Albino Corn Snake

Another Saturday morning spent at CrossRoads Ford. The power steering pump has arrived and they’re installing it now. Should take around 3 hours. I expect to be out of here by noon.

Nothing of note to report for the week.

I got my crown reinstalled on Tuesday. Worked out of town Wednesday and Thursday. One of the placed we inspected was the visitor’s center at Crowder Mountain State Park. That’s where the photo came from.

This is an albino corn snake found in the park. Her (yep – they know it’s a she) skin is a light color and her eyes are totally red. She wouldn’t have survived very long in the wild with her coloration and limited eyesight – even though she, like most snakes, uses her tongue as her primary sensory input. She’s leading a good life in the aquarium. Because she's well cared for, she has reached a pretty large size for a corn snake. She’s not on display though – she lives in the office kitchen / break room.

No special plans for the weekend. Just a typical Saturday.

Secret Squirrel

I feed the squirrels who live in the back yard. Lately they've gotten a little more aggressive in seeking handouts.


Yeah - I know - kinda lame. But Nuke sent me the photo and I needed some sort of lead in to post it.

On To the Real Post

Nuke is on his way up to visit. He has a dentist appointment Monday.

As will I.

One of my front crowns popped off Friday night / Saturday morning. I woke up around 2 AM with the crown in my mouth. No pain or anything - but dammed annoying. Left a message with my dentist.

I've stuck the crown back on and it stays in place except when I floss.

I've got an all day Final Inspection for a building at NCSU Monday and I'll be in Charlotte Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I hope my dentist can find a spot for me Tuesday - the only day I'll have available.

Picked up steaks and sweet potatoes to grill later today. I've done my chores for the day; grocery shopping, some laundry and vacuuming. Listening to music and lazing around the house for the rest of the day.

Other than than the crown, pretty much the same old same old.

Vacation Photos

I've finally begun experimenting with Picasa web albums - Google's version of Flicker.

I've started out by up loading some of the photos from my family's February cruise vacation. They can be found here.

Also, here are some photos of a cruise Boze, Nuke and I took Thanksgiving, 2006.

I'll try and upload photos salient to blog entries in the future - to go along with the photos I embed in the blog entry itself.

8 Weeks

It's 8 weeks to the start of College Football!

The Rabbit of Seville

Years ago, my friend Boseman and I were driving to breakfast early one Sunday morning. He'd driven up from Wilmingotn for the Saturday NCSU football game.

We were listening to WUNC on the radio. Back then, WUNC played classical music. I kid you not, they were playing the soundtrack from this on the air. We drove around until it was over.

Some opera is better than others.

This, of course, is a classic:



I thought of this because this year is the 50th anniversary of What's Opera Doc?.

Both classics. But The Rabbit of Seville is one of my all time favorite cartoons.

I Hate Wasting Money

This entry isn't about anything current. It definitely fits into the Dull and Random Thoughts category.

I hate wasting money. Don’t mistake me – I don’t mind spending money. But I despise wasting money.

For example: I spend a lot of money on NCSU sports via the Wolfpack Club. I truly enjoy the games and the camaraderie that goes along with inviting people to join me.

Between the yearly required contributions, long term stadium and arena construction (which I obligated myself to help fund by agreeing to ‘Life Time Rights’) and the actual season tickets to football and basketball games – I spend about $3,000 yearly. Because I enjoy college sports so much - to me - this is money well spent.

Money wasted is if someone accepts an invitation to a game – and then cancels – or waits till the last minute to decline an invitation. Especially if there's little time left to invite someone else to take their place. That’s ticket $ spent, not used, and thus wasted. Sure fire way to piss me off and never get an invite again.

I was thinking about wasteful spending last Saturday while at CrossRoads Ford having my car serviced (It needs a new power steering pump).

I have a 2003 SUV (purchased used) and a 2006 Focus (purchased new).

I originally had a 1998 Contour. It started to suffer major engine problems – actually timing belts – 3 times in 6 months. The 3rd time it was in the shop – I angrily on the spur of the moment purchased the used SUV in 2003.

I had always wanted a small SUV for hauling household stuff and possible camping. When I bought it (while the Contour was in the shop) – it was kind of a back up car to get me to and from work since the Contour repairs were taking a week at a time.

Eventually the Contour AC system failed during the late summer of 2005. The estimate to repair was over $2000 – far more than the value of the car. I continued to drive the car through that winter until the weather began to turn warm. Spring 2006 – time for a dependable vehicle with AC. I gave the Contour to a friend who needed it.

That’s when I made a mental error.

I had become accustomed to having 2 vehicles. A commuter car and a weekend truck for chores and stuff. So I blithely went about looking for a Contour replacement. Flirted briefly with the mid-life crisis automobile syndrome. Looked at Mustangs and, gasp!, seriously considered buying that BMW I’ve always wanted.

Fortunately my temporary BMW insanity passed and I bought the practical Focus for commuting. Got the sports package which makes it a ton ‘o fun to drive.

Saturday while waiting at the dealership service department – it suddenly dawned on me: I never needed the Focus!

I simply should have just used the Ford Escape as my multipurpose vehicle. It’s capable of hauling anything I’ve ever needed; it gets decent gas mileage; it seats 4 or 5 comfortably; it’s in great condition and will last a very long time. There was no reason whatsoever to purchase a ‘commuter’ car. I just didn’t think things through!

So – my game plan is this. I’ll only use the SUV when it’s needed – such as hauling stuff around or whatever (i.e. saving SUV mileage for future use). For everything else – I’ll use the Focus.

I usually keep a vehicle for 160,000 to 180,000 miles. At my typical rate of about 20,000 miles per year – the Focus should be at the 160k – 180k mileage in about 7 years or so. With minimal use, the SUV should still have a couple years mileage available on it at that time. Eventually, when the SUV wears out, I’ll just buy a single multiuse all around vehicle.

Basically – I "wasted” the $17,000 I spent on the Focus. I could have left that money invested and earning some sort of return. Plus the yearly second vehicle insurance and taxes is money down the drain.

Like I said - I hate wasting Money. I got pretty miffed at myself while I was thinking this all out. Thank God I didn’t spend 50 grand on a BMW. Had I done that - I would have gotten totally pissed off . . . . Probably would have had to beat myself for being stooopid.

Still – the Focus, in spite of being an ‘econo-car’ – is a blast to drive. Light weight, the 'sports package option' - extra torsion bars, heavier struts / springs, fat 17-inch tires - its FUN! (Nuke jokes and says it’s the spoiler on the back that does it – LOL) It’s the first car I’ve ever had that’s actually ‘sporty’. When I’m driving it on a 2-lane country road out here in the sticks . . . . Watch out!

Southport 4th of July

I woke up early as usual; 0600 – drove over to a nearby restaurant - had breakfast and read the paper. Stopped by Port City Java on the way back to get a foo foo coffee. Just in time too. The police were clearing the main street for the parade. I got my coffee just as my truck was being eyeballed by the tow truck guys.

The parade started at 1100 and lasted about an hour and a half. Typical small town floats and such. I was surprised there was only one true marching band. I guess that since its summer, schools are out and therefore the kids aren’t readily available.

The local US Congressional delegation marched in the parade.


Not to be outdone – the NC General Assembly participated in the parade as well.


Walked around a bit and saw some of the exhibits.

Came back to Nuke’s apartment and took a nap for a couple hours.

Later we went out for dinner. Then walked down to the waterfront to listen to the bands and watch the fireworks.

Just got back. I'm sitting in the back yard doing this entry, listening to folks shoot off fireworks and watching the traffic on the streets around here not moving an inch.

A good full and fun day.

Heading back to Raleigh first thing in the morning. Going straight to the office. Should be about a 2.5 hour drive.

Happy 4th of July, folks.

The Fast and Furiously Stupid

Ran across this little news tidbit today:

http://www.11alive.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=99589

I didn’t know Ray Ducharme was well enough to drive.

;-)

Almost a Darwin Award candidate - Close but no cigar.

Related Ducharme Entries:

http://bill-1956.blogspot.com/2006/07/pray4ray.html

http://bill-1956.blogspot.com/2007/04/hold-my-sangria-and-watch-this.html

Thanks Bev

Long before first class entertainment became the norm in Raleigh, NCSU used to host the Friends of the College series. This was back in the 1970’s and ‘80’s. About 7 or 8 shows and events each year staged in Reynolds Coliseum.

Mom and Dad were subscribers and as I was going to school at State – I got to see a lot of cool stuff.

One of the events was Beverly Sills.

I’ve said before, Opera isn’t my cup of tea. But I certainly appreciate a great voice.

To this day I still vividly recall her performance. I had never heard such an awesome voice before in my life.

Wow – that broad could sure belt out a tune.

Thanks Bev for sharing your talent with us.

The Black Watch

While on the subject - One of the other great performances I got to see was the Band of the The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment). Quite an awesome military band.

I got to see them on 2 different occassions via The Friends of the College. Good friends of my parents, Col. Ray Kinshada and his wife, often came up to FOTC shows. I recall Ray and his wife made it a point to come up and see the Black Watch each time.

Allison

You can really get attached to pets.

AHCBT, Allison the House Cat with the Broken Tail, was my friend CK’s pet for many many years. She was being treated for failing kidneys but didn’t make it.

She had been with him through many ups and downs. Different jobs and homes and such. She even outlasted CK’s almost marriage.

I’m sure he will miss her.

Fourth of July

I’ve just arrived in Southport to visit Nuke (aka JFC) today and tomorrow.

Southport hosts the official NC Fourth of July Festival. It’s a huge event for such a small town. The estimate is that 40,000 or more will be on hand tomorrow. There’s stuff been going on since Saturday. The main events start this afternoon.

We’ll probably be headed the few blocks down to the waterfront in a few.