Fun and Games Dept

Wet.

So last night I joined Earl and the Cubster in Erie, Pa. for “Drenched Fur 5”, a gathering of bears from all over for a weekend of bear fun, including a private party at an indoor waterpark.

Earl and Jamie got there Friday afternoon and set up shop in the vendor mall area, where they sold Jamie’s bear clothing. Business was pretty good, from what I hear, and the two of them are coming up with even more ways to promote the business and such. I think my web development skills have been enlisted for a new website.

I took the long way there yesterday, leaving the house around 10:30 and getting there at 6. (It’s usually a five or so hour drive). I drove through many small villages in the Southern Tier and could have done so all night, but when I realised that it was getting a little late, I hopped onto the the Southern Tier Expressway at Olean and used the fast route for the final 100 miles or so.

There is always LOTS of food at a bear run and this weekend was no exception. Attendance warranted overtaking the entire Quality Inn in Erie, Pa. and the hospitality was quite impressive. The dinner buffet was quite nice and Earl, Jamie and I made new friends and visited with those that we know from the community.

After dinner was relaxed a bit and hopped on the shuttle bus to the indoor water park, which was opened exclusively for the bears from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. Jamie and I rode every water slide in the park (some several times), including the “Hurricane” where you shoot down at 40 MPH and get thrown into this donut shaped thing, spun around and then you fall through the whole in the middle into a pool underneath. Like the staff at the hotel, the staff at the water park seemed to be enjoying all the ensuing merriment of the bear run. By 1 a.m. we were wiped out and headed back to the hotel, after someone was kind enough to take our photo.

DSC03466.jpg

There was a late night buffet in place of the traditional after hours party. I had a quick snack and hit the hay relatively early for this sort of thing; Earl and Jamie lingered longer and came to the room a bit later, claiming that I was talking in my sleep when they got to the room. Unfortunately they won’t tell me what I was saying.

All in all it was a very good night and I’m glad I made the trek out there for the fun. I’m looking forward to next year’s Drenched Fur.

5 April 2009 by Bears. Fun and Games Dept 0

Big Flats, N.Y.

Photo 152.jpg

So I’m on my way to Erie, Pa. to join Earl and the Cubster for the evening. I spoke with Earl a little while ago and he said that the clothing sales were “okay” and that they were having a good time. I hope to be there by 6:00 p.m. or so.

I’m currently in the Panera in Big Flats, N.Y. in the Southern Tier. My plan of all back roads is holding. I’m not using any maps or GPS. I’m going on previous experience and intuition. So far so good.

I like the Southern Tier and I always have. It feels a little more prosperous in this area than it does further upstate along the Thruway corridor. I wonder if there is a correlation between the existence of a toll road vs the tax-supported Southern Tier Expressway and the disparity in prosperity. (Ha! I rhymed!) I’m sure that’s not the only reason but I’m sure it has some bearing on the situation.

The internet here seems to be uneven at best. I’m almost done with my tomato and mozzarella panini sandwich. It’s time to hit the road again.

4 April 2009 by Fun and Games Dept 0

1-2-3

Back when I first started DJing this song was very HOT. In fact, there was a little hustle type line dance that many did to it. I called the dance the “Homo Hop”. I can still do it.

Presenting “1-2-3” by The Chimes. 1990.

3 April 2009 by Fun and Games Dept 0

Fub.



062.365, originally uploaded by iMachias.

Today I share with you a fub.

3 April 2009 by Fun and Games Dept 1

The Trail.

I hit the canal trail for the first time in 2009 tonight. It was good to get back in the saddle on my bike and I feel pretty good after doing about 15 miles when all was said and done. Aside from the fact that I can find my official cycling shoes and that I was accosted by a four-year old on a Big WheelTM, the ride went pretty smoothly.

The weather doesn’t look like it’s going to cooperate for cycling until next week, so I guess I’ll have to ride the exercise cycle in the basement in the meantime.

2 April 2009 by Fun and Games Dept 2

Cabling.



060.365, originally uploaded by iMachias.

I hate it when they tell me the job is simple: “just move the blue cable to the new router”.

1 April 2009 by Fun and Games Dept 1

Wiped Out.



052.365, originally uploaded by iMachias.

I just got back from dinner with my blogger friend Mike. I call him my blogger friend because he was the first person to recognise me in the mall courtesy of my blabbering on right here on my blog. Mike is a month and a day younger than me and a really nice guy. We hadn’t seen each other in about two years, it was time for us to reconnect and break some bread again.

I had a really good time and I’m glad he made the drive out here for dinner.

I’ve been completely wiped out today. My latest round of on call really wiped me out to the point that I seem to have caught a little something that threw me off my balance. I’m not sick as I am basically only visiting this planet and am traditionally not susceptible to human like diseases, colds and the like, but something has knocked me off my game a little bit. I plan to have it kicked in the morning.

So for now, I smile in the picture and head to bed.

24 March 2009 by Fun and Games Dept 1

Freedom.

So the latest round of on-call is now a memory. To celebrate the event, I got home from work and promptly took a two hour nap. This gave me that “freshly rebooted” feeling. To celebrate, Earl and I headed to the local Panera for a small dessert and some wi-fi time. Sometimes you need a change of view.

I ordered a low-fat hot chocolate (is there such a thing?) and then watched the assembler literally flood the mug with whipped cream from a can. Hot chocolate spilled over the sides of the mug and all over the counter. She didn’t seem to care. She was too busy snapping her gum.

The wi-fi seems to be struggling today. I blame the Dell computer at the next table. There’s probably a virus or something eating up all the bandwidth. It certainly isn’t my Mac creating the havoc! I know I sound like the stereotypical Mac user. I’m just being uppity and funny at the same time.

I actually think it’s the huge Packard Bell 486 laptop in the back corner.

Am I the only one that finds it mildly disturbing that there is a wicker basket on the floor with a sign proclaiming “Freshly Baked Baguettes! $2.59!” and that said baguettes are not wrapped? I think I find this to be against some sort of New York State health code.

I could sit and watch people all day long and not complain about it. I often complain about the state of our society, and I believe that it is spiraling in a downward motion at a shocking rate, but at the same time to watch it to be entertained. I chuckle in the corner like some sort of middle-aged crazy man. The feeling is not unpleasant.

The Thurrott Pose

23 March 2009 by Fun and Games Dept 1

Feelings.

I’ve been groovin’ to this song for the past week or so and finally found a video to go along with it.

I must be getting old. I find the guys on the dance floor in this video to be wicked hot (especially around 1:40) and I really appreciate the carefree attitude everyone seems to have whilst they’re partying.

Enjoy “Feelings” by The Grass Roots. The clip is from the movie “With Six You Get Eggroll”.

19 March 2009 by Fun and Games Dept 0

About J.P.

Just a guy with a husband. We’ve been together 28 years and he still makes me see fireworks on a daily basis. Hiker. Storm Chaser. Private Pilot. Tech Guy. Hackerish.

Weird? Eccentric!

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