May 2003 Archives
Well, someone has figured out how to get me to read the junk mail that gets sent to my Hotmail account.
Subject:
Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Warm Biscuits on us
Turns out it was an attempt to solicit my address for KFC gift certificates. I think I'll pass, but I know what I want for lunch now.
This Friday is going to be very interesting.
Last Thursday I heard the "World Tour" sounder on 93.7 KLBJ. I didn't know what the trip was, but in the past they've sent people to cool concerts both in and out of the U.S. I figured I'd call in and find out what the show was afterward.
I was the ninth caller and was told to listen in at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday for the drawing to select the winner. After I got off the phone, they ran the promo for the trip. I learned I was in the running for a limo ride to the Verizon Wireless Ampitheater in San Antonio to see Def Leppard. Sweet. I even get to hang out with them on stage at some point.
Once I realized that the show was the 30th, I knew I would win. That date conflicted with the Miss Saigon performance we were planning on attending. I had just changed the tickets for it the previous day.
Despite my confidence, I managed to forget to listen this morning after getting to work. I blame the combination of the Memorial Day holiday and not having a radio in my office. Fortunately, Mary Alice's friend Mikey called her to let her know he'd heard my name and that I had three minutes to call in. She called me with the hotline number, and I got right through.
I made a few of my patented bad jokes on the air and was told that I would be contacted with further details...I'm still waiting on that call. I'm betting the concert will be like none I've ever been to before.
Check the sidebar at left.
Old songs will probably be retired after a month or so. Get 'em while you can.
This is disappointing. I've been reading Brunching for at least the last five years, almost since their beginning. Löre's sense of humor always cracked me up.
I'm not all that surprised to see them call it quits, the updates had slowed to a trickle over the last year or so, and it seemed that it was getting harder and harder for them to stay up to date.
It looks like they'll be keeping the archives up, and the Book of Lists and Self-Made Critic will have their own sites before too long. Still gonna miss my weekly Shuttlecocks fix, though.
After a 4+ year hiatus from Stubb's, I've now been to two shows in two nights.
Monday was Robert Earl Keen's concert for Cielo Wind Power's WindPower 2003 conference. Mary Alice managed to swing a pair of tickets. The concert was great, we were only about 40 feet from the stage. The crowd was small enough that we weren't packed shoulder to shoulder, which is what happened the time we went to see him at the Backyard. I got to hear two of my favorites off of Gravitational Forces: "Wild Wind" and "Walkin' Cane". The set was a little short, but understandable since it was free and pretty freaking hot. This guy has some pictures.
Last night's Nickel Creek appearance was even better. A cold front came through, making the weather perfect. From the first song it was obvious the band really enjoyed playing to the crowd. We (Tate, Eric, Sarah, Mark, Sara and myself) got there early and secured a spot up front. Seeing their talent up close was amazing. Being near the stage paid off even more at the end of the show - the second encore was largely acoustic, closing with the hymn "Be Thou My Vision". I'm really glad to get the chance to finally see them live; they were scheduled to play Shady Grove 9/13/01, which was scrapped due to travel difficulties. Given the attendance last night, there's no way Shady Grove could have held all their fans.
I am an access log freak. I derive way too much pleasure from seeing who's seen my site and how they found it.
It looks like a ton of people are hitting my galleries of travel photos, most of which are incomplete and none of which match my current layout. I especially need to finish scanning and uploading the Mexico, Hawaii, and house photos. The problem is finding time and motivation. If you've come here looking for them, bug me. Post a comment. Send me an email. Get me off my lazy ass.
If I'm not pleasing the masses, what do I really have to offer?
When I was sitting at Lindy's in Times Square having my coffee and cheesecake, I had a bout of reverse culture shock. Or something. Reverse culture shock is as good a description as any.
There I was, watching the masses walk through what's likely one of the busiest intersections in the world. I was surrounded by skyscrapers and bustle. Just a few days before, I'd had chocolate meringue pie in a 40-seat restaurant in the Hill Country after a trip to the lake. The settings were wildly different, but they had two things in common.
I was there. And the desserts and coffee were darn good.
<Jim Anchower>Hola, amigos. What's up? It's been a long time since I rapped at ya, I know, but I been real busy these days. </Jim Anchower>
I seem to be in a trend of half-finished posts that never make it up. Monday I started one here that was lost when IE died, and there's a month old landscaping update that I still haven't managed to post to Kaspar Family.
Anyhow, the short version:
Went wakeboarding again, saw the first half of Cirque du Soleil's Alegria!, went to New Jersey for work with a side trip to Manhattan, did some more yardwork, and learned my dog is recovering from hip surgery really well.
