Our quest to correct poor behaviour in society is neverending and sometimes a burden. On Saturday, a situation fell right into our laps, forcing us to act. We started the day by going to Iselin NJ for some Indian food before heading to Ikea to buy Fiona a new dresser. Ikea on the weekend is a nightmare. Idiots everywhere, some walking slowly, some walking quickly but all of them pretty much in the way. It was made even worse because they are renovating this Ikea and so the people were crammed into an even smaller place.
So, we were almost done, just had a couple more things to grab when a manic was almost RUNNING through the store, pushing a shopping trolley/cart (depending on where you are from) jam packed with stuff including an ironing board sticking out the front making it virtually impossible for him to see anything. He came quite close to Fiona, missing her by no more than a foot, and had he hit her, it would have done some damage for sure. As if on cue, Mindy and I both yelled at him, not sure exactly what Mindy said but it was along the same lines as my clever "How about you slow down" effort.
This got his attention, he stopped, turned around and said "Did I hit your kid? I knew exactly where she was.". Mindy had walked away about this time, taking the kids but I had to continue the conversation. He then added "Maybe you should put your kid on a leash". Now, Fiona was maybe 2 feet from us at the time of the "incident", hardly roaming around the store but in any case, he was really missing the point. "It doesn't matter whether you hit her or not, it is still dangerous to go that fast." and then I followed up with the "checkmate" to my argument "If you are driving around a neighbourhood at 100 mph it doesn't make it safe just because you don't happen to run over anyone.". I saw him pause, just for a second, as I think he realised he was being a tool. I then added "Just calm down a bit" before turning to leave...to which he added "You calm down!", I guess to try to get the last (stupid) word. I like to think he was pissed off for the rest of the day and in any case, the mere fact of having the conversation cost him any time he would have saved by rushing.
We both felt happy that another person had been educated but our quest is far from over.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Friday Poker
Friday night was poker night! A home game at Kevin's normally involves a few decent players so it can be a tricky table to play. On this particular occasion I think I played quite well and took advantage of a nice piece of luck as well.
The format was $0.50/$1 NL Holdem. Ended up +$200 for the night which was the 2nd best effort at the table. My biggest hand of the night involved playing Q-9 of Hearts, calling a small raise from the Big Blind. Flop brought Q-6-4, two Diamonds on the board. I checked and called a small bet from Kevin. Pot was probably about $35 at this stage. I was unsure if my pair of Q's was good but figured waiting for the next card would be a good idea. Next card was the Q of Diamonds, bring a possible flush to the board. Again, I checked and Kevin made a small $15 bet into the pot. I was a little concerned about this bet. It did not look like a bluff from him, so I was kind of thinking he might have me beaten at that time, maybe the flush, but more likely a better kicker to the last Q. However, $15 into a now $50 pot with 3 Q's was too good to resist, so I threw in my money. Last card...a 9!!! Now, I had a full house and the best possible hand. All of a sudden I was hoping for him to have A-Q or a flush...I bet $35 into the pot and Kevin raised me with his last remaining chips. I called and he announced "Full House", to which I replied "Me too" and showed the Q-9. He had 4-4 and had me beaten all the way until the last card...certainly a bit of luck but also perhaps showing the reason why slow playing big hands can get you into trouble. Wish I could have taken the money from someone other than Kevin but I was certainly not going to give it back!
The format was $0.50/$1 NL Holdem. Ended up +$200 for the night which was the 2nd best effort at the table. My biggest hand of the night involved playing Q-9 of Hearts, calling a small raise from the Big Blind. Flop brought Q-6-4, two Diamonds on the board. I checked and called a small bet from Kevin. Pot was probably about $35 at this stage. I was unsure if my pair of Q's was good but figured waiting for the next card would be a good idea. Next card was the Q of Diamonds, bring a possible flush to the board. Again, I checked and Kevin made a small $15 bet into the pot. I was a little concerned about this bet. It did not look like a bluff from him, so I was kind of thinking he might have me beaten at that time, maybe the flush, but more likely a better kicker to the last Q. However, $15 into a now $50 pot with 3 Q's was too good to resist, so I threw in my money. Last card...a 9!!! Now, I had a full house and the best possible hand. All of a sudden I was hoping for him to have A-Q or a flush...I bet $35 into the pot and Kevin raised me with his last remaining chips. I called and he announced "Full House", to which I replied "Me too" and showed the Q-9. He had 4-4 and had me beaten all the way until the last card...certainly a bit of luck but also perhaps showing the reason why slow playing big hands can get you into trouble. Wish I could have taken the money from someone other than Kevin but I was certainly not going to give it back!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Ashes Post Mortem
We only have ourselves to blame. I think we were a better team then England which makes the loss even more ridiculous. Unfortuntely, too many batting collapses, some poor selections and erratic bowling led to this fate.
So, what to do for the future? Ponting and Clarke clearly will still be the core of our batting. Clarke should go up one spot to #4 as he is really batting well. North, also has done well this series and deserves his place. Hussey probably did enough in this last match to retain his place for the short term but he is out of chances and any repeated failings will certainly see him get dropped. I think I would still give him the flick but guaranteed the selectors retain him for a while yet. He has had a great 4 year run in the side...but as the #4 ranked test side, we should be really thinking of the future. I would drop Hussey, move Clarke to #4, North to #5 and have Watson at #6. How can you have an opener who gets LBW as often as he does? Hughes needs another chance and as soon as Jaques scores some runs for NSW, Katich will be out of there as well. All of these players are on notice...failure will not be tolerated.
Haddin clearly is the keeper. He had a good series and is obviously the best we have.
Bowling is a big worry. Things were great when Johnson was firing but you cannot be the leader of the attack while being so inconsistent. Hilfenhaus and Siddle have been solid but until Johnson gets it back, we probably need Lee there as another strike option. This would be to get us through the next 12 months...and to see if Johnson would find his form. I cannot believe Bollinger is the next option. Bracken must have slept with Andrew Hilditch's sister or something...not quite sure why he has been written off as a test bowler. Tait is a head case and Cricket Australia have done an amazing job of giving him the shaft, I doubt he will ever be back. Our spinners look shocking. Where are all of the 25 year old kids who took up spinning 15 years ago while watching Warnie? Hauritz is decent but never going to roll a side but he might well be the best option there.
Big troubles to get back on track. The sooner we get some young blood into the side, the better.
How about this for a team for the Gabba test in November:
Jaques
Hughes
Ponting
Clarke
North
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Siddle
Hilfenhaus
Then...after the WACA test, drop the worst bowler for Haurtiz on the spinning decks. Also, Watson would be on his last chance. Any injuries or form slumps would see him get the axe as well.
They will never do it, but I think this might shake things up enough.
So, what to do for the future? Ponting and Clarke clearly will still be the core of our batting. Clarke should go up one spot to #4 as he is really batting well. North, also has done well this series and deserves his place. Hussey probably did enough in this last match to retain his place for the short term but he is out of chances and any repeated failings will certainly see him get dropped. I think I would still give him the flick but guaranteed the selectors retain him for a while yet. He has had a great 4 year run in the side...but as the #4 ranked test side, we should be really thinking of the future. I would drop Hussey, move Clarke to #4, North to #5 and have Watson at #6. How can you have an opener who gets LBW as often as he does? Hughes needs another chance and as soon as Jaques scores some runs for NSW, Katich will be out of there as well. All of these players are on notice...failure will not be tolerated.
Haddin clearly is the keeper. He had a good series and is obviously the best we have.
Bowling is a big worry. Things were great when Johnson was firing but you cannot be the leader of the attack while being so inconsistent. Hilfenhaus and Siddle have been solid but until Johnson gets it back, we probably need Lee there as another strike option. This would be to get us through the next 12 months...and to see if Johnson would find his form. I cannot believe Bollinger is the next option. Bracken must have slept with Andrew Hilditch's sister or something...not quite sure why he has been written off as a test bowler. Tait is a head case and Cricket Australia have done an amazing job of giving him the shaft, I doubt he will ever be back. Our spinners look shocking. Where are all of the 25 year old kids who took up spinning 15 years ago while watching Warnie? Hauritz is decent but never going to roll a side but he might well be the best option there.
Big troubles to get back on track. The sooner we get some young blood into the side, the better.
How about this for a team for the Gabba test in November:
Jaques
Hughes
Ponting
Clarke
North
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Siddle
Hilfenhaus
Then...after the WACA test, drop the worst bowler for Haurtiz on the spinning decks. Also, Watson would be on his last chance. Any injuries or form slumps would see him get the axe as well.
They will never do it, but I think this might shake things up enough.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Bachelor Week
Mindy and the kids are off for a week visiting her family in Virginia. I tried to talk her into taking the dogs as well so I could really relax but I got a "You're kidding, aren't you" look and so felt like it was wise to drop the subject.
Friday I caught up with an old work friend for dinner and a few drinks. Saturday was day 1 of a cricket double-header, a rare event these days. Fairfield CC were the victims. We scored 228 from our 35 overs and knocked them over with 10 overs to spare for around 150. I was batting well until I decided that I would challenge the notion that moving your feet is actually helpful and simply allowed a ball to slam into the pads and onto the stumps. I guess all of those coaching books are on the right track. Sunday was a game against our old foes from Waterbury. This team always comes with two or three massive tonkers and a bunch of spastics...so you might have a scoreline that reads 5/100 after 25 overs and then finish up with 7/250 from your 35. Our small ground is tough to defend when they get in. Well...when I bowled, I got ABSOLUTELY caned however did have a catch dropped off my bowling which would have helped things a little. They ended up 170 all out from 22 overs...two blokes scored about 130 of these between them. We were able to simply chip away at the total and were always on target. I mishit one that got caught but the match was never in doubt. So two wins on the weekend...could do worse I guess.
Mindy is enjoying Virginia it seems. The plan is for her to come back on Monday so it will be a week of online poker, TV prison documentaries (Locked Up Abroad; Locked Down; Hard Time...all great stuff) and some reading to pass the time.
Friday I caught up with an old work friend for dinner and a few drinks. Saturday was day 1 of a cricket double-header, a rare event these days. Fairfield CC were the victims. We scored 228 from our 35 overs and knocked them over with 10 overs to spare for around 150. I was batting well until I decided that I would challenge the notion that moving your feet is actually helpful and simply allowed a ball to slam into the pads and onto the stumps. I guess all of those coaching books are on the right track. Sunday was a game against our old foes from Waterbury. This team always comes with two or three massive tonkers and a bunch of spastics...so you might have a scoreline that reads 5/100 after 25 overs and then finish up with 7/250 from your 35. Our small ground is tough to defend when they get in. Well...when I bowled, I got ABSOLUTELY caned however did have a catch dropped off my bowling which would have helped things a little. They ended up 170 all out from 22 overs...two blokes scored about 130 of these between them. We were able to simply chip away at the total and were always on target. I mishit one that got caught but the match was never in doubt. So two wins on the weekend...could do worse I guess.
Mindy is enjoying Virginia it seems. The plan is for her to come back on Monday so it will be a week of online poker, TV prison documentaries (Locked Up Abroad; Locked Down; Hard Time...all great stuff) and some reading to pass the time.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Farewell To Nan
Sunday was a sad day as it marked the end of Mum's visit. On these occasions, the worst part is the dragging out of the day as you kind of wait for the time to leave for the airport, all the while knowing it is coming.
The goodbye happened in two stages, firstly with Mindy and the girls at the house, which was quite sad for all. We had debated whether to bring everyone to the airport but we saw little point in putting everyone through the drive only to be faced with a farewell a couple of hours later in unfriendly surroundings.
Upon arrival at the airport, Mum was told that she might have a chance to make an earlier flight so we made our farewells and she was led away in her wheelchair. She would want me to add here that she COULD certainly have walked, but at her age, the last thing she needs to be worrying about is getting through the airport.
The house was a lot quieter without her there...not that she has a loud voice, but I think it is fair to say it is a constant presence! :-) Next time we see her will be in Australia, probably sometime in 2010 (details to be worked out).
As of right now, Mum is still in San Francisco. I was to find out later that not only did she not get a seat on the earlier flight but her scheduled flight was delayed just enough for her to miss her connection to Sydney. I managed to track her down today and spoke to her. She is doing well, just a little anxious to get the trip behind her. She should be back about lunchtime on Wednesday (Newcastle time) when hopefully she will spend the afternoon resting and relaxing. Of course, anyone who knows her will realise that in reality, she will spend the afternoon collecting and processing 8 weeks of mail, unpacking, washing and drying clothes, putting suitcases away, calling all of her friends and family and cleaning the house! Can't teach an old dog new tricks.
The goodbye happened in two stages, firstly with Mindy and the girls at the house, which was quite sad for all. We had debated whether to bring everyone to the airport but we saw little point in putting everyone through the drive only to be faced with a farewell a couple of hours later in unfriendly surroundings.
Upon arrival at the airport, Mum was told that she might have a chance to make an earlier flight so we made our farewells and she was led away in her wheelchair. She would want me to add here that she COULD certainly have walked, but at her age, the last thing she needs to be worrying about is getting through the airport.
The house was a lot quieter without her there...not that she has a loud voice, but I think it is fair to say it is a constant presence! :-) Next time we see her will be in Australia, probably sometime in 2010 (details to be worked out).
As of right now, Mum is still in San Francisco. I was to find out later that not only did she not get a seat on the earlier flight but her scheduled flight was delayed just enough for her to miss her connection to Sydney. I managed to track her down today and spoke to her. She is doing well, just a little anxious to get the trip behind her. She should be back about lunchtime on Wednesday (Newcastle time) when hopefully she will spend the afternoon resting and relaxing. Of course, anyone who knows her will realise that in reality, she will spend the afternoon collecting and processing 8 weeks of mail, unpacking, washing and drying clothes, putting suitcases away, calling all of her friends and family and cleaning the house! Can't teach an old dog new tricks.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
10 Years!
Friday (August 7) was our 10 year wedding anniversary. Amazing how quickly time has passed, it really does just feel like yesterday when I was having onion hamburgers an hour before the ceremony, a choice that was not perhaps the wisest one I could have made.
Taking advantage of the Nan baby sitter, we hit a local Indian restaurant for lunch. We took the time to reminisce about the past 10 years and I think we figured out that quite a lot has happened over that time, from the major events (Naomi and Fiona) to the minor things that I guess are only meaningful to us. Following lunch, we had coffee at the bookstore before returning home. We spent the rest of the afternoon with Nan and the girls, hitting the park to let them (the girls, not Nan) ride their bikes. It really was a nice, relaxing day.
Of course, the best present of the day was waking up to the news of the cricket score. I am not sure if Mindy shared my excitement however. Glad to see us FINALLY sticking it to the Poms. Hopefully we will remain in form for the next test as well and finish things off in style!
Taking advantage of the Nan baby sitter, we hit a local Indian restaurant for lunch. We took the time to reminisce about the past 10 years and I think we figured out that quite a lot has happened over that time, from the major events (Naomi and Fiona) to the minor things that I guess are only meaningful to us. Following lunch, we had coffee at the bookstore before returning home. We spent the rest of the afternoon with Nan and the girls, hitting the park to let them (the girls, not Nan) ride their bikes. It really was a nice, relaxing day.
Of course, the best present of the day was waking up to the news of the cricket score. I am not sure if Mindy shared my excitement however. Glad to see us FINALLY sticking it to the Poms. Hopefully we will remain in form for the next test as well and finish things off in style!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
AC/DC++
As soon as tickets went on sale for the AC/DC show at Giants Stadium, I was online, getting the best possible seats. A few days before the show, I received an email from a friend in my cricket team, who was good friends with a member of the touring staff for AC/DC. He told me that he might be able to arrange some sort of backstage tour for Mindy and me. I was of course quite interested in this but was not sure about exactly what this would involve, although I was told that it would NOT involve meeting the band.
On the night of the show we had arranged to get there by 6:00pm and we met Neil and Simone and were given guest passes allowing us to go backstage. At first I thought that it would simply be some sort of catered event, which would have been fine, considering the weather was horrible and getting to sit down for a while was a huge bonus. However, at about 7:00, we were taken up to the back of the stage. Firstly to "stage left" where Angus keeps his stuff. There was his rack of guitars and equipment box. It really was hard to believe I really was seeing this stuff, it seemed quite surreal. Then, up a flight of steps and onto the stage. It was quite incredible to look at at the arena, even largely devoid of people, it was an amazing sight. Looking straight up, there was the "Hell's Bell" prop. Heading around the back of the drum kit and there were the cannons, still without their barrels but all in position ready to go. Then there was the huge "Rock 'N' Roll Train" that breaks through a wall at the start of the show. All of this was quite amazing. We then headed down the other side of the stage that belonged to Malcolm. Saw his guitar rack and equipment box, before leaving the area. I was then given a handful of guitar picks from Angus' stash, a setlst and tickets for the backstage buffet. We were then able to eat and drink in airconditioned comfort, hitting our seats right before AC/DC hit the stage.
And as you would expect, they put on an amazing show. Highlights: Dirty Deeds; Rosie and TNT I would have to say, but the whole show was great. Certainly the thrill has not diminished with show #4...and have tickets to see them again in Washington DC in October. I have to guess this will be the last show but I guess you never know.
On the night of the show we had arranged to get there by 6:00pm and we met Neil and Simone and were given guest passes allowing us to go backstage. At first I thought that it would simply be some sort of catered event, which would have been fine, considering the weather was horrible and getting to sit down for a while was a huge bonus. However, at about 7:00, we were taken up to the back of the stage. Firstly to "stage left" where Angus keeps his stuff. There was his rack of guitars and equipment box. It really was hard to believe I really was seeing this stuff, it seemed quite surreal. Then, up a flight of steps and onto the stage. It was quite incredible to look at at the arena, even largely devoid of people, it was an amazing sight. Looking straight up, there was the "Hell's Bell" prop. Heading around the back of the drum kit and there were the cannons, still without their barrels but all in position ready to go. Then there was the huge "Rock 'N' Roll Train" that breaks through a wall at the start of the show. All of this was quite amazing. We then headed down the other side of the stage that belonged to Malcolm. Saw his guitar rack and equipment box, before leaving the area. I was then given a handful of guitar picks from Angus' stash, a setlst and tickets for the backstage buffet. We were then able to eat and drink in airconditioned comfort, hitting our seats right before AC/DC hit the stage.
And as you would expect, they put on an amazing show. Highlights: Dirty Deeds; Rosie and TNT I would have to say, but the whole show was great. Certainly the thrill has not diminished with show #4...and have tickets to see them again in Washington DC in October. I have to guess this will be the last show but I guess you never know.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
It's A Boy
Kid #3 is officially on the way. Actually, I guess, it has been officially on the way for a while but now is the time for it to become common knowledge. Mindy had the 20 week ultrasound on Thursday and confirmed that we have a boy on the way. Everything else is progressing well and so that is the main thing. The due date is in mid December. We are certainly happy about the boy news...something different and due to the age difference (Naomi will be 7 1/2 and Fiona 5), the baby would not be a play buddy for the girls in any case. Mindy is excited to get some boy clothes and the girls are really happy that they will not have to share their toys! We are also pretty close to finalizing a boy name...and since agreeing on a girl's name was looking increasingly unlikely, this is another huge plus for us as well.
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