Texas State Fair

That's right. No clever title this time just Texas State Fair.

Me, the wife and a few friends went to the fair on Saturday. The weather was very nice and the trip down was pretty cool. It was my first time on the DFW transit system. First, we went on the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) from West Irving Station to Union Station in downtown Dallas. Then we jumped on the DART Red Line train from there to the location of the Fair Shuttle Bus, which of course took us to the fair.

Once there we saw a blockade of Church folk preaching the word and handing out flyers to fairgoers. Got inside the gate and the ladies immediately had to use the facilities. During the time I went to one of the car show buildings. One of the vehicles that caught my eye was the Toyota Avalon. Pretty nice car and very spacious (compared to my Taurus). My friends wanted me to jump into the Nissan Z just so see if I fit in it and I did, but it was low enough to the ground that I had a hard time getting out.

We left and met up with Alex at one of the other gates and went for a corn dog. Pretty tasty, but not a favorite. We then went to check out a dog show featuring some Frisbee catchers, pool divers, and poll racers. Fun times.

Next we went to taste test some food, which some of it was good and others were okay. Nothing to rave about though. We then headed to the Midway where most of the rides and fried food are. There we went on the Texas Star, the largest Ferris Wheel in the Western Hemisphere. I'm not going to lie I was scared to get on it, but I did and it turned out to be okay. We then went to seek out Fried Coke and succeeded. I didn't have any, but we and Jen did enjoy a funnel cake.

After that I went to test drive a couple of Chevrolet vehicles, the Monte Carlo & Avalanche. They were nice to drive, but the Impala is definately one of my favorites.

We then headed home and chilled until I had to fly out to my next project assignment in Corpus Christi, TX.

Fun times.

Later.......

Lunch Time

Okay, so here's the story. I'm working overnights for Best Buy and one night I was on my lunch break where I stopped at a RaceTrac gas station to get some Powerade 2 for $2 and Burger King to get a Whopper for a buck.

At the gas station I was about to leave when I was approach to a man asking me if I might happen to have a hanger on me. Apparently he or his friend must have locked their keys in the car. I, with a dumbfounded look answered no. Like I would be carrying a hanger (let alone a wire one) in my car. Then he asks if I think if anyone else might have a hanger. I said, "I don't know, why don't you go and ask them?" I tried very hard not to laugh and drove off to Burger King.

I ordered 2 Whoppers w/ cheese(A Buck A Piece) and I was quoted $3.10 as my total. That's a lot of tax I thought. Then I got my food with the receipt. The difference was $0.80. That was the price of the cheese on both whoppers. $0.40 per Whopper. Daaaaaaaaammmmmmmmnnnn. That's crazy. Oh well Ileft the King and when back to work to eat my lunch, where on the way I passed the same RaceTrac gas station and low and behold the same 2 dudes were still there lost, confused, and still locked out of their car. I just bust out laughing. Too Funny.

Later......

Jack FM

Correction. Jack FM is on 100.3 Not 100.7.

Sorry.

No Talking DJs Needed

Alright folks of the DFW Metroplex. I don't usually bring up stations for anyone else to check out on a large scale, but I feel this one is necessary. There are two new radio stations that play music pretty much the way it should be played.

One is Jack FM 100.7 FM. This station plays hits from late 60's to today. It's mostly Rock & Pop style music and the recorded DJ is pretty funny. No goofy DJs, no stupid listeners calling in saying how cool they are or who they will or will not date. Dumb Asses.

The next is Movin' 107.5 FM. It's simular to Jack FM except they touch on a different side of the Pop spectrum. R&B, Dance, & Hip Hop. Also like Jack FM (at least so far) they don't have goofy DJs and stupid listeners calling in.

My favorite so far is Movin' with Jack FM falling to second. Kiss, Da Beat, K104, & that Reggaetone (however you spell it) station can lick it hard.

Sorry, Kidd Kraddick, Doug Banks, & Ricky Smiley. You time needs to end.

So check it out and if you don't like them go back to those other stations.

Later........

Update

Alright people, if you haven't attended the color party or aren't pretty close friends of us, I got the promotion. I passed my exam in Minnesota with a pretty good score and I am not a certified Functionality Technician for the Best Buy Project Team. I'm pretty excited about it.

Things are going pretty well on the team and they are giving me more responsibility. It's pretty interesting working for a man who is 10 years my junior, but I can deal with it.

My traveling has increased recently as we went to El Paso just after Labor Day for a week. Then we did a remodel in Springfield, MO. It was kind of interesting as I worked on some new things I never delt with before. We visited a resturant called Lamberts: Home of Throwing Rolls. Yes, they literally throw rolls at you upon request and he throws them like a pitcher. The following I checked out Branson, MO. Bigger than I expected and even more busy. We were in Springfield for 3 weeks

Right now we are doing a remodel in Mesquite, TX and we are about to enter the second and final week for that project. The following Saturday we are flying out to Corpus Christi to do a 2 week remodel there and then a 2 week remodel in Laredo, TX.

Fun times kind of.

I will do better in blogging.

Later.

Wish Me Luck

Well it is the end of my training week and I am going to be taking my Certification Exam tomorrow. I feel confident, yet I'm still a little unsure. I'm more worried on how they will word the questions on the test. Hope I don't get trick into missing the right answer.

I should do well. Me and my roomate quizzed ourselves harder than we expected. So much that Rashaad's head starting hurting and we had to stop. Kind of funny.

Well I better get back to my room and get some more studying in. Haven't studied this hard since college. Man!!!!!

Wish me luck all.........

I will need it.

Oh my gosh.....

Well I am feeling a lot better. No more headache, no more dizzy spells, no more nausea, but I do still have a little congestion.

I start off the day a bit late at 11:00am and went to get something to use for the week of training suggested by my wife. As I was leaving the store I witness an odd situation (I'm still in Minneapolis BTW). There is a car trying to get out of his parking spot. Behind him are 5 cars, 2 facing south and 3 facing north. I'm not sure they are fighting for the same parking spot, but they were at a stand still while waiting for this car to back out. The car inches out and as he does the car closest to him inches towards him. He moves a little more and the car get closer to him. They are practically a couple feet from each other and he has no choice to move forward. So he moves forward and to the right and he was still in parking spots. He gets dangerously close to another parked car and he was practically pinned. The other car that was inching towards him then started to work her way into the spot even though the man has not cleared the area. I started to smile and not laugh and the guy finally got out. That is the most unusual situation I have ever seen (and I'm currently from Texas). Very Sad.

I later headed out to the airport to pick up a couple of co-workers from Dallas-Fort Worth and had to circle the arrival area because they won't allow you to just sit there and wait on your passenger. After 4 rounds, they finally emerged from the airport and we headed back to the hotel. When we entered the room we found a gift pouch on one of the beds (my room had one too, but I never bother to open it). In it was an eye mask, ear plugs, linen spray, & a sleeping CD. So we say, "Put in the CD." and it played some soothing music with a doctor who was pretty must speaking subliminal message into you mind as you sleep. We immediatly turned it off (didn't want to get sleepy).

Later we left for dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe in Downtown Minneapolis. Pretty nice. I haven't been to one of these since junior year in high school (Damn I'm Old). Before we got to the resturant a man approached us wanting change to use (for what I don't know and don't care). I gave him some, he said thanks, and then asked for more. I said no, you have it all. Bye. I know that was kind of rude, but you got money from someone. Be happy and move on. Don't be greedy. Dinner was good and we went back to the hotel to rest up and prepare for first day of training.

There's that for today. Not as eventful as yetsterday, but still interesting.

Later............

Minne---SOTA

Well I am now in Minneapolis, MN for job training and I had a pretty interesting trip up here.

First we start of at DFW (That's Dallas-Forth Worth for those of you not in Texas). My wife drops me off and I head to check in. I place my bag on the scale and I am informed that I have to pay $25 for only 5 extra pounds in my bag. Why didn't I take my bookbag with me? Dumbass.

Then after I checked in my bad I headed down to my gate and realized something else. I have my tunes and my player, but no headphones......D'Oh. Dumbass. Well at least I was feeling tired so I can sleep through the flight.

While not feeling well with a headache & slight congestion, I sat at the gate waiting for the announcement to board the plane and I see on CNN Headline News that a judge was being arrested for exposing himself in a court room. WHAT!?!?!?!? I don't remember where this took place, but I just started laughing hard (not that one).

I finally get the announcement to board the plane and as I step on I noticed the the door and walkway one the plane was short and narrow. Found out that I wasn't on a standard American Airlines aircraft, but actually on their smaller jets named American Eagle (***Eagle Screech***).
Man it was cramped (height-wise) and when I used their facilities, let's say I have never had my top head forcibly bent down in the same direction as my bottom one. I just hoped we did run into turbulence and I crack or break my neck.

We approach Minneapolis-St. Paul (MAN THIS IS A LONG STORY) and my headache was still in effect creating dizzy spells. Well that combined with the bumpy descent of the jet cause big time nausea (oohhhh....). I made it down got my luggage and headed for car rental. They were going to cram my big butt into a midsized vehicle, but I was able to get a fullsize car. I had a big choice to make as I saw a Chevrolet Impala & a Pontiac Grand Prix. Well since me and my wife drove an Impala before I figure I try out the Grand Prix. Sweet choice. This car has nice power and sweet sound system. That made my day along with the judge showing his other gavel and somet.........uh nevermind.

Oh, I almost forgot. This also made my day (that makes 4 things). I get to the main desk at the hotel I'm staying at and the people walking around were talking and man oh man. I have never heard the Minnesotan Accent spoken as strong as I heard it here. I tried so hard not to laugh. I know.....BAD WIL!!!!

Oh Ya Sure......You Becha.

Okay. Time to get some grub and relax. Get rid of this headache.

Later.

Tyson Update

This are going pretty well with Tyson. He and Lucas now have an understanding and they play very often. It sometimes sounds like they are fighting, but they are not.

As for Bella she is warming up to him, but she still keeps her distance. Especially when he is in high energy.

One new thing I discovered with him is his odd fear with cats. Probably developed from his relationship with Lucas. He will bark and snarl at them, but when he gets within 5 ft of them he yipes and freaks out.

Oh he's still a puppy. Doesn't have any sense yet. We will change and improve as he grows up.

Catch A Break

Man, a brotha just can't catch a break. My father-in-law is living his last days in hospice, my wife struggles at work (a little), my wife & dog gets attacked by a Rottweiler (he's fine), and now for the second time someone commits identity fraud.

A word to Winfield, THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I DON'T WANT TO SHARE MY INTERNET WITH ANYONE, especially ones I don't know. There are reasons why I strongly value privacy.

Some bitch, and I use that strongly, decided to take our money and go for a swim in Allentown, PA. It's a good thing though that banks monitor and take action when crazy activity on a card. Pretty embarrassing when you can't pay your groceries because of this.

There are a few positives though. I my be able to get a deferment on a couple of loans until this blows over. And we have other sources on funds to get us through for a while.

Don't worry about us. We are still good. We just mostly want a better life than this one and we do believe it will happen. It's just a matter of when.