livendive

A couple years ago a friend of mine planned to go to the San Carlos boogie, but work on his farm made him cancel at the last second. He didn't want the money he'd spent to go to waste and asked me to go in his place. I got this picture of me landing after a sunset load. I had an absolute blast at the boogie, and two weeks after I returned my friend was killed in a car accident. That may have something to do with my affection for this photo. Blue skies Mike! Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Arggh. I KNOW how to play chess, but I can't get the chess piece to go into the fireplace shaped object. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

OK, what do I do with the chess piece on the floor. I can't get it to go into the nook in the wall, where am I supposed to put it? "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

And do what??! Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Where is the pin to open the box with? Edited - Never mind...I got it. "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

LOL - yeah, you did. It's been nice not having to get up early the last two mornings. If I'm still not having to get up early in a few weeks, I'll start to worry, but right now I'm trying to be optimistic about it (and of course trying to plan a perfectly poignant response to the company who got my last 10 years). Conniving is fun! Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

You don't have an option for "I don't cheat". I've been cheated on by a couple of women, including one that I was married to. It sucks pretty bad and I just wouldn't do that to someone. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

I do environmental stuff. Most of my experience is in the compliance realm, especially related to hazardous waste and PCBs, but I can also do environmental site assessments and have a fair grasp of remedial laws, processes, and technology. Right now I'm actually kind of stoked about this whole thing. I had an informal interview yesterday that went pretty well and reached the point of "we might be able to talk salary and introduce you around the office sometime late next week". I think there's a very good chance that I'll be able to find a new job before I'm even "officially" off the payroll, in which case the severance package will just be like a bonus check, not to mention the very real possibility that I'll be making more money and doing more challenging work. All in all, I think this will turn out to be for the best. It still leaves a bad taste in my mouth given the loyalty I showed my employer, but what the hell...lesson learned. We just built a new house last year, so moving to the west side isn't at the top of my list of options. Hey, by pure coincidence, Lora came into town on Wednesday (the day I got laid off), so she had the distinct pleasure of accompanying me through 8 bottles of very good wine. I'm glad I wasn't the one who had to be at work the next morning! Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

LOL! It looks like Vinnie has an admirer. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Yeah, they're paying me my salary for 30 more days, then giving me a week's pay for each year of service. It was actually kinda nice not having to get up and go anywhere today, but if I haven't found something within a month, I'll start to worry. It figures that I've finally got the time to get some stuff done around the house, but not the money to do those things. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

I got laid off yesterday, after giving my employer 10 years of my life. Fuck. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

OK, I'm a dumbass. Where in the fuck are their engines? Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

...the more likely you're wrong. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/EJ04Ak01.html Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

LOL - Our's certainly makes a HUGE statement in our office/den. It measures 86"H×58"W×30"D, and pretty well dominates the room. (It's climate-controlled and holds 700 bottles, like the one in the attached photo, but with solid doors). Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

We keep the seats and lids down on both toilets when they're not in use, largely out of concern that our bird could find her way in there and drown. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Too tough to pick just one, so I'll try a couple: In the 20ish dollar category: White - Caymus 'Conundrum' Red - Bodegas Lan 'Vina Lanciano' Rioja In the under 10 bucks range: White - Clos Du Bois sauvignon blanc Red - Bonny Doon 'Big House Red' (a screwtop). FYI while you're hacking on screwtops, I've had screwtop bottles that cost well over a hundred bucks apiece (Turley zins).

Here's something I wrote awhile back for an impromptu limerick contest in a wine newsgroup. A wine merchant who hailed from Nantucket Tried to also sell clams by the bucket He'd say "Try them with Cloudy Bay Or maybe a viognier But for god's sake don't 'two-buck-chuck-it'"

Nice, research, Philly! Heck, no need for a search warrant, investigation, or trial! So what's your sentence? You being judge, jury, and executioner? Just curious. Please don't get mad and come condemn me on an unfounded accusation. Please. Edit: I should apologize, your source is the National Enquirer, that bastion of well-sourced hard journalism. National Enquirer...Fox News, what's the difference?

Like this? http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,99413,00.html Are you saying Mr. Powell's folks are devoid of intelligence since they're the ones who thought it was newsworthy enough to have their spokesman comment on it to the media? Yeah, cuz Fox news covered the problems Britney Spears poses to teenage girls? You are assuming it was hyperbole. 'Pat Robertson's "Nuke" Idea Draws Protest' seems more factually based and doesn't require the reporters make any assumptions as to Pat's intent. The actual words of the article describe state department reactions to the comments, thus making the title appropriate. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

C-206 and a Twin Bonanza (neither is on the list). Within a 2 hour drive I have access to two others not on the list, a C-172 and a turbine 207 (Soloy conversion). Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

one more. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

I might have to get a couple of these made up. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Nuke the state department! http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/10/09/robertson.state/index.html Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

When my daughter brought home a mid-semester progress report that showed an F, 3 D's, a C, and a B immediately following 7 consecutive straight A report cards, she tried that exact excuse on me. ("Hey, all my friends are flunking EVERYTHING"). I asked her why she is friends with such stupid people and she couldn't come up with an answer. Anyhow, after some grounding and quite a bit of prodding, she ended up with 3 A's, 1 B, and 2 C's that semester. So far this year it looks like she's doing much better. Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)

Nice job! I remember you posting what you were hoping to accomplish and how you intended to go about it, and have to admit I was a bit skeptical that walking alone would have that big an effect. Looks like you're proving me wrong. Congrats! Blues, Dave "I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew)