So on Tuesday night, the night of the first full day back from Bristol I had trouble sleeping, I ended up on the couch so that my coughing, snoring and tossing and turning wouldn't bother Jenni. The next morning I had this much deeper voice from this coughing. It got worse through out the day. I had Thursday scheduled off and ran a bunch of errands, then raced downtown to have lunch at Bynum's with Jenni. Then back on the errand train until she got home. By then my throat was raw and unfortunately me Dr. is off on Thursdays, I drank hot tea and tole some OTC cold and flu meds.
Friday morning, I could only croak answers to Jenni as we were getting up to go to work. I had a severe sinus/fever headache and I decided to stray in and rest, besides I was waiting for a call from the Dr.'s office to let me come in and be diagnosed. I called Bruce and Phil to say I was not capable of talking to customers in my Lurch voice, I left Phil a message as Lando Calrissian in my "Billy Dee voice, then opted out of the Colt 45 Malt Liquor. Almost done I then called Jo to tell her we would have to reschedule the Shelby Diner lunch extravaganza with her and Becky. When she answered her phone I said in my best Barry White, " Hey, Baby. I know you were looking forward to it but I won't be able to go to lunch with you today, we'll have to do that on Monday." After the slightest pause she said, "O.K., but who is this?" After a laugh that sounded like a semi hitting the warning strips on the breakdown lane I explained in my best Chuck two octaves lower that it was indeed throat boy, and that I was bagging the day for health reasons. I went back to sleep only to get the call for my Dr.s appointment at 8:40, they wanted me there at 9:40. I hit a ten minute sleep mode on the phone then made my way to the shower and got there right on time, so that I could sit in the aptly named waiting room and read the May Road and Track from cover to cover. Eventually I was ushered to the exam room, and got a pretty good glaze over my eyes to go with the wheeze before a nurse came in and weighed and took my blood pressure. I'll have the glaze and wheeze platter, and a water please. Less than a minute after my arm was pressure crushed in a rubberized velcro pump apparatus the Dr. came in, I said in sarcastically deep and dulcet tones that that was quick. "He said that I got to do most of my waiting in the waiting room."
From there I went to Meijer and dropped off my med, 'scrip, and being on the starving side of things headed out to get breakfast while they took their 20 or so minutes to drop the 14 pills in a bottle and slap on a label (that's about 1.3 minutes per pill) I called Jenni as I was driving to Burger King for a croissandwich and she said it's 11:40, nobody is still serving breakfast. I had not looked at a clock in the office, since time is suspended in there I avoided the disappointing truth until Jenni woke me to the fact that it was almost 2 hours to get a 4 minute exam. While still on the phone I signaled and then pulled into Lenny's for breakfast anytime. I got the oldest waitress in the world, a 4 and a half foot tall waif that weighed as much as my breakfast tray when she brought it to me, and had a rough and scratchier voice than mine. She was nice and sweet and got my order wrong, but I ate it anyway and never told her of the error. I asked her how long she had worked at Lenny's and she said, " This one? Since November, and one in Terre Haute for over a year prior to that, and other ones before." She said all she did was this and sit at home, that her Grand kids told her to get out and kick up some dust, but this was the extent of her exciting life. Naturally I tipped big (80%) after that pick me up. As I was leaving she made a point of thanking me, I said listen to those Grand kids and left. I then went back to Meijer for my meds. I got home just before 1:00, took a book outside and sat in the 75° sunlight and read until I fell asleep for about 15 minutes. I came in and slept some more, then Jenni was home. Still feeling like dreck I went to the bowling alley and knocked out enough of the pins to stay above average, then home and more sleep, Now, since I got you all caught up, I head off to work in a few minutes deep voice and all. Baby.

Chuck Pace © 2007
|

From Mary Poppins
Written by Robert B. Sherman
With tuppence for paper and strings,
you can have your own set of wings.
With your feet on the ground,
you're a bird in flight!
With your fist holding tight,
to the string of your kite!

Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height
Let's go fly a kite
And send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let's go fly a kite!

When you send it flying up there,
all at once your lighter than air!
You can dance on the breeze,
over 'ouses and trees!
With your fist 'olding tight,
to the string your kite!

Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height
Let's go fly a kite
And send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let's go fly a kite!
What could I possibly add to that?
Chuck Pace © 2007
|

What goes around comes back happy!
The crew form the Busch Race seats. Chuck Pace © 2007
We made good time from Corbin Kentucky to 435 Mass Ave, Indy. We met up with Cheryl Q. and the kids at the Walmart Gas station there in Corbin where John got out of the RV and into the Odyssey for a continuing vacation in Gatlinbug TN with the whole Qualkenbush family. The timing could not have been more hollywood, she was in line to get gas, we drove in right behind them and around to the other side of the islands to get ours as well, we had to be close to burning vapors by the time we shut down. After the Qualkenbush's departure we pulled into the very parking lot where we stopped on the way down on Thursday night and made sandwich's and finished off the fabulous cookie rations that Kay provided for racing expedition, from there to the Chatterbox we made only one stop, so that our driver could make a pit stop, and then we were at the Chatterbox at 5:18. Jack and a squinting Joan were on the patio (Joan stopped squinting when Jack went to the car and retrieved her sun glasses), as was David the master of ceremonies, Mel and Kay arrived on either side of Jenni's arrival and we all shared a couple of Bristol moments with them, then two beers later we were back in the RV for the final leg of the journey. Rich's and the transfer of provisions, and camp gear from the RV back to our personal vehix. The trip now officially over, the first of many said Mike, the most recent of many for Rich and just another of several for me. It is always good in Bristol, and we have our camping neighbors and friends to thank for another successful weekend; Richard "Blockhouse" Reichert, his sons Paul and David, with Christie, David's wife to the North adjacent campsite, and Curtis and Mary Beth from Atlanta to the South adjacent campsite. That was a great time had by all. Today, tuesday is the get back in the saddle day for work and routine. It should be a good one too. If not you'll be the first one to know about it. Chuck the traveller out (for now).
Chuck Pace © 2007
|

Well the Car of Tomorrow (COT) seems to be a success. Even though the speeds were quite a bit slower than recent years, the competition level seemed to be above recent years too. There were only three or four retirees in a 500 lap event, enough cautions but nowhere near a record, and David Ragan, Juan (Johnny Montanna) Montoya and Robbie Gordon did everything they could to keep it exciting, one of the radio broadcast guys even called Juan the speed-bump. Between the three of them they were involved in all but a couple of the cautions in one way or another. After another good start, having Stewart, Kahne, Sadler, Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer on my team I was feeling pretty good about my chances, Tony led over 270 laps before having a new problem with the new COT fuel pump which is mechanical instead of electrical like in the traditional cars. The drive cable snapped under the drivers tunnel and he coasted around to his pits and went 35 laps down before repairs were affected, to bad for Tony, no one could touch him on the track, it took an equipment failure on untested systems to stop him, when the failure occurred there were only 7 cars left to be lapped by the 20, and I was in 2nd place in the fantasy league. Rich was 6th Mike was 13th and Travis was 17th. The pre race ceremonies were awesome as usual with four separate passes by the Jets overhead first all four, then two then one solo doing a wing wave, then the other two with a vertical burn over the track bowl. Those all followed the anthem and the card stunts. (Pictured Above)
Chuck Pace © 2007
|

We left Rich's at 12:29 headed for Bristol TN. At this point we've been driving for two hours. We are just a few miles south of Louisville KY, The trip has been uneventful. As expected Travis was the first to crash, He hit the showers a few minutes ago. Then at about 2:19 Old man Wilson hit the pillows as well. Conversation got pretty scarce after that I had time to think back to the evenings bowling exercise. Brandon had two of his seasons best games in one night and no better time, too the final game of the league. Then there was Melissa G. who had her personal best league game with a 142, which included her first league turkey. Brandon had his highest game in the final game of the ten for 12 league with a 137 and Travis also came to Bowl and bookended two games at or near his average with a 151 middle game. Oh and me the anchor with my worst game of 175, and a 184 and 176 to insure two games and series won to propel team Chatterbox One into 11th place and out of the gutter score wise.
That was last night, this morning after a stop over at a Wal-mart parking lot for a nap and driver change, (John will still get the points even though there was a change, because he did one full lap) we xontinued on to The Worlds Fasted 1/2 mile track. Speaking of full laps, I had to call Mike Wilson, who had to tab out from "Steak and Shake" or someplace last night so he could meet us at Rich's.
We've refueled at Sonic and are headed east to Bristol and Shadrack's campground.
More as the technology allows.
Chuck Pace © 2007
|

No matter how much you prepare, there is the last minute rush. This morning and a little bit after work and before bowling tonight I have to put together my Nascar/Bristol survival kit. I have been busy with a lot of other things and have barely got this started, and now it's time to get it packed. The plan is to head out for Eastern Tennessee from Rich's at around 3AM tomorrow morning, that should put us at Shadrack's Campground less than 1/2 a mile from Bristol Motor Speedway before noon on Friday. Like last year I intend to post from the campground. I have to get started with the packing now so this is a short prelude post. More later friends. Hopefully.
Chuck Pace © 2007
|

The new camera dept. with some of its fixtures, Chuck Pace © 2007
The store continues to change and adapt to the new surfaces, spaces and arrangement. The employees continue to adapt to the same thing, while many of the regular customer will walk right by the new camera location on their way back to the older ingrained area like Pavlovian Photographers. I even had one customer stop at one of my rare sojourns in the camera area and say to me, "Hey aren't you in the wrong area, aren't you supposed to be the cameras in the back?" I won't say who that was but he has the same last name as at least one of the Three Stooges. I thought, "There is that keen observational eye that most good photographers have", but said, "I am in cameras, the SLR's are right here behind me, see?" I say a rare sojourn because I've spent more time in the last two weeks moving, lifting, sliding, tilting, unstacking and stacking, stacking and unstacking, arranging and changing than I have in or around cameras, camera sales or camera customers, that's the way it has been for several of us, and of course sales have suffered, and commissions are omissions for the few who are commission pay based. I thought this would happen, and it looks like it will continue in some for or another even after the rearrangement is final.
Tomorrow after work its home to pack, then bowling. After that we attempt a few hours of sleep then dash down and over to Bristol Tennessee for Nasca r Racing in the fishbowl. Travis and Mike W. are joining Rich and I at the track, and our personal driver John Qualkenbush is driving us there in his motor home. I expect the place to look a little different when we return, but not as much as if we had stayed, since Rich has applied most of the muscle and construction savvy. Not to mention relocating all the hardware. I think most of the changes when we return on Tuesday will be of a location of inventory and equipment nature, with 80% of the grunt work being done, but 20 % of the staff already. The photos above are of Dan the Floor man and Rich's old office corner continuing to evolve. The inevitable change even comes to Roberts, it just had to take the scenic route.

The refurbished jewelry area, I wonder what Bob is looking at? Chuck Pace © 2007
Chuck Pace © 2007
|

Jenni's Approach, Chuck Pace © 2007
So while the old form was definitely out the window, I was able to upright bowl one game yesterday at the Sportbowl. It was a modest turnout, just about 15 or so showed to roll. Kay was there as was Mel, Rich, Mike Wilson, Brandon and Melissa (from the 10 for 12 league I'm on),Will and David of course and Jenni and I. There were a couple of others as well, but they didn't follow to Will's for dinner afterward (it's just as well, I don't know how the others got off the Island anyway). Then after the the 10 pin frustration was over it was off to Will and Dorothy's for food and fellowship. The Nascar race was winding down and we got to see Jimmy Johnson take the lead an pinch off Tony's corner on his way to the victory. Tony said it was just a racin' deal so I figure in a couple of races Jimmy will experience just a racin' deal on the other side of the coin. In the Fantasy league Phil Gibson was the big winner with 5 of his 6 drivers in the top 10, and is worst finisher 13th. I did the unthinkable and forgot my camera at home, so I let Jenni, one of the chuckpace.com staff photographers take some shots at the alley. I borrowed Jenni's camera and took the shot of Jenni's approach, If she studies this she can improve her game and form. Jenni took about 8 shots all together, ("Jenni took about 8 shots") an as I sorted through them I only found these three (including the study shot above that I took) to be site worthy, and Isince 'm rarely in my own photos I thought I'd just put up two of the three shots that Jenni took of me, indcluding the final one here of my best side (according to Jenni at least).
Oh yeah, standing tall in the formless form I was able to bowl a 132, still 18 under my 10 for 12 average, but I think I will do better on Thursday for the final weeks games.
Chuck Pace © 2007
|

From the Therapy session, the chick next to Erika is thinking,
if it wasn't for the icky ear wax, and the smell... after 5 Guinness'? Chuck Pace ©2007
Ericka Embry and Steve 'Stinky' Singleton hosted a pre-sing-a-long event at the Chatterbox yesterday starting at around 4:00, The official Chatterbox Sing-A0-Long came along at 7ish, so it was a private party of sort in a public place. I was a good time and cheap, they footed the bill. Steve and Ericka were passing out Guinness vouchers to the invited, unfortunately when you have a private party on St.Patty's day there are sure to be a lot of Pub Crawlers crawling in too, but they weren't given vouchers. I worked Saturday, so I didn't make it there at 4:00, Jenni didn't work yesterday so she had to drive in from the east side, on the way she stopped and captured John David from his humble abode. There I think I just won a prize I used humble and John David in the same sentence, Weird huh?
The usual suspects were all in attendance as you would expect, and Peter Park won the respect and admiration of all in attendance with his masterful pulling of the Guinness tap. A slow process at best, and very trying on the ever increasing drunken maul but he got every beer served. To which we can only say Slainte! Jenni and I headed out before the singing since we had bigger fish to fry, (which turned out to be Donato's Pizza and Wings) and when the feast was sat we watched The Prestige. A good and well conceived movie, featuring David Bowie (one of my favorite performers and character actors) as Nikola Tesla, one of my favorite historical characters. How can that go too wrong? This morning I got up before 7 and started my weekend chores, later there will be the Chatterbowling event at Sport-Bowl and then victuals at the home of Will and Dorothy Andrichik, then Jenni, Will, Rich and Mel have a return engagement at the alley again for league activities. I will see if I can roll and slide without ending up in a cast or emergency room because of the knee the went wonky on me on Friday night. The parties were fun, the day has promise and the wife is still sawing logs here at 9:42. Next task? Nascar League maintenance. See many of you soon, some of you later and a select few site only people in the ether! Bring your nets.
Chuck Pace © 2007
|

Well, I was hoping for another night at the kegling range like the one I had on Thursday. To summarize. I didn't. I abstained from all things barley or fermented and went out and tackled the first two games with aplomb, then near the end of the second game something sort of just clicked. We all know those moments. They are like the paradigm shift. When you know that nothing is going to be the same from this moment on. I fall short of saying epiphany but there certainly was a discernible instant when that was the old, and all this is the new. The exact moment was when something snapped in my left knee which is roughly 19 inches above my slide foot. It sounded like a green twig being snapped. By the third frame of the third game I could no longer hold my weight on that leg with the knee bent. I normally kick my back right leg back and around to the left as I slide, getting my center of gravity and body lower to the lanes upon release of the drilled orb. Well, the new look is a pseudo slide on the left and a short unbalanced hop with the right foot to keep my forehead out of the gutter. I couple of times I looked like a gooney bird flailing my arms in order to attract a mate, no to keep from toppling over the foul line and doing that whole header into the lanes thing. If I'd only known the extent of the evenings fun on the outset I probably would have made an evening of the St. Patty's Day Eve in grander style, and staggered out, instead of blowing an anterior cruciate ligament or medial meniscus and staggering out. I may have to see one of the Patels about my patella.
The team won the first game handily, lost 2 and 3 marginally, and may have taken series, I lost interest and focus during my experiments in upright joint bowling, riverdancing. Happy St. Patricks day to the lot of ya. See you soon.
Chuck Pace © 2007
|

From Right to Left, The Amazing Brandon, Travis Camera hog Melissa and Captain Chuck.
Chuck Pace © 2007
Last night was a big night for Chatterbox teams. Chatterbox One, the team I'm on won all 7 points against an opponent that might as well have quit or just not showed up, team 1-1. Unlike recent outings Brandon had very good games and series, Travis bowled two out of three over average and averaged a series over as well, Melissa had a ten over, and two under while wearing very cool retro "Bewitching" bowling shoes ala late 1970's (I could almost hear Dick Sergeant going "SAM!"), and I had a 534 series crowned with a 216 middle effort. Which astounded the little missus at home when I texted her the results. She gushed with praise such as "Not 2 shabby," and "Sorry my inflection Key must be broken." This was the first time since week three of the nine just completed that all four bowlers for Chatterbox One were simultaneously attending. We bowled well as a team, something I always suspected would happen. I even happened to pull off a team photo of, well the team. Then when all the accos were laid, it was back to the Chatterbox, as a staging ground to take John David home. Jeff Barber and Rachel were there and there was conversation and a round of amarula before the dropping off and eventual drive back to the World headquarters. Tonight I attempt to repeat yesterday's grand kegling experience and bring more texted praises from my biggest fan, critic and joy in life.
Chuck Pace © 2007
|

Monday it was 72°, Tuesday 78°, yesterday cooler and rainy, today 38. The rest of the week high to mid 40's. Next week starts out sweater weather or windbreaker weather again low 50's. Though there was the 70's anomaly, the cycle is about to change again, and spring is in the daffodils and buds all around my yard. Listening to, ''Season Cycle'', by XTC from Skylarking (Play Count: 3). The grass while still brownish is definitely greener that when we got back from Florida.
Season cycle going round and round
Pushing life up from a cold dead ground
Its growing green
Its growing green, well
Darling don't you ever stop to wonder
About the clouds about the hail and thunder
'Bout the baby and its umbilical
Who's pushing the pedals on the season cycle?

Summer chased by Autumn
Autumn chased by Winter/season cycle go from death to life
Winter chased by Springtime bring a harvest or a man his wife
Springtimes turning/its growing green
Its growing green, well
Darling don't you ever sit and ponder/darling did you ever think
About the building if the hills a younder/all this life stuff closedly linked
Where we're going in this verdant spiral
Who's pushing the pedals on the season cycle?
Round and round and round and round

I really get confused on who would make all this/is there a God in Heaven
Everybody says join our religion get to Heaven
I say no thanks why bless my soul
I'm already there!

Autumn is Royal
As Spring is clown
But to repaint Summer
They're closing winter down

Darling don't you ever sit and ponder/darling did you ever think
About the clouds about the hail and thunder/all this life stuff's closely linked
About the baby and its umbilical
Who's pushing the pedals on the season cycle?
Season Cycle
Darling don't you ever sit and ponder/darling did you ever think
About the building of the hills a younder/all this life stuff's closedly linked
Where we're going in this verdant spiral
Who's pushing the pedals on the season cycle?

Chuck Pace © 2007
|

Not Many Rushers for the Hour, Pre-Construction area. Chuck Pace © 2007
Just a little over a week into Super 70, I am excited to see the changes and improvements, I normally would take I-70 from the far east side to downtown and back after work about 80% of the time. Right now I've been on I-70 twice since returning from vacation, both times in the waning daylight hours after rush hour traffic would be long gone. The traffic has slowed a lot, and the work seems to be going pretty quick, but, we shall see.

Floored between Friday and Monday. Chuck Pace © 2007
As momentous as the Super 70 project is, the more amazing one is right down-town at Roberts. The laminate flooring has started to go down in the front, and the effect is immediate, the place looks warmer and more modern. Why shouldn't, I think that Bob and Rose took the old carpet from an Egyptian temple when Pharoah released the hebrews and set them to wander into the desert with Moses. I have started documenting this change too, and plan to present the store with a collection of shots when the process reaches fruition.

New Camera Central. Chuck Pace © 2007
I of course will keep you posted, so to speak.
Next we make bricks without straw, where's you're God now Moses?
Chuck Pace © 2007
|

Yesterday, almost as nice at Florida weather yesterday, Swingin'! Chuck Pace © 2007
Yesterday was a beautiful day, I grilled out and made a whole new experimental marinade for pork chops, yum. I will have to remember what and how much of what I put in that marinade. It was awsome. Then there was the Nascar race from Las Vegas. ? I don't know what happened. I led the fantasy league until there were only 19 laps left. That's when Jeff Burton's battery stopped charging and he started falling back. He was looking for a caution to change put the battery, unfortunately for me he got one four laps later. When poll sitter Kasey Kahne lost control and backed hard into the wall and finished his day, and mine. Congratulations to Ed Sipes for his fantasy racing win. So I really do know what happened, but I was looking forward to a another big win.
Today it's back to work, where they started putting down the laminate flooring on Saturday evening, I can't wait to see how much they got done.
Chuck Pace © 2007
|

Unfocused fun. Chris Difford and Mr. chuckpace.com. Jenni (blind-girl) Pace © 2007
So on our wedding anniversary last December 9th Jenni purchased for me Two tickets to the Chris Difford Show at the Music Mill. Seeing the grandness of this gesture I invited Jenni to join me at the Mill last night, the night that the tickets were for. I even let her pay for dinner since I paid for lunch yesterday at the Pub, and because she just got paid. That way she could truly say she took me to dinner and a show from one of my favorite Brit singer songwriters, and half of the writing and vocalizing genius of the group Squeeze (1978-1994). The only thing Jenni didn't pay for last evening was the focus-all to use with the camera when she took my picture with the half squeezer himself. The above photo has been sharpened to ridiculous extents but falls short of sharp. I don't think I'll ever get the opportunity to reproduce the moment though, I doubt that Mr. Difford, or his co-writing counterpart (Glen Tilbrook) will venture back to Indianapolis Indiana when the group re-groups in a few short months for a tour and CD release. There were only 31 people in attendance for his show. Even less than when Travis, Liz and I went to see Lloyd Cole at the Bluebird. Gran Bel Fisher from Salina Ohio opened for Chris Difford and played for 40 minutes with an exceptional guitar player named Josh (?). Gran Bel has a song on the Gray's Anatomy Soundtrack CD, which he played last night too (the song, not the soundtrack). The dinner at the Music Mill was exceptional, a bit pricey, but how many anniversaries can you celebrate three months to the day later and still get the full extent of a great gift and shared experience?
o.k. bed time 2:06.

Chuck Pace © 2007
|

Al Stewart Anyone? Nope. Renovation at Roberts. I started in 1988. The carpet on the floors had started a few years earlier. The show cases were old and wooden, the primary mode of merchandise display was gondolas in the aisles. We were a catalog showroom. Well lots of things have changed, and lots of things have stayed the same. By this time next week just about everything will be different. The changes when they do happen are usually dramatic. Like the building of the photo-lab, or the addition of the the warehouse an d loading dock. But the most sweeping (and mopping) changes are just about to happen. The carpet, which is so old and faded, is about to be replaced by laminate wood flooring. Bruce recently mad the comment that removing the carpet could cause a collapse in the building, he figures after 20+ years the carpet has become a structural member, a load bearing element. On the album Pyramid, The Alan Parsons Group aptly says, "What goes up must come down, what must rise must fall." Such is the case with the first managers office, come e-bay office come scrap pile yesterday. "Ch-ch-ch changes turn and faced the strain... " David Bowie. "Strange days indeed, most peculiar momma..." John Lennon.
The scary thing is how fast almost twenty years working at Roberts can be erased both physically and figuratively. The knocking down of walls and moving of cases makes tomorrow a new day with a new outlook, and something different. Of course in 6 months it will seem like it's always been the way it is going to be in a few weeks. Such is the nature of repetitive behavior and unchanging patterns.
Chuck Pace © 2007
|

This computer and software thing. This post and where it began and where it is now. There were times in the beginning when I wondered why bother. I have found that there is a very cathartic quality to posting here. I read some peoples blogs, and the internet community is their analyst, they bare all and brazenly tear down their wall. There is a small, very small bit of that happening here, but... There are things I will never post here which would be so therapeutic. There are also things I might say here that would be catastrophic. In a previous post I mentioned that I auto censor much of my mental output, well I am practiced at that, I am wizard at that. Jenni and I have an understanding, she has feelings and is allowed to ravage me and my psyche with them like Katrina on the Big Easy. I'm the big easy. I have feelings which are subordinate to her every thought, whim or mood, and to keep the peace they lay there in the massive auto-censor warehouse. Occasionally one or two get out, maybe even a days worth when the wind is blowing hard and the overhead door to the warehouse is open for a fork-lift of useless feelings delivery. But usually the weather is calm and the feelings are neatly packed away in emotional baggage compartments, and all is well outside the mental Crystal City.

Up and Downing, (The Corona Story). Chuck Pace © 2007
Already it is almost a half a week from my vacation. Well the last one not the next one which also promises to be awesome.
Meredith and David live in a second floor apartment at St. Lucie Apartments in Stuart. It is much smaller than the first and more expensive place they were previously those first two long, grueling years. They don't really have a balcony, but their stairs are theirs alone. I sat the camera on self-timer and ran past Meredith and drew from a Corona. As did Meredith, David was playing a Jason Mraz ditty and Jenni was playing closest to the door. Jenni was winning. I took several shots. I do that. The next night was our last night in Stuart, and I didn't get to take any more photos of my kids. As we got up to start the loading process and the saying goodbye process, and the leaving the 80°+ weather process, Jenni and Meredith ran into the gst bdrm and Jenni grabbed her camera, they were both in their jammies. I was confused, I was in my confusies. Jenni said "We're going to drive to the beach and take pictures of the Sunrise!" The door clicked, they were gone and I was wondering what I could and couldn't pack into the car. It turned out that there was very little I could pack, unless Jenni wanted to drive from SoEastFla to the Suwanee in her jammies without brushing her teeth or applying a synth-o-face over an already acceptable countenance. So I packed the Chuck only stuff, travel rolled the clothes then brushed, whizzed and waited. Chris was asleep on the couch, since we had displaced him and the cats from the guest room, David was asleep in the mstr bdrm and I put my three things in the cavernous boot on the bimmer and sat on the porch, and watched the sun rise over the apartments all alone. With nothing else to do I took some cat portraits, fooz ball table photos, and waited. Half an hour later they were back, Jenni prepared, Meredith woke David, who came out disheveled and only speaking Urdu, Swahili and Mumblese (I think he may have descended from Mumblasians), and soon we were in the car and backing out, Jenni was crying (the way I back out is always very emotional for all who experience it) and I stopped opposite the staired landing and told them that We Loved Them and Wished Them Well, Wealth and Happiness. Jenni sobbed again, once again nobody well wishes with more empathy, presentment and sentimentality than I, and combining that with the recent masterful performance of taking the bimmer from inert to backward mobility, it was indeed a deeply moving moment (pun entendre). At the first Service Island we stopped for Burger King breakfast, and I told Jenni that I would have liked to have seen the sunrise from the beach too, but I guess that was an especially poignant mother/daughter moment, so I don't begrudge. Still. I did get a few very cool Fooz Fotos. Top that Solar Gas Bag!

The next trip is a guys thing. I won't be driving, so there is very little chance I can elicit a teary fusillade with my backing prowess among the more stoic men. Rich, Mike (mention me) Wilson, Travis (oh, please, please mention me) DiNicola and I are riding down and over to Bristol Tennessee for the spring nascar races, with John Qualkenbush in the Mobile Home. It will be Mike and Travis first Bristol experiences, boo yaa!
Chuck Pace © 2007
|

There was a question asked at work. "Didn't you ever have an imaginary playmate?" Jo was asking Matt or Mike, it wasn't even directed at me. I waited a minute and then I said, "I never had one because my older brother would have beat him up everyday too, so as a (reality) friend I spared him that." That got me thinking about all kinds of weird pseudo normal things. Later I heard Matt say quick and dirty to someone on the phone, and I mentally leapt to... if the makers of Quick Books made software for money launderers wouldn't it be called Quicken Dirty? Then there was the old toilet humor rhyme that came to mind, you know it everybody does, its as universal as the dollar bill, I won't quote the whole thing but it starts like this, Here I sit all broken hearted .... That got me thinking that if you went to do a number two, and it didn't happen for you could you say you had a sham poo? Well my mind doesn't rest on a simple rhyme or pun, and I ended up revisiting the original again as though I were an engineer or educator, and this is what I came up with, "Here I perch cardiovascularly disincorporated, came to excise fecal matter but merely flatuated." I think it works on a more cerebral level, at least for a fart humor rhyme. This is the curse I carry with me all the time. Sometimes it blurts out, sometimes I auto censor and it stays and festers into something else, like bizarre dreams. Sometimes it fades away and I wish I'd made a note of it, like I do here. Now I know that there are those who don't buy the auto-censor thing, but trust me if you see me with a mischievous grin on my face I'm usually auto censoring, or at least diluting a thought for future "blurts." Sometimes I blurt anyway and someone's feelings get hurt or a beer or soda finds its way into a nasal passage or worse. Don't judge me too harshly though, I edit and censor more than you think, and I (almost) never hurt on purpose. I generally like people and am not a vindictive ass. Just don't be one to me or I may unleash an uncensored diatribe before I can be restrained. I've seen it happen and its usually ugly.
Chuck Pace © 2007
|
Oh, Corona Time!

The Rouges Gallery? Probably. Chuck Pace © 2007
Well another day is upon us. It is one cold be-atch of a day too,17°. This seems cruel and unusual punishment after a few days in Florida and Georgia. Because of the cruel nature of nature and the evils of a curved planet where the Northern Hemisphere is out of the favor of the Solar Deity for 183 days I have chosen only songs with Sun in them on my iTunes today as I recap day one back from warmer climes. Maybe I can curry special dispensation from the mighty Sun and get a warmer day soon. I praise the Sun Ra!
Listening to ''Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying'', by Rickie Lee Jones from Flying Cowboys (Play Count: 3)
Recapitulation: Last night after a day back to work, which was a fairly normal day for me, but apparently a grueling and busy day for Jenni at her work we both converged on the Chatterbox for fellowship and to catch up with friends not seen for several days.
Listening to ''The Sun is Gonna Shine Again'', by Gram Parker from Struck By Lightning (Play Count: 3)
There at the box the first person I saw was Bill Brooks who said he was just thinking back to the last time we saw each other, and wishing it had been longer ago. I agreed that we should have tried to keep that string alive longer.
Listening to ''Aint No Sunshine'', by Eva Cassidy from Pure Moods (Play Count: 2)
Also in attendance at the Chatterbox were DeAnne, Peter Park and David (it's like they work there), plus Jack and Joan, Mel, Kay, Rich, Eddie, Travis. Dory Pickett, Jody Frick and the inimitable Ericka Embrey. Ericka was in rare form for anybody but Ericka and very amusing . Oh yea, Mike Lamm showed up signaling the end of a good night (o.k.I kid a little bit) since it was time to go home and watch Heros.
Yes I long to be where the manatees deliver your mail to you.
More as time allows.
Chuck Pace © 2007
|

2,639 miles from and to my driveway here at the world HQ. Pieces of 5 states. Nine days. Half of which were travel days. Next time it's rental and airline for more time with the family. This time it was a shake down cruise with the G-Girl. I wouldn't change this trip, it was great, (I would extend it if I could, there is that, but it was right for the moment. Troubles? Very few. Very minor. A burned out tail light lamp that proved hard to find, but when I did I got two for 2.99 plus tax. The inevitable road construction, especially through Georgia (which I'm trying to get off my mind), and of course the Georgia drivers, who are definitely pushing Ohio drivers for worst in the US (several of the worst drivers in GA were actually OH drivers though, the ones who can't tell which lane is moving faster, of if there is a car next to them as they start to change lanes). That is all a primer for the Florida drivers, who are the most unyielding in the world, making everybody have to drive aggressively to survive or at least merge or turn. Luckily I was in a car with more than her fair share of spunk, and rarely had to make an issue of it, still it is scary driving in Florida traffic.

Charlie's in Stuart, one of many places to have a Corona. Chuck Pace © 2007
Another observation. Rest stops. Apparently Hoosiers have stronger, bigger bladders than any of their southern counterparts. With just three rest stops between Louisville and Indy it can be a very interesting 116 miles. Add about three more in KY for the 135 mile border to border I-65 experience and you start to see a trend. By the time you get to Sunny Florida there is a rest stop about every 20 miles, and on the Florida Turnpike (the very well maintained toll speedway) there are even signs that tell you how much Starbucks coffee you can drink at the current plaza and still make it to the next on without depending on your depends. "St. Lucie Service Plaza, 1 mile, Next Service Plaza in 9 miles," (go for a Venti, big boy, and buy a bag of Indian River Oranges too ya big lug). What would you expect from a State that looks like a male member, and is surrounded on three sides by water. Dang! I gotta go now just thinking about it.
The drive from Chapmansboro Tennessee to Old Town Florida takes just about thirty ticks shy of 12 hours, so that in both directions is nearly a full day of seat time, That' s with several stops and at least one sit-down meal each way, but still that a long time to butt still.
The 15 to 25 minute drive into work today seems a cake walk, maybe I'll down a venti before I go just to show that I've built up my bladder power on the way back up. Hey why aren't there any leaves on these trees?
See you at the Chatterbox, maybe I'll beat Brad Griffith to the head, nah I think Florida is waiting for his micro-bladder, I haven't a chance. Have a Corona ready for me DeAnne.
Chuck Pace © 2007
|

Tree Saps on Bent Banyon Drive. Chuck Pace © 2007
From the moment we arrived in Stuart Meredith wanted to take Jenni and I to see the Banyon Tree Drive. But the night we arrived it was too dark. The second day it was too busy and after bit of running and funning it was too late again, but the final day there we did get to go with Meredith and Chris. I must say that the trees were magnificent. I'm glad we finally got a chance to see them Meredith knew we would like them. Sadly for Chris he managed to aggravate some indigenous populants in the tree and got an infection from a bite. Reminding me of my Florida fire-ant experience a few years back.
Chuck Pace © 2007
|