AARP - Where has the time gone?

Got my first ever AARP spam e-mail today. Up until now, most of my spam solicited me for professional services, financial peace of mind, male...err...ummm...prowess, and cheap product crap. But now, I've apparently demo'd my way into the clutches of AARP.

Man oh man, I'm not even 45 yet - much less 50. I hope this is not the beginning of an onslaught because I really don't much care for cafeterias - and certainly not at 4 PM.

Besides, if I'm AARP eligible - shouldn't I be a bit concerned about the type of free bag they plan to send me?


TMC

Can't You Read??

Just saw one of my fellow employees trying to use his badge to swipe his way into one of our controlled entrances. Only one problem - the door is clearly marked "Restricted Access - Emergency Exit Only". The door opens to the controlled area which is why access is restricted. You have to enter from the other side and go through what I call the cheese wheel. We've only had these doors for oh....about 2 years.

From a distance, I heard a faint beep twice - the unmistakable sound of a card being swiped twice. Kind of like pushing an elevator call button more than once when it doesn't arrive quickly enough to meet the meeting deadline you missed by running late.

When the double badge swipes didn't work, he tried peering in through the tinted glass as if that technique would somehow magically allow him to pass. Finally, I yelled out "other side" and kept walking.

The scene reminded me a bit of one of my all-time favorite Far Side cartoons.


TMC

First cell phone bill after adding a teen

After a bit of deliberation and a decision that our son was trustworthy of having his own cell phone, we added him to our plan about a month ago. I know texting is all the rage with teens and that text limits are more important than phone minutes. But I had no idea how much more important.

I offer the following info from our first post-teen Verizon bill:

• notenoughcountry (wife) - 54 texts
  
• toomuch country (me) - 243 texts
  
• toomuchtexting (the boy) - 3,902 texts

Man oh man, I'm glad I made the decision to pay a bit more each month for unlimited texting.

TMC

Steve Earle sings Townes CHEAP

Got a tip through the Todd Snider list-serv today about a fantastic, limited offer at Amazon. New West Records and Amazon are offering Steve Earle's new album Townes in MP3 format for $2.99. That's the entire album - not just a sample track or two.

I've not been the biggest Earle fan over the years - either musically or politically. I do have Copperhead Road and El Corazon - both of which are good. And he's had singles off and on over the years that have been pretty good as well. But I do know he idolized Townes Van Zandt. He did so to the point he named his son, Justin Townes Earle, after him. From all that I've read, Earle really put a lot of effort into the recording Towne's songs and tried to pay the songs and TVZ himself with as much respect as possible.

Steve also uttered his infamous quote "Townes van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world, and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that." To which TVZ laughingly replied "I've met Bob Dylan's bodyguards, and if Steve Earle thinks he can stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table, he's sadly mistaken."

Enough with the typing. Just click the album cover and fork over the $2.99 for what is certain to be a great listen.


TMC

Another separated at birth?

Spring 2009 Disaster Recovery Journal cover guy...



...and actor B.J. Novack as Ryan from The Office.



TMC

Separated at birth?

Susan Boyle from Britain's Got Talent...



... and Heat Mizer from "The Year Without a Santa Claus"



I'm just sayin'...

TMC