For the weekend, RO, Matt and I headed east to Twisp. I slept over at Matt's family cabin. Saturday night we went to the Okanogan Fair and watched the Rodeo. Matt's cousin was the Fair Queen.

They are different in Okanogan. The normal people are the same as normal people everywhere. It's the fringe people that are different. In Seattle, the fringies are very left wing. Around Okanogan, the fringe people are very right wing.

The announcer at the Okanogan Fair Rodeo told a very ruthless, right wing, poor taste joke, over the P.A system to hundreds of people. It suprized me. Matt's cousin told me to not worry-- the annoucer was a local nut that everyone ingored. His opinions weren't the norm.

C2 in Iraq writes:

It's good to hear from you. Yes, it's fall here too. I think today may have been the first day when the temperature didn't get over 100. Yes, Jack Frost and pumpkins are right around the corner!

Vic was in town. Vic is in the navy and may be redeployed to Louisiana. Steven has mixed feelings about this. Vic could be gone for months. At the same time, Louisiana needs all the help it can get.

Yesterday RO and I hiked up to the bathing rocks by Snoqualmie Pass. Very nice.

I'm starting to get a lot of comment spam. For that reason I've had to turn on the image verification thingy. No big issue since this blog doesn't get many comments, and those that do comment are smart enough to figure it out.

Ro, Mac, Joe, Behr and his BF drove up to Port Ludlow on Saturday. It's a beutiful small town. Really just a marina, many vacation properties and the stores needed to support them. As Seattle gets larger, many of these old lumber towns are converting them selves to weekend vacation destinations. Port Ludlow is one of them and they are doing a good job.

Last night RO baby-sat Steven's brother's kid's-- two of them, aged 8 and 9.

We played Halo 2 for a while. They were very excited-- "I don't think we are allowed to play that! That's for teens! Halo is rated mature! Is Halo ok for me?"

I told them there parents wouldn't know if they didn't tell them.

We played a very safe version of Halo, bascially driving around and ramming into each other; bumper cars.

After that, the 8 yo wanted to see my sword. I have a real sword that I keep as art. I pulled it out so they could touch it. They were delighted and scared at the same time. They ran behind the sofa and didn't want to get near it. Everything they know about swords comes from movies-- if you touch the blade, your finger will get cut off. It was hilarious. I just held it and they were amazed.

Of course, when their parents get back, what do they say? "We played Halo2! I didn't think we could play it because it's rated mature! Bob's parents won't let him play Halo! They have a real sword! I touched it!"

Arghhh!

I'm going to write about the rain in Seattle. I feel kind of whiny doing so, since my friend Tommy has just been through Hurricane Katrina, but what the heck.

The summer droubt is comming to and end. Last night it poured down. As luck would have it, my gutters plugged up over the summer. RO and I stook out in the rain and worked to unblock everything.

After that, we wanted to relax in the hot tub. By then the rain had stopped, but, there was so much rain in the trees, that it sounded like it was raining for at least 30 minutes after. It was weird. Away from the trees-- no rain. Under the trees-- rain.

RO and I went to the Muckleshoot Casino last night. We were in the area and wanted to do something different-- go to a good all you can eat buffet!

While we were in line for the buffet, RO playing black jack. He ended up winning over $100.00. Nice-- that paid for dinner, drinks, and a good cigar.

While I was finishing my cigar RO gambled some more. He ended up loosing more than he won. When he was down to his last $40.00, he gave me a $20.00 ticket. He wanted to play nickel slots with me. I was lucky. I ended up winning $100.00.

At the end of the night we were only down about $100.00. A fair price for dinner, drinks and entertainment.

I'm sure that's what the casino wants us to believe.

I'm also reviving Binge and purge-- where I review restaurants you normally wouldn't eat at.

I can only do this because I have the stomach of steel.

I've started posting pictures at http://rooktook.blogspot.com/

I amazed at the amount of comment spam that I got.

Friday we saw Red Eye. It's a very good, tight little thriller.

Saturday, RO, Matt, Sandy and I went camping on the coast in the Hoh rain forest. Matt and Sandy are still constantly bickering.

Still, the ocean and the rain forest were beautiful.

The Ameriquest Blimp is in town. It's been flying over head about twice a day for a week.

Blimp! 

RO has a cat. The cat has personality and is spoiled. If the cat sees the bottom of hs bowl, he thinks something is wrong, and starts bugging RO.

I've been working a lot. My whole team has. I'm getting email with them from 10pm at night and 7am in the morning.

We have a big deadline this Tuesday.

back to work.

A co-worker emailed the theam that he "Wrote his bike into work" His manager responded

Dear Bike:

I wanted to thank you today for taking me to work. Together we jump up curbs, dodge SUVs, buzz by mothers with baby carriages and frighten elderly pedestrians. I will always cherish our long rides in the sunset and in the morning fog --- and we’ll always have Paris…

But my gratitude and love comes with some concerns as well. As much as I enjoy spending time with you, you frequently leave me sore – especially on my... well, you know…

A softer touch would help us spend many more intimate years together.

Your rider,
XYXYX

C2 is back from Iraq for a couple of weeks. From talking to him, I think he's happy over there. He likes the structure that comes from working under the military.

His alergies went away in Iraq and have returned in Seattle.

He and I are want to go to Turkey in October. The gang is trying to talk us out of it. RO does like the idea of me going to someplace unsafe. I'm going to go though.

Flashback. Two months ago I got T-Boned at an intersection.

Yesterday was her trial. I was called as a witness.

The summons was for 1pm. When I showed up, about 30 people where in the court-- many cases were being heard. I just sat there for the next hour. Every now and then a lawyer would call out someone's name and the two would chat.

Finally at 2pm things got started. It looks like Traffic Court is commodity law. They try to go through as many cases as quickly as possible. The more complex cases were remanded to a later date.

In a few cases the defendant didn't show up. The prosecutor immediatly added a "Charge of inattentiveness with an associated fine of $101.00"

In one case a good traffic lawyer was there. She managed to get a speeding ticket overturned by showing the radar hadn't been properly calibrated in over a year and by pointing out some irregularties in the paper work.

I should get her number.

Finally, the case I was ther for, came up. The prosecutor and the defense talked a bit. Then the judge said "Is a Mr. or Mrs. Cohen here?" I stood up and the judge addressed me. He said "The defendant has accepted a deferred prosecution so we don't need you. Go to the law clerk's office and they will pay you for your time."

I smiled at the prosecutor. He said "It's not much."

He was right. They paid $10.00.

Last night when I got home from work RO kissed me weirdly, like a fish would. I asked him what that was about.

He said "I told Nigel (the fish) I'd kiss you goodbye for him."
"Why is Nigel kissing me goodbye? ... Did he die?"
"Yeah. He's dead."

Nigel had been struggling with the ick for about a week.

We drank a beer in honor of Nigel and talk about our memories of him. Like the time he ate the two guppies we gave him as tank mates.

Or the way he was so picky and prefered to eat meal worms over fish flakes.

Or the time he jumped out of the thank and fell into the sink. He was in the sink so long that he stuck to it. Vic had to pry him off.

Fish have stupid lives.

Our fish, Nigel, is dead. Long live Nigel. 

Friday night, RO and I had dinner with a few of my co-workers. We had a great time. I need to hang out with these people more often.

Saturday and Sunday we had a home-maintenance weekend-- mowed the lawn, planted flowers, stained the deck.

Deck staining tricks. RO and I stopped using paint brushes to stain the deck; too slow. We used sponges to stain the railings.

We used a cheap herbicide sprayer and a wide broom to stain the deck. I'd spray a layer of stain the herbicide sprayer. RO evened it out with the broom.

We had a "Weather Forcast Failure" here in Seattle. The weather reports were all calling for Partly Cloudy, no rain.

It's been raining like cats and dogs.

My parents were in town for a long weekend. They met RO. Things went well. RO can be a charmer.

We did much together. I took them to Teatro ZinZanni. They had a great time.

We also did streat fairs, the Alki Beach and ate lots of good food.

Poppa Neutrio is an adventurer who built a raft made of garbage and floated it accross the Atlantic.

He's built another raft and has just started sailing accross the Pacific.

Poppa Neutrio is 71.

Saturday RO and I finished the electrical work on the deck. For a year now the hot tub's safety cut-off has been dangling by a nail and some wires too close to the hot tub. We moved the cut-off away and put the wires in conduat. Now everything is up to code.

Sunday Matt and Sandy came over. We ate, talked, drank. They ended up spending the night.

Sunday RO and I want to Kirkland Summerfest. It wasn't bad, but at this point I've been to enough summer festivals that I recogize the vendors.

Last night RO and I watched Sideways. It's a film about an alcoholic wine lover and a friend going on a wine tour of California wine country before the friends wedding. It's pretty good. A bit slow to start but becomes very funny half way through.

Vic came down for the weekend. On Friday Vic, Steven, RO and I went and saw War of the Worlds. The movie is well done, the effects are great, but if you think about it the story has many holes as if the whole point of the plot was to set up the next special effect.

But, the special effects are very good.

Late Friday afternoon RO and I left ofr eastern Washington to camp by the Sun Lakes. It was beautiful, sunny and warm. There were no mosquitoes or rain so we could sleep out under the stars.

We went to the Grand Coulee Damm At night they play a laser show against the damm. It's corney but fun.

We swam and sunned all day Saturday.

We drove back Sunday morning and spent the rest of the day with Mac and Joe on their boat. More swimming. More sunning.

Monday we went to a BBQ at a friends house over in Magnolia.

At the BBQ, RO launched a bottle rocket out of his ass. You read the correctly. When I get the pictures, I'll post them. From hear on, RO shall be known as Rocket Man.

We got stuck in traffic after the fireworks. It took about 90 minutes to drive a couple of miles. Very frustrating. To pass the time, Steven and Rocket Man made fart sounds at pedestrians.

Looking over the last few months of my blog, I see that my life is in a cycle. I work a lot during the week (and don't write at all) On weekends I do something interesting and worth writing about.

This weekend was the same.

Saturday night, RO, Matt, Beef and I went to see the Rat City Roller Girls. It was fun. My friend Jen got into a fight while playing. She ended up spraining her leg. She'll be ok though.

Sunday was Pride. It was packed. RO and I decided to skip most of the parade (Gay Pride parades are long and boring) we toured the booths. Mac and Joe were at the gay yatch club booth.

After the festival, RO and I went to C.C.'s for drinks. RO get very drunk. I had fun watching him.

I had a great weekend. On Saturday RO, Matt and I went to the Fremont Fair and Solsitce Parade.

The weather was perfect on Sunday-- sunnay and warm. RO and I went to the Washington Brewfest and sampled much great beer. Afterwards we swam for a while at Newcastle Beach. The water was cold, but the sun quickly warmed you up when you got out of the lake.

What's good is a parade without streakers? 

Robots 

Dancers at the Solstice Day Parade. 

Art Car at the Freemont Solistice Day Parade. The fish and lobster are those novelity singing machines from a few years back. They all sing in unison as well as say things like "Please step away from the car" 

C2 in Iraq writes...

B,
Thank you for the email. I'm glad you got the money. Remember, keep the
25,000 new dinar bills but please, just freely give away the other stuff.
That's about the bes trinket you can get here. Hmm, what have I been up to?
Well, I got accused of harrassment and there's been an investigation and
I've discoved the seedy underbelly of the beast. There the veneer of KBR
corporate where 'everyone is valued' and then there's reallity of
backstabbing, lying and manipulation. The boss's secratery across the
hallway is fucking a couple of subcontractors and there are booze parties on
regular basis. The bitch who accused me of harrassment just got back from a
psych exam she's got a history doing weird stuff. It's a regular Payton
Place!! But let's put things in perspective, Michael Jackson has been
acquited on all charges!!! Yea!!!

So this time next month or so I'll be heading out of here on my break. My
plan is to drag you back along the way where we're going to go someplace and
see part of the world you've never seen. I've got to do some planning but
I'm thinking we'll do the trip in August sometime. How does that sound? All
that you have to do is pay your part of the way, keep up with me and I'll
put everything else together. Have you ever been to:
Berlin?
Istanbul?
Egypt?
Jordan?
and I know you haven't been to Dubai.

Overall, things are going....'fine.'

Last weekend RO and I went to Port Orchard with Mac and Joe for a Yatch club event.

Thursday night RO and Mac left for Port Orchard M&J's boat. Joe and I drove up on Friday evening. It was a fun weekend. The Yatch club people are nice, though there is a bit of a money-show-off thing with them. Mind you, you don't spend $100,000.00 on a boat to tell people to stay away-- being a boater is a social thing.

RO and I talked about buying a boat. We decided not to. I'd rather put the $100,000.00 into a cabin in the mountains or on the ocean.

Not that I have $100,000.00 to spend.

Docks 

Port Orchard 

Last weekend RO and I worked on the house. We did a lot of work-- power washed all the decks, weed whacked the back yard, fixed and filled cracks and crevacies.

I also bought a blower. I really like the blower. In 45 minutes RO blew the crap off the roof, cleaned out the gutters, the walk ways and the deck. That used to be an all day chore.

The power washed deckss look great. Like new.

It was a weird week. On Tuesday I got a very big bonus for a special work project that I volunteered for. On Wednesday management canceled that project. So, I have mixed feelings.. They wanted to make it clear that they appreciated my efforts even though they were no longer needed.

Clamming on the Hood Canal 

Lake Cushman 

New Truck 

The gang went camping at Lake Cushman. The weather was perfect-- sunny and warm.

Friday RO and I hiked along the staircase rapids.

Saturday we went clamming. I've never clammed before. It's a lot of work. We were looking for certain types of clams (the tender ones) so we let many go. Mac was a good guide.

Clams are filter feeders so their digest tracts are full of sand. To get the sand out you soak the clams in salt water and corn meal for a day or so. The clams eat the corn meal an expel the sand.

Sunday we want kayaking on Lake Cushman.

In the evening we had clam appetizer and clam luinguini. Yum!

Good work news today. I got a big bonus for my work on a special project. The bonus hit my at the right time-- a week after I bought the new truck.

So I had a rather full weekend.

Friday night I had a surprize birthday party. A few of us were going to go to Siams, but just before we left, all these people showed up. It was fun.

Saturday... Sigh. Saturday I got into an accident. I was t-boned at an intersection. No one was hurt, but my truck will probably be written off.

Saturday evening RO and I went to see the Rat City Roller Girls. We had a blast. The place was packed. They need to work on the timing a little-- the half time was more than an hour long.

Sunday I bought a new truck. I did some research and consumer reports, I test drove an Avalanche, an F-150 and a Tundra. I didn't like the F-150, which is odd condsidering I've been driving one for the past 8 years. I think it didn't feel new. If I'm going to drive a new truck, I'd like it to feel new.

I really liked the Avalanche. It looked nice and was practicle for me.

At the end of the day I tried a Tundra. The only reason I tried Toyota was their great maintenance record. The Tundra I tried was fully loaded. What was odd is that a Fully loaded F-150 is about $50,000.00 while a fully loaded Tundra was $14,000.00 less. The seats were very comfortable, it drove well, and you could see and feel the quality. All the knobs and levers felt solid and moved smooth and precisely.

So I got one. It's silver, king cab, 4x4, leather with heated captain's seats.

I am 35 today. I am officially middle aged. I'm not old yet, but I can't pretend that I'm young either.

I got old gifts. Steven got me a nice new set of dishes. RO got me new sheets for the bed.

RO also got me three guppies to join the beta in the fish tank. RO doesn't really know about mixing fish. One of the guppies is already dead. Another is missing. The beta enjoys hunting them.

Friday night Vic came down from Vancouver Island, Steven, Vic, RO and I had dinner at a new restaurant in old Renton- the Red House. It was a great find. I'll go back again. I'm starting to figure out why old Renton has so many great restaurants. One man, Gino, will open up a new restaurant and manage and be its chef for a few years-- until it develops a name. Then he'll sell the restaurant and do the samething over again. Gino is responsible for three of the five great restaurants in old Renton. The Red House is his latest venture.

Saturday morning we ran errands. Saturday afternoon we went for a short walk on Cougar Mountain. After that we we drove over to Andrew's Bay and spent to spend the night with Mac and Joe on their boat.

It was a good evening. The weather was perfect. RO and I slept on the upper deck under a canvas roof. That was fine for most of the night. It started to rain at about 3 in the morning-- just a gentle shower. Mac came out, pulled out a tarp and threw it over our sleeping bag.

It was very peacful until about six in the morning. Then the wind picked up. The rain started comming in from the side. At about seven I felt a few drops around my feet. I got up to see where the water was coming from. As I sat up RO said "Don't Move!" He got up and carefully gathered the tarp, pulled it over to the side and dumped gallons of rain water off the tarp and back into the lake. He said about 3 gallons of water had pooled on the tarp between us.

We were all up by 8am. We hung around, drank coffee ate a little and the left for land.

Sunday afternoon RO and I helped Jen move a washer and dryer-- at first it sounded like a simple favor. Jen recently seperated from her boyfriend and she needed a washer and dryer for her condo. She bought a used one and needed help moving it. We picked the washer and dryer up and drove to her place down town. It was a little awkward manouvering the washer in her appartment but we managed. Then we tried to hook the washer up-- the washer had a 3 prong plug. Her condo had a 4 prong outlet. Sigh. We headed over to Home Depot to get a new plug. Bad timing; a Mariners game got out at the same time. (Mariners won 5-4 over Boston) The Mariers traffic made our little 2 mile trip take over an hour.

Fortunatly the conversion from 3 prong to 4 prong was easy. Everything was colour coded. The washer/dryer worked fine after we plugged it in.

To return the favor, Jen gave RO and I two tickets to see the Rat City Roller Girls!

Sunday evening was the Survivor Potluck final. Matt, Sandy and Potsy came over. Steven hung around a bit, but he was feeling sick.

About a week ago Steven gave me four tylonol with codeine pill. (Available over the counter in Canada) I used one for a headache I was having, and put the other three on a plate in the center of the dining room table.

About Thursday of last week, someone took one of the pills. Now today, another pill is missing.

I wonder who is going to take the last pill. Or is that like taking the last candy from the bowl? I don't know my pill stealing etiquette.

I'm trying to get tickets to see the Rat City Roller Girls. Jen is on the team.

They have a huge fan base. And tickets go fast. To prevent scalping they are selling the tickets in small batches (about 100 at a go) at venues around the city. On Saturday, they put 100 up for sale at s store in Ballard. RO and I got there an hour after they started-- all the tickets were gone.

They are about to put 100 tickets for sale on line. I'm frequently clicking the refresh button to try and get two.

Sniff. The online ticket site now says "The May bout is now SOLD OUT! The good news is that we're very close to getting into a larger venue, hopefully for the June bout! So keep watching the website for details."

C2 said that it was Tullil was just hazy. no wind. lite dust. He's also been checking up on his possessions. He told is old roommate that if his cat dies, he's supposed to get another cat that looks the same and keep the death a secret.

He said the same to me about the cedar tree he gifted me.

Haze in Tullil 

Haze in Tullil 

Haze in Tullil 

So I...
hmmmm

Steven's eyes will roll when he reads this.

Short story. I flew down to Lousiana to meet Tommy. I ended up feeling so guilty, becuase RO and I have started datating, that, the very next morning, I left Tommy and flew back to Seattle.

Bleah.

Long Story.

I've known Tommy for years. He's a great man and I've always wanted to meet him in person. We seam to click. I like chatting with him. I like talking on the phone with him. I like reading his blog.

Months ago I decided to fly down to Lousiana and meet Tommy. I was looking forward to it. I bought the tickets so that I wouldn't get cold feet. I booked the time off work.

Then, weeks later, I started to date RO.

I didn't want to back out of meeting Tommy so I told RO I was going away on a work trip.

Well, I did fly down and meet Tommy. Tommy is excatly the man I always thought he was. More handsome in person. He has a big barrel chest that feels great when he hugs you. He's intersting and well spoken.

But, I felt guilty. Really, really guilty for lying to RO.

I was amazed how guilty I felt. I slept very badly that night.

In the morning, I came clean with Tommy. I told him I wanted to fly back. It was the only option that made sense. Yeah, I looked stupid, but that was better than hurting/ignoring RO.

Sigh.

I did enjoy my short stay. And, I will return one day for a longer visit.

Sand Storm in Tulil, Iraq 

Sand Strom in Tulil, Iraq. 

C2 is not enjoying himself in Iraq...

Barry, How full is your mail box? I'm trying to send you a 4 MB file and it bounces back. Might you know why?

So I met xxxxx and a few other guys the other day and long story short the other guys don't like me because I'm not attractive. It's not like I was going to fuck them or vice versa (neither were the cat's meow, or the dog's Grrr) but it would have been nice to just know a few guys here. I was having a good day until I got that email and now I'm bummed, just bummed.

I'm off to Louisiana for a few days. I get to meet Tommy Boy. Kewl.

The melencoly joy of power washing.

Today I bought a power washer-- 3000 PSI. It blasts the dirt off of anything. My cemet walks look new. My roof is clean. My old wooden benches look band new.

The washer comes with a "red" washer tip that can blast pieces off of cement and stone.

It's like cleaning with a tornado-- 3000 dirt blasting psi at the end of the hose. All that high pressure water has to go somplace. If you spray near soil or beauty bark then a blast of crap flies all over the place. You need to clean twice. Once at high pressure to chisel the dirt off and once at low pressure to clean the mess left by the first pass.

The other downside is that it does a good job, but slowly. It only cleans a strip about four inches wide so it takes a long time to do a sidewalk or roof. I tried it on a small patch of a bench. The wood went from weathered and grey to brown and new. The difference was so noticeable I had to do the whole bench and the wood chair next to it.

Last night RO and I went to downtown Renton. Steven was going to join us, but he got delayed returning from work.

We had dinner at the Melrose and dessert at Jubilant.

Downtown Renton is a weird mix. It's a city core rebounding from rock bottom. There are a lot of old crappy buildings. Many are now being restored and some great restaurnts are going moving in.

It's weird to walk around crumbling ghost city but then stumble on a packed little bistro.

Steven is at his wits end with his brother. In the last 6 months Steven has given his bro about $20,000 to get him back on his feet. It's not working. Steven is ready to cut the cord and let his brother fend for himself. The decision would be easier if his brother didn't have a son. Steven doesn't want to hurt the son. At the same time Steven's brother needs a very hard kick in the pants.

C2 writing from Iraq...

How are you doing? I very much appreciate your email but you must be saying 'Dang, it's like he emails Every Day!!' Well, I may have some extra time on my hands. The two people that work for me 'dont like me' because I ask too many questions like "what are you doing?" One guy was supposed to be working on an Access project for several days and when I asked to see what he's done, he got all pissy and deleted his work then stormed off. Later he pretty much said he doesn't have anything to so and then left on his R&R for 3 weeks (but first he told me he didn't like me.) Such is life..

Anyway, God Bless them Italians and GirlScouts. The Italians run a pizzaria here on Base that has internet access FREE from all the web Nazi sex filters that Halliburton and the Iraqis put in place. This means I again get to see pics of hot neked guys!! And the GirlScouts sent boxes of their cookies over here for the poor soldiers and I guess I qualify as they sent alot and give out boxes and boxes to everyone here! Cookies and porn, it just keeps getting better and better! If I didn't read the papers I wouldn't even know there's a war going on!


I even got a very good message from the ... ops guy at Baghdad HQ about my plan/proposal for data management here. They are really backward here (as far as efficient data management) and my proposal made me sound like I knew what I was talking about. I see my next job....

Anyway, I should get back to work making people hate me (buy just asking them to do their jobs.)

I've been working a lot. I don't really enjoy it when this happenes.

C2 writing from Iraq...

I suppose having to go to lunch in a flak jacket really says something about ones environment. I have to admit that there have been a couple of times (even on the convoy ride here) that made me think twice. I was talking to my boss the other day about camel spiders and he mentioned a story about a Major here having a spider fall from the tent ceiling and bite him. I didn't have a nightmare but I did think about it and that evening examined my tent area for any creepy crawleys. I got an email that my grandma died the other day as well. I'm not coming home for the memorial and I'm sure some will think of me as a cad for missing the event. I feel bad about it and I feel like I've abandoned you and others to some degree as well. Yes, I think about it.

Anyway on the flip side, It just keeps getting better here. Yesterday I discovered a stash of Holiday packages sent by kids in the US for servicemen. They had more than they knew what to do with and KBR got a bunch and here it is April and there is still some left! I was running out of toothpaste (there is none at the PX) and so I picked up a few packs with toothpaste and other goodies! Now if there were just some medium underwear and socks in some of those packages I'd be set! There is NO medium underware or white socks at the PX here. If you ever go to Iraq, bring plenty of underwear!

So, I'm sending C2 a care package of underwear and socks.

Over the weekend I did some hiking. WOrked around the house.

Matt and Sandy are having marital problems. So I don't hear much of them right now.

C2 in Iraq writes...

I'm glad it's raining there and it even rained a little here (but not much.) ... There's a Great water park in Abu Dabi (I think Vic has been to it) that I think you'd enjoy. The best part is that they use a water slide to take you 'up' as well as down. There was a 'Boston Marathon' here today so I've spent much of my day out taking pics. I also do PR stuff and need to start drafting a weekly newspaper too. Uh, do you have a copy of Publisher? I thought I had one but can't find it.

Yes, I didn't expect things to be all 'peachy-keen' here but frankly, I expected it to be more of a challenge as well. I mean I've not had to deal with one scorpion in my boot or run from any bullets or Anything to that effect! I get all the food that I can eat (free) and we've had lobster at least once a week! I'm almost free from hacking up green stuff, and frankly the worse thing that has happened is that I ran out of socks between laundry and had to go 'sock-less' for one day. Where's the Challenge? So, I'm not complaining (unless you call my last sentence a complaint.) I'm glad you look forward to my emails and I wish I'd hear from Matt/Sandy as well. I do hope they make it.

Well, enjoy the pics. They should be self explanatory. We wear the armoured vest/helmet at least once a week, for practice and for real when they consider things 'hot.' I feel and look like a dork but at least I'm a 'safe dork' (on my way to lunch.)

C2, writing from Iraq...

Work is fine. I have a 'problem' employee that I inherited and she'd 'going away' for a few days to Kuwait. She has problems but don't we all? I missed the body building contest last night as I forgot but there's a power lifting one on this Sunday and I'll try to take some pics. Not much is happening here. Some stuff. Did I send you the pics of the hooches and the decking? They got an award for that deck. Your deck is deserving of such too (when it's finished.) I've got to send some pics to Sandy as well and will do that today. ... I'm still hacking up green stuff and have started to work out again. I'd like to weigh 225 or so by the time I come back in July. Heck, I don't have much else to do here. How's Survivor night going?

Another email...

Living on a military base in a war zone has it's downers. There are your usual explosions and then there are the ones where you say 'that didn't sound right.' They're blowing up stuff all the time around here and usually it's far away, but just this morning was the closest mortar round to date. They (the bad guys) set up a delayed mortar during the night and then it might go off during the night but usually during the day, (which allows the bad guys to get away.) The explosion was BOOM and what did we do? We all ran outside to see it! Then went back to work since it was an attack on the airport/runway. If it caused any damage, they'll have it repaired by noon (it's 10 AM right now.) I should have taken a pic but I forgot the camera but it's your basic mushroom cloud. Anyway, I need to and other boring stuff. I look forward to lunch and dinner as I get to eat and see great haircuts.

Uh, do you have an extra coffee maker that you don't want? One that'll run on 220v? Just thought I'd ask. I need to send you some trinkets too to share with all. What are you doing around July/early August? Want to come to Abu Dahbi? We'll do a layover in Berlin and I'll show you a dungon or two. ... Here's a pic of a scorpion from Vector Control (they handle the creepy crawling things here.)

Sunset in Iraq 

Scorpion in Iraq 

C2 in Iraq writes...

My 'weekend'? Hmmm, let me recall.... I worked 12 hours on Saturday and oh yea, I worked 12 hours on Sunday. There really is stuff to do here but I'm trying to make it more 'quality stuff.' For example, I set up a DVD presentation the other day and it took over an hour getting everything together and testing it.

Why hasn't Matt and/or Sandy emailed me yet? Did I piss them off? I've emailed both of them. I may have the wrong email though. I know you're not my secretary but would you please ask about that?

Might you also have C6 and/or Flying J's email? All that I can find is their snail mail address. Thanks.

Sunday evening I went to Taste Washington. It was an all you can taste wine and fine food exhibition. Over 200 wineries where there and lots of great restaurants.

After two hours I was bloated and drunk. I had a lot of great wine, but it all started to blur.

C2 writing from Iraq...

This weekend we're pretty much in armour vests the whole time when moving about the base. Most of the vehicles I ride in have been armoured as well and I must say, there is a comforting feeling driving around in an armoured Toyota Land Cruiser. Very secure and safe. Uh, you've sent no pics other than a fish. Ask RO to help you point out what to take a pic of. RO has has artsy gay-gene thing that say "Wow, now that would make a Fabulous Picture!!" (LOL)

C2 is in Iraq. He wrote...

Hello All,

How are you doing? ... I've been in Iraq a several days now and before that I was in Kuwait. I'm been sick with 'Kuwaiti Crud' for much of the time. I hack up green smurfs and have nearly lost my voice. It's about 95 here but will get hotter. Keep in touch.

I pretty much work 7 to 7 (if you can call it work) with generous time for breakfast and lunch. At least that's the schedule now. It really should change. Sorry for taking so long to reply. It was a Very long drive to Tallil from Kuwait in armour vest/helmet.

I've started writing C2 longer emails to give him something to do in his copious free time...

Hey C2.

How are things with you?

The weekend here was good. Fairly rainy. Some of the skii resorts have re-opened for spring skiing, but from what I hear the snow is very wet.

Saturday I did house work. The gardens are comming together. Everything is growing right now so I need to stay on top of the weeds. I planted about 100 sunflower sprouts on the hill next to the deck. Hopefully some of them will take off and hide the vines underneath.

RO was in a small accident with his car. He swearved to avoid some deer and ran into the ditch. It broke his axil.

I got a telephoto lens for the camera. It's fun though you need more patience to use it. The extra zoom means it's easier for camera shake to make blury picture. So, unless it's very bright you need to use a tri-pod.

What have you been up to?

B

I just got off the phone with C2 in Kuwait. Thanks to the magic of internet-phones, and free nation-wide long distance, I can talk to someone half way around the world for free! And the connection sounds good.

C2 is in Kuwait. Mostly he's bored. He sent me this email...

I very much appreciate your email. They have IP phones here that call as if one were in Houston but I don't have a calling card handy otherwise I'd give you a call. I'm 11 hours ahead of you and it's interesting watchin rush hour develop on the traffic cams. I'm staying here in Kuwait at what is referred to as a 4 star villa but it's really dump and 4 stars means there is running water and a flushable toilet. This really is a F#$% up part of the world. I leave for Tallil on Sunday in an armoured vehicle with bullet proof glass/etc. But frankly, the real action is in Bagdad and there is opportunity there too. Also the camle spiders really are over a foot across!

At work I've started on an interesting and scary new project. A co-worker has a very tight deadline for an important feature. If he doesn't make that deadline, the feature will be cut and all his work will be for naught.

The co-worker knows he can't make the deadline, so our manager asked me if I wanted to help out.

When I asked my co-worker why it wasn't stupid for me to join this feature, he was speechless for a whole minute. They he gave me a stock motivational speaks about new and unknown challenges.

Joy.

Vic and Steven's wedding was at Poets Cove. What a beautiful place. Pender Island is quiet and out of the way.

It rained on Saturday morning but cleared up for the wedding which was on Vic and Steven's patio. They had a great view of the ocean. It was the first wedding I ever attended where the wedding party (8 people) was larger than the audience (2 people)

Silken Lauman, a former Olympic athlete, was in the cottage next to Vic and Steven's. She's an interesting person.

Sunday Steven and his brother went out canoeing. They tipped the canoe. Fortunately someone saw the accident, boated over and picked them up.

Last night we had Steven's Bachelor party at my place. Steven's brother got a stripper. It was hilarious. RO was way too into it. He took about one hundred photos of the stripper dancing for Steven.

Steven has been approved as a permanent resident in Cananda. Now he move to Cananda and marry Vic without worrying about work.

He's not sure when he's going to move in with Vic. For now he wants to keep his job in the U.S.

His wedding with Vic is in a week and a half in Canada. Last night we went over his vows. He's not sure if he wants the judge to say "I now pronouce you married life partners" or "I now pronouce you life parnters" or... Anything other than "I now pronouce you husband and wife." sounds odd.

RO, Matt, Sandy and I toasted Vic and Steven.

Steven has been approved as a permanent resident in Cananda. Now he can married to Vic.

He's not sure when he's going to move in with Vic. For now he wants to keep his job in the U.S.

His wedding with Vic is in a week and a half in Canada. Last night we went over his vows. He's not sure if he wants the judge to say "I now pronouce you married life partners" or "I now pronouce you life parnters" or... Anything other than "I now pronouce you husband and wife." sounds odd.

RO, Matt, Sandy and I toasted Vic and Steven.

I spent most of the weekend on Lopez Island. It's very scenic and quiet.

RO and Sandy flew down to California for a weekend with the American Coaster Enthusiasts. Basically they road roller coasters non-stop from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. They didn't even have to get off the coasters. They could ride the same one over and over.

C2 is gone. Sunday morning he called me from Phoenix. He sounds relaxed. Even though he's going to Iraq, he get's to leave his troubles behind and to start fresh. I also talked to Tommy on Sunday. I get to meet him in a few weeks. I'm looking forward to it.

I haven't talked to my brother since Christmas. Today I got this email from him...

lol gotta love our families long winded ness...

well I'll tell ya I'm pretty sure I'm never gonna have any luck in teh hight tech field, so I'm looking elsewhere. I've been unemplyed for some time ever since I pulled my back muscle. so although I've had work to do almost none of it was paying....

the sting with the goverment has been over since summmer jsut about and well they have a bills from me accumulatign to 70k and I'm not expecting to see anyof that. my latest bunch of web work offers was well once completly for free to create a tsunami web portal. and an other for Videoflicks to make a website for
them. and that was for no money but I was going to get free movie
rentals from them. and although they have the start of their website.
I'm not getting rentals and .................. annoying


SO I'm pretty much playing WoW for half my day and weight training the other half... and doo ing reasearch into the things that I'll ahve to
do and be able to do too qualify for being a police officer... My
problem with this is that I don't know given my prior back injuries and my residual knee iritation if I'll be accepted... So I'm talking to a cop or 2 and getting advice from them. looking into being a security guard in the interm... so I'll have something to referr too during the situational and aptitude tests for police.

All the while I'm affriad to let anyone know casue well I dont' know if I'll quallify and it's also possible I'm actually too tall to be a police officer but can't find anysuch limitations on teh web but I've
been told they exist .... so this may yet again be anouther
place/attempt to be gainfully employed that will fail miserably

But at least I'm getting into shape... my heal spur doesn't seem to be a problem anymore either so I'm relived about that.

My girlfriend is doing much better actually she's quite good she still has to learn what things go well with her stomach some foods seem to work sometimes adn doesn't others... she's well any time she eats shes burpy it's a little unpleasent but there are worse things that can exist.

Now enough about me how about U.

I like the cake 

I'm starting to worry about the tastefulness of the "Keep Your Head" cake. More than one person has commented "You're not actually doing that, are you?" in a surprized tone.

Tonight is C2's going away party.

Matt and I are bringing a "Keep Your Head" cake. "Keep Your Head" is written in icing on the cake. Then Matt will take a G.I. Joe, make it kneel, bind the arms, chop the head off, add a touch of red icing and voila a wonderfully tasteless cake decoration.

When I picked the cake up at the bakery, the decorator said they don't get many requests for "Keep Your Head." They mostly deal with "Happy Birthday" and "Congulations!"

The cake started out more innocently. C2 joked a few times that he wanted a sexy man to jump out of a cake at his going away party. I was going to get a G.I. Joe, strip it naked and shove it into the cake. When I told Matt, Matt had a better idea.

The beer is good! It's strong too. I feel it after one pint.

I am surprised how easy it is to make good beer. It's turning me into a beer snob. Now that I can control everything, from the taste to the carbonation, I don't see why I should drink mediocre beer.

T, gegging is what happens when you misspell kegging.

Sunday I went to a co-workers Oscar party. The crowd is very different from my usual friends. Many enthic people-- indians, chinese, moroccans. They were younger, nerdier, but still a fun crowd.

Friday night, C2, H, R and I went to Siams for dinner.

Saturday I gegged the beer I'm brewing. It will be another couple of days before it is carbonated enough to drink.

Even flat, the beer smells and tastes good.

Last night RO and I went to see Jaded 52. Ryan is a guitarist in Jaded 52. They are a fun band. They play punk and ska, not really my thing

Saturday night I had dinner with Matt and Sandy. We watched Secret Window, a thrille with a twist. I didn't really like it. The twist was too cheap.

Sunday RO and I worked on the wine. It's about 3 weeks away from bottling.

I've been working a lot.

C2's leaving for Iraq on March the 6th. I think he's stressed about it. I'm, not sure. Last friday he says he wants a change, that he wants a partner very badly, and that working on these dead end contract jobs isn't helping.

I wish him the best.

Working a lot. Did much maintenance on the house last week. Small things-- install a towel rack, change the oil in the lawnmower, the list goes on.

I went to C5 and J's for a superbowl party. We would talk during the game and pay attention during the commercials.

C5 and J have a very firey relationship. When ever they get drunk, they argue. They went out Saturday night and got into a fight. J punched C5 in the forehead. It blead. You can still see the mark.

C2 says:
there?
Barry says:
Yes
C2 says:
I was chatting with KBR.
Barry says:
KBR==the Halliburton unit?
C2 says:
yea.
C2 says:
we're at the point where it's now in my court. Looking at a 21 Feb departure.
Barry says:
Wow. How long before you answer?
C2 says:
I pretty much told him yes as I don't have too much else that is much better.
C2 says:
and it would be an adventure and different.
C2 says:
so to speak.
Barry says:
Congratulations then buddy.
Barry says:
You know I have to throw a going away party for you.
C2 says:
no, I don't want that as I'll be back in 4 months. If you want to do something, that would be better as I don't want to think I'm really 'going away'
Barry says:
Ok. I'll have a generic dinner with Chris and Friends then.
C2 says:
I'm not changin much, I'll keep the place at IR, cat, etc.
C2 says:
Ok, I've got to go grab something to eat, chat in a bit.

I did a lot this last weekend.

I bought a wine kit to make my own wine. It was kind of fun to setup. It's not that hard. You just need to make sure everything is clean.

If all goes well, in 3 months I'll have my own wine. 30 bottles of it. 30 bottles of wine raises it's own set of problems. I'm not a big drinker so 30 bottles may last for years. We'll see how it goes.

I also cleaned and organized the workshop. There was a lot of dirt back there. I need to do a dump run to get rid of all the garbage.

I had lunch with C6 today. He said he's tired of his managment. His manager doesn't believe she has a problem.

We talked over his laternatives to quitting. He could take a long vacation. He could switch devisions. He said he no longer wanted to be a middle manager. And that the only way to do that was to leave the company.

When it rains, it pours...
C6 called me. He's also leaving. He's taking a year off work. No definit plans.


The Law of Unintended Consequences...
Over lunch C2 mentioned that the Haliburton recruiters are unintentionally hiring many gay men for work in Iraq. Due to the nature of the job, they need mature men who can stay way from the U.S. for months at a time. Not many married guys fall into that category. Gay? Bingo.

C2 IM'd me.

C2 says:
are you there? busy?
BC says:
I'm here. Spinning my tires in the mud. So, not busy.
C2 says:
how are things?
BC says:
Not bad. Quiet. You?
C2 says:
it's 'fine.' I have a guy (recruiter at Halliburton) that wants to send me to Iraq!
BC says:
Wow.
BC says:
You going through with it?
C2 says:
Hey, want to lunch today with G and U?
BC says:
Yeah.
[lunch details deleted]
C2 says:
See you there at noon.
C2 says:
do you really think I'm crazy to go to Iraq?
C2 says:
you didn't seem too opposed when I first mentioned it.
C2 says:
not like others that REALLY were opposed.
BC says:
You're not entirly crazy. I just hope you realize everything won't be rosey and keen when you get back.
BC says:
Your dad won't change just because you go to Iraq.
C2 says:
and I've not even told liberal commie pinko crazy IR. I may have to move out.
C2 says:
Oh my dad will never change (too much.) I know that and things really won't be too much different. And it's not like I'll be away for ever.
C2 says:
I just found out that you CAN return to the US throught the year!
BC says:
kewl.
BC says:
I'll miss you.
C2 says:
but you cannot spend more than 33 days here total per year.
BC says:
tax?
C2 says:
yes, that's the reason why.
BC says:
I've known a number of people who have worked in Saudie Arabia and the UAE.
BC says:
so, I have a general feeling for the paperwork.
C2 says:
I want to do a bunch of things and this'll be Great opportunity for you to travael to some great strange places with me.
C2 says:
I want to hike the Kyber pass.
BC says:
You know I'll be there.

C2, Matt, Sandy and I had dinner on Friday night. I couple of times Sandy squeezed or rubbed C2's leg. C2 told him off.

Sometimes I worry about C2. I think he's deperessed and has been for a long time. He's too stubborn to see a doctor and I don't know how to snap him out of it.

RO and I drove out to Allyn and Shelton Both are very small towns.

On our way back we stopped for dinner in Tacoma. Apetizers and drinks at Stanley and Searforts Dinner at the Southern Kitchen. They serve very rich food.

Tommy, in the south do they really fry everything and add a cream sauce?

Tommy Boy and I talked with each other about how our journals have changed. They are not as juicy as they used to be. Three years we would mention the hot sex we were having or the trouble we were getting into.

Now... let me see... I write about shopping and movies.

I can't say I'm in a rut. If anything I'm out of a rut. I'm doing what I want, it's just that what I want doesn't involve S&M or slutty Daddies. I spend my evenings with friends. I work hard. I have a good quiet life.

Weird.

It's been dark and rainy here. Saturday was freezing rain. Sunday and Monday are just regular rain.

Friday night, C2, RO, BearOrgy and I had dinner at Siam's. BearOrgy had to leave early to watch the new Battle Star Galactica.

C2, RO and I went to Espresso Vivance for coffee. It didn't work out that well. The music was loud and the tables were large so it was difficult to hold a conversation.

Saturday RO and I went surplus shopping. First we stopped at the Boeing Surplus Store. They have lots of stuff there-- large sheats of aluminum, drill bits, tools, cables, old computers, old office furniture, on and on. You can get a good deal if you know what you are looking for. You can also buy a lot of crap.

After that we went to the Gourmet Standard Outlet Store. It's a tiny kitchenware store at the back of the Gourmet Standard warehouse. I bought a great new set of pots and pans. The manager was very helpful-- telling us why some things were cheap, what was trendy, what professionals used, what made good cook ware and what the good buys were.

I bought non-stick again. Professionals usually buy regular 'stick' pans. I wonder why. Probably because they last longer and are easier to maintain. On the other hand, it's so hard to cook low fat unless you have non-stick.

Last night C2 and I went with the movie bears to see Million Dollar Baby. It's a good film. Kind of like Rockey except Rockey breaks his neck at the title match. Don't worry. I haven't given the ending.

After the movie we want to CC's and ran into Faf and Officer Rob. Officer Rob told us about his mace training.

To use mace, the police force requires it's officers to be maced. When it was Officer Rob's turn, the guy spraying the mace accidentally sprayed Rob in the mouth. The sprayer said "Sorry, that's not good enough, I have to spray you in the eyes." So Officer Rob held open his eyes and was sprayed a second time.

Officer Rob's eyes swelled shut-- which was expected. He had to be guided to the shower. It sounds like mace gets deep into your eyes. For two or three days later Officer Rob said he could feel little bubbles of mace under his eye lid. Now and then a bubble would pop and his eye would sting again.

Steven got back from a week in California. His father was very ill and hospitalized a week ago so he went to visit. One week later his father is much better.

I didn't do much over the weekend. Fixed some plumbing. Cooked. Cleaned.

Saturday night RO and I went to a party. It was a large party but neither of us knew many people there.

I've been working a lot and still have the cold. Today is the first day I didn't use cold medicine. It feels good to be less groggy.

A third of the people I work with have this cold. Some much worse than I. Whever I get a two-week cold, I always worry "Do I have AIDS?" So seeing so many co-workers be sicker for longer than I is a comforting.

New Years eve I had a few friends over-- Matt, Sandy, the Tease, Bib, C2 and the Designer. It was a quiet evening. The Tease and I both had lingering colds so we didn't party hard.

Sunday, the Designer and I went to Leary House for an afternoon beer, wine and snack social held by the achivist at Leary House. Leary House is a huge mansion that's now 100 years old. It's full of beautiful wood and tile work. Some of the carpets are the original 100 year old carpets.

Steven and C2 are both very stressed. Both have work and family problems right now and it's draining their energies.