Heh...don't worry, I still am strictly dickly. But Chante Moore is one of my favorite artists ever and this live acapella version of Listen To My Song confirms that love.
Ohh...and in other news I wound up having to pay court fees, which were $60 more than the ticket itself, but the ticket was dropped, so that was good. Cop did wind up showing up unfortunately.
Will post more another time but had to share that video.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013
Can't Hurry Law
Yes time flies way to fast around blogland...*LOL*. So I'm way overdue for revealing the second truth. So let's get right to it.
Truth #2:
I received yet another speeding ticket this past week after coming back from a routine doctor's appointment.
Of course the week in question was months ago. And actually my court date is on the 25th. Originally it was scheduled for Jan 18th. However that weekend I flew off to Reno for the weekend where I actually wound up $80 ahead.
The situation of my latest dally with the law actually involved another car. The guy in the second car was tailgating behind me for half a mile on a one lane road. We both got caught by the light and by that point it became two lanes. However the guy was still behind me. So the light changes and we drive along, he's still tailgating me. Finally he gets an opening and zooms around me and signals back into the left lane. I see him darting ahead and maybe I accelerated a little. I see that he's stopped a half block away. I don't see exactly why he's stopping and surmise that he may be making a left turn. I get over to the right and that's when a cop comes darting from the left side of the street and orders me to stop. I seriously didn't even see the cops when they stopped the first guy.
At first I thought there was construction ahead. Maybe it was an accident. Or possibly a family of ducks crossing the street.
I'm confused as he directs me to turn onto a side street. From my rearview mirror I see my tailgater turning as well. I note the cop car(s) parked on the side street and realize there's two cops. And that was where they hid their vehicles. It make me wonder if that one cop just ran in the middle of the street to stop the first one. So one cops comes up to me and immediately says I was going 47 in a 35 but the other guy was going 53. I'm in shock and cursing my bad luck as I hand him my license and registration. Neither cop was even hot so I couldn't even salvage the sucky situation.
Illinois has this stupid law (or maybe it's Cook County) where they take your driver's license (or if you have a bond card) and hold it hostage until your court date. I've never understood why they do that as they have a record of you anyway.
I told the cop I was going to contest the ticket even though aside from the circumstances of the pullover, I don't think I have much of a case.
My concern was that I would wind up getting a court date around the time of my Reno trip. Which I did when I got the notice mid-December. I emailed the clerk and they mentioned I could come by prior to my court date to request a continuance.
I wound up going to the courthouse three separate times. I went a few days after the notice hoping I could reschedule. Unfortunately I should've read between the lines and realized that prior meant a few days before. So they wouldn't honor my request, instead telling me I had to come back Jan 15 - 17 to see the judge.
So I come back on the 15th. I get the continuance for February 25th. Only I thought it was January 25th. Yup that was my third trip.
And now next Monday makes four trips. What a waste. I'm praying for a miracle. Maybe the cops won't show since it's been almost three months since the incident in question. We shall see. Wish me luck blogland.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Speaking In The Buff
I'm currently in Detroit visiting my folks for the holidays. I took my typical route to hit the city this time of year. It started with a 4:30 AM wake up call. I still was packing up to the last minute while getting ready for my 5:30 AM taxi. My new taxi company, 303 Taxi (replacing the less than stellar American Taxi), was at my house ten minutes early.
It was a rainy morning as I was taxied to my local Metra Station. My driver was lazy not even getting out of his taxi (guess he didn't want to get wet) to help me with my luggage. But despite that I gave him an extra buck since he was extra early at my place.
After getting my Metra ticket from an extra humorous attendant, I sat down in the bench and waited for the train that would whisk me to Union Station and my Amtrak train which was scheduled to leave at 7:20 AM.
As I sat waiting I couldn't help but overhear the various conversations going on around me. The most riveting one was between the attendant himself and another lady who I only knew was a teacher.
The big discussion was on whether teachers should be allowed to have firearms in the classroom. The debate of course is going on everywhere in light of the Newton, CT school shooting tragedy that happened last Friday. The teacher was against the measure imagining a trigger happy teacher that may decide to shoot an irate student. The humorous attendant was leaning the same way.
It's interesting though because whenever tragedies like the one in Newton, CT happens, that debate always seem to come up. And as usual I can see both sides of the debate.
There is talk of banning semi-automatic weapons is in full swing. I would support a ban of these weapons as I don't understand why regular folks would need a semi-automatic weapon. But unfortunately even banning it won't completely eliminate the problem. Just like with drugs, if folks want them, they will find ways to get them. Also coming up with a banning takes time which would give those who want a semi plenty of time to stock up before the ban takes effect.
In the meantime I'm thinking as long as a teacher or whomever in the school administration has proper training on handling a regular gun (with required annual re-certification), there shouldn't be a reason for not having some kind of protection available. As long as risk is mitigated (unfortunately you can't truly eliminate it) against a student or anyone with nefarious intentions stealing said weapon, I'm thinking that allowing handguns for protection isn't a bad option. But yeah that's definitely a debate of the ages.
So Hemingway my Metra train arrived and I reached Union Station just in time to hop on the big long line boarding Amtrak. As usual some folks had to be slick trying to cut the line. It's a wonder there isn't more fights at the station.
Thankfully I got my own row once boarded. Typically I wind up having to share a row as more passengers are picked up along the way. But thankfully this year I had my own row the entire 7 1/2 hour trip. It's funny how Amtrak from Chicago to Detroit is always late when it comes to arriving in Detroit. This year was no exception with a 49 minute late arrival.
My Dad picked me up from the station within twenty minutes. I'll be remaining in the city till the 28th.
So in the meantime it's time to me to reveal Truth #1 in my "Two Truths and a Lie" game.
Without further adieu, Truth #1 is:
"I hired a man to clean my house in the nude."
Yes it's true. I saw an ad almost two years ago from a man advertising his services. Basically he will clean, repair, or assist in anyway whatever you need done to the house. And he would do it in the nude. He showed me pictures of himself of course. I have to say he keeps himself in pretty good shape.
Besides the nice views of watching him clean, he offered a rate that was $20 cheaper and an hour longer than my current Merry Maids. Plus since there is no middle man, he gets the entire amount of cash, so I don't necessarily have to tip extra though I will actually give him a gift card in addition to his rate when he comes over next time.
He's helped me so much in the time I've had him. In addition to cleaning he's helped me install a replacement toilet (including picking up the new toilet at Home Depot...and yes he was clothed in public...*LOL*), replace a faucet, install a new light fixture, flip a mattress, and help put together a giant 36 X 48 frame I bought for a blow up of one of my skydiving pics.
I really appreciate having him actually. He told me that he just enjoys the freedom of being naked around the house. I think he allows his clients to touch him or what not but I've actually pretty much kept things hands off except for an occasional shoulder tap.
It turned out too that he bowls at a gay bowling league that I joined a few years back. It's a once a month league that meets on the first Saturday of the month. So we get to socialize briefly at the alley as well. And since I don't know if everyone knows about his extracurricular activities, I don't discuss that with him.
So yeah that's the first truth. I'll reveal the other truth in another post.
It was a rainy morning as I was taxied to my local Metra Station. My driver was lazy not even getting out of his taxi (guess he didn't want to get wet) to help me with my luggage. But despite that I gave him an extra buck since he was extra early at my place.
After getting my Metra ticket from an extra humorous attendant, I sat down in the bench and waited for the train that would whisk me to Union Station and my Amtrak train which was scheduled to leave at 7:20 AM.
As I sat waiting I couldn't help but overhear the various conversations going on around me. The most riveting one was between the attendant himself and another lady who I only knew was a teacher.
The big discussion was on whether teachers should be allowed to have firearms in the classroom. The debate of course is going on everywhere in light of the Newton, CT school shooting tragedy that happened last Friday. The teacher was against the measure imagining a trigger happy teacher that may decide to shoot an irate student. The humorous attendant was leaning the same way.
It's interesting though because whenever tragedies like the one in Newton, CT happens, that debate always seem to come up. And as usual I can see both sides of the debate.
There is talk of banning semi-automatic weapons is in full swing. I would support a ban of these weapons as I don't understand why regular folks would need a semi-automatic weapon. But unfortunately even banning it won't completely eliminate the problem. Just like with drugs, if folks want them, they will find ways to get them. Also coming up with a banning takes time which would give those who want a semi plenty of time to stock up before the ban takes effect.
In the meantime I'm thinking as long as a teacher or whomever in the school administration has proper training on handling a regular gun (with required annual re-certification), there shouldn't be a reason for not having some kind of protection available. As long as risk is mitigated (unfortunately you can't truly eliminate it) against a student or anyone with nefarious intentions stealing said weapon, I'm thinking that allowing handguns for protection isn't a bad option. But yeah that's definitely a debate of the ages.
So Hemingway my Metra train arrived and I reached Union Station just in time to hop on the big long line boarding Amtrak. As usual some folks had to be slick trying to cut the line. It's a wonder there isn't more fights at the station.
Thankfully I got my own row once boarded. Typically I wind up having to share a row as more passengers are picked up along the way. But thankfully this year I had my own row the entire 7 1/2 hour trip. It's funny how Amtrak from Chicago to Detroit is always late when it comes to arriving in Detroit. This year was no exception with a 49 minute late arrival.
My Dad picked me up from the station within twenty minutes. I'll be remaining in the city till the 28th.
So in the meantime it's time to me to reveal Truth #1 in my "Two Truths and a Lie" game.
Without further adieu, Truth #1 is:
"I hired a man to clean my house in the nude."
Besides the nice views of watching him clean, he offered a rate that was $20 cheaper and an hour longer than my current Merry Maids. Plus since there is no middle man, he gets the entire amount of cash, so I don't necessarily have to tip extra though I will actually give him a gift card in addition to his rate when he comes over next time.
He's helped me so much in the time I've had him. In addition to cleaning he's helped me install a replacement toilet (including picking up the new toilet at Home Depot...and yes he was clothed in public...*LOL*), replace a faucet, install a new light fixture, flip a mattress, and help put together a giant 36 X 48 frame I bought for a blow up of one of my skydiving pics.
I really appreciate having him actually. He told me that he just enjoys the freedom of being naked around the house. I think he allows his clients to touch him or what not but I've actually pretty much kept things hands off except for an occasional shoulder tap.
It turned out too that he bowls at a gay bowling league that I joined a few years back. It's a once a month league that meets on the first Saturday of the month. So we get to socialize briefly at the alley as well. And since I don't know if everyone knows about his extracurricular activities, I don't discuss that with him.
So yeah that's the first truth. I'll reveal the other truth in another post.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
EVRIP
I'll do a post on my first of my two truths soon but I had to comment on the state of En Vogue. I'm clearly behind on the latest happenings as I was shocked today to come across this video on Youtube where now Maxine and Dawn are on one side of the fence battling against Terry and Cindy.
Apparently the interviews happened in September 2012 a few months after Maxine left the group. It appears the ladies couldn't agree on a new contract. The last I had heard was that Cindy, Terry, and Maxine were basically stuck in a bad contract and was trying to get out of it. I guess maybe this was Maxine's way of getting out.
I had high hopes that the four would come up with some kind of compromise so they could work on new material. I especially was hopeful when SWV got back together and came up with a new album. That album I Missed Us overall is pure unadulterated SWV on the "2012 tip". It's unfortunately not getting much airplay since unfortunately the state of R&B is not the same way it was in the 80's and 90's. But I figured if SWV could get it together and do an album, why not En Vogue?
But alas it isn't meant to be. Maxine and Dawn do sound credible in their interview that they did. They are now a duo now called "Heirs" (in other words, the true heirs to the "En Vogue" throne). It'll be interesting to hear some songs from the two of them. I kinda thought Cindy and Terry were lacking that En Vogue sound without the other two. Will Maxine and Dawn have that same problem? Arguably I'd say that Maxine and Dawn were the stronger vocals of the four but are they really the true heirs to the throne? Or is the answer somewhere in between. Maybe a compromise...something the four of them just couldn't do.
Why can't these ladies get it together? Oh well there's always their older body of work to remember them by.
Guess they all got the gun and they triggered a mess from it.
To the original EN VOGUE, Rest In Peace!
Apparently the interviews happened in September 2012 a few months after Maxine left the group. It appears the ladies couldn't agree on a new contract. The last I had heard was that Cindy, Terry, and Maxine were basically stuck in a bad contract and was trying to get out of it. I guess maybe this was Maxine's way of getting out.
I had high hopes that the four would come up with some kind of compromise so they could work on new material. I especially was hopeful when SWV got back together and came up with a new album. That album I Missed Us overall is pure unadulterated SWV on the "2012 tip". It's unfortunately not getting much airplay since unfortunately the state of R&B is not the same way it was in the 80's and 90's. But I figured if SWV could get it together and do an album, why not En Vogue?
But alas it isn't meant to be. Maxine and Dawn do sound credible in their interview that they did. They are now a duo now called "Heirs" (in other words, the true heirs to the "En Vogue" throne). It'll be interesting to hear some songs from the two of them. I kinda thought Cindy and Terry were lacking that En Vogue sound without the other two. Will Maxine and Dawn have that same problem? Arguably I'd say that Maxine and Dawn were the stronger vocals of the four but are they really the true heirs to the throne? Or is the answer somewhere in between. Maybe a compromise...something the four of them just couldn't do.
Why can't these ladies get it together? Oh well there's always their older body of work to remember them by.
Guess they all got the gun and they triggered a mess from it.
To the original EN VOGUE, Rest In Peace!
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Chillaxed Much
I'm feeling way too chillaxed these days. In fact my entry will be short and sweet. I need to snap myself out of my non-blogging mood. Actually let me play two truths and one lie to summarize what's been happening in my life in the last couple weeks. Two of them really happened. One of them is a bold faced lie.
1) I received yet another speeding ticket this past week after coming back from a routine doctor's appointment.
2) I hired a man to clean my house in the nude.
3) I discovered raccoon poop in my back patio.
Hopefully I can get myself back in the blogging mood before long.
1) I received yet another speeding ticket this past week after coming back from a routine doctor's appointment.
2) I hired a man to clean my house in the nude.
3) I discovered raccoon poop in my back patio.
Hopefully I can get myself back in the blogging mood before long.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
In Tandem
I survived my birthday tandem jump. Overall it was a great experience. I was actually okay on the plane ride. I was only nervous when it was time to do the actual jump. I had completely forgotten the quick lessons that my instructor gave and he had to open my hands and open the chute. I kept my hands in the initial prayer position that they told us to put it in. Now that I think about it, the reason they tell you to do it that way is so that you're not pushing your hands against the side of the plane trying to keep from jumping out. Something like this scary video:
In a later interview she said basically her knees had given out and she needed to use the side of the plane for support. Unfortunately her diver didn't secure her properly to the harness and that's when all hell broke loose on the air.
Luckily my dive went much better. So I can cross off one more item off my imaginary bucket list.
In a later interview she said basically her knees had given out and she needed to use the side of the plane for support. Unfortunately her diver didn't secure her properly to the harness and that's when all hell broke loose on the air.
Luckily my dive went much better. So I can cross off one more item off my imaginary bucket list.
Next stop...Reno!
Saturday, October 13, 2012
It's The Big One
Omgosh I can't believe it's finally here. Well technically it's almost here. The moment I've been anticipating. I can't say I've been waiting for it but it's coming like a freight train. My thirties are coming to an end and I officially become a 40 year old. Next year (sigh which is only a few months away) I can say I'm a forty-something.
I thought I'd ring in my 40th doing something really memorable. Here's a video of what I plan on doing on my 40th, which is officially on the 15th.
Well I won't be doing everything those guys are doing. Mine will be pretty basic I think. If I survive that the plan is the following week to fly into Reno for a few days and check out the casino scene as well as Lake Tahoe.
Definitely excited and nervous about the 15th but I'm sure it'll be okay.
Keep me in your prayers.
I thought I'd ring in my 40th doing something really memorable. Here's a video of what I plan on doing on my 40th, which is officially on the 15th.
Well I won't be doing everything those guys are doing. Mine will be pretty basic I think. If I survive that the plan is the following week to fly into Reno for a few days and check out the casino scene as well as Lake Tahoe.
Definitely excited and nervous about the 15th but I'm sure it'll be okay.
Keep me in your prayers.
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