Funny Metal Detecting "Clad"

I came across this site while doing some research on my lunch hour. I thought a few of these shirts were funny, especially the evolution of metal detecting and the anti-pull tab shirts. Don't be surprised if I do some 2010 Christmas shopping on this site.

http://shop.cafepress.com/metal-detecting?page=1

Buckle B's Year End Review

Personally, 2009 was a year I may not be able to fully wrap my mind around for awhile. You know the details, so I won't go into them. But the year has ended on an extremely positive note and I am excited about 2010.

Here are a few things that stand out in my mind while looking back on the events of the past year, in no particular order:

• The August 4th rain storm was impressive. Being the weather geek I am, it doesn't take much to impress me, but rainfall rates of 9" per hour in some areas around Louisville? That is something you usually only hear about in hurricanes, in the tropics or on top of some mountain in a remote rain forest. Plus working at Slugger Field gave me a different perspective.
• The hiring of John Calipari at Kentucky: I was a little nervous about the "baggage" Calipari brought with him. Currently I'm blinded by the early success. I just hope the aura presently surrounding UK basketball doesn't go the way of Tiger Woods. And speaking of Tiger Woods...
• I am more disappointed than the average person concerning the Tiger Woods issue. Not because my opinion of him as a person has changed, because it really hasn't, but because this could take him away from the game of golf for the foreseeable future. I enjoy watching Tiger Woods play golf. He is the best in my favorite sport and I hate the fact I may not see him play for awhile. I will still watch golf (and enjoy it), but I will miss watching the best golfer on the planet.
• Barack Obama becoming President of the United States. This does not stand out because he is the first black president (sorry Slick Willy), but because I can't believe a man named Barack Hussein Obama was elected President of the United States just 7 years after the 9/11 attacks. The general population (i.e. red states) were so terrified of anyone with a middle eastern sounding name. Politics aside, I find it ironic and fascinating he was able to win the election (but then again, look at his competition).

I would like to hear what everyone else remembers about 2009. It can be anything at all: personal, news, sports etc.

A Heart Warming Message from a "Christian"-Merry Christmas!

"This is a sickening display of the atheist agenda at work. I pray that we
can get some leadership to round-up these people and give them a taste of their
own medicine. If they don't believe is [sic] God, I say we send them a one-way Express ticket to meet their Creator. As someone said, as Christians, we only need to turn the other cheek TO OTHER CHRISTIANS. Everyone else can go die for all I care. PS. MERRY CHRISTMAS."

How Not to Fix a Pool Chemical Pump

One thing I have learned during my short time at the JCC is the big things usually break in the last hour of the day. Out of the four workers on my maintenance staff, one is on vacation, one is still out sick since a heart attack in November and the other two leave at 3:30 each day because they get in very early.

I received a call from aquatics (as usual) and was told the chlorine pump "center tube" was not working, therefore no chlorine was getting to the pool. I didn't even know where the chlorine pump was located, much less what a center tube was or how to fix it.

I called the maintenance guy that is on vacation (something he told me to do if I ever needed anything) and told him what the problem was. He directed me to the pump and gave me step by step instructions over the phone of where to find the part and how to replace it. The repair itself was easy, so I know how to fix at least one thing on a pool if it every happens again.

However, the worst part was not the repair, but the smooth move I pulled while repairing it. I unplugged the pump like I was supposed to so no chlorine was being pumped through the tubing. However, when I pulled the small "broken" tube off, it still had drops of chlorine in it. While pulling it off, a few drops of chlorine flipped out and went straight into my left eye. I flushed it out with water and then finished the repair with basically one eye. Looking in the mirror last night I had a chemical burn on my eye...a little raised nodule I could feel when I blinked.

The redness went away and the burning stopped last night. Today it feels almost as good as new, except my left eye seems to be over actively "making sleep" throughout the day in an attempt to completely heal itself.

Bottom line is, even if everything is turned off and looks dry, wear goggles, genius.

"Ugly" Sweater Party

I'm a man who takes great pride in his appearance, so when it comes to parties I like to look my best. This is why I was humiliated and broken hearted when I won second place in at an "ugly Christmas sweater" party on Saturday.

Apparently there were drunk people judging who wouldn't recognize high fashion if they unwrapped it on Christmas morning.

I thought having Julie by my side would only make me look that much better, but apparently it backfired and everyone just assumed she was with me out of pity.

It's nice to know I wasn't voted "ugliest" at the party, but I didn't appreciate having to pose in the line up of 1st, 2nd and 3rd like it was the stinking Olympics!

Anyway, I had fun at the party and I am willing to auction off the sweater after the holidays. I'm sure it will fetch a pretty penny in Milan or Paris. I guess such beauty is lost here in the United States.

This Ain't Your Grandma's Spin Class

I participated in a "spin class" at the LAC last night with Julie and her friend Dala. Basically it's an hour long intense workout on a stationary bike. I should be doing the classes at the JCC, and I will, but I have four free guest visits at the LAC, so I might as well use them.

I was told last night's class was more intense than most. Over the course of an hour, we never stopped and constantly pushed ourselves between 60% -100% maximum effort (except for the first 5 minutes we spent increasing the heart rate and getting warm). It was fantastic cardio work plus we did hills and stretches of standing up on the bike doing runs and sprints. I usually don't sweat much, but I had sweat pouring off my face the entire time. The instructor did a great job of pushing us to our limit. Just when you think you couldn't go anymore, he would make you go another 30 seconds. My legs are like Jell-O today, but it was definitely a great workout. I'm not saying I look forward to the next time, but I think I'll be back.

Ho Ho Holy Hell He's an Atheist!

The article linked below is about a man in North Carolina who was elected to the city council. But, because he is an atheist, according to the North Carolina constitution, he is not eligible to serve. The U.S. Constitution, obviously, trumps this. It will be interesting to see how many lawsuits are filed just to give him grief (to be fair, the guy may be a complete idiot, but he did win the election).

http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20091208/NEWS01/912080327/Critics-of-Cecil-Bothwell-cite-N.C.-bar-to-atheists

I've copied and pasted some of my favorite reader's comments below...you know...the ones that give me that warm fuzzy feeling.

"It is difficult for a person without faith and accountance to have
character and be accountable for their actions."

"I am curious what moral beliefs an atheist has and what guides their belief. Since the ten commandments are irrelevant in their beliefs...Are atheists able to be selective in choosing the ones that apply to them and the situation?"

"When he is in the hell he denies and desires to call and check on the city he once served, it will be a local call." -basically saying Ashville will become hell if they start electing atheists to office.

"On his/her deathbed, no one is an atheist. We want to live like the devil, but be saved from death like an angel. It's okay. God knows how you feel. He was once in human form, and knows exactly how you feel."

That Was a Rough 12 Hours

Around 3 o'clock Monday afternoon while at my desk I started feeling sore and tired. By 3:30 I had broken into cold sweats. I knew then I should probably head home. By 4:15 I was in bed with a comforter and a quilt, my body pillow and two regular pillows with the heat cranked up in my apartment. I was drenched in sweat but couldn't get warm. I was miserable. My leg and back muscles had a strange tingling sensation and felt like rubber. I slept until 9pm and felt I needed to get up. I was feeling extremely nauseous and wanted to sit up for a bit. Walking into the living room was a chore and I collapsed on the couch out of breath. My plan was to sit up and watch "Big Bang Theory," try to eat a little, drink some juice and then go back to bed. A few minutes after being in the living room, I knew my reputation for hardly ever getting "sick" was in jeopardy. I went to the bathroom for a good half-hour and sat on the edge of the tub. To make a long story short, I need to start a new streak. I went back into the living room and watched my show (I love having a DVR), ate a bowl of chicken noodle soup and drank a small glass of juice. I went back to bed around 10:30 and slept soundly until 3am. I noticed then I was still very tired, but felt better. When I woke up for good at 6:30, I felt great.

All I can figure is it was an intense 12 hour bug or food poisoning. Very strange.

"Blue Jesus" John Wall Photoshops

Addendum to My Christmas List

I thought of a few more things to add to my Christmas list if needed (all Harry Potter related). I still need "The Sorcerer's Stone" and "Deathly Hallows" (book 1 & 7) in the Harry Potter series. I would also like to have the "Half-Blood Prince" movie since it just came out on DVD.

Thanks. And please don't have Aunt Bethany wrap any of my gifts or I'll wind up getting green Jell-O or her cat.

"Is This the Airport, Clark?"

Ok, so it's not as beautiful as the Griswold's house at Christmas, but I blame it on not having enough lights. Julie asked me to hang lights outside her house because this is her first Christmas being settled in. When I get a better picture with a real camera, I'll post it. But for now you'll just have to look at one from my Sprint POS.

Uncle Leo Would Be Very Disappointed

I have noticed for the past several years how often I say hello to someone in passing and never get a response. I don't say hello to everyone I pass. For example, if I'm in a crowd or if the other person is talking on the phone I won't bother. If I'm in an empty stairwell or hallway, however, and I pass someone, I will say at the very least "hello." Sometimes it is followed by "how are you today?" Simple and cliche, I know, but it's just being polite.

I've also noticed I often don't receive a "thank you" when I hold a door open for someone. I have found myself plenty of times biting my tongue to prevent myself from giving a sarcastic "your welcome!' But this is beside the point...

While thinking about this I have noticed one peculiar constant. The offenders usually seem to be older. Is this because it's unexpected coming from someone younger and they are thrown off? Is it because they are just getting crotchety? Has the Bel-tone been turned down and they just can't hear it? Who knows... but if anyone has any insight into this, I would love to hear about it.

Buckle B's Christmas List

I have been asked to provide a list of a few small items I may want for Christmas besides the wonderful gift Santa already has for me. While I can't compete with Dad's list, here are a few things I have been thinking of.

• DVD-Any season of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"(Half-Price & B&M Exchange have them).


• Book-"Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal" by Christopher Moore (would like to have the black cover with the gilded edges).


• Any game for Nintendo Wii would be nice; NCAA football or basketball, NFL, MLB, Mario Kart (yes...I know...but it's Christmas and video games just come with the season).


• Any St. Louis Cardinals or UK apparel (you can never have enough)


• pizza cutter (for all the pizza I order that's already pre-sliced)


• cast iron skillet (for all the cooking I won't be doing)


• small bottle of CK One cologne (almost out) -you think I smell this good naturally?

Hope that helps.

"They can't all be winners kid."