Hi Ho Hi Ho, its off to shovel snow. Wednesday was everything thought it would be an so much more. I did underestimate the customer count. There were actually over a dozen consumers in the store in that snow day.
My Starbucks at Conseco was dead. I had never seen two baristas sit at the same time before. It was a kodak moment.
I walked to the circle and deposited some checks, and had a bowl of soup at the South Bend Chocolate Company, there was plenty of outdoor . Then back south and once again into the (thermal) breeches!

Outdoor Dining is available year round!
After the day I was overjoyed to get home to a 40 inch high wall of plowed snow in front of my drive way (again, they honor me with this effort every time we get enough white wet to plow). Well it's a short one (Jenni doesn't seem to complain though) and I have to get to the warming car.

I pay the Association to to place the streets precip in front of my drive so I can get shoveling exercise. Wah ha!
Chuck Pace ©2009 
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Well the State Police are saying unless you are Medical, Emergency or Public Works you have no business being on the road, so I'm going out to shovel out right now, because selling camera is one of those things, if you didn't know. It's 7:30 and no texts or calls saying don't die today for three customers who are more stupid than you. So I start the arduous task of making tracks from my unplowed cul de sac street to the unplowed secondary street it runs into to get to the neighborhoods unplowed entrance street.
No time for pictures I have to die for retail...
Chuck Pace ©2009 
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I almost always run into somebody I know when I'm out. This has even happened as far away from my stomping grounds as New Port Richey Florida. Several years ago Jenni and I visited my parents in New Port Richey (they have since moved farther much farther north to live on the Suwanee River) on vacation. We decided to go to Media Play and Books A-Million while we where there since the Media Play on East Washington Street had just closed. While we were there a Roberts Customer from Indianapolis about 1000 miles away casually walked up to me with two different books on cameras and asked my opinion on which one was more useful. No hey, no what are you doing here no preamble, just a matter of fact, "Which one of these do you think will give me the most information on using my camera?" Jenni was just standing there with her mouth hanging open. She calls me a social butterfly.
It happens so often that now it is more remarkable when (given a large enough crowd of course) I don't see someone who I recognize or know. Now it looks like my world just keeps getting smaller. Then there's facebook, in my opinion a much more mature and better way to network than MySpace. I am amazed by some of the mutual friends and connections that I never knew were just under the surface.
Like Kay I find Facebook to be a bit addictive, at least at first. I'm sure the glimmer will fade with a little more exposure, then it will just be a great place to find our and keep up as is the intention.
The down side of Facebook is the amount of time that it takes away from the regular stuff.
Chuck Pace ©2009 
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The improved World HQ Theatre version 2.0 in 7.1 Surround,
ready to play MP3 music.
It is amazing what a busy week can do to a person. Like posting for example. It only takes a couple days off schedule to make the whole thing derail. Busy is the key word again and busy I was. I had Thursday the 15th off, that is also the day that I got my 'big check'.
The big check meant time to upgrade the World HQ theatre area. The week before I had made a trip to BigBoxBuys and noted possible items for the theatre in the trusty Notes area of the iPhone, so the decision making process took less than 2 hours on Thursday. Then the paying and the bringing home.

Before and After: 7 components become 3
(the center channel speaker was behind the set before.)
I started the process after making myself lunch (great restraint) at about 12:20. The old setup and components had to be dismantled, then the area vacuumed, and cleaned, then and only then could I add the wall mounting hardwares and the shelves. Next it was time to wire the speakers, add the components and the new surge protection equipment. Exhaustion was setting in, and a capital M headache was burgeoning. It was around 8:45 when everything was in place, about 10:00 when the wiring was done and by 10:45 I ready for testing the new blu-ray player. I decided to just pop in a regular DVD, no sound. Too beat to wait to hear a beat or BGM I drowned a mini-handful of rapid release gels and hit the sack. Friday I was in the throes of full-bore Migraine and didn't even get up to eat or try to kill myself to end it until around 4:20. It wouldn't be until Saturday after work that I added the final touches, the iPod dock and sound field set-up, only then did we watch our first blu-ray disc. The Coen brothers "Burn After Reading." The new viewing angle and the better receiver have enhanced and enriched our lives.
Chuck Pace ©2009 
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This Bout was The "Box" vs. the Box Tops. David Andrichik's new team versus my new team in the opening round of The Chatterbox Jazz Club Bowling League at the All*Star Bowl, Chapter 2. There were new faces on all the teams, some just new to the team some new to the leagues itself. David's team has one such newbie, Artur (pronounced Archer) Silva, and my team had two, Leslie Mastin and her beau Chris Eppards. Leslie will be our secret weapon with a 77 average and a 100ish handicap. Chris is going to turn out to be quite a find for my side I think, as long as he can maintain the average he established in the first series: 158. Mel knocked off a 130 average and I had a lowish 147 coming off a two week layoff after damaging my slide foot in a battle to the.. well that's for another time.
In our opposing lanes along with the "rookie" bowler Artur were returning bowlers Andy "King" Krull straight out of Robert E. Howard's fantasy worlds of warriors. Krull did not defeat many pins this day but will be back with a 111 average. Artur was next up with a 127 average. Next up, John Gentry who graced the Box Tops last year but now as an opponent who declared at the onset to me "It's ON!" It was on for Mr. Gentry with a high game of 192 and a series of 460 John will be bringing it at a rate of about 153 pins (if his average is to be believed). Last the Anchor man himself, without his trusty microphone or piano player at his side, David Andrichik brought not only my team down but 510 pins in the process. His average to keep will be a 170.

Other teams to watch (and there are 6 more) the Chatterfoxes with Anchor David Yosha and three delightful and correctly named dishes , Kelly, Katie and Jill, they will be interesting to watch this league, for scoring purposes I mean, bowling scores I reiterate. Well the sun is up and I have to get to a camera store and retaliate with retail.
The Bumpers were'nt up for Jeff Barber, they would have helped.
Sadly I reused an old photo from the Sport Bowl Chuck Pace © 2007
Chuck Pace ©2009 
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No gags or jokes this time. A severe cold front is hitting Indiana in the next few days, with the worst of it expected on Thursday my day off (oh joy). This is why we donate to the Red Cross, the United Way ant The SAlvation Army. The street survivors and homeless are going to be particularly hard hit. Here it the extended forecast and the Warning from the MWS. Stay warm, wear layers and avoid long exposure to the elements. Chuck Out!
THE COLDEST AIR OF THE WINTER IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE AREA THIS COMING WEEK. ARCTIC AIR FROM NORTHERN CANADA WILL RUSH SOUTHWARDS IN TWO SEPARATE WAVES. THE FIRST ARRIVAL OF COLD AIR WILL BE DURING THE DAY ON TUESDAY AND INTO TUESDAY NIGHT WHEN TEMPERATURES WILL DROP TO NEAR ZERO OR SLIGHTLY BELOW ALONG WITH DANGEROUSLY COLD WIND CHILLS OF LESS THAN TEN DEGREES BELOW ZERO. THE SECOND...

AND COLDER AIRMASS WILL ARRIVE ON THURSDAY WHEN HIGHS ARE EXPECTED ONLY IN THE SINGLE DIGITS ABOVE ZERO WITH LOWS AS COLD AS TEN BELOW ZERO ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL INDIANA. WIND CHILL VALUES WILL BE DANGEROUSLY COLD ON THURSDAY AS WELL... FALLING TO LESS THAN TEN DEGREES BELOW ZERO AGAIN. RESIDENTS SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS FOR ANY POSSIBLE ADVISORIES OR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS VERY COLD WEATHER.


Chuck Pace ©2009 
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Who's at the Chatterbox? Jenni asked me during a break in the action.
Well I didn't know the rules. Still don't understand how the penalties are applied or totally get the the scoring. Then again the announcers Brownie and Dill Hero seemed to be surprised by the scoring a few times too, so I don't feel too bad. What I do know is that after I started to get it. I started to GET IT. I liked it, I liked it a lot. It was fun. Even if it took a sizable portion of the new year to get in from the out of doors and to the will call it was well worth it. Besides I was surrounded by friends. In fact Jenni turned to me at one point and asked, Who's at the Chatterbox?" She meant who's manning the bar, of course, since there couldn't possibly be any regular customers there, I counted at least 20 regulars and bar
Tornado Siren Jane Ire is your Leeeaaad Jammer!
staff that was at the Bout. But there were others there that I didn't expect, like Gloria M, and Sarah Stierch's alter ego who is altogether too vain, and Bert Wong and a few other surprises. As far as first timers? There were a bunch of us: Connie, Mel, Rich, Jenni, Bec Hutton, Bert, Wilson (Ericka and Max I think) and that was just people I know in turns 1 and 2. Of course there were plenty of NRG regulars I knew there too, Jeremy, Christian, Chris, David, Nikki (of course), Marc L (photographer) and some others.

STROOMS! Nothing better for a 0/0 round than STROOMS!
After the bout was over and the friends were collected it was time to head to other destinations. Some went to the DugOut (those who live within a mile of the place mostly, but some others too), Jenni and I with Rich in tow since we had his car all just came back to the world headquarters to reflect on the night and to plan to attend more future bouts. Mel seemed to dig the whole thing as much as we did and thought a double header bout with the Freshmeat JV team the Warning Belles warming up for the Tornado Sirens would be a great night. Speaking of great Mr Brown gets my nod for best custom jacket!
Next up Chatterbowling league #2! Starting tomorrow night!
We'll be seeing you at the Roller Derby my friends, maybe not every bout but a few more throughout the season. It is just too much fun to pass up!
Chuck Pace ©2009 
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Sometimes there is nothing you can do to salvage a craptastic day. Sometimes the stars and heavens are aligned against us an ther is nothing to do but endure the day, and hope that the next one is tilted in your favor. I hope tomorrow is the best day of the year (so far anyway).
Chuck Pace ©2009 
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Like the Swallows to San Juan Capistrano, so too have the Balls returned to All*Star
Last night several enthusiastic Chatterbowlers converged upon the All*Star Bowl on Indy's east side for a bit o' practice. Several returning leaguers were joined by some new initiates. I was just there in an incapacity as photographer and merry maker. The incapacity comes from the previous night at the very same alley designated for bowling, and maybe a beer or two.
On Sunday night I was well into what should have been a great game, dutch thru 6 frames when the unacceptable happened, something in my knee went "pop" I had eighty pins in the 5th and a strike in the 6th and after the warning call from patella town ended with a sub-average 150. The next game I was able to compensate by getting down lower and sliding less, it started grandly , spare and 4 strikes in a row, and ended with a flop in the 10th frame, still I garnered 192 pins but should have had over 200 with a decent closing frame. The last game welcomed my hip joining my knee in conspiracy. I was limping for the rest of the game and back spasms joined in with the other aches and we had a combo. The tune they where playing was "Stop in the Name of Love" and the Supremes were the supreme pains I was feeling.
In the Photo above Chris West says, "Jeepers gang, those two pins are sure resilient, it's a gosh durned split!" Or something to that effect.
So Monday, after a quick stop at the Chatterbox (and a load of good times) I decided to skip the pain reunion but to join the keglers none the less. I limped to the 'Vert and with my trusty Olympus digital camera in hand and made my to memory lanes. I was there like Navin R. Johnson, I had a special purpose, I was there to pixelate Chatterbowling practicers.

A wounded knees eye view of David A. launching an assault on a wedge of ten pins.
Chuck Pace ©2009 
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Every year around the holidays I go looking for friends I haven't heard from in a long time and or distant family members to shorten the distances to. I usually don't fine any. Though a couple of years ago I started social networking on MySpace and guess what? Nope I still didn't find any long losts. Recently I joined up with the Facebook crowd, and like Kay I find it a bit addictive, a much better portal than MySpace.
Well I was looking Susan, a good friend of ours (Jenni's and mine) on Friday night. I googled the daughters names, the husbands name, the maiden name and the family names and locations in the North and the South. I got nothing a hole had opened in the earth south west of Chicago and gobbled up a whole family. Jenni saw my efforts and felt my pain.
Then while we wee watching the Wild Card pre-game falderal on TV the phone rang. Jenni checked the caller I.D. and said I don't know anybody in Northbrook Illinois as I frowned and thought "Who doesn't know that I am getting ready to watch Football History happen LIVE!"
At half time, when I still held out hope that a defense would be able to stop a 5'6" all purpose back I listened to the message. It was Susan less than 24 hours after all my attempts yielded no results. She was into her cups a bit, drinking wine with her new husband and feeling little pain. She got to reminiscing as people often do around the holidays, and since we are still in the same place with the same last names and the same silly habits and spouses we can be found if a modicum of effort is applied. She left her e-mail address.
I sent a long letter accusing her of being a spy and being aware of my search the day before.
Sunday morning I got my reply, apparently I am the biggest idiot in the know worlds and galaxies. I had been misspelling her daughters names in my myriad searches, and since I knew them by the phonetic pronunciations (and to my defense I know other real life women with the very spellings that I did use) and alternate spellings failed to find out that there is indeed a plethora of info to be had with just a kernal of correct information to form a search. (I kernal as the computer terminology, instead of kernel like a seedling and cliched aphorism fodder).
Susan called just before I went to the bowling alley. Jenni and Susan talked for 81 minutes.
Gotta run, Edgar Cacey and Jean Dixon are on the other lines... holding.
Chuck Pace ©2009 
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This is why they play the games. This is where the next championship starts. Post season. This is when it is fun (or frustrating) to be a fan.
Yesterday the NFL announced that Peyton Manning was again the league MVP. Only one other Quarterback has been league MVP 3 times, Brett Favre. So Manning is again in the rarified air. Manning ended the regular season with his third perfect game rating of 158.3, and finished the season with a 95. rating. With 27 TD's to only 17 ints. Manning definitely put in a MVP-performance. Lets hope that he continues to step up his game for another run to the Championship Game in Tampa BAy. Other accomplishments for Manning and the Colts this year. Another 4000 yard passing season for Peyton, that makes 9 all together. Nobody else is even close to that mark. Marvin Harrison has caught more passes (1102) than any other receiver in history except Jerry Rice (1549). He is also 2nd (59) behind Rice(76) in 100 yard reception games in a career. John Mackey, hall of fame Tight End from the old Baltimore Colts saw his decades long single season yardage record fall in the final regular season game to Dallas Clark ironically Dallas won the John Mackey award in 2002 for college play while a Big Ten Hawkeye at Iowa. Clark ended the season with 848 yards beating Mackey's mark by 19 yards.
Well my time is short here so Go Colts. I'll be glued in front of the TV tonight.

Chuck Pace ©2009 
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I am not much for resolutions per se, I feel that if you are inclined to change for the better you are going to do it. That your personal resolve should be enough to guide your process. If you feel that your too weak to carry out a self adjustment without your friends chiding you if you don't then you might have forgotten that your true friends love you for who you are, they want you to be happy, and they will help you if they can but usually won't be overly judgmental to the reality that you are human. Heck most of my friends are human too, and my pets love me even more unconditionally than all but the very best of them.
I think Determination is a better thing than resolution. However the dictionary I used for the first example starts with: firmness of character or purpose, resolution. If you do not find an equitable resolution to your problems with others however, a judicial determination may be in your future. A consonance in which a dissonance is resolved indeed! So there is that.
I'm glad we had this little talk, I will attempt to be more frequent with the posted offerings but that is far from a resolution, just a little more determination to post on my part.
Chuck Pace ©2009 
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Quietly, sheepishly not making a fussy fuss. That is how the New Year seems to be coming in. At least here at the world headquarters it is. I am listening to Thomas Dolby's Astronauts and Heretics (a lesser know collection of original tunes from 1992 on Giant Records) and waiting to usher in the new year. I have my ushers hat and a flashlight and I'm going to get the baby new year a seat right up front where it can see the whole show. Back to the CD for a sec, I don't believe there was one "hit" here in the states from this album, yet I do like it much. I have eclectic musical tastes at times but I don't think this requires eclectic leanings. It is just good music with clever lyrical content. I will say that the song "That's Why People Fall in Love" has Ofra Haza singing background on it, now that's eclectic and esoteric. In fact I bet other than my wife, none of my regular readers have a clue who that is (was). Oops there was a clue.


Now you may ask what that has to do with the new year? Nothing and everything. Nothing to you, everything to me, because this is how I choose to see the backside of 2008 fade into the dark and be gone by morning. Jenni chooses to see the new year in through her eyelids, she retired before 2008 did, she'll have to take my word for it this time.
I don't like to go out on amateur night,when there are a lot of scary drinkers taking too many risks and endangering too many innocent folks. Nope I usually am safe and sound in my pj's on New Years or St. Patrick's Days and any other 'excuse to drink' night. In a few minutes I'll be climbing into the bed too, I just have to see this post starting to get up on the web, then brush my teeth and, well get ready for the new year. I hope you are all safe my friends and the lion I have avoided did not bite you.
Chuck Pace ©2009 
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