tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207878322011-12-21T02:20:56.885-05:00Just a guy.Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comBlogger6281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-26935228381525626792011-12-09T18:24:00.000-05:002011-12-09T18:24:47.635-05:00

If only the rumors of Jim Caldwell taking over the Penn State program had been rumored 10 or 15 years ago and then come to pass, we could have been treated to this exchange with then-grad assistant Mike McQueary.   "COACH! COACH!"  "...." "YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW, COACH!" "...."  "COACH SANDUSKY BACK THERE IN THE SHOWER, COACH! AND HE WAS ..."  "...." "HE WAS ... TO A BOY ... YOU

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-88342724549740853832011-09-10T17:28:00.001-04:002011-09-10T17:28:52.891-04:00

(Ed. note: cleaning out my mailbox on my phone, I forgot that I tried to send the below paragraph via SMS and it didn't post. So I'm posting now even though it's after Labor Day now. Important to me.)This 4th of July is the first one in my adult memory where my dad's not having a party. I'm not sure what to do with myself other than be more than a little heartbroken.Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-9037514766657814172011-08-31T22:35:00.001-04:002011-08-31T22:35:57.478-04:00

GOD. If my past were brand-spanking-new clean and I knew those fuckers in the media would leave my family alone, I'd seek the Libertarian nod for governor just to keep this fucker from getting it. Hated hated HATED him in "Survivor" and forgot how much till now. http://m.indystar.com/localheadlines/article?a=2011110831018&f=1242(Mobile link may be dead now, but it's about Rupert running for

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-38757575445961215742011-08-31T19:28:00.001-04:002011-08-31T19:28:04.061-04:00

(Yes, I know you read this.) So work has sucked ass. And then I took a week off. And it's gotten better. It helps that I've refocused. It seemed like everything I put my hands on went to shit. And now maybe not so much. I like my job. I like my boss. But we've not been getting along, to the point where I dreaded coming in to work out of fear that I'd hear how I fucked up yesterday. And then

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-75270637530322278532011-08-31T19:12:00.001-04:002011-08-31T19:12:28.702-04:00

Good. Thoughts to type out via phone, computer is shit. Last one I tried from phone in july didn't work.Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-59446212913170436682011-08-31T19:08:00.001-04:002011-08-31T19:08:42.959-04:00

Does this fucking work or not?Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-6220654491339380732011-05-04T09:01:00.001-04:002011-05-04T09:01:24.135-04:00

You ever extended an olive branch to someone, only to have them take it and shove it up your ass? Such was my day at work yesterday. FMJ.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-24108109560919979962011-04-15T07:03:00.001-04:002011-04-15T07:03:14.817-04:00

Re: new Mustang - any suggestions for sexy names would be appreciated. Previous one was named Belle, so that one is out. If it helps, this one is burgundy.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-72893092460320145052011-04-15T07:00:00.001-04:002011-04-15T07:00:33.718-04:00

Eight days till I get my new Mustang. I'll try not to fucking total this one before its warranty expires.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-50899556029538604772011-04-15T06:16:00.001-04:002011-04-15T06:16:02.758-04:00

I hate hate hate ESPN's "Streak for the Cash" game. Not because I can never seem to get a winning streak of greater than 5 going, but because it's caused me to give a fuck about the outcome of soccer matches. I'm not uncertain that this is the same way that problem sports gamblers feel.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-27929090153847510992011-04-15T00:02:00.001-04:002011-04-15T00:02:50.326-04:00

Funny thing. I'm starting to wonder if my punchline MRSA isn't actually real MRSA.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-25884706848788923652011-03-30T07:35:00.000-04:002011-03-30T07:37:06.350-04:00

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-58030731787238066352011-03-20T22:30:00.001-04:002011-03-20T22:30:16.238-04:00

I think "semistate" is a uniquely Indiana term.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-8999151084403234732011-03-20T22:21:00.001-04:002011-03-20T22:21:40.109-04:00

Oh. It was someone screenprinting t-shirts for washington and north daviess, whose basketball teams were in the semistate on saturday.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-54331389434172330682011-03-20T22:20:00.001-04:002011-03-20T22:20:29.314-04:00

I just clicked on a link on the washington paper to an article called "busy day." It will probably be another picture of a goddamned windmill.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-26752888743411562612011-03-17T12:35:00.001-04:002011-03-17T12:35:09.812-04:00

Not a defender of the president by any stretch, but I'm getting quite the kick out of watching people get spun up over the fact that he filled out a bracket instead of going over to Japan to fill water buckets to pour into nuclear reactors. Surely none of these complainers would be part of the subset of people whose workplace productivity goes down during March Madness - surely not! Me, I just

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-79591658062918534992011-03-11T09:00:00.001-05:002011-03-11T09:00:55.298-05:00

Why is it when someone gives a vast sum of money to a church, it's supposed to be a wonderful thing, but if they give it to a cult, something's wrong with them? What's the difference?

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-39239307925119491482011-03-10T16:35:00.001-05:002011-03-10T16:35:34.673-05:00

I just want the world to know that I abhor my Curve 8520 to the point where I don't even know if I want another Blackberry. And no, I don't want a goddamn iPhone to replace it.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-29135712368808301002011-03-10T15:26:00.001-05:002011-03-10T15:26:18.850-05:00

Seen in CNN mobile's "Top Video" section: "Can a fingerprint reveal intelligence?" Duh. If, say, you've burned yours off, then chances are you're not the sharpest knife in the deck.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-39006958655353252342011-03-10T15:22:00.002-05:002011-03-12T22:09:04.442-05:00

I initiated setup of a couple of new tasks in the system for one of my colleagues this week, and was notified today that setup was complete and his charge numbers are available for charging. I detailed how much he could spend in labor and travel on each task. We indicated to one another that we looked forward to working with one another again. We're professionals. I wonder if learning to throw a

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-39143166946921730642011-03-10T15:18:00.001-05:002011-03-10T15:18:31.267-05:00

Hey, would you look at that. My arm's bleeding.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-68713828999041684782011-03-08T08:56:00.001-05:002011-03-08T08:56:27.788-05:00

Here's what's got me bummed the fuck out today.Apparently, and I discovered this while googling myself this morning because I am just that fucking vain, I share a name with a convicted cop killer.Why should I have to change my name? He's the one who sucks.PS - no, my name is not Mumia Abu-Jamal.Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-8419539025352382412011-03-07T10:31:00.001-05:002011-03-07T10:31:41.834-05:00

It turned out to be a pretty good weekend.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-91360061920542562042011-03-02T15:45:00.001-05:002011-03-02T15:45:28.262-05:00

I have no idea what "Viva La Juicy" means, but it's on an air freshener in the car parked next to me at work today. This one of the things I'm probably too old to learn about.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-11469638746677271332011-02-28T17:59:00.001-05:002011-02-28T17:59:37.008-05:00

One of my most treasured items from my childhood is a black bumper sticker with red text that says "Khadafy Sucks." Wish it was so treasured that I could actually find it. Line Of Death retro!

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-47205042181948841472011-02-26T00:43:00.001-05:002011-02-26T00:43:04.704-05:00

I should probably explain the turn of phrase in the below post. "A complete fucking Wal-Mart makeover" has the potential to become a meme, at least where I work, or at least a punchline. "Hey, I like the new shoes." "Yeah, I gave myself a complete fucking Wal-Mart makeover last weekend. I bought new pants too that i otherwise wouldn't normally wear but figured I'd try something new because I'm

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-88125928262504536462011-02-23T19:30:00.001-05:002011-02-23T19:30:59.383-05:00

It was wonderful in the late '90s to be young and hip and in touch and maybe even a little good-looking. Now I'm none of those things. And IT SUCKS ASS. Yeah, everyone gets old, suck it up, deal with it - but I'm not having an easy time just dealing with it. I deal with it by drinking. And giving myself a complete fucking Wal-Mart makeover. Yeah me.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-61494594946364798842011-02-23T19:26:00.001-05:002011-02-23T19:26:15.680-05:00

I think part of that is the reason that I was so eager to start doing the magazine again when Captain suggested it. (nouglybabies.com, by the way.)

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-52684974163111775122011-02-23T18:57:00.001-05:002011-02-23T18:57:43.517-05:00

I wanna be rock and roll again. I was through my 20s. Then I got married and settled down. I was again for a brief time a couple years ago, when I had Belle. Then I totaled her. But I'm ready to try it again. Let's get out of this country.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-47909021667042992842011-02-23T18:49:00.001-05:002011-02-23T18:49:28.331-05:00

Actually, it was 90 bucks, but here's what makes it even sadder: one pair was on sale, marked down from 120 to 50, and I HAD TO HAVE THEM.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-52570942881200043412011-02-23T18:44:00.001-05:002011-02-23T18:44:01.089-05:00

Here's the kind of life crisis I'm going through: last weekend, I spent 80 bucks on shoes. Christ.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-84475730478330322722011-02-23T18:39:00.001-05:002011-02-23T18:39:27.366-05:00

When conversing at work with a colleague, sometimes I'm all "thank you for your service to our country, but you're still kind of an asshole."

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-25643523641892554272010-12-10T19:57:00.001-05:002010-12-10T20:10:18.225-05:00

There was room for one more.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-11859351042922487722010-10-06T18:13:00.000-04:002010-10-06T18:12:34.801-04:00

Johnny Giantface is not the neighbor mentioned in the screed two posts down. There are pigfuckers in my personal life, and there are pigfuckers in my work life. He falls within the latter parameter, as a pigfucker in my work life.Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-87950707486950634612010-10-06T18:04:00.000-04:002010-10-06T18:03:42.044-04:00

The human torch was denied a bank loan. Did I ever tell you the one about Johnny Giantface? That dude's a pigfucker.Just a guy I know. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-36504448465721867122010-10-05T07:50:00.002-04:002010-10-05T08:06:33.904-04:00

(A disclaimer: Apologies if this post reads like it was written by that drunk guy from Breitbart.  My writing muscles have atrophied in my extended absence from this place, but at least I'll keep off the shift-1 key.) I'm not neighborly. I'm an intensely private person (he said somewhat hypocritically, in spite of the fact that he keeps a blog and has a Twitter account to which he posts

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-31545518035849957132010-08-27T21:47:00.000-04:002010-08-27T21:47:29.478-04:00

Shit like this makes me just wanna quit the whole goddamned internet.  (Click to enlarge.)

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-25532837444465460032010-06-08T09:56:00.000-04:002010-06-08T09:58:42.402-04:00

I realized something today.I'm terrible at my job (this isn't news), so I use humor to compensate for it.I'll let you know if I ever actually say anything funny.Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-25476709100015619512010-05-29T19:12:00.001-04:002010-05-29T19:12:49.147-04:00

So, with the Indy 500 tomorrow, I was scouring the Internet for some information so I could write a semi-comprehensive, semi-coherent post about it.At which point I stumbled upon this.  Can you spot two things wrong with it, the first within 5 seconds?  (And the second after hovering your cursor over the first?)Grrrrr.  The 500's got a LONG way to go to overcome shit like this.  The page I linked

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-34045226445582532732010-05-27T08:59:00.002-04:002010-05-28T12:10:02.229-04:00

I said I would add more to the post below from 5-19 (the one that starts out "I'll explain later, but...."). "So... ummmmm, did you hear about the wreck?" I asked my mom on the phone one day last week, knowing full well that she had since, in her younger days, she used to run around with the woman who died in the accident. Her voice broke a little: "Yeah, I did." Then she added, "That's some

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-31086598059468484592010-05-21T18:32:00.002-04:002010-05-21T19:58:50.678-04:00

I read an article about this same subject a couple of weeks ago, but want to expand on it. I have DirecTV, but my local channels aren't up on the bird yet. Don't know if they ever will be. And ever since the STUPID STUPID STUPID analog-to-digital conversion, getting local channels over-the-air has been an exercise in futility, thanks to the rusted out pole antenna that came with the house. On

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-82503488742830397392010-05-21T17:35:00.000-04:002010-05-21T19:59:52.293-04:00

You know how, in Brian's Song, Brian Piccolo's health continues to (figuratively) screw him in the ass until he's basically a head and torso lying in a hospital bed dying?You think Bret Michaels is headed down a similar path? First the diabetes, then that brain hemmorhage he had a couple weeks ago, now a hole in his heart? What next? Leprosy?Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-61353746274516992952010-05-19T20:36:00.000-04:002010-05-21T19:59:52.293-04:00

I'll explain later, but:Being related to someone by blood or by marriage does NOT make them family. For instance. The Captain, who I've namedropped frequently here, is not related to me. But he's closest thing to a brother I have. He's family to me. Moreso than any of the myriad distant cousins I have or had.Just saying, even though I would think it doesn't need saying. Like I said, I'll explain

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-16463270037957923832010-05-12T05:54:00.000-04:002010-05-21T20:00:12.554-04:00

Six years ago at this time (around 5am), Wife and I were sitting in an exam room at the hospital. She was at 32 weeks and had woke up in the middle of the night with some pretty severe stomach pains. I had blamed the soup I'd fixed her late the evening before. As it turns out, I just didn't read the label: "CAUTION: MAY INDUCE LABOR," and the decision was made to take her via ambulance from the

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-34298580886084057972010-04-30T20:37:00.001-04:002010-05-21T20:00:03.080-04:00

A swan in my backyard. The picture quality almost lends it an air of being the Loch Ness Swan or something.Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-1198038555076371602010-04-28T20:33:00.001-04:002010-05-21T19:59:52.294-04:00

This txt msg received just now:------ SMS Text ------ESPN MLB - STL Run Scored BOT 1ST - STL 2 ATL 0 - C Rasmus struck out swinging, R Ludwick scored, A Pujols to second on wild pitch by K Ka*Team News Rply MORE

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-58899638732132438692010-04-16T18:28:00.000-04:002010-05-21T20:00:03.081-04:00

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-67806929802596138732010-04-09T00:01:00.001-04:002010-04-09T00:07:23.200-04:00

I always had him pictured as pro-state and pro-taxes.  Instead, he's a Libertarian.  Or she.  Or it.  Who knows.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-24758812386986403732010-04-08T23:44:00.002-04:002010-04-08T23:49:45.957-04:00

For all intents and purposes, my record collection stops around the year 2000; although I was gainfully employed at that point, I really didn't have the means or ambition to continue throwing money at new music.  My roommate at the time had moved out, draining me of the financial resources necessary to pursue every rarities, B-sides and singles collection that appeared in local record stores,

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-86135833399212911492010-03-27T10:16:00.000-04:002010-03-27T10:16:51.701-04:00

You do recall, of course, the July accident last summer where I totaled my beloved Mustang that I had owned for all of three months.  Believe me - I recall it too; I think about it every day, or at least every workday when I drive past the spot of the accident, or every non-workday when I see a Mustang.  Suffice it to say that that rainy morning still crosses my mind a little too often for

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-26753607363164823152010-02-16T00:09:00.000-05:002010-02-16T00:09:48.023-05:00

Again, not to beat a dead horse ... but just one a winter.  Got the one today. Done with snow now.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-44372595137023385242010-02-16T00:00:00.000-05:002010-02-16T00:00:30.508-05:00

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-78857229479626537992010-02-11T07:54:00.001-05:002010-02-11T07:54:20.718-05:00

Conspicuous in their absence from BT (in my flurry of posting this morning) are my thoughts on the Super Bowl.  Really, does it merit any further comment than what you've no doubt already seen?Of course I'm heartbroken, not just because the Colts were completely dominated after the first quarter, but also because a Super Bowl loss was not what they pissed away a chance at perfection for.  I said

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-59960821779782999872010-02-11T07:20:00.000-05:002010-02-11T07:20:05.669-05:00

As I'm fond of saying during the bleakness of winter, I'm good for about one solid snowfall every winter, then snow can go away and we can get on with the rites of spring. Suffice it to say that that hasn't really happened yet.  Snow has come in fits and starts in my little corner of the world, spitting out 2 inches here, 3 there - enough to delay or close school a handful of times.  There's

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-16871944606080051832010-02-11T06:49:00.000-05:002010-02-11T06:49:46.382-05:00

In recognition of the upcoming NASCAR season, let me take a moment to post a mockup of an ad I created several years ago in indignant response to Gillette's "Young Guns" campaign:   Clockwise from upper left:  Bic single-blade razor, Ricky Rudd, the Unknown Racer, Dale Jarrett, Michael Waltrip, Bill Elliott, Ken Schrader, Terry Labonte. Actually, the grayed-out picture above represents Morgan

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-48147948646806493782010-02-11T06:17:00.000-05:002010-02-11T06:18:19.159-05:00

So, I got this text message from ESPN yesterday afternoon:"ESPN Autos - Dale Earnhardt Jr. won inaugural NASCAR iRacing.com WC Series race (100 laps) at Daytona."Oh?  I jumped to ESPN.com to see if I could find coverage of this race.  Hell, I wasn't even aware that they had added a race between the Shootout and the Twin 125s or whatever it is they are calling them these days.  (Gatorade

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-87369999979233131282010-02-06T18:28:00.000-05:002010-02-06T18:29:17.155-05:00

1.  Finally joined the majority of the universe this week and ditched my dial-up for high-speed.  I am satiated.  2.  Friday's winter storm was LAME.  It petered out a bit and was mostly rain for the bulk of the daylight hours, before begrudgingly switching over to all snow sometime Friday evening.  Woke up this morning to about 3 inches on the ground.But I'm comfortable saying that, regardless

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-44820943082940189832010-01-28T00:21:00.000-05:002010-01-28T00:22:37.634-05:00

Children's Television Week at Bramble Tamble continues with ... with ... with ...I don't even KNOW what the fuck that's supposed to be. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-52790580299012459232010-01-27T00:11:00.000-05:002010-01-27T00:14:21.151-05:00

Maybe it's quibbling, but I think this is the least descriptive episode description that I've ever seen on the dish's program guide. I mean, of course Wubbzy is excited. It's "Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!" for crissakes. It'd be like if there was a show called "Water Is Wet," and the episode description was, "Water is not dry."Although the accompanying screenshot of the episode above seems to indicate that

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-69797849779756458062010-01-19T15:08:00.000-05:002010-01-19T15:09:40.848-05:00

Got a text message from Goodwill the other day. They wanted me to go through my closet and donate whatever old clothes I could part with to the Haiti earthquake relief effort, because there is such starvation and devastation there.But if the Haitians could fit into my clothes, then they sure as hell aren't starving.Besides, they'd probably take one look at my old Napalm Death t-shirt and say, "

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-30727485960503690092010-01-16T23:18:00.001-05:002010-01-18T12:26:34.218-05:00

"Fiesty"? What the FUCK is "fiesty"?  Yeah, I wasn't good enough to make it in newspapers, but the largest newspaper in the state of Indiana uses "fiesty" on their website. (Sorry I didn't post sooner, I had to go to the store to get some grapes and they turned out sour.) Update: Again, from the Star:  Farve.  Good gravy.  The future of newspapers is in the very best of hands. For the

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-79804832300320682032010-01-16T07:24:00.001-05:002010-01-16T14:34:36.911-05:00

Fun fact:  My high school alma mater, Shoals, has not had a three-game winning streak in boys basketball since the 1997-98 season, when it won its last four regular season games and the first game in sectional.  Until now! Fun fact #2:  That season was also the last season that the Jug Rox have had a three-game winning streak in conference play.  Until now! Fun fact #3:  Entering the season,

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-4608424341750068832010-01-12T05:50:00.000-05:002010-01-12T05:50:42.749-05:00

Work has been, well, work the last month or so.  When I've not been celebrating holidays or inclement winter weather, 10-, 11- and 12-hour days have been the norm.  The staff is overloaded, and while there is a light at the end of the tunnel as we wrap up our fiscal year in the coming weeks, I can't help but wonder if I'm cut out for this. I'm struggling with two types of balance in my life

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-4857863534005426832010-01-06T23:44:00.000-05:002010-01-06T23:44:19.091-05:00

In order to prevent comment spam, verification of a captcha will now be required in the BT comments section. There it is.  Captcha away.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-62186381345037081462010-01-06T07:55:00.001-05:002010-01-06T07:55:03.299-05:00

Standing outside at work yesterday, smoking a cigarette in a wind chill of 0, I was told that I was a dedicated smoker for enduring such bitterly cold conditions in pursuit of my nicotine fix. I realized that you can't spell "dedicated" without "addict."(Or "addicted"!)Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-72603520694354665142010-01-03T20:49:00.000-05:002010-01-03T20:49:36.551-05:00

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-76767065047205757762010-01-01T13:29:00.001-05:002010-01-01T13:29:05.030-05:00

* If there was an elderly person that would have been best served by a "death panel," it would have been Old Man 2009. I hated that old bastard. He always smelled like Old Spice and kept on grabbing my junk. * Trying to break My Son Cool of the habit of saying "two thousand and ten." Cause you wouldn't say that I was born in "one thousand nine hundred and seventy-four." Ticky-tacky, I know, and

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-14218099791657254092009-12-28T20:34:00.000-05:002009-12-28T20:34:28.471-05:00

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-41936997882022691772009-12-27T20:08:00.005-05:002009-12-27T23:06:39.800-05:00

All I can say is that Indianapolis had damn well better win the Super Bowl this year - throwing away a perfect season must pay off this year, or I think we can finally put to rest this idea that Tony Dungy was a genius.  Great man, yes.  Great football coach - probably.  But one Super Bowl ring while subscribing to this "big picture" philosophy - if you clinch early, rest the starters in

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-70751400411141642612009-12-27T15:22:00.000-05:002009-12-27T22:43:45.064-05:00

Dear Florida AD Jeremy Foley:I know that you have a wish list of names to whom you would like to offer your school's football head coaching position now that it appears you're in the market for one. The usual names are popping up all over the interwebs - Stoops, Petrino, Mullen, Whittingham, Shanahan. And while any of those could no doubt continue the success that Urban Meyer achieved in his

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-7326831745782223842009-12-25T09:43:00.000-05:002009-12-25T09:44:26.031-05:00

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-72356006508562730842009-12-20T19:47:00.001-05:002009-12-27T22:45:41.892-05:00

My Son Cool's teacher puts out a newsletter every week, using a flurry of exclamation marks and poor grammar to keep parents and guardians abreast of the latest goings-on in her class. By including the above-pictured note in her most recent newsletter, she has apparently snubbed her nose at the ACLU and those who would wish to keep Crhist out of schools and delete Crhist from Crhistmas. My Son

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-60102275199764816602009-12-18T16:05:00.000-05:002009-12-27T22:44:21.607-05:00

Love the episode description. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-20210815720235411462009-12-07T22:09:00.000-05:002009-12-27T22:44:21.608-05:00

Wife and I went to see "The Blind Side" at the theater the other evening, and I ran into one of my best friends from high school there.  He and his family were just coming out of the earlier showing of the same movie, and he commented that the film made his eyes moist in a couple of spots. I had to agree with him after seeing it.  Of course, I cried because there was too much Tim McGraw in it.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-45459448808711285802009-12-07T22:00:00.003-05:002009-12-27T22:44:21.609-05:00

Just a test. Update:  OK, it appears comments are now enabled once again.  Just can't comment on old posts?  I suppose not.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-8726817485975752382009-11-30T23:36:00.003-05:002009-11-30T23:38:34.567-05:00

Found on a flier (or is it a flyer? Grammar has failed me again!) from my days at Environmental:Actually, the correct spelling is "postcard."

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-18645115002385573132009-11-30T23:27:00.003-05:002009-11-30T23:34:07.201-05:00

Doing some computer cleanup, I stumbled across this screen grab that I meant to post when I originally saw it in February 2008, but didn't. (From the Evansville, IN newspaper. Click for a larger, clearer image.)I don't know why it struck me as funny, but you say "tomato," I say "shut the hell up."

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-25053126175425344742009-11-30T22:10:00.005-05:002009-11-30T22:59:23.009-05:00

How is Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell feeling today? Is he ...... happy?... pensive?... surprised?... irate?... frightened?... ecstatic?... nervous?He is the Man of One Face. He is Jim Caldwell, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-17662217997534621682009-11-28T19:03:00.005-05:002009-11-28T19:31:43.082-05:00

My Son Cool remarked after meeting SpongeBob, "He's bigger than what I thought he'd be."We've replaced this trainer's normal tigers with tigers that have been equipped with laser vision. Let's see if he notices.(Cause when the tigers are not only standing on their hind legs but also equipped with laser vision, we are all fucked)GratuitousTHE GIANT GLOBE OF DEATH LOVES AMERICA(and out of the 60-

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-84584226095589683592009-11-22T17:39:00.001-05:002009-12-27T22:44:21.610-05:00

Twilight New Moon Twilight New Moon Twilight New Moon Twilight Twilight Twilight New Moon New Moon Twilight New Moon//a transparent effort to drive traffic to Bramble TambleSent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-64971163607461212212009-11-16T07:35:00.001-05:002009-12-27T22:43:45.064-05:00

Even if I didn't bleed blue for the Colts, I still would have had no problem with Bill Belichick's call to go for it on 4th-and-2. If you roll up 450 yards of offense and have shown the Colts' defense to be positively sieve-like, you reach for the dagger. Indy had seized the momentum at that point, and there's very little chance that the Patriots would have held on, even if Peyton Manning had to

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-18043445979068267502009-11-14T19:38:00.001-05:002009-12-27T22:45:41.892-05:00

OH MY GOD. I can't believe what I wrote. In the shooting match post just two posts below, I made two errors:1. It's a bore sighter, not a "board sighter." Forgiveable. 2. My gun is NOT a Winchester 870. It is a Remington 870. Egregious. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-12525930884817839612009-11-12T18:55:00.012-05:002009-11-14T16:15:36.090-05:00

Much to the consternation of those I am married to and my offspring, I spent the last three days in Las Vegas. Ahhhh, the Windy City.My mom had been haranguing and nagging me for years about me and her coming out here, and since she retired last year and is about to finally slip into full-on fixed income mode, I relented, as this was the last chance to do it.There's not much I can add to the

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-30455613070703269222009-11-12T18:21:00.007-05:002009-11-12T18:54:26.945-05:00

All of the expense and frustration and aggravation finally paid off last weekend.Your Author had been on a bit of a dry spell at shooting matches since taking 11th and 19th in consecutive weeks at Dubois in late September/early October. Still, when you compare my results with what I was turning in during the latter part of last season - well, there is no comparison, really. Aside from a couple

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-53640703911507022132009-11-04T12:07:00.000-05:002009-11-04T12:08:11.120-05:00

I have decided to enact a new policy in my life. I am going to say the meanest, most judgmental things to someone, and it will all be OK because I will preface it with, "Now, I don't mean anything by it, but....." For instance. If I see a woman walking around with 6 or 7 kids, I can tell her, "Now, I don't mean anything by it, but pooping out that many kids can really be a financial drain on

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-21950556439393554242009-10-30T07:43:00.001-04:002009-10-30T07:43:23.922-04:00

You ever have one of those days where you feel like you spent it in a dream, watching terrible things happen to other people while you stood there stone-faced and powerless to stop it?  The Reaper made an appearance yesterday at work, and I feel as though he still hovers.  And that's probably a poor choice of words, given the tragedy that's taken place over the last two months - the plane crash,

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-61704110772466758422009-10-22T22:44:00.008-04:002009-10-22T23:39:14.768-04:00

(part II of my shooting match essay, started last night)So, the Celestine match last night came and went.I believe that these events come down to 10 percent skill and 90 percent luck - we can quibble on the numbers, but if you believe that the mix is any closer than 20-80, you're crazy - and here's why. Assuming that you have your gun sighted correctly, and you've spent time "patterning" it -

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-31882570473977313352009-10-21T22:33:00.001-04:002009-10-22T23:41:45.970-04:00

Something that I've gotten great enjoyment and misery out of in the last year or so is participating in shooting matches.This seems to be a uniquely rural/middle America activity. It's pretty blue-collar, as the participants are typically the people who make America go. Truckers, factory workers, machinists, mechanics, farmers - people who typically get their hands dirty for a living.These

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-53267665533379370312009-09-26T08:53:00.002-04:002009-09-26T08:58:22.227-04:00

Q. Which song is Rollins singing here?A: All of them.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-42556245934289171772009-09-22T19:29:00.000-04:002009-10-22T22:31:43.589-04:00

Yes. That does say "Thank You Crew Your Grate".Is it any wonder they always fuck up my order? I typically don't have this problem at most McDonald's restaurants, but for some reason, the one in my town could fuck up a wet dream by leaving the girl out of it completely. As they do with french fries or a sandwich. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-7216960582064917732009-08-26T22:27:00.000-04:002009-10-22T22:31:22.878-04:00

Two of my colleagues were killed in a plane crash early Tuesday evening just a little north of here.I knew Dave for two years, as it was two years ago Tuesday that I began in my current position with my company, and Dave's was the first program I took fiduciary responsibility for.  The day I met this retired Navy pilot with a Cheshire cat smile, I had him pegged for a crazy old man who wasn't

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-42863199413133079712009-08-25T19:06:00.001-04:002009-08-30T02:03:03.809-04:00

As you may or may not know, I've been essentially sans phone the last few days, conserving the last few droplets of battery juice as if I had to make it last me the rest of my life. Charging pod came in today, and my phone now sits happily, reinvigorated with life-sustaining lithium or whatever they are putting in batteries these days.But it almost didn't quite end so well.  A few months ago, I

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-44123046772074489192009-08-24T23:07:00.001-04:002009-08-24T23:07:54.220-04:00

While performing preventative (or is it preventive? hell if i know) maintenance on my phone last week, I inadvertently have prevented it from being able to charge through its USB port anymore.  Idiot.Powered by ScribeFire.

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-19341064709934727282009-08-24T23:02:00.001-04:002009-08-30T02:07:17.754-04:00

News item:  A rollercoaster in Virginia will be named after the still-dead Dale Earnhardt. Just hope it don't get too loose in 3 and get all boogered up but go get'em next week.On the "Dear Jesus God, are we ever gonna let that guy die?" scale, would a rollercoaster named after the still-dead Dale Earnhardt rate above or below the song about the still-dead Dale Earnhardt that I wrote shortly

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-60786328568604852902009-08-24T18:52:00.001-04:002009-08-24T18:52:15.482-04:00

My Son Cool's kindergarten teacher is fresh out of college.  This is her first teaching job, and so as such, she hasn't been beaten down by unruly kids, unruly school bureaucracy, unruly parents and the like.  She seems to bring an actual enthusiasm to the task at hand.This is a good thing.My Son Cool's kindergarten teacher also used the not-word "boughten" last week at the open house.So it's a

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-47348389617088999942009-08-22T22:33:00.002-04:002009-08-23T21:12:36.553-04:00

Tonight was the first time I'd listened to Pearl Jam's Ten from start to finish in years. I remember waiting in line at the Den in Bloomington for the follow-up at midnight on a Monday night in 1993 or whatever year it was. (Do stores still do that anymore - open at midnight for a highly anticipated new music release? I don't see it happening just because our music and our culture is so

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-73145119647883493122009-08-22T20:52:00.005-04:002009-08-22T21:21:43.648-04:00

Eye appointment today. It was My Son Cool's first visit to the eye doctor.A few months ago, he had his 5-year checkup at his pediatrician's, and he took a quickie eye test in the hallway. Seemed to have passed with flying colors, and I was thrilled because Daddy has terrible vision - without glasses or contacts, my vision is somewhere around 20/400. Bats look at me and say, "Wow. We thought *we

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-87008988987011126772009-08-15T19:16:00.003-04:002009-08-15T23:26:52.282-04:00

I found out something mildly disconcerting today.My mom has a Facebook page.Somehow, this knocked me over. It caught me completely unaware, shocked me in much the same way as it would have if you had told me she was having an affair or tortured animals.I don't do Facebook. Which makes me feel as though I'm creeping ever more toward the edge of complete social obsolescence.(Which is fine,

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-65893286514302397302009-08-07T17:59:00.002-04:002009-08-30T02:03:03.809-04:00

For what it's worth, my dear friend The Captain has carved out for himself A Fantastic New Internet Blog Site. You can find it at Forever Since Breakfast. I hesitate to point you there, only because he writes circles around me.I bet I can still drink him under the table, though. Oh yeah. I went there.----------------Now playing: The Beatles - Eleanor Rigbyvia FoxyTunes

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20787832.post-2313113399563512009-08-07T17:05:00.007-04:002009-08-07T17:56:35.387-04:00

Every now and again - it was every few minutes in the immediate aftermath of the accident, but two and a half weeks later it's now only every 4 or 5 hours - my mind flashes back to the moment that I knew I had lost her.On a drenched Wednesday morning a couple of weeks ago, I was heading to work. I'd dropped my rugrat off at the daycare and was merrily on my way in the downpour, perhaps a bit too

Brandon G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12142405245112615271noreply@blogger.com