SBF weekend

As coined by my lovely bride. :) After the roofers got done on Friday, I was able to escape to south Georgia and Laura Walker State Park for a couple of days of guy stuff. Fishing, boating and golfing ensued, interspersed with a couple of adult beverages and some really damn good food! Sunday was a lot of fun when we headed south down near the Okefenokee swamp to shoot sporting clays at Okefenokee Sporting Clays. I haven't had that much fun for so few dollars in quite a long time! Those folks have quite the setup going on down there! If you're in to shooting clays, make this a destination.

The roof, the roof, it's not on fire

I'm on vacation this week so that we can get some much needed work done to the house. This is something that I just won't tackle myself since it's so time consuming and I just don't trust myself to put a roof on my on home. :) Anyway, the word was that work was to begin on Monday, but since Atlanta had over 3 inches of rain Saturday, Sunday and Monday, they weren't able to begin work until today. Now that work has begun though, it's proceeding at breakneck speed. The interior guys came in this morning and scraped the kitchen ceiling of all the nasty popcorn that was sprayed when that room was constructed. They got done about 1:30 and took off, promising to be back and be done tomorrow. They still have to put a textured (not popcorn and not stiple) ceiling in the kitchen, paint the living room ceiling, paint the master bath ceiling and re-popcorn the garage. The roof guys showed at about three and are still at it. So far, they've stripped about 2/3 of the roof of the old shingles and I think are beginning to lay down the felt underlayment. They promise to be done tomorrow as well. Here's hoping! In the meantime, I'm taking this opportunity to clean and re-organize the garage. It's slow going, but I'll get there eventually. We just have way too much stuff! Anyone need some whippet size wire drop pin crates? How about Verikennals, small whippet sized? Let me know and I can send pictures.

All this is really getting in the way of my fun, let me tell you! :) Me and my buddies have had a camping trip planned for about three months. That trip is supposed to start tomorrow, but if the work around here isn't done, I probably will be joining them a little late. I just don't want to leave and the work not be done yet.

The good news? All this work is being covered by our homeowners insurance! This is the first claim I've ever made on homeowners (hail damage to the roof and subsequent water damage) and I couldn't be happier! Didn't have to squabble with the adjustor or the mortgage company about the cost of getting the funds. It's been quite a pleasant experience.

Well, let's hope that the work is done well and done soon!

Proving the GA Legislature still has it's head up it's ...

Georgia is one of three, yes three, states where you can only buy packaged alcohol six days a week. Every year a bill is submitted to allow voters to decide whether their municipalities will allow Sunday sale of alcohol and every year that bill gets lots of attention. Attention from the news media, attention from the pulpit and attention from the general public. Seems that public sentiment always leans towards allowing the people to decide, but try to sell that to the legislature. This year is no different.

Bandwagon issues get lots of attention though, and usually sail right through. Take for example octo-mom and her brood. Don't worry about that happening here in Georgia, no sir! The legislature will tell you how many embryos you can implant.

Choice is what it comes down to. Obviously the Georgia legislators think that their constituents are just not intelligent enough to decide what is best for themselves.

Throw the bums out.

Too young

Pylon guitarist Randy Bewley passed away last week. Pylon is one of the pioneers of the Athens, GA music movement during the late '70's and early '80's, the movement that shaped post-punk, new wave and pop music in the United States. This was the music that shaped my musical tastes from the early '80's on.

Can a host at CNBC keep his job after this???

h/t to tam

Dog's 10 Commandments

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.

3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.

10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

h/t to xavier

I did say I'd blog more...

But didn't guarantee the quality of the content.

I've been sick since Sunday, leading to the dearth of posts. I'm trying to find the groove again and hope to be back soon.

"I pledge"...

I pledge to be an individual. To not follow the Hollywood douchebags who try think celebrity = wisdom. To fight socialism.

This video earns the 'Nope' seal from me today...

This looks like a lot of fun!!!

Amazing New Water-Powered Jet Pack - Watch more Free Videos

iPhone love

As I've written here before, I believe the iPhone to be the best cell phone I've ever used. I started out with Nokia phones and kept with simple Nokia phones until I got my iPhone. I loved Nokia, they seemed bulletproof, had great sound and grabbed even the weakest signal. I tried out a Motorola Razr, but was totally disappointed in it's performance. My kids have had numerous brands of phones from Motorola to Samsung and I just haven't seen much quality.

When I got the iPhone, it took a little getting used to. Speeds weren't all that great and the firmware seemed a bit...quirky, I guess would be the best way to put it. One thing that I noticed was with 3G turned off, I got the best signal reception I had ever gotten, even beating the various Nokia models I had used. Notice that I had 3G turned off. Until the first week of January, AT&T's 3G network was non-existant past just a few miles away from downtown. I coped, though, using the EDGE network for data when I wasn't around a wifi connection. According to this article, most of the iPhone's speed issues could be traced to AT&T's network.

BAM, the week after Christmas, I'm messing with the iPhone. Hmm, let me just check out the range of the 3G network. WOW! We're pretty much covered up with 3G around here now! I love the increased speed. The iPhone, while always a thrill to use, became even better and has fulfilled all my expectations now.

Vote

Please vote on this gun issue question with USA Today. It will only take a few seconds of your time. Then pass the link on to all the folks you know. Hopefully these results will be published later this month. This upcoming year will become critical for gun owners with the Supreme Court accepting the District of Columbia case against the right for individuals to bear arms.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/quickquestion/2007/november/popup5895.htm

Help out a friend to sportsmen

Go read on Dan's blog about Dutch Salmon's son and their tribulations over the past little while. I don't know Dutch, but know of him quite a bit. He's a renowned author, houndsman and hunter.

Cool technology

Apple has filed a patent application for what looks like a huge advancement in UI. An ambient sound sensor will detect the presence and level of sound in your environment and automatically adjust the volume of your electronics accordingly.

See MacRumors.com for more information

Is one of Obama's key appointees a PETA radical?

Cass Sunstein, chosen by President Obama to head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, could jeopardize your ability to hunt, eat meat or have pets. According to this article, Sunstein "has a secret aim to push a radical animal-rights agenda in the White House. Sunstein supports outlawing sport hunting, giving animals the legal right to file lawsuits, and using government regulations to phase out meat consumption."

If you're at all concerned, please speak up.

h/t Steve Bodio's Querencia

Martyrs

Just piss me off. For the majority of the years I've been involved in lure coursing, I've had to suffer a certain fool who likes to stir up all kinds of crap, break rules, generally cause trouble then turns around and plays the victim. I'm over it. I've decided that Dan's gift says it best. So, I'll post it once again.

4000!

Thanks to the 4000th visitor to this little blog, registered this morning. I'll post more details later.

A gift from my friend...

Dan, aka Shot on Site, aka dyed in the wool pinko...



Picture was taken while we were both in Hollister, CA this past summer. That finger is what I think... :)

Tam-a-lanche

See Tuesday 1/13? Many of those visits are thanks to Tam linking to the Obama Test. If you haven't yet, please go read View From The Porch. It's one of my faves.

{edit}LMAO, it's a Tam-a-lanche, not a Ta-a-lanche. I wouldn't even know what that is!

Well, he is an embarrassment to me...

I'm an embarrassment to Barack!


I only scored 18 on the Obama Test

Update on the hounds

We haven't had too much to brag about regarding the hounds lately, mostly because we just haven't been running them that much. I got some great news in my email the other day that Lobo has finished his LCM 6! We're extremely proud of the Little Buddy!