Things that piss me off.

I'm sure there's more. It's my bday weekend so I believe I've earned the right to rant (course I do that every day). See anything on the list that rings a bell? Am I sometimes hypocritical or arrogant. Sure...but that's not my general MO. No one's perfect.

1. you’re in the turn lane and waiting for a pedestrian in the crosswalk, cars behind you are beeping
2. man on moon, cures for polio, whatever but we still haven’t figured out how to shove someone’s car horn up their ass
3. skateboarders on sidewalks
4. anything to do with Barbara Bollenbach
5. walking two or three astride on sidewalks
6. grocery cart parked in middle of aisle or moving cart down middle of aisle
7. checking out more items than allowed in express lane
8. kids running lose where they shouldn’t be
9. pedestrians who think there’s a crosswalk wherever they happen to cross the road – and don’t even bother looking before crossing
10. people who use the word, “girlfriend”
11. white people who think they’re black people
12. dog owners who just let their dog jump all over you when you go to their house, or at the park
13. people who don’t speak English and work at retail establishments (ask for Pall Mall cigs and I get Marlboro or Parliament)
14. attitude/arrogance – owner of a entertainment co. in Chicago called one day and I asked his name (for the benefit of the person he was calling for – I was to screen calls for this VP) and he told me the company and I was spelling it out for myself and he interrupts me and says, ‘well, you’ve heard of Warner Bros. We’re just like them’. No shit, fuck head. Whatdaya think, I live in a hole in the ground? And apparently you’re not just like Warner Bros. because I’ve never heard of you, jackass”.
15. that smug bitch executive with New Regency on the 20th Century Fox lot (temp story when I first moved to CA)
16. when a clerk hands you your change and places the coins on top of the bills
17. inappropriate use of cell phones – in public places, ringing during the theater
18. people who interrupt
19. The Jerry Springer Show
20. Joan Rivers, any actress associated with “The Hills”
21. Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson, Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears
22. Ted Thompson, Mike McCarthy and Mark Murphy – Green Bay Packers’ “3 Wise Monkeys”
23. unruly children and their parents who do nothing
24. people who drag their feet – especially people in flip flops (I know it’s hard not to drag your feet in flip flops but you could at least try)
25. lack of respect – particularly by young people
26. pretentiousness
27. arrogance
28. apathy
29. ignorance
30. hypocrisy

Pilgrims Rest hardball.

I've been finding a lot of stuff while working at Good Hope and Pilgrims Rest Cemeteries this summer...

Walgreen's boot laces suck.

Bought mine on Monday. Broke Wednesday. Whatever I salvaged broke again Thursday. Either Walgreen's boot shoe laces are for shit OR I was just working too hard and blew through them.

TGIF! presents..."Don't Worry Baby" by The Beach Boys.

My birthday's Sunday; therefore, I get the entire weekend (including Friday) to celebrate. I've played this video before on my blog. But it's the one music video (from my favorite band) that best describes my...my je ne sais quoi.

Did I just contradict myself?

Favre's Back in Vikingland.

For his 20th year in the NFL. Grandpa Favre, I should say. What a treat for Favre fans and the NFL.

Brett had his best year statistically with the Vikes last season, but the Vikes lost to the eventual SB Champs, the New Orleans Saints, in the NFC Championship in OT. It's an awful lot to ask Favre to have as good of a year as he did last year...but we'll see. SKOL FAVRE! SKOL VIKINGS!

Lot Marker 10.

An old post marker identifying a section in Good Hope Cemetery. Its resting quietly in my mother's garden until I move out this fall. Thought it would make an interesting knick knack it my house.

Broken Plastic Jesus.

And here's the Cool Hand Luke version.

TGIF! presents...Old Cremona's Minstrel Comedy!

Love these guys. You can find more vids here on YouTube.

Yawn. MJS's massive Favre roid attack.

More catching up to do on the latest series of bitch rants in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's "UP/DOWN" column concerning ex-Packer and current Minnesota Viking QB Brett Favre. I'm a Favre fan - and I'M called "obsessively fanatical"???

July 28, 2010
UP/DOWN
UP - Indecision 2010: In the same interview, Brett Favre said he didn't know if he'd play this year and he might be playing when he's 50. Forget Wrangler jeans . This guy should be the spokesman for Eggo.
- Mike Hart

It was a joke by Favre, Hart. You really think HE THINKS he can play at 50? Really? Douche bag.

August 4, 2010 - (the day news hit that supposedly Favre texted the Vikes he was retiring)
UP - Indecision 2010: Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young are considering putting Brett Favre on the cover of their new triple eight-track entitled, "Deja Vu IV".

UP - Horsing around: When queried about Favre, Brad Childress said, "I gotta hear it from the horse's mouth." Later in the day, ESPN asked Mr. Ed to comment on the Vikings and he said, "Pants on the ground! Looking like a fool with your pants on the ground!"

DOWN - The Boy Who Cried Wolf: You should have gotten a copyright for your schtick, kid.

DOWN - ESPN '4": LeBron James almost booked an hour on TNT to announce he had come to another 'Decision". After 59 1/2 minutes of awkward banter with Jim Gray, the King would finally be asked if he'd rather watch lame Favre shows all day or old poker.
- Mike Hart

Massive overload. Favre dominates both UP sections and both DOWN sections. Packerland and the MJS is shitting bricks right low. The NFC North is NOW NOT a lock for GB (as Favre announced today he IS returning for his 20th season).

Favre said he never texted anyone about retiring. Even the players denied getting texts. But something leaked out and everyone and their mother is reporting it as fact. Including Milwaukee's renowned news outlet, the Journal-Sentinel. Douches.

August 5, 2010 -
UP - Guinness World Records: Give it up for Brett Favre. After Wednesday, he now has more flip-flops than Annette Funicello, Connie Stevens and Gidget combined.

DOWN - Legal tender: Favre who was offered another $7 million by the Vikings, claims money won't be the factor in his decision on whether to play. Right. And John Dillinger robbed banks in Wisconsin just for the pocket Packers' schedules.
- Mike Hart

Brett denied sending the texts but of course everyone says he's changing his mind again. And everyone, including the MJS knows for a fact that Brett IS interested in more money from the Vikings. Douches.

August 6, 2010 -
UP - Brain teasers: The biggest challenges of 2010: 1) Trying to fix the ongoing slugging economy; 2) Deciphering the series finale of "Lost"; 3) Guessing what Brett Favre's next trick will be to attract media attention.
- Greg Pearson

More douche bags. They forgot one: 4) When will the MJS write more about current GB QB Aaron Rodgers and stop whining about Favre like school children in its UP/DOWN column??

August 9, 2010 -
UP - Blazing speed: Packers' rookie Sam Shields is so fast that in the time it took him to return an INT 97 yards for a TD, Brett Favre could only retire and unretire once.
- Mike Hart

If the media were represented by a small child in a play pen, I would strangle said child for the good of all humanity.

August 11, 2010 -
DOWN - Taxing the brain: Vikings' coaches revealed that Percy Harvin is suffering from migraine headaches again. Doctors say it has been brought on by a condition known as, "Favre indecisivitis".
- Paul Drzewiecki

Ever have a migraine, Paul? Then shut the fuck up.

August 12, 2010 - the day news hit that Favre texted the Vikes he was retiring(?)
DOWN - Modern medicine: Brett Favre is supposed to meet with sports physician James Andrews to assess the state of his surgically repaired left ankle. Maybe he can get an ice pack to with his swollen ego.
-Mike Hart

What does Favre's ego have to do with his fucked up ankle? And look at all the media coverage the MJS has given Favre. Nary a word about GB QB Aaron Rodgers. So who's the media whore -Favre...or the media itself? Alas, more material courtesy of the sports department at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel to wipe my ass with.

Long live The King.

August 16, 1977. Elvis Presley passed away. Long live The King.

TGIF! presents....Happy 40th Anniversay, MASH!

Love the movie. Love the series. Classic. Bravo...and Encore! Oh, it's airing on AMC this evening.

Hawkeye Pierce: Would you say that she (Hot Lips) was a moaner, Frank? Seriously Frank. I mean, does she go "ooooh" or does she lie there quiet and not do anything at all?

Frank Burns: Keep your filthy mouth to yourself.

Hawkeye Pierce: Or does she go "uh-uh-uh"?

Frank Burns: [Frank leaps over the table and attacks Hawkeye]

Hawkeye Pierce: Get him off me! I've got glasses. Get him off me!

Duke Forrest: What's going on, Frank? That lesson one?

Hawkeye Pierce: Frank Burns has gone nuts! I'm wearing glasses, for God's sake.

Trapper John: Watch out for your goodies, Hawkeye. That man is a sex maniac; I don't think Hot Lips satisfied him. Don't let him kiss you, Hawkeye.

Aunt Ruth's cottage on Lake Bobidosh, WI.

Spent this past weekend with my dad, brother and Aunt Ruth (Dad's middle sister) at her cottage in Lac du Flambeau. Peaceful. Did nothing. A bit of fishing and drinking. But mainly nothing.

The crown-tipped coral fungus (underneath the yellow flower) and flower shots are courtesy of my brother, Jason...who said anyone can take a great picture. The group shot is my dad (far left) and brothers Tom (deceased, middle) and Fran posing at Aunt Ruth's cottage in 2003. The quotes are from books I found in in the cottage.

Wonderful place - Aunt Ruth's cottage.

My dad's tackle box.

Got away for the weekend. Up North Wisconsin. Fishing's been dicey this year. So while the fish weren't biting, I was taking snaps of dad's fishing box.

TGIF! presents...Fountains of Wayne and "Stacy's Mom"!

Cicadidae.

Or just plain ole "cicada". Found this one on our front porch this morning. If you're not too terribly sick of hearing the song of the cicada in your neck of the woods, check out the video below. Come on....this little dude waited 17 years to vibrate its abdomen (or whatever it does to make that sound).