Summer curling

Thursday we are off to Pittsburgh and the summer bonspiel called Tropicurl. Even though we are going, only one of us is curling. Mrs. is resting her back for the summer so she will be providing moral support, taking pics and perhaps having a glass of wine or six.

This is the first trip to curl in Pittsburgh. I hear they do a great job with getting the ice ready and they started that process today. They have their own scraper this year. Also hear that hanging out on the deck overlooking the river (not sure which one) is a lot of fun as well. Hopefully the weather will be good.

Already scouting out brew pubs and the like to visit. I want to try and make a trip to Primanti Bros. to try out the food. Need to do some draw scoping to figure out which games to win or lose.

As always it will be throw the rock and see what happens. Sure there will be updates and pics posted to FB.

Later,
JH

New car

Not really this one but it looks kinda like this. It will be a darker blue with the racing stripes. Did not get the British flag on the mirrors.

With my current work gig, there has been a lot more driving than normal. So decided it was time for a new vehicle. My 1992 Isuzu trooper has done well but it just isn't trustworthy for a two hour drive back and forth to NJ. We kinda started car shopping about a month ago. Then the "cash for clunkers" bill was being talked about. So, stopped for a bit and waited to see what happened with that. Lo and behold they are willing to give me $4500 for my truck. That is a deal that is too good to pass up.

Part of the deal is that you have to buy a new car with better mileage. No problem since the Trooper is rated at 15 mpg. The new car thing was a bit tougher. Need something for basic transportation so why not pick something interesting. Hence the mini.

Test drove a couple of them, one with a 6 speed manual and the other with automatic. I really wanted the manual but Mrs. JH may need to drive it once in awhile so we went with the automatic.

Anyway, we "built" the car we wanted and it is ordered. Got all the bells and whistles that were needed - fog lights so the old guy can see at night, cruise control for the long drives, comfy seats for the same reason and racing stripes cause they just are too cool.

Now we wait till the CFC thing kicks in and the car gets here. Should be sometime in August. Mrs. asked me the last time I got a new car. Really had to think about that. Bought the Trooper used in 1994 with a trade in on the RX7. That was new in 89 or 90. I think after that was a Mitsubishi Gallant around 91. So a good long time since a new car has graced the driveway, at least one that I have owned. Of course, with Mrs. job she gets a new one every couple of months.

Anyway, this may be the last car for quite some time. Until I get too old to drive it or they finally come out with that jet car we have all been waiting for.

Later,
JH

Off the air

I guess I have been off the air for a bit. A lot of driving and conference calls and all that work stuff.

We also lost Poodle. He was a good boy but just went down hill really fast. Vet thought it was probably a brain tumor. He was mostly blind and could not really walk at the end. Would take a step and then fall over, struggle to get up. Just no life left in him. He was only ten. Young when compared to Domino who we lost at 18 and Bomps who is still going strong at 20.

Was thinking about how we came to call him Poodle. We named him Snickle and somehow that morphed into Poodle. That was what he answered to when we called him. Bonspiel gets called Bomps on a regular basis but she answers to almost anything. Domino was always Domino.

The kitten, who is getting huge, will answer to Skippy but also Stinky Feet. Yes, who knows where the names come from.

As Mrs said the other day "He is not poor Poodle now but happy Poodle".

Later,
JH

Baseball and Pseudo-baseball

It has been a long time since I have posted about baseball. But the weekend brings the thing I hate most about baseball, interleague play. I get it, they want to generate interest in a rivalry between two teams that don't play in the same league. Makes sense for the Yankees and the Mets, Giants and A's. So what great rival are the Phillies playing, Toronto Blue Jays. Whoop de frickin do.

The Phightins don't really have a close to home rival in the American league. So, they simply rotate around against the American league East. Toronto, Baltimore and Tampa Bay. Sure there is some history there, Joe Carter 1993, Rays last year, Baltimore ??. How about we play our cross town rival instead. Right, they are in Oakland now playing the NY Giants.

At least the Muts are playing the Yankees and hopefully get a beat down. Because the games count in the standings! Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Don't even get me started on the designated hitter.

Later,
JH

The weekend

It will be a whirlwind this weekend. We are heading off to the City of Brotherly Love for a wedding. Normally weddings are okay but this one involves a curler. There will be a bunch of other curlers there as well. I know one thing, when a bunch of curlers get together a really good party usually breaks out.

We are headed down this afternoon to meet up with Prez Andrea of the LBI CC. Then we are off to dinner at Buddakan. Saturday we will hang out, probably head to South St. and hit Tony Luke's for some fine fare. The wedding is Saturday evening. A brunch on Sunday morning then hit the highway. Amount of time without drink in hand probably about 3 hours.

The Belmont is also this weekend. Need to find a tv close to the wedding which is at 6:30. The top three - Mine That Bird, Charitable Man and Chocolate Candy. Take it to the bank.

And in case you have not noticed, the Phightin's are in first with the Muts slipping away.

Later,
JH

new camera

Because MF says we only ever take pictures of the cats, here are some of the flowers with the camera.

Wait, how did that get in there???