þÿ<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> <meta name="generator" content="RapidWeaver" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../styles.css" /><style type="text/css" media="all"></style><script type="text/javascript" src="../javascript.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript"></script> <title>Dec 2005</title> </head> <body class="blog-archive-background"> <div class="blog-archive-headings-wrapper"> <div class="blog-archive-month">Dec 2005</div> <div class="blog-archive-link"><a href="../page0.html">Archive 05-06</a> | <a href="archive-4.html">Jan 2006</a> | <a href="archive-2.html">Nov 2005</a></div> </div> <div class="blog-archive-entries-wrapper"> <div id="unique-entry-id-592" class="blog-entry"><div class="blog-entry-title">Amateur Night is NYE</div><div class="blog-entry-date">12/31/2005 06:24 AM <span class="blog-entry-category">Chummin'<a href="category-2.html">Up Chucks</a></span><span class="blog-entry-permalink">Chummin'<a href="e4f722da2da27f87f4211d15e5eac7af-592.html">Permalink</a></span></div><div class="blog-entry-body">The end of an era? The beginning of something great? An artificial reason to call upon a shallow pool of resolve? A reason to keep on going? A reason to give up? Just another day. How do you empower the 365th day of the year, or yourself through some mystical magical, superstitious awareness of the rotation of a planet around a burning, erupting, perpetual nuclear reaction. A day assigned by someone tens of thousands of years ago to signal the an end of a cycle? Not a harvest cycle, or a seasonal cycle, just a completion of a circuit around a ball of light and heat. There will be no starting gun at 11:59'59.99999, no hic-up discernable in the celestial clockworks, no pinnacle has been reached, not even a perigee or apogee of stellar bodies realized. <br />Just once, long ago someone said, "Well it about time. Here we go. Bring on the wine." In Stonehenge one priest said to another, "What time you got, my clocks a little too large to wind" "Time for mead", came the inevitable reply. <br />In South America the chiselers were putting together another calendar, the blood of a virgin was sacrificed to a jaguar or serpent with hope for a renewed maize crop and fertile couplings (save those virgins, eh wot?) and history marked another day toward Mayan finality. <br /><br />Why don't we all go out and dance a jig at noon on the 183rd day of the year! Happy half-way there hour everybody! What is this fascination with trying to own everything by labeling it, as if a label brings understanding. Better comprehension through classification. "Thing Heavy!" "What thing, Ogg"? "Uunggh, thing"<br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="Lunar_event" width="509" height="224" src="page0_blog_entry592_1.jpg"/><br /><span style="font-size:11px; font-weight:bold; color:#af7f63;"><em>Hera's gift to the women of Argos. Chuck Pace &copy; 5/15/2003</em></span><br /><br />Web Log making inside of head to scream like dying thing when god of light abandon people. Must got to find place to wait for death. <br /><br />What? Sunrise at 7:22 AM EST? Oh, alright then. <br /><br />Chuck go now, make sales of trinkets to weary travelers before end of all time, and renewal night. <br /><br />Have a good Anglican New Years Day. (The Jewish people had theirs 68 days ago, (I forgot to get drunk and drive on sidewalks). The Chinese still have to wait until January 29th, for their Year of the Dog (year of the entr&eacute;e to the Vietnamese, Phillipino and Koreans). See you next year. I'll celebrate with a glass of pin&oacute;t and my wife in front of our fireplace. Far from the amateurs trying to kill something that never lived. <br /><br /><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#da694f;"><em>Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#7194cc;"><em> </em></span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.haloscan.com/load/chuckpace"> </script><br /><a href="javascript:HaloScan('nye2');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCount('nye2');</script></a> | <a href="javascript:HaloScanTB('nye2');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCountTB('nye2'); </script></a></div></div><div id="unique-entry-id-591" class="blog-entry"><div class="blog-entry-title">New Years Eve is NYE</div><div class="blog-entry-date">12/30/2005 06:40 AM <span class="blog-entry-category">Chummin'<a href="category-2.html">Up Chucks</a></span><span class="blog-entry-permalink">Chummin'<a href="d5eee890cb2dc2bc3a105ba88b0e5d0b-591.html">Permalink</a></span></div><div class="blog-entry-body">Since I had Thursday as an off day I have to work New Years Eve. Which is O.K. really. I don't usually make a big production number about the big "drinking " holidays. I prefer to do the New Years celebrating at home, and have only been out and about for the calendar reset a few times in the last two decades. It is a scary proposition to drive with people who have very little idea how to drive sober and know that impaired they are even more dangerous. Some will have cell phones next to their heads wishing glad tidings to friends and family while piloting two or three ton glass, steel, rubber and combustible fluid containing projectiles through unfamiliar parking lots and intersections. <strong><em>"Please pay attention, reaction time is a factor. Now tell me in your own words what you remember about your Mother."</em></strong><br />What do <span style="font-size:15px; font-weight:bold; color:#ff121d;"><u>I </u></span>have to look forward too in 2006? Well some things for sure; Continued existence (I still have over 33 hours to get there), at least one Colts home playoff game, my Dave Barry day to day calendar, and three more weeks of vacation in to schedule. What do my blogsphere friends have to look forward to? The return of the Mention Meter (I still have to create a nifty HTML graphic for that to put in the sidebar (your honor). More me and my ever expanding EGO to look forward to as well. The glory of THAT almost astounds even me. More of my pictures, more of my witty banter, more of my observations about other people (some obviously inferior), more chuckpace,com and cafepress items to buy, more EGO. Just remember, if there is a computer with internet connection, I'm in there waiting to tell you some nonsense that will most likely improve your day in some way, so you should got to THE SITE as often as possible, and leave it up on other peoples computers (and bookmark it for them), as a public service. Well have a great day, remember to think about me often, I'll be thinking about you (thinking about me), I promise.<br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="Chuck_Nick_med" width="509" height="370" src="page0_blog_entry591_1.jpg"/><br /><span style="font-size:11px; font-weight:bold; ">Me and Nick Wiesinger in route to Chicago for a Sox game: Photo Mike McDaniels &copy;2002</span><br /><br />Friday is casual at Roberts, and I almost always wear a Hawaiian shirt to commemorate casualness. Isn't if funny that EGO is such a short, quite word, while selflessness is so very long and demanding (ohh, look at me I'm selfless and exhibiting all the notable qualities of selflessness!). <br /><br /><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#da6f53;"><em>Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#7194cc;"><em> </em></span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.haloscan.com/load/chuckpace"> </script><br /><a href="javascript:HaloScan('nye');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCount('nye');</script></a> | <a href="javascript:HaloScanTB('nye');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCountTB('nye'); </script></a></div></div><div id="unique-entry-id-590" class="blog-entry"><div class="blog-entry-title">An Off Day</div><div class="blog-entry-date">12/29/2005 10:27 AM <span class="blog-entry-category">Chummin'<a href="category-2.html">Up Chucks</a></span><span class="blog-entry-permalink">Chummin'<a href="8c25cc31db7b9e23c8eb054ad174b5f6-590.html">Permalink</a></span></div><div class="blog-entry-body"><span style="color:#2c2aff;">10:30AM</span> I sit here at on Thursday, on a legitimate day off from work. I've only been up for 45 minutes, and I'm listening to Monty Python music on iTunes and surfing the web and having a grand old time. The weeks preceding the holiday take a massive toll on one's spirit and bring about the old ennui. <br />Today I'm recharging my emotional batteries and thinking of things I need to do, later. Right now this is the best thing I can do for myself. <br /><span style="color:#2c2aff;">10:37AM:</span> Monty is done and I'm listening to Moon Martin's <strong>I've Got a Reason</strong>. I bet there aren't two dozen people out there reading this that know who the heck I'm talking about right now. Here's help for the musically challenged.<br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="ESCAPE4_small" width="100" height="94" src="page0_blog_entry590_1.jpg"/><br /><span style="font:20px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight:bold; ">I've Got A Reason</span><span style="font:18px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight:bold; "><br /></span><span style="font:15px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight:bold; ">from the Album </span><span style="font:15px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight:bold; "><em>"Escape From Domination"</em></span><span style="font:18px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight:bold; "><br /></span><span style="font:16px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight:bold; ">John Moon Martin<br /><br /></span><span style="font:16px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "> I got a reason<br /> I been feeling blue<br /> My little girl so sensitive<br /> Split my heart in two<br /><br /></span><span style="font:16px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><em>Chorus</em></span><span style="font:16px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">:<br /> I got reason<br /> I'm feeling this way<br /> I got reason<br /> And I'm gonna make you pay<br /><br /> Spears of lightning<br /> Broke down from the sky<br /> Calling your name out in the night<br /> I just get no reply<br /><br /></span><span style="font:16px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><em>Chorus<br /><br /></em></span><span style="font:16px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "> I'm gonna use every hook in the book<br /> Don't accuse me, don't abuse me now<br /><br /> I had a vision<br /> Like a shining fire at night<br /> I can't believe it hurts so much<br /> It's gone now from my sight<br /><br /></span><span style="font:16px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><em>Chorus<br /><br /></em></span><span style="color:#2927ff;">10:45AM: </span>There I've found some Moon Martin lyrics for you, the rest is up to you. <div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="cars_motelstix" width="98" height="232" src="page0_blog_entry590_2.jpg"/></div>With my help you music appreciation can blossom, soon you may have over 5000 CD's too. Never any lack of music for any situation or mood. What! You want more? O.K. remember <strong>The Motels</strong>? Lead singer Martha Davis? Only the Lonley, Suddenly Last Summer, Take the L (out of Lover), Careful? Remember the Nights? <br />The Motels opened their very fisrt US tour in Boston in 1980. They opened for the Cars (from Boston) the first Time I saw them at Market Square (no that's not an overpriced sandwich at Arby's) and we went to the show in a limo, our friend Andy Paris (coincidentally now living in the Boston area, or so I'm told) won radio contest tickets and we went in style we also got to meet them and got pictures taken and such. Hey, if you are in the Boston area and you know how to get a hold of Andy Paris tell him to e-mail me at the <a href="mailto:chuckpace@mac.com" rel="self">contact me</a> below. Well that's early 80's music 101 for today, tune in again soon for more gripping adventures between the ears. <br /><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#2b27ff;"><em><br />Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#7194cc;"><em> </em></span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.haloscan.com/load/chuckpace"> </script><br /><a href="javascript:HaloScan('motelz');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCount('motelz');</script></a> | <a href="javascript:HaloScanTB('motelz');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCountTB('motelz'); </script></a><br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="Martha and ME_med" width="509" height="397" src="page0_blog_entry590_3.jpg"/><br /><span style="font-size:10px; font-weight:bold; "><em>Me with Martha Davis, with Marty Jourard (Sax Keyboards) . </em></span><span style="font-size:10px; font-weight:bold; color:#2d26ff;"><em>Photo: Carl Andrew "Andy" Paris &copy;1980</em></span></div></div><div id="unique-entry-id-589" class="blog-entry"><div class="blog-entry-title">Pointless Story Day</div><div class="blog-entry-date">12/28/2005 06:40 AM <span class="blog-entry-category">Chummin'<a href="category-4.html">Gags</a></span><span class="blog-entry-permalink">Chummin'<a href="67b943afcba1c28df335f417efc7f8d9-589.html">Permalink</a></span></div><div class="blog-entry-body">I'm perilously close to having nothing to write about this morning. I didn't have the T.V. on at all last night, I didn't listen to any new and amazing music, I didn't finish my book I'm reading and I didn't suffer from insomnia. I did go through my e-mails and download any cool movies or photos I've gotten in the past three or four months, and saved good ones from friends and deleted the rest (I had over 300 in the read inbox) captivating isn't it. Your sitting there saying to yourself, please Chuck tell me more. <br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="Ikephoto" width="509" height="362" src="page0_blog_entry589_1.jpg"/><br /><span style="font-size:11px; font-weight:bold; color:#32adb2;"><em>Ike's sidewall from my table. (..and?): Chuck Pace &copy;2005<br /></em></span><br />Jenni and I went to Ike and Jonseys for lunch yesterday, it was their first day open since the holiday and Jenni's first day back to work. <br /><br />When I went to Herron over two decades ago (closer to three) I had a good friend there named Mike Bir, Mike used to start a sentence like he was going into a big story, but all the information would be in the introduction.<br /><br />It's been unseasonably mild since the return from Tennessee, all but the snowplow hill just beyond my driveway has melted. <br /><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="sockmonk" width="221" height="271" src="page0_blog_entry589_2.jpg"/></div>Jenni went to the eye Dr. yesterday and got an exam. She needs to decide on glasses now. I need to go to the eye Dr. and have an exam too. <br /><br />Mike works at the IMA (Indianapolis Museum of Art) and has the same digital camera I do. I sold it to him. Chris Bucher and Deanne Roth also have that camera. I didn't sell Chris his. Chris is Buch in my blogroll. Deanne is Flux Space. Mike isn't in the blogroll, but I'm sure the IMA is online. <br /><br />When I got my BMW it had 285501 miles on it. <br /><br />These have all been examples of Mike Bir stories. <br />If they left you saying , ...and? I was successful. This is the Zen of storytelling, and I bow to the Master, I hope I was worthy Mike. <br /><br />I wasn't making fun of Mike. He's from Marion. <br /><br />I have a photo of mike with his camera purchase, but I wanted to put up my old pal sock monkey instead. Maybe I'll put Mikes picture up if I write a sock monkey story, turn about is....<br /><br /><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#32aab2;"><em>Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#7194cc;"><em> </em></span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.haloscan.com/load/chuckpace"> </script><br /><a href="javascript:HaloScan('bir');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCount('bir');</script></a> | <a href="javascript:HaloScanTB('bir');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCountTB('bir'); </script></a><br /></div></div><div id="unique-entry-id-588" class="blog-entry"><div class="blog-entry-title">Back to Work</div><div class="blog-entry-date">12/27/2005 06:41 AM <span class="blog-entry-category">Chummin'<a href="category-3.html">Toil It</a></span><span class="blog-entry-permalink">Chummin'<a href="4a1d56de44f1e85b0943e1f7aad109b7-588.html">Permalink</a></span></div><div class="blog-entry-body"><img class="imageStyle" alt="buickhill" width="509" height="299" src="page0_blog_entry588_1.jpg"/><br /><span style="font-size:11px; font-weight:bold; color:#a26920;"><em>An abandoned Buick overlooking Ashland City Tennessee: Chuck Pace &copy;2005<br /></em></span><strong><br /></strong>This is a day to dread. The day that many return to work for the first time since Thursday. I've found that a lot of people forget how to drive if they haven't done so for a few days. I expect bumper to bumper on the interstate, and phantom brake jamming, so I'm not taking the interstate (I'm leaving it where it is) today, at least not on the way in. <br /><br />Driving back from Tennesee on Christmas day was an enjoyable drive, even though it was raining all the way there was almost no traffic, and we only had to stop twice. There were two 90 plus minute peroids where I didn't touch the brakes or gas, and just left the car in cruise and talked to Jenni and listened to music on CD's. We also called Meredith and got to talk to her until the 'blasted' hills of middle Kentucky dropped our cell phone signals. <br /><br />Yesterday was a mixed bag at work, really quiet until about 11:00, then periods of extreme business and more quiet. We didn't have a lot of problems or returns, but did see a lot of people buying memory cards and accessories for the digital cameras they recieved from loved ones. It is a relief to be back to regular hours and a normal routine, leaving an hour earlier there is still a little light in the sky and the days are already starting to get longer just a week after the Winter Solstice. Five days from 2006, seven days until the next mention meter. I can almost see Travis getting into the starting blocks. <br /><br />On your Marks! Get ready...<br /><br />I have good news. The Chatterbox Juke Box is still alive, though there were some weird sounds emmanating from it at times yesterday, this is probably a reprieve not a pardon. The end is coming. But for now the tunes are still rolling out of Ami. I know Brock will be relieved to hear it, and hope he gets to Hear it again before it dies. <br /><br /><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#c01d06;"><em>Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#7194cc;"><em> </em></span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.haloscan.com/load/chuckpace"> </script><br /><a href="javascript:HaloScan('btw1');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCount('btw1');</script></a> | <a href="javascript:HaloScanTB('btw1');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCountTB('btw1'); </script></a></div></div><div id="unique-entry-id-587" class="blog-entry"><div class="blog-entry-title">After-mas</div><div class="blog-entry-date">12/26/2005 07:01 AM <span class="blog-entry-category">Chummin'<a href="category-2.html">Up Chucks</a></span><span class="blog-entry-permalink">Chummin'<a href="6ff35ac6cc5fd7a4f76ae56a9ce834e7-587.html">Permalink</a></span></div><div class="blog-entry-body">Well, that was a great Holiday. The 50th anniversary videos were very illuminating as well. It seems that Jenni was a super-spastic obnoxious extrovert child. Wow. It's a good thing I didn't see these videos before we were married. Not really, only kidding, but I do wonder where some of that crazieness went sometimes. Then I think, the craziest thing she ever did was marry me, and I see she's used it all up! No wonder she's so different now. Shell-shock probably best describes it.<br /><br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="gift-o-rama" width="508" height="147" src="page0_blog_entry587_1.jpg"/><br />The shear volume of packages, most expertly wrapped (some with an impenentrable Katie Ribbon), was staggering, but considering the shear volume of people in attendance I guess it's understandable. Especially since the two nephews are both under 10 years of age, there's bound to be a lot of attention from Mr. Claus at the Mason family domicile. <br /><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="shadowclaus" width="221" height="163" src="page0_blog_entry587_2.jpg"/></div>Speaking of Mr. Claus, I hear he is recovering quite well from his run in with Shadow and didn't miss one drop off of precious cargo after the attack which cost him quit a bit of his snow-white mane. Talk about shell-shock, look at the vacant stare as he is powerless to defend himself during the onslaught. Like I said, after a little R & R he'll be right as rain again, best wishes to Mrs. Claus, who will have to baby him back to a Jolly state in time for next years festivities!<br /><br /><br /><p style="text-align:right;" ><span style="font-size:10px; font-weight:bold; color:#ff0021;"><em>Shadow greets the once jolly elf. Chuck Pace &copy;2005<br /></em></span><span style="font-size:10px; font-weight:bold; color:#ff0021;"><em><br /></em></span></p><p>Have a continuing great year end, and I hope we can all get together (so you can buy me a drink) in the new year. <br /><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#c01d06;"><em>Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#7194cc;"><em> </em></span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.haloscan.com/load/chuckpace"> </script><br /><a href="javascript:HaloScan('gifto');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCount('gifto');</script></a> | <a href="javascript:HaloScanTB('gifto');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCountTB('gifto'); </script></a></p></div></div><div id="unique-entry-id-586" class="blog-entry"><div class="blog-entry-title">Trials and Tribulations</div><div class="blog-entry-date">12/24/2005 10:04 AM <span class="blog-entry-category">Chummin'<a href="category-6.html">Compukn'</a></span><span class="blog-entry-permalink">Chummin'<a href="781c36e936036df966e505541713d4d5-586.html">Permalink</a></span></div><div class="blog-entry-body">So I'm desperately trying to figure out how to use my laptop to add content to my site "remotely" so when we head to Tennessee in a few hours I can add to the pages there. I've successfully destroyed the site and restored it already once today and now just frustrated. If it can be done I will figure it out. If not I, um . Won't. <br /><br />Oh Yea. Merry Christmas. <br /><br /><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#c01d06;"><em>Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#7194cc;"><em> </em></span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.haloscan.com/load/chuckpace"> </script><br /><a href="javascript:HaloScan('frusto');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCount('frusto');</script></a> | <a href="javascript:HaloScanTB('frusto');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCountTB('frusto'); </script></a></div></div><div id="unique-entry-id-585" class="blog-entry"><div class="blog-entry-title">Short Post Friday</div><div class="blog-entry-date">12/23/2005 07:07 AM <span class="blog-entry-category">Chummin'<a href="category-3.html">Toil It</a></span><span class="blog-entry-permalink">Chummin'<a href="1c63a6b532d8cfe93c25b3deb76d613b-585.html">Permalink</a></span></div><div class="blog-entry-body">Sometimes it just too hard to come up with something interesting to post here. I'm over taxed and stressed by the holiday and the retail concerns, and I had a migraine yesterday, which means I have a bad headache today. <br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="Union_silhouette" width="509" height="383" src="page0_blog_entry585_1.jpg"/><br /><span style="font-size:11px; font-weight:bold; color:#47a658;"><em>Union Station Sunset, cross now. Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span><span style="font-size:11px; font-weight:bold; "><em><br /></em></span><br />Tonight I'm supposed to bowl again. We bowl at 6:00, I could work until 6:30, or I can leave between 5:00 and 6:00 so I can get ready for bowling. I need the money and the sells. I need the time off. Tomorrow is Christmas eve and I've been given the day off. This is a 18 year first. I have worked every Christmas Eve since 1988. So Jenni and I are driving to Chapmansboro Tennessee for her parents 50th wedding anniversary, I don't think we'll be looking for any covered bridges on this trip. This time the destination has to be more important than the journey. I won't be seeing my daughter and son in law again this Christmas, that's two in a row. I won't be "Home for Christmas" with my parents (but Jenni will be), and I don't forsee a "White Christmas" this year. I don't know if I'll be posting tomorrow or Sunday, I'll try. if not, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. <br /><strong><em>Be Love, Comfort and Joy</em></strong>, not Greed and Glutony, I'll see you all soon. <br /><br /><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#bf1d06;"><em>Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#7194cc;"><em> </em></span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.haloscan.com/load/chuckpace"> </script><br /><a href="javascript:HaloScan('spf23');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCount('spf23');</script></a> | <a href="javascript:HaloScanTB('spf23');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCountTB('spf23'); </script></a></div></div><div id="unique-entry-id-584" class="blog-entry"><div class="blog-entry-title">Meetings, Reunions and Deaths</div><div class="blog-entry-date">12/22/2005 07:24 AM <span class="blog-entry-category">Chummin'<a href="category-2.html">Up Chucks</a></span><span class="blog-entry-permalink">Chummin'<a href="4e3b66beb7ae00fdfd46fecfb2ce77f1-584.html">Permalink</a></span></div><div class="blog-entry-body">To say yesterday was eventful would be an understatement. Several things happened that will make the 2005 Winter Solstice memorable. <br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="A-Team" width="509" height="311" src="page0_blog_entry584_1.jpg"/><br /><span style="font-size:10px; font-weight:bold; "><em>The A-Team, Chris Bucher, Jody Grober, myself and Charlie Bumbar: </em></span><span style="font-size:10px; "><em>Barb VanDenberg &copy;2005</em></span><br /><br />The A-Team reunion and lunch is one of those. Chris, Jody, Charlie and I were the Roberts A team sales wise ten or twelve years ago. The momentous reunion took place at Smokey Bones Restaurant yesterday, momentous because Jody paid! Wow. <br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="Praire1" width="368" height="165" src="page0_blog_entry584_2.jpg"/><br /><span style="font-size:11px; font-weight:bold; "><em>Mel's second home and Prairie companions? Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="jukestrip" width="192" height="651" src="page0_blog_entry584_3.jpg"/></div>After work I met some of Mel's friends from the Prairie. There was Erika whom I've met before at Mel's on New Years Eve two years ago, and new friends Jeff and Kara Afriendamine (if that really is her last name!) All I know for sure at this point is that Kara is pretending to have a cute dog named Oscar (Jeff and Mel may have brought her out to help here with her delusions? poor thing).<br /><br />As I got to the 'box' I noticed the back corner was awfully dark, then I heard the sad and awful news. 201 of my close friends had died the night before. Those 201? The Jukebox AMI, and her 100 45 rpm records. This machine has been my close friend for 15 years, has never failed to uplift and entertain me and my friends, has been the catalyst of many a great Chatterbox story and even some folklore. Hey Andy, Are You Lonesome Tonight? I can never play that again on Valentines evening. Or Green Eyed Lady from a bug eyed patron. Or Mack the Knife for our friends at the IRS! The two quarter trick. I may have to do a memorial post just for the Jukebox at the Chatterbox some day. David said that the motor is done, that it ran for three hours straight without turning and that their is no replacement motor to be had! Ed was visibly shaken when we heard the news. <br />Just walking back there without the light from the Jukebox was a very funerary event. The place may lose a lot of its personality, and appeal without the tunesmith, I remember when she was down for a few days several years ago, awaiting parts. But I never thought it would happen again! E Gads!<br />What a day, what a blow. A technician (or is that mortician) is coming to the 'Box' today to check on AMI. I still hold out hope of a miracle, but David was less than optimistic. <br /><br />Unrelated quote of the night. Pam Walker's "Would it kill him to put in a heat duct!" uttered seconds after returning from the fabulously reconditioned women's restroom at the very same Chatterbox!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#9e5a1f;"><em>Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#7194cc;"><em> </em></span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.haloscan.com/load/chuckpace"> </script><br /><a href="javascript:HaloScan('ami');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCount('ami');</script></a> | <a href="javascript:HaloScanTB('ami');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCountTB('ami'); </script></a></div></div><div id="unique-entry-id-583" class="blog-entry"><div class="blog-entry-title">Pin Bustards</div><div class="blog-entry-date">12/21/2005 06:32 AM <span class="blog-entry-category">Chummin'<a href="category-2.html">Up Chucks</a></span><span class="blog-entry-permalink">Chummin'<a href="ea2dc16147e184a48c16472d35e1e799-583.html">Permalink</a></span></div><div class="blog-entry-body">I left work today at 1:00 PM because my wife asked me to take her to the Dr. for a 1:30 appointment for flu symptoms (she was doing her Froggy McGagger impersonation and was asked to leave work). I called her back and told her to make an appointment for me too, I've been needing to get a cortisone shot for a week, since I got the the results back from my MRI, so she did and I got my shot at 3:15 PM to the rear, anterior or (big forgotten latin medical name) triceps tendon. Here's something that could make an atheist totally devout for about three hours. Jesus, God, Holy Mother! Every time I moved the meteor strike that was once flesh, muscle and bone I saw the Trinity, and had to bite my tongue to keep from acknowledging them voiciferously in public while I was waiting for my anti inflammatory and <s>brain</s> pain killer meds at the pharmacy. Back home I took such meds and iced the affected shoulder. An hour later I removed the pack, feeling no pain or discomfort or concern, even though the shoulder in question was 30&deg; degrees cooler than the rest of my corpse. Jenni then said the Dr. said not to use the ice pack for more than 20 minutes, oops, Meds <img class="blog-image-smiley" src="smiley_smile.png" width="21" height="21" alt="Happy" border="0" /> I gorfot!. Solly. <br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="balls2infintiy" width="509" height="210" src="page0_blog_entry583_1.jpg"/><br /><span style="color:#3f3373;">Balls to Infinity Chuck Pace@2005<br /></span><br />So I laid around for three or four hours, then went to fulfill my bowling duties at the alley, cats. I bowled a sub-par first game (137) then followed with the second best game I've EVER bowled, a 242 (#1 was a 247 in winter 2004/ 2005 league) and a 3rd game of 188, still well over my average. For a 567 series! I texted missus .com after the second game to bragg, only to get the nurturing, bolstering, confidence building reply..."More Cortisone for that handsome brown-eyed man!" So now I guess I'm an enhanced, steroid bowler-bot. Well, my best game (247 remember) was an un-enhanced effort, I can at least still hang my hapless, un-enhanced head on that pole-lance and smile over the balistrade until the crows eat my lifeless eyes. <br /><br />Depending on the auspices of the non-sanctioned league we either won two games and series for 5 points, or all three games for 7 points. <div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="alleysigns" width="221" height="220" src="page0_blog_entry583_2.jpg"/></div>The reason there is any doubt is that one of the opposing teams bowlers Jody W. by partial name is being considered a female bowler with the 90% of Average less 200 handicap, instead of the 80% of Average... formula that's figured for male bowlers, and he's got a better mustache than me. I'm not bitter, I just want to have my score "enhanced" or <strong><em>his</em></strong> valued equally, by the rules (either way we will have won game one, being only 2 pins behind for the tie). <strong><em>"This is not Viet 'F-ing' Nam, Smoke! There are Rules Here! " </em></strong>To paraphrase Walter from the Cohen Brothers epic bowling movie "The Big Lebowski" or is it a Rug movie? or an early 80's movie or a... It's not a f-ing Viet Nam movie, Walter, why does everything have to be about Viet nam! Not everything has to do with Viet Nam! <br /><br />Were you even listening to The Dude's story?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#9e5a1f;"><em>Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#7194cc;"><em> </em></span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.haloscan.com/load/chuckpace"> </script><br /><a href="javascript:HaloScan('duder');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCount('duder');</script></a> | <a href="javascript:HaloScanTB('duder');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCountTB('duder'); </script></a><br /></div></div><div id="unique-entry-id-582" class="blog-entry"><div class="blog-entry-title">Feast</div><div class="blog-entry-date">12/20/2005 07:12 AM <span class="blog-entry-permalink">Chummin'<a href="a9ae854c81a6e31d174a7425f077ca3a-582.html">Permalink</a></span></div><div class="blog-entry-body"><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="flowers@kays" width="221" height="171" src="page0_blog_entry582_1.jpg"/></div>Last night right after work Jenni and I headed to Kay's for her 19th annual Christmas Party. Mel and Rich were there as well as lots of Chatterbox friends and Kay's neighbors and friends. Rich had made Mel and I enormous cutting boards in his shop like the one he gave Kay last year, and for Kay a hand crafted Mortar and Pestle that was awesome. Then there was the food. Kay's cooking is always to die for, and her friend Aubrey had made a vegetable with seasoned biscuit topping that was astounding as well. I weighed myself when I got home, and in the morning as well. I gained a pound in my sleep. I don't know how that's<div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="Kay'sshelfdecoration" width="221" height="274" src="page0_blog_entry582_2.jpg"/></div> possible, but I did. That's good cookin'! Just before exhaustion and the season got the better of my fellowshipping talents Joe Bula arrived at the party, with his iBook and lots of photos " and when he laughed his tummy shook like a bowl full of jelly." <br />We were supposed to get a fireworks show at the hands of fire marshall Rich, but friendly conversation and fabulous feasting pushed the time past 9' O'clock before Kay was reminded of it and she said, no the kids are outside burning stuff and that's good enough! This would not have happened if Joe George were here, he's the <strong><em>real </em></strong>fire marshall. <br /><br />I had my camera with me but only took two shots, both in the facility, so to speak. Now I'm waiting for the car to warm up enough for me to even drive, it's 7:12 AM and 5&deg; F outside (-14&deg; C says the computer in the dash of the BrrrrrMW). <br /><br />Enjoy the last four days of Christmas. See you all soon. (In my heart, dreams or on my site meter).<br /><br /><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#9e5a1f;"><em>Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#7194cc;"><em> </em></span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.haloscan.com/load/chuckpace"> </script><br /><a href="javascript:HaloScan('kays');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCount('kays');</script></a> | <a href="javascript:HaloScanTB('kays');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCountTB('kays'); </script></a><br /></div></div><div id="unique-entry-id-581" class="blog-entry"><div class="blog-entry-title">Colts,Bolts and Bumper Cams</div><div class="blog-entry-date">12/19/2005 06:53 AM <span class="blog-entry-category">Chummin'<a href="category-5.html">Spurts</a></span><span class="blog-entry-permalink">Chummin'<a href="db6b6826fb6dd605873a8a749e913ca5-581.html">Permalink</a></span></div><div class="blog-entry-body">The Colts were definitely outplayed yesterday, the better team won. Game plan and execution on both sides of the ball belonged to Drew Brees and the Chargers. Well I think it's better to get that first loss under their belts now. They don't want to have a post season loss, that's the real undefeated streak to worry about. Lose when it's only a stat and not the end of your season. Now the Colts can stop worrying about perfection and get a SuperBowl ring. Play to win in the post season, that was one of the season's goals get to and win the whole thing. The '98 Brocno's started 13-0 and finished the regular season 14-2 but every man on the team got a SuperBowl ring. They can start Manning to keep the consecutive starts record alive, like the did with Brett Favre a few years ago, then pull him after a couple of series. Let's see what Jim Sorgi can do. <br /><br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="bumpertag" width="509" height="147" src="page0_blog_entry581_1.jpg"/><br /><span style="color:#9e6f21;">Marion County Sheriff's Front Bumper, Bumped! Chuck Pace &copy;2005<br /></span><br />On another note last Thursday as Jenni and I were getting up and preparing to go to work I heard a sound that could only be one car thumping into the back of another, a traffic accident. This was at around 6 AM. We went about our business and got ready, walked the dog and such and could see that a Sheriff had somebody in a large truck pulled over as we left the neighborhood. Not until we were across from the accident scene did we see that the Sheriff was the one who had hit the truck, and hard enough to knock the cover off of his front bumper. There was no skidding sounds or squeeling of tires prior to the thump, so I have to assume the sheriff was not paying attention to the road, but was distracted and looked up too late to avoid the stopped or slower vehicle. Too bad for the truck driver, though. I'm sure he got a ticket. Still that's the fastest I ever saw a Sheriff arrive at an accident scene. The bumper cover is still out there, should we add littering to the list of offenses?<br /><br />Six Shopping Days left until Festivus. Remain calm, be happy and don't make any sudden moves, and we will all get through this o.k., O.K.?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#9e5a1f;"><em>Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#7194cc;"><em> </em></span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.haloscan.com/load/chuckpace"> </script><br /><a href="javascript:HaloScan('bumpd');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCount('bumpd');</script></a> | <a href="javascript:HaloScanTB('bumpd');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCountTB('bumpd'); </script></a></div></div><div id="unique-entry-id-580" class="blog-entry"><div class="blog-entry-title">Surprises In All Sizes</div><div class="blog-entry-date">12/18/2005 09:01 AM <span class="blog-entry-category">Chummin'<a href="category-4.html">Gags</a></span><span class="blog-entry-permalink">Chummin'<a href="76afb3821c88f0100ce812a8c522bc3b-580.html">Permalink</a></span></div><div class="blog-entry-body"><h1>Howdy pardners, I got a tale fer ya.</h1> <br /><br />Yesterday, after a fast paced, active and busy day at the digital camera ranch, I decided to mosey over to the local tavern. After tying up my 210 steeds, I found bar-keep Dave outside the tavern and said my greetings. Entering the establishment I see the visages of none other than Black Brock and his sidekick Smalls, sittin' with the right hand man of the Territory District Attorney Richard P. Knowing that Brock and Jess (Smalls) had ridden in from 176 miles away (often a three days ride) I figured they were in town visitin' Brocks kin. Exactly so, I suspect the Richard was down talkin' to 'em saying, <div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="scarvers" width="221" height="136" src="page0_blog_entry580_1.jpg"/></div>"Now Black Brock, we don't want no trouble whilst you an' Smalls here are in town, in fact I'll buy you both a cold one to get the dust of the trail off and wet your whistles, if you can promise me that, otherwise I might as well run you in right now." Well I joined the group with a little uneasiness but soon learned I was right about the visitin' of kin, and there weren't going to be no trouble. <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:10px; font-weight:bold; color:#9e6020;"><em>Travis "the Voice" and Black Brock. Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span> <br /><br />Smalls (quite handy with her guns, I might add) told me how she's been makin' 'em "dance" over in Columbus, I assured her I wasn't there to cross her or Black Brock, just to have a couple of frothy brews myself then head home to the missus. Not long after that Gary "The Singer" showed up and hatched a plan with smalls while I entertained Richard and Brock with stories from the old country. Gary left, tellin' me in confidenct, "I gotta' go to work now," and shook my hand. Then the rest of Brock's gang (The Voice and the Candy Girl) walked in and promptly took over the place.<br /> <img class="imageStyle" alt="surprise" width="509" height="372" src="page0_blog_entry580_2.jpg"/><br /><span style="font-size:10px; font-weight:bold; color:#9e5e20;"><em>Smalls, Black Brock, "the Voice" and Liz the 'Candy Girl,' unriled and lookin' innocent. Chuck Pace &copy;2005 </em></span><span style="font-size:10px; font-weight:bold; "><em><br /></em></span><strong><br /></strong>I was worried because Richard left before the "Gang" was assembled, and finally relieved when they decide to go bust up a restaurant further down the street. Seeing which way they headed, I tossed a couple bits to Jess the new barmaid and beat a hasty retreat the other way, happy to get out with my hide. Whew, I didn't even see Smalls' guns, but unless Brock was handlin' 'em I knew she had 'em on her. I ain't heard tell of what went down after they left the tavern, but that don't concern me or mine, and I got out with my hide. 'Till next time friends. Happy trails. <br /><br /><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#9e5a1f;"><em>Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#7194cc;"><em> </em></span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.haloscan.com/load/chuckpace"> </script><br /><a href="javascript:HaloScan('updt');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCount('updt');</script></a> | <a href="javascript:HaloScanTB('updt');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCountTB('updt'); </script></a></div></div><div id="unique-entry-id-579" class="blog-entry"><div class="blog-entry-title">UP date</div><div class="blog-entry-date">12/17/2005 07:11 AM <span class="blog-entry-permalink">Chummin'<a href="630307ae3df5090b8d7a852ea96aa691-579.html">Permalink</a></span></div><div class="blog-entry-body"><img class="imageStyle" alt="frgged_balls" width="241" height="176" src="page0_blog_entry579_1.jpg"/><br /><span style="color:#9b6014;"><em>Balls. Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span><br /><br />Maybe the holiday season is taking its toll on me, maybe I'm not supposed to be bowling. No. Just bad timing. We <em>(Four Get It!)</em> lost all 7 points last night and probably plummeted into last place in the league. The closest we came to victory, the second game, I was able to parlay into another loss in the tenth frame by not getting a second strike of the evening, to augment the spare in the 9th. We lost that game by 4 pins. The final game was our best by far, but Darrell Ross of the opposing team came very close to getting his second ever 300 game and the first in 10 years. He finished the second game with 5 in a row, and had another 8 to start the 3rd game, then 9/, X, X, 8. For a 276. (We were rooting for a 298,299 or 300, hey I'd rather be beat by a near perfect effort than just bowling poorly.) While Darrell was doing this I had a 190 effort, and ended the night with a 153 average, which is what I started the night with. Ed was not there last night, and Jeff Barber our rostered alternate could not make the first game since we work until 6:30 on weekdays until x-mas eve, eve so we had to take Ed's blind game one. (I have been given special consideration, and get to leave early these last two Fridays, because, well, I'm ME.) <br /><br />Well, that's enough of that, we get on track next week when we play against Godzilla, Gammorah, Monster Zero and Mothra. We're sure to win, but I'm betting the power lines, elevated train tressels and toy tanks in the area of the Sport Bowl are going to take a beating!<br /><br /><h3>OH NO GOAD-ZIRRA!</h3><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#248a31;"><em>Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#7194cc;"><em> </em></span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.haloscan.com/load/chuckpace"> </script><br /><a href="javascript:HaloScan('updt');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCount('updt');</script></a> | <a href="javascript:HaloScanTB('updt');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCountTB('updt'); </script></a></div></div><div id="unique-entry-id-578" class="blog-entry"><div class="blog-entry-title">Another Friday</div><div class="blog-entry-date">12/16/2005 06:41 AM <span class="blog-entry-category">Chummin'<a href="category-2.html">Up Chucks</a></span><span class="blog-entry-permalink">Chummin'<a href="9bf12ac1f57453fc8cca4207f0e9c1f8-578.html">Permalink</a></span></div><div class="blog-entry-body"><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="ballreturn" width="221" height="188" src="page0_blog_entry578_1.jpg"/></div>Tonight it is imperative that my bowling team gets back on track. Last week in my absence they were able to win 2 points. We moved from 12th place to 13th and are only 3 points out of 14th (and three back from 12th again). If we win them all we'll still be 5 points out of 11th place if "The Unknown" team there loses all 7 tonight. <br /><br />The reason I was not in attendance last week is a very simple one. I had to spend the evening wooing my bride on the advent of our 22nd wedding anniversary. We had a very pleasant evening, did some eating good in the neighbor hood and generally entertained ourselves well. I gave the very romantic "iWorks 05' software package for her to load on her second love, her computer. She gave her first love "Bvlgari Aqva, Pour Homme" cologne. I do smell good when I wear it too, it has a very nice scent and it calms the "fiercer" me considerably. <br /><br />Wish me luck and high pin counts at the lanes tonight. I'll be on with an update tomorrow morning and maybe mirth, or madcap mayhem. Hilarity and crazy hijinx could insue. (I'm sorry I fell into TV guide synopsis mode for a moment). Till then stay warm, dry and happy. <br /><br /><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#2c9d51;"><em>Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#7194cc;"><em> </em></span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.haloscan.com/load/chuckpace"> </script><br /><a href="javascript:HaloScan('2balls');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCount('2balls');</script></a> | <a href="javascript:HaloScanTB('2balls');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCountTB('2balls'); </script></a></div></div><div id="unique-entry-id-577" class="blog-entry"><div class="blog-entry-title">Sang</div><div class="blog-entry-date">12/15/2005 07:00 AM <span class="blog-entry-category">Chummin'<a href="category-2.html">Up Chucks</a></span><span class="blog-entry-permalink">Chummin'<a href="29cf63ae033a9e4b45afc0c22a8b368c-577.html">Permalink</a></span></div><div class="blog-entry-body"><div class="image-left"><img class="imageStyle" alt="1inchelf" width="125" height="206" src="page0_blog_entry577_1.jpg"/></div> This is Mr. M.Travis DiNicola, or as referred to last night, the Elf. The Elf was already at the "Box" last evening when Jenni and I arrived. He was sitting adjacent to the 5 Golden Rings tables. Normally Brooks would have been there right beside The Elf, but our man Brooks was under the weather and daned not to regale or croon on sing-a-long night. At the Golden Rings table sat Melissa (Mel) Shoffner a long time (honorary for gender reasons) Wednesday Night Men's club member of high standing, she was the first to arrive, our group usually spills over two tables on sing-a-long night but last eve we were diminished by three or four, with John David, Mike McDaniels, Ed Sipes and Mike Wilson (uninitiated) all away from the fray. As the evening progressed it became clear that the Elf would have to join Jenni, Mel, Rich and I as a "Ring" at least for this one evening, the swans were doing swimmingly and could spare their little buddy. <br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="Reserved" width="509" height="306" src="page0_blog_entry577_2.jpg"/><span style="color:#2a9c4f;"><br /></span><span style="color:#2a9c4f;">David's Engraved Reservation for the "Rings"</span><br /><br /><div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="RC_MTDxmas" width="221" height="170" src="page0_blog_entry577_3.jpg"/></div>Not long after the twelve days were over and a break was at hand, a smarter Pam Walker joined the Rings table (already rung) and sang the remaining seasonal ditties with gusto and aplomb (at least it looked like a plomb, the lighting is so dim). Honky Tonk Judy and David A. were, for the twenty second year or so, on the stage to lead us all in voice and instrument. And to fit into their key range Rich and I were once again compelled to sing "I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" in our best Edith Bunker voices (another true sign of the impending holiday). Unlike <span style="font:11px Verdana, serif; font-weight:bold; ">Beaujolais Nouveau day </span>the annual sing-a-long went off without a "hitch."<br /> <span style="font-size:13px; font-weight:bold; "><em>Merry Non-secular Holliday Event to All and to All a passable Waning Day! </em></span>(paraphrasing the height challenged Tim from the Dicken's classic). <br /><br /><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#2b9c50;"><em>Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#7194cc;"><em> </em></span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.haloscan.com/load/chuckpace"> </script><br /><a href="javascript:HaloScan('sung');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCount('sung');</script></a> | <a href="javascript:HaloScanTB('sung');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCountTB('sung'); </script></a><br /></div></div><div id="unique-entry-id-576" class="blog-entry"><div class="blog-entry-title">Fa Ra Ra Ra Ra</div><div class="blog-entry-date">12/14/2005 06:07 AM <span class="blog-entry-category">Chummin'<a href="category-2.html">Up Chucks</a></span><span class="blog-entry-permalink">Chummin'<a href="2b313b5de3f24f68c6744bf52fc6e893-576.html">Permalink</a></span></div><div class="blog-entry-body"><h2>Its Christmas Sing-A-Long Time again!</h2><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; "><em><br /></em></span><p style="text-align:center;" ><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; "><em> </em></span><strong><img class="imageStyle" alt="SkippyXmas" width="179" height="260" src="page0_blog_entry576_1.jpg"/></strong><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; "><em><br /></em></span></p><p><span style="font-size:14px; ">The annual event has arrived again at the Chatterbox. The day when all the little girls and boys gather around the honky tonk piano and wassail. Today is the first of the twelve days of Christmas and the last for regular hours at the Store, tomorrow our extended hours start. But tonight we'll be jolly and festive. I have but few gifts to bestow on but a few of my merry cajolers, but I have joyous feelings for the lot! Merry Xmas from Chuck, Jenni and Skippy the toxic Monkey! <br /></span></p><p style="text-align:center;" > <img class="imageStyle" alt="tree1" width="202" height="342" src="page0_blog_entry576_2.jpg"/><br /><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#f70020;"><em>Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#7194cc;"><em> </em></span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.haloscan.com/load/chuckpace"> </script><br /><a href="javascript:HaloScan('xsng');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCount('xsng');</script></a> | <a href="javascript:HaloScanTB('xsng');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCountTB('xsng'); </script></a></p></div></div><div id="unique-entry-id-575" class="blog-entry"><div class="blog-entry-title">Assignment From Jenni</div><div class="blog-entry-date">12/13/2005 06:49 AM <span class="blog-entry-category">Chummin'<a href="category-3.html">Toil It</a></span><span class="blog-entry-permalink">Chummin'<a href="a2d01ea748344d809b8229ffcb6d1869-575.html">Permalink</a></span></div><div class="blog-entry-body">Well, I'm going to be serious here for a few minutes. I get asked a lot of digital camera questions outside of work and here are some of my thoughts. <br /><br />My wife reads InstaPundit and Glenn Reynolds every day (yet, I sometimes have to remind her to read my Thoughtpukes... only kidding, honey) and she had me check out the <span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; "><em>carnival of the digital cameras</em></span> post. Say's it's right up my alley. I should link to him on Tuesday evening (that's my assignment). I have to agree, I have worked in a camera store since 1988, was there with my flashlight and pill-box hat to usher in the digital revolution. Have shot nearly all brands at one time or another and have owned four point and shoot models myself. I also taught introduction to digital photography courses for a year for IUPUI (Indiana University, Purdue University at Indianapolis). All of the photos on my site were shot with my point and shoot digital cameras (unless otherwise credited and noted). So, to it then.<br /><br />I agree that both Nikon's and Canon's DSLR's are great cameras. As the big dogs they have the complete systems and most accessories available for <strong><em>any</em></strong> desired use. Which would you chose? Generally I recommend that if you already own Nikon lenses you should stay with Nikon. The same is true for Canon users, if you own Canon stay with Canon, the <strong>hit</strong> you will take in trade-in is generally not worth the loss of good lenses and equipment, and both companies have DSLR's at every level of proficiency. <br /><br />I was surprised that Glen has had problems with his D70s a usually highly reliable product (and my next purchase). The Canons are more popular with sports shooters, but Nikon has been winning back their loyals with the D2X's and second generation D2H's. Later this week the new <strong>D200</strong> with its 10.5 megapixel chip will start falling into the hands of those who were wise enough to pre-order them, I've handled this camera and am <strong><em>very</em></strong> impressed (sadly, I can not afford one now, even at less than $1700.00). Konica-Minolta and Pentax also have very competent DSLR's that use their Film counterparts AF lenses (Pentax's <strong>*ist</strong>'s will actually use any K-mount lens) while Olympus designed their DSLR's from the ground up with lenses and flashes specifically, instead of modifying earlier systems for a new photographic future. Olympus' newest DSLR the 8 megapixel Evolt E-500 comes in a two lens kit (14-45mm and 40-150mm) for around $850.00 (if you want an exceptional system and don't own another systems lenses this is an inexpensive way to get started). <br /><br /><span style="font-size:13px; font-weight:bold; ">Point and Shoots:</span> That's tough, there are literally hundreds of choices out there, something for every use, need and niche. It's just impossible to counsel a perspective buyer without learning their individual uses and requirements. <br />The older photos on my site were from a Nikon Coolpix 950 (no longer available, but it was a great 2 megapixel camera with macro to 3/4 of an inch and a swivel body that allowed flexible shooting and viewing like in a macro setting). <br /><br />The more recent site shots are from my 7.2 megapixel Sony Cybershot DSC-P150, which was replaced in the spring by the newer (nearly identical except for color and asthetics) DSC-P200. I can't praise this camera enough, I carry it in a cell-phone case and have it on me at nearly every waking moment. The Movie mode is phenomenal and the Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens is as sharp and crisp as any I've used in my 25+ years of photography experience. The DSC-P200 sells for $339.00. <br />Nikon has reintroduced the swivel design I mentioned above in a 6 megapixel, 10x optical zoom model, the Coolpix S4, which runs on two AA's and is half the size of my dinosaur Coolpix 950, but every bit as capable in the macro realms. Also from Nikon are two WiFi models that transmit images directly to your computer as you shoot. The P1 and P2 are small but pack a large LCD and high pixel counts (8 megapixel and 5.1 megapixel respectively) along with a 3.5x zoom (36-126mm, 35mm equiv.). <br />Canon's Digital Elph series continue to be among the favorites for size, durability and overall value. Pentax's Optio WP performs well in nearly all weather conditions, Konica-Minolta's X1 and X60 models respond and recover very quickly and hide well in a pocket or palm. <br /><br />Yes, there are hundreds of Point and Shoot digital choices. It would take weeks to list them all, and is impossible to compare and contrast with so may variations out there. My recommendations. Visit a camera store, not a mass merchandiser or on-line store, talk to a qualified camera sales person, let them know your needs, hobbies and/or uses for your next camera purchase to narrow the field to a few models. Hold the cameras, take a shot or two, ask questions, try the features. Get what <span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; ">you</span> want. Not what some overstock house or on-line product liquidator says is the buy of a lifetime. It's your lifetime, capture it with your camera. <br /><br /><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; "><em>Chuck Pace </em></span><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#f70020;"><em>&copy;2005</em></span><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#7194cc;"><em> </em></span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.haloscan.com/load/chuckpace"> </script><br /><a href="javascript:HaloScan('assig');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCount('assig');</script></a> | <a href="javascript:HaloScanTB('assig');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCountTB('assig'); </script></a></div></div><div id="unique-entry-id-574" class="blog-entry"><div class="blog-entry-title">Two More Days</div><div class="blog-entry-date">12/12/2005 07:31 AM <span class="blog-entry-category">Chummin'<a href="category-2.html">Up Chucks</a></span><span class="blog-entry-permalink">Chummin'<a href="88b466ffb0f49587e0836d058a6f18da-574.html">Permalink</a></span></div><div class="blog-entry-body">Two days until the annual Chatterbox Christmas Sing-A-Long, a long honored tradition among the Wednesday Night Men's Club. For the sixth year in a row the WNMC will again have the honored 5th table. The one we own. The "Five Golden Rings" table. It also looks like I'll have a sore throat again for the 3rd year in a row, another lesser tradition. I've been eating oranges and taking multi-vitamans and everything else to avoid this tradition, and today I wake up with my Lurch voice in full timbre. I sing of earthquakes and idling diesels. Barry White and Tennessee Ernie Ford. Joy. <br /><p style="text-align:right;" >To the World.<img class="imageStyle" alt="poinseitta" width="509" height="465" src="page0_blog_entry574_1.jpg"/><br /></p><p><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#f70020;"><em>Chuck Pace &copy;2005</em></span><span style="font-size:14px; font-weight:bold; color:#7194cc;"><em> </em></span><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.haloscan.com/load/chuckpace"> </script><br /><a href="javascript:HaloScan('2mo');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCount('2mo');</script></a> | <a href="javascript:HaloScanTB('2mo');" target="_self"><script type="text/javascript">postCountTB('2mo'); </script></a></p></div></div><div id="unique-entry-id-573" class="blog-entry"><div class="blog-entry-title">Horseshoe Heads</div><div class="blog-entry-date">12/11/2005 07:08 PM <span class="blog-entry-category">Chummin'<a href="category-5.html">Spurts</a></span><span class="blog-entry-permalink">Chummin'<a href="c7ea3f50e65278cba4a1a238544c3a0a-573.html">Permalink</a></span></div><div class="blog-entry-body"><img class="imageStyle" alt="page0_blog_entry547_3" width="42" height="32" src="page0_blog_entry573_1.gif"/>They just keep getting better and better. The Colts are so good that the other teams are getting frustrated and starting to loose their composure and getting stupid penalties. Like Jacksonville's #98 Henderson banging a Colts players helmeted head into the ground four times after a play was over. Unbelievably, he was not ejected! <div class="image-right"><img class="imageStyle" alt="Cowher1" width="208" height="260" src="page0_blog_entry573_2.jpg"/></div>Or Jack Del Rio getting a unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for dressing down the side judge. Composure boys, composure. Two weeks ago I thought Bill "The Jaw" Cowher's bottom lip was going to consume his entire head, and I'm sure we all saw the spit spraying from his mouth as he exorcised his ire upon his players! <br /><br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="page0_blog_entry547_3" width="45" height="35" src="Helmet.gif"/><span style="color:#0f3c8f;">Now to the Colts records and Milestones!</span><strong> <br /></strong><span style="font:12px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#12448f;">'</span><span style="font:12px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "> </span><span style="font:12px 'Lucida Grande', LucidaGrande, Verdana, sans-serif; ">The Colts are only the fourth team in History to start 13-0<br /></span><span style="font:12px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#12458f;">' </span>Peyton Manning now owns all of Marino's records. <br /><span style="font:12px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#11428f;">'</span><span style="font:12px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "> </span>Peyton is the Only QB to ever have over 3000 yards passing for eight consecutive seasons. <br /><span style="font:12px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#12408f;">'</span><span style="font:12px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "> </span>The Colts are the only team in history to beat 13 of their opponents (all of them so far) by 7 or more points in a season. <br /><span style="font:12px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#103d8f;">'</span><span style="font:12px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "> </span>Marvin Harrison became the 12th player in history to top 12,000 yards receiving in a career. <br /><span style="font:12px Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#12458f;">' </span>Marvin and Peyton continue to add to the all time tandem hook-up TD record, now at 94 with 2 today. <br /><br /><img class="imageStyle" alt="helmet-tiny" width="36" height="27" src="page0_blog_entry573_4.jpg"/><img class="imageStyle" al