Holy HDTV!!

I am addicted! I can't help myself. Ever since I got a HD television, I can't stop watching the HDTV. Anything on HD is amazing. I find myself watching shows that I never would have watched if it wasn't in HD. The shows on the History Channel, Animal Planet are so cool I will be up all night watching anything that's on those type of channels. Even my favorite shows like Heroes and 24 are so much better. The picture is so clear that you feel like your part of the show.

Although there is a down side to HDTV, you get addicted to shows that are so bad and stupid that they are awfully awesome!



Like this show. Exterminators on A&E is so pointless, but I find myself glued to it. The main characters are great to laugh at, not to mention the situations they get the themselves in and the clients they meet.

Cereal Economy

Anyone who knows me also knows that I love cereal. I can eat it at anytime. There are so many different brands and flavors. The cereal aisle is no doubt my favorite.

So I was in that aisle tonight, just buying some cereal when I noticed something was just not right. You see, my bachelor lifestyle in this recessing economy hasn't really been effected. In fact it actually looks like I am gaining more money these days. Which I'm not. I'm only doing the same thing I have always done, and everyone else is cutting back for many different reasons. It wasn't until tonight that I felt the tighten of the money straps.

When did cereal start costing so much?!? $2.59 for a box of Cocoa Pebbles?! $3 Fruit Loops?!? Lucky Charms $3.20?!? Not to mention that I'm currently on a health kick so I try damn hard not to buy those highly sugar charged cereals. My cereal tonight cost $4!!!! Cereal wasn't that expensive even back last year when gas prices were skyrocketing. And why is skim milk the most expensive?!? What was once something that could be a under $5 treat (including milk), has now been yet another victim of the poor economy.

Ok, I know it really isn't that big of a deal. What is a few more bucks? Well I eat alot of cereal and that could add up. Also I might go back to those sugary cereals if it gets worst, which I guess wouldn't be that bad.

In the end, I'm just sad to see the days of cheap cereal disappear. I guess I could always go to Costco and get giant boxes of cereal, but they are not open at 1 a.m. Oh Well.....

Thunderbirds Hanger!!

This past Monday night I was allowed to go inside the Thunderbirds hanger on Nellis A.F.B.

I was there to cover an Army Reserves Unit returning home from Iraq. I've done that tons of times, but I never thought I'd be in the hanger of the Thunderbirds. I was able to go right up to one of the jets and look at it....but not touch!!!

Not many people are allowed to be in this highly secured air force hanger. I'm surprised they had the return ceremony in it. I've been to Aviation Nation twice and they don't even allow people to go inside the hanger on those days.

You see that cool emblem on the floor. No one is allowed to touch it (except Thunderbird personnel). It is hand waxed twice a day. That's why the velvet ropes are around it. Well that didn't stop a little three year old girl running across it......twice! She was as bored as the rest of us.

The Army unit was suppose to land on base at around 7 p.m. Well they actually didn't show up until about 9:30. It doesn't matter how cool of a place you're located, standing around for two or more hours gets boring fast.

It wasn't all that bad though. They allowed us to go outside of the hanger for a little while to watch all the jets take off for night exercises. Four jets would take off at once right after each other. I'm talking seconds apart. And they would land just as quick. They were super loud too. With the afterburners glowing in the dark, the planes would streak across the runway, jump into the air and disappear out of sight in the matter of seconds.

A few months back a reporter at my station was allowed to go on a ride along with the Thunderbirds. He was able to pull 9 G's! He claimed he had to use two barf bags during the trip. I was extremely envious. I betting I can take 9 G's no problem!

Taster's Choice

Yet another reason to just love living in the L.V.

Lee's Discount Liquor is like the Wal-mart of liquor stores. You can find anything (alcoholic) that you can imagine in this store. Fine wines, rare mircobrews, unique distills.....I'm telling you anything.

Also there is a greatest thing that you can have at any store, the tasting station!!! If you go into a Lee's mid afternoon on a weekend night, you can get FREE samples of new unique alcohols. Tonight was one such night. We walked straight up, were offered free samples, and enjoyed the delicious beverages. Also we were never asked to show I.D., yet at the checkout they make sure to card you.

Now I am plenty old enough to purchase alcohol, so there is no worries there. I just thought it was cool to be able to taste before I buy the beverages. Best idea ever!

Tonight's samples.....new premixed vodkas in mojito and pomegranate flavors, also the new Obsello absinthe (yes, it is now legal to have in the U.S.). I was guaranteed by the cute absinthe serving girl that this brand is the real deal with the real wormwood ingredient. It tasted great...sorta like black licorice.

Busted

The streak is over!

Everyone knows I like to brag about myself. I believe I have many abilities that I feel others do not possess. One of them being that I am a perfect driver. I always point and laugh at those of my friends who get speeding tickets and other traffic violations. "Ha ha ha, you moron you can't obey the rules of the road you deserve your punishment" Well....... I will no more.

Recently I was pulled over for making an illegal U-turn. What?! In all my years of driving , which spans more than a decade, I've never received a ticket of any kind. Now I'm going to watch my streak be destroyed?!

Also with all the near "illegal" shit that I can partake here in the desert, you're telling me that I'm going to get nicked by a U-turn?!

So at first I was just going to pay the $170 violation and have it disappear from my life, but then I thought about you....my readers.....all three of you. It might be a fun adventure to go to traffic court and see what happens. If it is anything like that old show Night Court, then I'm sure to be in for some laughs.

Stay tuned. I need to get this blog some more traffic! HA!

The Port of Sub Challenge

Ok, so I frequent this sandwich shop know as Port of Subs. I've been going to their many locations around the desert valley for more than two years, and ever time I order the same sandwich. The #5, smoked ham, and turkey with smokey chedder, it is delicious! I order this sandwich so much that at the location nearest to my home, I don't even have to order. The sandwich makers already know what I want. Then one day I thought 'this is no way to live'. I should try all the sandwiches. Nay! I should try the entire menu!

So I devised a plan to tryout every single item on the menu. Whether it be a sandwich or wrap... a hot soup, or zesty salad, I'm trying it all. Another thing I decided to do was blog about all of it.

At first I was going to go with making a new post for every sandwich, but then I thought that may get a bit boring after awhile. Instead I decided to periodically blog about highlights and disappointments (if any) I have with the choices. There is another thing. I've already started. I've eaten three different subs. I just going right down the menu starting with #1.

So far here is the assessment:

#1 Ham-Salami-Capicolla-Pepperoni-Provolone (pictured above): I liked it. The capicolla and pepperoni gives the sandwich a kick. It goes great with the Cracked Pepper Port of Subs potato chips. (I'm going to try all their chip flavors also)

#2 Ham-Turkey-Provolone : Sorta plain jane. Not much to talk about, maybe if there was a different cheese added. The barbeque chips were not bad though.

#3 Salami-Turkey-Provolone : I ate this sandwich today. Also sorta plain. The salami makes the sandwich better, but I think there needs to be a change at the cheese level. A lot of their sandwiches have provolone. Man, this is going to be rough. Advisory: Did not like the Tangy Dill flavored chips. Bleack!!!

I hope that this little experiment will yield a grater variety when I visit the sub store. Sometimes they have speical sandwiches that I will brake in to tryout. LIke right now they are serving the Pilgram. I've tried it before, but it holds nothing to "the Bobbie" over at Capriotti's

Different sandwich shop.....different mission. Stay tuned!

New Years

on the Fremont Street

End of Days

I can't believe it. Two days of snow in the desert.
Today was the worst. The storm hit us hard.Our valley didn't know to do. There were road closures. The airport was shut down. Schools will be closed. And I was snowed in.
I had to alert the public of the interstate to California being closed, and that means I get to spend the night in Jean. Yay! with live shots for the morning show. Double yay!

Amazing!!!

It is actually snowing....in the desert. I never thought I would witness this. Just another birthday miracle. I wonder what other miraculous things I will see today?

A Very Happy Birthday

Today was a great day! Normally I can't imagine any of my birthdays getting any better than the last, but they always surprise me. Not only did I receive awesome gifts from all my friends, I was giving the keys to a brand new work vehicle. It is sweet!

The weekend has just begun. Stay on the lookout for the full report very soon.

A Festivus for the Rest of Us!

I've been talking about it for years, and I believe that with the current state of our economy now is the time for me to make the transition.

From this day forward I will no longer succumb to the pressures of the Christmas holiday. I no longer want to feel the need to purchase items for people who will most likely never use what I gave them. As if it means I do not like/care/love you enough if I don't get you the best possible gift. I do not want to go into crowded stores looking for those gifts that have been sold out for weeks. I hate Black Friday! Did you see someone was trampled in New York state? Someone died! Over a $200 piece of shit laptop! It has to stop! I am done! I'm out!

Bring on Festivus!!



Check out my Festivus pole. No more cutting down trees for me. This is much better. Durable....reusable....aluminum!



This is my renouncement of Christmas forever. I am celebrating Festivus for the foreseeable future. As we were growing up, we learned that Christmas was a time for caring and giving. A time for forgetting our worries and enjoying just being alive with friends and family. Every single Christmas movie plays up this theme. Yet no one ever does what we are told or what is seen in movies. Right now, somewhere in America, there are two parents wrestling over the newest must-have toy of the year. They are most likely yelling, calling each other names and being very non-Christmas like. All so little Billy or Sally can have the meaningless toy that will be broken the week after Christmas. There has to be a better way!



Festivus will fix all of this. The need to buy gifts for every single person you know will no longer be required. Instead you can choose who you want to buy gifts for, if any. No multiple gifts either. One is enough for anyone. If someone gives you something, you have absolutely no obligation to get them something in return.

Along with Festivus comes the "airing of grievances and the "feats of strength". I promise there will be both. The "airing of grievances" allows you to tell anyone what you really think of them, and they can't get mad at you. The "feats of strength" will challenge your physical and mental abilities along as dare you to step out of your shell. You will do things that you may have never dreamed possible.

Let's get this straight though, this is not about being cheap. It is about restoring the true meaning of the Holiday Season. Think back....when was the last Christmas that you didn't feel rushed and pressured to beat an imaginary clock to make your friends and family happy? For you there is

A Festivus for the Rest of Us!

Miles of Bad Luck

The last two weeks has been hell for me. It all started the day after election day. That was the day I was in a traffic accident while at work. You remember that, right? Because of the accident I was given a few days off and was told to get myself checked out by a doctor. I went ahead and did that. It wasn't too bad. I was told that I had minor muscle sprains and I would heal naturally with rest and limited activity at work. Ok I can deal with that. Just take it easy at work. No problem. We'll get back to that in a minute.

At that time, I thought everything was going great for me. I get an extended weekend to relax and rest up. This is going to be great. Aviation Nation was that weekend; I love fighter jets and giant airplanes. Plus I could go to First Friday with my friends. (First Friday is an art fesitival held every first friday of each month. It is at night and I work nights. I hope you get it by now) Well if you read my blog about the accident you should remember I started it out talking about my sore throat. I thought I was ok. I get sore throats at least once a year, and they cause no problem. I suffer a few days, drink alot of hot tea, and then it is gone. I'm normal again. So I went to First Friday still having a sore throat, and for the most part I had a fun time. I had to go home early though. I was going to Avaiation Nation the next day, and the gates open early. But to my surpise I awoke the next morning with my throat swollen to the point that I could barely breathe. It was super sore. I felt miserable. I had to go to the doctor. I hate going to the doctor. They always make me feel inferior to their knowings of medical knowledge like I should know what they are talking about. Hey I didn't go to med school. Just fix me and shut up!

I was told that I had strep throat. Yipee! I was given a prescription and told to stay home for three to four days. So my four day weekend turned into a five day sick weekend. I stayed quaranteed to my room for most of it so I wouldn't infect my roommate.

It is not like I didn't get anything accomplished while I was at home alone for I had my Wii helping me recover.



I finally Defeated Ganon in the Legend of Zelda. I slightly remember this being a much bigger deal when I was a kid. This time......quite unsatisfying.



What the hell is this Second Quest crap?!

I also discovered a new comic.



Kick ass is totally kick ass! If you like to read comics, you must pick this one up. It is about a teen who decides he wants to be a superhero, so he tries it one day and totally gets his ass handed to him. Along with other things this comic rocks!! Go get it now!

So back to our story. I returned to work after five days at home. I had to return to work being on light duty. Light duty as a photojournalist sucks! I did alot of this.



Notice the lack of shaving. I didn't care. Sitting around at the tv station for 8 or so hour a day for a week really makes one chipper. I don't know what is worst. Doing nothing at home or doing nothing at work? Correction I did have few things to do at work.



Stop all the accident paperwork!! You know it is really hard to take a photo of paperwork frustration. Try it! I dare you!

Ok I getting close to finishing this. Everything brings us up to date....present tense. So at first this week looked promising. I was feeling better, and I hoping to get back to normal work duty soon. Well....there was a bit of a set back. It turns out the doctor I went to for my traffic accident isn't exactly covered by my company's workman's comp. So I was told to stop seeing that docotor, get all the paperwork from that doctor, and wait until they figured out the next step. Ok simple enough. But wait I tick. On Tuesday night I started to feel strange. I broke out with a full body rash. My face and ears felt like they were on fire. I was itching so much it must have looked like I had some sort of version of Tourrette's Syndrome.

So I had to leave work again. It turns out I was having an allergic reaction to the medication I was taking for the strep throat. Well that sucks! I just finished all of that prescription the day before. This couldn't have been discovered sooner? I was told by the doctor that it probably took a few days for work itself through my system. I was giving two painful shots in the ass (I hate needles!) and sent home with a note to take another day off.



Now I have more prescriptions to take. What if these cause new reactions? I wouldn't know I rarely ever have to take prescription drugs. Maybe it is because my birthday is coming signaling to me that my aging clock is striking. Or maybe it is all just a string of bad luck.

To end on an upper. I didn't waste the full day at home. I went to yet another doctor, but this one has cleared me to get going back to work. Horray for me!!!

Light up the night

First day back from my little traffic accident and all I do is cover an opening of yet another local casino. Yay!

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The True Meaning

So the glorious holiday of halloween has just passed, and I never understood why everyone dresses up in the first place. I know it is fun to pretend to be an astronaut or a pirate, and getting free candy is always a good thing.



But why is it such a big deal? Where did these ideas of wearing costumes come from?

Well, I did some research, and maybe this video will insight you as much as it has opened my eyes.


Has Halloween Become Overcommercialized?

Shaken not Stirred

Today was awful! First I woke up having a sore throat which can only mean that I am getting sick. I hate being sick!

Second I was in a traffic accident around 3:30 p.m.



That really ruined my day. I was just driving to work. Minding my own business. When a few cars ahead of me abruptly stopped . I jammed on my brakes! My truck skidded to a stop just barely missing the truck in front of me. When BAM!



A white van smashed into the back of my truck pushing it into the truck in front of me. Do know how scary it is to look back and see that?!



The truck in front of me received minor damage. A few scratches on the bumper. My truck has its back hatch smashed in, and the window was shattered. The the good thing though, my news camera was protected inside its metal black case. Yay!

So I had to file a police report. A plus note, no one was injured. Yes, yes I'm ok. Maybe a bit sore, I'll find out more in the morning.

Then I had to wait for the tow truck to come and pull the two vehicles apart so that we could try to pry the camera out of its case and save it from anymore trama. I'm glad to report that we succeeded. Then I had to take a drug screening test for my company's insurance. It is a good thing I had to pee, but let me tell if you bring the wrong form you may have to wait almost a hour. That is a long time holding it.

Then after that I was handed alot of paperwork to fill out, and I was sent home. But wait! I don't have a car. I need a ride. Good thing my supervisor lives near my general direction.

Maybe tomorrow will be a better day. Hmmmm......how am I going to get to work?


UPDATE 11-6-08

So today as I was driving to work I felt a slight.....spasm (isn't the right word but is the first that comes to mind) in my lower back. I told my supervisors went I got to work about my discomfort and I was told to go to the doctor and go home for the day.

So I call up my doctor who refers me to another doctor that specializes in traffic accidents. Long story short, I may have minor back muscle and ligament sprains. I get a doctor's note for yet another day off, and recommended for some therapy sessions. What in the world am I going to do with all this time off?

Fashion Forward

I recently had an excellent fashion photo shoot.

It was a lot of fun. I like to take pictures of people, and I found out that in the right atmosphere with the right people makes all the difference.



This model's name is Cassie. She was great! Most people just want to get the shoot over as soon as possible, but not her. She has a great natural look. She was patient and had a very positive attitude. She wasn't afraid to get a little dirty either




One of the best parts of this shoot was its creative energy. My friend Courtney was the source of all that energy. She had all the clothes and wanted unique looks for each. We would talk about ideas and try multiple things out. I can't recall the last time when I felt like my photo shoot was like goofing around instead of working.



I wouldn't mind doing this as my permanent job. The only thing is I would need to surround myself with people who will make me want to reach for that extra bit of creativity. Who knows maybe my friends in this shoot will want to try to start our own fashion photography buisness.

Pointless Crap

Ok, so I've returned from my trip to Portland, Oregon, and I had a great time. I was able to see all my friends that I miss hanging out with. Although that there seemed not to be enough time in the week to do everything I wanted to do, I believe had a great taste of the Oregon life.

I have a lot of stories and plenty of pictures to show, but that will have to wait. I'm tired from my trip and I need to get back into the work mode.....BLAH!!!

There is one thing I wanted to share first. You know how when you want to get to your destination it sometimes seems like the flight is taking forever. On my way to Portland the flight was so damn long, but on the way back the time flew by. I hate that. Get me there already.

So on the flight to Portland I seemed extra bored. I read my book. Listened to my ipod. None of it seemed to plast the time any quicker. That was until I picked up the latest issue of SkyMall. This magazine is filled with pointless crap, and the sadest part about it that people actually by this shit. It did provided me with some much needed enertainment.

Look at this stupid product


I just don't get it. Why would any respective guitarist EVER by this product? Ooooh look here I can play the guitar now! It claims to help you learn to play "all" your favorite songs with one finger. This thing is stupid it only allows you to play four chords, and four of the easiest ones to learn at that.

If you really want to learn to play the same songs that this contraption can play, I suggest you learn how to actually learn the REAL chords. Well if you don't believe me, you might want to ask Herbert

Returning Home??

I'm taking a trip. I need to get away from the desert for a little while.

So I'm going home....in a way. I'll always consider Oregon as my second home.



I love everything about Oregon. I coast....the moutains....Portland. This is a older picture from the coast in Oregon. Hopefully I'll have lots more when I come back along with more stories to tell.

Stay tuned.

To Be Interupted....

What is the point?! I know I never finished my story of the previous blog. Maybe I'll get to to it later. Who is reading this shit anyways?!

I'm tired of all of it. I need a break! I don't want any of it to continue....but we all know it has to. Today is like a bad ending to the first episode of a two-parter. You've watched the whole show...hoping for a resolution, but NO you get the damn "to be continued" font at the end.

So now I have to wait. Wait for the exciting conclusion of my madness. Why can't people just be happy? It seems simple enough.

Look at this guy!



I met this man tonight. He is happy. He is building his own damn plane in his garage for Christ sake! Only thing he wants is to be able to build an airplane that will fly him and his to unknown destinations.



He has a purpose! He knows where the next few years of his life are heading. I don't know where the next few weeks are going.

I want to so much tell you all what the hell is going on with me, but for the protection of a few I continually resist. Would it really be that bad if I told? I think I could live with myself. I'm selfish as it is. What is destroying this one more thing?

Everyone should be happy! So how come we are all miserable. Look at it like this. You know the things that make you happy, and you know the things and make you unhappy. Is it really that hard? Why do we all continue to pick the unhappy things?!!!!!

Go write your novel! Go play/sing your song! Go build your plane!

That's it!. I have to do it. I have to tell the world. There is no other option.

This is what is happening.

I am...............................................................

Moronic Duties Part 1

So whenever I meet someone new, and they find out my profession. I usually get the same response. They think my job is interesting, amazing, exciting, fascinating, and even cool. They wish they had a job like mine. While my job can be all of those things. Yes I get to ride in helicopters. Yes I get to travel to new places. Yes I get to meet new interesting people daily. Yes I get to see things that most people will never get to see. That said, sometimes my job sucks just like everyone else's does. There are times when I have to do things that I don't want to do, and most of those things seem very pointless.

Take for instance last week. Now I don't know why, but it seemed like each day I was asked to do something more idiotic than I did the previous day. So I decided to document all this stupid shit to tell you all about it. Now some of you already know my pain, but there are a few of you who read this and you have no idea. At least not yet.

Monday

I hate Mondays. No matter how much fun I have during the weekend I always feel like Monday ruins it for me. So I get to work around my usually late time. It was raining all weekend, and everyone goes freaking nuts when it rains here. (more on that later) I walk into my newsroom. Talk to a few people. Say hi to some other people. Then my assignment desk manager asks me to go outside to shoot rain video. Thinking I was just outside and I didn't see it raining, but I go out there to do it anyways.



Once I get out there I see that it did rain, but not much. I'm talking like 1/36 of an inch. I call back inside to tell them that it isn't raining, and there is no need to shoot anything. He goes on to tell that our Executive Producer just left the buliding and saw it raining and told him to get someone to shoot it for the news. So he asks me to just do it anyways so he doesn't get in trouble later.

This is completely ridiculous! They're wasting my time on this nonsense. Yet I still have to do it. So I decide to give them what they want.

I shoot rain.......droplets



It is not raining, but I have prove that it did somewhere, sometime in the past. Or I maybe someone recently used a hose.

Tuesday

Sometimes I'm asked to do something so boring, so oscitant that I wonder why in the hell are they paying me to do this stupid shit.

As soon as I get to work on Tuesday, I was told to go stakeout the county dentention center (jail). Oooh, a stakeout....that sounds exciting. Well it is not! Instead it sucks. I have to stand outside a building that has many entrances, waiting for a highway patrol trooper that is believed to be turning himself into authorities. (information wasn't completely confirmed)



Here is the catch. I have no clue what he looks like. HA!

But they give me a discription. He's a somewhat tall white male. Great! Thanks!

Plus I get help



My "lookout" says that he claims to know what the man looks like, but then again he keeps jumping to attention whenever some person he "thinks" is the tropper walks by, but it never turns out to be the tropper. So we spend the next five hours or so moving from one side of the building to the other, and scooping out any fancy car that pulls up to the sidewalk. My reporter buddy believes that any second a lawyer in a fancy car will pull up with the suspect inside, ready to walk right into our direction.

It turns out that the highway patrol trooper turned himself in to authorities at his lawyer's office and he was transported (by police vehicle) to the detention center before we even go to the building. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!

Oh you want to know why he is so omportant. Well a few weeks back the tropper was off duty and was involved in an automobile accident. He crashed into another car killing the driver of that car. At the time it was said that he had a diabetic seizure. It was later proven that he had marijuana in his system. Ooops!

That was just the start of the week for me. It gets even better as the week goes on. Tune in for the exciting continuation. Same blog time. Same blog channel