BRIEFLY SIGNING OFF.........

Well kids, after several months of wrangling, my company and I have decided to go separate ways. So, I'll be silent for a little while. Probably going to take the job waiting for me in San Diego, but I've got some other offers as well to consider. If any of you want to reach me, I'll be checking ladder360@hotmail.com periodically. Chat with Y'all soon!!!!! Ciao!

QUICK PLUG

Check out voting for Quizno's SPOKESBABY. Caroline's cousin's baby is a finalist and is in a tight race for first. Please vote!!!!!

I'll try to write a real post later when I get a chance..........

RECONNECTING

I picked my dad up from the airport yesterday afternoon. He decided to come for a visit through the weekend. I hadn't seen him in a couple of years and he hasn't changed much. I hope I look like him in 25 years, minus the grey.

After 2 or 3 decades of knowing your parents, I would think there isn't much you wouldn't know about the history. I really thought I knew most things about them, other than some details that I don't care to know. But I found out a fact last night that floored me. A little background - my parents grew up in small town Wyoming where during a little summertime fun, they managed to get my mom prego with my older brother. She had just gradumatated and he still had a year left (yeah, he was a stud shaggin the older chicks). Doing the honorable and natural thing that people did back then, they decided to get married. Flashing forward to a conversation we were having last night, I was talking about how I like the HBO series Deadwood. He said, "You know, thats where your mother and I got married."

Rhuhh??? Rhay wat Rraggy????

"Yeah. In a little court house built in the late 1800's. We were too young to get married in our hometown, so we went there. Neat little frontier town. We had a few friends and family and had a small picnic on the courthouse lawn."

Wow!! I always thought (assumed) they got married in the home town. In That Girl fashion, I ask the pointless question of "Why didn't you two ever tell us that?"

"I don't know - I guess it never came up."

Hmmph.

Anyhow, It was pretty cool to find out a little piece of family history that I didn't previously know. Kind of like recieving an unexpected letter. He also had some funny stories relating to the whole experience. It was great to reconnect with my old friend. My dad.

Now we are off for the next few days to find the ever elusive salt water fish of the gulf coast. I'll talk to you all on Monday. Maybe some more pics then too.

SMELLS THAT TAKE ME BACK

Neoprene - Back to the days of teaching diving in the Caribbean. Life was so simple.

Old books - College library. It was almost like learning through olfactory glands.

Curry Powder - My mom's first attempt at making chicken curry. It was so hot, everyone at the table tried to slyly slip theirs to the dog. Within seconds the slow, fat mutt was a black dart floating on the top of the floor toward her water bowl. I miss family dinners.

Lilacs - Long June days in Montana where you could find a shaded tree to escape the 95 degree sun to find 75 degree grass. With a book, there was no better place to disappear.

Freshly cut grass - Days spent on the golf course with family or friends laughing about how bad we suck. Okay, maybe I just suck, but I still play a lot.

Burning wood - Entering a fire scene with adrenaline pumping and excitement overiding any fears.

Wet dog - My childhood lab, Magus. Always happy to see you. When she passed on, the cat who seemingly despised her wouldn't leave her usual napping spot for over a week. It was then that I realized animals suffer depression too.

Red wine - Sunday afternoons as my parents cook an extravagant dinner together. Because that was their time. Together. I envy their relationship.

What smells take you back?

Did I mention I had two margaritas at lunch? Cinco de Mayo? No, but don't forget the Alamo!

YES, I AM A NOTORIOUS SHIT STARTER

I found this website, which is certain to be controversial between genders. It explains the theory of relationships between men and women from the perspective of a couple of guys. I'm suspecting they were jilted by a number of girls and over a couple of beers created this theory which morphed into quite an extensive thesis. This theory is obviously not backed by any scientific evidence or official study, but rather on social observation from their perspective.

As the majority of people who read this blog are of the female persuasion, I would warn that this theory is bound to piss a couple of people off. As a disclaimer, I didn't write it or contribute in any manner and do not agree 100% with it. I will say, however, that as a guy I have observed some principles of this theory to be very socially accurate.

SO HERE IT IS

Let me know what you think!!!!! And refer guys to it and find out what they think (For accurate polling - I suggest only refering guy "friends" because otherwise you'll get the reaction you expect from a boyfriend/husband when asking "Does this dress make me look fat?")

STUMBLING BOURBON STYLE

I'm still recovering from the ugliness that always follows a trip to New Orleans. I've flown many times, but usually if I go with buddies we drive. Every time we drive, we swear to fly the next time. Not so much because of the drive over, its more because of the drive back. Inevitably, we end up driving yet again.

My buddy (GB)and I arrived in The Big Easy around 8:15 and found the overpriced rat's nest hotel that one gets when one fails to plan far enough ahead on a busy weekend to get a good hotel. I was only comforted by the number of $50k+ cars in the parking lot. Luckily, I wasn't the only dumbass to wait. And at least others who could afford better accommodations had to suffer with us too, having fallen victim to time and availability. We met up with That Girl, Sandy and their two friends a couple hours later. Both of them "sweet chicks with hot asses", and mouths that would make a truck driver blush. After way to many Bud Lights, I did two things that I NEVER do, which indicate I've past the "Just Drunk" point and am entering the "train wreck waiting to happen" point of hammered. Those two things being dancing and taking shots. Dancing I don't do because once upon a time, I was required to do it for my job and it made it not fun and shots because I tend to sleepwalk if I have them and that held true that night. Sometime, I'll post just on the sleepwalking thing - I could write a whole book, but that would just be plain embarrassing...

As a result, I got separated from the group (TG and Sandy might be able to fill in the blanks that I have about this time period) and ended up in a cab trying to get back to the shitty hotel which has changed names so often that the cab drivers don't know of it. This created a problem, because I had no idea how to give him coherent directions. An hour later, I arrived at the hotel that is only a 5 minute ride. GB even beat me back to the room! And so ends ugly night number 1.

The next day was Jazzfest and I've never seen it so crowded. I mean its been really crowded before, but this was insane. After getting tired of fighting the crowd, GB and I were able to find a spot on the grass that had been abandoned. There was plenty more room and we could actually see the stage. Still foggy from the night before, we only drank two beers each at the concert and then walked 3 or so miles to the French Quarter to get the blood flowing and help flush the system. We ened up at the usual spot and began ugly night number two. I won't bore anyone with the details but suffice it to say, GB switched up to Vodka/Redbull and bailed at around 2am. I, on the otherhand was yet again foolish and didn't get back to the room until well after sun-up. I can say I wasn't as drunk as the night before, and I didn't do any shots or dancing - so when I finally was headed back to the hotel, I didn't have any problems getting directly there. Oh, and I realized a very important fact, we had been getting mucho screwed on the cab rides to from the hotel. That figures, should have known better. Oh well. The trip was fun and worth the costs (both monetary and physical). I may add to this as memories re-surface. Thats all for now.