Monday, September 11, 2006

Start of trip

In case you didn't catch it a few posts ago, I flew to the Bahamas
this morning on an incentive trip from work. 7 days in Paradise with
sun, fun, and lots of activities with crazy sales people just like
me!! This trip is legendary among the top sales reps at my company,
and I was lucky enough to be in an elite group of folks attending.

I think I'll blog a little from here, since I already decided that I'd
spend the $10.00 a day for internet access. I figure that $10.00 a
day isn't a lot when you are an addict. At least now I can tell
people that I have a "Ten dollar a day habit."

Beck will be joining me down here next Sunday, so she thought that it
would be a good idea to pack a few (note the use of the word few)
things in my bags. I guess that it was only fair considering that I
was taking the "dead body" bag – named that because a dead body could
fit inside.

Upon arrival at the counter, the girl pointed to the scale and said
"Why don't you put them up here sir, and we'll weigh them." I was
like "Why – you think they are overweight?"

"By the way you carried them up to the counter – YES!"

OK, that's cool. Profile me.

First: Dead body bag: 57 lbs. Ouch. 50's the limit.

She recommended that I move some stuff to the other bag and all I
could think about was opening it up and moving over lingerie and
bikini's. "No, let's wait and see what the other one weighs."

Hanging bag: 5 lbs under! Yippee.

Wait, that's a net overage of 2 lbs – "I'm good, right?" I say to the
attractive and chipper check in girl.

"Yeah, you're alright – its just $50.00, sir." She mumbled

"What's $50.00?" I said – with my voice going up at the end like a little boy.

"The cost of the bags, it's over the weight limit."

Ok, cash paid and on to the security area. Remember it's September
11th. I'm prepared for full body cavity searches but I am met with
same old, same old.

I forgot to take out my keys and iPod from my pocket, so I beeped.
Back to the start, I pulled everything out of my pockets quickly and
frantically because I was holding up the line. Oh, and I had to walk
in my bare feet in the airport! Ughr.

OK, done with that and all my stuff is packed neatly back where it
belongs. When I arrive at the gate, guess what's missing? I'll give
you a hint: it's white and it plays(ed) music. iPod. Yeah.

Back to the gate and no one saw anything. "What? No".

xI can only guess that someone has a cute new iPod Shuffle with my
name laser engraved on the side of it. I could always file a claim,
so I guess I'll do that when I get back. Riiiiight.

Gotta go so I can fill out my Customs paperwork, but only one
problem: They aren't giving out pens or pencils. The nice couple
next to me was doing a crossword book – so I snagged her red pen.

As I completed the forms, I noticed it read BLUE OR BLACK INK ONLY.

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Thursday, September 7, 2006

Wake up call

Ever find yourself without an alarm clock? Want to time yourself to
do something?

How about you just want to watch the seconds click away?

http://onlineclock.net/

Tuesday, September 5, 2006

Hurricane Tracker

Yeah.  I won the trip for work and will be headed out on September 11th to the Bahamas....

All I do is watch this map all day now. 

http://hurricane.stormreportmap.com/


Saturday, September 2, 2006

View all my August photos

All August photos here.

Visit from an old friend


For those of you who haven't heard the story: Becky and the girls went outside about a month ago to play on the swings. Becky returned, quite disturbed and asked me to come outside. When I arrived, she pointed out the head of an opossum. And it was f-r-e-s-h meat. Yeah.

Well, our backyard is surrounded by a 6' fence - and I wanted to know how the head got here with no body! I searched for a while and looked on the street side of the fence, but couldn't find anything. On the way in the house, I saw it: The freshly killed and eaten body of this adult opossum. For the longest time, we were really freaked - how did this happen? Who did it?

Dad Storholt gave us a good idea - and when I searched the "crime scene" closer, I located the breast feather of a hawk. Since that day - we have identified two Coopers Hawks that seem to live across the street in a 100 year old pine.

Click here to see the rest of the pictures. Posted by Picasa

Kaitlyn just being a nut!

 Posted by Picasa

Barn Spider


A few weekends ago, Beck and I noticed a barn spider making a really big web just off the deck. Gramma Kaine, Becky and I sat on the deck for about 2 hours and watch her make her orb.

If you ever get the opportunity to watch a spider build a web from scratch, watch it! Posted by Picasa

Li'l Ray's Birthday


You may also recall when we bought the daycare, that Anastasia decided to have Li'l Ray 2 days later. The best of all? He was a month early!

The next day, Boom and I showed up at the center to open!!! You should have seen the parent's faces and heard the kids cries. :-)

Happy birthday, little Ray - clearly you enjoyed it!!!! Posted by Picasa

Happy Birthday Next Level Development!


August 17th was the first birthday of Next Level Development. In many ways it seems like it was 50 years ago and 5 minutes ago all at the same time.

Anastasia has turned the center into a true development based learning center - we are lucky to have her as our best friend and director! Posted by Picasa

Kaitlyn on her new table and chairs

What you don't see here is that our little monkey LOVES to climb on top of these little chairs and table. Our little monkey likes to climb on top of just about anything. God, help us! Posted by Picasa

It was a loooong day for Miss Paige


I looked over after Paige was eerily quiet for about a minute, and here she was. Fast asleep. Say it with me: "Ahhhhhhh." Posted by Picasa

Google Image Tagger

Google is genius!

Check out this tool:  http://images.google.com/imagelabeler/

When you go there, you are teamed up with another person automatically and asked to tag an image.  When you match a tag, you get points.  Not only are you having fun, but you are making google images searches better.  Super genius!

It's strangely addictive, give it a try!


Thursday, August 31, 2006

Pickle Light Bulb: You've always wanted to do this!

Take a look at this site that gives very simple instructions on how to turn an everyday deli pickle into a light bulb.

"Look, Ma - the pickle glows!"

A quote from my Mother

I swear this is the exact quote:
 
"I have to start drinking again so I can stop falling down."
 
 

Monday, August 28, 2006

5 of 9 Jiffy Lubes SCAMMED this undercover reporter

I have used Jiffy Lubes in the last few months.... this is unreal, especially at the end when the district manager lies about who he is.