New segment: What are they smokin’?

I always have a list of things I search for daily on Craigslist, a sort of hobby for me. I rarely buy anything, but it’s fun. My last purchase from Craigslist was an electric hedge trimmer, which I got for $10.
Anyway, I always see people listing things for sale which blow my mind, so I will start to feature them here in my new segment, “What are they smokin’?”  It really annoys me when people do this, so I hope this will be like therapy for me.
Our initial entry is a clueless person listing a beat up Weber Grill for the price you could buy a new one for.

Upside-down priorities

Yesterday the school board passed their most recent budget.  A big reduction is what I call “fringe” services for the district, but a cut none the less.

At my kid’s elementary school, Bethesda, there is a movement to raise funds for a new rubber playground surface.  As we speak, kids are playing on, (gasp), WOOD CHIPS.  I hope you can detect my sarcasm.  Having heard this, I thought maybe there were kids getting hurt, and this is why we needed a new surface.  So I started asking questions, and the reason they want a new surface is because kids get wood chips in their clothes!

Now we get to the best part.  The early estimated cost for this new surface is $30,000!  I’ll give you a second to pick yourself up off the floor.  How can anyone possibly justify spending that kind of scratch for a school who lost their librarian last year, and who’s one capital improvement last year was a new water softener?  Those with upside down priorities, that’s who.

Futility……..

If you were frustrated with the Brewers lack of playoff exposure since 1982, this little fact will make you sick.  The four most recent expansion teams (Marlins, Rockies, Rays, Diamondbacks) have all made World Series apperances in their brief history since the Brewers last appeared in the fall classic.

Who’s his next victim?

This dude needs serious help.

Brewers wrapup

Despite getting bounced from the playoffs in a pretty much dismal showing, this was still probably the 3rd most successful season in franchise history.  Now that my interest has shifted to the Packers (but only as of yesterday, thanks to their win over the Stinkhawks), I thought it might be fun to recap all the Brewer games I saw live this year.

1. April 4th (Opening Day) vs. Giants: Bill Hall hits two homers with 6 RBI’s in 13-4 win.
2. April 6th vs. Giants: Ben Sheets pitches complete game shutout, 7-0 victory.
3. May 9th vs. Cardinals: Rickie Weeks has walkoff single in 4-3 win.
4. May 17th at Boston (Double Header): Brewers look outclassed and outmanned in a depressing sweep at the hands of the defending world champs.  My road trip, however, was a total blast.
5. June 2nd vs. Diamondbacks: Fielder homer in 8th gives Brewers 4-2 victory.
6. June 22nd vs. Orioles:  Brewers pitchers give up 10 walks, but 5 double plays result in 7-3 win.
7. July 6th vs. Pirates: 11-6 victory keyed by club record 9 doubles.
8. July 30th vs. Cubs:  7-2 loss to the f*cking Cubs even more depressing than the sweep in Boston.
9. August 22nd vs. Pirates: Strong performance by Dave Bush in 10-4 win.
10. September 7th vs. Padres:  Chris Young takes perfect game into the eighth in 10-1 loss.
11. September 23rd vs. Pirates: Fielder walk-off homer in 7-5 dramatic win.
12. October 4th vs. Phillies (NLDS game 3):  The most electric atmosphere I’ve ever seen at Miller Park as Brewers prevail 4-1.

A pretty successful season for me as a fan as the Brewers go 9-4 in games I attended.

Brewers Playoffs!

Holy Crap, we’re in the playoffs!  I haven’t said that since I was 13 and Cecil Cooper hit a seeing-eye single. 

I think hope that we will have a good showing.  With Gallardo going today, who the Phillies haven’t seen this year, and with CC going tomorrow, I really like our chances of stealing one of those games on the road.  If that happens, game on!

I really wish I was going to Philly to see the first two games.  I went on a road trip there in 2006 to see the Brewers play, and it is one of my favorite cities so far on my quest to see every major league ballpark.  I gorged myself with 6 cheesesteaks in 3 days.  I spent a few hours at City Tavern, where can sample beer made using the original recipes from Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin.

The Phillies fans were a mixed bag.  For the most part, they were friendly, and  I had many good conversations.  But when their team loses, look out!  After one Brewer victory, we went to get on the subway back to our hotel.  We ran into a rough crowd, being that we were all decked out in Brewers garb.  5 times we tried to board the subway, but each time the blocked our way and wouldn’t let us board, and we had to wait until all angry Phillies fans had gone.

D’oh!

Boy, do I feel like a freaking idiot now.   I had tickets for this afternoon’s possilbe playoff clinching game for the Brewers.  The key word is HAD.  I figured the Brewers were out of it.  I figured I didn’t want to take the kids to a game filled with obnoxious, gloating Scrubs fans.  I figured I would get something of value for my tickets while the market was hot.  Well, I did get $80 for my $20 worth of tickets, a nice 400% return.  I found it hard to watch the game last night while I was simutaneously kicking myself for selling those tickets.

Anyway, I will watch today with baited breath.  I have decided to go “all in” emotionally with the team, I will leave all my emotions on the table.  C’mon Crew, don’t let me down.

Jobs

I was talking to a friend about jobs in high school I had and thought I’d compile of list of every job I’ve held.

1. Paperboy for The Freeman
2. Babysitter
3. Dishwasher at Ellen’s on Grandview
4. Line Cook at Brookfield Cafe
5. Burrito Maker/Cashier at The Cantina (UWM Student Union)
6. Telephone surveys for Social Reasearch something or other at UWM
7. Cook at Big Boy
8. Deliver driver for Oakland Pharmacy
9. Custard Scooper at Murph’s
10. Dishwasher at North Street Inn
11. Stock boy at Calico Corners
12. Mainenance worker at Accurate Specialties
13. Press Room worker at Ringier America
14. Forklift driver at Roundy’s
15. Counterperson at Heiser Rent-a-Car
16. Accounting clerk at R&M Distributing
17. Accounting clerk at a Credit Union (it was only for a week, can’t remember the name)
18. Staff accountant at Certified Power
19. Staff accountant at CL Graphics
20. Staff accountant at Homelife Furniture
21. Accounting Manager at Western Snowplows
22. Operations Manager at R&M Distributing/Rehabilitation

Ned Yost Fired!

I guess we all know the answer to the question “will Ned Yost be fired if the Brewers fail to make the playoffs?”  I can’t say I’m surprised, but the timing of the decision does surprise me.  I’ve never been a Yost basher, but over the past few days he’s fallen out of favor with me.  When your team loses 11 of 14 games in a September pennant race, comments like “We put ourselves in this position, we were in control of our destiny and we’re no longer in that position. We’ve made it hard on ourselves” should be comming from the manager, not from Ryan Braun.

Being a homer, I still have hope for us this year.  We’ve just squandered a four game lead, we haven’t been eliminated yet.  I hope Sveum can show us the way.

 

9/11 Remembered

This still f*cking pisses me off when I think about it.