Deep in the Heart of Texas

I was born in Texas.  Shortly after that, the Dallas Cowboys joined the NFL.  I have no recollection of that being too young to notice, but my folks have always talked about what a huge deal it was in Texas at the time.  We moved to Pittsburgh when I was young.  At that time the Steelers stunk (and stunk badly!).  On many a Sunday back then we gathered around the tube and watched, rooted and cheered for the Dallas Cowboys.

All things change.  The Steelers started to win Super Bowls and my love for Pittsburgh sports teams developed and grew.  But the Cowboys still held a special place in my heart.  For a while now, that heart has been broken.  After the Thanksgiving Day loss to the Redskins, I don't know that it can be repaired.

Thing are bad in Dallas.  From top to bottom the Cowboys are in trouble.  The exception to that rule are the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders (they are the creme de la creme of NFL Cheerleaders!).  How many coaches is Jerry Jones going to go through to find the right one?  Is it the coaches or something (someone) else???  The Cowboys always seem to have talent, but it doesn't get them anywhere.  Tony Romo is a perfect example of this.  Enough is enough already!

It's time to get your cow patties together down there in the Lone Star State.  Get your hat on straight, adjust your spurs, and start to ride this pony right!!!!  Come on Cowboys, let's get these "little doggies" to the corral and start winning some games and maybe a Super Bowl or two like in the good old days!  Your break'n ma heart here in da 'Burgh.  I want to be able to walk into work Monday mornings, head held high, and say to my coworkers...."How 'bout them Cowboys?!"  It doesn't seem like I will be able to do that any time soon.

In time my aching heart will mend.  Through all the sorrow that I'm in......

Keep On Rolling!

I don't know what has got into me lately.  I have been on a rampage of painting and assembling a ton of miniatures as of late (sadly no gaming though).  I did a group of Eldar Guardians that turned out pretty decently.  Those who have seen them thought they looked cool.  I painted them in the colors of the Biel-Tan Craftworld.  I had previously done 2 jetbikes and a viper in the same color scheme.  The entire group goes really well together.  (Sorry no pictures - I can't really get the hang of doing that.  The pics NEVER look good.) 

I also finished a Khador battle group.  I did a pretty fair job on the warcaster and decenty on the 2 warjacks.  Something was kind of funky when I clear coated them with gloss.  I'm not 100% satisfied but I think the set still looks alright.

I started some Warhammer Daemonettes.  The paint scheme really wasn't working out.  I bagged them for now.  I need to rethink how I want them to look.

Over the past few days I have been going nuts on a set of Shocktroopers from Wargames Factory.  So far I am really pleased as to the paint scheme.  I am really looking forward to get these guys finished and assembled.  Sadly... it may be a bit before I can get them into any gameplay.

I have several more sets that I need to get to a bit down the road.  For now I am on a roll.  With no hockey on the tube, I seem to be using my time productively.

Off topic:  If you haven't checked out Face Off and/or Hot Set on SyFy you have really missed out.  Love these shows!!!!  Tuesday night!  Check 'em out!!!!

Up and Down in the 'Burgh

It's late September and I really should be ...sorry Rod Stewart fans ...no Maggie May here.  I really should be excited about the sports scene here in old Pittsburgh, PA.  Not the case.  Yet again the Buccos were only a tease for a little while.  Yep, they're fading fast in the latter innings.  The Steelers are off to a shakey start ...we'll have to wait and see.  No hockey.  If it weren't for the Pitt Panthers (not that they are lighting the world on fire), I'd have to actually start to look for things to do around my house (it's sad that I am actually excited about rooting for WVU ..."GO MOUNTAINEERS!).  In fact, I have looked over the old "Honey Do" list a couple of times as a possible way to better utilize my time ...which made me realize watching the Pirates blow another game wasn't such a bad idea.  Maybe October will be better.  Maybe the NFL regular refs will be back.  Maybe I'll refinish that old chair on the list.  Maybe I should start playing a sport myself.  Maybe not ... it sounds too much like work.

Eating Frenzy

In case you haven't noticed from several of my previous posts I love to go out to eat.  There is just something special about having a meal with family /friends and having had someone else cook it, serve it, and clean it up afterwards.  There is also the variety factor. ( Different places have different types of food).  There is also the choice factor.  (What to get from the menu.)  Eating out allows for conversation and relaxation.  (Unless you have the menacing "loud talker" near by.)  I recently saw that some restaurants have banned cell phone use - LOVE IT!!!  A restaurant in LA offers a 5% discount off of the bill if you surrender your cell phone to them during dinner.  Eating out - eat, drink, and be merry - that's the idea.

Sometimes it doesn't go quite that way.  Two recent experiences fall into that category.  Yesterday I had a hankering for Mexican Food.  Friends had gone to a rather new place in Delmont (PA) called Picante Grill and loved it.  So we thought we would try it.  HUGE MISTAKE!!!!  The waiter was the stupidest man in the world.  Within 5 minutes I was so frustrated with this person I walked out.  I have no intention of ever going back.  LEARN HOW TO TREAT A CUSTOMER, DOLT!!!!  Kudos to the Boulevard Restaurant (a few doors down from Picante) for coming to the rescue.  Great food, great service.  The Spinach and Feta Pizza was out of this world!!  Thanks Much!!!

The other misfire was with Arby's.  They took their breaded Jalapeno Poppers off of the menu.  I am  heartbroken.  I love those!!!!  I have written to corporate about it.  If you love them too - write to Arby's.  We need those poppers back on the menu!  Munja munja!

Proud to be an American

I don't know about you but these Olympics have been super great to watch.  Our kids (athletes) have performed amazingly well.  This year's American Olympians are a class act.  Win or not, they have represented the country well.  Watching them compete has been awesome!  Watching them receive their medals and hearing the national anthem played stirs pride and emotion in us as Americans.  Medal or no medal we are proud of our athletes for their hard work, dedication, commitment to achieve, character, and patriotism.  Thanks in a big way for a great Olympics to all of you representing the U.S. in the London Games from your fellow American!!!

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Just finished my second Isaac Bell book by Clive Cussler.  The Thief was great from start to finish.  I enjoyed the plot, characters, and the "detective work" of Isaac Bell.  The Bell novels are really refreshing for me.  As I long time fan of Cussler's work, I was starting to get a little tired of what seemed to me to be the "same old, same old".  There is something different about the Isaac Bell stories.  They seem a little more fresh.  Maybe it's the time period that the books are set in or the new characters.  I 'm not sure.  However, I am definitely entertained.  Thanks to Mr. Cussler for yet another great character and set of adventures to enjoy.  Don't worry Mr. Pitt, I'm not ready to set you adrift  just yet.  I am however ready to take another wild excursion with Mr. Bell!

Cookie Monster

I'm not happy at all.  I tried to go onto the Games Workshop website and was met with a message about allowing GW to place cookies on your computer and what they would do with the information they gathered and about sharing it with 3rd parties.  This was on their Forge World and Black Library sites as well.  If you do not "accept" the cookies, you can not access the sites.  Upon further investigation I have found that this (the placing of cookies) is a part of some larger EU law concerning the internet.  (I'm not sure if this is true or not however I have seen this cited in several discussions concerning this issue.)

I love GW stuff.  (I am currently working on some Eldar Guardians and a set of Daemonettes.)  I read Black Library Novels (Horus Heresy Novels are flippin' amazing!!!).  And some day when my ship comes in, I will buy some stuff from Forge World. BUT....as it stands now, I will have to wait to see the products at my (somewhat) local hobby shop.  Sorry GW...my computer and I are on a diet...NO COOKIES!

Car Craze

Just spent the last 2 weeks shopping for a new car.  I would rather have gone through a kidney stone attack than do this.  There is a reason why car salesman have the reputation that they do.  For the most part they act like vultures.  As soon as you're out of your car they attack.  Most won't even take a hint to back off.   I told several that the reason I wasn't buying a car from them was because of their behavior and left the lot.  I had one jack@$$  argue with me as to what car I really wanted to buy.  Another guy tried to tell me that safety ratings weren't important.  My favorite was an idiot that told me that they didn't sell that kind of car in PA and that I needed to go to Maryland in order to buy one.  One guy even tried the sympathy ploy that he did 2 tours in Iraq.  While I appreciate his service to our great nation, it had nothing to do with me buying a car.  What totally ticks me off is when they try to bring in the manager to close the deal. (*Note to car salesman....if we didn't buy it from you, we aren't going to buy it from the manager!)

I finally got a car.  It's great.  Perfect for me.  Rich @ Biondi in Monroeville , PA needs to open a school to train car salesman.  Rich was patient.  He listened.  He wasn't pushy.   When he didn't know an answer to a question I had he went and found out.  (*Note to car salesman....he did this instead of making up some bull$hit answer which makes you look totally stupid.)  Rich put you at ease and made the car buying experience enjoyable.  No hard sell, no shifty tactics.

Car buyers don't want to feel bullied or tricked into buying a car.  We want to feel appreciated and treated fairly and with respect.  We want to be listened to and have our questions answered honestly.  If you (car salesman) can just do these simple things, I'd bet you  would sale more cars.  (And people wouldn't loathe you the way they do!)

My other car has got about another year or so left in it.  As sure as I am sitting here writing this, I know that I will go back to Biondi and look up Rich.  At least I know with him that there will be no car craze to deal with.  I think I'll head out now and take the new car for a spin....break her in a little.

Back from the Fall(s)

Niagara Falls...slowly I turned step by step...inch by inch...alright, that was just for all you 3 Stooges Fans.  Falls were FANTASTIC!!!!  I hadn't been there since 1975 (on an 8th grade field trip).  It was great to go back.  Did the whole 9 yards:  Cave of the Winds, Maid of the Mist, Movie (thumbs down), Aquarium (don't waste your time), and the trolly.  If ya go you gotta go on the Maid of the Mist...way way way COOL!  LOVED IT!!!!  Stayed at the Sheraton on the U.S. side.  It was just OK!  (Great Starbucks and Fridays there though.)  The hotel was across the street from the Seneca Casino.  So we did some gambling and did the buffet one day.  The buffet was incredible!  On the way home stopped at Fort Niagara.  If you are a U.S. History buff this place is a must see.  French and Indian War, American Revolution, War of 1812 (200 year anniversary this year), and even a little U.S. Civil War...it's all there to see.  Wait for the cannon firing if you go, it is well worth it! They even had a brass monkey there! (See an earlier blog for a reference on this.)  Great trip, but as always glad to be back home.

LA Experience

Just got back from L.A.. Had a great time. My son won the "Play Like a Champion Sweepstakes". Major shout outs to all the great folks involved:  
Keith @ Gamer Grub. The stuff is AWESOME!!! Love it!!! All flavors are super! Love BBQ the best!  See all the flavors on their website.  Gamer Grub Thanks much!  
Brian @ Gunnar Eyewear. Great time on the Gunnar Bus.  Can't wait for the Gunnars!!!  If you are a gamer, you NEED these.  Go check out there site.  Gunnar Eyewear
Everybody @ GAEMS.  Love the G155s.  They are AMAZING.  See them @ GAEMS Website
The Blvd Hotel and Spa.  Great stay.  Close to LA, Universal, Hollywood.  Staff was friendly and very helpful.  Would stay there again in a heartbeat!  Check them out @ Blvd Hotel and Spa
Sharkoon for the headsets.  Totally changes the whole gaming experience!  See them @ Sharkoon
Blake.  We had a super great time!!!  Thanks for everything!  LOVED noobz!!!!  Laughed my @$$ off.  Very funny!  If you have a gamer in your  life you totally get this film.  From the movie title to the gamer smack, swag, addiction...it's all there.   You gotta check it out when it comes out.  noobz Movie Also, can't wait for Gawd Bless America.  Thanks again...we really appreciated it!
Everyone @ Xbox.  Really enjoyed the media briefing.  It was an unbelievable experience.  One word: FANTASTIC!!!  Get the latest on their website @ XBOX
Totally enjoyed the ride to the premier in the MINI Coopers.  See them @ the  MINI Cooper website
Rob.  All the best to you!  Thanks for making us feel like a part of the whole thing!  Kick some in GEARS!!!! 
Julie.  You made the entire occasion fabulous!  We can't thank you enough.  It was a once in a lifetime experience.  Truly remarkable!!!  Thanks for your kindness, patience, attention to detail, and all of your effort.  You are WONDERFUL!!!!
The entire E3 experience was unforgettable.  I still can't believe we were there.  So much to see, do, take in.  It was radical!
If I missed anyone, I am sorry!  Don't think that we don't appreciate all you did.  Thank you from all of us.  GREAT GREAT GREAT Time!

In Search of the Hen

Not long ago I was reading a book in which the main character talked about stopping at a pub and having an Old Speckled Hen.  This sparked my curiosity.  I searched a few sites online and found that several folks said that Old Speckled Hen was one of the best beers that they had ever had.  I had to find out for myself!  I searched several places locally and found the "old girl" at a place called D's in Monroeville (PA).  (Shout out to D's - great selection of brews on tap and in bottles!)  The first "Hen" was smooth as silk and the taste was incredible.  Talking with D's local version of "Norm", he recommended several other British brews.  After sampling a few, I went back to the Old Speckled Hen.  While I'm not quite ready to gather a flock of the Hens just yet, having one a little more frequently seems just perfect!

Before Madness

It has started already...the feeling...I know it is coming.  March Madness.  The time of the year that I completely let myself indulge in one of the things I enjoy most...college hoops.  The other night I watched Pitt-USF.  Pitt looked awful...can they get to the Dance??? The UNC-Duke game was awesome.  It's too bad more games aren't like that one.  I've got it in me again.  The Madness...let it come.