Ray, Pat. Pat, Ray

I love this shot!

It reminds me of a great story about Boom and me.

I was working the Reading, PA territory at the time and Ray also happened to be in Berks County as well for work during that month.

So, I called his cell and we chatted a bit about whatever and I asked him: "What's your 20?"

Now, a small history lesson about me - I was a police & 9-1-1 dispatcher for about 5 years, but I digress.

Since Ray and I have been friends, he has had to decipher my code talk - and I'm not just talking about "What's your 20" either - there's plenty more for those who know me. They range from skip jack, to smacked ass, to slabobin, ferschmeckled, and many more.

Back to the story - so Boom says "I'm on 222 right by 61." I say "that's funny, I'm on 222 right by 61."

Now, I'm fired up - I thought that I felt a disturbance in the force - I scream "I'm heading south - where are you?!?!?!?" He screams back, now laughing like a Hyena, "I'm heading north!"

So, I start to flash my headlights like I am sosing the mother ship. And I hear Ray dying - "BUDDY! I see you!"

Now, the time from when I asked him where he was to this exact moment in time was no more then 8 seconds.

I look ahead and there he is - going 65 MPH northbound yelling. "BUDDDYYYYYY!" Looking right at me!

Needless to say, I am doing my classic Patrick look back at him.

A great moment like that deserves a chronicle on the blog.

Oh, and Happy 30th Birthday Boom!

Is this for REAL? I will be RICH!

From: Mr. STEVE MANZINI
Reply-To: stevemanzin@netscape.net
To: patrick@xxxxxx.com
Date: Oct 8, 2005 7:36 AM
Subject: partnership

Dear Friend,
Investment Assistance

I humbly approach you with a view that we may be able to enter into a mutual business transaction that could be of immense benefit to both parties.

As led by my instinct, I decided to contact you through email after, Searching for Contacts via the internet, as it is the only means I can contact anybody since I am cutting off ties with Sierra Leone for now.

I apologize if this is not acceptable to you. Foremost; I should begin by introducing myself.
I am Mr. STEVE MANZINI the son of late Mr. GEORGE MANZINI, a precious stone merchant in Sierra Leone, who died on the 6th of May 2003 After the death of my father, the Government of Sierra Leone arrested my mum and my kid brother on the allegation that my father was a front man to the late dictators of Sierra Leone.

All my father's assets were confiscated, by the present government and during this injustice; my brother and my mum were maltreated and tortured. From this trauma, my mum fell sick and died.
After the whole incident, I went through my Father’s document and I found out that he lodged $12 800,000.00 (Twelve Million Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars) kept in custody for us in a security company stashed in trunk boxes and deposited as personal belongings before he died, out side my country and he intended investing it before his untimely death.

Sir, my intention now is to invest in your country, in any profitable business you deem fit.

I will be grateful if we could come into joint business partnership. Because of my family
background I shy away from publicity. Precisely, I prefer staying away from well know public figures in any country.

Hence I won't want my name mentioned to any one, as I still want to stay away from the scrutiny of my country government. Mentioning this mail to anyone may put me in a big mess and cause me to lose the money.

As soon as I receive your consent I will immediately forward the contact and all other information of where and how to collect this money.

For your assistance, I have two options for you. Firstly you can choose to have 20% of the money for your assistance, and helping me open an account for the money to be deposited here, or you can go into partnership with me for the proper profitable investment of the money in your country.

Please note that I can be reached on email (stevemanzin@netscape.net ) Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Thanks and God bless.

Mr. STEVE MANZINI.

NOTE: PLS BE INFORMED THAT THERE WILL NOT BE ANY EXPENSES OUT OF YOUR
POCKET, EVERY EXPENSES DUE TO RETREVING OF THE CONSIGNMENT SHOULD BE MADE OUT OF THE CONSIGNMENT.

Analyze This

Ray and I joked a few days ago how much we talk on the phone... so, since I had nothing to do this morning except buy something from an infomercial, I did some analysis.

Of the 2,000 plus minutes I used on my cell phone last month, 45% of them were with only four numbers.

At least I talk to Beck more then Boom!

Palm Island, Dubai

Have you heard of Palm Island? I saw a program on the National Geographic Channel

I often wonder what else is happening in the world that I should know about. This is definitely one of them!

Basically, some Arabian prince has decided to create a man-made island that looks like a perfect palm leaf, build amazing multi-million dollar homes, hotels, and more.


Here is the copy from National Geographic:

"An enormous project is underway in the Arabian Gulf that will literally change the face of the coastline. It's so vast it can be seen from space. The world's largest artificial islands are being constructed and fashioned in the shape of a massive palm tree. An ambitious engineering feat, it's part of an even bigger plan to transform Dubai into one of the world's premiere tourist destinations. MegaStructures tells the story of the race to build this new engineering feat."

This address gives a nice history of how the construction has progressed.


Here is a HUGE resolution image of the island.

Does anyone believe these?

So, it's 5:20AM and Kaitlyn is cooing away in her crib... Becky gets up and gives her the pacifier.

It's 5:26AM... I get up and give her the pacifier.

It's 5:41AM... I decide someone is hungry.

Have you ever watched TV from midnight to 6:00AM? It's "Paid Programming" on every freekin' channel. Here's the thing, I still got sucked in to watching one. It was the "Revolutionary Flash Light" that works when you shake it. At the end of the commercial, here comes a screen like this one:



May I please draw your attention to the little box below Carol's head. It's a little clock counting backwards. WHO BELIEVES THIS CLOCK MEANS ANYTHING? Are there people out there sprinting to the phones because there is only 1:40 left to order? Do they think they MUST CALL NOW before the amazing offer expires?

Can you readers be honest with me? Have you ever purchased something that you saw on an infomercial? Be honest and post a comment below!

Video Post: Happy Kaitlyn

Click here to see the one minute video!

Photo of the month: Kaitlyn & Mommy

And, presenting the photo of the month! (Voted on by myself and Beck)

Complete Photo Album of September '05

Here is the complete photo album.

It's getting to be colder here and Paige's sunflower has died. This is a picture a few months ago when it was alive and happy!

Paige has on obsession with holding on to as many things as she can! It must be DNA passed down from her father. I try to carry every single grocery bag from the car to the house in one shot - Beck always makes some comment about it.

Kaitlyn has her Terry Labonte/Kyle Busch onsie on. Paige looks like she is giving the 5, five!

Runner up for: Photo of the month

Paige and Daddy

Walking with Uncle Joel

She got lots of use out of the backpack that Gramma and Cappa Storholt got her for her birthday!

Paige played at the water's edge for a few minutes... she was watching a family down stream throwing rocks into the water.

"When you come to a fork in the road, take it." -Yogie Berra

This is from a trip to Jacobsburg State Park up the road a piece from us. The river pictured is the Bushkill.

This is Snaggle Tooth, the swine. He was easily 300 lbs and had this cute little tooth heading west in his mouth.

This was our visit to Apple Blossom Village in Mt Bethel, PA... Paige and the little goat had quite a fascination with each other.

Paige talking to Gramma Kaine on Daddy's Treo. She was telling her all sorts of facts: "Kaitin's in the chair, I got a pink shirt, Gramma, Gramma, Gramma."