Man, my PC is broken again.  Got me bummed out.  Dang thing eats hard drives for some reason.  So, I been messing with that for several days.  Ended up wiping it out and starting over, and losing lots of good stuff in the process too.  One of these days I will start backing up my drives.  Not this day though.

Friday we went to the Royals game again.  Good stuff man.  If they are only going to win one game in a series, it might as well be the one I’m at.  Plus, being a Friday, we got the bonus firework show too.  Bueno.

Saturday was kind of a mess.  To make a long story short, I ended up at the Brooksider at 3:00 in the afternoon for some inexplicable reason.  One thing led to another and I just kind of ended up there.  We (Munkirs, Martin, Todd and Brice) hung out and watched the horse race and the ball game.  What can I say, I like that new porch they set up.  It leads to excessive loitering.

Sunday morning we went and had breakfast with Doni’s parents at Perkins.  One of my favorite breakfast places.  Corned beef hash, pancakes, and hash browns.  Now THAT’S a breakfast.  Then I went back home and kind of tried to work on the broken computer all day.  I tried everything to keep from wiping it out, all to no avail.  That night we went to over and had a party at Susan’s house to watch the finale of The Sopranos.  She wasn’t home, but graciously lent us her HBO so we wouldn’t have to miss an episode.

That’s all I got to say.  I’m sure my level of disinterest is highly apparent, but that’s OK.  I’m serious, I got the blues over the whole PC thing.  Don’t want to see one, don’t want to type on one.  And the bad thing is, it’s acting kind of like the last one did before it totally died on me; so there’s a 50/50 chance I’m just wasting my time re-doing it all.  Sheesh.  In other random news, my second niece was born over the weekend, to my younger sister Sharon out in the wilds of Nebraska.  The niece-and-nephew count is now at four.  Crazy.  And, a happy (number omitted) birthday to Susan W!!

Yes I have been slacking on the updates already.  There are numerous reasons for my tardiness, all valid.  There was the holiday and all, and then yesterday my IP address got changed, rendering the website inaccessible all day.  What can you do.

Actually it’s been so long since the weekend I don’t really remember what we did.  I’ll do my best to come up with abbreviated synopsis though, for the sake of saying I made an effort.  We started off the weekend, as usual, by sitting on the deck at the Brooksider for a few hours.  After that, Doni and I went to a wine tasting.  There’s this new shop that opened up right around the corner from our house and they have free tastings every Friday night.  Highly recommended if you’re looking for entertainment some Friday night.  It was a bit crowded though, so we picked up a bottle of red and some cheese, went back home and enjoyed it on our back porch.

Saturday we went to the Royals game.  We headed out to the park a few hours early and did some tailgating with the Martins, Scottens, and Garcias.  It was an excellent day for a game; sunny, medium-sized crowd, and they even won for a change.  After that we headed down and hung out at the Brooksider deck again for a few hours, then had dinner at Jalapenos.  The plan was to play some cards after dinner, but as usual we ate too much and ended up just going home and going to bed.

On Sunday I’m not sure what we did… Probably hung out and just enjoyed doing nothing all afternoon.  About 4:00 or so we headed out to the Southlands for a party at Belanger’s.  Watched a little racing (ewwwww) and had some dinner, then topped it off with homemade ice cream.  We just might have to purchase ourselves one of them new-fangled ice cream makers.  Man that hit the spot, and none of that cranking and smashing ice stuff either.  Just pour in a bunch of stuff and flip the switch.  That’s got the making of a “poll”… Automatic ice cream makers: For Them or Against Them?

Monday we went to Smithville lake to celebrate the day off.  We spent the entire day lounging out with the Martins and Schmidts in their co-owned watercraft, the U.S.S. Schmartin.  The weather was cooperative for the most part, with the exception of a few Alberta Clippers that came blowing through.  One minute it would be 75 and sunny, then the temperature would drop 15 degrees and a 30 mph wind would kick up.  Wacky.  We’d planned on just spending a few hours on the water, but it was so nice out we ended up sitting out there all day.  Then we went out for a little Mexican food, then over to the Schmidt’s for some cards.  Just for the sake of documentation, we played 10-point pitch, boys against girls.  The boys won handily.

Greetings from mid-town.  We survived the storm last night; actually it didn’t even hit our house very hard.  The sirens went off, but presumably that was just to get everybody’s attention because according to the news there wasn’t any severe weather anywhere near us.  The webserver did experience the first extended downtime; I shut it down in case of lightning strikes.  It is on a battery and all that, but you can’t be too careful, especially with 75-year-old wiring.

The weekend rated pretty high on the entertainment scale.  We kicked it off by going to the Brooksider early on Friday and enjoying some time on their new deck.  (Note the clever and vague use of the adverb “early” in that sentence.  You just never know who might be reading this.)  The deck has been a big hit with us so far.  You don’t get the all the smoke like inside, and the weather has been great.  It’s almost exactly like sitting at a sidewalk cafe in Paris, but with the added charm of reeking dumpsters, lousy music, and cheap hamburgers.  Plus, there were some guys there giving out free hats; nothing starts off a weekend right like a free hat.

Saturday “the group” went down to Harlings to hear some Mama Ray tunes, but we took a pass on that option.  We went to the gym for a while, and then had lunch at Barleys Brewhouse in Overland Park.  (I don’t know that its really in Overland Park, that’s just what I call anything west of State Line.)  After that we ran several errands, and then caught up with everybody at Kelly’s in Westport.  Didn’t last too long there; it was too nice of a day to be inside, so we headed across the street to Harpo’s to sit on their deck.  That turned out to be a good choice; there was a band playing across the street that wasn’t half-bad, and there were several bachorette parties going on that provided some amusement.  Todd was making good progress towards getting a date with the mother of the bride in one group, but then crashed and burned.  (There are many omitted details relative to that little teaser-line there; Todd will have to provide them.)

Sunday I went to O’Dowds with Todd and Martin, and listened to some jazz up on the deck.  Same deal as Friday: very hot but nice to be outside.  We hung out there until 6:30 or so, then picked up some Chinese take-out and headed over to Susan’s for the weekly Soprano’s party.  I am thrilled to report that this week’s episode was much more engaging than last week.  The numerous websites and discussion boards dedicated to the show seem to support this opinion also.  Overall, I’d say the show doesn’t have quite the dramatic intrigue of a “Monday Night Raw” or a “Thursday Night Smackdown”, but I’m starting to get a certain affinity for it.

Another weekend gone, but it was well spent.  Friday night we went to the Royal’s game.  The game itself kind of stunk, but it was fun; good, cheap entertainment.  The fireworks were awesome too.  We’ve got season tickets with the Martin’s, so next time we go on a Friday night I’m taking my camera.  Probably won’t get any good pictures of the fireworks, as my camera seems to have issues focusing in the dark, but I’ll give it a try.

Saturday we went up North to Jeremy’s (Doni’s nephew) graduation party.  Ate too much, but it was a good time.  Of course the guest of honor was gone the whole time, but that’s to be expected.  Dang kids, what can you do.  That night, I went to a bachelor party for one James Munkirs.  Ahhhhh, yes, proof positive that you’re never too old to find that special somebody.  Sigh.  It wasn’t so much a “bachelor party” in the true sense; we’re too old and wise for that.  More of just a “gathering” at Paddy O’Quigley’s at 119th and Roe.  Yes, I went “out there.”  What the heck, it was a special occasion.  I made it up until the karaoke started.  Eeesh.  Plus, Doni kept calling me screaming, something about a bat flying around in the house.  I figured there was likely no truth to her rantings, probably just a large moth or maybe a sparrow.  Just in case though, Todd and I went to the Brooksider and hung out for a few more hours.  Why take chances.

Sunday afternoon, as I was making my lunch, there was a loud ruckus upstairs.  Investigation showed that we did indeed have a bat in the house.  Big fella too; wing span of about six feet, and two-inch fangs.  If I’m exaggerating, it’s because my perspective was skewed by sheer terror.  I don’t think I am though, this thing was huge.  Very aggressive too, and almost certainly rabid.  We did manage to open all the doors before retreating to the safety of the kitchen to plot our defense.  After several minutes, the most rational plan I could come up with was to ram my car through the west wall of the house.  Surely the resulting hole would leave plenty of room for the evil creature to escape, as well as provide us with additional living space.  After properly arming myself with a broom, I headed out to get my car keys.  Upon entering the living room, however, the bat was nowhere to be found.  So far he hasn’t made any repeat appearances; either he flew out the door or he’s hiding behind a picture or something, waiting to pounce.  At this point we are considering just abandoning the house and letting the bank take it, bat and all.  We were so shook up over the whole incident that we had to go sit on the deck at the Brooksider for the remainder of the afternoon.  About six or so, we headed over to Susan’s for the weekly “Sopranos” party.  I don’t care for the show so much, but we have dinner and lively banter, so it’s something to look forward to.  We had tacos last night; good stuff.  The show itself got thumbs down from everybody.  It was a tad too bizarre.

The links page has been updated a little bit finally; not with particularly interesting information, but at least all the links work.

We went to O’Dowds last night, just to wind down a bit and enjoy the tolerable weather while it’s here.  After several near-death traffic incidents and finally finding a parking place, we had an enjoyable time.  While I’m on the subject, this is probably as good a time as any to share my vast wealth of knowledge on driving.  This is not to imply that I am an exceptionally good driver, only that everyone else is exceptionally bad.  So, here is a comprehensive list of driving habits, and drivers, that annoy me.  Please make a conscious effort to avoid committing any of these heinous transgressions on your next trip to the store.

Phil’s List of Bad Driving Habits

1.  Going too fast or too slow
Next time you are meandering down the street, take an occasional glance off to your right.  You will notice several white, rectangular signs with big black numbers in the middle of them.  These are “Speed Limit” signs.  (Presumably named because they say “Speed Limit” at the top.)  Not to play the part of Captain Obvious here, but these signs indicate the approximate speed at which you should currently be traveling.  Bear in mind, this number could change frequently!!!  If all else fails, just take a look around you; if you find yourself consistently having to avoid running over the person in front of you, or notice a two-block line of cars behind you, you probably need to consider making a speed adjustment.  If you’re on the highway, go whatever the heck speed you want, I don’t care; just don’t do it in my lane.

2.  Any Johnson County driver
I try to be a little understanding on this one, as I realize this region is still new to the entire concept of motorized travel.  But come on now; when you laid down $40k for that fancy new horseless carriage, did it ever occur to you to find out how to operate it?  Read the manual!!!  That little lever on the left of the steering wheel?  It’s called a turn signal.  I know you probably don’t have a free hand, with your cell phone in one and your cigarette in the other, but at least make an effort.  Speaking of your cigarette, surely if you paid that much for a car, it came with an ashtray.  If it didn’t, you got ripped off.  What in the world possesses you to throw your trash out the window when there’s an ashtray right by you?  (Don’t answer that, I already know.)  All those pedals down by your feet?  Those are for speeding up and slowing down, and each should be used in different situations.  And believe it or not, all those differently shaped signs and pretty colored lights all have significant meaning.  The lines on the road?  You guessed it, they mean stuff too.  Go take a class.

3.  Plaza drivers, no matter where they’re from
For some reason I have not yet figured out, all common sense and courtesy ceases as soon as anybody hits the Plaza boundaries.  Those are city roads and the same rules apply there as anywhere else.  You can’t just stop in the middle of the road and gawk in the store windows.  There are other people on the road trying to get someplace.  If you are going one direction, and want to go a different direction, this would necessitate a “turn”, and consequently an accompanying “turn signal”.  See how that works?  Just like anywhere else.  Now about those crazy white lines at the intersections, and if you’re really supposed to stop at them like popular legend says… I’m indifferent on that one.  Go with your instincts.

Believe me, there are plenty more to list, but that will do it for now.  I want to allow ample time for these to propagate throughout the city, and then when all these have been solved I’ll move on to others.  There’s also a lengthy list of items that fall under “Things that bother other people but not me” that I could go over.