WTF Happened to Our Florida View?

They seem to be using the vacant lot next to our house as a dirt
dumping ground. We got down here late last night and found this barge
parked next door ruining our beautiful view. We are hoping this is
very temporary.

AirTran Party Plane to Fort Myers, FL

It was a strange flight to Florida Friday night. We were flying out
of Baltimore. We managed to get to the airport, though the traffic
was crazy. It took us about 2 hours for a trip that usually take 45
minutes. Luckily, we built in plenty of time.

Our plane was scheduled to depart at 7:20 pm. We got on the plane
with some pretzel bites from Aunt Annie's (an airport restaurant) and
the flight attendant made a comment about whether we bought her some.
So I gave her one. It seemed to make her day.

She came back a bit later and asked, "What are you drinking?" I
misunderstood. I thought she was thirsty from the pretzel. I thought
she was asking for a drink of something. I said I just had water, but
she could have some. Actually, she was offering us a free drink.

After everyone got on the plane, they made an announcement. There was
a problem with the co-pilot's seat. It was broken. They were trying
to fix it, but they decided everyone had to get off the plane. Once
we were back in the airport, they said the seat needed a part, which
they were going to fly up from Atlanta. We wouldn't be leaving until
after 11. That means we wouldn't get to our house until around 3 am!

We were given the option of getting a credit for the flight and just
driving back to DC. While we were thinking about what do, they made
an announcement that everyone that goes on the flight would get a free
round-trip ticket on AirTran. Oh, we are so on that flight.

Amazingly, shortly after they announced we would get the free tix,
they fixed the seat. Everyone got back on the plane and now we would
only be about 2 hours late. And, we still get the free ticket!

Then, as we are rolling away from the gate, when everyone was required
to be in their seat, this young woman got up to use the bathroom. The
flight attendant made her get back in her seat, but a minute later,
she ran back to the bathroom and we could all hear her puking.

There was another brief delay discussing whether the sick woman was
going to be able to fly. She seemed to feel better after getting
sick, so finally, we were off.

We not only got a free ticket, but our flight attendant friend gave us
each two little bottles of wine and lots or AirTran pretzels. Our ETA
to Punta Gorda is 1 am. We just had a little turbulence and I spilled
wine all over my shirt. It has been a fun evening!

Off to Florida for the Weekend

We originally had not planned to go back to Florida until Memorial Day Weekend.  However, we just couldn't wait.  I found a semi-reasonable airfare that leaves Friday night from Baltimore and returns Sunday night.  I was able to use some of my AirTran air miles.

One tiny detail I forgot when I was booking this trip was that Friday night was supposed to be my final Crystal City 5K Friday.  I guess I will miss another one.  If you are keeping score, I signed up for five races and only managed to run one.  Oh well.  A day at the beach will be some consolation.

What's All this Fuss I Hear about a Royal Wedding?

The royal wedding hullabaloo going on is hard to avoid.  Hundreds of people got killed by tornados in the U.S., but all the news channels still have to squeeze in coverage about the color of the wedding dress, how long the kiss will last on balcony, and hundreds of other trivial things.

I'm a good gay, but I just can't understand why either people care about this or the media thinks we care so much they have to cover it constantly.  I am not setting my DVR and I will not be waking up early (coverage starts here at 4 a.m.), unless I have one of my periodic bouts of insomnia.  Even then, I won't have the telly on.

I hope they have a wonderful wedding and a long and happy marriage.  But it really doesn't matter to me one way or the other.

Is Donald Trump Completely Insane?

What is wrong with Donald Trump?  Does he really think he could be a serious presidential candidate?  Shame on America if he gets nominated.  He has absolutely no shame.  He will apparently do anything to get attention.  Shame on me for giving him attention.

 I loved how they cut away from Trump's news conference on CNN this morning to President Obama describing Trump silliness over the birther issue as a Carnival act.  You know Obama is hoping that Trump gets the nomination, because he is such a lightweight.  I think Obama may be underestimating the stupidity of the American people.  Remember who elected George W. Bush to two terms?

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is starting a boycott against all things Trump for his stance against gay marriage and civil unions.  It asks supporters to stop patronizing Trump establishments and TV shows, including many New York City buildings, casinos in Atlantic City, Fox News' show Fox and Friends, and NBC's Celebrity Apprentice.

Trump nemesis Rosie O'Donnell has joined GLAAD in promoting the boycott.  Visit GLAAD for more info on joining the boycott.  It won't be hard for me to boycott Trump, cause I don't even watch his lame-ass show.

Where In the World Is Shane?

Shane is traveling again, so it is time to guess where in the world he went.  As usual, the prize is a brand new car.  Good luck!

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #285

Not a bad day's work considering I forgot the gasoline.

This is my idea for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #285.  Let me know if you have any ideas for a caption.  

Happy Easter!!!

This is not our cat, Maude. This is a copy of an Easter card we got from our friend Elaine.  It looks a lot like Maudie, and I would love to have this costume for Maude, but this is the next best thing.  We are going to my sister's for Easter dinner today.  Hope the Easter Bunny (Cat) is good to you!

He's Alive! by Dolly Parton - Again

I've posted this before at Easter and though I'm not a religious person, it is one of my favorite Dolly tunes--so here it is again.  This is from one of those country music awards shows in 1989.  I remember seeing this live on TV and also remember seeing the shots of the audience after the song giving a prolonged standing ovation and close-ups of audience members wiping away tears.  This version cuts off at the beginning of the ovation.  I have to admit that the song gives me goosebumps.  It is very theatrical.

Happy Easter!

Missing Another Crystal City 5K Fridays In April

People that know me know that I am rather a thrifty person.  OK, I'm cheap.  Anyway, I liked the idea of  signing up for five 5K races for $75.  A single one of these races costs $20, so I thought I was getting quite a deal.

The first week went off without a hitch.  I ran it in under 24 minutes and it was fun, although the weather was very chilly for April.  Then I got sick.  That knocked me out of weeks 2 and 3.  I had a bad cold that kicked my butt.  I'm pretty much over the cold, and I started running again at the gym this week, but the weather today is horrible.  I just didn't think it was wise to run in the freezing cold and pouring rain when I'm barely over this cold.  The race is starting as I type this and it is currently 45 degrees.

So, I decided to still run a 5K today, but I did it at lunch and inside--on the treadmill at the gym.  I finished faster than my pre-cold Crystal City 5K.  I don't know my exact time, but it was less than 23 minutes 30 seconds.  I tried to take a picture of my finish time with my iPhone as I was running, but I found out it is hard to hold a camera still while your running.  It came out blurry.

As you can see, the gym is dead at lunchtime on Fridays.  I got my co-worker, Karlye, to take a picture of me as I started my 5K today.  The light in the gym is not great for taking photos of moving objects.  Thanks Karlye.  I took a picture of her working out after I finished, but I'm sure I would be murdered if I posted it.

No, It Is Not Alright to Give Away a Loaded Gun

I Have No Spine - Bidding on the 1975 Volvo

I posted the other day about denying Shane the above car that was for sale on eBay.  I thought buying a 36-year-old car was a little crazy.  It is a 1975 Volvo 245.  Shane said cars like this are rare in such good condition.  He went on and on about what a great deal it would be.  I finally caved and told him I would not object to him getting it.  It might even be fun driving it from San Diego to our home in Florida.

Anyway, last night the car had gone from a starting bid of only $500 to about $5,200.  Shane thought it would sell for about $7,500, but he would just try and get it for $5,700.  I told him that it didn't make any sense to bid until the very last minute, but he thought we'd put in the minimum bid to see if the high bidder would automatically outbid him.  He tried a bid only $100 higher and it was outbid.  He tried another hundred and his limit of $5,700 was quickly reached.

He finally decided that the maximum he was willing to pay was $7,000, which he agreed to wait to put in at the last minute.  With 30 seconds before the end of the auction, we bid $7,111 (I threw in a few extra bucks just in case), but sadly it was not enough.  In the last seconds, there were two other bidders and the winning bid was $9,330.  At least he can't blame me for not trying.

The Power of Words - Cool Video

I saw this from a tweet from Suze Orman (@SuzeOrmanShow).  It is very moving short video.  

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #284

Did you hear the one about these suspects walking into a bar?

This is my idea for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #284.  Obviously, I haven't had any good ideas so far.  I'm still sick.  Let me know if you have any ideas for a caption.  

Debating DC Special Election Vote

Shane and I were debating who to vote for in the April 26 special election for the DC At-Large Council seat.  We saw a profile of all the candidates in the Hill Rag, a local free magazine we picked up today.

There are six Democrats, one Independent, one Statehood Green Party Member, and one Republican running for the seat.  Shane was advocating the Republican, Patrick Mara, because the article said he fiscally conservative and socially progressive.  Mara said he loves the gays.  I, as a rule, will not vote for a member of that party on principle.  I have voted Republican in the past when I lived in Montgomery County, MD, and the Congresswoman was a very liberal Republican, but she was an exception.  I can't see ever doing it again.

I decided to vote for Joshua Lopez, a young Hispanic who was a former aide of former Mayor Adrian Fenty.  My favorite line from his profile is that he relies on a BMW to get around:  "bus, Metro, and walking."  He is only 26, but the DC Council could use some fresh blood.

Shane said he would consider Lopez if I could find anything about him showing he supports gays.  So, I looked on his homepage, but was not having much luck.  Finally, there was a small blurb that said he participated in a forum with the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, which is THE LBGT political organization in the city.  There was a question and answer format statement he provided, which was on the Stein Web site, and the answers were sufficiently pro LBGT to convince Shane to join me in voting for Lopez.

Interestingly, though, the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club is actually endorsing Sekou Biddle, who is serving as interim Council member and is backed by the Democratic establishment and the current mayor, Vincent Gray.  That last part of that sentence is enough to turn us off.  We are not Gray fans. We'll stick with Lopez.

Denying Shane His Dream Car

I don't think I'm being that unreasonable.  Shane found this car on eBay and decided he HAD to have it.  It is a 1975 (not a typo) Orange, with brown interior, Volvo 245 Wagon.  Here is the description from eBay:

You are looking at one of the most  beautiful Volvo 245's you may ever see. This Volvo is in near showroom condition from bumper to bumper. Fit for a museum, your own private garage, or hitting the pavement on a daily basis. You will be proud to own this wagon. With only 76K ORIGINAL MILES, this 245 is in stunning condition. Yes only 76K original miles! This wagon turns heads everywhere it goes with compliments to follow. It will take you back to 1975.

This Volvo has been garage kept it's entire life while be pampered for the last 36 years. Accident free, smoker free, and RUST FREE. The extremely rare Inka Orange paint remains practically flawless. Showing excellent Gloss and timeless style. The body is completely straight, with no dents or damage anywhere. All of the lights, lenses and trims have no damage or even wear. Even the original California plates still shine like new.  The interior is "like new" with no rips or tears. The dash board is 100% crack and wear free. The floors have no stains or wear. All lights, turn signals and instrument cluster work properly. The Alpine cassette and radio player works great with the original stock speakers.                          

The engine starts right up, holds a smooth idle and accelerates with ease. The clutch engages very smoothly and the 4 speed manual transmission shifts effortlessly. All of the fluids are clean and filled to their proper levels. The air conditioning blows ICE COLD. The heating system also still works like new. All four white wall Michelin radial tires have good tread depth remaining. The front and rear brakes also have substantial life remaining. The Volvo has a new steel braided throttle cable, a new fuel filter, new battery as well as a minor tune up. Looks and Runs Excellent.

He found it when it was newly posted and the starting bid was only $500.  Since then, there have been 24 bids and it is currently up to $5,200 and the reserve is not met.  In addition, we would have to get it either here to DC or Florida from California.  Am I wrong to deny him this dream car?  I don't think so.  If you would like to buy it for him, here is the link on eBay.

Bob Dylan Sings Rebecca Black's Friday

I know this has been around awhile, but this cracks me up.  And, it is Friday, Friday, gettin down on Friday.

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #283

No one ever reads you Gideon Bible because I've got free HBO.

This is my idea for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #283.  Let me know if you have any ideas for a caption. Perhaps I'll steal it.

Where In the World Is Shane (and Mark)?

Usually, when Shane is away on business I have him email a photo he
takes our his hotel window and have people guess where he is. Since I
went with him in this trip, I took this photo outside our window this
morning. Don't be jealous over this gorgeous view of downtown Sioux
Falls, SD. That is the Chevy Impala that we rented and Shane drove all
over. We saw lots of the USA in our Chevrolet.

Obviously, you can't really see Sioux Falls from our room at the
Ramkota, but we did drive into downtown Sioux Falls last night, and
they do have a nice restaurant area. We ate a diner and had a
delicious breakfast for dinner.

Today, we're headed back to DC, and we are very anxious to see our Maudie.

Badlands National Park - Is this the Earth?

We had to drive back to Sioux Falls, SD, today from the western side
of South Dakota. On the way, we drove through part of the Badlands
National Park.

The Badlands are very cool. It does look like another planet. I felt
like I had just beamed down from the USS Enterprise on a mission with
Mr. Spock and Captain Kirk.

We also stopped at the Visitor's Center and watched a film about the
history if the area. I did not know the whole area was once covered
with shallow water. It has changed a bit since then.

Scary Signs at the Badlands

In addition to this sign warning of rattlesnakes, another sign at the entrance says that the prairie dogs have plague. Plague!!! The lady at the ticket booth said we would be ok as long as we don't touch them. We saw lots of them, but kept our distance.

If It's Monday, It Must Be Crazy Horse

We started out our day today at the Crazy Horse Memorial. It is still under construction, but was very interesting. We watched a film about it at the Visitor's Center. It really is an amazing story and the monument will be much larger than Mt. Rushmore and should be astounding when it is completed. The statue is hard to see in this photo, but this is as close as we could get, and the iPhone doesn't zoom. You can see the completed face over my left shoulder.

I, by the way, am still sick as a dog. It is just a bad cold, but it sucks! I think Shane has had enough of my snorting and nose blowing. I can't blame him. It gets old.

Mt. Rushmore -- The Main Attraction

We finally got to see Mt. Rushmore today. The weather has been so so,
but it couldn't have been better today. The rain is supposed to return
tomorrow. Waaaa!
Amazingly, we ran into the same couple from California at Mt. Rushmore
that took our picture at Devil's Tower.  Kristen has become our
official trip photographer. As you can see, she does a great job.
All the pictures I'm posting while we're in South Dakota have been
taken and posted with the iPhone. I plan on posting more later after
I can download them from my good camera. Hope that gives you
something to live for.

Where the Deer and the Antelope Play

We got some up-close views of lots of deer and antelope, but the
buffalo were amazing to see. We drove down to Custer State Park and
drove on the Wildlife Loop Road.

At the Geographical Center of the US

The geographical center of the 50 US states is just north of Belle
Fourche, SD. They have a small monument set up there for people to
take silly photos. That is just what we did. There is an irony to
being off center at the center.

We have now been to the southern-most point (continental) and eastern-
most point of the US. I think we should aim to go to the other
various extreme points of the US. Maybe.

Shane at the Center of the US

He is actually a bit off center also.

My First Trip to Montana and Wyoming

Yes, we are two of those crazy people that stops and takes photos in
front if signs like this.

That Is One Scary Sliding Board

Finally Finished Our Mashed Potato Sculpture

We have LOTS of photos of Devil's Tower. LOTS. A nice couple from
California took this one of us.

Close Encounters Film Set Visit

We Went to see Devil's Tower, the rock formation that was in Close
Encounters of the Third Kind.

Driving to Wyoming for a Bit

Since the weather was not so nice in South Dakota, we decided to check
out Wyoming. We drove through a little but of a snow squall to get
there, but we did find warmer temperatures and some blue skies.

Our South Dakota Digs

This is the cabin we are staying in for a few days just outside of
Hill City, SD. It is just a few miles from Mt. Rushmore and other
attractions in the Black Hills. Thankfully, since the Government is
staying opened, we will get to see them after all. We just need some
dryer weather. Yes... That is the remains of a snow pile outside our
cabin. We saw som deer on our drive here and hope to see more outside
our cabin window.

Visiting Wall Drug in South Dakota

We made a quick stop at this tourist town on our 350 mile drive from
Sioux Falls, SD, to Rapid City, SD. We are staying in a cabin near
Mt. Rushmore. The weather sucks--misty rain and chilly. We're having
fun though.

Making Friends at Wall Drug

Could Things Be Worse?

I am having a crappy day.  The government, my employer, is on the verge of shutting down as we're about to leave for South Dakota to visit various possibly closed National Parks and to top it all off, I'm getting a cold.

I was supposed to run the second Crystal City Fridays 5K today, but it was cold and rainy here and I was not feeling it.  I'm tired, achey, and snotty.  Fun times.

Of course, things could always be worse, but I am in the mood to whine.

UPDATE: A deal was struck and the Government is open! My cold is bearable, so things are looking up. Here we come SD!

My Home County Makes News Headlines

My niece, Kelly, Tweeted the following story along with a comment about how, when our home county, Cecil County, MD, makes the national news, it is for this classy event.

Maryland man glued to Wal-Mart toilet seat

(CNN) -- Police in Maryland are on the hunt for the perpetrator of what appears to be an April Fools' Day prank that left a man glued to a toilet at a Wal-Mart store.

If caught, the jokester who doused the seat with glue at the Elkton Wal-Mart on March 31 could face second-degree assault charges, said Lt. Matthew Donnelly of the Elkton Police Department. Police, along with the Singerly Fire Co. and the Cecil County paramedics, were called to the scene at about 7 p.m.

There, they found the 48-year-old victim, who called for help after realizing the sticky situation he was in when he tried -- and failed -- to stand up and leave the superstore's restroom, Donnelly said. It took responders 15 minutes to remove the victim from the stall, but they were unable to disconnect the toilet seat from his body, Donnelly said.

Instead, the victim was taken to Union Hospital of Cecil County, where the seat was detached. He left with only minor injuries to his buttocks, Donnelly said. Police do not suspect that the victim was specifically targeted, but that the incident was a random prank, Donnelly said. They have not received reports of glue-laden toilet seats since.
--------------------------------------

Who sits on a bare toilet seat in a Wal-Mart with a wet, sticky substance on it long enough to get stuck to it?

Bad Timing for Possible Government Shutdown

As a Federal employee, a Government shutdown may be good news if we get a week off and still get paid, like the last time there was a shutdown.  I didn't mind that at all.  However, this weekend we have plans to travel to South Dakota.  Shane has a business trip there and we decided it would be a good time to sightsee Mount Rushmore and other National Parks in that neck of the woods.  But, with a shutdown looming, the National Parks may not be open.  Our access to all the stuff we're going out to see may be limited.  Bad timing for us.

In addition, there is no guarantee that a shutdown will only last week or that we will get paid after it is over.  So much drama!  It seems crazy that the Republicans are letting the Tea Party goofs put them in a situation where they are going to shoot themselves in the foot.  I put total blame on the GOP.  The cuts they are insisting on are tiny in the scheme of things.  I'm not saying there isn't a fiscal crisis, but this obviously isn't the answer.

5 for the Fifth: My 5K Struggle

This is an idea from State of the Nation UK -- taking five photos and share them with the world on the fifth of the month.  This month is really a double cheat since I am not following this month's theme: blur; but also, I did not even take any of these photos.  They are from last Friday, April 1, at the first of five Crystal City (VA) 5K Fridays in April.  There was a blog posting about it here on April 1.  The first photo is the start, which I am technically in (but not visible), and the second is of me somewhere during the race.  The last three photos are of me at the finish.  I ran this race harder than I intended and I think these photos show I was struggling.  I did finish in under 24 minutes, which is astounding for me. 

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #282

I don't care that you "really, really have to go." 

or

This is why you don't buy airline tickets at Walmart!

or

Where's the stewardess call button?

or

Flying just isn't glamorous anymore. 

or

I always have a hard time sleeping on a plane. 

These are some ideas for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #282.  Let me know if you have any ideas for a caption too.  The third one and last one are by Shane. 

Back In Florida; Sunday at the Beach

Today is Day 2 of our 4-day weekend in Florida, and we had a great day.  We slept in a bit and I went for a run.  Eventually, we went to the beach.  It was crazy crowded, probably because it was such a beautiful day.  Anyway, we had a great afternoon at the beach.  I am reading Andre Agassi's autobiography, Open, on my Kindle.  It is actually really interesting.  Here's the Reader's Digest version:  He hates tennis and his dad was an ass.

After the beach, we came back to the house, showered, changed, and went out to dinner to the River City Grill in Punta Gorda.  I had blackened salmon and Shane had NY strip steak.  We love eating there.  We've always enjoyed it.  We especially love it when, during the off season, they have two for one entrees.  That was not the case tonight, but it was still well worth it. 

Back In Florida: House Update

We flew back to Florida today for a long weekend in the warm weather.  The weather is awesome--not a cloud in the sky and high temperatures in the mid-80s.  

The above photo is what our Florida house looked like when we bought it last year.  Since then, we have been working on fixing it up.  Today is the first time we saw the results of our new entry.  We had the walkway redone and a railing put on the porch.  We also had to have the roof painted, and of course, we previously had the house painted.  In addition, we had the yard redone with new trees and all the old plantings removed.  This trip, we are hiring a landscaper to put in new plants in all the beds.  It is a work in progress, but we are loving how it is turning out. 

We had the broken and loose tile walkway removed.

We're working on getting plants for the flowerbeds.  

Crystal City 5K Fridays Race #1

I signed up to run all of the five Crystal City 5K Fridays, which is near where I work.  Tonight was race #1.  My plan was to take it easy on the first one so that I could do a steady improvement throughout the month.  However, everyone around me was running like crazy, so I ran pretty fast too.  My result was pretty good.  I actually ran it in under 24 minutes.  I came in 181st overall out of 938 runners and 145th out of 418 males.  My chip time was 23 minutes, 58 seconds, which is a pace of 7:46 per mile.  Now I have to improve on that time.  Yikes.

I need neck liposuction!

What We're Watching: Downton Abbey on Netflix

The other night we started watching Downton Abbey on the Netflix channel of our Roku.  The Roku is the device that allows us to watch instant downloads on the television.  Downton Abbey is a modern version of Upstairs, Downstairs.  It stars Maggie Smith and Elizabeth McGovern.  We are loving it.  I believe it was on PBS last year (Masterpiece Theatre), but we somehow missed it.  See a scene from the show below.

Watch the full episode. See more Masterpiece.

Watch the full episode. See more Masterpiece.

Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cake

I took a sick day today.  I actually was not feeling well this morning.  I didn't get much sleep as a result and couldn't face a day in the office.  This afternoon, after taking it very easy all morning, I was getting bored and hungry and was looking around in the kitchen and realized I had all the ingredients to make one of my favorite cakes:  The Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cake.  

It is a simple recipe that is in Anne Byrn's The Cake Mix Doctor cookbook.  All you do is mix a devil's food cake mix with a can of cherry pie filling (21 oz.), two eggs, and a teaspoon of almond extract.  Bake it at 350 for 30-35 minutes in a 13- by 9-inch pan (sprayed with vegetable oil spray).  The icing is a bit more tricky.  You bring a cup of sugar, 1/3 cup of milk and 1/3 cup of butter to a boil for a minute (stirring constantly).  Then you remove it from the burner and mix in 6 oz. (or a little more) of semi-sweet chocolate chips until they melt and the icing is smooth.  Poor it over the warm cake and let it cool.  It is very sweet, but so good. 

You can see from the photo that it did not take long before I had to try a piece.  

Give the Corporations a Tax Break?

The Daily Show
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