Some random insights from the past few days... (Comments)

Sushi, eh? I like tuna and salmon, so is it anythi… Jeff Roberts - Jun 4, 2008 Sushi, eh? I like tuna and salmon, so is it anything at all like that? Yes and no…there are flavo… HarryC - Jun 4, 2008 @Jeff Roberts: Yes and no…there are flavors and textures in the sushi that simply aren’t there once the fish is cooked. ...

2008-06-25 · 1 min · Harold Combs

On "Relaxing" Vacations

So, I read somewhere once (citation be damned!) that people with active, physical jobs should enjoy relaxing vacations, and that people with sedentary jobs should try for more active, involved holidays. Hoo boy. Sign me up for some bricklaying. So, in the short few days since last Friday, this happened: Friday: We put together the kids’ swing set: . Assembly time: 8 hours Sunday, we did church and Father’s day, including a trip to Malone’s restaurant for a sampling of excellent sushi from the Aqua Sushi bar. Man, it was awesome! ...

2008-06-25 · 2 min · Harold Combs

On "Relaxing" Vacations (Comments)

Suddenly I’m feeling vicariously productive and fu… Jeff Roberts - Jun 3, 2008 Suddenly I’m feeling vicariously productive and fulfilled!

2008-06-25 · 1 min · Harold Combs

Review: Swingers (Movie)

Wow. Imagine Vince Vaughn, minus 30 pounds, plus lots of hair, still unable to act. Then imagine a vapid plot, based around hollow, vapid Hollywood people. At that point, you’ll have Swingers, a picture of the walking id that is maleness in America in the 1970’s…er…I mean, the 1990’s in Hollywood. From reading the trivia on imdb, it looks like Writer/Director/Star/Gaffer/Wardrobe-Mistress Favreau based the plot on his own life when coming out to L.A. ...

2008-06-21 · 2 min · Harold Combs

AWESOME weekend!

What an awesome, awesome weekend it was! Productive, surprising, exhausting, with both family time and some time to myself. Friday night Whitney and I watched Juno the indie hit from last year that made Ellen Page an ingenue phenomenon. A nuanced film, it has the same deep characters and self-deprecating humor as Little Miss Sunshine. We both liked it. Saturday was busy, as most Saturdays before Autocross are for me. But man, was I motivated–up at 6:30, TODO list in hand, ticking-off chores. It freaked-out Bella just a tad: “I get freaked out when you’re…organized.” We were the snack-bringers at the final Coach-pitch game of the regular season at 4, but we decided to head into Lexington to buy Bella some new running shoes and head to Sams. ...

2008-06-16 · 3 min · Harold Combs

AWESOME weekend! (Comments)

Sounds like a full and fun weekend. I’m trying to… Jeff Roberts - Jun 1, 2008 Sounds like a full and fun weekend. I’m trying to decide if my class will go feral if I leave it next weekend and go with Sandra to pick up Kate from camp.

2008-06-16 · 1 min · Harold Combs

Inexpensive sports car, whither thou?

I had a thought today, a shining inkling of something spectacular, something different, something…red. That is a Porsche 356 spyder. Yeah, the thought goes like this: I’m commuting in the automotive novacaine known as my 2000 Toyota Camry. It’s smooth, quiet, and reliable. On the weekends, I’d like to have something to drive and autox. I love my E30, but it’s far from a classic sportscar–it has body roll and understeer like the sedan it actually is. So, does it make more sense to get something less compromised and more focused. (And, more classic?) ...

2008-06-13 · 1 min · Harold Combs

Inexpensive sports car, whither thou? (Comments)

Saw an ‘87 Porsche 924S on craigslist available fo… Jeff Roberts - Jun 5, 2008 Saw an ‘87 Porsche 924S on craigslist available for trade… :-) (Later that night, Jeff’s front door slams open and there stands Whitney, fuming…) okay, and here’s a list of some things i want: `new running shoes `pants that fit `clothes that fit that arent a size Large `to lose weight instead of gain it when I spend two hours a day working out `not to be used as a human napkin `dyson `new washer/dryer `new dishwasher `new refrigerator `cabinets that arent taller than i am `new cabinets `tilework `in-wall double oven `gas cooktop `hardwood `new paint `wood blinds `solar panel `compost pile `locally sold Allen’s Naturally `Local Whole Foods or similar `no fireplace `basement ...

2008-06-13 · 1 min · Harold Combs

Review: Kung-Fu Panda

So, Kung Fu Panda This 92-minute computer-animated extravaganza has all the elements of a great kids-and-adults flick: Slick looks, top voice talent (Jack Black, Angie Jolie, Dustin Hoffman), a fat-kid-makes-good plot, and merchandise-friendly anthropomorphic animals for characters. The plot centers around a vision of the sage in residence (a Galapagos tortoise, natch!) who has a vision that the big bad, Tai Lung will escape from his prison to once again ravage the Peaceful Valley. In response, he thinks it time to choose the Dragon Warrior, who will gain cosmic power to defeat evil–and Tai Lung, the leopard on steroids. ...

2008-06-09 · 2 min · Harold Combs

Review: Kung-Fu Panda (Comments)

You did not just review “Kung-Fu Panda”. Chuck Fouts - Jun 1, 2008 You did not just review “Kung-Fu Panda”. Yep. Tomorrow, “The Rainbow Brite Movie”

2008-06-09 · 1 min · Harold Combs

Weekend: Placido und Fugue in H-Major.

Every summer, my step-son Joey leaves us to go live with his Dad in Louisville. We get to see him alternate weekends, and we get 1 week of “vacation” during that time. To give him a send-off this year, we took a mini vacation down to my Mom & Dad’s Friday through Sunday. I had a very good time, though I did eat nonstop. Mom’s house is a little like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory–lots of omnipresent chocolate goodness. What’s not chocolate is sugary or sugar-free (Dad’s Type 2 diabetic). ...

2008-06-09 · 3 min · Harold Combs

Memorable quotes from yesterday...

- “Your situation reminds me of that Spaceballs line, ‘…evil will always triumph because good is dumb.’” - “You’ll work yourself to death by being a nice guy” (Upon being told there was a purpose in life) - “Yes, there is: Helping people, and this has nothing to do with that.” - “Did you forget your Teflon suit in that last meeting?” * * * I wonder: Am I equipped to handle this amount of B.S.?

2008-06-04 · 1 min · Harold Combs

Memorable quotes from yesterday... (Comments)

I like #3, that’s classic. Has a bit of an Airpla… Jeff Roberts - Jun 3, 2008 I like #3, that’s classic. Has a bit of an Airplane-ish “but that’s not important right now” flavor.

2008-06-04 · 1 min · Harold Combs

Quickies

The weekend was a blur–running Joey up to Louisville, taking Maria down to Mom & Dad’s Saturday, and lunching with the church at the Cane Ridge Shrine Sunday afternoon. The weather powers-that-be missed the forecast–each day was beautiful in Georgetown. Today, I’ve too many meetings, and much too much to do…yep, must be back in 082. * * * Coolest part of the weekend? Working on a New Holland Hay Baler with my Dad. Just like old times…grease everywhere, gears, chains, clutches. I’m just a tad more mechanically capable than I used to be. That was my Father’s Day present…hanging out with my Dad.

2008-06-02 · 1 min · Harold Combs

New office...new assignment...whew...

Well, after 10 months, I’m right back on the same floor in the same building I was in for 6 years. I’m sharing a 12’x12’ office with a boisterous guy, Patrick, and have a terrific view out the window onto “downtown” Lexington (such as it is). This building also shares a parking lot with Del’s building, so we don’t have to drive to pick one another up. Good all around, though I’m now much farther away from the other guys on the printer I need to be working with.

2008-05-30 · 1 min · Harold Combs

New office...new assignment...whew... (Comments)

Welcome back. Now we’ll see if I get sent to the … Jeff Roberts - May 5, 2008 Welcome back. Now we’ll see if I get sent to the 4th floor or what. muhahaha

2008-05-30 · 1 min · Harold Combs

Payback: Whitney's 10-year reunion

So, last Fall, I drug my beautiful wife to my 10 year high-school reunion to her great amusement, disgust, indifference, and consternation. This past Memorial Day, it was my turn. Ten year reunions are pretty egotistical things, everyone showing-up in their best (rented) sports-car, displaying the hot wife/husband they caught, and boasting about the great job they’re using to climb that ladder of success. Old flames are to be properly derided like a decade-old divorce proceeding. Old social pecking-order is to be re-established, if only for one shining moment of decoration and falsity. ...

2008-05-27 · 3 min · Harold Combs

Payback: Whitney's 10-year reunion (Comments)

Ah, yes. They’re talking about a 25-year reunion t… Jeff Roberts - May 3, 2008 Ah, yes. They’re talking about a 25-year reunion this year, and one friend is trying to arrange an alternative reunion…I just. Don’t. Care. Anymore.

2008-05-27 · 1 min · Harold Combs

There I was, at the top of second gear....

or “Man, do I need a swaybar” Six runs on a ~70 second course where you hit 60mph before a 10mph right-hand hairpin. YEEEEEEHAW. It was a good day, except: I came in second, I forgot to pack lunch, and I forgot to pack sunscreen. I’ve a nice beet-red thing going on on my arms, legs, and face. I think a front swaybar (at minimum) is in my future, if not a full STX-compliant wheel & tire package. I’m a tad tired of playing on (and destroying) my all-seasons. ...

2008-05-27 · 1 min · Harold Combs

Review: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Let’s get this out of the way first: This is an unnecessary movie made solely to bilk folks out of their hard-earned money. It stars an over-the-hill actor (Harrison Ford) and features a contrived plot line with holes like Swiss Cheese. It’s also great fun, laugh-out-loud funny in places, well-paced, and genuinely exciting. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, since the whole thing feels like National Treasure 2 and 1/2, right down to the treasure map and the hokey history references. ...

2008-05-27 · 1 min · Harold Combs