JUNE 2004 - NOVEMBER 2004

11.06.04 - An Apple A Day Keeps The Public Waiting...

     I'll start with the most recent and work backwards. Yesterday, the new Jordan Creek Apple Store opened!! And people were lined up to get in. Andy had to work for about an hour the morning of the opening, so I went with him. I thought about getting in line, but I can really go anytime I want... so I took pictures of the big event. I wandered around the mall, snapping shots here and there, and fielding questions from inquisitive onlookers. One guy stopped me and asked, "What's going on down there?" I replied, "The new Apple Store is opening." The guy seems deflated, "Oh." And with that, he turned to open up Spencer Gifts. Guess they've never had a line for a store opening.

The circle in the middle of the big G is where the Apple Store is located. The line started there and ended somewhere to the right of Scheels.

Taken from above this is maybe the first third of the line.

Around 10 a.m. I was hanging out in front of the store, in the distance there was the sound of people screaming... and it was slowly getting closer and closer... The Apple employees were running down the line to get to the store, sort of like how a football team enters the field on game day, people shouting and giving high fives... I snapped a few pictures of Andy as he neared the store and this is the only one that no one stepped right in front of me. Sort of abstract...

The store manager giving a pre-opening pep rally.
Complete with an "Apple Rocks!" cheer.

And finally, the doors are open! With store employees lined up, people entered...
More cheering, more high-fiving...

As the first wave spread about the store, Andy took up t-shirt duty. The first 1000 people got Jordan Creek Apple shirts. I'm selling Andy's on e-Bay.

     I never did get in line, but when I was asking Andy when he was going to get to leave, the nice security guard (in jeans and a white shirt) let me in. I looked around a little, stayed about 1 minute and didn't take a t-shirt... I didn't want the people waiting in line to hurt me.
     I also did my good deed of the day, helping out the KCCI news team. I was wondering around upstairs, taking pictures and wasting a little time until the store opened. I was coming down the stairs to wait outside of store and I notices a little black pouch on the ground near the escalator, I didn't think a whole lot of it and didn't really know what I should do (thinking about it now, the Guest Services desk was only about 20 feet away) so I just left it and walked towards Apple. Not more than 2 minutes later, I heard the cameraman and reporter from KCCI talking. "I went upstairs and I've retraced my steps..." Something to that effect, so I interrupted, "Did you lose a little black pouch?" And it turns out they had and it was still over where I saw it. So I walked with the reporter and we retrieved the missing item. And I saved the day!
     Now, let's see... Bush won... ugh. Bosox won... what a suprise. I've applied for more jobs... wish me luck. My little brother auditioned for All-State Choir and was accepted... congratulations. Yesterday was 70 degrees... unheard of for November. We handed out candy to trick or treaters... Des Moines kids tell jokes when they knock on your door. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is out... finally! And you are officially caught up with my boring life.
     Thanks for reading. This has been an emergency broadcast system test. (You failed... Sorry.)

10.21.04 - Congrats Not The Yankees!

     Yes, that's right. I'm glad the Red Sox won the ALCS. Not because of the curse, not because of their start center caveman... er... i mean... fielder, not because they worked the hardest, not because no team has ever come back from 0-3 deficit, but because THEY ARE NOT THE YANKEES. I know, it's mean and unpatriotic to hate the Yanks, unless you are a Red Sox fan... but I have one main reason... Derek Jeter.
     Enough about that... I'm still spending most of my time trying to find a decent job and playing with Lucky. He's almost talking... Other than that, I am cooking, cleaning and surfing the 'net. And I fixed my tape measure. This update I'm adding some more pictures on my page... from Europe and stuff. There is some other updated stuff around the site, so browse around and don't forget to check out the friends pages.
     LET'S DO IT!!!

10.06.04 - And The Beat Goes On

     So, it's been a while... But as promised, this update will include pictures of me dressed like a bird. I can't really remember when this happened but it was when I was working at KTIV. Sioux City had this home show and KTIV had a booth set up and they also had an inflatable peacock costume. So I wore it for a few hours one day and the best part is that I got paid. So, without further ado...

This is me starting to get into the peacock. You had to strap your feet in so that when you stepped, the costume went with you. Notice the harness around one shoulder and my waist... That held a heavy motor that attached to a tube that kept the peacock inflated. It also connected to straps on the lower part of the peacock, so it wouldn't sag.

This is Dave, my boss at KTIV, zipping up the costume. I already have all the straps strapped and tubes connected. After you get yourself and all the hardware in, there isn't a lot of space left over... until you inflate it.

I flipped a switch and a few moments later, I was the proudest peacock in the crowd... Okay, I was the only peacock in the crowd. This is in the hall right outside the courtesy room provided for people who had displays... The KTIV booth was about 150 feet from where this picture was taken. I had to shuffle there (the peacock legs are only about as tall as my knees) while Dave held my feathers, so I didn't whack people with them. Once I got to the booth, they put me in one spot and I waved and semi-hugged kids. My arms were so sore the next day... I had to use muscles I never knew I had to operate the arms.

     So, that's a day in the life of a peacock... As for the present, not much to report. I'm still in Survival Football, I'm mad that the Twins didn't beat the Yankees last night and I made cinnamon rolls with my bread machine yesterday. The one good thing about not having a job yet, is that I have plenty of time to experiment with baking and cooking and whatnot. That being said... I still really need a job. I've applied a bunch of places. Most recently at the Des Moines Public Library for a Library Assistant - Outreach position. So wish me luck with that. My mom has been the absolute best about sending me job links and a few weeks ago, to thank her, I planned a suprise trip home with my little brother and while she was at work, I cleaned around the house and did some stuff that she hasn't had time to do... dusting, laundry, etc. I left here early in the morning and got to LPC and worked all through the day. Ben got home from school and helped a little, mowing the lawn. I made supper and we had a great time hanging out.

     Speaking of my little brother... Ben recently had pictures for fall soccer. And never has he ever taken a normal picture (ask to see his senior pictures if you don't believe me) but this one really takes the taco.

He sure is a good goalie!

     I love Ben and if there is a time he isn't crazy... I'll know something is wrong. I'm glad that we're so close and thank him for bringing a smile to my face. He's the best big little bro I could ask for.

08.30.04 - We Got Lucky

     A week ago yesterday, Andy and I went a bird show/sale at the Botanical Center here in Des Moines. After looking around and seeing the good prices they had on cages, food, toys and birds... we bought a Budgerigar, a Budgie parakeet. After an exciting ride home in a cage on my lap in the passenger seat, we found a place for Lucky in our livingroom. He was terrified. The whole first day (and part of the next) it stayed in one spot, not moving, not making a sound. The second day, Lucky was still pretty scared but that night he did chirp a little. In the morning on day three we noticed that he had eaten at some point in the night, but was still staying in the same spot in the cage. Later on, he started exploring the cage and discovered the corner (where he stayed for much of the night.) By day four, Lucky was singing and jumping around.
     We had been putting our hand in the cage and Lucky felt comfortable enough to let us pet him, but hadn't really liked the idea of perching on our finger. On day five we decided to try and let him fly free. So we brought the cage into Andy's room and opened up the cage for him. At first he just sat there and our attempts to get it to perch and bring it out failed, but all of a sudden he let out a chirp and jumped through the door. He flew like crazy sometimes landing on the shutters or the floor before taking off again. We still couldn't get Lucky to perch, so we brought the top of his cage over him and he gladly went back to his home.
     We let Lucky out a few more times and it was still pretty much the same deal. Yesterday, a week after we got him, we let him out again and he flew to one of the shutters. I walked over to him and stuck out my finger and he hopped right on. And didn't let go. He wrapped his little bird feet around my index finger and clung on for dear life. I sat down with him and after he'd loosened his grip a little, we decided to put him back in his cage. He stayed on my hand the whole time going back and into the cage. He still wouldn't let go. Finally, Lucky jumped off my finger onto a perch in his cage.
     Today was another milestone day. I actually got Lucky to perch on my finger and was able to take him out of the cage that way. And he only flew back and forth a few times before settling down on my hand. He would step up from hand to hand and eventually from my finger to my shoulder. From there he went to Andy's hands, back to me and then back to his cage. We took him out once more in the afternoon. He stood on my finger while in the cage and once he was out, he went to Andy. We took turns holding him and Lucky seemed quite content, making little clicking sounds.
     Lucky sings all the time and likes to groom himself. We hope that soon he'll be able to fly free around our place. We'll have  to get some things he can perch on outside of his cage. All we have to do now is teach him how to say "Ace in the hole." and "Pair of Jacks!" Now that I've bored you with the stories... I'll reward you with some pictures.

Lucky in his cage on the first day.

Me trying to get Lucky bird off the shutter this morning.

Lucky makes a great accessory (notice how he matches my shirt.)

     So, spending time with Lucky and Andy was pretty much how I spent my last week. That and searching for a job. In other news, I went to the famed Iowa State Fair with my mom and brother. We did all the things you are supposed to... gawk at the Buttercow, find the fair's biggest pig (and the second biggest), eat something on a stick, sign up for prizes you won't win in the Varied Industries building, sample all the foods in the Agriculture building, make spin art, get hit by a kid driving a motorized cart while sitting on his mom's lap... Yeah, I was involved in a hit and run at the fair. They didn't even bother to stop and make sure I was okay. At first, I thought it might have broken my leg, I got hit just above the ankle and I couldn't move. But I was able to put pressure on it and hobble over for my first ever visit to the first aid building at ISF. I got some ice and made an interesting splint, out of 2 rubberbands, a few plastic sacks from the Varied Industries building and a paper towel, to hold the ice pack on while we continued to explore the fair. I wasn't going to let that spoil my fun... I did have a little trouble going downhill... But other than that, it was just another day at the fair.
     In my next update, I'll post some pictures of me dressed up as a bird... no joke.

08.16.04 - Olympic Food Making Gold Medal

     I'm declaring that I win the Olympic Gold Medal in the Food Making Competion. The past few days I have made cookie bars (blondies), salsa, cucumber sauce, ice cream and some potato dishes to go with my meals. I've also done a few loads of laundry, cleaned the sinks (we have 4) and swept the deck. I'm in contention for a Household All-Around Medal.
     About the real Olympic Games... the time delay. The internet is way ahead of the television coverage. I already know how the athletes finish. So, I should just stop looking at the Olympic information on the internet, right? Well, it's a lot harder than you would think, because there are bold headlines telling you what you don't want to know just yet. Oh well. My favorite event is Syncronized Diving. It is incredible to watch. The judging is so tough. "That splash was HUGE!" And you can barely see it. "They were a little off." Yeah, in super, duper slow motion. I am awed by the divers.
     So, since my last update...
     I turned 23. For my birthday, I got a few vegetarian cookbooks, a few DVDs, FOUND,a bread machine, an ice cream machine, and a few other things. I had a nice birthday and I want to thank everyone for the awesome gifts.
     I visited my mom and brother in Chicago. Ate Chicago Style pizza, walked Navy Pier, went to the Museum of Science and Industry, saw the Blue Man Group perform, and watched Maddux pitch a complete game shut out at the Friendly Confines (Sosa, Alou and Patterson homered!!)
     I moved out of Sioux City!!!! I am so much happier now that I am 3 hours away from that rotten place. Don't get me wrong, there are about 6 great people there... but beyond that, well, you all know how I feel. And I no longer need to talk about that. I am safely in Des Moines, in a very nice and spacious duplex. I'm looking for a new job. I had an interview last week, but didn't accept the job... it just wasn't for me.
     I played Texas Hold'Em with some good friends of mine after an evening of hit and run. I think we are going to start playing weekly games, which is awesome. Andy and I have had more of a social life in the week that we've been in Des Moines than the whole year we were in Sioux City. We're also trying to get a group of our friends to play some recreational softball. We only need at least 10 more people. I really hope we get that going.
     I joined Fantasy Football and Survival Football. I hope I can fare better in those... my all Twins-all Cubs strategy is keeping me firmly planted in 5th place in Fantasy Baseball. I have a comment about that... I was changing my line-up and when it came time to submit my drop, I got this message: "Advisory: You may not drop or "dump" players from your team for any reason other than attempting to improve your own team and/or its standing within the league." And I thought that was strange, especially since I was "dumping" a player so I could add a Cub. I don't know that it would improve my team and/or its standing within the league, but I liked the guy. So there... take that Yahoo! Sports.
     Other than that, I have just been enjoying life and getting on track after the move. Things are unpacked and for the most part organized but I still have to search a little for things that used to be second nature. It'll get easier as time goes by. Stay tuned for pictures from Europe and Chicago... I promise I'll get them up.

07.10.04 - Winter Summerland?

     This past week hasn't been summery at all. You are not supposed to wear jeans and a jacket to watch fireworks on the 4th of July. Speaking of our national holiday... Reason #7880 to hate Sioux City - They had the worst fireworks display ever, or at least that is what I assume, because I never saw them. They were supposed to be at the Lewis & Clark Field (where the Explorer's baseball team plays) so we left the Cubs game early (turns out we missed a great ending) and headed off to watch some sky sparklies. After waiting over 2 hours at 2 different spots, we decided to come home. We got back around 11:15 pm. Who starts a fireworks display that late?
     Anyhow, enough ranting about Sioux City... because we all know how long that would make this update. This past week Andy got a ball glove and we've been playing catch. I even got my bat out and we play hit and run. The pitcher does most of the running, unless it's hit foul over the fence.
     My mom and little brother leave for Chicago this weekend. Ben is really excited for his 2 week camp at Second City. Mom is hoping to get tickets to watch a Cubs game, but is willing just to wait on Waveland Ave. to get a Sammy Sosa home run ball. There is a pretty big chance (99%) that we'll be going to visit them while they are there. Just can't stay in Sioux City.
     Last week, we made a road trip up to Duluth. The water is still really good. I'd bottle it and sell it. Tastes better than Dasani any day.  While in Minnesota, we visited Andy's family's cabin. It was awesome. We went swimming, canoeing and walking. They have an amazing view from their dock. It is so peaceful.
     My older brother, Jeremy, came up to Sioux City for Saturday in the Park... Which is the coolest thing that has happened here. There was a bunch of blues type bands playing at a park. It was almost wonderful. The music was very good, with sets by Son Seals and Buddy Guy, among others. But the people that attended were so... Sioux City. There was a shuttle running from the Tyson Events Center downtown to the park and back. Free parking with $1 ride roundtrip. Anyway, I don't think that 3/4's of the people there had ridden any form of public transportation before, from getting on before letting the people who were already on the bus off to spitting on cars through the windows... it was a mess. But we made it through. And it was really nice seeing Jeremy.
     Other than that, the great job hunt is on. Looking for anything from theatre to video production. Looking in the Twin Cities or Des Moines area, but mostly anywhere that is not Sioux City. So, with that... I guess it is back to job searching.

06.13.04 - Back From The Land Of Gone

     It's been a little while. I've been slacking off and letting Andy do the updating about our trip to Europe. But rest assured, I will be putting some pics and comments of my own up... when I get to it. In the meanwhile, I have updated the Water link and added a Recipe.
     The 2 week trip, was the first time I've been to Europe (or anywhere that is not the United States, Jamaica, Grand Cayman or Mexico.) It was pretty amazing. I believe Andy said something to the effect that all four places we stayed (Paris, Nice, Florence and Rome) were nothing alike. I agree. I would recommend travelling to any of those places. But try to go to Florence when there aren't so many tourists. It was mad crazy full of people. Paris has so many big museums that you'd need a year just to see everything. Nice has a beautiful, rocky beach and a lot of old people... most of the topless women on the beach were over 55 years old. Florence is compact and historic, with good food but too many stupid, drunk Americans. And Rome... it has fountains, churches, obelisks and ruins galore. Even wandering down side streets you can come across some really neat sites.
     The travelling part of the trip really took a toll on me. The first plane rides were fine. As was the first train trip. But from then on screaming kids, motion sickness and late arrivals and departures got the best of me. I made it through okay and had a great time while I was there.
     Life in my boat is a little rocky right now. The summer camp I was supposed to teach for at LAMB is having some low enrollment problems and because of budget reasons... I won't be teaching. So, I have no job lined up and I'm sick of Sioux City. But I only have a month and a half here left, so that is a very good thing. My hometown, LPC, had some major flooding while I was In Europe. I got email updates from my mom and Ben. In '93 our basement was hit hard but thankfully all of mom's hard work down there didn't get any damage.
     Also, my aunt Carla announced that their championship breed baby boxers were born last Sunday night. There were 9 puppies in all (5 male, 4 female.)
     That's all for now... I'll post some pictures soon. Until then, remember: life is like ripping up carpet on stairs, put your arms under it, yank and hope you don't fall down.