Seattle

So, we've been gone a long time. Spent five days in Auburn, WA (suburb of Seattle) with my sis' family and then five days in Ocean Shores, WA, for a family reunion.

Here's a quick rundown ...

Total rounds of golf ... 3

Average golf score ... NASA computer still tabulating

Total hours spent whale watching ... 3

Total whales watched ... 0

Punches my neice gave me ... 1,453

Times my youngest nephew called me "Uncle Matt" ... 2 (still pissed)

Total amount of rainfall on trip ... 0 (shocking, I know)

Amount (in pounds) of sand in our clothing from Ocean Shores ... 32

Amount I won at a poker table in a OS casino ... $53

Amount my sister won ... $160

Amount my dad lost ... $140

Time at table ... about 4 hours (don't figure my hourly wage)

Hours of video shot ... 4

Number of pics ... not many but here they are ... (sorry for the crappy pics but my camera sucks)

Andy, Alia, Aiden, Austin and Alex cost us so much on this trip that we had to have them become spokesmodels for the money.

Andy, Alex and Austin at the EMP (Paul Allen's music thing) posing next to a Gene Simmons costume.

Tracy and the boys at Pikes Market.

Alia in a rare moment when she wasn't punching me.

School daze

In high school in the San Fran Bay Area, I went to concerts a lot. Now, not so much.

But when Poison and the Spin Doctors were signed up to play the Greeley Stampede, I begged Tracy for tix for my b-day and she hooked me up (as well as my buds Dan and Dono). And then, days before the show, Dan worms his way into three backstage passes as well. It was set for a freakin' awesome time (I love the funk rythmn of the Docs and Poison is OK, too).

The pass:


I had images of drunken groupies backstage, but, sadly, it was not to be. "Backstage" at the Stampede means you get to hang out in the dirt and wait for the bands to walk to the stage.

This is what I'm talking about ...

(Hard to believe the girls stayed away from them, huh?)

Dono was still excited ...

But no groupies, so this was the only boob they got ...

But we saw a couple interesting things. Like, the Docs apparently used Van Halen's old sound equipment (see below) ... I picture there's a store where all hair bands buy and sell equipment ... It would be a fun place to visit...

And you know those "HUGE" walls of speakers at a concert? Well, a look behind the curtain reveals there were only six or so speakers (it was still plenty loud, tho!). Kinda sad to know this...

So, the Docs were late in starting because two of the four guys in the band were lost (only us cool backstage people knew this ... woo hoo!). And then, this cab pulled up and Chris Barron, the lead singer of the Docs popped out! The day is saved!

OK, at this point of the story, I should probably also note that I was rather intoxicated. I figured I'm going to a metal show, Dono was driving and WTF, right? Anyway, drunkedness equals bravery and it helped a lot because it gave me the cojones to walk up to some of these folks and get pics. Here's me with Barron on his way to the stage ... and the bass player (after the show)

And below is the drummer. His name is Aaron. From the stage, I thought he looked just like me. Upon closer inspection, he's not a twin but could be a long-lost brother (except he has rythmn which means he's not a blood relation)...

During the Docs show, I stood close to the stage. Like I said it was loud, but I haven't been up front at a show in years. The funniest part was a song that featured the phrase "big, fat, funky bootie" several times. The hearing impaired person had to sign the words and it cracked me up as apparently the sign word for "bootie" is pointing to your ass. Here's a video (I was drunk so I straigtened it out a couple seconds in ... gimme a break)

The Docs did a great show and then we went backstage again (because we are so cool!!!).

I also want to comment on my attire. I was able to fit into my "Don't Blame Me. I voted for Bill and Opus" shirt from the '80s thanks to losing part of my fat ass so that also made the night special.

Anyway, we were waiting around for Poison and Dan spotted Rikki Rocket, the drummer, standing by a bus. He was far away and if I had been sober, I probably just would have watched. But I was drunk and said WTF and went over to him. Super nice dude (even with eye shadow and mascara!). A pic:

For Poison, Dan, Dono and I went back to the seats which were in the 4th row of the arena floor (behind the pit I stood in for the Docs). Poison put on a great show and we were screaming and bouncing around like it was 1987 all over again.

After the show, we went backstage again (because we're that cool). Nothing really going on but I got this pic that sums up backstage at the Stampede pretty well.

All in all, it was a great night. And, yes, Dan, next time I'll take the pics so you can get in them with the famous people. Sorry about that.

Countdown

Weekend:
Picked up Tracy from the airport.
Saw Wall-E (cute and engaging ... loved the fat people ... can SO relate!)
Taught my grammar and punctuation class Saturday (I love the class but can't get many people to come ... shocking, I know!)
Watched the newest "Rambo" flick on NetFlix (bloody violence, good ... dialogue and plot, bad)
Saw "Son of Rambow" an English flick about a kid who makes his own Sly movie (cute but not great) with Christi and Andy.
Took the kiddos to the pool.
Watched a couple episodes of Season 2 of "Dexter" (love this show almost as much as the books!)
Finished reading "Heartsick" by Chelsea Cain on the recommendation of my buddy, Dan. What a great book. I know I'm sexist but I normally don't like female thriller writers, but this one is awesome. Great story.
Started the new Odd Thomas book by Dean Koontz. I love Dean. Not a huge fan of this series, but it starts off pretty good.

So, now the countdown begins. Short week this week because of the Fourth and then we prep to head out for our family reunion in Seattle. I can't wait! I'm so excited to see my neice and nephews (and my sis, her hubby and my mom and dad). Golf. Beach. Not working. I can't wait!

Live Like Harv!

My new hero ...

The Mist

On a recommendation of a friend, I rented it.
I'm sure this was WAY better as a book. King movies often feel that way (except Misery which was equal to it).
Anyway, it's a bizarre story. Has some interesting elements about religion and faith driven by fear ... which certainly was a major theme.
The ending, however, was so sad and shocking, that I just had a hard time with it. As a parent, it was brutal to watch. I think it would have been better with a better actor. The main dude just doesn't look nearly as shocked as a real person would be.
Anyway, I guess it's worth a rental, but plan on having bad dreams.

I miss college

This is from one of my new fav sites:

http://www.photobasement.com/

Brilliant

My friend Eric posted this on his blog and I thought it was just brilliant.
This is a site for cubicle workers to fake work while reading great works.
http://www.readatwork.com/
Not sure if a Mac version is planned.

Wedding weekend

So, we went to a fun wedding on Saturday. Greta Willoughby used to work for me at Aims and she's just a hoot. She got married at a rodeo arena and then had the reception at a bar (that is being closed and will soon be a church!?!?).
Pics below, me and the bride at the reception and then Tracy sitting on a hay bale for the ceremony (the boys are standing behind her under umbrellas because it was freakin' hot!

Other than that, we had a low-key poker game on Friday (everybody but Dono and I finished early. He and I stayed up late drinking, playing cards and arguing politics ... fun).

On Sunday, the whole family (including Ruth and Greta) went to see "Get Smart" (funny flick but not as slapsticky as the TV show). After dinner together, we did a short tour of the tornado zone in Windsor and Greeley. This was my first time out there (the tornado hit a month ago). It's amazing to see some people already rebuilding. But the devastation is incredible.

A moment of $%&#ing silence

George Carlin is dead. Truly sad day.
Say at least one of the seven words today in his honor.

Daddy day

Had a great Father's Day weekend. A little swimming. Saw "The Happening" with Dono (I actually liked it and he hated it but he hates everything right now and somehow he ends up comparing every movie to a flaming bag of dog poo ... ).

On Sunday, Big Andy (as opposed to Little Andy, my son) and some other friends played the Eaton Country Club in our continuing quest to play the local courses we haven't played before. It's a nice course ... not great, but nice. So far this summer we've added Marianna Butte, the Olde Course in Loveland, Highland Meadows in Windsor, Thorn Creek in Thornton and I got to play the Greeley Country Club in a tourney last week. Marianna and the Greeley CC are my favs so far, but I'm such a hacker that I still enjoy Mad Russian more than any of them. Currently my game sucks. My drives are pretty good (hit one 298 at the GCC!) but I can't pitch or chip or putt to save my life.

After golf, I got to go home, open some nice gifts from the fam, call my dad to wish him a good one and watch the Tiger/Rocco show that continued into the work day yesterday which was awesome.

Tracy wanted to take a pic of me and the boys to show to a friend of hers, so I thought I'd share it here.