Happy Halloween!!!

Tonight is All Saint's Eve or All Hallows Eve or Halloween. Whatever you call it, enjoy it. In NY we lived on a corner of a major intersection and never got any trick or treaters. Now in Indy we get tons!!! The first year here we ran out of candy and I had to run to the store to get more before the egging started. Our son is of the age that he will run free tonight. He is responsible and will be careful and have fun but not cause mischief. It is funny me saying that as back at this age I was all about raising Cain and having a blast. I remember that grocery stores would not sell eggs to anyone under 18 about 2 weeks before Halloween. I remember this because my mom sent me to the corner store for milk, eggs and a pack of Salem Lights with matches. I returned with milk and cigarettes but no eggs, I was under 18.

I was thinking of watching a scary movie tonight. The one movie that scares the hell out of me is The Night Of The Living Dead, original and black and white. Zombies kill me, I will have nightmares for weeks just writing about it. Today's horror flick is all about extreme gore, movies like The Sixth Sense are rare. It's all about Saw and Audition or Japanese remakes. Where are Aliens, Hellraiser and A Nightmare on Elm St. (the original not the sequels). Those movies scared the hell out of me and could be making an appearance tonight!!!

Go out and enjoy and Happy Halloween!!!

The Week That Was

I am back from my first week off in three years. All around it was a fantastic trip, in the fact that I had nothing to do and did not have to deal with work at all!!! It all started on Sunday with a 12 hour drive from Indiana to Upstate New York (Saratoga/Lake George area). We stopped twice for gas and brought some sandwich fixings, DVD players, PSP, Gameboy and Suduko books. I drove the whole way and the wife kept me awake.

The next few days were those lazy fall days with nothing really planned, no alarms, meetings, rushing around. We visited with family; ate out, played games (board and video) and just sat around the living room and chatted. We prepped for the next wedding (next October), got to know the one year old nephew (he loves me), and did a little regional shopping. Our 3rd day there we got a phone call at 3am from one of the sister-in-law's stating that she could not breathe and was having stomach pains, one 911 call and 15 hours later her gall bladder was removed and we all let out a big breath (she is doing fine).

We then went to the Father-in-law's to visit with him. There we did the same thing, mostly. We drove to Vermont one day, watched a puppy be born, went apple picking, walked through Saratoga Springs State Park and drank water that came up, fresh from the ground (tasted like ass!!!). The wife and FIL knew exactly what that water tasted like. We saw the first of 50 springs and stopped and grabbed a water bottle and drank. The wife and FIL wanted to know what it was like and it tasted fine with a little aftertaste. They said oh and we moved on. Later we found two more springs and filled up the water bottle and I took a swig and nearly puked!!! The wife and FIL laughed and said that was the reaction they were expecting. The natural water is actually carbonated and has a very sulfur like taste. But people swear by it and have been drinking and bathing in it for years. The next few days were the same, relax, eat, shop and visit. On Saturday we had breakfast with the FIL and lunch with the SILs and then hit the road. 13 hours later we were home and slept till Sunday afternoon.

One thing I did notice was the MUST HAVES in New York. We had to have Dog Shack Hot Dogs, Finger Rolls, Boss Sauce, Nance's Mustard, Harvest Club, Harvest Pizza, Real Wings, NY Maple Syrup, Cider Donuts, DiBella's Subs, Mr. B's Best Roast Beef. We had all of it, or bought some to bring back home to Indy (2 gallons of Boss Sauce).

We had a fantastic week and did not want it to end. But you get to miss your bed, shower, type of soap and just sitting in your recliner. So Sunday was spent doing just that, unloading the car, doing some laundry but just sitting and watching football in my chair and seeing my dog play fetch. In the end it is the simple things that are missed when taking a time out from life, but boy oh boy was the time out needed.

Back In The Saddle

I am back from the vacation. I had 2 12 hour trips in the car, 1 visit to the hospital, gained a sister-in-law and was in 5 different states....more when I have woken up.

Heads In Asses

For the past week, we at work have had our heads up our collective asses. The powers that be decided to change the format of the 5pm news. Nothing too big but definitely different. Our first meeting on the new changes, graphics, camera shots was Monday at 3:45pm, for a show that goes on at 5pm. Yes ladies and gentlemen, they gave us a total of 1 hour and 15 minutes to build effects, block shots and practice this new format. So we have been doing it on the fly for the past 3 days and it has looked like shit. No one feels comfortable and as this current management team has shown us, they want changes already. Forget doing a test run and getting some examples on tape for the higher ups to see, forget testing shots and music and new graphic effects to find out what works and what does not. Just throw it on the air, make on air adjustments when it looks like shit and then start the blame game on everyone but the goddamn creators of this fucking mess.

Sorry, 2 days till vacation. My first full week since I moved here 3 years ago......I need it!!!!!

Tuesday's With Bryan

And we are back, some quick hits:

• Finally picked up my bagger for the mower and mowed the lawn for the first time in at least 3 weeks. The grass was high and wet and I had to empty the bagger 18 times but it looks awesome!!!!!
• Helped out at an Eagle project this weekend with the boy. We went to an old 1800's cemetery and put up a new split rail fence, built a walking path, a garden bed, planted some trees and built a bench. It was a great project and we were glad to help. I can see that cemetery everyday on the way to work.
• Went to mass on Sunday for the first time in weeks. Between Saturday Band comps (getting home after 1am) and early baseball games we have missed church. We made it this weekend and then went to brunch with my family to celebrate the wife's birthday. A good time was had by all.
• Played in the Championship Tournament on Sunday afternoon. We advanced to the Championship Game after a stellar performance by the team. We eventually lost the Championship Game. It was well played and we were close. But they put one over the fence and I think that took some wind out of our sails. We fought back but could not over come. We played well, learned something and had fun. I enjoyed being a fall coach but not a Spring Coach too much involved. But I can handle the one day a week for games, no practice ( as I am busy several nights a week) and an excellent playing attitude. I am signed up for next year.
• The boy had a concern last night at the High School as they marched in at the end of the Concert Band performance and showed off the skills of the Marching Band. It was a great time. The boy has been asked to play percussion for the Orchestra tonight for their concert and then he has his Junior High Concert Band that he plays for. Their concert is on Wednesday. Quite the full musical schedule this week!

She's Always A Woman

Today the wife catches up with me age wise. While she is much more wiser than I, she is still 6 months younger (and likes to point that out all the time).

She is a strong, beautiful, intelligent woman. She could do anything she wanted to, and would succeed at it. She is a wonderful mom. Her son adores her and she would do anything for him. They have a great relationship that will only blossom as he gets older. She is an incredible wife. She will call bullshit when she sees it and supports me in everything I do. I could not ask for a better person to share my life with. We share the same tastes in movies, reading, TV, quiet time, travel and family values. We share some of the same music, but not all. We are happy out on the town or in for the night, it does not matter. I am so proud of what she does and my heart aches everyday when we are apart.

Today the wife is a year older, but that just means I got to spend another wonderful year with her and it is the start of another one....

Happy Birthday Baby!!!

End of the Week...

It is Friday!!!!! What a quick week I've had. Nothing new or exciting to write about today so how about some quick hits:

• New York Yankee Cory Lidle was killed in that plane crash. It was too close to Thurman Munson for me and really hit home. My prayers go out to his family.
• The Yankees were eliminated from the Playoffs. I thought they could go all the way with this bunch and I was wrong. Took some good natured ribbing at work and now look forward to Spring Training. This is a perfect example of how a team wins games no individuals.
• Fall is coming to Indiana. It is cold at night, very cold. I need a new coat.
• Vacation is coming in 2 weeks. We are going to New York to visit friends and family. Should be a good time, I just worry about SNOW!!!!!!

That's it, thanks for stopping by......

Lay Down Sally

Fall is here but it is hot as hell in our house. Every ceiling fan is on upstairs as there is a 15 degree difference in tempurature between first and second floor (alright not 15 but close). I have not mowed the lawn in 2 weeks and finally bought a read bagger for the mower. Our grass goes so fast that I cannot mulch (even if I mow every 5 days) and every time I mow I have to rake and I still have clipping on the driveway and street after I rake, blow and sweep. So I bit the bullet and bought the bagger. But they were out and I have to wait until today to pick it out. The lawn was so far gone when I bought it that I could not mow. Now you are saying sure B it is so high you could not mow the lawn. Well the truth is I did not have the time to mow and rake and blow and sweep so I just left it. Now the bagger comes in today and it is raining....I cannot win!

Tuesday Already?????

WOW!!! What a fun and tumble, beat down weekend!!!! Taking a page from All I Want... some quick hits:

• Spent Saturday AM technical directing the Circle City Classic parade, my first time. It was awesome!!
• Spent Saturday PM travelling south towards Louisville to see the boy's marching band perform. They took 1st in class, 2nd over all.
• Sunday was a hodge podge, lunch with the family
• then spoke at an Eagle Court of Honor
• then rushed to the diamonds for 4 hours of baseball (we won both games)
• then off to eat dinner with another family and got home at 10pm

Monday was a wake up day. I am sick and could not get out of bed. The wife had off (Columbus Day) so she let me sleep in till work. Then I hauled ass to work and felt like crap all day. Nothing new or exciting yesterday. Took the rare evening nap and caught up on a few TV shows (How I Met Your Mother and Studio 60). I got the wife Battlestar Galactica Season One on DVD for her birthday. It is one of the best written shows on TV day, addressing many current issues head on but because it is wrapped in SciFi it does not get the attention it deserves. Check It Out.

Work Out update: I missed the Top 64 men by ONE VISIT last month. Worked out today and feel sore and great......

Death of a Legend!

Buck O'Neil died yesterday. A star in the Negro Leagues, an ambassador for baseball and a great man. Those who saw Baseball by Ken Burns saw the real Buck. He was a fantastic speaker and a lover of baseball. I think was dishonored this year when he was not inducted into the Hall of Fame but gave the Induction Speech for the Negro Leaguers who were...

When he was informed he did not make the Hall of Fame he address the crowd that came to see him:

God's been good to me. They didn't think Buck was good enough to be in the Hall of Fame. That's the way they thought about it and that's the way it is, so we're going to live with that. Now, if I'm a Hall of Famer for you, that's all right with me. Just keep loving old Buck. Don't weep for Buck. No, man, be happy, be thankful.

Do yourself a favor and learn more about this classy man. He will be missed!

New Day, New Blogger

Shifted over to the new blogger beta today. We will see how it goes. I guess it will have to go good as there is no turning back.

Lost last night and The Nine. I fell asleep during The Nine (no it was not boring I had to be at work at 4am yesterday). But I made it through Lost and it was AWESOME!!!!! No spoilers here just know that it focuses on the 3 people that were captured at the end of last season. You see none of the other "Losties" as that is for another week.

Another busy weekend on the horizon. I have OT on Saturday (my 7th day) as I am Technical Directing the Circle City Classic Parade. Then it is off to another out of state Marching Band Comp, last week was Louisville, this week is Illinois somewhere. Then on Sunday I have a speaking part at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor and then 4 hours of baseball into the night. I also have to clean the house and mow the lawn as I did not do it last week.

Oh and Survivor is on tonight, will be watching with my family how about you?

Brass Monkey

Me so tired. We had a huge thunder storm last night. I know because the dog jumped into bed and sat on my head. I woke at 2:37am and did not hear anything. I asked her the normal questions when she wakes me. I ask if she wants to go outside, if she does she jumps down and races out of the room; she sat there. I asked if she needed water, when her water dish is empty if we are downstairs she will knock it over and make noise. When I am upstairs and she wants water she will whine and paw me, she sat there. By this time the wife woke and asked what was going on, I told her the dog was in bed and she said she saw a storm coming on the weather report.

A few minutes later the boom and rain came down and stayed for about 20 minutes. The rain continued through the night but the thunder and lightening was big, bad and scary as hell for the dog. She curled into a ball and squeezed into the small of my back. And there I lie, with the dog pressed behind me and the wife on the other side, I was a non-sleeping sandwich.

Needless to say I got no sleep and got up at 6:30 to drive the boy to school and work out. I did both now it is time for work.....

Till Next Time

PS No Pop Ups!!!! Thanks Brent

Updates

So I got rid of some links on this site to see what is causing the pop ups. I also changed my Hit Counter to Bravenet. We'll see what happens. If you get a pop up let me know, or if you got pop ups and now do not let me know. Thanks

Today is day 2 of my 7 day work week. I directed a beauty pageant yesterday and then will do a parade next Saturday. Should be fun and a little extra cash in the bank account.

Went clothes shopping this weekend. Need socks and underwear and ended up with new jeans and a shirt or two as well. Both in smaller sizes!!! The wife said I should shop more as I felt good about getting into smaller pants and shirts and maybe I would stick to the workout even more. I think she is right but do not tell her that!!!

Sorry but I am boring today and need to leave early to hit the BMV (Motor Vehicles) and the post office....so till next time.