Author Archive

• PS3 – Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time

  Date: 2009.11.27 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 2

  After a night out for Drinksgiving, I wound up at Brendan’s house because I was unable to drive home. Woo for passing out on a futon.

  In the morning I woke up and realized that video games are awesome. I tooled around on Brendan’s PS3 hooked up to a big ass HD TV and had a bunch of fun playing the demo for Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time.

  It had some really cool game play features, like creating a snapshot of your past self to help you solve puzzles. Your past self could go off somewhere else to push a button that opens a door while your current self went through the door.

  All of this got me thinking… I don’t own a nice TV, and I don’t own a video game system. I *could* buy a big ass HD TV as well as a PS3, and I’d be moving into the modern world. If I could get my computer hooked up to it, it would be even better.

  It’s either that, or I’m just buying myself a 30″ LCD for my computer.

  Your thoughts?

• Shooter’s Log – Day 3

  Date: 2009.11.23 | Category: Guns | Response: 0

  Yesterday, November 22nd, Shapess, Sarah, and I went shooting at PDHSC again.

  I fired 50 rnds of the 9mm federal fmj, and 50 rounds of Magtech i think? I don’t remember the exact brand. I felt a little more accurate with the Magtech.

  They let us shoot in Range 2 because the place was crowded. This means I got to knock down the row of steel plates! This was fricking awesome. At one point I went through and mowed down almost the entire row of 10. w00t. pling pling pling

  The highlight of the day was that Sarah got to shoot a few magazines. This was entertaining to watch, and somewhat scary at the same time. Luckily everyone made it through the experience with the same number of holes that they started with.

  Hopefully Sarah had a fun time and learned a bit about shooting. The guys at PDHSC were very helpful and made sure she got some useful tips along the way. I even learned some things.

• Shooter’s Log – Day 2

  Date: 2009.11.01 | Category: Guns | Response: 0

  I went to PDHSC again on October 31st.

  Shapess and I shot at the Zombie targets. It was pretty damn awesome, you can check out the pics on Facebook.

  I fired another 100 rounds of my Federal 9MM FMJ through the CZP07 duty.

  I shot well in the beginning, and middle, but lost accuracy in the end.

  At some point in the middle I fired a magazine of 15 Winchester Hollow Points. No difference in accuracy that I noticed, but they made a smaller hole through the paper target.

  That puts me up to a total about ~250 rounds fired.

  The bulge on the right side frame is still there, but hasn’t gotten any bigger.

  I fired 20 rounds through Shapess’ Glock 19. I liked it quite a bit. It has a nice, feel, very accurate, and a bit lighter than the P07.

• Shooter’s Log – Day 1

  Date: 2009.10.05 | Category: Guns | Response: 0

  Date: 2009-10-3

  Location: Personal Defense & Handgun Safety Center, Tryon Rd, Raleigh, NC

  Firearm: CZ P07 Duty

  Rounds fired: 150 FMJ (50 Federal, 100 brand I can’t remember)

  Comments: The gun really loosened up while shooting, giving a much better feel. The slide release operated smoother, as well as magazine loading. My accuracy really improved after the first 50 rounds. I was able to knock out the bulls eye pretty consistently. Worked on a smoother more consistent trigger pull.

  My stance needs work I think.

  Here’s a video of my first or second magazine:

  Overall a great day shooting. Shapess and I had a blast.

• Song Lyrics – The White Stripes – We’re Going To Be Friends

  Date: 2009.08.31 | Category: Friends, Music, Quotes | Response: 1

  Just got back from Florida.

  Recently had this song stuck in my head. It seemed relevant to me.

  The White Stripes – We’re Going To Be Friends

  fall is here, hear the yell
  back to school, ring the bell
  brand new shoes, walking blues
  climb the fence, book and pens
  i can tell that we are gonna be friends

  walk with me, suzy lee
  through the park, by the tree
  we will rest upon the ground
  and look at all the bugs we’ve found
  then safely walk to school
  without a sound

  well here we are, no one else
  we walked to school all by ourselves
  there’s dirt on our uniforms
  from chasing all the ants and worms
  we clean up and now it’s time to learn

  numbers, letters, learn to spell
  nouns, and books, and show and tell
  at playtime we will throw the ball
  back to class, through the hall
  teacher marks our height against the wall

  and we don’t notice any time pass
  we don’t notice anything
  we sit side by side in every class
  teacher thinks that i sound funny
  but she likes the way you sing

  tonight i’ll dream while i’m in bed
  when sill thoughts go through my head
  about the bugs and alphabet
  and when i wake tomorrow i’ll bet
  that you and i will walk together again
  cause i can tell that we
  are going to be friends

• August Update

  Date: 2009.08.23 | Category: Friends, Jeeping, Music, Party | Response: 1

  It’s been a month since I’ve last posted. That month has contained all sorts of randomness. My schedule and routine is completely thrown off. I’ve been prety busy.

  I’ve been stuck on this one problem at work the entire time which is a huge drain on me mentally. I’ve stopped going to the gym and just come home to relax instead.

  Here’s a run down on some of the things I’ve been up to, in as close to chronological order as I can muster.

  I posted all of the pictures from Networkers in San Francisco. Pete and I were there for the 4th of July weekend. We met beautiful girls, drank intoxicating beverages, and also learned ridiculous amounts about new technology. It was great to go as a CCIE and get extra special treatment. Here are some pictures of Networkers 2009.

  Here’s Kenneth and I explaining something to an unruly and uncooperative Cisco Partner:

  

  Kenneth Pete and I

  After I got back from Networkers I’m sure I did something worth writing about. I can’t remember what it might have been.

  Just two weeks back or so I decided it was finally time to install my CB Radio in the Jeep. I mounted the radio in the cubby to the left of the steering wheel. It’s a pretty slick looking job, and allowed me to listen to the truckers on my way back and forth to the mountains.

  Andy, Wes, Rebecca, and I went out to Hurricane Creek. Mile marker 8 on I-40. Just 8 miles from the Tennesee, North Carolina Border. This was one of the most beautiful and scenic trails I’ve taken the Jeep on yet. It was also the longest trail. We clocked in something like 10 or 15 miles of trail. Very cool.

  

  Hurricane Creek Trail

  We also managed to get some great YouTube videos of our Jeeping.

  Here’s a video of me going over some big ass logs. This was fun. Listen to the V8 working.

  It was a two day trip and you can look at all the pictures and videos in the previous links.

  After getting back from Jeeping on Sunday night, I worked on Monday and Tuesday. On Monday night Brendan says to me:

  Colleen is coming into town and Bringing her friend Kristan. I’m thinking of getting a Condo on the beach for the rest of the week and working from there.

  I was undecided until we went out to dinner with Colleen and Kristan on Monday night. On Tuesday Brendan asked me again and I basically said.. “Fuck it, lets go.” Very unlike me to do something spontaneously like that. I need proper motivation. Which I suppose I had

  On Tuesday I left work and went straight to Brendan’s house after throwing some things together quickly. I packed in a rush, so forgot to bring swim trunks. Luckily Wings was open til midnight, and had cheap shorts.

  Tuesday night was just dinner at Tower 7 and shopping. Notice that we started with the essentials for a beach trip: Corona and Limes.

  

  Shopping!

  Wednesday Brendan and I worked from the place, and took our lunch break on the beach. Lots of fun!

  Wednesday night was dinner at Dock Street Oyster Bar, followed by a Ghost Tour of Wilmington, follow by Rum Runners.

  

  Dock Street Oyster Bar

  

  Kristan at Rum Runners

  Thursday night was Pizza, Rum, and Spades. Brendan taught us how to play spades which was actually a lot of fun. By the time  we finished spades it was 1AM, Colleen had passed out, and Brendan was stumbling around. So, obviously, the next step was to go to the bar. Which Brendan and I did. This is what that resulted in at 1:30AM:

  

  Late Night 40

  Friday Brendan and I recovered by laying on the beach, walking around, and swimming. We took a walk on the pier with the girls, had a good brunch, and then headed to the Aquarium.

  

  Aquarium - Sea Turtle

  Saturday was a Brewery Tour, followed by Better Than Ezra in the rain. They put on a great  show, and standing around in the rain wasn’t so bad.

  

  Brewery Tour

  Here’s Kristan drying off a bit after the rain:

  

  Kristan Drying Off

  Here we are on Sunday. Work starts  up again in the morning, but I am heading out of town again on Wednesday to go to Florida until next Tuesday. Lots of beach time for me.

  So that’s my update for the past month. Lots of working, lots of playing. Hanging out with beautiful girls at the beach.

  If I missed anything in my stories, just add it into the comments.

• Good Mood – Over Now

  Date: 2009.07.23 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 2

  My good mood has definitely come to an end. I suppose it ended yesterday. Stupid work.

  Not sure how to get it back, but it’s gone for now. Maybe this requires beer, and pizza, and probably something involving girls. We will see.

• Watchmen – Excellent

  Date: 2009.07.20 | Category: Books, Movies, Quotes | Response: 6

  I just finished watching the Director’s Cut of Watchmen.

  Holy.

  Shit.

  I read the comic years back and loved it. The dark and gritty story. The everyman super hero. I loved everything about it. It was such a change of pace from your normal black and white super hero story.

  The movie added even more to that. The directors cut didn’t shy away from any of the nasty bits either. That’s what I loved. It showed the absolutely most vile aspects of the story for exactly what they were, and said “This is your reality. It’s ugly. Deal with it.”

  At 3:06 from Opening to End of Credits it was a long ass movie. It was absolutely worth it.

  If you like action, can stomach some very graphic sex, violence, and EXTREMELY morally questionable behavior, then I recommend this for you.

  If the thought of watching someone get their arms cut off, or a dog eating a little girl makes you squeamish, then maybe this isn’t the one for you.

  If you have the stomach to see it through you’ll be rewarded with an excellent and thought provoking story, beautiful cinemtography, and HOT latex suit action courtesy of Malin Akerman playing Silk Spectre. Do yourself a favor and google search it.

  Also. Boobs!

  I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the movie:

  None of you seem to understand.
  I’m not locked in here with you…
  YOU’RE LOCKED IN HERE WITH ME!!
  -Rorschach

• Song Lyrics – Thinking of Dad

  Date: 2009.07.19 | Category: Family, Music | Response: 0

  My father has a way of changing a phrase or song lyric to make it inappropriate. I think it’s something I was either genetically gifted with, or learned through repetition. Maybe both!

  I was listening to Say Anything – I Want To Know Your Plans

  Which as you can see is a stirring love song about a man professing his love for a girl. This man pours out his soul saying that this girl is his primary motivation for life, the universe, and everything.

  Say Anything Version: I Want To Know Your Plans

  Burns Version: I Want To See Your Boobs

  I think Dad would approve. I should go visit that guy sometime.

• Good Mood

  Date: 2009.07.16 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 1

  I’m in such a good mood that it’s ridiculous. I can’t actually explain the good mood, or pinpoint the source.

  I’m not normally an exceptionally happy person. Starting last night though, around the time I went to watch Harry Potter, I was just happy.

  I’m smiling for no reason.

  I’m good at my job.

  I want to say HI to people.

  If this is what normal people feel like all the time, I don’t know how they stand it.

  Maybe someone put something in my drink, or food. I’ve only felt this good once or twice before, and.. well.. that’s not an Internet story.

  I will let you know how long it lasts. Wish me luck.