Thursday, January 31, 2008

Ever have a conversation take a SHARP turn?

So, I went to Krogers last night to pick up a bottle of wine to have with dinner. I went in, got the wine, and went straight to the checkout line, no hustle, no bustle. I like to powershop. Anyway, the cashier was under age, so she had to call someone over to ring up my purchase. So, it was me, the guy scanning the wine, and the bag girl. As I am waiting, the conversation between these three people went to the fact that the cashier didn't like the dark and slept with a night light. I understood this, since I have trouble sleeping in pitch black. The guy ringing up the order laughed at the girl, so I jokingly chastized him, asking why he had to make fun. "Lots of people sleep with night lights." This is when the turn took place. The SHARP turn. The cashier who started the night light talk said something like, "Yeah, I need to have a light on when I sleep. I see demons." Bwwwhhhhaaaattt????? She had a dead serious look on her face. I quickly shut my mouth, paid, and ran. How do you have a conversation at your work, in front of customers, where you state that you see demons? Wow.

That is all I can say.

Monday, January 28, 2008

General stuff

1. I started playing Marvel Universe Ultimate Alliance this weekend. It was free with my latest Xbox. I finished Bioshock and wanted to play something new. I think I am getting frustrated with Halo 3 and not getting better in the multi player stuff. Plus, I can never find buddies online to play with. Anyway, I guess MUUA is OK. I don't really like third person perspective in games, but it is unavoidable in this case. It would be too hard to make this a first person game. My favorite mutant to use is Wolverine. Probably because he is my favorite mutant. All in all, this is not my favorite game, but it is good enough to make me want to finish it.

2. Jessica wrecked her car last week. I am not thrilled with the situation, but at least she is OK. It was not a serious accident, be the car was totaled. I am just glad that I got the top grade insurance on the car, or else I would have been screwed. We would have lost money instead of getting a check from the insurance company. I am going to use it to put a down payment on a new car. I should say a used car. I can't afford a new car. Really, I just want something that Jessica can drive to work and back. I don't mind doing most of the driving. I am thinking another Toyota or a Honda. Those cars are usually reliable for a long time.

3. I got my butt kicked in cards last Friday. I couldn't catch a hand to save my life. The best hand that I got all night was a king high flush and I got my ass kicked by a straight flush. It was pretty frustrating. I played for five hours, so I wasn't being wreckless, it was more like a slow, painful, bleeding of chips from my stack. You will have nights like that though. Considering that I have been winning money most of the time, it is OK when I lose a bit. I really take those nights as learning experiences. To put it into perspective, I once read an interview with some pro poker players, and one of them said that it was not a big deal to lose $1mil in a month because you will likely win it back next month. WOW! Anyway, I have been keeping track of my poker money since January 1st and I am only down $40 so far for 2008.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

It's almost that time again.....

It amazes me how time seems to whiz by now that I am over 30. The days seem to melt together into the weeks and months. In two months, I will be going to Caesar's casino in Indiana for another shot at their World Series of Poker tournament. If you remember, I played last year and got my butt kicked. I had a full house and lost to a better full house. Craziness. Still, I had a good time and I am sure that I am a better player from the experience. Now, I have almost another year or poker playing under my belt and think that I could really make a run in a big tournament. Unfortunately, like my bowling game, my poker playing is inconsistant. I have been winning alot lately, but there are times that I make big mistakes that cost me big money. All in all, I have only lost money in a night of cards twice since November. I may not win a lot of money, but I win. I think my main problem is that I am impatient and tend to bet when I shouldn't. Over-aggressiveness is the word. Still, I am reading players better and playing my hands better.

A test for my readiness will occur tomorrow night. My friend is having a big cash game with alot of people I have never played with. I want to see how I do against people I don't know. I am hoping for a big night so that I can win enough money for the $340 WSOP buy in. I have won that much in a night before, but it is rare. My goal over the next two months is to win enough so that can pay the buy in and hotel stay with cash. $1000 should do.

A fun fact about my poker playing: I have been playing off of the same $40 since November.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Not sure what I think about this.....

Watching TV last night, I saw a commercial that took me off guard. I wasn't really paying attention, so I wasn't sure I saw what I saw. Instant replay (DVR) confirmed the call on the field and a new Knight Rider series is set for the 2008 season. As the title indicates, I am not sure how I feel about this. I was a fan of the old show, staring David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight and his kick ass, bullet-proof, talking car, KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand). Knight would drive around the country helping those in need. Some of the most memorible episodes included KITTs evil twin, KARR and a huge, armored semi truck (I forget the truck's name). Obviously, TV producers are through looking for new ideas. Battlestar Galactica seems to have opened the flood gates for remakes of the 80 sci-fi show. Now, we have Bionic Woman, which I don't watch anymore (it bored me), BSG, a GREAT show, Doctor Who, another great show, and soon, Knight Rider. Plus, there are movies based on old shows coming out as well (Get Smart comes to mind). I know that originality in television and movies is a think of the past, but you would think that they would make more of an effort to produce something new. Look at Cloverfield, a movie with the Bad Robot label of JJ Abrams. I haven't seen it, but watching the preview, does anyone else think it is Godzilla all over again? I am a little suprised by this, considering the one truly original show, Lost, is a Bad Robot production. I guess that there just aren't any new ideas out there.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Not much to write about lately.....

Three posts in thirteen days is not how I want to run this blog. Sorry for being lazy. Actually, it is more that I don't really have too much going on to post about.

I could write about movies I have watched lately, but none of them have been very good. Mostly they are predictable B films that looked mildly interesting. Let's just say that I am getting to the dregs of my NetFlix queue. Only about ten more DVDs until I am to zero. Lately, I have been watching the so-so films I kinda wanted to see, but not enough to pay good money for them. I can't even remember the names of the movies I've watched. That should tell you how bad it has gotten. You may think that I watch too many movies and you are probably right, but they are mostly to have as background noise while I work. If there is a movie I really want to watch, I wait and make sure I can give it my full attention.

Noah is doing pretty well with his arm. He had to go back to the ER twice because the cast was too tight and was cutting off the circulation to his fingers. Mostly, he is being a drama queen and acting like he is the first person to ever break his arm. I guess I was a little over dramatic when I broke mine, but hearing the same stories over and over is getting a little old. Plus, he is acting helpless, like a person couldn't survive life with only one arm. Hopfully he will get to go back to school tomorrow.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

I don't wanna talk about it.

If you want to hear my rants about the game Monday, check out my post on Woody's blog. It was riddled with OSU mistakes and had very few LSU mistakes. Man! I am getting SO tired of being an Ohio sports fan. The Buckeyes lose three titles (2 football, one basketball) in two years, Browns get booted out of the playoffs, Cinnci had a rough year, the Blue Jackets never make the playoffs, the Indians screw up the in the playoffs, heck, even the Columbus Destroyers were close to a title this last year. We Ohio fans should start holding up two fingers when the TV camera is on us at a sporting event. "We're number two!" Sorry, I said I wasn't going to rant. At least we beat our Div 1-AA opponent.

My day yesterday was pretty shitty. First, I get a call from Gabriel's principal saying that he is getting in trouble on the bus and at recess. I don't get it. He is so sweet when he is at home (most of the time). Anyway, is got kicked off the bus one day and we have to go in for a conference tomorrow with the teacher and principal.

While talking to Gabriel after school, I hear a frantic knock on the door. I grew concerned because I knew Noah was outside riding his bike. Well, he flipped over the handle bars after trying to jump his bike and broke his arm. So, my ass was in the hospital for five hours. I don't really care b/c it was something that us parents need to do for our kids. It was just a big huge drag. Luckily, Jessica's dad came to get the little kids. This break was almost as bad as mine a few years back. Only he broke both of his bones in the forearm and I broke my humerous (upper arm). They were able to set it without operating, but he still may need to get it reset if the bones aren't healing together correctly. It It is amazing how extreme situations can bring out different sides of a person. Noah was very polite and kept telling everyone 'thank you' for helping him. It was probably the drugs. Normally, he is a moody teenager who speaks monosyllabicly like Rinnert. Not moody like Rinnert, talks like Rinnert. Rinnert isn't too moody these days that I know of.

Monday, January 07, 2008

General Posts

1. The Halo 3 online servers have been a little slow lately and I have been a little frustrated with the lack of my friends playing H3 lately, so I put Halo 3 aside for a while this weekend. Try not to gasp too hard so that you don't choke on your gum. Anyway, I revisited Bioshock. I had posted about it a long time ago, but I hadn't played it too much at that time. Basically, it is a first person shooter with some different angles. You still get your main weapons, which increase in power as you go along (wrench, then postol, machine gun, shot gun, etc.), but you also have the opportunity to use 'plasmids'. Plasmids are genetic upgrades that give you special powers. It is kind of like mixing a game like Fable (where you gain experience and pick up new powers and abilities) and a classic FPS. I am REALLY liking it. I loved Fable and I love shooters. You have to go through and complete quests while killing and explloring. LOTS of fun.

2. I did put Halo 3 back in after a while because I downloaded some new maps. I wish I had saved my Xbox Live credits. The maps are huge and confusing and only used in team games. I usually play solo and am not too good in the team matches. I guess I like capture the flag, but there are some games I don't like too much. Plus, since I am a solo guy joining in the big game, none of the teams I join really communicate. You need communication for for these big games. I will give the maps a few more tries, but will revert back to the traditional maps after some time.

3. Was that Betsy Reutz postin' on my blog? Hi Betsy! Good to hear from you! I always feel bad when I am reminded that I live no more that 30 minutes away from my highschool and college friends. I am such a jerk for never calling or visiting. There's Betsy, Heather, Rinnert used to be here, and I have LOTS of Ohio State buddies in the area. I guess that's the way of life. I think I am DEFINATELY going to have a cookout this spring/summer. I have a nice area for it with the deck. I am thinking probably spring since my deck gets really hot in the summer. Food, drink, good people, and good times.

4. Oh yeah. Big game tonight. I have probably beat the Ohio State vs. Louisiana State National Title Game to death, so I will just say: GO BUCKS!!! Hopfully they confuse the LSU purple and gold with M*ch*g*n's maize and blue. I predict a close game that will come down to the wire. Either team could win, but hopfully OSU will avenge last years embarassment.

Friday, January 04, 2008

It's been a while. Sorry

Sorry that it has been a while since my last post. I have had little time and little content. Not too much has happened these pase several days. Or, maybe I am just lazy and haven't wanted to take the time to post. You decide.

1. Happy New Year! We didn't do anything special. I view New Year's Eve and Day as a reason to buy a new calandar. I always get a Dilbert daily calandar. Dilbert makes me laugh. Jessica was in bed around 10:00 New Year's Eve and I played Xbox until I went to bed around midnight. We are really exciting, eh?

2. My poker roll is still trucking. I can't explain it, really. I guess I have just been getting new cards. I am definately having fun with it, but I worry that my poker friends might be getting a little tired of my winning. Since the beginning of November, I am at least up $1000. I wish I were closer to a casino so that I could take this hot streak somwhere that I could win some real money.

3. I need a vacation. Work was a little hellish last week. Two of my co-workers were out (one on vacation, the other on maternity leave) so I was basically holding a lot of things together. There are a few other people that do my job, but they do not have my experience. So, every messed up issue and question were routed to me. No fun. I feel really burned out right now. I am trying to be stingy with my vacation time though. I would rather try to save it for later in the year. It's hard to do though with this nice, annual infusion of vacation time.

4. Is anyone going to watch that Terminator TV show? I think they are calling it the Sarah Connor Chronicles. Don't know why since John Connor ends up being the savior of mankind. I will probably give a few episodes a try. Might as well, considering all of my regular shows are down with the strike. I liked the Terminator movies and am glad that Arnold isn't in the Terminator roll. Plus, it has Summer from Firefly. It should be good, I think.

5. So far so good with the diet. I haven't weighed myself yet, but I have made the transition from my bad eating and drinking habits to eating better and not drinking. I have basically cut almost all of the carbs out of my diet. I eat eggs every morning and meat and veggies the rest of the day. For an afternoon snack, I have a few nuts. Add nothing to drink but water, and I should be losing weight here pretty soon. I need to get on the tread mill and to the gym more to make the process go faster.