We came into last nights match-up in 1st place in our league. Two points ahead of 2nd and 3rd, 4 points ahead of 4th. We could very likely be third when the updates post later this week. We took 2 points and gave-up 5. I started good with a 186, then tanked horribly. David struggled with his pocket hit and left an alarming number of single pins all evening, he did have a good pick-up percentage though. Ed Sipes subbed for Will (he was not even in Indy last evening) and started like a pro with a 191, then he too felt the surly bonds of gravity and returned to Ed-form. All of us were shaking off the effects of a late Monday Night Football viewing from the night before (I didn't sleep well after the big Colts victory, I saw 3:00 AM come and go from my perch on the couch). Ed was also re-hydrating from a 2AM quit time at the Chatterbox, and not embibing at the bowling alley at all. Rich and I were really saving it up for Friday Night, when we play against a former summer league teammate. Bob Z. we must crush the Z-bra man! (For bragging rights only). I'll keep you posted (ha. ha.) Until then. Then.
Chuck Pace ©2005
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*A note to Windows users: I don't know why the post starts half way down the page on Windows based web-browsers. It is perfect on every Mac I've tried to view it on. I'll send the software people an inquiry. Bear with me until I get this resolved.
Indianapolis 11-0.
A little history. Peyton Manning's first pass in the NFL, Game 1 of the Manning/Colts era. was a 78 yard TD pass to Marvin Harrison, Peyton's longest passing play of his career until last night. Unlike last night's 80 yard strike, the first hook-up between #18 and #88 was the second play of the game, the first was a short rushing play, so on 2nd and 8 the magic happened for the first time. Now every time Manning and Harrison hook up it extends one of their records, more TD's than any other duo in history, more yards than any other duo, or Harrison's growing career TD mark, which was already at 106 before stepping into a bomb and streaking for 80 yards and TD 107 last night in the national spotlight again. Last night was the Colts 400th victory as a franchise, a record 10th straight home win and obviously the 11th straight game without a defeat. WOW. Bring on Tennessee and McNair. Have a good day friends. I'll try to think of something else to talk about tomorrow.I'm off to work.
Chuck Pace ©2005
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A ritual? No I always wear the Jacket. Chuck Pace ©2005
Chuck Pace ©2005
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Now we have computer animated knock-off crap without story lines and animé over saturation. Saturday television has gone from one of my favorite things to one of my more frustrating. By the time my daughter was saturday morning ready, real stories were replaced with 23 minute commercials with 7 minutes of commercials intersperced. Transformers, Thundercats, Dragonball Z, now you've seen this week's variation of "the" theme have mommy and daddy run to Toys'2"Go or Wally-market and buy the toys, the underwear, the paper plates, the towels and toothbrush set and bath foam.
If you are old enough to feel nostalgic here, weep with me for a moment.
Admittedly I don't watch much T.V. and I guess it's because I don't like much T.V., I'm not a fan of the "reality" show, and most Sit-coms have a rotating story-problem script where only the names and locations change, rarely does the situation comedy contain an interesting situation or much comedy.
I want MY M-TV. You remember the one that had almost non-stop videos, just a little bit of Music-News every hour, an V.J's? And, what ever happened to "Variety Shows" the only ones I see now are on the Espaniol estacion, and I don't habla?
Well, I had a photo ready to throw up here, but I hope I gave you enough "visuals' that you don't need a picture today. Now hand me the remote, Exit Stage Right Even!
Chuck Pace ©2005
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The Piggy. Chuck Pace ©2005
Well, being in retail this is supposed to be the big one. But it never really is at Roberts. We do all right on "black friday" but not being attached to a mall or strip center, and not doing a big doorbuster thing we have a more purpose driven customer instead of just the run of the mill, insane, spend-frenzied, after thanksgiving, garbage gift goblins that infest the retail superstores. The kind of nut jobs that would have Target give them a 4:30 wake-up call usually avoid us until zero-hour approches, then they come in and buy whatever we are overloaded on, discontinued models or cheap afterthoughts, the "I made an effort" purchases. We have very little returns from our primary customer base, they usually come in after a little research, it's the garbage gift goblins thet give us the most grief. I thought of quoting "Black Friday" by Steely Dan here but it just would take too much effort, I'll get you a discount song reference on Dec. 23rd. No we are a destination shop, not a hey, they're close to Jimmy's Junk Jubilee, let's see if they got anything cheap! If you need a good digital camera and the right accessories, come see me, call me or e-mail me. If you want to want to last-minute purchase a thoughtful gift, I'll put as much effort in it as you do.
Have fun shoppers, don't get parking-lot rage, remember the reason you are gift buying now, it is love and friendship that drives the season, right? Act like the gift is important, not the savings. See you soon. With apologies to the Jimmy's Junk Jubilee outlets, doing business under different names, Chuck Out.
Chuck Pace
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To establish some back story I quote from the e-mail Travis sent out on November 8th.
"Hello friends and family of Elizabeth & Travis.
Before you read any more of this you must agree not to share any of it with Elizabeth - which should at least peak your curiosity enough to want to read the rest of it, I would think.
AT ONE MINUTE PAST MIDNIGHT on the third Thursday of each November, from little French villages and towns, over a million cases of Beaujolais Nouveau begin their journey through a sleeping France to Paris for immediate shipment to all parts of the world. Banners proclaim the good news: Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé!
Every year, on that Thursday, millions of people around the world raise a glass (or two) of the new wine - wine which was literally a cluster of grapes just weeks before - to celebrate the new harvest.
Technically - and don't skip this part if you want to understand the significance of the metaphors at work here - the grapes MUST be hand-picked from the Beaujolais region, and then rushed into production using a process called carbonic maceration - whole berry fermentation - where instead of crushing the grape, the wine ferments inside, within the skin. Wines released before the next year's harvest are nouveau.
Perhaps most importantly (to this metaphor at least) is that Le Beaujolais Nouveau is used to predict the future success of that year's harvest!
This year, there will be something additional to celebrate on Le Beaujolais Nouveau night.
If you live out of town, then please join the millions of other people around the world and raise a glass of Le Beaujolais Nouveau at 7:01pm (East Coast) on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17th to celebrate the (anticipated) acceptance of a proposal by M. Travis DiNicola to of Elizabeth Ann Garber. (And yes, her father knows all about this).
If you live in Indianapolis, then please consider joining us for the proposal at 7pm at the best Beaujolais Nouveau party in the Mid-West!
David Andrichik will again be hosting his Beaujolais party at the Chatterbox. There will be lots of Beaujolais, lots of friends, some hot French jazz, and kabobs on the grill if you are hungry.
And PLEASE, do not even hint about any of this to Elizabeth!!!! There is still the chance for a surprise here. When she walks into the Box and sees so many of her friends there on Beaujolais night, how is that different from most any other night at the Box???? Ok, she may be somewhat suspicious, but please Meredith (and you too Brooks) don't give this away.
Thank you all very much for your friendship, and your patience with the implied metaphor."
I edited the e-mail to just the salient portions for purpose of keeping this post merely huge instead of colossal. Last night I learned a little more from Travis.
Liz and Travis had talked about the night of "the engagement" prior to last Thursday, and Travis had her thinking the preceeding Tuesday was the intended moment until chores got the better of the moment, then he asked what plans, if any she might have for Friday the 18th and made arrangements for the evenings dinner (knowing she would make that mental leap, and that he had already planned the Beaujolais arrangements with David at the "Box"). When Liz arrived at the box to find family members and friends like Brock and Jes, and Zan from out of state in attendance she started to get suspicious, and actually figured it out. Just before the band took their break at 7:10 my beautiful wife Jenni went into the newly remodeled women's restroom with a Sharpie marker (the Chatterbox has a long storied history of allowing writing on most surfaces in the bar, and even keeps markers on hand for the patrons to do thus) and wrote the Congrats statement seen here.
Three minutes later, on the microphone Travis asks Liz to join him on the stage, and the rest you know. Last night Travis asked Jenni if she wrote the congratulatory remarks which Liz saw three minutes early, she said she did then started to apologize, but Travis stopped here and toasted her, then told us the above story and how happy Liz was when she saw it.
Not only did Travis once again make our night with this heartwarming moment revisited, he had just that afternoon renewed his subscription to -Thoughtpukes- through the Donate/Paypal link I so thoughtfully provided for that purpose.
I had been planning to put up a mention tracker on my site, to see who make the most appearances in my posts, but with today's 12 mentions just in my text (The quoted e-mail from T.D does not count) I award the victory to Mr. M. Travis DiNicola, and have ordered a lovely prize for his efforts. A new mention contest will begin on Monday January 2nd and each quarter until 2007, so if you are unmentionalbe, you will not win prizes.
e-Love, e-hugs and e-kisses to all my friends and family out there. Happy Thanksgiving.
Chuck Pace
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"Long Distance information give me Memphis Tennessee"-Chuck Berry
The S.B. sign in the daylight, anybody remember daylight? Chuck Pace©2005
We needed to do well otherwise the whole night would have been a bust. In this league each team is given a voucher for 100 ounces of liquid refreshment and a 12" pizza. Last week my team, knowing something about liquid refreshment, opted to pay an additional 1.50 per person to upgrade ours to Blue Moon (the other choices, Bud or Bud Light). No such luck last night, the Blue Moon was out in the bar (while a wicked, yellow, diagonal half moon was presiding over the Indy night) so we begrudgingly took the lesser of two evils Bud, well 83 ounces into the pour that ran out too. I refused the offer to drink swill lite and finally, after much conversation got two bottle beers to complete our teams liquid libations. David and Will took the bottle beers (neither of them a Butwiper fan either) leaving Rich and I to work down the Mudwieser until they had finished there "flavored" beer and conceded to get a "King of Beers" headache with us.
Tonight is the third highest alcohol consumption night in the US, New years Eve, #1 and St. Pat's Day #2, that giving thanks to having a day off tomorrow I guess. I know I have that and a lot more to be thankful for this year; mostly family and friends, so I'll stop by the Chatterbox to toast with my friends tonight, and to you beautiful thoughtpuke subscribers (don't forget to check the Donate/PayPal subscription box there on the left and renew your subscriptions NOW!). Have a great and safe Thanksgiving. See you in the ether-then.
Chuck Pace
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Sun Pillar; photographed from my driveway 11/24/2005 Chuck Pace ©2005 Last Thursday I didn't have to work, but I got up at the break of day anyway. Jenni called as she was leaving and said there was a sun pillar to photograph. I was up and dressed in seconds. Took several shots, then got to the business of building my post for that day. As you all remember it was Beaujolais Nouveau day. The engagement day, the party at the Chatterbox, the day the women's restroom was re-opened. I took a bunch of photos that night. I take a lot of photos anyway, well I found one that matches the sky tones of the sun pillar.
Newlywed Nouveau Nocturne
This is a photo of Newlywed Massachusetts Avenue residents and Chatterbox neighbors Brandon and Jessica taken on the same night that Liz accepted a proposal for marriage from Bill Brooks' little buddy. That was a good night and bears a return memory trip. Five day old nostalgia, fresh nostalgia. Get your Fresh Nostalgia, Right here!
Chuck Pace ©2005
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The Turkey Fryers L to R; bestracegirl, bigdaddyracin, the mascot, silent but deadly, Silver Dodger and Home Depot 20. Photo: Kay Neidenthal ©2005
Sports Sunday worked out almost exactly as I wanted. Tony Stewart won the Nextel cup, Jimmie Johnson came in 5th. Greg Biffle (the bug-eyed idiot) won the race instead of
Tony poses with his 2002 Cup Trophy on the coffee table, and on TV, Tony starts the 2005 Cup celebration. Chuck Pace©2005
12" Peyton on the entertainment center. Chuck Pace ©2005
10-0 COLTS!
Chuck Pace
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Peyton Manning on the sidelines while the defense takes care of business on the field. Chuck Pace ©2005
The common thread for the last 10 Sundays has been the undefeated Colts. Well, guess what? Today they face their toughest opponent since they swept through the injury riddled Patriots like Wilma through Southern Florida. This is a real match-up, the Cincinnati Bengals are for real leading the league in takeaways and have arguably played a tougher set of opponents to this point. This is the game we were all afraid the Colts were going to be focused on last week instead of the happless Texans who we dispatched at the dome.
Then there's Racin' the big enchilada today, Miami-Homestead, where barring some major f-up Tony Stewart will win his second Nascar Championship (One Winston, One Nextel). That's all well and good. Anybody but Jimmie "The whiner." Ideal scenario? Kahne wins the race, Tony wins the Cup, Edwards comes in 2nd. Jimmie 40th .
GO COLTS!Chuck Pace
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Last night our bowling league got a little more on track. We took 5 and lost 2. We won series by 83. Rich had his best league series at 537. I had my second worse. I've ben falling into a slump the last two weeks, and my average has dropped from 157 to 154 in those two weeks. Mel and Skippy hung right at their averages. Neither Ed nor Travis were in attendance, nor did we have a cheerleading squad to bolster us this time out. Some of you will have never heard of Graham Parker and the Rumor. That's a shame. Graham surfaced in the music world about the same time as Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, The Clash, The Sex Pistols, The Pretenders and the whole Punk/New Wave invasion of the late 70's. He was definitely his own brand of that era, a little more angry than Elvis or Joe, a lot cleaner sound than the Clash or Pistols. Todays lyric is a little angry ditty.
Graham Parker, Saturday Night Is Dead
Everybody just looks ugly now information don't compute
I draw a blank every time I think
the football crowd is going to give me a boot
And Saturday night is dead Saturday night is dead
It don't matter what they say
You've got to use your own head some day
Saturday night is dead Saturday night is dead
Yeah it's dead
The ultraviolet light hurts me so it used to be my friend
I used to know a good place to go but now it's nothing like it was then
And Saturday night is dead Saturday night is dead
It don't matter what they say I'm going to the funeral Sunday
Saturday night is dead Saturday night is dead Yeah it's dead
It must have been murder it ain't no accident
Oh no it means nothing to me
The clock goes tick tick tick in my head
Saturday is dead Saturday is dead
I look inside to find a place to hide but there ain't no place I know
It's just as well that I'm stupified it makes it easy
It makes it easy to deliver the fatal blow
Deliver deliver deliver
Don't tell me you were expecting the Bay City Rollers, or Cat Stevens here for Saturday's lyric! I would be more likely to use Sir Elton or Drive-in Saturday by Bowie but I chose something a little more esoteric. Your assingment, find and listen to some Graham Parker and get back to me. (Mercury Poising is a particularly good one, so is Black Honey, and I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down).
Tomorrow is the final race in the Nextel Cup series, and The Bengals vs.The Colts in Cinnci, I will be watching two TV's, and listening to a radio.
Chuck Pace
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Travis before Liz, on one knee with ring in hand. Chuck Pace ©2005
Thursday Night was Beaujolais Nouveau day, but it was also Travis' night to shine. It was the night he proposed marriage to Elizabeth Garber on the stage at the Chatterbox. Like I said it was literally standing room only by 7:05 PM when Mr. DiNicola took the stage and proceeded to make Chatterbox folklore. (Now he'll be in even deeper trouble if he ever forgets this momentous anniversary). The house was packed for the Wine tasting event but more than half of the well wishers were also there for the
I didn't see Pam's scorecard, but I'm know she wishes nothing but the best for the spotlight couple. That's just the way Pam is, and if you know Pam at all you have to agree. Mike Wilson looked on with uncharacteristic enthusiasm!
(This Post's Scoring Update: Travis 5, Pam 4, Liz 4, Brooks 3, Wilson 2, multiple players 1)
And now for something completely different, Friday's Lyric
The Easybeats, Friday on My Mind
Monday morning feels so bad,
Ev'rybody seems to nag me
Coming tuesday I feel better,
Even my old man looks good,
Wednesday just don't go,
Thursday goes too slow,
I've got Friday on my mind
(Chorus)
Gonna have fun in the city,
Be with my girl she's so pretty,
She looks fine tonight,
She is out of sight to me,
Tonight....I spend my bread,
Tonight...I lose my head,
Tonight...I got to get tonight
Monday I have Friday on my mind.
Do the five day drag once more,
Know of nothing else that bugs me
More than working for the rich man,
Hey I'll change that scene one day,
Today I might be mad,
Tomorrow I'll be glad,
I've got Friday on my mind,
(Repeat Chorus)
Have a great weekend my friends, unlike many of you I got out by 8:10 PM so I won' t be carrying the Post-Beaujolais headache with me today. I'll talk softly until I know you are all right.
Chuck Pace
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Tonight's Chatterbox "Nouveau" offering, Cheers to all!
Beaujolais Nouveau day has finally arrived, I know many people who have been eagerly anticipating this day. For some it will be an anniversary of a minor auto accident, for others a remembrance of a massive headache, or still others hearing stories that they can't remember (or don't want to). I could name names here, but for once I won't. Besides many of my readers already know these stories. Like every Beaujolais Nouveau day, I'm sure that there will be many new stories come Friday. I've not broken with this weeks "format" of days of the week songs, I've just added an extra one that is too appropriate. From Stereotomy by The Alan Parsons Project.
Beaujolais, 1984 Eric Woolfson and Alan Parson
No clock beside my bed
Don't try to wake me
No phone upon my wall
Who's going to call
No knock upon my door
No news to shake me
Nights like the one before
I can't take no more
Beaujolais goes straight to my head
Beaujolais puts me to shame
And I don't know why I'm in this place or how I came
Beaujolais and I go crazy
Beaujolais I can't explain
But it helps me to forget the past and ease the pain
One race that I can't win
With an alter ego
One chance to sink or swim
What am I to do
One tail that I can't shake
Wherever I go he go
One circuit I can't break
It's a catch twenty two
Beaujolais goes straight to my head
Beaujolais the one to blame
And I don't know why I'm in this place or how I came
Beaujolais will be my ruin
Beaujolais I can't complain
Cause it helps me to forget the past and ease the pain
And now, our regularly scheduled "day" lyric excerpt already in progress.
David Bowie, "Thursday's Child" 1999
(Throw me tomorrow, oh oh)
Now that I really got a chance
(Throw me tomorrow, oh oh )
Everything's falling into place
(Throw me tomorrow, oh oh)
Seeing my past to let it go
(Throw me tomorrow, oh oh)
Only for you I don't regret
And I was Thursday's child
(Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, born I was)
(Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, born I was)
Chuck Pace
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Today lyrics:
You're fantastic, you're terrific your excellence is almost scientific. You took the words out of my mouth, you put the tongue into my cheek, but I'd better lose my memory by Wednesday week. -Elvis Costello, "Wednesday Week" from Taking Liberties ©
1980
Stay back 500 feet. Chuck Pace ©2005
Last night we started a 10 for 10 bowling league at the Sport Bowl. My team is the Chatterbowlers and is comprised by Rich Culy, David Andrichik, Wilbur Andrichik and myself. The 10 for 10 format is a good for the casual bowler, 10 weeks $10.00 per person per week, along with the bowling each team is given a 12" pizza with toppings of their choice and 100 ounces of their beverage of choice. Such a bargain! Plus the top two teams in each 10 for 10 league compete for a $1000.00 bowl-off purse in April. Hey, it could happen (it will for one team)!
Well that's my mid-week update. Tomorrow is my day off so in my reality (what else is there) Tuesday was a mini hump day for me.
Chuck Pace
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Sorry for the confusion, the only other thing I could have done is to have not gone to work! Jeez!
Chuck Pace
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Yesterday's dreams
Are tomorrow's sighs
Watch children playing
They seem so wise
Mary Green
Today is a queen
One thousand dollies are a dream
In cotton frocks and golden locks
Her palace is an orange box
Time seems to stand quite still
In a child's world, it always will
Take that positive energy and enjoy this day, my friends, even though its just another morning, make the most of it.
Chuck Pace
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Bob Geldof had something to say here. Take it away, Bob-O:
The silicon chip inside her head
gets switched to overload
and nobody's gonna go to school today
she's gonna make them stay at home
And Daddy doesn't understand it
He always said she was good as gold
And he can see no reason
Cos there are no reasons
What reasons do you need to be shown
Tell me why
I don't like Mondays
I want to shoot
The whole day down
Not, exactly Bob, but it's better than anything I could come up with on short notice. Well, I am getting a late start again today, so I 'll just go. Have a great Monday, and remember to behave in other peoples dreams and daydreams, or your have no idea (well, how would you) what might happen.
yadda, yadda, copyright, yadda Chuck Pace ©2005
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A Blue Stormtrooper (with Bling) and the Thoughtpuker hisownself. Chuck Pace ©2005
GO COLTS! Still Perfect. Stay Perfect.
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Our friend Maddie showed up halfway through the second game and Pam showed up at the end of the final game. After league was finished Rich, Ed, Pam, Maddie and I went out to shoot some darts, Travis couldn't join us. Here I have to say that, in all the years of Dart throwing I've never had to move the dart machine to retrieve a dart or parts of darts before, yet somehow Pam managed to get three throws behind the machine (I found a bar dart back there and a tunnel that led directly to John Malkovich's Brain, but I didn't have time for that). She said she wasn't ready to give up her day job to pursue a career at darts just yet. I for one think she is making the right decision here.
Today is the second big day at the store, we're doing our fall demo days sale and it promises to be a busy one. Travis is planning on dropping by to look at one of the new Nikons Rich and I have told him about.
I've got to run, cameras to sell. See you on the other side of the monitor.
Chuck Pace ©2005
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Crabapple blossums in November. Wierd. Right? Chuck Pace ©2005
"Ahh, I'm going to have to go ahead and ask you to come in on Sunday, too... "
I'm getting a late start this morning. You all know how hard it can be to roll out of bed some mornings, right? I'm dragging this morning. But I realize my obligation to illuminate, illustrate, elucidate or accomodate on the old thoughtpuke, or is that comment vomit, retrospection regurgitation, perception purge, speculation spue, cogitation evacuation, imagination ellimanation, notion urp, or just the old ideation upchuck. Those of you with weak stomachs must think I'm retched right now. The proverbial barfbag of vacuous verbage. Well, I'm sorry to dissapoint today but I've got nothing. Really. Empty words dry-heaves. I've been sitting here for 43 minutes completly void of visual or virtous verbage for my voracious viewers on todays virtual vowel voyage. I'll try better next time on the Smak-Yak, er.. thoughtpuke. Riiight.
"You know what, Stan, if you want me to wear 37 pieces of flair, like your pretty boy over there Bryan, why don't you make the minimum 37 pieces of flair?"
Northeast stage corner, Slippery Noodle Bar. Chuck Pace ©2005
What is a pipe dream? I don't get it big Dan?
The Mentionables: Chuck Pace ©2005
In other news, the race heats up. The Mention War is in full swing. At this point in the game both Travis and Pam are in a deadlock tie with eleven apiece. I'll be adding a tracker button on my site soon so that those only casually following the competition can get the latest news-at-a-glance. That will most likely have to be a weekend project. I was able to get a rather fine photo of the mentionables last night before John David got there and consumed the evening and (quite a few drinks). I asked Pam to quietly get in the photo unbeknownst to Travis, who gladly mugged for the the camera. There was a comment made about a points system involving photos as well as just the off hand mention. I won't say who made the comment, but it wasn't Brooks! Mike Wilson quietly looked on.
Well I don't want to sway the count so I'll just say twelve all, with John David looking like a dark horse in the race all of the sudden with six in just this one post, unfortunately I think we have to count Brooks out at this late stage. We'll have to see what transpires in the next couple of months, I know there are going to be some surprises coming, these races seem to escalate, hope there is no mud(slide) slinging.
A good day to all, friends.
Yet again all text and photos:
Chuck Pace ©2005
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Southwest Airlines Safety Diagram: David Hightshoe ©2005
Attention: Ladies and Gentleman, please keep your hands and feet inside the website until it comes to a complete and full stop. There is a chance of very turbulent winds today in Indy, followed by a temperature inversion. In other words it's going to get cold and windy (I've know women like that). Sometimes it's really hard to tell with the weather, all you know for sure in Indiana is that it's going to change. These photos were taken by my son-in-law David on their return flight to Florida on Monday. He got a couple nice shots out the window as well, but the cheesy illustrations caught my eye.
This sucker is going down we're missing a wing! David Hightshoe ©2005
Well, the ditching diagram has inspired me. I'm out of here until tomorrow. But not before I extend birthday greetings to "The Man Who Would be King of the Forrest" have a good 43rd J.D. I'll check my donations jar here on the site to see if I've gotten enough moolah to slide you a Samuel Adams (Nope: how's an ice water sound?). Sorry J.D. maybe Travis can pick up the tab for one.
blah, blah, blah, Chuck Pace ©2005
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In other news: Got the kids off safely to Florida, and am missing them terribly already. Here are three shots. Meredith and David with Charlie just before we walked out the door for the Airport. The kids with Jenni and the kids with me just before the ticketed passenger only point to Concourse C at the airport. I hate that you can't watch them board or even see the plane take off anymore, these are some of the joys and freedoms terrorism has stripped for us all.
In even more news. Thursday's "Pat Benatar Does Not Approve" post was more fortuitous than I originally thought. On Monday David Andrichik and his father Wilbur began a Chatterbox remodeling project, the women's facility.
The three shots here show the wall panel where
I finally heard from Hal. He said "Checked out your BLOG site and saw the resemblance right away. Damned paparrazi. Hope Pat doesn't get mad." Why must we all crave Pat Benatar's approval! It's a sick and twisted web we are woven into. For those of you keeping score: Pat Benatar' has pulled into a big lead in today's mentions over Pam and Travis, Although it looks like, yes. Travis is making a slight... no wait! Looks like, no. Poor Travis. Final Score Pat Benatar 5, Travis DiNicola 4, Pam W. a poor showing indeed with just 2. Well good luck and high scores to all in our continuing game. Congrats to todays victor (whom I shall not mention again) Oh well. I have put off going to work long enough. I must sally forth now, old chappies. Good Day.
As usual all text and photos:
Chuck Pace ©2005
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Thanksgiving dinner before and after. Chuck Pace ©2005
I spent a great deal of Sunday recuperating from the Bonfire. I had a great time, to the point of almost passing out. Then slept on Rich's couch until 10 AM. before driving home. Nursing a headache and dehydration I went to sleep on the love-seat in the front room. Alex and Jessica, were asleep on the two couches, and Meredith and David were asleep in our bedroom. Jenni was up making a 14 and a half pound turkey for our early thanksgiving dinner we had at 7:15 PM with Alex, Jessica and the Kids. I got up for good at 3:00 and ran to the store a couple of times before finally getting my turn in the kitchen to make my own version of green-bean casserole. Alex and Jessica got back just before 7:00 with an apple-crisp and we sat down to a fabulous dinner. Now in just under an hour we head to the airport to see the kids off to Florida again. (I was up until 4:00 cleaning up the kitchen and what so when we get back at 8:30 or so I'm grabbing a little more sleep.)
The crew: Alex Jenni, David, Chuck, Meredith and Jessica. Chuck Pace ©2005
Chuck Pace ©2005
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Lanes 29 and 30 at Indy's Sport Bowl; Chuck Pace ©2005
And then... Here it comes! Deep breath. I moved to anchor as I stated yesterday, where after a poor first game I still managed to end up with a 162 average (7 pins per game over my 155 mark), Ed also bowled over his three game average with a 150 (his mark was 139 per game), We bowled Mel absent for the missed first game, then she arrived, but fell 7 pins short of her average for the final two. Skippy had the best individual performance and the highest single game score with a 178 (I had 2, 176 games, Ed a 166) with a 151 average, to best his league established 132 mark.
And then... We lost the first game by by 43 pins, but were able to rally ourselves in the second effort to only lose it by 7 pins. We led the final game all the way (even though Zack from the Phat Men started an awesome 6 strikes in a row in the 3rd frame, and his teammate Chad finished with 5 strikes in a row. It came down to the anchor bowlers on each team. Zack for the Phat Men and Me for Four Get it. I was following a spare and a strike in the first two boxes would guarantee a win. I opened, then picked it up. Zack bowled his first ball of the 10th, a strike, and his second, a strike... I bowled my final ball, a strike but the lane foul indicator went off! (Let me explain here that the foul indicator on lane 29 at Sport Bowl is defective, and often goes off when there's not even a bowler on the approach, it actually did this while Zack was getting his ball off the return in the second game).
Nope. Wrong answer! Angkor wat is in Cambodia.
Chuck Pace©2005
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Angkor Wat. photographer unknown.
Sequence from The End of Days (For the Drake): Chuck Pace ©2005
Well I mentioned on Wednesday that The Drake would soon be making way for sandwich shops and scrap-booking stores. I'm no prophet, but they began demolition this morning after 8:30, I didn't get there until 9:18 and they had already destroyed the cool round end unit with the glass-brick wall.
The Round End, endeth! Chuck Pace © 2005
Fall's Pageant, Chuck Pace ©2005
Original Photoshop Illustration: Chuck Pace ©2003
Tonight is bowling night, Rich is planning on doing someting almost un-heard of for him, that's letting someone substitute for him. He does this so he can start prepairing for the bonfire that is planned to commerate his and Maddies birthdays and Meredith and David's visit to Indiana. The latest weather forecasts are looking pretty bleak, now there is an 80% chance of rain Saturday, up from 40% a couple days ago, so the events may be inside instead of out. I mentioned to Rich that we could have one heck of a Bonfire in his basement he agreed but was not to keen on the idea.
So we will see how the team does tonight without it's anchor bowler (we were thinking of making Mel our anchor after she carried us the first two games last week, but she scoffed at the idea). I have the highest average thus far into the league, so I'll probably move to anchor just to screw that up. Tonight's Lineup. Ed, Mel, Skippy and Yours Truly (I'm with you fellers). But for now my dutiful reader, you'll have to hang onto the edge of your seat until tomorrow's post to see how "Four Get It!" faired on the oiled hardwood's. Well, you'll just have to wait like the rest of us! Get a grip.
Chuck Pace©2005
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Hal Daniels with Pat Benatar thought balloon! Chuck Pace ©2005
Last night I met up with Ed, Pam, Travis and Liz at the Chatterbox (Rich showed up later as was expected). I told Pam I needed some fodder for the old web gristmill. She said I seem to have plenty to say and didn't need her suggestions. I've learned never to question Pam's statements. So I'll just expound upon last night. The evening was going along swimingly, The Dick Dickenson jazztet was on stage making beautiful music, the Pacers (on the T.V.) had won their season opener by 12 points and I was in good company. Our friends Hal and Mary Daniels arrived and after a few Samual Adams seasonal beers Ed decided to greet them properly!
Ed greets Hal and Mary, Dick Dickenson does not approve either. Chuck Pace ©2005
GO PACERS! GO COLTS!
Chuck Pace ©2005
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Graffitied relief station (various contirbutors)
Photo: ChuckPace © 2005
Sign of the Times. Chuck Pace ©2005
The Sam Wolf used car lot on Indianapolis' Washington St., U.S. 40, the National Road. I've lived in Indianapolis since 1978 and this sign has been a constant the entire time. I'm not sure how long it's said for over 60 years, but I'm sure it's been several years. One thing has changed in the past few years, the cars are not at the front of the lot anymore. They are kept in a fenced in area that looks more like a prison than a car lot. Barbed wire tops 8 foot high chain link fencing now. I remember driving past and checking out the deals and bargains here for twenty or more years, now if you didn't realize it you would think the place was closed.
Another establishments sign that was long a constant on the National Road was the Skyline Motel's, but the tornados of 2004 took out their landmark sign before I got an opportunity to photograph it. Their new sign is uninspired and a poor substitute. Now the Drake motel and apartments are soon to be a thing of the past.
Drake Motel Photos. Chuck Pace ©2005
Try To Remember
Music: Harvey Schmidt, Lyrics: Tom Jones ©1960
Try to remember the kind of September
When life was slow and oh, so mellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When grass was green and grain was yellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When you were a tender and callow fellow.
Try to remember, and if you remember,
Then follow.
Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow, follow, follow, follow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That no one wept except the willow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That dreams were kept beside your pillow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That love was an ember about to billow.
Try to remember, and if you remember,
Then follow.
Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow, follow, follow, follow.
Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow, follow, follow, follow.
Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow, follow, follow, follow.
Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
Although you know the snow will follow.
Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
Without a hurt the heart is hollow.
Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
The fire of September that made us mellow.
Deep in December, our hearts should remember
And follow.
That song is from the Fantasticks, which has been playing somewhere on broadway since April 1960, the month and year I was born. Who doesn't get nostalgic sometimes?
Chuck Pace ©2005
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Lonestar squinter Chuck Pace ©2005
On the way back from dinner, a bit of a excitement, we were pulled over because I made a rather rapid sweeping left hander following the the lane markings (There were no other cars nearby, and it is a long sweeping curve, none the less I was going faster than a normal driver or vehicle should attempt this) at the outside of the mall parking lot. I was adequetly humbled and asked to bring down the speeds a little, what with trick or treaters on the streets and all, and got off with a just a warning. Now if ghouls or the un-dead were actually wandering around a dark, almost empty parking lot at 6:22 PM, instead of places where they can get candy, suckers or grey matter to ingest then I may not have been so careless or humbled for that matter! Next we took the party on the road to Massachusetts Avenue.
Crossing Jord, er,,, Mass. Chuck Pace ©2005
A visit to Maggie at Luna Music, The Chatterbox for a few minutes and Silver in the City.
Chatterbox squinter. Chuck Pace © 2005
David awarded me with a good driving trophy which he purchased at Silver in the City. In honor of my recent conversations with the law enforcement community. This is an actual air freshener from the Blue Q company.
Air Freshener collage from Silver In The City. Chuck Pace ©2005
Then a quick drive through the mean streets of downtown Indy and back to the homestead for a movie on the DVD in 5.1 surround for the kiddies. We chose "American Psycho" a feel good movie instead of a halloween frightener and settled in for the evening. By 12:15AM both kids were snuggled up on couches dreaming happy thoughts, and replenishing themselvs after a long busy day.
Cityscape from East St. Chuck Pace ©2005
Boy, it's great to have them home again.