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| Patron in the Trackway |
| Please. Someone explain what compels an individual to jump down into an active trackway that moves high speed trains with A LOT of voltage? I guess people are just stupid. So you drop a personal item into the trackway. The LAST thing you do is go in after it, unless of course you are feeling lucky or have a deathwish. While I don't understand the philosophy of committing suicide, individuals climb down into the trackway or jump in front of a moving train. Stupid. But for individuals who are supposedly "soubnd of mind" why would go in after ANY item? I only bring this up because it seems to be an all too often occurrence within the BART system. The correct thing to do, unless it is a person in the trackway is to go back up to the station agent's booth and tell the agent. If it is a person in the trackway then breal the glass on the platform that de-energizes the trackway at the platform. Of course trains can still coast for quite a distance, so even this is no guarantee that a train what coast into the station. Be responsible and be smart. DO NOT. I repeat DO NOT go into the trackway for any reason. There is a good chance your item will still be there, even if a train rolls over the item. This includes articles of clothing, cellphones, balls and other strange items that somehow find their way mysteriously into the trackway. Last thing you want to do is retrieve it yourself. Chances are you won't hear the train until it is too late. |
| Oswald on Tuesday 26 August 2008 - 13:07:34 | Read/Post Comment: 0 |
| The Las Vegas Stink |
| So I spent about 36 hours this past weekend in Vegas. You know the sleazy city, whose slogan is, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." I left Friday morning before sunrise from Oakland and arrived about 8am for our 25th anniversary fantasy football draft. Yes, we draft poolside in Vegas! Owners arrive on Friday, the draft is Saturday and most leave Sunday morning. This year, we returned after a year off from Vegas due to other family commitments. I know my wife was not really thrilled at the prospect of my return to Vegas, even if it was just for a single night. But being the truthful and honest husband I am, I told her what some of the guys do (read strip clubs). Most of the time is spent gambling and hanging out poolside with an alcoholic beverage in your hand. Although this year was a bit different. Friday morning was quite uneventful, which I spent most of the time by myself, as the two other guys there were getting full body massages fro two hours. Did I mention we stayed at The Palms? So I spent much of the morning by myself, I did hit the roulette table and win a small bit of money, nothing to write home about. Many of the guys started rolling in about 1pm or 2pm. After the massages we went to the pool, but ended up at a $15 minimum blackjack table (single deck). I don't play the game and not too fond of it. But I eneded up costing my buddy a few hundred. Hey blame him for throwing $100-$300 a hand out there. Guess I should learn more about the game and know when to hit and when to stay. By 3pm all of the owners were at the blackjack table and five of us were playing. I finally backed out and let one of the other guys play since I was not making any money. That even we spent at N9NE Steakhouse with a bill of $1300! The steak, sides and appetizers ARE worth the money! Great food, great fun and great friends. I was trying to figure it out, but I think I have known most all of these guys 25+ years. We started fantasy football before many even knew what it was. I guess if we smart we would have started our own fantasy football service, one in which others came to us for information. Why we never thought of this years ago is beyond me. Saturday night is pretty much a blur. I know I had a few too many scotch and waters, lost my ass at roulette and I think I wandered the casino aimlessly watching others hits their numbers. I did not sit back down after I got up. I did find the rest of the group playing blackjack and not fairing much better. Saturday was the draft, poolside in two cabanas that overlooked the back section of the pool. While it did not look as crowded as it was Friday, it was still well over 100. I came home red, which I knew I would. But we spent the better part of 4 hours and 20 rounds to finish off the 2008-2009 TFL Draft. There were some nice surprises and some downright dumb picks. Yet that is part of the fun of the entire season, getting together for the draft. While I wanted to stay the full 3 days, I was ready to leave. There seems to be a stink that follows you out of Sin City. Spending hours in a smoke filled casino with people drinking continuously and throwing all sorts of money on the table for a chance at much more. So while it was hard to leave and say goodbye for another year, I don't think I would have had much fun Saturday night. I was bored with gambling since my numbers were not doing me much of a favor I did not want to piss away what money I won. We had already done the N9NE Steakhouse, so I guess it was a smart move to come home. As for next year, I am thinking about bringing my wife. She is not that fond of my going without her. Understandable. I would like her to meet them, not that it would change anything, but I do think we would have more fun together for a night or two in Vegas. I am sure the entire football would laugh at me, but hey they do now so nothing would really change. |
| Oswald on Monday 25 August 2008 - 19:32:06 | Read/Post Comment: 0 |
| Fantasy Throwball is Coming! |
| As mentioned this was a big football weekend...for those who follow the EPL (If you don't know what the EPL is, Google it.) I mean. For the Yanks here stateside, many could give a rat's ass about real football starting. Yet throwball...err...the start of the NFL season is right around the corner and this is the time of year when fantasy geeks start preparing for their fantasy football draft. Actually I already had my football (soccer Yanks, soccer) last week. But our yearly trek to Vegas is upon us. It took some persuading but my wife finally gave me the thumbs up or maybe the middle finger and I bought my plane ticket on Southwest (oh boy an airplane!). This is no fly by night league, I have been comissioner of the TFL since 1984 (I think) when myself and a group of friends who all played soccer together started the league. We actually ran a smaller league based on league my father ran. Since that time the core group of guys have remained involved (5 or 8 owners). A few years ago we started a roadie to The Palms in Las Vegas. Talk about plush! We draft poolside in our own private cabana (for my wife, if she is reading...there are no girls in the cabana when we are draft, this IS fantasy football!!!) with food and drink and more drink and yet more drink. Don't forget about the gambling too! It really has turned into a 3-day weekend, arriving Friday and departing on Sunday. Friday is a kick back on the lanai waiting for all the players to show up while drinking and gambling. Friday night is for dinner at the N9NES (read Nines) Steakhouse with drink, gambling and entertainment that evening. Saturday morning comes too soon and by 11am we are preparing to draft, which usually takes about 3.5-4 hours to complete. That evening it's the steakhouse again and more "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" sort of action. Of course I will be leaving Saturday night, so I don't get to eat steak again, but catch a cab to McCarran for my flight home. Nonetheless its a great time getting together with a group of guys I have known for years. The draft is always the best part of the season. The trash talk starts long before the draft and culminates with the passing of the Tidy Bowl Award, which is handed down from last place loser to last place loser, while the winner makes his speech for the upcoming season and the "Ace" is drawn from a group of cards to see who will draft in the coveted #1 draft position. |
| Oswald on Sunday 17 August 2008 - 22:34:03 | Read/Post Comment: 0 |
| 189,452 miles. |
| I am sure I have been dodging bullets over the past few years when it comes to servicing my 1995 GMC Sonoma. I am the original owner of the little 4-cyl truck, but it has been a true workhorse to date. Putting nearly 30,000 miles on it a few years back did not help my cause, but problems happens. Yesterday was no exception, but I got off very lucky as the consequences could have been much worse. I recently took the truck in for a high mileage service and a new muffler. There was no mention of any other problems as I asked when I dropped it off. As I was accelerating going up an onroad I thought I saw parts drop out from underneath the truck, but didn't really give it much of a second thought until later. I arrived at my son's preschool, left the truck running and remained in the seat, waiting to see the kids come out to the playground. What I did forget was it was 101 degrees and the staff did not take the kids out in that heat, so I turned off the truck. That was my first mistake. I went in, signed my son out and carried him out to the truck. I put him in his seat and buckled him up and went to get in the driver's seat. I turn the key and there was a horrible sound of metal grinding metal. Needless to say I turned the truck off. I then felt I could not engage the clutch or get the truck in gear. I called a mechanic buddy of mine and gave him the symptoms and we did a quick and dirty troubleshooting. Since the truck would not move and getting it started seemed like I choir, I called AAA, whom I seem to use once a year when something like this comes up. The truck took about an hour to get there and my son and I waited for mommy to come pick him up. But the truck showed up first, so I put him back into the pre-school so I could leave with the driver. This morning I called a friend who is lead mechanic at Mazda and he stopped by and confirmed it was a bad clutch. I think this is the third one so far after nearly 190,000 miles. Not too bad. The wife even commented about something not feeling right and hearing a noise when the truck idled. So I called a few shops today and it seems it will be about $550 to get a new clutch installed and hopefully get me back on the road by midweek, Wednesday or Thursday at the latest. This makes me wonder when the engine and gear box want to go next. |
| Oswald on Saturday 16 August 2008 - 22:52:13 | Read/Post Comment: 0 |
| The Olympics |
| WHO CARES!!! |
| Oswald on Wednesday 13 August 2008 - 11:31:25 | Read/Post Comment: 0 |
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