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Saturday Night Retro

TODAY I flew on an airplane from Fort-Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. It was the umpteenth time that I flew anywhere. (I actually don’t keep track of all of my airline flights via an EXCEL spreadsheet.) I’ve lost track of my flying over the past 23½ years. I’ve flown first class once or twice (wasn’t too impressed), and I’ve flown most of the major airlines that are still in business today. Flying is not as fun as it used to be (prior to September 11TH 2001). This morning I left my home at precisely 6:30 AM to get to the off-site parking area at the airport by 7:30 AM to get to the terminal by 7:45 AM to check-in, get through security, and get to my gate prior to boarding at 9 AM and departure from the gate at 9:30 AM. And then there’s the 3-hour flight. It basically took longer to get from my home in Homestead to the aircraft at the airport than it did to actually fly that aircraft more than halfway across the country !

Check out this classic 60-second television commercial for the legendary Eastern Airlines of the way things used to be. Compare our baggage handlers of today with those depicted from the 1970s.

Before I turned 18-years-old and moved away from home to join the circus USAF I recall flying only twice in my life – twice to and from Bermuda on summertime vacations as a little kid during the mid-1970s. I recall Bermuda to be a fun little place out in the middle of the Atlantic – sort of a hybrid between a Caribbean nation further south and the United Kingdom further east. I wish to go back there one of these years to check it out all over again for the first time in over 30 years.

And now Ladies And Gentlemen – IT’S GO-GO TIME !  Let’s kick it old school !

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Advertising Animals Computers Driving God Life Mail Money Philosophy Politics Shopping

Tuesday Night Grab Bag O’ Thoughts

Let’s do it:

1.  It feels like a Monday for me because I took a 3-day weekend from work (to include Monday). I had so much fun setting up and personalizing my sparkling new desktop computer system on Saturday and Sunday that I spent Monday catching up on everything else that I would have normally done during the previous two days. I got it all done and then some on Monday !  I was proud of myself when I went to sleep.

2.  After over 15 years with State Farm I saved over 24% by switching my auto insurance to GEICO yesterday. Back in February I compared State Farm with GEICO, and had I made the switch back then I would have saved a mere 9%. It wasn’t worth the time and the trouble to switch. But a more than a 24% savings is definitely worth it !

3.  The MASSIVE political ads continue to inundate and stuff my (old-fashioned) mailbox. I’m actually taking the time to glance over all of the fancy and glossy literature, but the joke is on them. I’m not voting in the Primaries – not even via absentee ballot.

4.  A closed door that you can not open due to the fact that it is locked shut and you don’t have a key for it, or there is another impeding factour (such as a person who won’t let you in) is very symbolic of ‘The End’. You can’t go any further. You can’t proceed. Progress is halted. STOP !  It’s certainly not a positive symbol – especially if you are on a fantastic journey. Before I was saved by Jesus I regularly hit closed doors in my life – literally, figuratively, and symbolically. Nowadays (in my new Life) I don’t encounter too many closed doors. I am simply more aware of the ones that I need to stay away from. But when I do reach a closed door on this journey it is far more painful than it ever was in my previous life. Sometimes what isn’t that big of a deal to one person may actually be a closed door to another person. There should never be a closed door between me or you – and God.

5.  Back in November 2007 a Canadian Dollar was worth more than U.S. $1.08. Today it was only worth U.S. $0.94. The British Pound has dropped from above U.S. $2.10 to below U.S. $1.90. The European Euro was flirting with U.S. $1.60 as recently as the start of July 2008. Now it’s down to nearly U.S. $1.49 !  Our U.S. Dollar is making a substantial comeback. That’s allowing oil prices and ultimately gas prices to drop.

6.  The last time I went through the Starbucks (in Homestead) drive-thru I received exceptional customer service. That’s a good thing because they had already received two strikes in a row from me, and had they received a third strike in a row I would have initiated a temporary boycott of the joint. A boycott of Starbucks is something that I’m not sure that I’m ready for yet.

7.  I got a haircut at the legendary Woody’s Barber Shop yesterday. I always feel clean and refreshed after I get my mop cut. Believe it or not I actually don’t keep track of when I get a haircut via an Excel Spreadsheet. There’s no point to it. If my hair blows around in the wind then it’s time to get a haircut.

8.  If HP wanted to do a television commercial right here in my living room then all they would have to do is simply film me sitting down here at my computer workstation using all of their fine products.

9.  I have an HP printer-scanner-copier all-in-one device now. I bought it at Office Depot yesterday. Those two pictures of Barney and Fluffy that I posted on the blog last night were the first two that I scanned (as a test). I’m gonna look around for some more classic pictures. Maybe I’ll find one of me from my U.K. days some 23 years ago. You can see what I looked like as a goofy 18-year-old !

10.  My credit card company just raised my credit limit by a tad. They must’ve seen how much money I spent this past weekend !  😯

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Advertising Computers Shopping Television

Bedtime Stories

TOMORROW is the long-awaited big day. I’m leaving for Kendall Drive in the morning, and I’m heading straight to Circuit City to buy my sparkling new state-of-the-art desktop computer system. It’ll be my first store-bought computer system in about 9 years (that was an HP Pavilion 6545C desktop), and it’ll be my first replacement computer system in nearly 3½ years (that was a used HP Pavilion ZT1290 laptop that was new in 2002 but bought by me in 2005). Every single blog entry that you have ever read from me was done on that laptop, and she shall retire from active duty tomorrow once I bring home my new baby !

Oh yeah I’m also buying this sparkling new flat-panel LCD widescreen monitor to replace my longtime monitor of the past 9 years.

2008 computer technology arrives in my home tomorrow !

Until we hang out again here on the big blog (via my fresh new computer system) REMEMBER THIS classic Circuit City television commercial from 1994 when the 486 SX / 33 was state-of-the-art, and Packard Bell was a household name.

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Advertising Blogging Career Food God Humor Life Movies Music Shopping Television

Bedtime Stories

It’s the first day of August in 2008, and August has been quite significant in my Life over the past couple of years. Last year it signified the beginning of a once unthinkable career rejuvenation at work. This past year has been – by far – the greatest year of my 23-year USAF / DOD career. It just keeps on getting better too !  Two years ago in August 2006 I was saved and reborn. God guided and directed me onto His fantastic journey. It’s always exciting following Him !

I’m planning to sleep-in tomorrow (Saturday) morning. It’s been a long crazy week at work, and I need the relaxation. Later tomorrow I think I’ll go to the mall and see a movie and eat dinner with a friend of mine. It’s been a real long time since I did something like that. I’m looking forward to it !

Be sure to check out this groovy blog tomorrow to see what’s up. Don’t forget about the slammin’ ‘Saturday Night Fever’ disco party streaming LIVE on here starting at 9 PM. It’s three solid gold hours of decadent disco music from 1978 with your host with the most – ‘Dr. Chris Da Cool Disco Cat’ (DC.DC.DC) !

(Just kidding. Maybe I’ll do a Saturday Night movie review on here in lieu of that.)

Until then keep it real, and REMEMBER THIS Bubblicious television commercial from about 28 years ago !   

Good Night Ela !