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April 3rd, 2008

Subject: It's been a while... Time: 12:00 pm Current Mood: complacent

Huh. I had no idea it had been so long. I guess it's time to bring people up to date. 1) On the movie meme, the only two not guessed were #6 and #11. So, here are those answers. #6 was Hudson Hawk, and #11 was It's Always Fair Weather. 2) New Job is going pretty well so far. I'm still in the learning stages, but I have more of an idea as to what I'm supposed to do. I know that I still need to tell the story about how I got it, but now's not the time. 3) My son broke his pinky a week ago after a fall on his heelys. It was almost 30 years ago TO THE DAY that I broke the same finger. What's even weirder is that the break in the finger was virtually identical as well. 4) We have taken my daughter off of Singulair for her asthma due to lots of reports about people on it having depression and suicidal thoughts among other things. I think that brings everyone up to date. How are you?

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February 28th, 2008

Subject: Still have four left... Time: 11:28 am

Well, even with two quotes on this entry, there are still four left. I guess I will try one more time with these four and see what might turn up. I'll see if I can find really obvious quotes... with a couple of these it might still be difficult. 2. I don't care how many missions you've flown! I don't care how good you think you are! You're nobody, and for the next 10 days - nobody takes a crap unless I say so! Got it? Pete 'Dead Meat' Thompson is dead. So is Mo Green, Tataglia, Barzini, the heads of all the five families. It is at moments like these, my dear friends, that we must ask ourselves: "How can this not be part of some larger plan?" Do good men like Dead Meat Thompson just blink out one day like a bad bulb? I mean, one minute you're in bed with a knockout gal... or guy, and the next, you're a compost heap. Doesn't that bother any of you? Because it scares the living piss outta me! Be seated! Ah... Many of you are wondering what's wrong with my pants, well they started running short on materials right before they got to the knees so don't give me any shit. Ah. I look out there on all you wonderful guys and I say to myself "What I wouldn't give to be 20 years younger... and a woman". You know, I've personally flown over 194 missions and I was shot down on every one. Come to think of it, I've never landed a plane in my life. Hot Shots guessed correctly by skeetlj 6. This is what I get for darting a nun! Gates tries to blackmail me, you ask me "Did I miss anything." Gates gets killed, you say "Did I miss anything." I bet you went up to Mrs. Lincoln at the Ford Theatre and said "How was the show? Did I miss anything?" If Da Vinci was alive today, he'd be eating microwave sushi, naked, in the back of a Cadillac with the both of us. 9. You may know kung fu... but you're still a fairy. What're you looking at? Never seen an ice cream thief before? A: Why don't you train us to be top fighters... and we'll avenge them! B: Becoming a top fighter takes time, unless you're a natural-born kung-fu genius, and they're 1 in a million. A: [Does martial arts routine] It's obvious I'm the one. B: [immediately punches him in the face] Don't think so. Kung Fu Hustle correctly guessed by off_coloratura 11. There must be some more dignified way to sell Klenzrite... like you, taking a bath in it, stark naked in Macy's window. I'm mixed up with some of the shadiest characters in town. As a matter of fact, knowing the inspiring and uplifting work you do on this program, I - I feel terrible showing my face in decent homes across the country. Boys, don't be like me. Live clean. Use Klenzrite. A: Where do you have to go? B: Tim's Bar on Third Avenue. It's a long way from here. A: You're nuts. It's ten minutes. B: No, it's ten years. I'm guessing #9 and #11 might still be difficult for some people. This will be my last try with these, and then I'll give the answers.

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February 27th, 2008

Subject: I am still a working stiff!!!! Time: 03:18 pm Current Mood: ecstatic

I got a job offer this morning and accpeted it. I will still be working at Lockheed, but for a different area. I promise I will tell the story later on how I got hooked up on this job, but for right now celebrate with me!!! WOO!

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February 22nd, 2008

Tags: movie meme Subject: Just 6 left to go... Time: 11:00 am Current Mood: amused

Well we stalled out at 6 on the original thread, so I've reposted the ones still not guessed. I do know that a couple of these were obscure, and purposely so. Also, as I promised, I'll go ahead and add quotes to these. Let's see what happens... 2. I don't care how many missions you've flown! I don't care how good you think you are! You're nobody, and for the next 10 days - nobody takes a crap unless I say so! Got it? Pete 'Dead Meat' Thompson is dead. So is Mo Green, Tataglia, Barzini, the heads of all the five families. It is at moments like these, my dear friends, that we must ask ourselves: "How can this not be part of some larger plan?" Do good men like Dead Meat Thompson just blink out one day like a bad bulb? I mean, one minute you're in bed with a knockout gal... or guy, and the next, you're a compost heap. Doesn't that bother any of you? Because it scares the living piss outta me! 3. I have vision, and the rest of the world wears bifocals. Boy, you know every time I see Hole-in-the-Wall again, it's like seeing it fresh for the first time. And every time that happens, I keep asking myself the same question: how could I be so damn stupid to keep coming back here? Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid guessed correctly by derspatchel 6. This is what I get for darting a nun! Gates tries to blackmail me, you ask me "Did I miss anything." Gates gets killed, you say "Did I miss anything." I bet you went up to Mrs. Lincoln at the Ford Theatre and said "How was the show? Did I miss anything?" 9. You may know kung fu... but you're still a fairy. What're you looking at? Never seen an ice cream thief before? 10. In an emotional address at the state capitol, Nebraska Governor Paul Burmaster made a public apology for his state being so flat. Know what I'm gonna do if we make it? I'm gonna go back to Eagle River and marry my gal, Edith Mae. Gonna get us a nice little place with a white picket fence. You know the kind. Two-car garage. Maybe a fishing boat. And in 15 years, when they're all paid for... I'll set my charges and blow the shit out of them. Hot Shots! Part Deux guessed correctly by jasonlove 11. There must be some more dignified way to sell Klenzrite... like you, taking a bath in it, stark naked in Macy's window. I'm mixed up with some of the shadiest characters in town. As a matter of fact, knowing the inspiring and uplifting work you do on this program, I - I feel terrible showing my face in decent homes across the country. Boys, don't be like me. Live clean. Use Klenzrite. #9 and #11 are difficult to find less-obscure quotes for... but hopefully this helps. Oh, and here's a bonus for those just beginning to play: 17. The first night's the toughest, no doubt about it. They march you in naked as the day you were born, skin burning and half blind from that delousing shit they throw on you, and when they put you in that cell... and those bars slam home... that's when you know it's for real. A whole life blown away in the blink of an eye. Nothing left but all the time in the world to think about it. The Shawshank Redemption guessed correctly by joenotcharles #17 falls into the I-can't-believe-I-forgot-it category. Have fun!

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February 20th, 2008

Subject: I guess I'm too obscure... Time: 09:01 am Current Mood: contemplative

Well, there's still half of the movies left to guess on my movie quote meme. I think in another day or two I'll start posting more quotes from those films, which should make it easier. I was thinking there's still a couple of 'gimmes' there still, but I could be mistaken.

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February 19th, 2008

Subject: Still Looking... Time: 08:03 am Current Mood: determined

I realize that I haven't updated people on my job search in a while, so I figure it was about time. I'm starting to look at Systems Engineering positions in Lockheed hoping that something will come from that. In the meantime, I had a second phone interview with Penguin Computing, and I'm not sure what the next step will be there. Also, I realized that I haven't heard from one of the companies that was at the outsourcing fair a few weeks back, so I need to contact them. Also, I'm supposed to have a phone interview soon for a temp assignment in Pennsylvania. As of tomorrow, it will be three weeks to go until I'm laid off. I'm not getting too concerned yet. There's still plenty of time.

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February 18th, 2008

Tags: meme, movie Subject: Okay... I'll Play... Time: 05:38 pm Current Mood: amused

Stolen from jennieah, off_coloratura and others... 1. Pick 16 of your favorite movies. (Yes, the number varies) 2. Go to IMDb and find a quote from each movie. 3. Post them here for everyone to guess. 4. Strike it out when someone guesses correctly, and put who guessed it and the movie. 5. NO GOOGLING/using IMDb search functions. Okay... so here goes: 1. Do you think I made a mistake splitting his brain between the two of them? Rocky Horror Picture Show guessed correctly by storme 2. I don't care how many missions you've flown! I don't care how good you think you are! You're nobody, and for the next 10 days - nobody takes a crap unless I say so! Got it? 3. I have vision, and the rest of the world wears bifocals. 4. Digital watches. And soon I shall have understanding of video cassette recorders and car telephones. And when I have understanding of them, I shall have understanding of computers. And when I have understanding of computers, I shall be the Supreme Being! Time Bandits guessed correctly by jrw 5. Hey guys, I just wanted you to know that, the reactors won't take it; the ship is breaking apart and all that... Just FYI. Galaxy Quest guessed correctly by joenotcharles 6. This is what I get for darting a nun! 7. That's our new computer. We can pinpoint any fire in town with that. It's perfect for us, because, you know, we're the fire department. Roxanne guessed correctly by lpsmith 8. There's no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you'll enjoy the rest of your flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane? Airplane guessed correctly by ctate 9. You may know kung fu... but you're still a fairy. 10. In an emotional address at the state capitol, Nebraska Governor Paul Burmaster made a public apology for his state being so flat. 11. There must be some more dignified way to sell Klenzrite... like you, taking a bath in it, stark naked in Macy's window. 12. Life's like a movie, write your own ending. The Muppet Movie guessed correctly by off_coloratura and katre50 13. He's right on top of us. I wonder if he is using the same wind we are using. The Princess Bride guessed correctly by jackbishop 14. We're police officers! We're not trained to handle this kind of violence! Demolition Man guessed correctly by skeetlj 15. Oh, but you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you. Monty Python and the Holy Grail guessed correctly by jotasbrane 16. Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb! Batman: The Movie guessed correctly by sargent And there we go. Let the games begin!

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February 8th, 2008

Current Music: Summer of Love - The sound of 1967 Subject: Job Search Update... Time: 09:59 am Current Mood: hopeful

It's been a very interesting week as far as the job search goes. I had one phone interview and one live interview this week. Both went quite well, I believe. The phone interview was with Penguin Computing, and I have a feeling that they might bring me in for a live interview. I also interviewed yesterday in person with Splunk. I talked to five different people over the course of three hours and I think I nailed it. We'll have to see if they come back with an offer. In the meantime, another temp duty assignment has come with Lockheed, which is located in Pennsylvania. So far I've only said I'm interested, although I've not sent a resume to anyone yet nor do I have contact information for anyone connected with it. So, here's how it stands now: Lockheed: Nothing local, possible temp work in PA Applied Signal: No call back at all, figuring this one is a lost cause. Northrop Grumman: Again, no call for a formal interview after the phone interview over a week ago. Possibly also a lost cause. Penguin Computing: Good phone interview, possible a live interview coming Splunk: Great live interview. Maybe an offer coming? Nothing else has turned up yet, but it's looking more likely that there will not be a break in my employment.

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February 1st, 2008

Subject: Opportunities come from the weirdest places... Time: 09:38 pm Current Mood: hopeful

Today was another roller-coaster day. I received an email earlier from Google that they didn't think I'd be a good fit for anything. A friend of mine at work lost his mom yesterday, and I was put in charge of sending around the card and collecting money. This afternoon I went to a memorial service for an amateur radio friend who passed away last Sunday from complications due to MS. It was a very nice service, and everyone around me found out that I could actually sing (along with the Hallelujah Chorus, which was the closing piece... I've had it memorized for 15 years). What was interesting is that two of my ham friends found out that I was looking for work, and wanted me to come to work at their companies. So, off went two resumes tonight... whoever thought that a funeral could lead to job opportunities? So, here it is as it stands: Lockheed: Still doesn't look promising. Applied Signal: Face-planted interview, haven't heard anything, assuming the worst Northrop Grumman: Feel like I passed the phone interview, hoping for "real" interview next week Penguin Computing: Possible position in the Fremont facility testing hardware Splunk: Possible SQA position It's looking a lot better than it did at the beginning of the week.

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January 28th, 2008

Current Music: Stan Rogers Subject: Continued updates... Time: 02:50 pm Current Mood: hopeful

Another busy time last week. We had an in-house hiring event on Tuesday, an ousourcing hiring event on Thursday, and I had an open house at one of the local companies Thursday afternoon... and then I tested for my blue-with-a-green-stripe belt in karate on Saturday. So, let's break it down, shall we? Tuesday's event was a joke and complete waste of time. One hiring manager showed up from our corporation, and it was like a feeding frenzy with 50 hungry sharks descending on one minnow. Turns out they didn't have any jobs in my area anyway. Oh well. If this says something about the current state of jobs locally in my company, I'm very afraid. Thursday's went better. There were actually three companies there... two of which had jobs in my field... the one that didn't is actually too far away anyway (Hollister). From that, I received an email this week and have a phone interview on Wednesday. Woo! Thursday afternoon I did a complete faceplant. I haven't been that tongue-tied in a long time and I spent a lot of my time trying to recall terms and over-complicating things. We're supposed to find out this week if we get offers. Let's just say I'm not holding my breath. As far as the test went, it's the first test since I tested for yellow belt (my first test), that I actually felt well enough for it. I was quite pleased with my performance, and so was my sensei and he told me so. On Sunday, my back caught up with me again and I could barely move. My wife said that she doesn't want me testing any more if he's going to return me broken. Back's feeling much better today.. so it was only a 'minor' setback. And I think that catches everything up. We'll see what comes of the interview on Wednesday, and see if any other company contacts me. I received a profiling email last Friday from a different company so they may be calling me in for an interview soon as well.

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January 22nd, 2008

Subject: Debut of the new userpic... Time: 09:31 am Current Mood: amused

I figured it was about time to update user pics again. In the last one I'd been using, my son was 5... and he'll be 7 in a week. Thus, the new pic. This one's a bit newer... it's only about 6 months old, and I've aged quite a bit in the photo compared to the last few I've been in. Oh well... old age catches up with you.

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January 11th, 2008

Tags: job search Current Music: A Whiter Shade of Pale - Procol Harum Subject: Another stage of life is about to begin... Time: 06:35 am Current Mood: discontent

Well, I found out yesterday that I'm being let go from my current project due to budget constraints. This is the second time I've been let go from this program for that very reason. The good news is that I have 60 days to find a new position within the company. It's a toss-up to me. I've been with this company twice as long as any other company that I've worked for (not saying much... my job retention sucks), and I really don't want to lose the seniorty, along with all the vacation that I accumulated (payoff with no vacation sucks). At the same time, it frees me up to find something closer to home so that I don't have to commute as far. The research labs, which would have been my first choice, are going through similar budget issues right now. So, that means no work there. I already know that there's no way I'm going back to customer service again. My current company is going to do what they can to retain me. There's an internal job fair next week which I'll be going to. Maybe something will come from it. In the meantime, I'm fixing up my resume and making sure my job bio is up to date.

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December 11th, 2007

Current Music: Music for a Found Harmonium Subject: Music for a Found Harmonium... Time: 07:46 am Current Mood: amused

Every once in a while a song comes by and gets stuck in my head for long periods of time. Right now it happens to be 'Music for a Found Harmonium' written by Simon Jeffes, who passed away a few years ago from a brain tumor. Most people rememeber this song as being 'That Napoleon Dynamite Song', and I have to admit that's where the song first took hold for me... but only because I recognized it from one of the many Celtic CDs I owned... took me a while to find it, but I have the version that was used in the movie, which was performed by Patrick Street. I have since found the Penguin Cafe Orchestra version, which was Jeffes's group. In the multiple listenings I've done to it, I can see this being a good handbell piece, and I have plans to arrange it in the near future for handbells. It's amazing to me how many people can take a song and turn it into a phenomenon (or a mini one) on YouTube (kinda like Loituma's song Levan Polkka, which has turned into the Leekspin phenomenon). However, in my searching on YouTube for different performances of Music for a Found Harmonium, I came across this video that is one of the most amusing of the bunch. Enjoy! ( The Chicken Run... )

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December 8th, 2007

Subject: Ah, the nostalgia... Time: 06:25 pm Current Mood: happy

I pulled out all my old consoles tonight, and right now I'm watching my son playing Earthworm Jim on my SNES. Earlier he and I were playing Donkey Kong Country in two-player team mode. Later I will probably plug in the Genesis or the NES, or maybe the 2600. It's odd to me that I have kids that are old enough to play videogames now. This will be fun to share these games that I grew up on (at other people's houses.... I never was allowed to have any of these) and have a good time with them while doing that.

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December 7th, 2007

Tags: games Subject: Game Playing and Open House Time: 02:21 pm Current Mood: happy

My kids and I had a unique opportunity last night. There was an open house at The Golden Apple, a learning store that my sister used to work for. From that relationship, we know the owners very well. I was in there last Tuesday and John made sure to tell me about the open house and games night. We arrived at around 6pm, and I was delighted to see that they had representatives from some local game companies. Represented were the owners of The Touch (a sensory game where you have to find pieces by touch only), a couple of representatives from Playmais (a unique building toy that uses water to stick the pieces together), one of the owners (I think) of Blue Orange Games (some of the coolest strategy/learning games I've seen in a while), and lastly (but not least), the controlling partner of Infinitoy, which makes the cool building toy called Zoob. I have seen The Touch several places before. I'm also sure I've seen the owners at other trade shows that I have been to, before they were able to get the game a bigger distribution. I chatted quite a bit with the Touch people, and my kids each took turns playing it... some day we will end up with that game! The most fun that my son and I had (my daughter was off browsing the horses), was playing a game called Gobblet Jr, which is a cool version of Tic-Tac-Toe. The also make a 4x4 version for more advanced people. Another game that they had was called Ringgz, but I didn't get a chance to play it. I was very intruiged by it and will be looking to purchase it sometime. What was cool is that this company is based in San Francisco, and they make all the games (all wooden) in-house. She said it was like getting a hand-made craft... and I can agree. They are beautiful-looking games and are very well-designed. I also had a lot of fun talking to the Zoob representative as he was making a DNA chain for the owners of the store. We talked quite a bit about the beginnings of Zoob and the promo that they had with Denny's for a while. I was surprised to learn that the original campaign was in 1998 and 1999, since I recall playing Zoob with my kids when my son was about 3, and he was born in 2001. For me, I really enjoy talking with the owners of these companies and their enthusiasm for the products that they have made. That's more rewarding than just playing the games. As a result, I'd be more inclined to buy their products since I spent some time with them. I know for sure I will be picking up more of the Blue Orange games. (My son's getting Gobblet Jr for Xmas... shhhh! Don't tell him!)

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November 24th, 2007

Subject: Sesame Street Personality Quiz Time: 08:49 am

Here we go with another one... ( Who will I be? ) Thanks to valancy17 and isquesque for this quiz.

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October 28th, 2007

Subject: How to Change a Wax Ring on a Toilet (with apologies to Stephen Granade) Time: 04:00 pm Current Mood: tired

1. Put off changing ring for two years until house is about to be reappraised 2. Turn off water to toilet 3. Flush toilet to empty tank 4. Notice that there's still water in the bowl 5. Go to the internet to find out how to empty water from bowl 6. Get plumber's helper and plunge as much water out as possible 7. Undo nuts from bolts holding toilet in place. Notice that the bolts are turning as well. 8. Use pliers to hold bolts while unscrewing nuts 9. Unscrew hose from toilet tank, and lift toilet off of floor. 10. Scrape up as much of wax ring as possible from floor 11. Read instructions on how to install new ring 12. Tip toilet over to put on new ring. Notice that the water left in the bowl is now running all over the floor 13. Wrestle toilet into shower to keep water on floor to a minimum 14. Install the new wax ring on bottom of toilet 15. Wrestle toilet back out of shower, spilling more water in the process 16. Wrench back while putting toilet back in place 17. Position toilet in place while ignoring pain 18. Start screwing nuts back on bolts while holding them with pliers 19. Hook hose back up to tank and turn water back on 20. Proceed to be sprayed by toilet water from tank. Turn water back off 21. Fiddle with water intake some and turn water back on 22. Get sprayed by toilet water yet again. Turn water back off. 23. Take intake apart, and make sure it's seated back correctly 24. Turn water back on. 25. Notice that there's a small leak in the hose. Turn water back off. 26. Take break in corn maze with family. Stop by hardware store for new hose. 27. Unscrew hose from tank. Notice that the hose doesn't unscrew from the spigot. 28. Head back to the hardware store to get a new spigot. 29. Check the spigot purchased against what is currently there. Noticed that you purchased the wrong one. Also notice that the hose has broken off the spigot while you were messing with it. 30. Attempt to turn off water to house. Find out that the main valve is rusted open. 31. Head back to the hardware store for the correct spigot and a hammer. 32. Noticed that it's now too dark to do anything outside. Hit the spigot a couple of times with the hammer anyway and try to turn it with no success 33. Wait for wife to finish doing laundry in the morning so that you can turn off the water to the house 34. Try to turn off the water at the water meter with no success... it's also stuck open. 35. In desperation, try the main water spigot again. Find out that it now turns. 36. Turn off the water to the house 37. Try to remove water valve from below toilet. Notice that you don't have the right tools. 38. Go to hardware store again for more tools 39. Finally manage to get spigot off of pipe 40. Screw new spigot in place, and attach new hose to spigot and attach hose to toilet 41. Turn on water to house, but only a little bit in order to check for leaks 42. Notice that the spigot is leaking a little. Tighten in up some more 43. Turn on water completely to house 44. Turn on water to toilet 45. Tighten nuts as needed to ensure no more leaking 46. Flush toilet to make sure it still works.

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October 22nd, 2007

Subject: The photos are in! Time: 10:24 am Current Mood: accomplished

Well, both the "official" photos from the race, and the ones taken by friends are up for your viewing pleasure. Sorry Erin... no muffler man. For the official photos, you can view them (along with my wonderful walking partner, Carol) at Action Sport's website. For more Team Charlie photos, including one of me checking out my bloody toe, you can go to Charlie's website. Take it up a notch! Now, get back to work.

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October 17th, 2007

Tags: marathon Subject: Another half marathon update... Time: 10:17 am Current Mood: happy

Our team organizer just emailed us again today. Turns out that as a team we came in second both in team size for a small-sized corpration (funny for being grass roots), and we also came in second for speed for a small-sized corporation. We'll get some kind of award in a few weeks. As of right now, there's still no pics from the race up on Charlie's website. As soon as there are, I'll let you know.

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October 14th, 2007

Tags: marathon Subject: I made it! Time: 06:42 pm Current Mood: accomplished

Well, there's no photos of me crossing the finish line, but I did make it. My official time was 3:09:55, quite a bit short of the 3:30 that I predicted I'd finish. I had a really good walking partner today, which is really funny since both she and I trained without anyone else. If anything, you can review my results on the official webpage. Tonight I have two sore legs, a blister the size on Indiana on the bottom of one foot, and a bit of blood on one toe from where my toenail cut into it. (Next time I'll remember to clip & file before) Overall, I'm very satisfied and I got my first finisher medal ever. Oh, and Erin? We saw a Muffler Man on the course holding a golf club.

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limax View: Recent Entries. View: Archive. View: Friends. View: User Info. You're looking at the latest 20 entries. Missed some entries? Then simply jump back 20 entries