A few weeks ago I had gotten home from work and realized I needed to wash laundry. Since I was washing laundry anyway I decided to wash the shorts I was wearing. So I loaded the washing machine and started the load of laundry. While I was waiting for the laundry to get done I had to make a phone call. After searching all over for about 15 minutes I couldn’t remember where I had my phone last. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks, in some attempt that I may rescue the phone I ran to the washing machine and looked inside. There it was. I managed to wash my cell phone. After contemplating the cell phone may not be a complete loss I tried disassembling it and leaving it out to dry.
The next morning I put the phone together to see if it would work. Needless to say it didn’t. I took the phone to the nearest T-mobile store to see what options I had. The clerk told me to leave it out to dry. I told him I did and it still doesn’t work. Then he advised me I need to buy another. After looking around the store I decided to go with the cheapest phone they had the Samsung X105 model. After having this phone for a few weeks I realized why it was the cheapest they had. This phone sucks! I tried adjusting the settings and it doesn’t keep the settings. I’ll be in the middle of a phone call and the phone will disconnect for no reason. I try turning off the password for my voice mail then the phone puts it right back on. I’ve tried everything with stupid phone. This phone does have one feature that works, the alarm works great. Basically this is a high priced alarm clock. The next thing I’m going to do with it is take it back. Maybe it’s just my experience, but I recommend staying away from this phone.
Cell Phone Plus Washing Machine Equals No Worky, Worky
My First Bad Experience on eBay
I recently was looking online for a movie I hadn’t seen for about 12 years, ?If looks could kill?”. While searching around on the internet I wasn’t having much luck. Then I decided to check on eBay. There it was, I managed to find the DVD and starwars9111 was the user selling it. So I decided to check out the description to make sure it wasn’t a scam. The description showed the following, as excact:
Region Code: —
Genre: Comedy
Sub-Genre: Action
Display Format: Full Screen
Condition: Used
THIS AUCTION IS FOR THE DVD OF IF LOOKS COULD KILL STARING RICHARD GRIECO. THIS IS A DVD, NOT VCD. COMES WITH CASE, COVER AND ART ON DISC. ALL MY DVD”S ARE NTSC REGION 0. THEY WILL PLAY IN 95% OF ALL U.S. AND CANADIAN DVD PLAYERS. ALL DVD”S HAVE MENUS AND CHAPTER SEARCH. WINNER TO PAY $5 FOR S/H IN THE U.S. AND $7 WORLDWIDE. WILL ONLY ACCEPT U.S. MONEY ORDERS, CASH OR ONLINE CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS ONLINE THROUGH BIDPAY.COM – NO PAYPAL. RETURN POLICY – EXCHANGE ONLY, NO REFUNDS. PAYMENT MUST BE RECIVED IN 7 DAYS OR NEGATIVE FEEDBACK WILL BE LEFT FOR BUYER. THANKS FOR LOOKING AND PLEASE CHECK OUT THE OTHER DVD”S I HAVE UP FOR AUCTION. EMAIL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
Since this user does not accept Paypal payments I mailed off a money order. After 3 weeks I still had not received the DVD so I shot the user a message, then low and behold the next day the DVD arrived. Once I received the DVD I opened the package to find out this DVD was a pirated copy. It was not used as said in the description. The quality of this pirated DVD was worse than VCD quality.
Since this was my first bad experience I decided to post it as a warning to all other eBay users. I strongly recommend to never do business with this person and to report them for pirating DVD’s for profit. Stay away from the following person:
eBay username: starwars9111
Name as listed on package: A. Andrews
Address as listed on package: 1101 E Tropicana Street Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
Which is Worse, Sitting at Home Alone or Hanging Out With Lamers?
Last night I was bored so I decided to walk over to a friend’s house nearby. While there some other people showed up. Then they start prank calling people who they had in their cell phone address book. I felt like I was back in middle school again so I decided to go back home and take my dog for a walk.
After I had finished the walk I decided to call them up and let them know that if they were going out to give me a call. They said they were going to just hand out at home and for me to come back over. So I decided it was much better to hang out with them than it was to stay at home. While over there people had been drinking for a while and I was behind the power curve so I decided I did not want to drink.
We played a game of euchre and then moved onto spades. During the game of spades this one punk was making up rules as he went along. This proved to me that he had no idea how to play spades, but because nobody wanted to argue we all decided to go along with him. While we were playing spades the husband and wife of that address decided they were going to get into a fight. Imagine this 4 players sitting around playing spades outside your door and you decide to go inside and have a fight where everybody can hear. It was kind of an embarrassing situation for everybody.
After the game of spades was over the drunk spade player who kept changing the rules decided we should go to a party. Since I was the only sober one of the group I volunteered to drive. After driving around for 45 minutes we finally found this party and went inside. There were some hot chicks there, but soon after we arrived the police also decided to show up. We hung out at this party for a while then the cops decided to show up again and the person who was throwing this party had to break it up.
After that I ended up just taking everybody home. The point being that no matter how bad a night is or how juvenile people act, it sure beats sitting at home alone.
Put Your Foot in Your Mouth
On Friday I went out with some coworkers at first we talked some work and then later after we had been drinking for a while we started shooting the shit for a while. Everything was great except for the stupid things that kept coming out of my mouth. It seemed that every point I was trying to make, I kept screwing up. We all know alcohol doesn”t make you smarter, but this was the first time I was being a complete idiot. The next morning I ended up calling one of my coworkers to see that I didn’t piss anybody off or say something completely retarded, but he said everything went fine. I think for the moral of the story I will use a quote from Ernest Hemingway, “Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.
Iraqi Things
Here are some photos of different Iraqi things.
2004 Daytona 500
On this day, I was incredibly fortunate to attend the renowned Daytona 500, an extraordinary occasion that marked my first-ever exposure to a thrilling stock car race. Before the race began, there were captivating pre-race activities that heightened the sense of anticipation among the spectators. The exceptionally talented songstress, Leanne Rimes, graced the audience with her spirited rendition of “R.O.C.K. in the USA,” followed by a powerful performance of the National Anthem. The grandeur of the event was further magnified by the presence of President George W. Bush, who had the honor of initiating the race, while the energetic Whoopi Goldberg enthusiastically waved the green flag, signaling the commencement of the race.
As the race unfolded, several accidents occurred, adding to the intensity and suspense felt by the crowd. The drivers’ exemplary skill and precision were truly awe-inspiring as they maneuvered their vehicles with remarkable dexterity at astonishing speeds, battling fiercely against each other. However, with approximately 19 laps remaining, Dale Earnheart Jr. executed a strategic maneuver that propelled him into the lead position. Leaving the rest of the pack trailing in his wake, he demonstrated his unrivaled racing prowess and ultimately crossed the finish line triumphantly, firmly clutching the checkered flag.
The overall experience of witnessing the Daytona 500 was undeniably exhilarating. The sheer velocity and precision exhibited by the drivers, along with the heart-stopping moments of the race, created an enthralling spectacle for all in attendance. Furthermore, delving into the rich historical significance associated with the Daytona 500 served to deepen my appreciation for this remarkable event. Often hailed as the “Superbowl of car racing,” this race holds a particularly special place in the hearts of fervent racing enthusiasts, serving as the pinnacle of the motorsport realm.
In conclusion, I consider myself immensely privileged to have been granted the opportunity to attend the Daytona 500. The inclusion of electrifying performances by Leanne Rimes, the distinguished presence of President George W. Bush, and the animated flag-waving conducted by Whoopi Goldberg added an extra layer of grandeur to the event. The race itself showcased the drivers’ remarkable skills and the fierce competition they encountered. All in all, witnessing the Daytona 500 proved to be a riveting experience that provided me with a profound understanding of the history and significance underpinning this esteemed race.
2004 NFL Pro Bowl – 25 years in Hawaii
At the start of the game the NFC had the ball first and didn”t do anything with it. The very first play for the AFC they threw a touch down pass. Then the NFC got the ball back and then the AFC blocked a punt for an AFC touchdown.
At the end of the 3rd quarter the score was the AFC 38 to NFC 27. Surprisingly this years Pro Bowl is better than last years due to the level of competition. I think that is resulted from this years youthful selectees to the Pro Bowl. At the beginning of the 4th quarter the AFC fumbled the football and the NFC (Lavarre Arrington) recovered the ball, but the NFC got a unsportsmanlike penalty resulting in an AFC 1st down and eventually at touchdown. The NFC came back with a 58 yard kickoff return then the very next play was a touchdown pass to left tight end (Crumpler). Late in the 4th quarter Payton Manning threw 2 interceptions resulting in 2 NFC touchdowns. The NFC took the lead 55 – 45 with 3:32 left in the game. The AFC went down to score again then they kicked an onside kick. The NFC (waved a fair kick) and the AFC hit him resulting a penalty. The NFC (Mark Bulger) threw and interception in the end zone and Brock Marion ran the ball out to the 22 yard line. The AFC drove the ball all the way down the field to the 23 yard line where Payton Manning was sacked. The clock wound down the 4 seconds then the AFC kicked a 51 yard field goal and missed it wide right. The NFC came back to win the game 55 – 52.’, ‘During the pregame ESPN showed a story about Priest Holmes (running back for the Kansas City Chiefs) going to the USS Arizona Memorial. While he was at the memorial he was wearing a snot rag on his head the whole time showing complete disregard to the rules. Prior to departing to the USS Arizona everybody receives a briefing of the Arizona being a national monument and everybody should show respect while at the monument by removing all headgear. This is not an outrageous rule. It is no different than remaining quiet at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington DC. Is this an example that children should look up to when they look at these role models?
Convoy to Iraq
Some sights that are seen during the convoy to Iraq.
New England Patriots – 2004 Superbowl Champs
Previously to the start of this game I though the Patriots were going to blow out the Panthers. This was by far a defensive game. Carolina did a fine job of moving the ball and their defense came up with some big plays. New England weren’t flawless, but it was Adam Vinatieri who ended up winning the game once again despite two previous missed kicks this game.
Pro Bowl
Attended my first Pro Bowl in Hawaii. This was a real fun experience with tailgating, football, Navy Seals, cheerleaders, and an all around enjoyable day watching some football.
North Shore Oahu
I heard the surf is still up on the north shore so I took a drive out to the country to check it out again. I just can’t get enough of the big surf.
Banzai Pipeline Surf
I heard there was going to be some nice waves up on the north shore of Oahu, so I decided to take a drive and snap some photos of the surf at the Banzai Pipeline.
Drive Around Oahu
Took a drive around Oahu to see what things are going on. Along the way I stopped at the North Shore to see the surfing competition. I also stopped along the Pali lookout to soak in that great view. Then I stopped at the Kahala Hotel and Resort to check out the dolphins they have.
Halloween 2002
Typically I’m not very good at carving pumpkins, but this year I decided to give it a try. As you can see I am clearly no artist, but I think it came out decent.
Lake Tahoe
I was in Reno, Nevada for an event and since I’ve never been here I figure it would be nice to take a drive up to Lake Tahoe to see what it was like. Here are some of the photos I took along the way. As you can see there wasn’t much to look at until I got to the lake.
Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana
I went to visit a friend who was stationed at Barksdale Air Force base in Louisiana, here are the photos from that visit.
Thailand Stop Sign
Photo of a Thai stop sign, so if you were ever curious as to what they looked like, well here it is.
Korat, Thailand – Wing 1 Military Exercise Complex
Today I went by the Korat Royal Thai Air Force military exercise complex. Here are a couple photos from that.
Thailand Countryside Between Korat and Bangkok
I took a bus from Nakhonratsima, otherwise known as Korat, to Bangkok, Thailand. Here are some photos I took of the countryside while I was riding the bus.
Ratchapruk Hotel in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
In Nakhon Ratchasima Thailand, or Korat for short, there is the Ratchapruk hotel. Â You can see the Main Street the hotel is on and the front of the hotel. Â Below are photos of the view out of the back of the hotel. Â It shows the what the surrounding area looks like in this spread out city in the north eastern province of Thailand.
Fishing Charter Boat – Oahu, Hawaii
Took a fishing charter boat out and when I wasn’t fishing I took some photos. Here are those photos. One neat thing about this fishing trip was that there was a mother whale and 2 calves. The mother showed the calves how to breach 1 time and then after that those calves kept breaching. It was really neat to see.
Eskan Village Bazaar
Periodically there would be a bazaar at Eskan Village in Saudi Arabia where some local vendors would be able to come onto the military installation and sell their products. Here are some photos from one of those events.
Thanksgiving at Eskan Village
Have you ever contemplated the experience of U.S. service members deployed abroad during the holiday season? Such contemplation brings to light the Thanksgiving observance at Eskan Village, situated 22 miles outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Ironically, the sole genuine turkey present was a mere display piece, with the remaining fare being the standard processed turkey provided to the military. Against the backdrop of the events that transpired just two months prior, the atmosphere understandably bore a weighty and somber tone.
Sights Around Eskan Village
Here are some different things that can be seen around Eskan Village, Saudi Arabia.
Welcome to Eskan Village Saudi Arabia
I was sent on temporary duty to Eskan Village in Saudi Arabia. Eskan is located 22 miles southeast of Riyadh and it was originally built for the bedouin in 1983, however when the Saudi government built the village they did not accommodate the livestock so the bedouin’s turned down the use of the buildings. In 1990 where Iraq invaded Kuwait General Norman Schwarzkopf commanded Operation Desert Storm from Eskan Village. Here are some photos of the accommodations and where I lived during my stay here. You will notice that to stay busy and make the accommodations a little nicer people built a fishpond at the entrance to the building. Quite the nice touch.
Hale’iwa Beach North Shore Hawaii
Hanging out on the north shore of Oahu at the Hale’iwa beach park. This photo is taken looking back at the harbor.
Waimea Bay Beach Park
Driving around the north shore of Oahu in Hawaii I drove past the Waimea Bay beach park. This is where they have the Eddie Aikao surfing competition when the waves are consistently over 50 feet tall.
