Son of Rambow

I don't know what the hell this is, but whatever it is, I can't wait to go see it.

Travels

I see Ridgewood on the horizon... and it is good.

Bloodbath

Orange County has cut the budget for the upcoming school year. A bunch of people are getting sacked at my job, but thankfully I'm not one of them. Reportedly we're going to see about eight teachers get laid off and ten or so staff (office ladies, lunch ladies, etc.).

Good thing it ain't me, I've already been through that before at Hunter's Creek. They opened up a relief school, lost a huge chunk of their student population, and canned about 40 teachers.

So, you know, that stuff with my car sucks, but it could always be worse.

Happy Holidays.

Sephie and I celebrated Easter with my family yesterday. We spent most of the day playing board games, and I have to say it was a lot of fun. It seems like these days no one has time to spend two or three hours sitting in front of a table together... We had the most fun playing Life. It had been years since any of us played; in fact the game hadn't even been opened since my family lived in California. After some time reviewing the rules, we got to it, and it was a blast. Seriously, if you haven't played in a while, you should really get a game going with some friends. It's a good time!

Thanks, neighbor.

Thursday was National Sweater Day; what would have been Mr. Rogers' 80th Birthday. I really loved Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood when I was a boy. Here is his final goodbye.

Who is the god of cars, and what did I do to offend him?

You may or may not know all the problems I have had with my 2003 Ford Escape. Last year on a trip up to Bristol, I had to get the entire transmission replaced for about $3,000. Also, in December of this year I was in the accident I mentioned in my previous Allstate post. When I got my car back six weeks later, it had gotten $6,000 of repairs done to it. Also, it suddenly had an oil leak that was "unrelated to the accident," according to Allstate's adjuster.

So yesterday Sephie and I are on our way to see Be Kind Rewind when it happened again. A noise from the engine, sounding much like a flat tire. No check engine light, no dramatic change in the way the car drives, just a noise. We had it towed to Tuffy and after they checked it out today they gave me an estimate:

$3,660.

"The cheapest thing we can do is replace the engine."

Wow.

Wow.

Also, to further illustrate my point that I have somehow enraged the god of cars, this morning Sephie couldn't get her car to start. We've known for a while she was going to need to replace the starter, but it's hilarious that it finally gave out the morning after my car died.

Toughen Up.

Man, dealing with customer service people so much the past few months has really sharpened my assertiveness.

Honestly, I am always hesitant to call people and give them crap. Not sure what it is about the way I was raised, but I usually don't rock the boat.

Having to call supervisors at Allstate (which is totally working, by the way) and now dealing with Brighthouse, I think I'm getting used to it. I need to get pushier with Brighthouse, though. I think I should stop dealing with their customer service people soon and get a manager on the phone.

Seriously, they haven't even given me a break on my bill yet and I've had to call four times about my DVR not working right. They replaced it once, and it still doesn't work. They told me today they probably won't be bringing me an old box out when they come this Saturday, even though I know that would solve the problem.

*sigh*

I really don't like the person I have to be when I'm on the phone for stuff like that.

Weak.

Casual Cook.

Occasionally I try my hand in the kitchen. Here is one that was pretty good:

Honey Lemonade

1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup hot water
Juice of 4 lemons
4 cups cold water

Blend honey with hot water to make a syrup and pour it into a pitcher. Add lemon juice. Pour in cold water and stir. Serve icy cold. Makes about four glasses.

What's happening to me??

I'm so busy these days! Monday through Thursday I leave for work around 8. I'm teaching class from 830-4. I don't have a planning period anymore, I gave that up to teach another class and get some extra $. Then I work at the after school program until 6. Get home around 630. If I'm lucky, I have some time to relax a little. Fridays are a little better, I'm done at 4.

Usually my weekends are pretty free, but that hasn't been the case lately. I've had trainings with the YMCA the past two Saturdays and, as I said, been moving/cleaning our old homes. Plus we keep having to call Brighthouse about problems and I've been on the phone with Allstate like every day... not to mention trying to cram wedding planning in too! Last night we had a great time finishing up our gift registry... it was fun, but still, I need to cut the grass and didn't get to it, once again!

Of course, I'm also trying to fit exercise into that schedule, and all the things that you have to do in life. Paying bills, keeping the place clean (not happening at the moment), doing yardwork, grocery shopping, etc. I feel like I'm busier than I've ever been. Things should let up a bit this weekend, but then the week after that Sephie goes to Wausau, and the week after that I'm off to Bristol.

Those trips are going to be awesome, but even though we will be having fun, I'll still have in the back of my mind all that work waiting for me at home. I don't really mean to complain, I'm very happy these days. I love my fiancee and live in a sweet house. I'm really enjoying my friends, despite Israel's recent departure. I just never realized how much responsibility you can gain in so short a time!

Human Giant is back!

Are you freaking kidding me?

Student Suing After Being Awakened by Teacher

Top Ten #1

More than most things in life, I love making lists. On the radio this morning they were talking about celebrities you would *never* want to fight. That list would be pretty easy for me, and I may eventually make it, but I thought it would be funnier if I posted a different kind of list.

Top Ten Celebrities I Could Beat The Shit Out Of

#10. Jared Leto. Jared Leto, I would beat your ass with that MTV Award. You would be my bitch, as you were Edward Norton's bitch in Fight Club. "I wanted to destroy something beautiful," indeed.

#9. Big Bird. Big Bird, unless Snuffy had your back, I would destroy you. You would be slumped over in the corner as if there wasn't even a human inside your shell of a body.

#8. Adrian Grenier. Adrian Grenier, I would slap you so hard that goatee would fly right off your face. Then I would be sure to hurl you under the stampeding ladies who came running to scoop it up.

#7. Sean "Diddy" Combs. Diddy, if you laid hands on me, I would feed you that microphone. Your build is so slight, it looks like a strong gust of wind could manhandle you.

#6. Tom Hanks. Tom Hanks, your doughy physique is an embarassment to your once manly frame. How could you possibly have gained that much weight back since Castaway? Unless Hooch came to your aid, I would stomp that ass and give you a Denver Curb Job.

#5. Flavor Flav. Flavor Flav, even if you weren't almost fifty I would break your skinny ass in half. Where's the rest of you?? I could fold you more times than a dollar bill.

#4. Dakota Fanning. Dakota Fanning, do you really want to get into this with me? I would crush you with my foot then use your body to pick my teeth.

#3. The Cast of Arrested Development. Cast of Arrested Development, are you joking? I would swing Michael Cera's tiny body like it was a baseball bat, knocking down all in my path. Will Arnett is the only one of you I would need two hands to defeat, and David Cross, don't get me started on your pansy-ass. I'll play Titannica in the background as I use your carcass for a trampoline! "Pop-pop gets a treat?" Yes, my boot in your mouth!

#2. Ryan Seacrest. Ryan Seacrest, there is no way your tiny body could handle a punch from me. My fist would go through your chest, Mola Ram style. You would fear me more than Busey!

#1. Jake Gyllenhaal. Jake Gyllenhaal, I understand that you would be the toughest person on this list for me to beat the shit out off, but my rage for you is far greater than it is for all others on this list. I would wreck you, and your disfigured face would likely kill what is left of your career after Zodiac and Rendition.

My little boy.

[Israel, ignore this post.]

My little boy turned one year old today. He's not a kitten anymore! But he may be the sweetest (insane) cat in the world. Lately when he hears my alarm in the morning he rushes into the bedroom, jumps on the bed and climbs on my chest where he lays down, purrs, and waits for snuggles.

My, how you've grown in a year!

Day Two on this planet:

















Tonight:
















(please note the perpetual crazy eye.)

For more photos, check out Sephie's blog (linked in that list to the right of the page).

Oh look!

Allstate Insurance Sucks

Prepare Yourself

Today begins the FCAT.

Fellow teachers, remember: Screw up, and you're fired!

...and here is where I put my foot in your ass.

(If you are unaware, the context of this is I was rear-ended on 12/12/07 by someone who has Allstate insurance.)

[phone transcript follows]

"Hi Shiela, this is Dan Thompson calling again, claim #xxxxxx4415. I’m calling once again about the diminished value paperwork. When we last spoke on Friday, February 29th you told me you would be getting back in touch with me by about Wednesday of this past week regarding this matter. I haven’t heard from you so I wanted to get in touch with you again about it.

I’m very tired of having to call you about this matter, so here is what I need you to do. I need you to fax me the diminished value paperwork here at my work. The number is (xxx) xxx-6449. I understand you're out of the office today, so I need the paperwork faxed to me by 3:00pm tomorrow, and if you can’t do that, then Wednesday when I call back, I’m going to need to speak with your supervisor and start dealing with someone else regarding this claim.

When I first began dealing with you regarding my medical claims you were very helpful. But unfortunately that has not been the case with this diminished value claim. You left me a message on Friday, February 8th in which you stated you had SENT ME THE PAPERWORK! I still have the message and will be happy to play it for your supervisor if that’s what I need to do. So then when nothing came in the mail for two weeks I started calling again, and you never returned my calls. When I finally got you on the phone again, you gave me a number of reasons why you hadn’t been able to take care of my problem.

Now, I have tried to be patient, but you have exhausted my patience. It is completely unacceptable that I have been waiting for this paperwork for over a month. If what you said is true and you are so busy with other claims, then like I said, maybe I need to speak with someone else. So again, I expect that paperwork faxed to me by 3:00 pm tomorrow and I also want you to call and leave me a voicemail explaining what is happening with the loss of use claim. You stated that $15 a day is what you usually do but I still think $25 a day would be much fairer. Regardless of whether or not you agree I want a voice message telling me you faxed the paperwork and telling me you’re sending me a check for whatever the amount is and I want the check to be here by Friday. Again the fax number is (xxx) xxx-6449, and my phone number is (xxx) xxx-5390. Thank you for your assistance in this matter."

[end phone transcript]

WWRD?

If you want to see a great televison show, you should really check out Friday Night Lights. That link will take you to NBC's site where you can watch every single episode for free. If you'd like to read a little more about it first, you can always check it out on wikipedia .

It's really good, and it's not about football, so shut up.

Back in Black

I've decided to start writing again. I hesitate to use the phrase blogging because of the cultural implications... but I digress.

When I started my old livejournal account, all my friends were mainly in the same city. As time went on, it seemed silly and/or vain to keep my journal going when I was basically just chronicling what I did with my friends so they (and I) could read it. Plus I got busier and busier... so I basically quit doing it.

Now that so many of my friends are spread around the country, I feel like trying to do a better job of keeping in touch. This seems like a good way to do it. I miss you guys, and I feel like I drift farther away from you all with each year that passes. No more! Let us now resume the ceaseless record keeping of meaningless bullshit!