tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13412232498195229442024-02-19T07:16:54.411-08:00The Life FantasticOn The Road With A Giant FishBillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10794375791394233164noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-24190933380050977422008-08-25T23:19:00.000-07:002008-08-26T00:00:46.234-07:00On Being Evicted.So I got evicted today.<br /><br />Kinda sucks.<br /><br />So, fear not, I have until Oct 1. to find a new residence. It's not like my things are on the lawn and I'm sleeping in the car. <br /><br />It's not really my problem, (except I have to find a new place to live) it just seems I got caught in the middle of a feud between two angry lesbians and my heretofore cool landlord.<br /><br />The story goes: I'll give the bridged version: The other two roommates never got along with my heretofore cool landlord. Recently there have been some plumbing issues in the bathroom. Drains needing to be snaked, toilet water cascading into the basement, mystery water bubbling up around the base of the sink (wholly unrelated to the toilet incident since, given the uneveness of the floor the sink is actually substantially uphill of the toilet.) For all intents and purposes all of the plumbing in the bathroom decided to shit the bed within the span of about three weeks. Instead of, perhaps figuring out what the problems what the problems were and dealing with them (ie, trying several home or over the counter remedies for clogged pipes(which I did); finding the <span style="font-style:italic;">source</span> of the sink mystery water(which I also did)) and then doing something about it(which I had Brett, the heretofore cool landlord's boyfriend/rental unit caretaker, do.) the irrational angry lesbians basically went straight for threatening a lawsuit. Emails were sent. Hilarity ensued. As the dust settles, it turns out I have 30 days to arrange a new living situation. I'm taking this all in stride. I sort of wanted away from the lesbians, as they always seemed to be ill, rarely leave the house, and generally suck the energy out of every carbon based life form they encounter. I've also, for a variety of reasons, been considering calling it quits on Minneapolis and seeing what some other part of the country holds for me. Maybe Colorado. <br /><br />This might just be the Universe trying to tell me something.<br /><br />And in defense of the heretofore cool landlord. She is actually still cool. She told me, apologizing the whole way. She acknoweldges that none of this is of my making, and I'm a great renter, but she can't go ahead and start the whole eviction process on 2/3rds of a rental unit, and she'll happily provide a glowing recommendation in the future. I'm relly only angry with the roommates for handling the situation like children with lawyers.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-20613526750791524552008-07-02T21:01:00.000-07:002008-12-09T12:43:31.453-08:00A wonderful thing.I just clicked on the Weather Underground link in my bookmarks for Minneapolis weather, and instead of typing in Westport, CT, or Beaver Dam, WI, or Olympia, WA, I actually am looking to see what the weather will be tomorrow in Minneapolis. <br /><br />And what a forecast, kids.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1gvTtgzGpkT8bWtjks851dU0UklkvGgBAttoPCCRbyco6uw4EaDXoZJEWBPBKg2KRsHhIkM1hKl6-hE8czUnJNDSJzgt6_0vO1u6aoRHVyaAED5n_fFrgA6BLDFH6ZTMG0Bh3VphTnE/s1600-h/Picture+2.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1gvTtgzGpkT8bWtjks851dU0UklkvGgBAttoPCCRbyco6uw4EaDXoZJEWBPBKg2KRsHhIkM1hKl6-hE8czUnJNDSJzgt6_0vO1u6aoRHVyaAED5n_fFrgA6BLDFH6ZTMG0Bh3VphTnE/s400/Picture+2.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218634361894595058" /></a>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-57438054359854289982008-06-26T11:23:00.001-07:002008-06-26T11:24:55.431-07:00Gone Camping<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk268/tacklebill/P6250050.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk268/tacklebill/P6250050.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I will be in the mountains for a few days. Please leave a message.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-49086843874990602942008-06-15T18:12:00.000-07:002008-06-15T18:15:59.135-07:00It's time for this weeks installmentOf Everyone's Favorite Game:<br /><br />Chameleon Or Stick?!?!?!?<br /><br />So, contestants, which is it?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk268/tacklebill/ChameleonorStick.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk268/tacklebill/ChameleonorStick.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-32595555471270259842008-06-15T08:17:00.000-07:002008-12-09T12:43:31.833-08:00Mmmm. Bacon.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7UbAJxAXqsEDNzDaPOlKDPup9mZyzMg0tpfgCIKjHb2I0rYIhM6iwo9x7fsbGDVDhb7nL71CpMNM1jOzCbPZMSGtsGI4iz7Yyb1wm3AvVmrSFYDkCmrrBjQtHd7oybwUBSsVOu9XfUg/s1600-h/bacon_pig_00.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7UbAJxAXqsEDNzDaPOlKDPup9mZyzMg0tpfgCIKjHb2I0rYIhM6iwo9x7fsbGDVDhb7nL71CpMNM1jOzCbPZMSGtsGI4iz7Yyb1wm3AvVmrSFYDkCmrrBjQtHd7oybwUBSsVOu9XfUg/s400/bacon_pig_00.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212127931945704530" /></a>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-2392793251344126542008-06-11T14:11:00.000-07:002008-06-11T14:32:41.420-07:00Grudgingly, I heart NYI didn't think that I would. I was there in college but remember startlingly little of the city. Saturday night when we first arrived it was hot, sticky, and after learning our AC unit was broke, I was not happy. But Sunday we crashed on the Upper West Side at a staffer's mom's place I started to come around.<br /><br /><br />Things I learned about NYC:<br /><br />Nobody has any expectations of efficiency when driving in Manhattan. Thus, rules of the road do not even vaguely apply. Lanes markers are for decoration while lights, and signage are mere suggestions. Turns out you can double or even triple park just about anywhere, so long as you're not completely blocking traffic. This is helpful when driving a giant fish there. Cops tend not to give a shit unless you're actively killing or mugging somebody. <br /><br />The NY Subway system carries over 5 million rides EVERY DAY. That's 5,000,000. That is equivalent to the State of Minnesota in a day. That's roughly 2 BILLION rides annually. That's more rides than all other transit systems in the US COMBINED. It's staggering. And also breathlessly efficient. <br /><br />There is cheap beer to be found in Manhattan if you know where to look.<br /><br />Yeah, I sort of like the place.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-54437886812544235642008-06-02T22:49:00.000-07:002008-06-02T22:55:41.641-07:00Why Liberals Always Lose #3Those who can, do; those who can't, teach. Those who can't tell their asshole from their elbow, work for a liberal nonprofit.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-30749669218338078052008-05-30T09:19:00.000-07:002008-05-30T09:34:59.573-07:00A User's Manual to Road Show LanguageCountry Livin': Sittn' in an RV with the screen door. Generally involves beer.<br /><br />Gong Show: A situation so ridiculous that you wish someone could bang on a gong and make it stop.<br /><br />The Rig: The RV, with salmon attatched.<br /><br />Celebrating Gold Rush Heritage: Spending time in the "Old" part of town. Originated: Old Sac (Sacramento) Other uses: Old Sag (Saginaw), Old Harry (Old Harrisburg) Generally involves beer.<br /><br />Rig Food: Anything that can be prepared in an RV. Usually originates in part or in whole from a can. Generally involves beer.<br /><br />Jeri: The bite in the ass girl hanging out with the attractive and interesting girl. Originated: Reno.<br /><br />Super Fan: Suburban Dad with mustache and a belly that reflects the amount of beer and polish saahsage he's consumed over the years. Orginated: Chicago.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-12532960472728692212008-05-30T07:04:00.001-07:002008-05-30T07:05:23.507-07:00Why Liberals Always Lose #2They send important information via email to a guy that doesn't own a computer.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-2958514130042164632008-05-29T13:56:00.000-07:002008-05-29T13:59:53.331-07:00No Country for Old Penguins<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk268/tacklebill/holdstillpleasescf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk268/tacklebill/holdstillpleasescf.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Wings had to drop one to win in 5 at the Joe.<br /><br />(Image gleefully stolen from <a href="http://busterwantstofish.com/?p=892#more-892">Buster</a>)Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-65920328413156808902008-05-29T12:01:00.000-07:002008-05-29T12:07:32.124-07:00When I'm made of tiredAnd traveling partner #1 is developing a bad habit of wandering off for hours at a time, and traveling partner #2 is constantly on the internet, yet still unable to give coherent directions, I get cranky. When nobody thinks we should get gas in Harrisburg, even though we're below a half tank, because there's a place 40 miles away that is out of gas when we get there, leaving us with less than 1/4 tank, I get cranky. When I can't use the internet access that was purchased for this trip, I get cranky. When I can't go fishing, I get cranky.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-55139058428250926122008-05-19T16:45:00.000-07:002008-05-19T16:48:32.391-07:00Fuck Pebble Mine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q14/dwg5703/NoPebbleMine-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q14/dwg5703/NoPebbleMine-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/19/151454/874">This is the worst idea ever.<br /><br /></a><br /><br />Fuck them. Ideally with something barbed and rusting.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-69327030346838413582008-05-17T12:58:00.000-07:002008-05-17T13:00:49.702-07:00I hate Illinois Nazis.Lombard, IL needs to be plowed under and allowed to lie fallow until it will grow something other than fascists. Honestly, this is the worst place I've been on this tour. Fascists and strip malls. Hell on Earth.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-54670618521038953082008-05-15T08:52:00.000-07:002008-05-15T08:53:45.624-07:00Two Blogs is Hard.Now that I am the administrator for this blog, as well as the shop blog, it's hard to keep up. aBillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-32424383069569483032008-05-12T07:31:00.000-07:002008-05-12T07:34:03.172-07:00Great Tits Cope Well With Warming.While poking around my news feeds this morning, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7390109.stm">I found that headline filed by the BBC</a> Being the BBC, I was somewhat let down when I clicked the link.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-69296335472373041522008-05-02T17:06:00.000-07:002008-05-02T17:42:33.131-07:00LahontanWent tip to cork with this one on Pyramid Lake in Nevada. First Cutthroat trout I've ever caught, and biggest trout EVER. Awesome.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s282.photobucket.com/albums/kk268/tacklebill/?action=view¤t=LahontanCutt-2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk268/tacklebill/LahontanCutt-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Lahontan"></a>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-91479397548901215782008-04-29T14:02:00.000-07:002008-04-29T14:09:04.596-07:00Reno Blows.<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/NV/003.html#WND">Literally.</a><br /><br />We had to cancel our event this morning because wind gusts of 70MPH (!) were possible in the Washoe valley. I just walked back from a coffee shop and couldn't walk in a straight line. There has been <a href="http://www.seismo.unr.edu/htdocs/pressreleases/latest_press_release.html">some earthquake activity in Reno</a> lately, and I can't tell if it's the wind or the ground shaking the RV around. It's kind of fun.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-18003876985975666872008-04-28T10:16:00.001-07:002008-04-28T10:19:41.299-07:00My best press yet.No, this one is serious. There's a <a href="http://www.newsreview.com/chico/Content?oid=657964">great article from Chico, CA</a> in which I'm the star.<br /><br />Pretty neat.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-91096141731016055242008-04-27T19:55:00.000-07:002008-04-27T19:58:19.112-07:00Sand In Weird PlacesI went swimming in a real live ocean today. Yes it was cold. But no colder than the Great Lakes in spring. Couldn't stay in long. But, boy is it easy to float in that salty stuff. I mean, you hardly have to work to swim around. <br /><br />In related news, I'm sunburnt.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-13645737403003569442008-04-25T21:54:00.000-07:002008-04-25T22:09:23.309-07:00Sac, and related news.I'm going to contradict something I said recently. And this might sound a little weird. I like Sacramento. This might make me crazy, but let me put a finer point to it. I like <span style="font-style:italic;">Midtown</span> Sacramento. It kind of reminds me of the perfect mix of South Minneapolis and Kalamazoo. Only warmer. The rest of the city and it's environs are ensconced in a soul-crushing heap of suck. But there is a little neighborhood just east of Downtown that is pretty groovy. You know just good honest folk, tending toward a younger twenty-something crowd. None of your San Fran "We're God's Gift to North America" Or Berkley's "If I see one more 'coexist' bumper sticker, I will strangle you in your own prayer flags, you damned hippy" or San Diego's "Whoa, Dude!" or LA's "The Midwest? That's totally 'thar be, like, dragons'" Just a neighborhood where real people live. Perhaps the only ones in the damned state. <br /><br />And in the overshare of the decade: <a href="http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/sym/penile_bruise.htm">trust me, it sucks.</a>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-34230271583519924862008-04-21T22:13:00.000-07:002008-04-21T22:20:11.062-07:00On SeismologyHow's this for wierd:<br /><br />Sitting in San Francisco reading about <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/04/21/illinois.quake/">earthquakes in the Midwest.</a>Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-68137736069439227422008-04-21T17:12:00.000-07:002008-04-21T17:25:27.159-07:00MehSo I'm in San Francisco. I'm not impressed. Which makes it official. There is no city in California that registers above a "Meh" on the Bill scale. The scenery in California, however, is beautiful.<br /><br /><a href="http://s282.photobucket.com/albums/kk268/tacklebill/?action=view¤t=0-1-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk268/tacklebill/0-1-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />Other than that, I've been busy. <br /><br />Crazybusy. I've also been on the TV, but I have yet to get a digital copy of thse files.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-65297554034333728622008-04-15T14:16:00.000-07:002008-04-15T14:33:04.596-07:00Eating undercooked beef is hazardous to your health.<a href="http://s282.photobucket.com/albums/kk268/tacklebill/?action=view¤t=meat2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk268/tacklebill/meat2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><br /><br />When I say I want it rare, I mean I want it RARE.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-41196426219601416252008-04-14T09:00:00.001-07:002008-04-14T09:09:18.086-07:00The Land of Milk and HoneyPortland, Oregon.<br /><br />I haven't been in this town since I was 14. I always had the impression that I would really like this Burg. My suspicions were confirmed today. First off, the rig and the giant fish is parked right off a streetcar line. Streetcars! effective transit! Second, I'm using totally free city-wide wireless to upload this post. Put it on the shortlist. I could live here.<br /><br />In other news, we're working hard. We had a lovely night at a volunteer's house on Saturday. They kept feeding us wine and we stayed up way too late. Their kitters really took a liking to me, and me to them. Except that when I woke up, my allergy kicked in strong and my right eye. Total Quasimodo. We then spent a day at the zoo where the big fish was mobbed by children. Birth Control. It's a good thing.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06574477999985945819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1341223249819522944.post-66720202615259635862008-04-12T10:15:00.001-07:002008-04-12T10:27:12.520-07:00Why Liberals Always Lose.They plan a nation-wide road trip but don't have a plan to pay for gas.<br /><br />'Nuff Said.Billhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10794375791394233164noreply@blogger.com1