CruizerBlog

Last Day

Today is the last day of the fair. :( Oh well, it had a good run, as usual. Christina and I went back today because we had leftover ride tickets. i feel weird now, usually being the oldest person in the lines. As well as the tallest. But it has yet to stop me from riding them. My brother-in-law also apparently rode his dirtbike in tonights motocross challenge. He was at one time the one of the best, if not the best contender in the state, but that was back in highschool. Now, the only time he rieds is at the fair motocross. We didn't want to spend the $12 on tickets for one race, so we just stood outside the grandstand, and listened. He came in third, which was better than last year's 15th.

So I bid Adeu to the Porter County Fair, until next year good friend. But now, it's Lake County Fair time.....

Demo Derby

Just recently got back from the Demolition Derby. Mind you it's 1:25 AM. Tonight it ran extra long, it started a little after 9, and ended at 12:45. That's along time for a demo derby! Which is also why I buy tickets for the second show, and not the first. Here's a list of the events.
4 Elimination heats
1 Powder Puff (women's heat)
1 Bomber class (compact cars)
1 Ultimate class (Chrysler Imperials)
then the Final Feature.

I did not like how things ended up. Here's why:
*Fat's Towing was not in charge. Fat's has always done (as far as I can remember) the track officials and judging. They had another group. This group sucked.
*This years officials did not pay attention to the track as they should have been. I could be wrong, but the rule used to be, 2 minutes with no forcable hit, and you were out. There were cars that would sit for 10 minutes, and then start playing again, because no one ever saw them. There were cars that would hang up on each other, and the officials just let them be. Ten minutes later, when they finally broke free, it was OK.
*This year they had no actual judges. Fat's always had some sort of points/scoring system that would determined 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. This year, it was "how loud could the audience scream." Which one some people won by popular vote, not by their use and method on the track.
*Disreguard for the rules. When a car catches fire, it's automatically disqualified. Period. Except tonight, when the whole crowd favored the guy in the 1970's Challenger (who the F in their right mind would use a muscle car for a derby??). He cought fire, the crowd boo'd when he was disqualified, so they let him run in the Final Feature.
*Powder Puff final 4 in the Final Feature. Due to the general lack of women drivers, they generally get their own special feature called the Powder Puff. This is a feature that goes until the last car running. THEN THEY'RE DONE! This year, they took the final 4 of the powder puff, and put them in the Final Feature. It just so happens that the winner was also the powder puff winner. Now this is OK by me, to have a woman winning, but don't make a special feature for them to the last car running, and then put them in the finals!! Fat's would have never let this fly.

They made a specail announcement
"This is the first year a woman has one the feature!" Yeah, because it's the first year you let the women INTO the feature!

Now don't get me wrong, I still loved it, but I gotta vent about what I didn't like...

Sickness

I spent yesterday morning sick, so I stayed home from work. Went to school in the afternoon. And I am done for 3 whole weeks! Hurray!! This class just sucked.
Went to the fair again yesterday evening for supper. I'm killing my diet, but on the bright side, I haven't actually gained any weight. I am still eating the Nutri-Grain bar for breakfast and lunch.

I've come to the conclusion that I think my digital camers is dying. I've had it for almost three years I think. But I pulled up the pics I've taken at the fair so far, and alot of the dusk pics came out really blurry, as if I slowed the shutter speed or something. And I didn't. I'm quite upset.

Combine Demo Derby

Went to the fair last night to watch the Combine Demolition Derby. I tell you what, that is about the most hillbilly thing I have ever seen, and it was freaking awsome! The first ever sold out show for a monday night at the grandstands. In fact, they even added 500 more seats around the track, and sold them all out within 2 hours. 2900 people in all.

There were 15 combines, 5 of which were from my hometown (go figure). 2 of which I graduated with (go figure again...). 3 heats, with 5 combines a piece, and then a final heat, with 6. I've got pictures, but I'm going to put all the fair pics up sometime next week.

Weekend Update

Had a fairly exciting weekend. emphasis on "Fair. " lol Went to the fair again friday night to spend time with some out of town friends. Then sat morning, my fire dept. had fair duty, so I was there from 10AM until 6:30PM. At which I left to go to a party. We only got 4 calls that time I was at the fair, and only two people went to the hospital. One was a girl who got bucked off a horse at the horse area during a show, and the other was a 14 year old girl who passed out in a Class A Hazmat suit (I'll get to this one in a bit.) We had one golf cart on fire, oddly enough it was our departments assistant cheif's cart! And another was for "man down" which turned out to be kids playing dead and making chalklines around them.

So about the kids playing dead, and the hazmat suit, they were both related to the same deal. Saturday was tobacco free day at the fair. The chalklines were representations of how many Hoosiers (Indiana patrons) die each day from tobacco related causes. They claim 28 people a day die. I find that VERY hard to believe as this would wipe out the entire state in pretty much no time at all.
These people were also running around in costumes promoting their cause. One costume being a Class A Hazmat suit, which is NOT to be worn without proper breating apparatus! But since these people were stupid, they stuck a 14-yr old girl in there with no breating equipment. These suits are designed to not let any air in! So after about 2 hours, this girl passed out from dehydration, and lack of fresh oxygen. She had sweat so much she actually stopped sweating, and she went into hypervetallation, as she was breathing 40 times a minute. She was also being a pain, because when the medics came, she would not talk to them. They ended up loading her into an ambulance and hauled her off to the hospital. I was watching everyone work on here, and I said "Funny thing is, everyone that is over there helping this no-smoking advocate is a smoker. She's not, and she's the one on the ground!" Talk about irony.

I run out of title names...

So I got rained on while attempting to mow the lawn yesterday. The sky turned black, and I started screaming: "I'm not done yet! Don't you dare!" It was so dark I could barely see the row I had just mown. Then it started pouring. So I packed up and ran inside, already drenched. 3/4 of the lawn was done, good enough for now I guess.

I've lost more weight. I'm down to 198! I can't remember when the last time I weight less than 200. I'm actually fitting into clothes I had ballooned out of! It's wonderful! But the fair starts tonight. I can't wait to go, I love the fair. Well OK, I love the Grandstand Events and the food. The food which will kill my diet. So I have to pick and choose what I want, and eat in moderation. Suck. I'll prolly gain weight this week.....

Server Suckiness

So I have this 6 year old desktop computer that a friend gave me. I decided I was going to use it as my server, as I had no other use for it. Well I have been working on it for about a month, or so it would seem. I keep getting a stop error: "Stop: 0x0000007B INACCASSABLE_BOOT_DEVICE" when I try to load Windows XP or 2000 (it currently has 98 on it). Well I finally figured out, and I don't know why I never cought this before, as I thought I checked, the computer lacks the required amount of memory. It's supposed to have 128MB for XP or 2000, and it only has 88. How the hell you get 88, I'll never know.

Anyways, anyone know what kind of memory a 6 year old Gateway takes?

School Sucks a rats...

OK, so my english class sucks really bad. I so far, have written two papers. The first being a Library Research Paper, and the second, I just handed in today, is a Field Research Paper. Both of them over the same topic, Motorcycle Safety. Both of them at least 5 pages long. Now for next Monday, we have to write Synthesis Paper, which is a combination of library research and field research. But we cannot repeat what is on the other two papers! If we need to use what is in one of the other papers, then we are to paraphrase or summarize. We can' cut and paste. We are expected to "choose an audience," and do more research, both library and field! So basically I have to say for a third time what I've already said twice, but with a thrice way to say it! Argh!

Dunes Sunset Pics

I finally got the computer squared away, and the Indiana Dunes Sunset pics are up. If you like pictures of the sun, you'll love this, because that's almost all of what it is. I don't proclain to be a professional photographer in any way, shape or form.

Sunset Photos

If you like some or all of the images, and wish for a higher quality version, you can download the HQ (1600x1200) .zip file HERE.

Monday News

OK, so now I need something to stop the spamming of my comments. As I recieved like 76 last night. From 3 different addresses.

Anyways, I've started my own diet plan, and it seems to be working out quite well, as I've lost 12 lbs in the last week! Where, I have yet to figure out, but the scale tells me so. My new diet goes a little something like this: A Nutri-Grain bar for breakfast and a can of O.J. Then another Nutri-Grain bar for lunch, and a sensible dinner. Lately, I've been hooked on fresh vegetables and chicken. I eat only one portion, nothing oversized, and I don't go back for seconds. This is new to be because, well, I love to eat. I have this problem, I'm either starving, or stuffed. There's no inbetween. I used to eat until I was stuffed, because otherwise I would be starving. I am generally hungry all day now, but getting used to it. I eat a breakfast to get the metabolism going, which I never used to do, because it made me hungrier before lunch and I would snack mid-morning. I've pretty much cut out anything that's not good for me; ice cream, pop, greasy foods, most breads, donuts, candy, etc.

This is going well, but it's going to be hard this week because the county fair is starting thursday. And I LOVE fair food. I'll just have to eat in moderation, and only the items I really want. All this, though, is getting ready for Disney World. Because when I get there, I plan on pigging out around the world at Epcot!

Drive In

I love the Drive In theater. Tonight we went with another couple to the 49er Drive-In Theater. I am sure glad we still have ours. Even though I only go about once a year, I'd miss it if it was ever torn down. Mainly because I pass it every morning on my way to work, and it's just alot of fun. Tonight we took the truck, parked backwards, and set up fold up chairs and enjoyed the shows. Playing was I,Robot and Spiderman 2.

Serenity

The heading pic that you see was taken by me last night when Christina and I went to the Indiana Dunes State Park to watch the sunset. I have a whole series of pictures, but for some reason my computer here at work is telling me I am out of disk space, even though I am not. So I can't set up the pics and give ya the link, just yet.

news stuffs

So I have decided I want to change the website around, as well as the weblog page. Except I don't know what I want to do with it. So that sucks.

If you see anything changing or not working here, this is prolly why.

School Still Sucks.

I got my Library Research paper back yesterday. Yeah, I suck at writing. C+ (I didn't know college professors still used the "+" and "-"). Oh well, I didn't expect a whole lot really (especially since I spelled his name wrong!). Maybe I can bump it up with my Field Research paper.

I submitted a survey to a bunch of motorcycle forums, and got 282 responses! Like WOW! If you wish, you can look over the results of the survey HERE.

The rough draft is written, and has been looked at by my peers. Now awaiting to hear back from the professor.

Riding Away

Well not only did the contents of my backpak end up all over the road on the way to work, but I had fun going home as well. It seems that when the weathermen say it's not going to rain, that means it'll pour! I left work early to try and beat the rain home, but do you think I made it? Nnnoooooooooooo! When I got into town, it just started pouring.

Well, I suppose that's better than getting rained on the entire time...

Bad Idea

I've come to the conclusion that when riding your motorcycle to work, you don't wanna zip the sides of your backpack to meet at the top. Because the bag likes to come unzipped, and all the contents fly all over Rt. 20, and then get run over buy a semi.

School work

In case any of you care, HERE is the Library Research Paper I wrote for my summer English Comp class.
I haven't gotten it back from getting graded yet, so we'll see how we do.

weird stuff

So I'm at class, waiting for the prof., and I am talking to one of my classmates about the little ordeal last night. I mentioned that we had shot off some 3" mortars, and he goes "The ones that sounded like cannonfire?" I was like "Yeeeah..at about 8:30?" He says "Yep, that's about right." Well turns out he lives about 4 blocks from me. And his parents live about 2 blocks the other way. It was kinda funny.

Fun With Fireworks

Last night turned into a mildly interesting evening. My neighbor, Adrian, come over and says he's going to shoot off one of the 3" mortars he got. I had let him borrow my launcher. So I go out back, and it's all set up in MY backyard (he doesn't have a whole ot of room in his). He lights one *blam* up it goes, *BOOM* pretty showers of purple sparkles. Now mind you the neighbors on the other side were lighting them off as well, just not ones as big. Matt and Shawn come walking around the corner of the house: "Somehow we figured that was you guys."

So now we have more people, Adrian says he's gotta shoot off another one. He does. *Blam* up it goes, *BOOM* pretty showers of purple sparkles. Now mind you we're right in the middle of town. The neighbors on the other side are still shooting off theirs (puny little mortars you can buy at the store). Adrian's got the itch now (once you pop, you can't stop). *Blam* up it goes, *BOOM* pretty showers of purple sparkles. "Save some for my birthday!" Lidia, his daughter exclaims. OK, so he puts every thing away. I go back into the house, as I was in the middle of making supper. A few minutes later, I see a cop drive by really slow. I yell out the back door "Adrian, cops in the area." Matt and Shawn were outside haveing a smoke, and they come in and tell me about how this fat lady comes walking up the sidewalk:
Fat Lady: "You guys live here?"
Matt: "No."
Fat Lady: "Well you need to stop shooting off fireworks, my daughter is trying to sleep!" (mind you it's only 8:30 in the evening)
Matt: "I don't live here"
Fat Lady: "Well the smoke is comming from your backyard."
Matt: "Listen here bitch! I told you I don't live here, I am visiting a friend!"
Fat Bitch: "Well if you don't stop I'm calling the cops on you."
Matt: "Are you that stupid? I DON'T LIVE HERE!"

About three seconds after Matt tells me that story, "Look, Cops are here."
*DING DONG*
Me: "Hello"
Cop: "Hey, you lighting off those big fireworks?"
Me: "Nope, I'm cooking supper."
Cop: "So that wasn't you that lit those two big boomers off?"
Me: "Nope, not me." (Hey I didn't lie, I didn't light them, nor did we only do two)
Cop: "You're kidding me. This is the third house I've been too, and everyone keeps telling me it's the guys next door."
Me: "Well, why don't you try next door?"
Cop: "Oh, I suppose. Hell, I was two block away when those went off, they scared the piss outta me."
Me: "They are pretty cool, aren't they?"
Cop: *walking away* "Nobodys getting in trouble, someone called and complained, and I just have to ask them to stop."

I'll give you three guesses on who I bet called and complained.

So apparently Adrain saw the cop show up at my house, and ran out back and hid the mortars and the launcher. When he got back to the front, the cop was walking up to his door. Adrian, as well, denied any knowledge. When the cop was leaving, to go to the NEXT house, he said again how nobody was gonna get in trouble. So Adrian just fessed up to it. He felt sorry for the cop having to walk to every house like that. Cop just said next time, take it out to the country somewhere. Then apaprently they talked about how you used to be able to light off fireworks anytime, anywhere for at least a week before and a week after, and no one complained about it. Yeah, people are stupid and mean now.

Double Entry 2

The other reason I like the 4th? Because I get to drive the firetruck all over East Porter County doing parades. Playing with the sirens, honking the horns and pegging kids with candy! Yep, that's what it's all about!

Double Entry 1

When you have to build your own launcher for fireworks, who needs the store bought stuff??
I have 3 favorite holidays; Christmas, Halloween, and the 4th of July. And I go all out for all three. This year, I spent a little more than I wanted, but it was well worth it. Spent sat night launching fireworks with the family, and sunday night with my friends. And next weekend, we'll see a couple firework shows, hopefully!