refresh, same thing, refresh same thing.  Alright, now I’m ticked.  Hey sweetie pie, will you call the airline as I’m trying to do this.  “Sure”, she says.  Twenty minutes later, I cannot check in still.  “Yo babe” I say in my macho, extremely ticked off tone “did you get through?” “I did but they said I couldn’t check in by phone, I could only upgrade by phone”.  That’s about the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.

I’m pretty sure she told me later that when she talked to the person that we had GUARANTEED seats.  (Keep the Guaranteed seats in mind for later on)  Okay then no problem, but like I said I’m a little paranoid about flying considering I’m on US Air which has jacked me around on multiple occasions.  So, of course I called mi hermana, since she and bro-in-law were on the same flight down, “hey, were you guys able to check in?”, of course they were and my panic escalates.

Friday comes and none to soon more problems.  I will say traffic was not terrible for a Friday afternoon trip to the city nor was the wait at the valet where we were parking our car for the week.  We get to the airport and got to the men outside who were checking bags and kindly asked them to print out our boarding passes.  “Oh, that’s weird we don’t have seats on ours. Hey sister, do you have seats on yours?”  But of course they do, they were able to check in online the night before.  They tell us to go to the gate. We of course do as they told.

We make it through security with a slight problem which my sister can tell you about if she wants, but I can tell you sometimes security actually DOES check the contents of your bags.  We finally arrive at the gate and see an annoying group of females, the same females that had cut in front of everyone at the security line, which just irritated me to no end.  I hate when people think they are special and just jump in front of others.  Anyhow, they are talking to someone cause they obviously made it there before we did.  Turns out the person they are talking to couldn’t help them out and luckily for us they had the same problem we did.

We hurriedly go over to the counter at the gate and I stand there awaiting a person to come to help us out.  The group of annoying people joins me standing right behind.  I laugh a little thinking to myself, I’m soo happy they have to wait behind me (it’s the little things in life I get the most enjoyment out of).  So I’m waiting… and waiting… and still waiting, sent Rachel out to look for some food, she comes back as I WAIT, she goes back out to get us some food.  She comes back with food to eat while we WAIT.  I won’t bore you anymore with the whole waiting thing, but we waited for the attendant to get to the gate.

She get’s there.  Let’s throw a party!  Actually she tells us to wait for five minutes while she takes her call and opens up the computer system.  Now, if you could have seen the look on her face when she took a look at the computer again, you would have felt your heart sink as I did mine.  She put’s her finger up to tell us to hold on as she makes an announcement.  “Ladies and gentlemen flying to Fort Lauderdale, this plane has been oversold so if you don’t have a confirmed seat assignment please step away from the counter.  If you have a confirmed seat assignment and are flexible with your flying date please come to the counter.”  Bang shot down, but I am still standing there I didn’t care what she said.  An older couple comes to the counter right next to me and says we can give up our seats, I blurt out “I’ll take them” to which she informs me that it doesn’t work that way.

So as I’m getting irritated and telling her we have confirmed seats for the way back and we must have had seats for the flight down, a rude and obnoxious j/o tries to tell me that it doesn’t work like that.  Bad news for you bub, I have flown enough and bought enough airline tickets to know exactly the way it works, and it works exactly like that.  Which is almost exactly what I told him minus the “bub”.  I finally walked away to let the attendants “work their magic” their words not mine.  I give them some credit as they stood there at the counter, but I never actually saw them do anything.

As we are powerless and awaiting any word as to if we got a seat on the plane, the plane then begins boarding.  My sister being the kind person she was tells us she won’t get on the plane if we can’t because it’s not right.  Thank you sister but you can’t give up your seats cause they won’t refund you ticket and you nor I know when we can get a ticket.

After all confirmed seats are boarded the attendants make a trip through the plane to count the seats and board all passengers possible that are in the same situation as us.  We just got that feeling in our stomachs that we know we aren’t boarding, when we overhear the attendants telling the woman “If your husband’s not back in 60 seconds we will have to board the next people”.   I walked up to the counter and asked “who’s next?”.  her reply was music to our ears “Gibson’s party of two”  Hey love, our tables ready. get your bags.  So my love and I turned out to be popes at the time and prayed like crazy he didn’t make it back, looks were exchanged like, “I can’t believe you let your husband leave you deserve this, idiot” and “OHH please I hope he’s running like the dickens”.  Then we hear it, “okay Gibson’s” That’s us!!!!

We gave them our boarding passes, they rip them and give them back.  As soon as we start to wheel our bags to the walkway we hear “Is this plane boarding?” the flight attendant tells the person “that’s it unless you have a confirmed seat”, the drunken d-bag “we do and they’re first class”.

Son of a b*tch.  They gave us back our boarding passes and let them board.  You’ve got to be kidding me.  Kicked off the plane twice.  That’s a real slap in the balls.

Now to let everyone who has not had this happen to them what it feels like, close the front door to your house lock it tight so it has no wiggle room, step back about 50 feet and run full speed making sure to catch you genitals on the door knob.  That’s well not the exact kind of pain but if it were physical pain that we were feeling that would be it.

Our next directives were to wait for them to find us another flight and I guess that will be part 2 of this story.

So that’s that, about my spending.  Let’s talk about other people’s spending.  Again, I’m not making this political with the Health Care bill so you can keep reading with no problems.  I have a question though, who would spend money or care enough to spend money to find out that the meals in the time of Jesus were or smaller than what they are now?  What’s the big deal?  I don’t care if the plates were smaller than, the effect on me is… well there is no effect.  What do you want to do, make all the companies who make plates decrease the size of them?  Good Luck.  So my point is this, If you really care about this go ahead and call me what you want, but there is much better things out there to spend money on, we know that people are getting fatter but what do you want to do, look at the past and say “see they had smaller meals”, or do you want to fix what we do know by teaching nutrition in schools (just an example).  I am ranting, changing the subject.

So vacation is two days away.  I can’t believe I’m actually going on vacation with my family.  It’s been so long but I’m looking forward to it.  it’s going to be great.  The last time I went on vacation with my entire family was the summer going into 11 grade I believe.  My dad and I met the rest of the family down in Ft. Lauderdale due to me being at a football camp.  It was actually a Penn State football camp where I had actually gotten turf toe the first week, which was a positional camp (meaning we spent time with the coaches learning more about our positions from the PSU coaches.  I guess it wouldn’t have been so bad had I not had it on my right foot and then went to the PSU kicking camp for the next 3 days.  I had no choice in the matter though, I would not have done it but I was invited to go to the camp by the Special teams coach who wanted to take me on a tour of the new facilities and Joe Pa’s office.  Well being a big PSU fan I couldn’t pass that up and i stayed which was probably not good for my vacation.  I do remember the plane ride down with my dad too, I don’t think I will ever forget it.  this was long enough ago that planes would actually make the flight even if they weren’t 75% full.  Our flight that day was so empty that all the passengers had their own row, even my toe got its own seat.

So the plans have changed for what exactly we are going to do and I don’t even care.  The swimming with the dolphins might not happen now due to some fo the family doesn’t want to do it.  That’s ok with me but I think it will be fun to do, so one day it’s me and you flipper and you better swim fast. I can’t wait for the fishing though, not sure what’s running right now as boats didn’t seem to report anything this past week. I guess it looks like it’s blackfin tuna.  Of course, the usual are still there the cuda and blue runners. Whatever it is doesn’t matter, just being on the boat with the fam or at least some of them will be good enough.

I don’t have too much more to say that I can share in a public forum, but I will say have a great day, and since I probably won’t be back to blogging for about 10 days.  Take care of yourselves and… oh wait that’s Jerry’s line.  Peace, I’m out.