DoorNumberTwo

AIRPORT

2006-08-14T05:42:00.000-05:00

AIRPORT
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

Good fortunes - Good night

2006-03-21T22:52:00.000-05:00

So everybody gets those chinese fortune cookies, even when you aren't in a chinese restaurant, they give them to you if it is almost any asian restaurant. And it seems that most of us have something that we add to the end of them. Like you will have a great fortune "in bed", of course adding the "in bed" part totally skews the fortune, but it also makes it a little funny.

So here were some fortunes that I heard tonight,
you can add your own phrase to the end of them.

You are never bitter, deceptive or petty
3, 12, 23, 28, 34, 37

To climb the ladder of success work hard and you'll reach it.
7, 8, 23, 31, 32, 44

There is a gradual improvement. Feelings are sweet and tender.
21, 24, 26, 34, 38, 43

Love is a present that can be given every single day you live.
7, 19, 20, 33, 40, 44

A modest man never talks to himself.
4, 22, 36, 38, 39, 46

You have a potential urge and the ability for accomplishment.
8, 9, 13, 31, 35, 38

A smooth long journey! Great Expectations
14, 18, 23, 32, 34, 39

A distant relative will phone you soon.
26, 27, 30, 33, 37, 48

Appearance can be deceiving. Remember endurance makes gold.
11, 14, 18, 22, 26, 41

A modest man never talks to himself.
4, 22, 36, 38, 39, 46

Sassy Pirate girl

2006-03-10T19:29:00.000-05:00

Sassy Pirate girl
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

Thursdays lady in costume, okay so it was really friday when I posted it, but what are you going to do you know, things have been busy, but I use that excuse so often that it might better to call it the lady of the week.

So from here on out that's what I am going for. One girl a week till there ain't no more girls.

So this girl here, fancied herself a pirate. She had the big sleeves the sword and the fancy hat but I am not sure any pirate would have worn the rest of her outfit, but she said she's a pirate and she had a sword so I let her have it.

Overpainting by Dali

2006-03-08T22:58:00.000-05:00

Dali_girl
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

I love the fact that when the light hits this piece right you can see that Dali painted over another piece that had a girl in the foreground, to re-use the canvas to do this painting.

A work by DALI

2006-03-08T22:49:00.000-05:00

DALI
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

You see this is how the painting is supposed to appear. When you look at it straight on it is hardly noticiable that there is a girl in the underpainting. but...

Ma-Femme-Nue-Regardant-Son-Porpe-Corps-Posters

2006-03-08T22:36:00.000-05:00

Ma-Femme-Nue-Regardant-Son-Porpe-Corps-Posters
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

I suspect it could have been the painting started for either this...

Muchacha-De-Espalda-Posters

2006-03-08T22:30:00.000-05:00

Muchacha-De-Espalda-Posters
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

or this. But who knows. It was just really cool to discover that even the artists that are so famous now, once painted over things that they didn't like.

Spending a couple of days in Chicago

2006-03-08T00:19:00.000-05:00

Nightlife
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So I am in Chicago for a few days, taking care of some work related stuff. But I arrived a few hours early today and got the chance to go into the city.

So if you only had a few hours to spend in Chicago where would you go?

I went to the Chicago Art Institute museum, now I am sure that wouldn't have been the choice for everyone but for me it was the right one.

And then to GINO's pizza for some deep dish Chicago pizza.

Surrender_The_booty

2006-03-06T21:22:00.000-05:00

Surrender_The_booty
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So in a fit of blind optimism (Superbuck how do you spell that word.) I am going out on a limb and saying that by the end of March we'll have this apt. in order.

So if you see this flag a flying from our front porch, it means a party of some sorts is going on.

Whether it is straight up drinking, drinking and poker, game night drinking/no drinking, or an open invitation to come on up and get the party started.

We now have the flag, all we need is the reason.

Coming in April 2006.

Thursday's lady in costume is GothGirl

2006-03-06T21:18:00.000-05:00

GothGirl
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So I missed LAST THURSDAY cause we've been crazy busy trying to unpack.

as an apology I have loaded up two girls, although if you've been paying attention I have been blogging one girl, but loading up a few at a time, so you may have missed a few.

And for those of you that are keeping score, I think this one is dressed as an original goth, back when they were Mid-Evil.

This one wanted to be a Goth Girl, I Guess...

2006-03-06T21:01:00.000-05:00

Goth_I_Guess
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

But more likely it is a girl who was really proud of her polka dotted underwear so she through together an outfit to show it off.

WE ARE MOVED!

2006-02-27T22:26:00.000-05:00

Tonight at 10:15pm we moved the last box into the new apt. And made the first pledge to purge ourselves of this extra CRAP we keep moving from place to place. I am thinking of starting "ed's List"

PS. Hayden, I accidently buried the CD, in amongst the stuff but I'll find it by the weekend and send it out.

Thursdays Lady in Costume could be FluorescentGirl

2006-02-23T08:59:00.000-05:00

FluorescentGirl
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

I have to say this is probably not a real character... But maybe I am wrong here, after all from what little I really know it could be.

But I loved the whole outfit she had on and so I got her to pose with the "dude" mannequin behind her.

She was at ComiCon in San Diego a few years back

So only a few more days till...

2006-02-22T20:56:00.000-05:00

So only a few more days till we are supposed to be moved out of the old apt.

And dragging it out like we have done has almost made it more painful. We need to keep going back to the old apt after work to clear our stuff out of it, but when we get home after work the last thing we feel like doing is going to the old apt to clear out our stuff. So instead we make a commitment to do it the next night. And so it has dragged out almost to the end of the month.

So again very little blogging happening... But it should pick up in MARCH! ;)

Thusdays Lady in costume is... RocketGirl! er... TANK GIRL!

2006-02-16T06:43:00.000-05:00

RocketGirl
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

Apparently this was a superhero at some time. Although I have no idea what her powers were, I would suspect it had something to do with those rockets.

Homelessness in Detroit

2006-02-15T22:54:00.000-05:00

Here's a link to a guy who posts a new image everyday... This photographer takes portraits of homeless people in Detroit each day and posts them on his blog with a few quotes from the person he photographed. I got the link from a design blog I have been reading lately.

Our Window View

2006-02-15T21:45:00.000-05:00

Window_View
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So I was blog surfing around some of my friends blogs and FARMBOY had posted this view from the window of the house he is building, which made me a little jealous. And while I have no fantasy anyone will be as jealous of the view from my window I thought I would share it.

what do you think. ;)

BOOKS

2006-02-15T20:58:00.000-05:00

BOOKS
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So in we moved. We spent all day friday moving. The movers arrived at 8 am and finally left at 3 pm. The company "A friendly Movers" were great I would use them again.

Actually I should say the movers, Tony, Jason, and Steve were great, I don't really know that much about the company other than they hired these guys who moved us.

So that is also one reason why the blogging is slowing down a bit this month. We've been crazy busy trying to get all the bric - a - CRAP moved fomr the old place to the new place before the end of the month. Wish us luck!

For more photos of the moving click on the flickr link down and to the right.

And can you believe that all the boxes in this picture, well minus a few for the kitchen are boxes of books.

Cause one day when were old and gray we are going to open a used bookstore and coffee shop. And so we have started collecting now so we'll have enough books by the time we are older. ;)

Lady in costume no. 2

2006-02-09T19:52:00.000-05:00

No_idea
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So last week when I posted the weekly lady in costume some of you came to my aid and solved a long standing mystery.

What was up with the tape costume. After that kind of response one has to one up the challenge and having done that offer up a prize.

Well this week I have a similar challenge...

Where does this ladies costume originate from?

The first to answer correctly, get's their choice of the following (slightly listened to) CD's, mailed to them. good luck.

Santana - supernatural

The verve pipe - villians

311 - 311

or

Green Day - Nimrod

Tomorrow we move...

2006-02-09T19:51:00.000-05:00

More on all this after the dust settles.

AmericanDream

2006-02-04T16:38:00.000-05:00

Time_in_America
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So I have been trying to get back into making some "art" for myself lately.

On top of all the other things I am trying to make time for.

This is a photo collage I have been working on, it is just in the beginning stages, but I thought I would share it anyway.

The working title right now is "American Dream" but I don't know if that is going to be the final title or not.

The softest leather sofa ever

2006-02-04T01:51:00.000-05:00

The softest leather sofa ever
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

Last sunday we were out running errands, (not packing) when we stopped in at a local scratch and dent furniture store, that is only open on the weekends.

Why did we stop there...

Because we don't own a couch, sofa, loveseat or Futon for that matter. We have no piece of furnture that sits in a living room, family room, or game room, that can seat more than one person at a time.

We did once, back when we owned a house. In fact when we owned the house we had both a sofa and a love seat.

Side Note: It has become apparent to me in writing this stuff that there is a point in time that keeps coming up. And that is the point of home ownership that exists up until the home sale and then everything after home ownership. SO that point will now be known as D.uring H.ome O.wnership and the point after will be S.ince H.ome O.wnership

So we now return you to your regularly scheduled blog.

But when we decided to sell the house and move into an apt (in ghent) it became apparent to us that the larger pieces of furniture were just not going to fit into the considerably smaller apt. so we got rid of them.

Well now we are moving into the considerably larger apt. and I want to have people over and these people will have no where to really sit except the dining room table without a sofa of some kind.

And it was this line of thinking that brought us to where we ended up last sunday, sitting on a leather Natuzzi sofa with the softest leather I have ever sat on in a couch. It was like your favorite old bomber jacket that you've had for years and just fits so comfortably around you. It was like butter. And it was $1200, which was more than I thought we had intended on spending for a sofa. Especially when the sofa was really a love seat.

Mr. Poofy Couch

2006-02-04T01:44:00.000-05:00

Poofy Couch
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So the next night we went off in search of Sofa's. As we hadn't ever really shopped for Sofa's in more than a kids gotta have a cheap couch way. And we didn't know if the Leather love seat was really the deal of the century, the right price for the right piece, or really like we started out thinking more than we have to pay to get a comfortably couch.

We headed out to a store that has Sofa's and other stuff. Where we were greeted by a lovely sales woman that we were great fun to banter with. Which made the shopping a little more interesting, just giving her random bits of phoobabble. Such as we can't buy my grandmothers sofa brand new, that kind of stuff has to be handed down. And we don't want a couch that requires the purchase of wooden ducks.

Well after sitting on everything that looked like it might somehow work in our house we found Mr. Poofy Couch. And in the right color this might be pretty comfortable to sit on and look pretty good to boot. I think the right color was going to be purple, and the price $800.

Now this is closer to what I thought a couch would cost. But we needed to visit some other stores to discover if there was something better out there.

All About Style

2006-02-04T01:32:00.000-05:00

All About Style
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So then we went to another store. One that is having a sale this weekend and this weekend only. And looked around, or rather we were guided around the store by a salesman. Ending up at this lovely piece of sectional furniture that just screams to be in our living room, to the tune of $1900. But hey! this is the bottom basement on sale price, with no payments for FOUR YEARS! You can "buy" furniture today with only 20% down and make no payments until 2010...

Although this looked great, it wasn't as comfortable as the Leather loveseat we saw that started this whole expedition.

The Leather recliner Sofa and loveseat set

2006-02-04T01:27:00.000-05:00

Leather recliner couch
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

But right next to that fabulously stylish sectional was this Sofa and loveseat, very comfortable not as stylish maybe but you can get this lovely Sofa with a recliner on either side covered in only the finest Natuzzi leather for a mere...

$2600

And that is when we decided there are other things in life that we want to spend our money on, especially when we are talking about that much money.

And so we still don't have a sofa, well at least not yet. But we plan on getting one soon. Just maybe not before we move into the apt. after all we still have packing to do.

How to meet people.

2006-01-28T15:12:00.000-05:00

So with Valentines day coming up and all it got me to thinking where does one who does not currently have a significant other meet someone.

Because ever now and again I go out to "the bars" and you see people trying to "hook up" all night to no avail usually and yet they do this every weekend hoping for that one weekend when the person they are interested in will also be out and see them and be interested and for some totally unplausable reason. They'll talk or whatever and it'll work out.

They'll start dating.

I ask you, how many people in serious long term relationships that you know, met at a bar. I would bet your odd's are better to get struck by lightning.

So then where do you go, if not the bars. Well here's a few ideas I had. But I am looking for more suggestions. Because I know some people who are in this very predicament right now.

One option and a very good one proposed to me by TheMusicMan is to volunteer. Pick a place like a gallery, museum, zoo, hospital, parks and rec, library plant center, whatever. And volunteer, this way you have an immediate in, your the person that people ask when they have questions. Conversations are pretty much a given and isn't that the hardest part striking up a conversation. Also you come out looking really good cause your somebody who volunteers their time in the community, your a good samaritan.

In the past I have volunteer coached little kids soccer and there have inevitably been a couple of single mom's whose littl kid was on my team. Depending on the age of the kid you are going to meet someone between the ages of 30 - late 40's. Now you also are going to meet someone with a kid, so if you don't want to meet someone with a kid this may not be the way to go. But I throw it out there as another idea.

Two , Go places where people of like minds are going to be. If your looking for somebody who is into plants, go to the botanical gardens, (hell, volunteer at the botanical gardens, but then I covered that under one) Go to a gallery if your looking for the artsy type. Go to Tattoo conventions if your looking for the counter culture type. Go to record stores. Go to the library or bookstores if your looking for a bookworm. Go to where the type of person your looking to meet frequents.

Three Join an organization. If your looking to meet someone who is interested in books, join a bookclub. If your looking for an outdoors type join a group that goes on hikes and nature walks in the area. If your looking for someone who is a strong advocate for animal rights, join that type of organization, If your looking for someone in your community, join the civic league, Join the chamber of commerce if your looking for someone who is more of a business type, join the type of organization that would appeal to the type of person your looking for.

Four if your looking for someone who is atheletic, join a team or league that is in your area. The city your in probably has a list at the parks and recs center. If your into running the local running store probably knows of a running group. They might even host one. The local bike shop probably has a bike group. I am sure the bowling alley has a bowlilng league. There might even be a softball league or two around you.

Five> Take a class. This is always a great place to meet someone. Whether you take a class at the local college, community college in something your interested in. Or a class at one of the local community centers, adult learning centers or independent business that offers classes. There are going to be people that are probably interested in talking at least about what your studying in that class.

Six There's probably an online dating in your area. I do know of people who this has worked for. I have never done it myself so I couldn't tell you all the details about how it works. From what I understand you sign up online and put up your profile, then you look at other profiles of other members of the same service and intially contact each other via e-mail. If that works out you progress to phone calls and then go out on dates.

But to sum it all up I think it is only through frequent repeated exposures that someone really warm's up to another person. Most of the people that I know met their significant other in this way.

I can't think of anyone who is involved in a long term relationship that met their special someone in a bar.

Now on the other hand I don't know that I would rule out a bar, but it is certainly a harder way to get there. It's a highly competitive beauty pagent with everyone intially judging each other on looks, and where everything you say comes out sounding like a pick-up line.

But I am sure there are more ways to meet your special someone than the ones I have outlined. So if you have a suggestion or a story about it. Post it.

Coops painting and other stuff blog

2006-01-28T11:43:00.000-05:00

So lately I have discovered that there are a lot of artists out there BLOGGING about how theymake their art.

OMFG! How cool is that, I mean to be able to see how these guys make their art. Thats like getting classes with them for free.

again, too cool.

Here's COOP's BLOG, check out the atari joystick with woman painting he is doing.

Next Thursday... a new girl in costume image

2006-01-28T11:17:00.000-05:00

For those of you that chimed in on the last one, I could certainly use some help on next weeks image and discovering where this one comes from.

Real 5th Element costume for comparison

2006-01-28T11:12:00.000-05:00

5th_Element
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

Oh, and now I know why the girl in the post before was wearing that costume. too Funny, I thought she came up with that all on her own, and here it was a pretty mainstream movie. One that I had seen even and forgotten about apparently.

thanks superbuck.

More wisdom from my dad

2006-01-28T08:38:00.000-05:00

Something To Offend Everyone!

What is a Yankee?
The same as a quickie, but a guy can do it alone.

What is ! the difference between a Harley and a Hoover?
The position of the dirt bag

Why is divorce so expensive?
Because it's worth it.

What do you see when the Pillsbury Dough Boy bends over?
Doughnuts?

Why is air a lot like sex?
Because it's no big deal unless you're not getting any.

What do you call a smart blonde?
A golden retriever.

What do attorneys use for birth control?
Their personalities.

What's the difference between a girlfriend and wife?
45 lbs

What's the difference between a boyfriend and husband?
45 minutes

What's the fastest way to a man 's heart?
Through his chest with a sharp knife.

Why do men want to marry virgins?
They can't stand criticism.

Why is it so hard for women to find men that are sensitive, caring, and good-looking?
Because those men already have boyfriends.

What's the difference between a new husband and a new dog?
After a year, the dog is still excited to see you

What makes men chase women they have no intention of marrying?
The same urge that makes dogs chase cars they have no intention of driving.

Why don't bunnies make noise when they have sex?
Because they have cotton balls.

What's the difference between a porcupine and BMW?
A porcupine has the pricks on the outside.

What did the blonde say when she found out she was pregnant?
"Are you sure it's mine?"

Why does Mike Tyson cry during sex?
Mace will do that to you.

Why did OJ Simpson want to move to West Virginia ?
Everyone has the same DNA.

Why do men find it difficult to make eye contact?
Breasts don't have eyes.

Why do drivers' education classes in Redneck schools use the car only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays?
Because on Tuesday and Thursday, the Sex Ed class uses it.

Where does an Irish family go on vacation? A different bar.

What would you call it when an Italian has one arm shorter than the other?
A speech impediment.

What does it mean when the flag at the Post Office is flying at half-mast?
They're hiring.
What's the difference between a southern zoo and a northern zoo?
A southern zoo has a description of the animal on the front of the cage along with.. "a recipe".

How do you get a sweet little 80-year-old lady to say the F word?
Get another sweet little 80-year-old lady to ye! ll *BINGO*!

What's the difference between a northern fairytale and a southern fairytale?
A northern fairytale begins "Once upon a time..." -A southern fairytale begins "Y'all ain't gonna believe this shit...".

Why is there no Disneyland in China?
No one's tall enough to go on the good rides

Girl in costume 1 of many

2006-01-26T21:17:00.000-05:00

Taped
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

This is just one of many girls in costume that I have seen over the course of the years. But this one stands out in the memory for many reasons.

One is that the costume was created with little outside expenditure, but in using those materials they were very creative in their execution.

Two is you know they had to have somebody help them put the costume on. But during the course of the show whenever I saw her, I never saw her hanging out with anybody. So where is this other person. Their costume if they wore one had to be great as well, one would assume.

Three is the sheer audacity it takes to wear this costume in a convetion filled with comic book (insert your own word here) fans

Four is Just try and tell me it didn't hurt when removing the costume at the end of the day

So depending on how this post is received I may post a new Costumed character each week...

Ramping up or maybe Washing up for the new apartment

2006-01-26T20:21:00.000-05:00

fridgidaire
Borrowed from another website by knetik.

So we went out and got a "scratch and dent" fridgidaire laundry center from a local place.

I've never owned a laundry center before although when we had the house we did have a washer and dryer that we bought for it. So we had some idea of what features we wanted. As for brand, it is a frigidaire brand, which who knows if that is good or bad. But what I do know after trying to reach into a few of these laundry center things, is FRONT LOADER became quite important, and this one is a front loader, so yea! Also Kelly wanted a delicate cycle and it had that plus some other whiz bang features like a sneaker drying rack that were just fun to get but who knows if your really going to use it. Well I could effuse all night about the thing, I am quite excited we are getting it, but being a boy I'll just give you the stats.

Key Features
Washer Type Stacked Washer / Dryer
Load Type Front Load
Volume Capacity 3.1 cu/ ft

Wash
Wash Presets 16 Wash Presets
Extra Settings Extra Rinsing
Spin Speeds 450 - 1200 rpm, 4 Speeds
Water Levels Automatic
Temperature Levels 4 Levels
Washing Method Drum

Convenience
Control Features Dial Controls
Dispensers Fabric Softener Dispencer • Bleach Dispenser • Detergent Dispenser

Efficiency
Energy Efficiency Energy Star Compliant

Other Features
Exterior Color White

Dimensions
Overall Depth 29.75 in.
Overall Height 75.5 in.
Overall Width(Display) 27 in.

The search begins for a MAN BAG!

2006-01-24T22:17:00.000-05:00

DakineDepot
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So I have noticed that I carry a lot of crap with me. Which works out okay if you wear a coat cause you can stuff the pockets with the stuff. But when it's warmer as it was unseasonably so, in the middle of winter you find that you can't carry all that stuff so you pare down. But what if I had a... shhhhh man bag.

Then I could carry the notebook I want, the sketch book (different book) the mechanical pencil, sharpie and the pen, Ipod, and various other crap. Well that sounds a lot like a purse now doesn't it ?!?

Well maybe the ladies have somehow F'd us on this one. How come they can rightly carry a bag with some serious storage while we are left to our pants pockets or carrying a bag and being called a NANCY boy.

Why I ask you?

Well I for one have been in search of that one bag that you can carry and still possess your manhood.

Maxpedition
can be seen better here www.maxpedition.com.

And here are the two bags I have narrowed it down to. But I keep flip flopping on the final decision. I like them both. But should I get the one that hangs down like the one above and looks clean on the outside. Or should I get the one that kind of slings around your side and is probably more ergonomic. The sling styled one has all these pouches, that the other one doesn't have.

Is this how it goes for girls...

which one should I get? Does it match my outfit? Will it look good with most of what I wear?

This is exactly why people like Squarepants have so many purses. How can you expect just one bag to do all the different things you require in all those different situations.

Perhaps I should just get both. Did all that sound real weird to you too?

Blast from the past

2006-01-23T20:32:00.000-05:00

baby_pic
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So while packing up all my stuff I found this photo. This is the only photo I have of me as a kid.

I don't know where I got it from originally, but I have had it for a really long time, and I keep it cause it...

well I keep it for personal reasons.

But I think you guys can appreciate it without those reasons.

I am a Weekend blogger

2006-01-22T10:17:00.000-05:00

That's it, I've said it. I meant to be a daily blogger, I tried to be a blogger during the week. Sometimes I am. But really I am a weekend blogger. I've come to terms with that and you know what, it works for me.

Saturday night Roller Skating!

2006-01-21T23:20:00.000-05:00

3_2_skate
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

Saturday nights for...

Skating!

It was old school skate night at the Haygood Roller rink. Nobody under 25, allowed. For Ten dollars we could skate from 9pm to 1 am!

I made it an hour, after that my ankles were tired and hurting a little?!? Does it mean I am getting old when my ankles start to go? Or could it be all the skate boarding and soccer I have done in my past?

But there were some people there who so obviously were regulars to the rink since they were much smaller and younger. They were dancing around, spinning, twirling, rolling backwards, and one guy was even doing a little breakdancing. It looked as if they weren't even wearing skates, it was so fluid. I could have stayed and just watched them roll around for a while.

Well anyway it was a good time and I plan on going again. It is the 3rd saturday of every month. And you can get the inline skates or Quads and if your really crazy you can get the speed skating quads.

So let me know if you want to go?

Ripping off another persons designs and taking money from their pocket

2006-01-19T06:36:00.000-05:00

So it seems like this sort of thing happens all the time. Where a large company sees somethign hip that they like and they essentially "Rip it off". They know that if you change a percentage of the design that it is a variant and no longer the same and that they can protect themselves in court. Or they use the design in a parody, which is also protectable. But is it fair?

and what about companies that are consistant offenders. Such as Urban Outfitters.

First example Crown Farmer
Second example Car-Freshner
Third example Jesus dress up magnet
Fourth example Johnny Cash image

But then how should one feel when this company who consistently infringes on small business' gets the same treatment from WALMART! should we feel bad for them now? Will they learn anything from it. Or is it just the way business is done.

How do you stop it, I think the old adage here is the best one. You vote with your wallet. If people stopped purchasing those things that are blatent rip-Offs then they would stop doing it as the recognized the shopping trend, that consumers will not buy Rip-Offs. But how do you know what are Rip-Offs in Urban Outfitters. Well someone could take the intiiative to have a communal BLOG where the Rip-Offs are posted and shoppers could check there before going. Or maybe one should stop shopping there at all.

But...

If you didn't know the other product ever existed hence your inability to recognize the Rip-OFF. Would you have ever given the original company your money or made a purchase from them. Has Urban outfitters hurt that original company in a financial way, and is that what is important here? If the consumer would never have purchased from the originator having no knowledge of their prior existance.

Has Walmart hurt Urban Outfitters financially if extend that idea to the extent that consumers who go to walmart would never have spent 10 times as much for that same item at Urban Outfitters or Anthropologie.

A bit of wisdom from my dad

2006-01-17T22:21:00.000-05:00

Symptoms of a stroke (a true story)
Susie is recuperating at an incredible pace for
someone with a massive stroke all because Sherry saw
Susie stumble - -that is the key that isn't mentioned
below - and then she asked Susie the 3 questions.

This literally saved Susie's life - - Susie failed all
three so 911 was called. Even though she had normal
blood pressure readings and did not appear to be
having a stroke, as she could converse to some extent
with the Paramedics, they took her to the hospital
right away.Thank God for the sense to remember the 3
questions!

Read and Learn! Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are
difficult to identify.
Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster.
The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people
nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by
asking three simple questions:

1. *Ask the individualto SMILE.

2. *Ask him or herto RAISE BOTH ARMS.

3. *Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE.

If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks,
call 9-1-1immediately and describe the symptoms to the
dispatcher.

After discovering that a group of non medical
volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm
weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the
general public to learn the three questions. They
presented their conclusions at the American Stroke
Association's annual meeting last February.
Widespread use of this test could result in prompt
diagnosis and
treatment of the stroke and prevent brain damage.

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail
sends it to 10 people, you can bet that at least one
life will be saved.

So how the packing is coming?

2006-01-15T21:18:00.000-05:00

This morning we woke up late...

10 ish and then went to the dinette for breakfast.

After which we went on a quick drive to look and see if we could find where they moved the recycling bins that used to be on 20th street.

No such luck.

Then we stopped by PattyMac and theMusicMan's to pick up some boxes. Took them home and then we went by TKFC's to pick up some boxes. Took them home and headed to the storage unit.

Does everyone who lives in an apt. have one ?!?

Took all the stuff Bookworm has been collecting for "THE YARD SALE" (slated to happen sometime in the spring), to her parents house.

Caught a glimpse of the Colts losing to the Steelers. WTF!

Then off to the mall and to JCPenny's(or Jacque Penne if you prefer it that way), they were having a 75% off sale.

Then to Hechts not such the great sale.

Dinner at tropical smoothie on the way back from the mall.

And home to watch Somethings Gotta Give (Funny Movie) and iron our clothes for the next day.

So from this you know the answer to that question...

This person thinks they own a truck

2006-01-14T20:55:00.000-05:00

This person thinks they own a truck
This image provided by the internet.

So at some point if you own a truck somebody you know either asks to borrow it or asks you to help them move something.

This person obviously doesn't know anyone who owns a pick-up truck. Or...

Isn't bright enough to know when to ask.

Needs a Truck
This image provided by the internet.

But these people these people had to know they needed a U-Haul. So in order to give them the benefit of the doubt, I am going with the idea that they are fleeing from a Hurricane with all their worldly possessions. Otherwise these people, well there is nothing good I can say about these people otherwise.

Needs a Truck from the rear
This image provided by the internet.

How much weight does a word carry?

2006-01-14T14:45:00.000-05:00

If I were to tell you I was a designer;
what would you think?

If I were to tell you I was an artist;
what would you think?

If I was to tell you I was a manager;
what would you think?

Wha?

2006-01-08T11:45:00.001-05:00

Wha?
Originally uploaded by kackie.

dork

2006-01-08T11:45:00.000-05:00

dork
Originally uploaded by kackie.

dorkin

2006-01-08T11:44:00.000-05:00

dorkin
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

scary stuff

This is how...

2006-01-08T11:37:00.000-05:00

Mornin_Bookworm
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

This is how Bookworm likes to wake up on the weekend, with her book and the kitties in bed with her. Here you can see tigger in his usual place, right by her side.

At night Tigger likes to spoon up with her, sometimes with his head next to hers on the pillow but mostly just lying real close to her.

Shadow on the other hand likes to lay at the end of the bed mostly and only every now and again up next to Bookworm.

Neither cat lays to close to me, this only serves to reinforce why I say they are her cats.

Shadow
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

For the new apt...

2006-01-08T11:32:00.000-05:00

dishwasher_web
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

Did I mention we were moving to a new apt...

Did I mention that it has a hook-up for a washer and dryer.

Did I mention that we bought a portable dishwasher, for the kitchen.

good stuff.

Remember when...

2006-01-07T21:52:00.000-05:00

Rockfish
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So a while back I caught some rockfish, you remember don't you. These fish here --->

Well tonight Bookworm and I cooked up a meal of these fish for her family. Mom, Dad, and Grandma.
The menu included pan fried Rockfish, a salad, hush puppies and some saffron rice.

For dessert Bookworms mom made pumpkin pie and bookworm made angel food cake covered in strawberries and whip cream.

It was all so good and it was so nice to get back into a kitchen and cook something after having not done it for so long. I cooked it over at Bookworms parents house and that made it a little harder, but it was still nice to cook a full meal for someone.

All the shaving gear one needs

2006-01-07T21:41:00.000-05:00

Final_step

So today I thought I had definitely amassed all the shaving gear one could possibly need.

I had 3 razors, one from my Grandfather, one from e-bay and one from classic shaving dot com. I had 3 shaving soaps, 2 shaving creams, 2 brushes, and one aftershave.

But then I put a new blade into the new razor and noticed AN UNEVEN GAP ?!?

Is it possible, could it be, that this most expensive razor isn't quite right. How could it possibly be true. I stared dumbfounded in disbelief.

I put the new razor blade in again. Maybe I had inserted it wrong, maybe it hadn't fallen quite right, maybe it...

Nope, the razor still looked wrong, wrong with no visible way to make it right. It looks as though I would have to send it back.

sadness...

Now it will be at least another two weeks till I finally get to try shaving with this razor, what with the sending back of this one and waiting for the new one.

This sucks.

the_gap
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

The Xmas Clean Up

2006-01-07T21:34:00.000-05:00

Xmas_cleanup
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So today the packing began and what way to better begin the packing of the house than the packing up of Xmas.

This year we didn't really get our tree till the week before Xmas, so there wasn't much time to enjoy it.

Next year I think we'll be one of those early birds and get our tree around Thanksgiving so we have so much more time to enjoy it.

Although I think that is what we said last year...

Monestary, Lion King, and birthday gifts

2006-01-05T19:01:00.000-05:00

lionKing_2
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So last night we went out for Kelly's Birthday.

The evening began with dinner at the Monestary. Kelly had a glass of water and the Wiener Schnitzel which came with home fried potatoes and vegetable. I had a glass fo wine and the goose which came with saurkraut that was delicious and was unliek any I had before. For desert Kelly had the Hot apple strudel and I had a cappucino. Everything tasted great and we ate too much.

Then we were off to Chrysler hall for a performance of the Lion King we had pretty good seats, row H 49 & 50 they were kind of off to the left of the stage. But it was such a spectacle that you never felt like you were missing anything, as there was so much going on all the time that at any given point there was too much to look at anyway.

And the performance I think was amazing. Yeah, I know this is the traveling show and it isn't nearly as good as the show on Broadway, which only makes me want to see it on Broadway to see how it gets better than this.

And the costume designer well she out did anything in costume I had seen up to that point in a broadway play. I am sure something like Cats when it first came out, 22 years or so ago was considered really amazing. But today I would have to say Lion King has the best costumes I hvae seen so far in a Broadway show.

Oh I could go on and on about the show, but needless to say I liked it. I would see it again, and that is alot for me.

Well after the show we headed home, Kelly opened some presents I bought her and we went to bed.

And that was yesterday, I can't wait to see what tomorrow might bring. ;)

Coming soon, the new apt

2006-01-03T06:37:00.000-05:00

new_apt
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

Some of you may have heard and others well maybe not. But coming next month Bookworm and I will be moving to a new apt.

It is a 4 bedroom apt on the 3rd floor. Both of which are pretty exciting for so many reasons.

Nobody above us.

We each get a room for our projects, me for my studio and bookworm for her office/library.

So what to do with the other room. Welll for the immediate future it will be a junk room. cause we have too much stuff and we need a room to store it in. Or else we are storing it in a storage space and then we never go through it.

But my hopes is that down the road it becomes the exercise / guest room. But we'll see.

Anyway exciting stuff coming up, more on this later.

who let the cat outta the bag...

2006-01-01T10:37:00.000-05:00

cat_in_theBag
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

Oh never mind, he's still in there. ;)

Ipod - Upod - WeAllPod

2006-01-01T08:54:00.000-05:00

So for my birthday back in 2005 ;) Bookworm got me a Shuffle. And I loved it, loved it. Loved being able to load up some music and listen to it in the jeep via the casette adapter. But it was like listening to a great college station. You had good music but little control over what was coming on next.

Then this past X-mas my Mom (no really my Mom) bought me an Ipod Video and I have spent the last few days loading it up with CD's I hardly ever listen to. So far I have enough music on my Ipod to listen for about 4 days non-stop. Which translates to roughly 6.5 gigs of music.

Now I am using the Ipod in mostly the same way as I did the shuffle, as a music source for my car. But now I have so much more control over W.I.E.D (my personal radio station) and put on the music that I want to hear. And this past week I put in some speakers at the office so I could listen to W.I.E.D when I am there and nobody else is. Which happens everynow and again.

As for the Video portion of the Ipod, well I am subscribing to a couple of video podcasts, just some nerdy stuff like the photoshop guys. But really right now I am just using it for music.

AND I LOVE IT.

Shaving and Where I am today

2005-12-28T22:25:00.000-05:00

ShaveKit_web
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So this is where I am today.

The razor you see in the picture used ot be my grandfathers, the brush is the new one that kelly bought me for x-mas, the nivea well that's self explanatory, and the L'occitane is the shaving soap I am using right now.

In a few weeks I'll post a new picture of the madness that has ensued.

and then I Called classic shaving dot com

2005-12-28T20:06:00.000-05:00

NewV4_Satin
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So I got an e-mail from classic shaving dot com which is the place I have been ordering quite a few products from and home to the infamous Ray Dupont and here's what they said...

Hi Edmund,

Looking at your order we guess that you found us on MSNBC Today Show link.

While the "Hefty Classic" is a fine beginners razor, we really recommend one of the adjustable blade razors: Vision, Futur, or Progress.... The Vision, of course, being the most infinitely adjustable.

But no matter which razor you buy, we welcome you to wet shaving,...come on in, the water's fine.

Customer Service Team
ClassicShaving.com

So after reading the message I called them to find out what they suggested I might buy instead and got to talk to Ray's daughter Danielle on the phone. We chatted for a bit and then she said she ought to have technical support call me back, to answer some of my questions. At which point she said she'll have Ray might call, back, this is in effect like talking to the dali Lama of shaving. ON top of the fact I thought that Ray might have passed on based on his post on the straight razor forum. So upon hearing this I have to admit I got a little excited as I waited for the call, but sadness, fifteen minutes later, no call from Ray...

AND THEN the phone rang, and it was Ray! And we talked about razors for a little bit and he convinced me to buy an adjustable instead of the Hefty Classic. Which adjustable was really dependent on how much I could afford.

But the one that he really likes and has in his bathroom is the "vision" and since this guy is pretty much the man with the plan in the shaving world. I gave it a lot of thought and took his advice, I bought the vision, well the vision 4 piece set really. After all this should be the only time I ever need to purchase any equipment, hopefully from here on out I am only buying blades. As I can't afford to do this again, but as they say you only live once so you might as well enjoy it.

So that brings the equipment list to:

Proraso Shaving Cream $9.99

Taylor of Old Bond Street Shaving Soap in Wooden Bowl $24.99

DOVO Block Alum Styptic $12.99

Nancy boy Super shaver combo $49.00

Merkur "Double-Edge" SS Platinum Blades $4.59

Vision 4 piece set $259.00

So what started out as an innocent exploration into getting a better shave has ended up costing me about $360.56

WTF has come over me, this always happens!

Whenever I really get into something I can never go into it half-assed. Instead I do a little research and then jump in with both feet. Well here's to hoping the waters great!

Oh! and Ray said when I got my razor to give him a call if I wanted and he would talk me through how to get the best shave ever. I can't wait to call him back. ;)

The Merkur Heftyclassic

2005-12-27T23:12:00.000-05:00

Merkur_heftyclassic
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So I made the plunge.

I told Bookworm that I was going to buy a new razor to compare against my grandfathers razor and the gillette I bought off e-bay, well I chose the inexpensive Merkur Hefty classic and by inexpensive I really mean not the $100 merkur vision, which seemed just a bit excessive right now.

I have however invested quite enough money into this endeavor for now and need to give it a go with the materials I have ordered. Which include some Merkur blades and some shave creams.

But I figured that rather than give it a go. And maybe have a bad experience because of the quality of the razor and write it off.

I should instead try it in depth and then make my judgements based on some time spent with the new equipment

So here goes...

Stop the madness

2005-12-27T22:35:00.000-05:00

scheerfotos24092005 034_thumb
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So you can see here what happens when you get so sucked into the world of shaving that you just start buying up brushes in the pursuit of the perfect shave.

This guy has maybe gone a little too far, and the bizarre bit is this is only a small part of his collection.

How to get the perfect shave.

2005-12-26T09:37:00.000-05:00

One of the things I got for X-mas was a new shaving brush, my old one having gotten pretty much worn out.

I have been shaving with a brush and soap now for the last year and I like it better than using the foam that comes from a can. Aside from the positive aspect of not using an aerosol can, for the environment, the lather feels and smells better to me.

So this x-mas Bookworm got me a new brush and also printed out an article for me about shaving and how to enjoy it more. Now here's the irony, I learned form the article that it seems most people buy a nice razor first and then a shaving brush. Instead I bought the brush to be done with the aerosol can but continued to use the disposable razor cause it was convenient.

But this article she printed me out, said that one should be using a safety razor,, you know one of those old style razors that were popular way back before the disposable. And better yet if your a man of discerning "wet shaving" tastes you might use a straight razor instead and get that truly professional barber shop shave.

Well the safety razor I can see. But the straight razor brings visions of one morning I might be half asleep shaving, as often happens, and slit my own throat. Well as you can imagine that doesn't sit to well with me. Sure there are men who shave everyday with a straight razor, and survive it, but I'll bet there are quite a few trips to the ER in the beginning and I think the majority of those men started cause it was cool, not cause they thought anything about that quality barber shop shave.

So I think I am going to give up a little cool factor on this one and go with the safety razor, in fact I think I may even go with a Merkur, based on the info in the article that Bookworm printed for me, called "How to get the perfect shave."

And since I have to shave every morning for my job, well except the weekends when I give my face a break, I really did appreciate that she gave it to me.

So I am now passing it on to all of you, that read my blog in the hopes that you either read it or pass it along to the men in your lives. Boyfriends, fathers, brothers whatever, because I know I found some good bits in there. And the hopes that one day, shaving could be a more enjoyable experience and not a daily CHORE that I trudge through in the morning. Well I think everybody would really appreciate that.

And for more information one might visit:
the wet shavers messageboard

Corey greenberg talkas about shaving

Shaving Blog

Merry X-mas Everyone

2005-12-25T10:06:00.000-05:00

So every year for a few years at least NORAD has been tracking Santa as he makes his trek around the worl. NO this has nothing to do with anti-terrorism or anything like that, there is no extra money allocated into the defense spending for it rather it's well...

Click here to learn more.

While Squarepants has the Panda Cam, I have to admit that once a year dial into the Santa cam. Although I am not sure why.

Oh and here's why Norad does it

Vegetarian... TOOTHPASTE

2005-12-23T09:28:00.000-05:00

So over lunch a couple of weeks back it comes up that there are animal products in toothpaste. This fact I would then promptly forget, not really wanting to know which animal product it is.

Then last week I bring in a new freelancer who is a vegetarian and for some reason I ask, "oh what toothpaste do you use?" THinking of course if she is vegetarian she must be up to date on the animal products in toothpaste debate.

Now, why on earth I thought that I have no idea, I just figured Vegetarians end up doing a lot of research cause there are quite a few products that have animal products in them you would never think would have them. A la the toothpaste question.

She says "crest" I say "oh, doesn't that one have animal products in it"

"THERE ARE ANIMAL PRODUCTS IN MY TOOTHPASTE! What animal product do they think is going to make it clean my teeth better!?!"

So then I try to let the subject drop and go back to work, wishing I could take back the moment, when I told her there were animal products in her toothpaste. (filter wasn't working that time)

Not really knowing enough about it to let her know what it really was only that I heard there were animal products in there, I suggest she do an internet search later.

"Toothpaste Ingredients

A major point to understand in reference to toothpastes is that glycerin can come from pig or cow in addition to plants.

Crest says they will be going to use glycerin from a vegetarian source in the future, which means that it is made from animal ingredient right now.

Sensodyne uses animal (beef).

Colgate has a list of the toothpastes that they make which are vegetarian. Click Here to view the letter from Colgate listing the toothpaste product they produce made with vegetarian ingredients.

Arm & Hammer baking soda toothpaste, no animal products (have been environmentally friendly for over 100 years, peta reports they do animal testing, though)

Tom's of Maine very environmentally friendly and animal FREE in their toothpaste.

Wow, the things you can learn on the internet...

Rockfish

2005-12-19T08:37:00.000-05:00

Rockfish
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

And so ended this years Striper season for me. One of these was mine, the others given to me by people also on the boat.

More on this later.

We used to have a house, once.

2005-12-18T22:23:00.000-05:00

House.jpg

Housein_theSnow.jpg
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo

Now, we live in an apt. a 2 bedroom apt. in Ghent, that we really don't fit into. Tomorrow morning we are going to look at a 4 bedroom apt.

Anybody, even bookworm and I should be able to fit into a 4 bedroom apartment. And I can't wait to find out.

I am really excited by the idea that we may once again have neough room for our stuff.

Even though we have been working on getting rid of stuff, it seems as though we may never get down to enough stuff to fit inot a a two bedroom apartment.

So...

Maybe we just need to get a bigger apt. It could be we need a 4 bedroom apartment and while we will continue to get rid of more stuff. We will have enough space to put it away in the meantime and can go back to having people over for various social activities.

Like game night, amateur poker night, and the occassional just hanging out / wine / beer drinking party.

TraderJoes in Newport News!

2005-12-18T22:13:00.000-05:00

TraderJoes.jpg
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

On many of our journeys to washington DC, Bookworm and I would make sure to stop at a Trader Joe's This picture is just one of those times.

But NOW we've discovered there is a Trader Joe's in Newport News...

NEWPORT NEWS ?!? what gives!

Why on Earth wouldn't they put it in Norfolk ?!? What is in Newport News that convinced them to locate there? Is it close proximity to both williamsburg and Virginia Beach. Is Newport News, the midway point. Just close enough so that people from either local would go.

Well we will be going for sure, and probably this week! Maybe we can meet some of our good friends while we are there.

I never know what to say or do...

2005-12-18T15:31:00.000-05:00

Keith_n_leah.jpg
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

My Mom just called to tell me that Keith, who was the twin brother, of my little brothers wife Kelly, was killed last night in a car crash. "T-boned" she said, "He died instantly..."

I can't even imagine what that must feel like; to hear that your brother was killed, much less to hear your twin sibling was killed. Especially in such a way and when he was so young.

Funny thing for me to say he was so young, am I that old...

At times like this I am always at such a loss for what to do, what to say.

You think of calling, to let them know you care, but what will I say. And I am sure they don't want to recount the tale again. And won't they feel pressured to tell me what happened, after all I did call...

Right now I think I will give them some time and some space to deal with the whole thing.

But I want to do something, something to let them know I care about them, cared about keith, care about how they are feeling. Something that will last.

And here was a guy that was always helping other people. Taking care of his siblings, and even people that were in no way related to him. So what do you do for him.

We'll probably send flowers to the service, but they won't last much beyond that. And even if they do what do you do with them all.

I am not sure there is a heaven, but if there is, I hope he's in it. He's earned his place.

Off the crossbar ?!?

2005-12-14T22:09:00.000-05:00

Ronaldinho

Going to the lion King...

2005-12-12T22:23:00.000-05:00

For Kelly's birthday one of the things we are going to do is go to the
Lion King

And I for one can't wait!

Everyone has their own styles

2005-12-10T20:45:00.000-05:00

European_whiteTrash.jpg
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

I like to think they did this on purpose and that the window is some sort of artistic statement.

But I only think that because I was in Europe, If I had seen this in america I would have thought they were trailer park for not fixing the window.

Instead in Europe I thought it was art.

why ?!?

JavaTheHut

2005-12-10T20:43:00.000-05:00

JavaTheHut.jpg
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

This was, or could have been a great idea. But they didn't do anything with the execution.

There was no menu with Light side and dark side designations. Your lattes and cappucinos would be on the light side and your Espresso and black coffee would be on the dark side.

Oh, there was so much they could have done with this, even the logo could of course been done better.

Instead we got this Java the Hut, a drive through coffee stand that fell flat on execution.

Welcome to America, get your standard Wall Art!

2005-12-10T20:40:00.000-05:00

Wal_art.jpg
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

What irony in that I think many people go to Walmart for their standard household items.

Get your groceries, get your entertainment, get your clothes, get your wall Art.

If you need it you can get it here!

Smart Choice, smart car!

2005-12-10T20:39:00.000-05:00

004_2.jpg
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

I liked this photo, even though the composition isn't the best and the cropping, well whose cropping.

But in the image it looks as though this couple is happy they have that car, or at least it does to me.

Welcome to Belgium, Brugge that is.

2005-12-10T20:35:00.000-05:00

Brugge_11.jpg
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So I go all the way to Europe and what do I do. I buy a disposable camera to shoot images with...

The Next trip I would buy a digital camera to shoot images with. But here are some from the archives. Click on the image to flip through my photo blog.

Ter Driezen, Turnhout Belgium

2005-12-10T20:23:00.000-05:00

TerDriezen_04.jpg
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

I like many others in this world I am quite sure spent some time at Ter Driezen. In fact here is a photoblog image from one of those people
The beauty of staying at the driezen besides "au GUST" (which is another post entirely) was the company I worked for previously put me up there so I got to Belgium on the company dime. Thanks little d for doing that. Nor really, thanks.

Click on the image of the room to see more images of the Driezen

Drinking and fishing

2005-12-10T11:58:00.000-05:00

I know there are people out there who drink beer while they fish. AlthoughI am not one of them, I am not sure why, as I do like both drinking and fishing. But instead I split the two activites and try to enjoy each of them individually appreciating the differences they hold.

For instance:
Last night I went out to a pizza joint (cogans) and had a couple of beers and a mediterranean (sic) salad. Then this morning I got up at 5 am to go fishing. At 9 am when nothing was biting, I went back home and back to bed to make up for the sleeping time I lost to the night before.

Now I am beginngin to wonder if maybe I have it all wrong; perhaps the two should have been mixed, as all the old timers I talk to say "You have the best luck at night, this time of year." and "The striper only feed at night, you ain't going to catch shit during the day."

Trouble is this is also the time I like to do my drinking.

Black Eyed Peas - Review

2005-12-07T21:50:00.000-05:00

I have to say that I love the Black Eyed Peas I got two of their albums via a good deal from a friend. And immediately went out and bought another album. I currently have "monkey Business, elephunk, and bridging the gap" I Love them all. I think bridging the gap is my least favorite, But that is only because the other two are so good. However if I had to pick only one, I think 'Elephunk' is my favorite. Tracks like 'let's get retarded' in here, just get you dancing around your house even if you can't dance.

Would I buy them again?

Yes, I would buy all three of them again, but if I could only afford one I would buy Elephunk.

George Foreman Grill - invented by...

2005-12-04T11:24:00.000-05:00

georgeforemangrill.gif
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

What more can one say, besides he should have made some serious loot on that one. but here is the article for your perusal.
" The loggerheaded take note: George Forman did not create his namesake grill but was asked to endorse it by Michael Boehm, 61, who, while never having had his face pummeled by Muhammad Ali, knew a heavyweight promoter when he saw one. Ali, Joe Namath and even Joe DiMaggio were tapped as potential talking heads for the all-pervading product, originally named the Short Order Grill. But Foreman, "he's kind of nuts, and he loves burgers," Boehm says, explaining his logic for choosing Gorgeous George. "I found out that he ate them before every fight!" About 70 million units have been sold since 1995, so does that make the Illinois-based innovator a bazillionaire? As a salaried employee of the grill's original manufacturer, Taiwan's Tsann Kuen, Boehm was entitled to a modest semimonthly paycheck—no more, no less. Foreman, on the other hand, received 40 percent of sales in exchange for lending his moniker and eventually sold his name outright for a beefy $127.5 million (plus $10 million in stock options). Let's hope Boehm—who also invented the Hamilton Beach Steam Grill and Salton Sante Fe Quesadilla Maker—sees a better return on his top-secret, hush-hush Foreman Grill spin-off, a wonder product for the microwave due to debut soon. But if it sells like gangbusters don't expect the laid-back Boehm to enter the limelight. "I am fine with my anonymity," he says. "What can I say, I just like seeing hungry people satisfied."

You can find the original article here I brought the whole thing here cause I know some of you just won't click the links.

The best Albums (cd's) of all TIME

2005-12-03T12:43:00.000-05:00

I am trying to assemble a list of THE BEST ALBUMS OF ALL TIME that one should have in their collection. This is a list of albums that comprise the best of the best. What would your top ten be?

maybe you think...

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles
or
Born in the U.S.A., Bruce Springsteen
or
London Calling, The Clash
or
Are You Experienced?, The Jimi Hendrix Experience

but what about?

Nevermind, Nirvana
or
Thriller, Michael Jackson
or
Appetite for Destruction, Guns n' Roses

what would be on your list?

BucketHead

2005-11-29T21:56:00.000-05:00

What more can I say.

Buckethead!

You gotta check it out.

Famous people from Norfolk

2005-11-29T21:43:00.000-05:00

Norfolk

* Gary "U.S." Bonds – singer and songwriter.
* Plaxico Burress – professional football wide receiver for the New York Giants.
* Clarence Clemons – saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and former player for the Norfolk Neptunes football team.
* Tom DiCillo – film writer and director.
* Charles Driesell – aka "Lefty Driesell," famed basketball coach at the University of Maryland, College Park, James Madison University, and Georgia State University.
* Rob Estes – actor.
* Gary Fleder – film director.
* William Fuller – professional football defensive end for the Chicago Bears.
* Stephen Furst – television actor.
* Joe Garland – songwriter.
* Eddie Holman – musician.
* General Johnson – R&B musician.
* Timothy "Timbaland" Mosely – Hip-Hop artist and producer, longtime associate of Missy Elliot
* Wayne Newton – a.k.a. "Mr. Las Vegas"; singer and songwriter.
* Tim Reid – television actor, director, and film executive.
* Bob Saget – television actor.
* Deborah Shelton – television actor.
* Bruce Smith – professional football player for the Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins.
* Margaret Sullavan – actress and wife of Leland Hayward.
* Joe Smith – professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks.
* Scott Travis – drummer for rock band Judas Priest.
* Gene Vincent – trailblazing rock-a-billy artist recorded the huge hit "Be-Bop-A-Lula."
* Ernie Watts – composer, jazz saxophonist, and long-time touring member of The Rolling Stones.

Click here for a list of other famous people from Hampton Roads.

BANNED MUSIC

2005-11-29T21:09:00.000-05:00

So surfing the web I came across this page. It is a web page that has music made by DJ's that has since been 'Banned' or been squashed by the legal system in some way. Usually because they were sampling music from other musicians and those musicians told them they coudn't do it.

?!?!

Here are some DJ's, sampling your music, what do they possibly think that is bad is going to come of this. Other than opening up a whole new audience to your music and making them aware that you exist. I just don't understand what is so wrong with sampling to create new music.

I mean, how many people listened to what Jimmy Hendrix did with his guitar and then went out and tried to create the same sound. Or Stevie Ray or Eddie Van Halen or Les Claypool all I am saying is there has been a lot of instances of 'sampling' in music.

Now I have never been in the position personally where someone has sampled my musical work, so I guess I can't say for sure. But I think I would be excited to hear what someone else's spin on my stuff would be.

Sam's Moving day

2005-11-26T14:55:00.000-05:00

sam_moving1.jpg
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

Bookworm and I helped Sam move today. I have to say that this was much easier than when we moved ourselves. I think it is because after it was all over we could go home and take a nap.

mmmm, nap.

Next BLOG

2005-11-25T17:21:00.000-05:00

So I did what Mark says he does and hit NEXT BLOG. That's when I get a Dutch, maybe, german or something from that general area B Boy blog.

There's something weird about the word BIAATCH surrounded by dutch words.

how do you 1/3 something

2005-11-25T16:56:00.000-05:00

Say you have a collection of cookbooks and you take it upon yourself to cull some of them out. Now if I cut it in half then it is easy for me to explain this to someone by saying I halved my collection.

However lets say that I remove a third of my collection thus leaving two thirds of it. Do I then say I thirded it or did I Two thirds it. Do you describe what you removed or do you describe what you've retained?

So much good music...

2005-11-24T22:01:00.000-05:00

Tonight after we got back from our Thanksgiving day outing. I turned on the CD/DVD player (what does one call it, should I change based on what it is doing?) and put in a selection of CD's for the evening.

Tonights selection:
Quincy Jones "Q's Joint"
Ray Charles "Strong Love Affair"
Rosanne Cash "10 song demo"
The Robert Cray Band "Sweet Potato Pie"
LIllith Fair "Volumes 2 & 3"

Only the beginning...

2005-11-24T22:00:00.000-05:00

chips.jpg
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

I have spent the last week cleaning and organizing our apartment.

Part of it was in hopes of making bookworm and I more comfortable in our space.

another part of it had to do with making it presentable so that we could have people over for Game NIGHT!

Turkey day 9 am

2005-11-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

So today is turkey day. Each year I strive for the perfect thanksgiving, it is like my own little pilgrimage. I look to have a good day with good friends and family, where there is food to be eaten, and an activity afterwards. The activity might be a game (of the people playing variety) or a game on TV.

But something I always try to start with is the MACY's Day parade. Some years I have more success than others but every year I try to put together the magical combination.

Parade, food, fun.

Mmmm music returns to the house

2005-11-24T07:49:00.000-05:00

So now with this rediscovery of music and the joy of listening to it. I went out and upgraded the old equipment. I have had my CD player for well over 10 years and the DVD player is the sony playstation 2. So knowing that technology has advanced since then; I went looking on the internet.

Now some of you know that back in May I was looking at the S(uper) A(udio) C(ompact) D(isc) technology and trying to figure out how to get a player that would play them for less than a few thousand dollars. Well I found one that not only plays CD's and DVD's but also the elusive SACD's. So I bought it.

I suspect I have just entered into the audio equivalent of the BETA vs. VHS war, a long drawn out debacle the ended with the winner not being decided by quality but by marketing.

So now we have DVD-audio vs. SACD; and the debate is already going on over the web. Now I don't know which has the better fidelity or sound. And I am not that sure I could discern the subtleties in the highs that everyone else can. But I was very intrigued by the prospect of some Music recorded in 6 channels that would envelope you in the experience.

Tomorrow I am going to buy some SACD's; and the one cable I didn't have; a component video cable If only tomorrow weren't black friday...

Wireless headphones

2005-11-22T21:38:00.000-05:00

I need to find some wireless headphones, as Kelly doesn't always want to listen to the same music I do.

I know I want 900 mhz as opposed to infrared and I am thinking the 300 ft range ones are probably the way to go, as I will need the power to get through the walls of this old apartment.

any suggestions?

Floggin Molly - review

2005-11-22T21:32:00.000-05:00

Flogging Molly is a good band for getting ready for drinking and carrying on. This Irish punk / irish ballad band as I am going to call it, just made me want to open a beer in the morning and start drinking the day away. With songs that went from high energy to slow melodic ballad.

I listened to two CD's by them "within a mile of home" and "Alive behind the Green Door" neither of which was a stunner but both of which had enough to make me not totally regret the purchase.

Within a mile was more prone to the irish ballads, than punk rock, but "alive behind the green Door" was more punk than Ballad. So if you were going to get a Flogging Molly and only one Flogging Molly I wouldn't get either I would get the new album.

And now for my new rating system: Would I buy it again?

I don't think I would buy either of these albums again as neither of them were stellar, but they both were really good music for drinking beer and doing the dishes.

Off today, and all week :)

2005-11-22T20:26:00.000-05:00

So today on my day off I installed speakers through out the house. 2 in the dining room, 1 in the hall, and 2 in the studio, running a grand total of 300 and some odd feet of speaker cable. This plus the surround sound in the living room gives me music in the entire house.

The only bummer, the speaker in the hall doesn't work. But when I swapped it out for another speaker it is indeed the speaker and not the wiring. so instead of having to redo the wiring which would be a royal, I'll just have to get another speaker. hmmm maybe radio shack has one on sale...

It's nice to be listening to music again, I forgot how much I missed it.

Alphabetizing long overdue

2005-11-21T08:29:00.000-05:00

Alphabetizing.jpg
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So then comes the alphabetizing. Once a while back I had all my CD's alphabetized and organized (Have you met me?) so that they would be easier to find.

Then came the house sale and the move and the CD chaos, which has reigned terror on anyone wishing to find a specific cd in the collection.

Well today comes the alphabetization and the search for some more CD storage. As we have exceeded our current storage and the "temporary" overload storage. So since I am back in the market to buy new or at least new to me CD's it is time to locate some place to put these things.

But for now they are getting alphabetized into piles. well off to the alphabetizing.

Green DAY! - warning

2005-11-20T18:34:00.000-05:00

Perhaps your familiar with the band, maybe you listened to their album "Dookie", or the newer one "American Idiot". I am almost certain you've heard of them. But tonight I am listening to Warning, which I have never heard before and this compiled with what I have heard on the radio just confirms it.

This is a great band, fun to listen to, they have something to say they aren't just some pop(py) whoo hooo band, and they keep putting out solid albums. From now "Warning" to "Dookie" to the new(er) album "American idiot", I have liked all the stuff I have heard so far.

The Music, well it's rock and roll the way it should be, it motivates you to get off your ass and do something. With catchy beats that keep you going once your off your ass. Put this CD in your car and you'll drive somewhere and get there before you notice the time has gone.

hmmm, I will have to come up with a rating system I suppose...

Disclaimer - My musical meanderings

2005-11-20T18:16:00.000-05:00

disclaimer: I am not a professional music critic. I do not get paid to review music and don't claim to be a good writer either. So all comments about my writing will be summarily accepted and discarded in one fell swoop. It is what it is and I make no apologies nor do I apparently take well to criticism of it. ;)

Also note I am by profession an artist, which makes me prone to being bad at spelling, so you might have to wade through a bit of that as well. For that I apologize, cause there are some good spell check including applications out there. Unfortunately I am not using them as I am writing directly into the gui interface of my blog, probably cause it is easiest and now it is out in the open. I am apparently a little lazy as well.

And finally all the names of the bands, the albums, the producers, and anything else that is trademarakable is the property of who ever trademarked it. I am only using them temporarily cause it makes it hard as hell to figure out what I am saying if I don't use their names, but I am making no claims against towards or for any of it. They can keep it, I just need to borrow them for long enough to make my point, write my story, or ramble a little bit about them.

Thanks.

my Recent music Acquisition

2005-11-20T18:07:00.000-05:00

See_Deese.jpg
Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

This past weekend, a friend of mine had a "yard sale" in amongst all that there were quite a number of CD's and so he had a early preview of the yard sale items party. And a slew of CD's were had, I can't thank him enough for my recent acquisition and the price I got it for.

But what is probably the best part of the whole thing is he is going to take all the money he made off the CD's and throw it into the X-mas wish fund type of thing at his work. Now there's the holiday Spirit!

So in honor of this recent acquisition and the spirit in which it came I am gooing to randomly (i.e. not regularly) post some thoughts about some of the CD's I am listening to.

WHY ?!? some of you might say, well because I am now back on the look out for good music, and I thought by posting some of my thoughts on whaqt I am listening to, I might get the occassional; "oh you liked that, then you'll love this band." type of thing.

Probably just wishfulful thinking. But even if that never happens maybe I'll turn someone else on to something they didn't listen to before.

Where the hell have I been ?!?

2005-11-20T18:02:00.000-05:00

Recently I realized I have forgotten about blogging, well not really forgotten it but really more of a not prioritizing it sort of thing.

I have had so much going on that Blogging just wasn't happening. And isn't that just when you should be blogging when you at least have something to talk about.

Like the Holidays - Thanksgiving right around the corner and X-mas on it's ways. Good stories there

Like fishing - it IS Striper season! Need I say more

Like Music and the rediscovery of music! - there will be more on this.

Like work - well there's a lot going on there but I shan't be blogging about it. Just know I am in a good place there.

The Jeep - But since most of you could care less about the jeep, nothing more about that.

Anyway I could go on and on but instead I'll try to get back to the blogging more frequently.

Back from Orlando

2005-11-03T19:12:00.000-05:00

So I got back from Orlando wednesday, I had gone down there to help set up the tradeshow booth and check out what our competitors were doing with theirs.

When I got back wednesday night I was too tired to do much of anything aside from go get something to eat and then go to bed.

So Kelly and I went out to the Taphouse our new favorite place to eat. I ordered a burger and a beer and Kelly got a Quesadilla, and a ginger ale.

Then we popped a few quarters into the pool table and played a few games. The highlight of which was when kelly shot and sank two solids at the same time. ONe in the side pocket and one in the corner.

Nice.

Grand RE-Opening NOVEMBER 1st

2005-10-31T08:01:00.000-05:00

For those of you that know the Do-Nut Dinette. Know that it opens back up for business this Month. The grand re-opening is supposed to be This coming Week. They have totally cleaned up and redone the interior. Hopefully they haven't cleaned it and re-done too much.

Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

Monica's birthday flight

2005-10-31T07:28:00.000-05:00

Presentation.jpeg

Happybirthday.jpg

Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

So here we are on the flight ot Orlando. When we were getting on the flight there were four of us flying together. Nikki, Alyson, Monica and myself. So Nikki in the lead was looking for four seats together so we could sit together.

Well that proved difficult so we ended up sitting in the back. However unbeknownst to us while we were walking to the back, Monica peeled off and took one the seats in the front. She ditched us ?!?

Well this called for a little, creative retaliation. And since Friday was Monica's birthday, well there's still time to celebrate.

So the ladies of SWA put together a cake and we let everybody on the plane know that it was Monica's birthday.

Happy Birthday Monica.

Coaching Kids soccer

2005-10-31T06:46:00.000-05:00

So here's one of the things I have been doing that has kept me so busy I have been blogging lately. Which I guess is ironic cause I have so much I could blog about and then I find myself so busy that when I get home I just want to fall asleep.

This is the little kids soccer team I was coaching on tuesday nights.

My downstairs neighbors signed up to be coaches of their daughters team, and then felt they could use a little help as they had never coached soccer before. So they asked me to help out and well who could resist coaching a bunch of 4 year old soccer players.

Not me.

So every tuesday I would go out and coach them, well I was actually supposed to be the assistant but you know how that works out. They stepped back and I took over as they didn't really have any idea of what to do with the kids except make them run laps and kick shots on goal.

I switched that up and introduced teaching games. Had a great time and the kids did as well. I might teach little ones again next year.

Carrie.jpg

Terry.jpg

Cheer.jpg

Yea.jpg

Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

2005-10-08T12:24:00.000-05:00

Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.

2005-10-08T12:21:00.000-05:00

Originally uploaded by doornumbertwo.