Chess

Yes I have began playing Chess once again. Study a bit each day and have joined a chess club. My Chess playing has also allowed me to hook up with an old friend I have not talked with in over a decade.

Quote of the Day
Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites. Moderation is for monks.
--- Excerpt from the notebooks of Lazarus Long

Just For a Laugh

Had to throw this in here today. Since I was browsing Youtube and came across this commercial.

Guitar Lesson 101

Since I have a few guitars and no skills, I really like when I find a well made guitar lesson on Youtube. By well made I mean, visually it shows everything and for those of us lacking any type of real teaching its easy to understand and fun.

Hurt- Johnny Cash Version guitar lesson


Here is another link to another lesson of Hurt on The Guitar Teachers Notebook site.

Hurt- Johnny Cash

Quote of the Day
Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way. Unless it's a fatal mistake, which, at least, others can learn from.
---Al Franken

Hospice 5K

Today's 5K at Hospice of Volusia county did not really go as planned. I learned several new lessons at this race. Me, Dee, Jinelle and Brittany all entered. This was the first race we had run that had been melt your face hot. It was like 90F at 8am and sunny. This race also had to have the most people we ever saw at a race up to this point, close to 600.

Mistakes I Made
1. I had really been slacking on the running, and my result shows this.
2. I wore all black to a sunny, hot, 3.1mi race i was not conditioned for.
3. I started the race and ran the first mile way to fast.

Dee did not set any record for this race but she has been running a lot. I really think the heat took its toll on all of us. Every race up to this one I had handily beat her by 5 Min's or more. Not this day, at 2 miles she over took me and pulled away. She was the only reason my time was not 5 min slower. (Pride) I refused to let her beat me, I honestly could hear her and Jinelle taunting me with that scenario in my head the last mile.

Brittany ran a really respectable 27 min time and finished 2ND in her age group. Unfortunately after a mile she took off her sneakers and ran the last 2Mi barefoot. With her sneakers in her hands she crossed the finish and the detector never registered her race chip.

All in all it was a fun morning, Mel and Mom went and we all had a good time.

Quote of the Day
Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.
---Steven Wright

TROUGH

trough -
Function: noun
Pronunciation:
\ˈtrof, ˈtroth, by bakers often ˈtrō\

This morning as we watched the first day of the Olympics an argument broke out between Dee and myself. It all had to do with how one simple word was pronounced. She is of the trof camp and I am of the troth camp.

It is days such as this that I wonder how I could have married a woman who pronounces trough with an F. Neither of us were wrong, seeing as it is pronounced both ways.

But in the end, in her eyes, I am wrong.

Quote of the Day
Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny
---Unknown

A little Guitar post

A Guitar Teacher's Lesson Notebook - A Blog I have been reading as of late and am now putting under my guitar links on the sidebar. Really nice simple down to earth lessons for those of us who are really new to playing with lots of songs broken down into chords and strums also. The guy has a great sense of humor as well.

New Run

Well I am now focusing on the Hospice 5k, Sept 14Th. Ran last night for the fist time in like a month. I do believe I am going to have to really get running to beat my last 5K time. Dee is pounding the pavement nightly. Finishing behind her would also have dire consequences.

The back room nears completion after months of procrastination. Just have to finish up the base moulding and paint it.

Quote of the Day
Nice guys finish last, but we get to sleep in.
---Evan Davis

Cuil

CUIL - The new search engine that's suppose to give Google a run for their money.

Been playing with it for a few days and I do like the fact it does bring back some different things than Google.

Quote of the Day
A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.
---George Moore

Crime Spree

Paid today to have Dee's truck side window replaced. Someone smashed it in to take her purse with no money in it. Had to cancel a few cards, get a new licence and pay $200 for a new window.
Lesson learned.... Leave your vehicle unlocked with nothing in it. If they steal the car, your covered under your insurance. If they smash a window to get in, your insurance wont pay for that window.

The car next to her truck was broken into also. That woman had like her whole life in her purse and it was stolen as well, licence, half dozen credit cards, soc sec #, checks, cash etc.

Quote of the Day
A criminal is a person with predatory instincts who has not sufficient capital to form a corporation.
---Howard Scott

Strumming Patterns

Just a little post today with a link to a website with strumming patterns for different songs and MP3's of those patterns to go along with them.

Guitar Strumming

Quote of the Day
That man is the richest whose pleasures are the cheapest
---Henry David Thoreau

Joe Cocker

Just a few Videos you would not see on MTV nowadays.
Cry Me A River from the "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" album


The Letter from the same album and tour in 1970

Who knew, no news

It's been a slow summer so far.

Dee's vacation was a week of hanging around the house and going to the beach.
I did finally get the laminate wood floor installed in the back office. The office is slowly taking shape. Rebuilt the cheesy little transmission on the mower that seized up and spent a few days throwing up with a stomach bug (I Think). Since neither of the two women were sick at this time I have a hard time believing I food poisoned us all. (One can never tell though, I may have just contaminated something I ate?)

Needless to say though my sickness kept us from running our 5K on the 5Th. Dee is already looking ahead and is planning a run in Sept I believe. She is still running almost every day and even though she does not see it, she looks better and better every day.

Quote of the Day
A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing
---George Bernard Shaw

Running on Empty

Dee has us running another 5K in like 12 days. Now I have enjoyed these runs but have to admit that I have kinda fallen off the run everyday bandwagon about a month or so ago.

Got up this morning and ran 2.5 mi to see how my legs felt. My legs sent my brain one simple telegram and it went something like this. We hate you and that woman you married.

This run is on the beach though. The fact that there will probably be a half million people in town for the 4Th of July and the Nascar race should make getting over there even more fun.
Don't think Nelly is up for this one, so I will have to hunt down some other unsuspecting friends and family to run it with us.

Quote of the Day
Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional
---Unknown

Blogs of Note

Well I changed my Blogs of Note this evening. The two that use to be on there are no more. Since I only put links on my site of places I like to visit from time to time, I have added a few new blogs to the list.

For Heavens Sake - One of Nellies new blogs. I have a hard time keeping up with them.
This Rediculous World - If you would like to take a side trip some evening to China and see the world through the eyes of a couple of western school teachers living there. Really interesting & fun reading.

Quote of the Day
There are a billion people in China. It's not easy to be an individual in a crowd of more than a billion people. Think of it. More than a BILLION people. That means even if you're a one-in-a-million type of guy, there are still a thousand guys exactly like you
---A. Whitney Brown

Elaphe guttata guttata

The title of tonight's post is the scientific name of tonight's guest...

Our guest tonight on the porch was a Corn Snake, also known in these parts as a Red Rat Snake or Chicken Snake. Been here 16 years and have never seen one before.

I have to say he kinda scared the crap out of us. Its not often you see snakes climbing walls but from what I read he is one of the most colorful snakes in these parts and a great climber.
Also listed as Harmless...phewww



Quote of the day
Someday we'll look back on this moment and plow into a parked car.
---Evan Davis

Travis Picking

Two fun lessons in finger picking with the guitar. These two lessons by David Hodge make learning to finger pick fun and remarkably easy to do. I was quite amazed at how simple this technique was and how with a little practice I could start playing in a way I really didn't think I was capable of doing to be honest.

Let Your Fingers Do the Talking - Basic Travis Finger Picking Tutorial (part 1)
Add A Pinch - Basic Travis Finger Picking Tutorial (part 2)

Hodge has quite a few lessons at Guitar Noise and all his lessons are interesting and fun

Quote of the Day
Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time.
---E.B. White

Bo Diddley

Just a video of Bo Diddley in his prime playing and dancing.
He passed away today at the age of 79 and will be missed.



Quote of the Day
"I thank you in advance for the great round of applause I'm about to get.”
---Bo Diddley

Jinelles Song of the Moment

Just a video post today of a song Jinelle has me hooked on now, since she plays it so often.
I'm a Tom Petty fan anyway.


Saving Grace lyrics

I’m passing sleeping cities
Fading by degrees
Not believing all I see to be so

I’m flyin’ over backyards
Country homes and ranches
Watching life between the branches below

And it’s hard to say
Who you are these days
But you run on anyway
Don’t you baby?

You keep running for another place
To find that saving grace

I’m moving on alone over ground that no one owns
Past statues that atone for my sins

There’s a guard on every door
And a drink on every floor
Overflowing with a thousand amens

And it’s hard to say
Who you are these days
But you run on anyway
Don’t you baby?

You keep running for another place
To find that saving grace
Don’t you baby?

You’re rolling up the carpet
Of your father’s two-room mansion
No headroom for expansion no more
And there’s a corner of the floor
They’re telling you is yours
You’re confident but not really sure

And it’s hard to say
Who you are these days
But you run on anyway
Don’t you baby?

You keep running for another place
To find that saving grace
Don’t you baby?

Quote of the Day
A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.
---Chinese Proverb

Pause

I have not posted in a while. Not giving excuses here, just the fact that I have not been wandering the wired world as much as of late.

On the fitness front I have been aimless as of late. I have not seen any 5K's listed for the next couple months close by. In all honesty it looks like the people around here run all their 5K's in the spring and fall. (To avoid killing people with heat stroke...maybe?) Dee is still working out quite regularly.

Still trying to learn to play the guitar. Here is a link to a free online course in music theory. Understanding Basic Music Theory

Quote of the Day
People who throw kisses are hopelessly lazy.
---Bob Hope

Dawn of the Dead 5k

This morning was the 5K Run For Meals On Wheels. This race started at 7:30 so everyone had to be up and out of the house by 6:30.

This is where the title of my post came from. Jinelle being a teenager had the difficulty of her body realizing it was a Saturday and turning itself off and fighting all attempts at waking itself before noon.. Dee in the other hand had to work last night until midnight and her older (Sparing myself great pain here by not spitting out a number) body rebelled at her few hours of sleep as well. After telling them both I would not go alone and bring their 5k t-shirts back they both finally arose and shuffled out to the car.

The Race

Being held at the beautiful LPGA golf course up in Daytona it was a crisp sunny cool morning. Sign-in was quick and we waited for only about 15 Min's for the start. Me and Vinny started up front while the two women did not want to be run over by eager runners started way back.

Eager runners it was, at the horn half this field left me in the dust. You would have thought that someone had arrived telling everyone they had to sit through a Ashley Simpson concert the way they broke and ran from the start. Vinnie amongst them, after only a few Min's he had left me from sight.

This was the first race that I really had no leg pains at all through out. At about 1.25 miles I reeled in rabbit boy Vinnie. We stayed together for about 1/4 mile then my much longer legs and pace had me slowly pull away. He had dipped too deep into the well at the beginning with that blistering pace out of the blocks.

For all of us though this was really a good race. Every single one of us beat our last 5k time. (Times on the sidebar) Jinelle received a plaque for third place in her age group and I won the "Bongo Billy's Banana Boat Ride" for 6 door prize tickets.

Quote of the Day
Not untill just before dawn do people sleep best; not until people get old do they become wise.
---Chinese Proverb

Few new links..

Found a few new Guitar sites that are worth the time to look through and use. Guitar Noise and Chordbook. Guitar Noise frankly has some of the best free lessons and articles I have seen so far. Chordbook is just a really handy site for looking up chords, scales and such.

I am really pondering heading to the Community College this summer to try a music class. In all honestly it is a whole lot cheaper than private music lessons and it will get me out of the house several days a week and around some new people.

Two days until the next 5k. I really don't know how I am going to fare on this one. My training regimen has really dropped off this last month.

I have dropped to just running 10 mi. a week.

I do have to say though that I have really gotten rid of a lot of the leg problems I had been experiencing though.

The 7:30 am start time has gotten me quite a bit of grumblings from Dee and Jinelle.

I have three words for the two of them "Suck it up".

Quote of the Day

I have a new philosophy. I'm only going to dread one day at a time.

---Charles M. Schulz

Gone to the Birds

I had been looking at the traffic that wanders through my blog as of late and I realize that 90% of the folks are doing some search or such on Google or some other search engine for the word Whippoorwill.

I could let this go to my head and figure that so many people around the world had heard about some unique blog down in Florida called the Whipporwill and were coming to find it. But lets be realistic, these people I am guessing are looking up our small rural feathered friend who is singing his eerie song off in a wooded area somewhere.

So 90% of my traffic are ornithologists, birders, bird watchers or students writing a report on our fine feathered friend who happens to have the same name (OK, its close) as my blog and street.

Well here is the link to my Whippoorwill picture and birdsong posted a while back.
Whippoorwill picture and Song

Quote of the Day
I value my garden more for being full of blackbirds than of cherries, and very frankly give them fruit for their songs.
---Joseph Addison

The New Guitar

Yesterday I picked up a 10 yr old Epiphone Acoustic/electric guitar at a garage sale for $150.
The few used ones I saw online sold between $400-600. This guitar is so much nicer than the two I have been using to learn to play.

I had read that if your going to learn to play guitar you should buy the best that you can afford because it will make learning a lot easier. I have to say that this is just so true. Its like night and day between this new guitar and my old cheap one. Since I have no amp I have not tried out the electric functions of the guitar.

One week until our next 5k run. Will be Me, Dee, Jinelle and Vinnie so far. Still waiting to see if Brit and Fran are going to enter. This one is up in Daytona at the LPGA golf course.

Quote of the Day
Music is the only language in which you cannot say a mean or sarcastic thing,
---- John Erskine

Lessons

Well I signed up for a website by an Aussie who has 100's of really well made guitar lessons. The site has over 60K members registered in their forums who submit lessons and info as well about guitar playing.
Guitar for Beginners and Beyond

I have to say that after looking through quite a few websites this one really is worth the few moments it takes to sign up with a name, password and e-mail address. The lessons that I have used so far are really well made, easy to understand and just plain made interesting.

Quote of the Day
Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lessons afterward.
----anonymous

My Guitar Gently Weeps

Yup, I have decided to start playing the guitar again. For the last week or so I have started from scratch and have begun my journey anew down the path of musical enlightenment. I really have been annoying Dee with lots of music theory questions that she just does not remember the answers to. (Or so she says...)

I have pulled out the two guitars we possess that have been stored away in a closet since Josh left for the Marines several years ago. (By the way, Josh called and let us know he has bought a banjo. I guess he has gotten the music bug as well.) He called and told me to learn "Dueling Banjo's" so we could sit on the porch and scare the neighbors.

Well my fingers are sore and the cats are no where to be seen. They are either afraid of the guitar or the way I play it.

Guess I am probably going to add a music links section soon. Still going through web sites looking at the different ones with free lessons, tab and other such stuff.

Quote of the Day
It's been through three wives. To me a guitar is kind of like a woman. You don't know why you like 'em but you do.
Waylon Jennings on his Telecaster

Marine Weekend

Josh has come down from Camp Lejeune to visit for a few days. Just finished a bunch of Marine stuff so was looking to get away for a bit with one of his friends. Been a pretty laid back weekend really.

Just a funny Video sent to Dee from her mom I'm posting. It's a little commercial for man-candles.



Quote of the Day
Military power wins battles, but spiritual power wins wars.
----General George Catlett Marshall

Ponce Inlet "Run for SPARC 5K"

Well, we got up early this morning and headed down to Ponce for our 3rd
5K of the year so far. We got a beautiful, sunny, breezy 75 degree morning for the race and everything went off without a hitch.

Brit and Fran could not make this race due to getting back just yesterday from their vacation and Hunter having to race last night. Vinnie was a no show as well, due to having to work this morning. We did get Jinelle to run another one though.

Me and Deanna both beat our last times. Dee ran her 3.1 miles in 35:41 beating her last race by almost 1.5 Min's. I finally broke the 30 min barrier and ran mine in 29:16, beating my last time by 1.5 Min's also. Jinelle actually placed second in her age group for this race with a time of 39:40.

Goal wise, yes we both improved on our times and that feels pretty nice, but Dee has dropped more weight and another dress size and we both continue to work out, so the fact that we are both still running and working out 6 months after we had started feels really good.

Our next 5k will be the "6th Annual 5K Run for Meals On Wheels" run up at the LPGA golf course in Daytona on May 3.

Quote of the Day
We find no real satisfaction or happiness in life without obstacles to conquer and goals to achieve.
---Maxwell Maltz

Family Photos

Decided this week to post a few photos for family and friends. So here goes.

Macy on the treadmill preparing her compact feline body for a good workout.

Snoopy laying casually on his favorite rug looking out the back door into the dark humid Florida night listening for prey like his wild ancestors would. OK, to be honest with you, he could have just been sleeping on the rug, he likes to do that also.

Jinelle typing away furiously on her computer to show me how inept my own typing skills are compared to her keyboard mastery.

Dee lounging care free on the couch watching some prime-time program she has not set the new TIVO to record as of yet and complaining bitterly about all the damn commercials.

Me scolding Snoopy about his total lack of respect of my authority in this house.

Quote of the Day

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.

---Herm Albright

Preparations

Only 3 days until the next 5K down in Ponce Inlet. Dee has really been working out and I do believe she will beat her last time handily. I ran a 5k this morning to see how I was doing with that distance seeing as I have really cut back on my running the last few weeks due to a few injuries. I beat my best time by 20 seconds and nothing was hurting when I finished. OK, I'm stunned.

On another note, I sat and watched "The Last Waltz" last night with Jinelle. I honestly have to say It has probably been 25-30 years since I have seen that movie and its one pretty amazing concert. For those who have never seen the movie, it is the farewell concert of "The Band" back in 1976, filmed by Martin Scorsese.


Not only was "The Band" some of the best musicians of the day, they had on stage in this farewell concert, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Joni Mitchell, Ron Wood, Ringo Starr and others. It was kind of amazing that these guys toured for 16 years. No matter what kind of music you like, you will find at least one song in this concert that will be to your taste.

One of my favorite songs from the movie. The Band and Neil Young "Helpless"


Quote of the Day
Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence.
---Robert Fripp

Panorama's

Wild Goose Island in Glacier National Park Wyoming

Was just looking for some images tonight of places with some hills in them or mountains. Living in one of the flattest states makes one long for a tall place from time to time to survey ones place in the whole of things. I came across a site with a bunch of panorama's and thought I would post a few I liked.

Mount Moran Wyoming


Governor Basin Road Colorado


Yankee Boy Basin Colorado


Grinnell lake Montana

Quote of the Day

Every once in a while, take the scenic route.

H.Jackson Brown Jr.

Food Pics

Just some funny food pictures I had picked up over the last few days I liked.

My kinda Potato

This is when your cooking breakfast and realize there
just might be something to that Karma argument.

I honestly have to say, if I saw these on a
store shelf I would buy a box. Heck only $2


Yup


Quote of the Day
My Karma ran over your dogma.
---Unknown

Tuesday Nite Fitness Post

I have been trying to get into the fitness spirit a bit more as of late.
It seems once I hit 200 lbs I really have been slacking. I got on the scale today and saw 208.
Eek.

Lifted today with Dee and walked 3.8 miles. (I just cant get over the ankle problems I seem to get every few weeks.) I am starting to tweak what we eat a bit more as well. Our diet has not really been much of a focus other than removing an item here and there that really would hurt losing weight. (IE Soda, sugar, different fats, more whole grains and such etc.)

2 weeks until our next 5K down in Ponce Inlet. I am hoping to get back down to 200 in that time and beat my last time.

Quote of the day
You always pass failure on the way to success.
Micky Rooney

7 Things About Me

I have been tagged to post 7 things about myself.

1) I use to work in a Nuclear Reactor. Sadly, I don't glow at night in the dark.

2) I grew up 2 hours from Benton ,PA (Hows that for a treasure Kate?)

3) I have not lived anywhere it snows now for the last 21 years of my life.
For that matter I have only seen snow like 3-4 times in the last 21 years
and that's the way my wife wants it.

4) I have lived in New York, Connecticut, Illinois, California, Tennessee, Hawaii, and Florida.

5) I use to be a Democrat until I was told this year my primary vote no longer counted for anything. (I do believe the Democratic party in their infinite wisdom gave the states of Florida and Michigan to their opponents this year to prove some unknown point to some unknown people living somewhere. )

6) My favorite food is the lowly potato. Not potato chips or fries. Just a lone spud mashed or baked with butter and sour cream. (I really hated that Atkins guy for a while there.)

7) I still dont know what I want to be when I grow up.

Easter Dinner

This year for Easter Dinner I looked around for something new to make. (Was told to bring something "Amazing" to Easter dinner at my sisters.) So I found this Sweet Potato Casserole recipe that had won first place in the side dish awards at many a BBQ contest around the U.S. (Sounds like a winner)


Sweet Potato Casserole
A sweet potato casserole recipe, made with mashed sweet potatoes and a crunchy pecan topping. .
INGREDIENTS:
3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup melted butter
.
Topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup chopped pecans

PREPARATION:
Combine first 6 ingredients. Pour into a buttered 1 1/2 to 2-quart casserole dish. Mix remaining ingredients together and sprinkle over top. Bake at 350° for 30 to 40 minutes, until hot and browned.

This really came out well and was very easy to make. I was surprised that it did not taste too sweet with the brown sugar and Vanilla added. It had a really mild smooth taste. Yum
Got complements all around from those who tried it.
(Internet to the rescue again.)

Quote of the Day
Other things may change us, but we start and end with family.
Anthony Brandt

Bikeweek Pictures

Those Top four pictures are just of crazy stuff you dont see very often on a bike.

Here are just some pictures of the coolest looking bikes from this years bike week here in Daytona.

Quote of the Day

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.

Leo Tolstoy

Webcams

Daytona Beach Shores web cam - This is a picture of the beach across the street from where I worked for several years.

Daytona Beach web cam - This one is the county's cam of the beach. It seems to be be down quite a lot though.

Robbie O'Connell's Pub Cam - This is a pub in Daytona with their own web cam. I can't say that I drink here because the last thing I want is my wife loading up a web cam and seeing me in a bar.

New Smyrna Beach cam - This is the beach just south of me.

Halifax Humane Society Puppy cam - This is my local humane society's web cam where you can watch one of their holding cages.

I figured since Disney was an hour away I would throw up one of their web cams. Ummm...
Disney has no live web cams.

I'm guessing they don't want folks seeing people stand in line or watch thier horde of dwarfs beating tourists over the head with sticks and taking their wallets. It is kind of sad that a 60 Billion dollar company cant afford a live web cam yet a Humane Society that lives on donations can. You would think that they would have one at Epcot at least. For that matter, they should have the best freaking web cams on the planet to show off their parks. Goes to show you though, just because a company has been around for years, has lots of money, has probably some of the best technology on the planet, its still run by stupid humans.

Quote of the Day
Is there anything worse than being blind? Yes , a man with sight and no vision.
Hellen Keller

Zen and the Art of Washer Maintenance

I have pondered many a name for this post, Maytag and Me, or
Too wash or not too wash, that is the Question.

The crux of my Sunday was that my washer decided to pierce my serene Sunday with a metal on metal scream then stop. Inside lay a load of half washed cloths in a full tub of water. As the rest of the family arrived at the scene of the washercide, we all looked on in somber hope that perhaps it was maybe a mouse or something getting stuck in a belt. (Come on everyone hopes its something simple even if there are flames and smoke)

My first hope was maybe the belt got loose and came off. (nope)
Maybe the belt just got loose (hmm.. maybe...) OK that's not it either.
My daughters suggestion..get a washboard (she got banished from the garage)
Nothing looks destroyed, melted, burned, or cracked but no movement from the washer anymore.

Time to go to the fountain of washer info. (online message boards about Maytag problems)
Found that their motors are mounted on a crappy swivel system of bearings that stick.
(Oiled bearings so motor could swivel and she is now running again) Don't cheer yet.
She might be running but that metal on metal scream persists. Not good.
Remove belt and turn everything by hand. (pump works but is eating itself as I turn it.)

Drive to Appliance Parts Store and drive around for 15 Min's because I'm lost.
Gas $6
New pump $70 (They make me a business "Johnny's washer repair")
If a homeowner comes in and buys a pump its $110 (Can you say rape)
Time spent messing with Man vs. Machine - 2hrs of cartoon network time lost

My Zen moment - watching my half washed load churn in soapy water quietly.

Quote of the Day
Automatic simply means you can't repair it yourself.
Mary H. Waldrip

Just a test

I found this awareness test this morning and took it.
The Test
Yes, I failed



Quote of the Day
A moment's insight is sometimes worth a lifetime's experience.
---Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

Running

I placed a link over on the exercise links today for Map My Run.
Think of this as Google earth for runners. You can zoom in to any place and map out a route. It will tell you the mileage. It also saves your route for others to use who look on the site. If your looking for a new route to run, you look around your area at all the routes your neighbors have saved with comments and such telling you the + and -'s of each.

I have gotten back into really running some miles the last week or so to get ready for the Ponce Inlet 5k coming up. (That's the Ponce Inlet lighthouse in the ad for the race.) This morning I just set out to see how fast I could run a mile.
8min 43sec
I did put in another 3 miles after my mile sprint.



I have been doing a lot of reading on leg problems, seeing as I seem to have something ache like crazy every other week or so. After all my reading and searching for the answer to my problems Dee says "You don't stretch enough." What does she know, it's not like she went to some orthopedic medical school. I finally find the problems I have been experiencing and they go on to explain to me in great detail how "I need to stretch more." Damn

My running lately just seems to be getting harder to do unless I have a few goals to beat.

Tomorrow I will see how fast I can run 2 mi. and then see about beating both of those times over the next 3 weeks till the race.

Quote of the Day
Women and cats do as they damned well please, and men and dogs had best learn to live with it.
---Alan Holbrook

Whiporwill

Why oh why did I name my blog "The Whipor Will"? Truthfully it was for the simplest of reasons. It's the name of the street I live on, Whiporwill Drive. I just figured that It would be a lot easier for friends and family to remember the name of my street to find my blog.

The Whiporwill history lesson - I found by researching my street name that a Whippoorwill (Yes 2 P's and 2 O's) is a small bird from north and central America. He is named after his call, a gentle "whip-poor-will," and is not only nocturnal but offers some of natures best work in camouflage. The Whip-poor-will is among the most frequently evoked symbols of the rural USA.

The Whippoowill song, which I'm sure many of us have heard but have never seen one of these little guys. On another note, if I had bought a house a few streets down we could all be talking about "Forest Trolls".
Until I started this blog I had no idea what my street name even meant and now I have read poems about it, quite a bit of literature about it and listened to a whole plethora of country songs with whiporwills in them.

So do you know whats behind your street name,
other than the name of your city and a zip code on a post card?

Quote of the Day
Suburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees, then names the streets after them.
---Bill Vaughan

Fitness Post for the Week

Exercise Ball - My new found exercise is just using one of those big ol 15 dollar exercise balls as a chair. (You can use as a chair for your computer or drag ((or bounce)) it into the living room and sit on it while you watch TV.)

Sitting on an exercise ball, your body is constantly making small adjustments with the postural muscles, abdominals, gluteals and leg muscles. It is "active sitting" rather than the slumping and poor posture we develop even in ergonomic desk chairs. I had found a site where the guy said to just sit on one and bounce up and down while sitting for a really good Ab workout.

If you look around the Internet you can find about 100 exercises to do on one of these balls.There are quite a few to do while just sitting. All I can really say is, anytime I am working out some part of my body and I don't have to work at it very hard, I'm happy.

Made another minor goal this week as well. I ran 5 miles in under 1 hr. (Actually was 5.1 miles in 60 Min's this morning) My workout everyday consists of me running and walking for an hour. Guess it just made me feel good to achieve another fitness goal I had set. Dee achieved another of her weight loss goals this week as well. I would tell you her weight , but under penalty of a horribly violent image of my own demise, I hold my tongue on this number.

Quote of the Day
You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.
---Eric Hoffer

Odd videos that kinda amazed me night

I guess this is one of those stupid people tricks to pull on one of your friends at your next party.




Next is just a concept submachine gun being shown at a gun show.
Just watching this guy with this thing makes one go, Damn.

Quote of the Day

If you have knowledge, let others light thier candles at it.

Margaret Fuller

Just a song I happen to like this week

Jinelle found this for me after we heard it on the radio. Finally found
a version that allowed embedding. Although this is an edited version.

Seether - Fake It


I'm reading a post on some blog tonight and this girl is going on about technology. The evils of microwaves and how nobody has time to really cook anymore. How everyone sits around like couch potato's watching television and just ranting in general about our every day advancements.

The microwave and television points of her argument really just kind of annoyed me. For one, I think anybody who knows how to cook, can come up with some really nice meals in about the same time someone who has no skill at all can cook a microwave dinner. Give me a flame and a frying pan and you would be amazed at what I can make in 5 Min's. Give me 5 Min's to prep something and an oven, let me sit on my butt and watch TV for the next 55Min's and I can also make some really nice things.

I guess I just have to believe that people who use a microwave for all their meals do so less because its faster and more because they have no will to learn to cook. One of the best quotes I had heard lately was "Your going to eat for the rest of your life, learn to cook so you can at least eat well." The same gentleman also said "Not knowing how to cook, is like not knowing how to Fu*k." That quote also made me smile because I plan on doing that for the rest of my life as well.

Her arguments about television just made me think that 100 years ago people passed their time reading and writing letters, then television and phones came along and they passed their time watching and listening. Now the Internet and Blogs have come along and we are all passing our time reading and writing again, imagine that.

Bikeweek?

Well my Bikeweek has been pretty uneventfull so far. I really need a new front tire on the bike and this is probably the last week of the year I should try getting it done. The dealers around want to rape you for any kind of work and everyone else is way too busy.

Due to the tire problems I really dont want to ride with the wife or daughter. As for me riding, Dee just said she had no problem with it as long as I up my life insurance a few hundred thousand more.
OK, I can feel the love around here.

On the workout front, Dee has really been at it. Personally, I think she is looking really good.
I have been slacking this last week or so. I finally started lifting again last week after about a month of just running. Had a really good 5 mi. run this morning. I really do want to beat my 5k time in thie next 5k I run. (One needs goals. I really need them or I just up and quit it seems)
The 5k's have really kept me running for the last couple months.

Quote of the Day
I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.
----Rita Rudner

Friday Night

Well my first day of Bikeweek was pretty uneventfull. We had a cold front move through and at least by Fri night it had warmed back up into the low 60's. It is suppose to be sunny and 75-80 all weekend.

I did break out the bike and just went riding. Went around past several of the biker hot spots near me to see how many folks had already shown up. I was quite surprised at how many people were here. This first weekend usually draws mostly folks from florida and a couple surrounding states.

They are saying they expect 600,000+ this year. It is such a big event anymore that it has really spred out , going up to Flagler Co., down to New Symrna and all the way over to Orlando.

Since I have been listing events going on, Todays post is some of the stranger contests and such I saw listed.

Found 13 Different Best Buns and Chaps contests this week.
(I have to admitt for some reason that women in chaps is really kinda hot. Personal preference I guess)

Found 10 Bikini Contests
Found 4 Bikini Bike washes.
(In all honesty, This is a beach community. If you want to avoid the crowds and see bikinis just head down to the beach. With 75 degree sunny weather, it will be packed)

21 Wet T-shirt contests
(This is a staple for events here)

3 Burnout and loud pipes contests.
(As if there was not enough noise with a quarter million bikes here.)

24 concerts going on
(Ok, a lot of the bigger bars and such consider any live music a concert. But if you like live music, it is a pretty great week for it)

List of just "Out of the Ordinary" contests

4 different Pole dancing contests (men and women contestants)
(Not all events are geared toward men. OK, maybe 99% of them)

BEST LEGS CONTESTS - TRADER JACKS ROADSIDE - DAILY
ORGASM CONTEST - BROKEN SPOKE -DAILY @T.B.A.
FAKE A ORGASM SATURDAY 3/1 @ CRITTERS PUB
T-BACK PULLS - CABBAGE PATCH SALOON
(Ouch)
SEMI WORLD FAMOUS VIBRATOR RACES CONTEST- TRADER JACKS ROADSIDE SATURDAY 3/1
(Commenting on this one, I got nuthin)
BEER CHUGGING/BEER BELLY CONTEST - SUNDAY 3/2 @ CRITTERS PUB
GREAT CLEAVAGE CONTEST - KANGAS SANDBAR - WED. 3/5
ITTY BITTY TITTY - CABBAGE PATCH SALOON -@ 10 PM, ON SUNDAY 3/2
(No one can say there is not equality in the contests)
BOBBING FOR PIGS FEET - BLACK HILLS SALOON - TUES. 3/4 @ 3 PM
(I guess this is the southern take on that classic Halloween game)
POPSICLE SUCKING & LICKING CONTEST - BLACK HILLS SALOON - WED. 3/5 @ 3 PM
POPSICLE SUCKING & LICKING CONTEST - FOXHEAD LOUNGE -WEDNESDAY 3/5
POPCYCLE LICKING CONTEST - BROKEN SPOKE -WED. 3/5 - SAT. 3/8 DAILY@ 8:30PM
(Never even heard these but it seems to be growing in popularity.)
SPANK THAT ASS CONTEST ( CUTEST RED ASS WINS) - THURSDAY 3/6 @ CRITTERS PUB
(Another contest where I just go, your kidding right?)
OLDEST BIKE WEEK T-SHIRT CONTEST - BOOTHILL SALOON MAIN ST. - SATERDAY 3/8 @ 3PM
BODY PAINTING CONTEST - SATURDAY 3/8 @ CRITTERS PUB
PIN UP GIRL CONTEST@ DAYTONA LAGOON -FRIDAY 3/7
WOMENS DANCE OFF & LOLLI POP CONTEST - CABBAGE PATCH SALOON -@ 1AM, ON FRIDAY 3/7

2 Motorcycle rodeo events
2 Sportbike stunt events
3 Tatoo contests
2 Bike races out at the speedway (Daytona 200 and a Supercross event)

Quote of the Day
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance.
---Unknown

Bikeweek 2008 (Thur) -1 Day

Tonight I am highlighting some of the other events at this years Bikeweek and working through the list to find a few thinks I might actually head out to this weekend or next week.

I have found 16 different Bike Shows this year so far. A few worth mentioning so you can see the wide variety.

Harley Davidson RIDE IN BIKE SHOW - OCEAN CENTER - WEDNESDAY 3/5
CUSTOM BIKE SHOW - DAYTONA FLEA MARKET - SATURDAY 3/8
BOARDWALK BIKE SHOW - OCEAN SIDE BOARD WALK @ MAIN ST. - FRIDAY 3/7
RATSHOLE BIKE SHOW - AT DAYTONA LAGOON -SATURDAY 3/8
These are probably some of the biggest shows for the week.

OL SKOOL CHOPPER SHOW - WILLIES TROPICAL TATTOO - THURSDAY 3/6
GARAGE BUILT CHOPPER SHOW - LAST RESORT - SATURDAY 3/8
CYCLE SOURCE MAGAZINE CHOPPER SHOW @ STONE EDGE SKATE PARK - FRIDAY 3/7 NOON - 5PM
If your into chopper shows.

RATFEST - METRIC MADNESS - METRIC & SPORT BIKES (18 CLASSES) AT DAYTONA LAGOON -THURSDAY 3/6
Yes they have shows for people who dont ride Harleys

RATFEST - OLD SCHOOL BOBBER SHOW (12 CLASSES) AT DAYTONA LAGOON -FRIDAY 3/7
TRIKE & RADICAL BIKE SHOW - DAYTONA FLEA MARKET - THURSDAY 3/6
BRITISH & EUROPEAN BIKE SHOW - DAYTONA FLEA MARKET - FRIDAY 3/7

Quote of the Day
"Experience is something you get just after you needed it."
~ Anonymous

Bikeweek 2008 (Wed) -2 days

The 67th Bikeweek is almost upon us here in the Daytona Beach area.
Starting friday, 500,000 bikers will decend upon Daytona and the surrounding communities for 10 days. I do believe that almost all the bars in the area receive their permits to operate 24 hours a day for this event. It is really kind of like Las Vegas in that way, people are out and about 24 hours a day during bikeweek.

This is my first year since I have lived here that I am not working during this event. I arrived in Florida back in 1992. For the last 10 years I have always worked some crazy hours during Bikeweek. Since I will not be working during Bikeweek, I do believe I will be partaking in it this year. Hopefully I will have some pictures and tales to tell over the next week as well.

Since there are 2 days till the events start I will post some lists of the activities that will be going on during this years event over the next few days.

Wrestling - Who does not like wrestling I ask. Especially when it is scantily clad women. But there are quite a few different forms taking place here this year. OK, every year.

PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING - BLACK HILLS SALOON - SAT. 3/8 @ 3 PM
(Ok, I really dont know what professional wrestling is.)

HOT FEMALE OIL WRESTLING - TRADER JACKS ROADSIDE - SAT. 3/8 @ 1:30PM
OIL WRESTLING W/THE OIL MANIA GIRLS - 3 SHOWS - ARTS PLACE - FRIDAY 3/7 @ 7PM - CLOSE
OIL WRESTLING W/ OIL MANIA GIRLS - 3 SHOWS - ARTS PLACE - WEDNESDAY 3/5 @ 2PM - 8PM
OIL WRESTLING - WHITE EAGLE LOUNGE - 3PM -7PM ON THUR. 3/6 , FRI. 3/7
BABY OIL WRESTLING W/ THE OIL MANIA GIRLS - COMFORT ZONE BAR & GRILL - FRI. 2/29 2 SHOWS
(I do know what oil wrestling is though)

JELLO WRESTLING - BLACK HILLS SALOON - THUR. 3/6 @ 3 PM
WHIP CREAM WRESTLING - GHOSTRIDERS SALOON
(This I am guessing is the wrestling with a little more taste...err tastier?)

CREAM STYLE CORN WRESTLING -LAST RESORT- THURSDAY 3/6
(Sure the bar 5 Min from my house has to have women wrestling in a food I really dont like. I guess its like cooking with wine, you always cook with something you would drink.)

COLESLAW WRESTLING - CABBAGE PATCH - WEDNESDAY 3/5 NOON
(This is the elite wrestling event of the week when it comes to crazy bikeweek events.
The motto of the Cabbage Patch- Yes, women wrestle each other in a mass of cole slaw. We have done for cole slaw what the moon did for rocks.
I kid you not, it's on thier website. )

Quote of the Day
Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily this is not difficult.
---Charlotte Whitton

Homophones and Oronyms

Eye have bean in the throws of a sic sit you asian. Aye wandered sum thyme ago two a gorges young heroin's Blog and red a post (In Bad Taste) writ in Homophones. OK, sew eye am throwing in a few Oronyms as well.

The point bean, that post lead me two look up these linguistic terms and saver the fine points of the English language. Aye baste this bazaar post on the fact that my board mined has really been cirrus stuck on these terms for a good weak.

Hoping two get this infatuation concord, eye dyne tonight on these words and hopefully having disgust them with ewe all, will bee dun with this preoccupation.
Aye dew hope this is a passing faze cents eye dont see Mable to stop.

Quote of the Day
If the English language made any sense, a catastrophy would be an apostrophy with fur.
---Doug Larson

YMCA Healthy Heart 10K and 5K Run and Walk

Todays Post will be a good bit of tips on running a 5K
Got out this morning and ran my second 5K with the wife.

Tip #1 Be prepared for any type of running conditions. My first 5k it was freezing cold, this morning it was chilly with some serious rain coming down. Rain I guess is no reason to cancel one of these events. Just be prepared to run drenched for 3.1 MI.
Tip#2 When you sign up for a 5K they give you a goodie bag with an event T-shirt and a bunch of other little do dads and coupons and such from sponsors of the race. Check your bag before throwing it in the trunk of your car. (My wife had the T-shirt, and 20 or so other odd things, my bag had a T-shirt and nuttin.)
Tip#3 When they say GO, your timer chip starts your timer. Even if you are 50 yards from the start line. So you are now running a 5.1k where the guys up front are running a 5K. This will make it a bit more difficult to eclipse your last race time.
Tip#4 If you are a slow runner or like to walk a lot, start in the back. If not that crowd of 200+ slow runners and walkers will seriously impede your progress at the beginning of the race. I spent a good 2-3+ Min stuck in a crowd of walkers at the beginning of this race.
Tip#5 Be prepared for any type of course when running a 5k. My last one was perfectly flat and had no obstacles. This one had you running on city streets and sidewalks, going up and over curbs and such. In the pouring rain this was a bit hazardous to say the least.

The conclusion to this mornings run, We both beat our times from our last run (Times over on side bar below), neither of us got hurt or felt bad at the end, we both felt we could have done better had we known a few things(See tips above), and finally we both really had a fun, wet, cold enjoyable morning.

On a side note, I had 2 older women (And I do mean older, at least 20+ years older than me) overtake me at the 2 mi mark , they both split and passed me on each side and waved as they motored on by. This was going to be my Tip #6, dont flip off old women. I thought about it for a second, then realized if they could out run me, they could probably kick my ass as well. So with a smile, I waved back and kept on running.

Unfortunately Vinnie had to work this morning, Jinelle has been sick the last few days and Dee really didn't want her out in the rain (Jinelle seconded this option) and Fran and Brittany where no shows.(Hmmm)

Our next 5k is down in Ponce Inlet on Apr 5 (Hint, Hint , Nudge Vinnie) Hopefully we can get some of them Comeaus to come out and run as well. These runs just give us something to look forward to and another little goal on our fitness training to work to.

Quote of the Day
Men live in a fantasy world. I know this because I am one, and actually recieve my mail there,
---Scott Adams

Worlds Oddest Book title 2008

I am browsing some news this morning and come across this story.
Voting opens for world's oddest book title 2008

The book titles that are nominated:

-- "I Was Tortured by the Pygmy Love Queen" by Jasper McCutcheon;
-- "How to Write a How to Write Book" by Brian Paddock;
-- "Are Women Human? And Other International Dialogues" by Catharine A. MacKinnon;
-- "Cheese Problems Solved" by P.L.H McSweeney;
-- "If You Want Closure in Your Relationship, Start With Your Legs" by Big Boom;
-- "People who Mattered in Southend and Beyond: From King Canute to Doctor Feelgood" by Dee Gordon.

Just thought I would share, I got a laugh out of it.

Quote of the Day
The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them.
----Mark Twain

Puerco Pibil

I posted last week I was going to try making this recipe exactly as the video showed.
Last weeks post with the video

Puerco Pilbil (Slow Roasted Pork Butt in Banana Leaves)

Achiote Paste - Can be store bought (Weak)

Achiote Paste Recipe
(Can be made in advance and frozen for up to a year)
5 Tablespoon Annatto Seeds
2 teaspoon Cumin Seed or Ground Cumin
1 Tablespoon Whole black pepper corn
8 Whole Allspice
1/2 teaspoon Whole cloves
(Grind all the above very well)
2 Habenero peppers (Seeds removed unless you like hot)
1/2 cup Orange juice
1/2 cup white vinegar
2 Tablespoon salt
8 cloves Garlic
(Blend well)
Juice of 5 lemons
Splash of Tequila
(Blend again)

5lbs Pork Butt cut into 2 in cubes
Place cubes in zip lock bag, add Achiote paste and shake.
Line a deep pan with banana leaves and pour pork and sauce
into pan, cover with banana leaves then cover whole thing with
foil and seal well.
Throw in 325 degree oven for 3-4 hours
Serve over Spanish rice

Made it tonight exactly as done in video (Although I was slamming down some shots of Tequila as I went along. He did not do this in the video)

Since the wife is working and she kind of shuddered at the part of the recipe that had Habaneros in it, I went ahead and made this for myself tonight and invited my brother over to try it out with me. We were both pretty pleased. The recipe had a really good spicy taste to it but was not so spicy that it made you think in any way it had Habaneros in it. The pork falls apart at the touch and is extremely moist.

I'm thinking the leftovers will make some kickin taco's or burritos tomorrow.

Quote of the Day
The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook.
----Julia Child