ACTUALLY A VERY STRESSFUL 10 DAYS
It all started a week ago Sunday. Actually according to my brother it started 10 years ago. On that Sunday I found one of my car keys on my brothers key chain. I never gave it to him and money was missing from my car. ( I am a non-smoker so what else do you put in the ashtray). SO that day I told him it was time he found his own place to live after 9 months of mooching of me and my couch.
Monday
My Min Pin jump off the bed and twisted her ankle. This was actually relatively cheap. I took her to a late night vet in Vegas and got some pain pills. Only $99,
Wednesday
All four of my car tires were slashed
It rained and my ceiling was leakin
Thursday
A cat fell thru the wet spot in my ceiling. I still have a 6 sq. ft. hole. 6 days later.
Friday
I think everything went okay that day
Saturday
Came out at 5pm to walk the dogs and found that 2 more of my tires had been slashed
Made out with some girl at work.
Sunday
Got home Sunday morning to find out that the same asshole had come back and cut the other
two tires.
Monday
Started parking my car and motorcycle at the ex girlfriends house. She's cool. We get along great.
I ride my mountain bike over and pick it up.
BOught a new mountain bike from REI because my brother managed to get the old one stolen.
it wasn't fancy but it ran good.
Tuesday
Daytime was fine and uneventful
I went to be around 1:30am. Couldn't sleep. Got back up around 2am and watch some of
the Olympics.
At Approx. 3:15 I was
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
WHAT A WEEK
ACTUALLY A VERY STRESSFUL 10 DAYS
It all started a week ago Sunday. Actually according to my brother it started 10 years ago. On that Sunday I found one of my car keys on my brothers key chain. I never gave it to him and money was missing from my car. ( I am a non-smoker so what else do you put in the ashtray). SO that day I told him it was time he found his own place to live after 9 months of mooching of me and my couch.
Monday
My Min Pin jump off the bed and twisted her ankle. This was actually relatively cheap. I took her to a late night vet in Vegas and got some pain pills. Only $99,
Wednesday
All four of my car tires were slashed
It rained and my ceiling was leakin
Thursday
A cat fell thru the wet spot in my ceiling. I still have a 6 sq. ft. hole. 6 days later.
Friday
I think everything went okay that day
Saturday
Came out at 5pm to walk the dogs and found that 2 more of my tires had been slashed
Made out with some girl at work.
Sunday
Got home Sunday morning to find out that the same asshole had come back and cut the other
two tires.
Monday
Started parking my car and motorcycle at the ex girlfriends house. She's cool. We get along great.
I ride my mountain bike over and pick it up.
BOught a new mountain bike from REI because my brother managed to get the old one stolen.
it wasn't fancy but it ran good.
Tuesday
Daytime was fine and uneventful
I went to be around 1:30am. Couldn't sleep. Got back up around 2am and watch some of
the Olympics.
At Approx. 3:15 I was scared shitless by what sound like 4 gun shots and my patio door window
Craahing in to the living room. Turned out it was 3-4 rocks and the windows cracking loudly when they got hit by the rock. Didn't know this until after I called 911 and the police got to my apartment.
Wednesday
Waited until 3pm to have the window installed. Temp in my apartment reached 95 degrees.
I was going to buy some 4x8 ft plywood to protect the windows but the window guy had a great suggestion. I took my sliding doors out of my closet and placed them in front of the window. Hopefully that helps until I move
It's 8pm and I am still waiting for it to cool off so that I can sleep before my graveyard shift tonight.
Gonna spend the next couple of days finding a new apartment. Got a line on a 1 bedroom garage conversion that I will check out in the morning. It's actually about $!00 cheaper than the current apartment. We'll see how it goes in the morning. The I will come home and hopefully get a couple hours of sleep and go apartment hunting. Have to keep it cheap because at this time I don't make shit in my job. I would leave it but I just got benefits.
I don't know what my brother did to the guy doing this but I know it is not any of my doing.....I live a vanilla life and I like it. I don't get into fights or arguments. When I move I will never tell my brother where I live again. I ma done with him. I would change my phone number also but I like it and everybody knows it.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
ASSHOLE!!!!
GOODBYE
This morning I told my brother, who has been sleeping on my couch for the last 9 months, that it was time for him to leave. He has become too much of an issue for me to continue to deal with it. I have given him a lot of warnings in the past and I finally tired of his shit.
BACK STORY
My brother is 17 years younger than me and has struggled with drugs since he was a teenager. He went to rehab an couple of years ago and seemed to be doing better so last year when I was losing my house I let him stay there rent free because he had no where to go. During this time I also had him watch my dogs in my apartment if I was working really long hours. Around mid-October I did a century bicycle ride and knew I would be gone a long time so I had him come over to watch the pups for the day. Somehow he ended up staying on my couch. It was never invited but 9 months later he is still here.
Over the nine months I have had a variety of things come up missing. A Gerber utility tool, my I Touch, a digital camera, money on numerous occasions. Plus he would eat me out of house and home with out bothering to buy any sort of food or maybe even volunteer to walk the dogs without being asked. I have told him that this is my apartment and his friends are not welcome (sounds harsh but I know his friends). This being said I have no doubt he has had numerous friends over. The biggest clue was when he cleaned the apartment after I went to work. Well that and the women's underwear and dildos that I have found in his stuff while looking for my possessions.
A couple of weeks ago when I got in my car my ashtray (where all non-smokers keep change) was open. I never do this. Then it happened again a couple of days later. So I got suspicious. As a photographer I notice little things that are out of place like that. SO my first thought was to check on the location of my 2 spare keys. I was right. One of them was missing. The next 10 days or so I would look thru his stuff to see if I could find the key. Well the first thing I found was a pipe used for smoking his drugs. Did I say he is a "recovering addict". I didn't find the key but I kept checking everyday. Usually when he headed to the bathroom or was on my patio with the blinds drawn. Today, after about 10 days of looking, I found the key. On a key ring sitting amongst his stuff he keeps on the coffee table. I waited a few minutes just to calm down and just as he was falling asleep I woke him up and asked him " So when are you moving and showed him he key I had found". He was a bit shocked. He excuse was that he had found it on the floor about a week ago. I called bullshit on this because I had discovered it before I left for vacation ( I wasn't going to put off my vacation). He said he got busy and forgot to give it back. You don't put it on a key chain if that's what happened. You put it on the counter with a note. I might have believed him if money wasn't missing again. I then told him that I couldn't trust him and he had to go.
This is a short version with the basics of the story. I don't know what he is going to do for a place to stay but it was time for tough love. He makes more money than me. He could find an apartment in the shit hole I live in for about $550 a month. He is a union sound and lighting tech he should be able to afford that.
I love my brother but I am not going to be stolen from and lied to on a daily basis when I am payng his rent and buying his food. It went on way to long and I finally had to put my foot down.
This morning I told my brother, who has been sleeping on my couch for the last 9 months, that it was time for him to leave. He has become too much of an issue for me to continue to deal with it. I have given him a lot of warnings in the past and I finally tired of his shit.
BACK STORY
My brother is 17 years younger than me and has struggled with drugs since he was a teenager. He went to rehab an couple of years ago and seemed to be doing better so last year when I was losing my house I let him stay there rent free because he had no where to go. During this time I also had him watch my dogs in my apartment if I was working really long hours. Around mid-October I did a century bicycle ride and knew I would be gone a long time so I had him come over to watch the pups for the day. Somehow he ended up staying on my couch. It was never invited but 9 months later he is still here.
Over the nine months I have had a variety of things come up missing. A Gerber utility tool, my I Touch, a digital camera, money on numerous occasions. Plus he would eat me out of house and home with out bothering to buy any sort of food or maybe even volunteer to walk the dogs without being asked. I have told him that this is my apartment and his friends are not welcome (sounds harsh but I know his friends). This being said I have no doubt he has had numerous friends over. The biggest clue was when he cleaned the apartment after I went to work. Well that and the women's underwear and dildos that I have found in his stuff while looking for my possessions.
A couple of weeks ago when I got in my car my ashtray (where all non-smokers keep change) was open. I never do this. Then it happened again a couple of days later. So I got suspicious. As a photographer I notice little things that are out of place like that. SO my first thought was to check on the location of my 2 spare keys. I was right. One of them was missing. The next 10 days or so I would look thru his stuff to see if I could find the key. Well the first thing I found was a pipe used for smoking his drugs. Did I say he is a "recovering addict". I didn't find the key but I kept checking everyday. Usually when he headed to the bathroom or was on my patio with the blinds drawn. Today, after about 10 days of looking, I found the key. On a key ring sitting amongst his stuff he keeps on the coffee table. I waited a few minutes just to calm down and just as he was falling asleep I woke him up and asked him " So when are you moving and showed him he key I had found". He was a bit shocked. He excuse was that he had found it on the floor about a week ago. I called bullshit on this because I had discovered it before I left for vacation ( I wasn't going to put off my vacation). He said he got busy and forgot to give it back. You don't put it on a key chain if that's what happened. You put it on the counter with a note. I might have believed him if money wasn't missing again. I then told him that I couldn't trust him and he had to go.
This is a short version with the basics of the story. I don't know what he is going to do for a place to stay but it was time for tough love. He makes more money than me. He could find an apartment in the shit hole I live in for about $550 a month. He is a union sound and lighting tech he should be able to afford that.
I love my brother but I am not going to be stolen from and lied to on a daily basis when I am payng his rent and buying his food. It went on way to long and I finally had to put my foot down.
VACATION 2012
Took two extra days off form work a couple of days ago and got my ass out of town, I was burned out and I figured I had better do it while I had the time and money to do so. And some one to watch my dogs (more on that in the next post.
I went up into the California Sierra's and visited Yosemite, Mono Lake, Lee Vining, Mammoth Lakes, Bodie Ghost Town, and Devil's Post Pile. It was very good to get away, even if it was a bit warmer than I wanted, 40 miles down the road it was 105 degrees. Still better than home in Vegas, it was 115 + there.
The strangest moment was about 5am on the first day just outside of Lee Vining. I got there about 2 hours early and decided to find somewhere that I could pull over and take a nap in the car.I set my alarm for about 5:45am so that I could wake up and shoot photos of Mono Lake at Sunrise. Well my phone alarm has not been ringing properly so I didn't hear it go off. Around the time The alarm was supposed to go off, while I was sound asleep, I heard a voice call my name and wake me out of a sound sleep. Clear as day. It was so clear that I woke up and looked out my car windows to see who was outside my car. Nobody there. Just my mind. It was a little freaky.
I drove that morning into Yosemite Vally (this was not my intention) after driving into the entrance of the park. I got there so early I just kept driving and shooting the occasional photo. I got to Crane Flats (about 20 miles from the valley) and decided to go and see if the walk-in campground had any available sites for the night. There was no chance the more popular sites were have any availability. Plus it is only $5 for the walk-in campground. It is located right at the base of El Capitan and is traditionally a climbers campground. It was at least 95 degrees in the valley and with the traffic I was getting extremely overheated. I set up my campsite and made a bee line for the village store.....something to eat, ice, and BEER. back to my campsite to cool off and wait for sunset to go and shoot some photos.
The next day I drove back out of the valley, 75 miles, and went to Lee Vining to find a new campsite. Lee Vining is pretty much central to all of the areas that I was visiting. Plus it has all the normal amenities that you will need. I found a campsite at a motor home park and paid for 3 days. I don't mind camping out but at 50 years old I am not so much into roughing it. This campsite has a store, showers, flush toilets, hell it even had classic video games, and electricity so I could recharge my phone and e-reader. After setting the campsite I went immediately to Nicely's restaurant. I have been going there since the mid eighties. Great food for a small town. Seems to have gotten a little pricey but still worth it.
After lunch I decided to drive out to the Bodie Ghost Town and check it out while taking a few snaps. In all the times I had been to this area in the past I had never gone to the former gold mining town from the 1860's. It was a little warm but I was glad to go there it was pretty cool.
Over the next couple of days I spent my time going around to the various sites of the area and eating way to much. Overall it was a relaxing trip. I did a bit to much driving and not enough just sitting around.
I went up into the California Sierra's and visited Yosemite, Mono Lake, Lee Vining, Mammoth Lakes, Bodie Ghost Town, and Devil's Post Pile. It was very good to get away, even if it was a bit warmer than I wanted, 40 miles down the road it was 105 degrees. Still better than home in Vegas, it was 115 + there.
The strangest moment was about 5am on the first day just outside of Lee Vining. I got there about 2 hours early and decided to find somewhere that I could pull over and take a nap in the car.I set my alarm for about 5:45am so that I could wake up and shoot photos of Mono Lake at Sunrise. Well my phone alarm has not been ringing properly so I didn't hear it go off. Around the time The alarm was supposed to go off, while I was sound asleep, I heard a voice call my name and wake me out of a sound sleep. Clear as day. It was so clear that I woke up and looked out my car windows to see who was outside my car. Nobody there. Just my mind. It was a little freaky.
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| Mono Lake Tufa at Sunrise |
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| Half Dome at Sunset |
After lunch I decided to drive out to the Bodie Ghost Town and check it out while taking a few snaps. In all the times I had been to this area in the past I had never gone to the former gold mining town from the 1860's. It was a little warm but I was glad to go there it was pretty cool.
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| 150 Year Old Globe in the Bodie Classroom |
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| Me and a truck in Bodie |
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| The Bodie Stamp Mill Viewed Thru a Fallen Wall |
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| Devil's Post Pile |
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| Half Dome from Glacier Point |
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| Lee Vining Creek |
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| Food Truck at Mammoth Mountain |
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| Toulomne Creek at Sunrise |
Friday, June 15, 2012
BECAUSE THEY VOTE
I was having lunch the other day at a local Mexican restaurant and I had the occasion to watch a man get into his van. I would say try to get into his van but after about 15 minutes he finally made it in to the driver' seat. The man did not appear to be alcoholically or chemically impaired. He was Impaired though. He is physically handicapped and was using crutches. What got my attention about the whole situation was that I had to walk out to my car to get my reading glasses and had the occasion to peak into his car as I passed by. There did not appear to be any hand (beyond the norm) controls for him top use to drive his vehicle. There is no way that this gentleman can possible control his car and react in a timely manner if the occasion should arise. I realize that the man is handicapped senior citizen and was a disabled veteran but there has to be some point in life when some one has the power to tell you that you are not safe for yourself or others on the road. I also realize that most seniors never want to give up there mobility and I completely understand this as I have passed 50 and it will be a lot harder for me to get around as I get older but I hope some one will be brave enough to tell me that it is time to ask for help. I also hope that there will be that help to ask for when it comes time.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
RAINBOWS & PARIS
SNAPSHOT
I was on an assignment for the local newspaper last week and I saw this image so I shot a couple of snaps really quick. I learned that I really have to clean my full frame camera.
On another assignment last week I had to get photos of two of the top players of the local university baseball team. In one case I chose to stand in front of the hitter but behind a protective cage. I stood a little to close to the cage and took a line drive off the lens hood on my camera. Got the shot and a small cut on my forehead. Lucky it wasn't a lot worse.
I was on an assignment for the local newspaper last week and I saw this image so I shot a couple of snaps really quick. I learned that I really have to clean my full frame camera.
On another assignment last week I had to get photos of two of the top players of the local university baseball team. In one case I chose to stand in front of the hitter but behind a protective cage. I stood a little to close to the cage and took a line drive off the lens hood on my camera. Got the shot and a small cut on my forehead. Lucky it wasn't a lot worse.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Monday, April 30, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
MINT 400 OFF ROAD RACE
THE GREAT AMERICAN RACE
Just a few photos from the race i shot the other day for the local newspaper. It was a fun day...but damn dusty and windy
Just a few photos from the race i shot the other day for the local newspaper. It was a fun day...but damn dusty and windy
Sunday, March 25, 2012
RECENT PHOTOS
SMITH CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Saw this sculpture in photos by another photographer and felt inclined to go shoot a few photos. The two bands are the Sin City Sinners and Arena Tribute, both from Vegas.
Saw this sculpture in photos by another photographer and felt inclined to go shoot a few photos. The two bands are the Sin City Sinners and Arena Tribute, both from Vegas.
LOCAL BANDS
I was on Fremont Street in Las Vegas shooting an assignment for the local paper and I decided to kill some time shooting a couple of local bands.
MINT 400 OFF ROAD RACE
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
I AM AN ASS
I AM ALSO AN UNCLE
My youngest brother's ex-girlfriend had his baby on Friday. He came back to my apartment today at about 6am and has been asleep on the couch since then. He woke up briefly at about 5pm when I got back home from working out and the movies (Casa de Mi Padre). We had the following short conversation.
Brother: You're an Uncle
Me: I heard
Brother: Oh you got the Email
Me: On Friday
Brother: It's a girl
Me: Cool
Brother: She has Down's Syndrome
Me: That Sucks
Brother went back to sleep.
I could have come up with a better response but I am still fuming over finding what appears to be not one, but two, drug use pipes in my living room while he was gone for 3 weeks, supposedly working out of town. I am honestly trying to figure out whether or not I am going to throw him out. Admittedly probably not the best time in his life for this to happen but He is a recovering meth addict and I don't need this shit in my house. Because when he gets short for money my shit will start disappearing again. I don't know what else I could have said. There is nothing I can do to make the situation better. I already told him a month ago that the kid is not to come in my apartment. Mostly because my dogs have never been around a baby and I don't know how they would react. I actually like kids. I just don't want to own any and I am not doing any babysitting. Did that once. For about 3 years. Convinced me I don't want my own kids. I believe in whippings and beatings to solve problems and I don't want to be put in that position.
My youngest brother's ex-girlfriend had his baby on Friday. He came back to my apartment today at about 6am and has been asleep on the couch since then. He woke up briefly at about 5pm when I got back home from working out and the movies (Casa de Mi Padre). We had the following short conversation.
Brother: You're an Uncle
Me: I heard
Brother: Oh you got the Email
Me: On Friday
Brother: It's a girl
Me: Cool
Brother: She has Down's Syndrome
Me: That Sucks
Brother went back to sleep.
I could have come up with a better response but I am still fuming over finding what appears to be not one, but two, drug use pipes in my living room while he was gone for 3 weeks, supposedly working out of town. I am honestly trying to figure out whether or not I am going to throw him out. Admittedly probably not the best time in his life for this to happen but He is a recovering meth addict and I don't need this shit in my house. Because when he gets short for money my shit will start disappearing again. I don't know what else I could have said. There is nothing I can do to make the situation better. I already told him a month ago that the kid is not to come in my apartment. Mostly because my dogs have never been around a baby and I don't know how they would react. I actually like kids. I just don't want to own any and I am not doing any babysitting. Did that once. For about 3 years. Convinced me I don't want my own kids. I believe in whippings and beatings to solve problems and I don't want to be put in that position.
Monday, March 5, 2012
UP TO DATE
BLLLAAAAHHHH!!!
I haven't felt much like working out as of late. I am feeling okay, just no motivation. Admittedly I do have dual hip flexor strains and my work/sleep schedule is constantly in a state of flux. But those are just excuses. I was going good for a while in January and February but totally lost it in the 2nd half of the month. I am going to try and go between photo shoots today. Even if it is just for a half hour or so. I am going to stay away from the elliptical for a couple of weeks as this is all I can figure that is causing the hip flexor problem.
RECENT PHOTOS
Hera are a few photos that I have shot recently. Some for the newspaper and some for myself. Some are low res because I just copied them from my facebook page as the original files were on my laptop and I am to lazy to go find them.
I haven't felt much like working out as of late. I am feeling okay, just no motivation. Admittedly I do have dual hip flexor strains and my work/sleep schedule is constantly in a state of flux. But those are just excuses. I was going good for a while in January and February but totally lost it in the 2nd half of the month. I am going to try and go between photo shoots today. Even if it is just for a half hour or so. I am going to stay away from the elliptical for a couple of weeks as this is all I can figure that is causing the hip flexor problem.
RECENT PHOTOS
Hera are a few photos that I have shot recently. Some for the newspaper and some for myself. Some are low res because I just copied them from my facebook page as the original files were on my laptop and I am to lazy to go find them.
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| Santa in His Hoopdee - I shot this in front of my apartment. Some one set it up and I saw it while walking the dogs |
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| This is what Fremont Street in Las Vegas has become--SAD, SAD, SAD |
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| The opening act for Motley Crue at the Hard Rcok |
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| Vince Neil - Motley Crue |
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| Nikki & Mick - Motley Crue |
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| Munky - Korn |
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| Johnathan -Korn |
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| My Car Family |
Saturday, December 10, 2011
LUNAR BLOWOUT
While everyone else was waiting for the eclipse I had a totally different "lunar" experience. I use lunar in the sense of referring to the posterior part of our anatomy that we sometimes expose as a prank. Not so much that as the colon that leads to it.
If you have ever seen the movie "Bruce Almighty" and remember the monkey scene that is the closest that I can come to as far as what I went through last night. I am beating around the bush a little so as not to be too disgusting.
Over the last week and a half or so I have been pretty sick with the flu and my system has been a little messed up. That being said, over the last 3 or so day I have not needed to take a crap. Not that I shouldn't have, I have been eating like a champ. Well I thought I would be alright after I had the occasion to relieve a little pressure yesterday morning. But such was not the case. I work graveyard at a convenience store in Las Vegas and I have to wait til the store is empty so I can lock up and use the restroom. While I was waiting for one customer to lose his cash on the poker machine I had an overwhelming urge to crap. The hell with the rules I was going to lock the customer in the store and do my business. But, alas, this was also not to be the case. Literally from the time I got the urge and could head to the restroom (less than 30 seconds) my colon decided to let loose as I was walking their. I had absolutely no control. I felt as though that monkey coming in out the mexican guys ass in the afore mentioned movie was filling my shorts. I know, disgusting. But shit sometimes happens at inopportune times. The worst part is that all I could do was clean myself up as best as possible and go back to work as I work alone on the graveyard shift. This is an experience that I can honestly say that I hope never has the ocassion to occur again in my lifetime.
If you have ever seen the movie "Bruce Almighty" and remember the monkey scene that is the closest that I can come to as far as what I went through last night. I am beating around the bush a little so as not to be too disgusting.
Over the last week and a half or so I have been pretty sick with the flu and my system has been a little messed up. That being said, over the last 3 or so day I have not needed to take a crap. Not that I shouldn't have, I have been eating like a champ. Well I thought I would be alright after I had the occasion to relieve a little pressure yesterday morning. But such was not the case. I work graveyard at a convenience store in Las Vegas and I have to wait til the store is empty so I can lock up and use the restroom. While I was waiting for one customer to lose his cash on the poker machine I had an overwhelming urge to crap. The hell with the rules I was going to lock the customer in the store and do my business. But, alas, this was also not to be the case. Literally from the time I got the urge and could head to the restroom (less than 30 seconds) my colon decided to let loose as I was walking their. I had absolutely no control. I felt as though that monkey coming in out the mexican guys ass in the afore mentioned movie was filling my shorts. I know, disgusting. But shit sometimes happens at inopportune times. The worst part is that all I could do was clean myself up as best as possible and go back to work as I work alone on the graveyard shift. This is an experience that I can honestly say that I hope never has the ocassion to occur again in my lifetime.
Friday, November 4, 2011
WHAT"S UP
WORK ALL DAY
It's been a couple of months now. I have been working 2 jobs almost full-time. Or one full-time and one 6-7 days a week. The second job (as it were) is as a freelance photographer for the local newspaper in Las Vegas. I wish I could make enough money at this job to make it my sole and only employment. I can make 600-700 a week depending on how many days I work. A little over $800 If I work everyday. That is definitely enough to live on but I can't guarantee how consistent it will be. It could be $800 on week and then $200 the next.....can't live on that. I am actually trying to get back ahead financially after being out of work for almost 9 months. I am trying to save up enough cash to buy a beater car. I have my motorcycle but sometimes a car is much more practical with carrying my gear and such.
FAST MOTHERFUCKERS (IMPRESSIVE TOO)
One of the jobs I covered last weeks was the Las Vegas NHRA event. Let me tell you if you have never stood 5 feet from a Funny Car or Top Fuel Dragster leaving the starting line you are missing out. That was probably the most powerful (and loud) thing I have ever been around in my life. I have been to the drags before but not that close.
The pro stock guys (210-220mph) were cool. Plenty loud and fast. But when the big boys came to the line it was a whole different deal. WOW!!!!!!. Within on run of the cars I was almost begging for ear plugs. Ear piercing would be an under statement. They were ok when they were doing their burnout but once they actually took off down ste strip for real it was a whole new ball game. Not only were t hey loud but the force of their exhaust when they came by felt as though it could knock you over (and I weigh over 270lbs). I was pretty sure fillings were going to rattle free. Wouldn't have missed it for the world.
It was Halloween Weekend
Jason Line 2011 Pro Stock Season Champion
Hector Arana Jr. - Pro Stock Motorcycles
Yes It is called the Strip
Spencer Massey
Pit Boss - The Track Mascot
Eyes of Spencer Massey -Focused
Kenny Bernstein - Should you have to pray
It's been a couple of months now. I have been working 2 jobs almost full-time. Or one full-time and one 6-7 days a week. The second job (as it were) is as a freelance photographer for the local newspaper in Las Vegas. I wish I could make enough money at this job to make it my sole and only employment. I can make 600-700 a week depending on how many days I work. A little over $800 If I work everyday. That is definitely enough to live on but I can't guarantee how consistent it will be. It could be $800 on week and then $200 the next.....can't live on that. I am actually trying to get back ahead financially after being out of work for almost 9 months. I am trying to save up enough cash to buy a beater car. I have my motorcycle but sometimes a car is much more practical with carrying my gear and such.
FAST MOTHERFUCKERS (IMPRESSIVE TOO)
One of the jobs I covered last weeks was the Las Vegas NHRA event. Let me tell you if you have never stood 5 feet from a Funny Car or Top Fuel Dragster leaving the starting line you are missing out. That was probably the most powerful (and loud) thing I have ever been around in my life. I have been to the drags before but not that close.
The pro stock guys (210-220mph) were cool. Plenty loud and fast. But when the big boys came to the line it was a whole different deal. WOW!!!!!!. Within on run of the cars I was almost begging for ear plugs. Ear piercing would be an under statement. They were ok when they were doing their burnout but once they actually took off down ste strip for real it was a whole new ball game. Not only were t hey loud but the force of their exhaust when they came by felt as though it could knock you over (and I weigh over 270lbs). I was pretty sure fillings were going to rattle free. Wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
A BRIEF OVERVIEW
MY TRAINING (OR THE LACK OF IT)
I did a century yesterday. Proud of that. I also know I could have done much better. My training for the last two months has sucked (my diet sucked for most of the year or I would have been at least 50 lbs lighter)
In February I lost my job and was out of work for about 8 months. At the time I lost my job I said to myself "well I will just realx a little from working and spend more time in the gym". And I did For the better part of 6 months it was like a religion to me. I was in the gym 2-3 hours a day 5-6 days a week. Stairmaster, Elliptical, Life Cycle, Spin Class, walking 18 holes of golf. I went hard at these things. Then in about April I signed up for the RTC Viva Las Vegas Century and I started riding again. Mostly on the trainer initially and then started adding a couple of road rides as I got in better shape. I built up the rides from a base of about 40 miles to a high of about 85 miles by late July. Trust me that is hard in the heat of Las Vegas. And I hate mornings but I would force myself up at ungodly hours so that I could be done before it was hot enough to melt your skin.
About the time I did that 85 mile ride I think I came very close to heat stroke so it knocked me out for a week or so and the workouts suffered for it. August was okay..but no great. AT the end of August and the beginning of September I spent about a week getting ready to move into a new apartment. That took about 5 days out of my training.
About the middle of the month I started doing freelance photography for a local newspaper again as well as starting a graveyard position at a local convenience store chain. This resulted in a grand total of 11 workouts in September. None longer than an hour and a half. Most 1 hour or less. Most on my trainer.
October was definitely not any better. I had a grand total of 3 workouts before my Century ride. 2 of these were a long ride on Monday's and the third was a trainer ride. My longest ride was just under 60 miles.
As the time without a job grew longer and longer my drinking kept increasing. Which increased my eating and decreased my motivation for the gym. Not a great combo when you are trying to get in shape and lose weight. I am so glad I am working because it has severely decreased my drinking. Mostly due to a lack of time. But also because I have less stress in life.
All this being said I am proud of the fact that I went thru with the Century and completed it in a respectable time. My goal for the next year is to find a way to fit in my workouts, get in better shape, actually lose weight and do a century again next year. The goal will definitely be to do it in under 6 hours of riding time.
I did a century yesterday. Proud of that. I also know I could have done much better. My training for the last two months has sucked (my diet sucked for most of the year or I would have been at least 50 lbs lighter)
In February I lost my job and was out of work for about 8 months. At the time I lost my job I said to myself "well I will just realx a little from working and spend more time in the gym". And I did For the better part of 6 months it was like a religion to me. I was in the gym 2-3 hours a day 5-6 days a week. Stairmaster, Elliptical, Life Cycle, Spin Class, walking 18 holes of golf. I went hard at these things. Then in about April I signed up for the RTC Viva Las Vegas Century and I started riding again. Mostly on the trainer initially and then started adding a couple of road rides as I got in better shape. I built up the rides from a base of about 40 miles to a high of about 85 miles by late July. Trust me that is hard in the heat of Las Vegas. And I hate mornings but I would force myself up at ungodly hours so that I could be done before it was hot enough to melt your skin.
About the time I did that 85 mile ride I think I came very close to heat stroke so it knocked me out for a week or so and the workouts suffered for it. August was okay..but no great. AT the end of August and the beginning of September I spent about a week getting ready to move into a new apartment. That took about 5 days out of my training.
About the middle of the month I started doing freelance photography for a local newspaper again as well as starting a graveyard position at a local convenience store chain. This resulted in a grand total of 11 workouts in September. None longer than an hour and a half. Most 1 hour or less. Most on my trainer.
October was definitely not any better. I had a grand total of 3 workouts before my Century ride. 2 of these were a long ride on Monday's and the third was a trainer ride. My longest ride was just under 60 miles.
As the time without a job grew longer and longer my drinking kept increasing. Which increased my eating and decreased my motivation for the gym. Not a great combo when you are trying to get in shape and lose weight. I am so glad I am working because it has severely decreased my drinking. Mostly due to a lack of time. But also because I have less stress in life.
All this being said I am proud of the fact that I went thru with the Century and completed it in a respectable time. My goal for the next year is to find a way to fit in my workouts, get in better shape, actually lose weight and do a century again next year. The goal will definitely be to do it in under 6 hours of riding time.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
I CAN CHECK THAT OFF OF THE BUCKET LIST
RTC VIVA BIKE VEGAS 103 MILE RIDE
I felt much better than I had any right to feel during and after this ride. I was woefully under trained and probably should have backed down to the 60 mile ride. But no, I am a masochist. Finished in 6:40 of actual riding time.
By all rights I should be writing a post that is titled "How Not To Train For A Century Ride". But apparently you can do less training than is necessary for a Century and still finish well and comfortably. I don't recommend it but it is doable. I way 275 pounds and I was pushing all but the hardest of hill with many of the so called healthy people. Makes me wonder what I could have done if I was maybe 80 pounds lighter and actually in shape. I am thinking under 5-1/2 hours easy.This ride had over 5000 feet of climbing and that beat me up pretty bad . Especially the 5 miles into the Red Rock Loop. You gain well over 1000ft in the first 5 miles. One tough mother.and there were a couple of other pretty good hills that I wish I had a 28 tooth gear to make life easier for my fat ass. I don't think I will do a lot of centuries, that is a lot of saddle time......but maybe 1-2 a year just to see if I can get better.
Enough for now I had 5-6 beers after the ride was over ( I still haven't peed) and I am feeling the effects. I was trying to get my kidneys working again. I read a long time ago that a couple of beers is a good way to do that if you are a little dehydrated after a marathon. I drank a lot during the ride and only had to pee once at the 20 mile mark. Should be peeing soon.
I felt much better than I had any right to feel during and after this ride. I was woefully under trained and probably should have backed down to the 60 mile ride. But no, I am a masochist. Finished in 6:40 of actual riding time.
By all rights I should be writing a post that is titled "How Not To Train For A Century Ride". But apparently you can do less training than is necessary for a Century and still finish well and comfortably. I don't recommend it but it is doable. I way 275 pounds and I was pushing all but the hardest of hill with many of the so called healthy people. Makes me wonder what I could have done if I was maybe 80 pounds lighter and actually in shape. I am thinking under 5-1/2 hours easy.This ride had over 5000 feet of climbing and that beat me up pretty bad . Especially the 5 miles into the Red Rock Loop. You gain well over 1000ft in the first 5 miles. One tough mother.and there were a couple of other pretty good hills that I wish I had a 28 tooth gear to make life easier for my fat ass. I don't think I will do a lot of centuries, that is a lot of saddle time......but maybe 1-2 a year just to see if I can get better.
Enough for now I had 5-6 beers after the ride was over ( I still haven't peed) and I am feeling the effects. I was trying to get my kidneys working again. I read a long time ago that a couple of beers is a good way to do that if you are a little dehydrated after a marathon. I drank a lot during the ride and only had to pee once at the 20 mile mark. Should be peeing soon.
103 or DEATH
OKAY SO THAT'S A LITTLE SEVERE
Well, I am up/ It's 3:40 am. WTF!!!!. Oh yeah I am going to voluntarily torture myself (in fact I paid to do so) by riding my fat ass 103 miles this morning (and part of the afternoon.....and hopefully not the evening). I have got my coffee (Walmart brand rocks) I am eating my oatmeal, and I have had a tortilla with peanut butter and Nutella. I should be ready for this in about 6 months. Once I get past 35 miles it should be pretty easy for another 35-40 miles and then I will have to slug it out to get back to the finish at town square. Not looking for speed just to finish. It will be like my first marathon I ran back in 1995 when although I was doing a boatload of cardio (14-18 hours a week) I was not doing much running (25-28 miles a week). I suffered the last 3 miles in that event...and for the next week I could barely walk. I am going to have to buy a rubber donut for my butt if I want to sit down this week
I was ready for this a month and a half ago before I started working 2 jobs more or less full time. That being said I would rather be working full time and not have enough time to work out as opposed to the opposite situation. Good Luck to me and my fellow riders. I think their are about 1800 of us heading down the strip at 5:30 am followed by a 25 mile climb.And believe me that 25th mile is a B#$@H. It is affectionately known as the wall.
Oh yeah I feel that more important part of my pre-workout routine building up so I should be a little lighter at the start of the ride...lol.....you runners and bikers know what I mean.
TIME TO SHIT, SHOWER, & SHAVE (That's what Dad used to say before getting ready for work)
Time to go and have my morning constitutional and reading session to clean out the system. Then shower, dress and meet my ride. I haven't figured out how I am getting home as of yet. I felt bad enough about having my friend wake up at 4am to give me a lift there, but she is great.
LATER......MUCH LATER.....REALLY MUCH MUCH LATER
I will file a report on the ride and results when I am done and have had a few beers to "relax"
Well, I am up/ It's 3:40 am. WTF!!!!. Oh yeah I am going to voluntarily torture myself (in fact I paid to do so) by riding my fat ass 103 miles this morning (and part of the afternoon.....and hopefully not the evening). I have got my coffee (Walmart brand rocks) I am eating my oatmeal, and I have had a tortilla with peanut butter and Nutella. I should be ready for this in about 6 months. Once I get past 35 miles it should be pretty easy for another 35-40 miles and then I will have to slug it out to get back to the finish at town square. Not looking for speed just to finish. It will be like my first marathon I ran back in 1995 when although I was doing a boatload of cardio (14-18 hours a week) I was not doing much running (25-28 miles a week). I suffered the last 3 miles in that event...and for the next week I could barely walk. I am going to have to buy a rubber donut for my butt if I want to sit down this week
I was ready for this a month and a half ago before I started working 2 jobs more or less full time. That being said I would rather be working full time and not have enough time to work out as opposed to the opposite situation. Good Luck to me and my fellow riders. I think their are about 1800 of us heading down the strip at 5:30 am followed by a 25 mile climb.And believe me that 25th mile is a B#$@H. It is affectionately known as the wall.
Oh yeah I feel that more important part of my pre-workout routine building up so I should be a little lighter at the start of the ride...lol.....you runners and bikers know what I mean.
TIME TO SHIT, SHOWER, & SHAVE (That's what Dad used to say before getting ready for work)
Time to go and have my morning constitutional and reading session to clean out the system. Then shower, dress and meet my ride. I haven't figured out how I am getting home as of yet. I felt bad enough about having my friend wake up at 4am to give me a lift there, but she is great.
LATER......MUCH LATER.....REALLY MUCH MUCH LATER
I will file a report on the ride and results when I am done and have had a few beers to "relax"
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
A NEW LIFE
WOW, IT'S BEEN A MONTH
It has been a while since I posted again. Just haven't felt like writing anything.
LESS THAN TWO WEEKS
Until I am supposed to ride in the RTC VIVA BIKE VEGAS 103 mile ride. I rode 55 miles yesterday to see how I was feeling. I haven't had a long ride in about a month so I was very unsure of my fitness. I have worked out 3-4 times a week during this time but not for an extended period of time. After the ride yesterday I feel as though I will be okay for all but about 5 miles of the 103 mile ride. That 5 miles would be the climb in Red Rock Canyon. Mile 4-5 is affectionately known as "The Wall". it is very tough but after that it is overall down hill for about 35-40 miles and by then I will be 70+ miles into the ride. The ride is flat for the first 8-9 miles and then a steady climb for about 20 miles. It is going to be fun. It will hopefully be my first successful attempt at a century. I was well on my way to being in shape for this ride until I moved and then started working 2 jobs over the last month. I am going to ride 4- times this week and next with a long run on Monday of hopefully 65-70 miles to finish getting ready. The nice thing is that it is finally starting to cool off so I won't have the 100+ degree heat beating me up on the ride. I am planning on starting somewhere near the back of the pack and gradually moving up until we are thru the hills and then cruise as much as possible for the downhill sections. I am not aiming to be a speed demon, just finish. I figure that it will take 7-8 hours, hopefully closer to 7 hours, to finish the ride.
JOBS
Due to the fact that the local newspaper laid off 6 full time photographers I have been able to pick up work as a freelancer. If the work continues at the pace that it has been for the last month It will be great. I have been getting 4-6 days a week shooting. It is not great money but it is $120 a day to shoot 1-2 assignments.
In addition to this I started a job as a cashier on graveyard for a local convenience store company. Definitely not a rent job but it is a steady income that I can use to pay the rent and utilities.
Between the two jobs I should be comfortable financially. I have to put in some long days with limited sleep but at least I can pay the bills and maybe save a little money for the next time I am out of work. Maybe even enough to be able to move when my lease on the apartment is up in about a year.
It has been a while since I posted again. Just haven't felt like writing anything.
LESS THAN TWO WEEKS
Until I am supposed to ride in the RTC VIVA BIKE VEGAS 103 mile ride. I rode 55 miles yesterday to see how I was feeling. I haven't had a long ride in about a month so I was very unsure of my fitness. I have worked out 3-4 times a week during this time but not for an extended period of time. After the ride yesterday I feel as though I will be okay for all but about 5 miles of the 103 mile ride. That 5 miles would be the climb in Red Rock Canyon. Mile 4-5 is affectionately known as "The Wall". it is very tough but after that it is overall down hill for about 35-40 miles and by then I will be 70+ miles into the ride. The ride is flat for the first 8-9 miles and then a steady climb for about 20 miles. It is going to be fun. It will hopefully be my first successful attempt at a century. I was well on my way to being in shape for this ride until I moved and then started working 2 jobs over the last month. I am going to ride 4- times this week and next with a long run on Monday of hopefully 65-70 miles to finish getting ready. The nice thing is that it is finally starting to cool off so I won't have the 100+ degree heat beating me up on the ride. I am planning on starting somewhere near the back of the pack and gradually moving up until we are thru the hills and then cruise as much as possible for the downhill sections. I am not aiming to be a speed demon, just finish. I figure that it will take 7-8 hours, hopefully closer to 7 hours, to finish the ride.
JOBS
Due to the fact that the local newspaper laid off 6 full time photographers I have been able to pick up work as a freelancer. If the work continues at the pace that it has been for the last month It will be great. I have been getting 4-6 days a week shooting. It is not great money but it is $120 a day to shoot 1-2 assignments.
In addition to this I started a job as a cashier on graveyard for a local convenience store company. Definitely not a rent job but it is a steady income that I can use to pay the rent and utilities.
Between the two jobs I should be comfortable financially. I have to put in some long days with limited sleep but at least I can pay the bills and maybe save a little money for the next time I am out of work. Maybe even enough to be able to move when my lease on the apartment is up in about a year.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
IT"S BEEN A WHILE
It has probably been about two months since I wrote anything on my blog. I have thought about it a few times. Just haven't been able to make myself get to it.
OLD HOME NEW HOME
AS of Thursday I have been living in a new apartment. The house went up for auction on Wednesday. I guess some one bought it because they put up eviction notices yesterday. Still have a few things to move but they are just small stuff. I have to call the realty company on Tuesday and see if they will give me cash for keys as their notice stated. Could be over a $1000. I am not looking to damage the house. It's not their fault.
2 DOGS
The only reason I stayed in the house so long was to give a better environment for my dogs. G.G. & Sam. They have always had a yard to play in and go as they please. Now I have to take them for walks. I try and get in 3-4 walks a day since I am not working right now (or for the last 7 months). They didn't eat for the first 2 days in the new apartment. Stress I thnk. Finally tonight they chowed on their dog food. I had some chicken for dinner and gave them a couple of pieces and then they ate their food. I think they remembered they were hungry. Haha.
My big dog G.G., until yesterday, had never pooped on a leash so she is trying to get used to that also. She has never had to. Like I said she always had a yard. And I would take her to the dog park. One of the things I am going to miss the most is being able to spray her down with a hose. She loves it.
Well I have the lease for another 363 days so we will have to make the best of it.
ON A LIGHTER NOTE
Have you ever been in a room full of deaf people. I am not trying to be rude or mean but they are damn noisy. Plus the combination of sign language and actual speech comes out sort of like a bad martial arts movie. You now, where the lips move and then you hear the sound.
FANIA ALL_STARS
I love the my Fania All-stars channel on Pandora. Can't understand a word but I love the music
OLD HOME NEW HOME
AS of Thursday I have been living in a new apartment. The house went up for auction on Wednesday. I guess some one bought it because they put up eviction notices yesterday. Still have a few things to move but they are just small stuff. I have to call the realty company on Tuesday and see if they will give me cash for keys as their notice stated. Could be over a $1000. I am not looking to damage the house. It's not their fault.
2 DOGS
The only reason I stayed in the house so long was to give a better environment for my dogs. G.G. & Sam. They have always had a yard to play in and go as they please. Now I have to take them for walks. I try and get in 3-4 walks a day since I am not working right now (or for the last 7 months). They didn't eat for the first 2 days in the new apartment. Stress I thnk. Finally tonight they chowed on their dog food. I had some chicken for dinner and gave them a couple of pieces and then they ate their food. I think they remembered they were hungry. Haha.
My big dog G.G., until yesterday, had never pooped on a leash so she is trying to get used to that also. She has never had to. Like I said she always had a yard. And I would take her to the dog park. One of the things I am going to miss the most is being able to spray her down with a hose. She loves it.
Well I have the lease for another 363 days so we will have to make the best of it.
ON A LIGHTER NOTE
Have you ever been in a room full of deaf people. I am not trying to be rude or mean but they are damn noisy. Plus the combination of sign language and actual speech comes out sort of like a bad martial arts movie. You now, where the lips move and then you hear the sound.
FANIA ALL_STARS
I love the my Fania All-stars channel on Pandora. Can't understand a word but I love the music
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN
STAR SPANGLED BANNER
As a kid my dad was in the military, so we lived on a number of bases through the years. Tonight I wen to one of the local fireworks displays and it reminded me of that time. Whenever you went to the movies you had to stand and watch a small video with the National Anthem before every movie. During this time everyone was respectful and quiet during this time. As a child it seemed a little "corny". I don't know if that is the right word for how how I felt but it is what comes to mind. I MISS THOSE TIMES. In my later years I realize how i taught you to respect the beliefs of our country, whether you agree or not. I wish that we still had to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in classrooms or the National Anthem at public events. I don't care if it is not politically correct. This is "The" United States of America and we should be proud of being citizens of this country. Flaws and blemishes included. I still don't see a mass exodus of people leaving The United States for other "better" countries. Oh Yeah, that's because there aren't any better countries
As a kid my dad was in the military, so we lived on a number of bases through the years. Tonight I wen to one of the local fireworks displays and it reminded me of that time. Whenever you went to the movies you had to stand and watch a small video with the National Anthem before every movie. During this time everyone was respectful and quiet during this time. As a child it seemed a little "corny". I don't know if that is the right word for how how I felt but it is what comes to mind. I MISS THOSE TIMES. In my later years I realize how i taught you to respect the beliefs of our country, whether you agree or not. I wish that we still had to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in classrooms or the National Anthem at public events. I don't care if it is not politically correct. This is "The" United States of America and we should be proud of being citizens of this country. Flaws and blemishes included. I still don't see a mass exodus of people leaving The United States for other "better" countries. Oh Yeah, that's because there aren't any better countries
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