"Wee" Steve In the USA

My Pet iPod

2005-05-25T08:57:00.000-07:00

I have developed some kind of emotional attachment to my iPod, almost like a pet. Let's look at the facts:

1) I take it everywhere with me.
2) I feel bad when I don't play with my iPod.
3) I buy it gifts!

Yes that's right, gifts! I quite often wander through the Apple store and end up leaving with a gift for my iPod, much like I would do for my cat or rat whenever I am in a pet store! Plus, the gift isn't as much for me as it is for the iPod, I often think "I bet my iPod would like that"! I want to make it a better iPod, give it a better life, keep it healthy and happy.....

I need help... especially when my iPod dies...

Am I a collector?

2005-05-24T10:50:00.000-07:00

I think I may just qualify as a collector of sports Jerseys now. I now have the following:

Football
Minnesota Vikings Home (Daunte Culpepper)
Minnesota Vikings Home (Randy Moss)
Minnesota Vikings Away (Randy Moss)
San Francisco 49ers Home (Tim Rattay)
Oakland Raiders Home (Warren Sapp)
San Diego Chargers Away (LaDanian Tomlinson)
New England Patriots Home (Tom Brady)
Indianapolis Colts Home (Peyton Manning)

Basketball
Golden State Warriors Home (Eduardo Najera)
Golden State Warriors Away (Jason Richardson)
Golden State Warriors Alternate (Baron Davis)
Houston Rockets Away (Tracy McGrady)

Baseball
Signed LA Angels Home (Scott Spiezio)

Soccer
Manchester United Home (Wayne Rooney)
Manchester United Away (Wayne Rooney)
Manchester United 2003/2004 Home
England 2003/2004 Home
Others....

That's 17 Jerseys and at an average of about $60 each, that's over $1000... hmm... ok.. I'm now selling Jerseys!!!

Bay to Breakers

2005-05-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay on this but I have tried to write this post already but the browser crashed at the last minute. I am going to point you towards Dan's (my running partner) blog for an account of the day - http://danc.nomadlife.org/

Poem for Bob

2005-05-19T09:21:00.000-07:00

We'll meet again at Heaven's doors,
When I climb that final stair,
As you my friend helped me climb the first,
To begin the journey there.

I'm a dumbass...

2005-05-13T19:01:00.000-07:00

So, tell me this, if you bench a certain weight 7 times, but the 8th almost kills you, can you still say you can bench that weight? Happened today, was going to eventually. Was trying to bench a new weight, 130lbs. I'd already had a pretty tough workout but thought I'd go for it anyway. So, did 7 reps and felt like I'd had enough but, I always like to do between 8 and 12 so I thought, screw it, one more won't hurt.... I was wrong. Took it down to my chest and couldn't lift it from there. Luckily I had put the safety catch on which gave me enough room to squeeze out. Let that be a lesson to me and anyone else that benches, don't do more than you can and if there is a safety catch, use it...... I'm a dumbass...

The clothes don't make the man.

2005-05-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

Today in the lift I joined three employees who work for the same companyas me, I didn't know them, I could tell my the name badge. They spent the whole of 4 floors worth of lift movement eyeing me up and down. Now, I presume, or at least I hope they were not assessing me to see if I was worth asking out on a date, which, I am by the way. No, I think they were indeed analysing my attire. I stood there minding my own business in jeans (albeit a little big but no holes), a t-shirt reading "the river will deliver, bad boys of the table", a wristband sporting the AC/DC logo, and a vikings cap. They on the other hand were wearing smart shirts, pleated trousers and shiny shoes. So, they're better than me, right? WRONG! Just because I go to work in casual clothes (which are well within the rules) does not mean I am any less of an employee. This attitude of, "surely you don't work for the company, not if you dress like that" is exactly why I am one of the best they'll never have come graduation. If I had it my way I wouldn't wear clothes at all to work, and for this reason I do work from home a lot, if you work with me and call me during work hours and I am working from home.... bare that in mind.... get it, bare, hahaha... that'll have me laughing all the way to the next blog entry!

Spread the word

2005-05-10T10:47:00.000-07:00

If you know of anyone who might be the LEAST bit interested in another blog to read, please pass mine on. I promise to make it interesting and post as often as I can. I'll leave you with this:

"What's the point of mining for nose gold if you can't share it with the townspeople"
Chris Griffin, 2005

doo da doo da doo "Heat Wave"

2005-05-10T10:37:00.000-07:00

Is this another cost cutting method? Bake your employees and serve them in the cafeteria? I will be watching carefully for the roast human and vegetables on offer this lunch time. I have the door open, blinds shut and have reduced my intaking of breath as much as possible without passing out. It can't be more than 70 outside so it makes you wonder how hot it will be in here when it is, and, will they ever turn on the air conditioning? Stay tuned for further developments, and if there are none, presume me dead.

Like rabbits

2005-05-10T10:31:00.000-07:00

As I started to drift in to my nightly slumber I was suddenly aroused, hang on, aroused is not the right word, disturbed my some noises coming from the room next door. A couple going at it like it was their last day on this earth (I checked the news to make sure there wasn't a meteorite heading towards us or anything). I must say, they had stamina as the sounds went on for at least an hour. This morning when I woke up, I had a shower and started getting dressed. To my astonishment I heard the noises again! Were they going all night? Who knows! Anyone who wants a laugh come over tonight as I'm giving odds of 2/1 on for it happening again.

"With great power comes great responsibility"

2005-05-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

OK, have to get this one off my chest because I was angry to say the least for 4 hours with no one to tell because they were all IDIOTS! Picture this if you will, I'm sitting on a plane that is departing from a city under a tornado watch to a city under a severe weather warning... sounds like fun huh. Now, I'm ok with flying and actually enjoy some turbulence. I'm also ridiculously prompt and was one of the first to check in for my flight and before you laugh I was able to score an exit row seat with my promptness so hahaha. Now, a combination of an exit row seat and severe weather warnings started me thinking of the responsibility I now have upon my shoulders. You may think this strange but these thoughts were going through my head whilst preparing to take off. "What would I do if there was an emergency?". For this reason I watched the safety demonstration that i have seen a hundred times and read the safety card which was also familiar to me. I studied the door and visualised the process of opening it. Whilst I am sitting here absorbing as much information as I can to possibly save a life or two my attention is drawn to those around me. Out of the 11 others that had the same responsibility as myself, not more than two were watching the demonstration, and to my knowledge, none drew the safety card from the pouch, i mean i saw two people sleeping (which if you have ever been on an exit row you'd know this is against the rules as you must be awake during take off and landing) and another cracking jokes about the responsibilities involved. So a lot of turbulence and a few twists and turns later we're past the take off stage, however, still the plane was shaking without a moments notice and, as it should be, the seatbelt sign and the cabin staff were still indicating that we should stay put and buckled in. Still, this did not stop those ever intelligent few getting up and stretching their legs. A young child ran past me bumping my elbow without a passing glance let alone a sorry. Where are this kids parents and why are they letting their child run around when they should be buckled up? I mean, the pilot knows what he's doing, only he can see out of the front of the plane right, but they think they know better than him! Then another lady smashes past my barely petruding elbow without a word or remorse as the tannoy rings out a reminder to stay in your seats. As she gets to her seat she turns to the plane with a grin on her face. Well done you, you broke the rules and you're so proud. Just then the sadistic side of me wanted to see us hit some turbulence and her fall on her butt. But no such luck. I watched this happen over and over again. People standing to get their belongings from the over head compartment whilst the plane shakes like a rattle. Then it came to landing. The same joys of the takeoff scenario surrounded me. People sleeping, tray tables down, walking around, seats leant back. What makes these people think they're exempt? The people in the exit rows really got to me that flight. When you take on that responsibility, you should take it on 100%. I stayed alert, aware and educated for the duration of the flight. Although the plane journey, despite the turbelence, was without a hitch, it could have been so much different. So do me a favour, if you ever get an exit row seat, please take on the responsibilities that come with it. You may one day be called upon to save a life.

Dan the Man

2005-04-26T14:23:00.000-07:00

On asking Dan "after our year in the states do you consider yourself at all American?", he answered "no, I consider myself of average height"...... Genius...

Conundrum

2005-04-25T11:19:00.000-07:00

If you're trying to hit two birds with one stone, but there is only one bird right now and the other will be along in the next day or so, is it worth hitting this bird now and finding another stone to get the next one?

Work and Working Out

2005-04-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

Well, work is reeeal quiet... My new boss is ill and seen as most of my workload is channeled through her I have very little work to do, BUT, this does leave me more time to work out! Just weighed myself, 154lbs, a pound more than last time but I haven't pooped in 3 days. Still in training for Bay to Breakers, if you haven't visited my fundraising site (http://tinyurl.com/afvkk), go now! I'd really appreciate your support. Ran for a full hour for the first time Monday, covered 6+ miles which is near the distance I am aiming for. Tonight, i will be mainly tidying my apartment, sounds like fun huh!

About time!

2005-03-03T09:45:00.000-08:00

Hey All,

I have finally set up an alternative to my flagging guestbook on my website which I used to keep ya'll updated, hopefully this will be a bit more accessible and added too more frequently.

Steve