new to the 'hood

I have new neighbors.
Can you guess what nationality they are?

That is not a stereotype -- simply an observation.

floating away

The new work is slow starting. Apparently, the fact that I only requested work for Tuesday through Friday has created a problem for them. I don't know how much of a problem, but I do know there were no files on the ftp when I got up this morning and it's now 4pm on Tuesday afternoon and there still are no files. I would like it to work out as I think it will be interesting work. It's med/legal stuff for worker's comp claims outta California. If you know anything about worker's comp in CA, and all the phony bullshit that people claim, it's clear to see, it should be pretty secure and abundant work -- once I get rolling.

In the meantime, as I wait it out the anger festers. I have found myself falling back into the head-banging anger modes again. Yeh, time to start up with the fucking meds again, I guess. So, hello meds, good bye scotch ... maybe.

The malemate and I did manage to get an 8 mile float in yesterday. It was perfect weather and I really enjoyed the time out there. The banks of the Elk are privately owned, so some of the houses are right up to the waterfront. I think I need to make friends with some of those people. I rather like the thought of happy hour whilst sitting on the riverfront deck.
Would you like an umbrella and a skewered lemon in that scotch & soda?
Yes, yes I think I would.

weekend with the okies

The malemate and I took a weekend off before I start the new work. We were invited to the annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Okemah, OK. We arrived in OK on Thursday and headed to the festival on Friday. We made it as far as the Lou's Rocky Road Tavern, found a roost in the beer garden, and that was the only place I needed to be. It was "open mic" there and many artists played during the 7 hour stay. I had a great view of the stage and the waitress was ever prompt with the brew.

I wish I could remember the name of the band in the photo -- they were the most unique. I don't know if you can tell it in the photo, but the drum is a suitcase and his cymbal is a ceiling vent -- the other, as you can see, is a trash can. The singer sounded like Satchmo. veryVeryVERY entertaining.

Then there was a young gal name Amanda Joy. She played two sets. I could've listened to much more of her. She was oh-so yummy on the ears.

Arlo Guthrie did make an appearance at the tavern whilst I was there, but he didn't sing. I only know of "Alice's Restaurant" - and would've liked to hear that from him. But, it was not to be.

Many musicians passed before my eyes as I filled my person with the OK 3.2 beer. Yeh, what a pisser huh? That's one positive for the show-me-state of MO, at least they have high point beer. But, on the other hand, with the candy-ass alcohol content of OK beer, I was able to stay sober longer to savor the sounds of the artists.

I even got flirted on by a handsome-hardbodied-single-blue-eyed-cowboy ... named Kenny ...5 years my junior. Yeh, I felt fine that night.

wanna dance?

The malemate and I had our first Argentine tango lesson last night. I think we'll need a few more than 5 lessons to accomplish what the tango dancers on youtube can do.

wash it down with a brew

Caption for the photo: Globe//Gary Crow ... Flooding on Steve Owens Boulevard made it appear that Miami, Okla., was awash in beer Wednesday, July 4, 2007, rather than water from the Neosho River.

While some parts of the country are sweltering in the "dry" heat, this neck of the woods has been seeing torrential rains. The photo above, of one of those huge billboards, was 'borrowed' from a local paper. It was taken on July 4. It is an excellent infusion of humor after viewing the slide show of the devastation.

I've been submitting resumes, getting responses and doing testing. I'm really out of my comfort zone here. The testing is tricky since I've not had the schooling for MT, which not only includes terminology, but the general accepted formats for the various reports. I've been made one offer, but the pay is so low I'm thinking it might be more fun just to do the CastingWords thing of typing podcasts. It's a bitch out there and I've been a bitch in here.

The good news is, the neighbors left on vacation this morning and left me in charge of their garden. The tomatoes are starting to turn. Needless to say, there will be BLTS with real Ts by the end of next week.

And now it's time for alcohol.

bang zoom crack pow kaboom sparkle

Here it is the 4th of July already.

I do love fireworks displays. When I was growing up in Iowa, fireworks were not allowed. However, we lived about 2 miles from the South Dakota state line and just on the other side of the bridge, one of those fireworks stands always popped up around mid June. Needless to say, it was the hotspot for the youngins that time of year.

When I lived in the desert out in Southern California, we were outlawed from shooting off fireworks. Hence, you would never see a fireworks stand. The droughts were persistent and in the 10 years I lived there, I think there were only 2 years that the city I lived in put on a display in one of the local parks.

Well, now that I live in the show-me-state of misery, fireworks are prevalent. About mid June the temporary tent firework stands starting emerging all over. One day there would be nothing on that vacant lot and then overnight one of those tents would be there. They pop up like mushrooms around here and it seems they are on almost every street corner.

I took a stroll through one of the larger ones the other day. WoWoW!

It's one of those times of year that I wish I was filthy rich so I could go blow a few thousand on fireworks displays. But, I settled for just a few (since I'm still not working), and hope that the neighbors all have jobs and lotsa bux to blow on the displays ... for my pleasure, of course.