Shoot the Breeze With the Cooler Crew - Peoplesforum Edition

Aghhh it's FINALS I am going MAD I tell you MAD MAD MAD!!!!!

Thanx frosti! I'll have a drink for ya :)

Thanks! Have one for yourself while you're out! ;)

Damn.. just read an e-mail that my sister sent me, talkin bout that small ass amusement park by Como Zoo w/ the rides and stuff that only cost 50 cents to ride.... i guess its been there since 1949 or somethin...

Supposedly after this summer is over, the Zoo is kicking them out and they gotta crew thats gonna show up and build a better amusement park, thats gonna have tickets and wrist bands, kinda like the state fair...

it sounds pretty fresh.... it just sucks that the small ass family owned thing is gonna just be booted out.

It really hasn't been the same since it lost the Mad Mouse where you felt like you were going to plummet over the edge anyway.

Come on dawg... The Scrambler rocks... as does the Tilt-A-Whirl

That's a real bummer! We spent lots of time out there on those rides growing up, our kids spent plenty of time with those rides too. It won't seem right not to have them there.

Today's the day our daughter gets on a plane and heads for Guatemala for 10 days...and a meet up with her brother next Saturday! Lots of excitement in this house!!!

Yeah, it's supposed to be a huge multi-million dollar renovation.

Well, no more cheap rides at Como. BTW- Happy Belated B'day, Kel. Hope you had a good 21st!

one hour and 45 mn. till the weekend ahhhh. I am swamped with home work this weekend FINALS AGHHHH!

Hope you had a good 21st!

Wow! been 13 years since I heard that! Did you really think I was only 21?? If you did, Thanx!!!

You mean you're not 21!!!???

Coulda fooled me, you young sexy thang! ; )

OK ...maybe I won't be around as much as I thought....
my inlaws has a nasty virus on their PC or something else....

I gotta try to figure that out......its just nasty...

anyways...weather so far is nice....
talk to ya later...

... live from beautiful Bettendorf ...

Happy Anniversary, Terry!!!

Happy Belated Birthday LL!!! You and my hubby share the day!
Got back from Red Lake safe & sound- The weather was fickle....
We came home with 40 1.5- 2 lb crappies! WooHoo!!!!
Had a grrrreat time being out of the city, and with Dan & Hannah.
Hannah's so funny- she hates it when the ice makes noise, and hides in the truck. Then she jumps out, and runs around really fast, and rubs herself in the snow.
She has a "Fishing Hangover" too.
Today is Matt's Birthday, and James' on the 20th.
I'm having a friend take them up in his plane, and let them fly it a bit. I think they'll dig that.
Happy Anniversary Terry V!!!! What #?

Good Morning!

Glad you had a good time, KT! And Happy Birthday, late, present and early to the rest of your clan.

And thanks for the anniversary wishes. It's been 33 years. My mother says it's just a habit. :-)

At least she doesn't say it's a bad habit! ;)

KT you guys fish Red Lake too?? AWESOME! I go deer, bear, and grouse hunting up in Waskish!! I LOVE it up there. Haven't been up there in a few years.. Red Lake used to be a great lake for walleye but since it got netted out you can't keep any walleye yet for another year or so.

COOLER HEADS

:)... sorry we're been so busy :(

work, kids, mother in law is here and now it looks like we might be buying our first house :). At least we got the ball rolling on that mission.

Hope you are all doing well. Soon things should be calmed down.. miss talking to you guys!

OTS and family

COOLER HEADS

:)... sorry we've been so busy :(

work, kids, mother in law is here and now it looks like we might be buying our first house :). At least we got the ball rolling on that mission.

Hope you are all doing well. Soon things should be calmed down.. miss talking to you guys!

OTS and family

Cooler OTS welcome to home ownership there is nothing like it.

Glad to see you're still alive and kickin OTS. Too bad you haven't gotten out geocaching yet, there's a guy running around by the nickname "ringbone" hiding valuable coins in his caches, been fun to try and get FTFs on.

Hellowwwww itsss quiet in here

HOLY CRAP MAN!!!!

AIGHT! Ive already basically called everyone that would care with this, and now imma say it on here!

I was out at the airport, for an application/interview at McDonalds (dont laugh, im desperate, and i didnt get the job anyways), and I was done with the interview, and walking down the hall, to leave, when WHO DO I SEE?!?!!?

none, other than WWE's "WORLD CHAMPION" (Monday Night Raw), CHRIS BENOIT!!!!!!

I musta looked like David Arquette and that other dude, from that "Ready to Rumble" movie... I was sooooo geeked out...

He was walkin by me, and I thought he looked familiar, and it took a minute to register, and then I swung around and said "Hey! Are you Chris Benoit?" and he turned around all quick, with some napkins and said, "yeah" sounding like he was all tired and worn out...to which I then started my geek phase.. "DUDE!!! HOLY SHIT!!" (to some lady) "THIS IS CHRIS BENOIT!" (lady keeps walking, Benoit kinda laughs)
me: "dude... what the hell are you doing here?!?!?" him: "transfering flights"
me: HOLY SHIT!!! YOUR TRANSFERING FLIGHTS!!!! Wait... thats right, this is the airport!
him: yeah (un-easy laugh again)
me: shit man, (wrestler hand shake) im such a big fan.. congrats on that title, you deserve it!
him: thanks man.
me: WHERES THE TITLE?!?!?!?!?
him: My wife has it over there in one of my bags.(he points to some chick, with a kid, thats sitting at a table at the McDonalds that I had the interview at)
me: DAMN!!!!!
him: yeah, hey, nice seeing you. (he walks away, to give his wife the napkins, as I walk away geeked out, and obviously still in shock)

now...

you think constantly "what would I do if I ever ran into these people someplace, and what would I say"

trust me...

none of what I actually said, was what was in my plans...

I realised after like a half hour later, that I should have gotten an autograph, instead of just shaking his hand and acting like I was about to fall down and have a seizure right there... or atleast offered to buy him, his wife, and kid some chicken nuggets or something....

dude... I did a job interview 20 FEET FROM THE WORLD TITLE BELT!!!

This was a good ass b-day present!!!!

damn man...

That's really cool VJ! I bet he was really flattered too that you were so flustered and yourself and all that. And from your description of the event I'm sure that he won't soon forget you either! What a great birthday present. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Two of my grandkids share your day.

He's currently the WWE "World Champion"... theres two of them. The "real" WWE title, is held by Eddie Guerrero, who can be seen on Smackdown. Benoit was one of the guys that was in WCW before it was shut down..... long story short, he won the WCW title, but that was only because they wanted to try to keep him there, so he threw it in the trash and walked out.... its kinda funny, that he has the title that he's got now, because its actually the WCW title all over again... but its still a title, none the less, and he deserves it...

man though...

im such a geek.... he's probably on a plane right now laughing his ass off about me...

I doubt it. He probably ran into the only person in the airport who recognized him and must feel pretty good about that. It was fate I tell you, fate!

It was fate I tell you, fate!

It was a birthday present from the Wrestling gods...

That would have been funny as hell, if I would have been like "hey... can I buy you some chicken nuggets, or a cheese burger or somethin?"

See... I think of cool/funny stuff to do now... but NOOOO... when im there in person all I can say is "DUDE!" and "HOLY SHIT!"

And that's precisely what makes it such a great moment. How boring it would have been to just offer to buy him lunch. Now that he would have forgotten. You? No way.

HAPPY BODY-SLAM BIRTHDAY VJ!!!

True... true... thats a good way to look at it, homie..

Man...

hopefully some day I can make up for acting all geeky, by beating him in a match...

Whoa...

what up CM! Thanks ninja!

Im gonna take off for now, ya'll... i'm all super hyped up, after this morning, and normally I aint even awake for another 2-3 hours...

but its MY day today... so imma go do stuff for ME... imma go get myself a job, for a present.

Just stopping in to wish you a happy one oh great Krusty. Tomorrow will be the first time I had to work on my B-day EVER!!
Damn! That's OK tho. I guess it's better than not working at all huh? Boy do I miss those days but not the money part of it. I'd be a great retiree. Have a fun day duuuuuuuuude. Any plans?
Good luck on the job 'hunt'. The birthday Gods should try and cut you a break today.

I've got some errands to run. But I'm going to be doing them with a smile on my face. I think VJ called me a homie! That put a spring in my step.

I guess it's better than not working at all huh? Boy do I miss those days but not the money part of it. I'd be a great retiree.

Uh Huh

Love it while you can Ian.

Trying to catch up on everything since I left last Friday.

Picket duty was cold last night. Someone (Heh Heh - we're not frickin' stupid.) complained about our little campfires, so now we have to let them burn low between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am. The Fire Marshal came by the first day, looked around, said nothing and left. Early on we wwere getting "drive-by flashing lights" showing support by our local law enforcement, but that has pretty much ended.

Of course the taxi drivers are supportive. The most consistent, repetitive support I've seen (12:00 am to 4:00 am shift) is from the StarTribune delivery truck drivers.

Tomorrow I get my first strike pay - $50.00 - then $150.00 each week. Guess I'll start looking for some temp job.

We were in Iowa for two youth bowling tournaments, comprising the biggest scholarship weekend in the midwest. The tournament on Saturday awarded over $8000.00 and the one on Sunday awarded over $5000.00

There were 110 boys in the Saturday event.

Kollin's games:

Happy B-day VJ And an early happy B-day to clue Master!!

Violent J --
sorry dude...I can't egram you....
I told you about my company......when I get back you and I need to hook up...they will hire you and its better then mickyd's...

I hate to really rub it in....but right now I'm sitting on a deck to a nice sandy beach on a laptop..to bad the damn thing has a virus and I can't do crap like egram...and some other little things....

I have been fishing, drinking, golfing, fishing, geocaching, drinking, sitting on the beach, drinking, oh and a trip to ER on sat (caroline was sick) (she's better now), drinking, etc... you all get the idea....

Did I mention that I hate Kitch?

Welcome to Baghdad, and Abu Ghurayb Prison

We finally have all of our unit assembled, and have begun working at Abu
Ghurayb Prison. I waited an extra week in Kuwait to arrange further
transportation of our hazardous cargo, and then flew in 2 weeks ago. After
spending a night with some friends in Baghdad (my normal unit is preparing
to head home after being here a year), they got us to the prison the next
day. I went down to check out the facility, and actually ended up working
the remainder of the shift. Kuwait was a vacation, and I received much
laughter when I asked where the cappuccino bar was here.

Currently, we're working 12 hour shifts which make the days go by slowly.
It isn't expected to change much as everyone is strapped pretty tightly for
personnel. For obvious reasons, I'm unable to provide many details on our
activities. Normally, we provide constant surveillance of our detainees,
and manage the day-to-day operation of each of the compounds (each housing a
number of prisoners). Most of the work is done by the detainee population,
however, we must maintain accountability of each detainee at all times,
maintain supplies, schedule appointments, and search all packages and
personnel coming and going. They are provided meals, showers, daily
sick-call, and limited recreation. Currently, we have a large media
presence in the vicinity of Abu Ghurayb, and what they report will become
common knowledge.

Our accommodations are Spartan, but we do have electricity. We are living
inside the prison cells, while we have constructed other accommodations for
the detainees. They are planning to start a Post Exchange, and other
facilities in the future. For those health and comfort items, we have to
convoy to Baghdad. The challenge isn't getting there, its getting the time
off to go. The things in short supply are baby wipes, powdered drink mix,
hand sanitizer (alcohol based), laundry soap (Ron, remember washing clothes
in a waterproof bag? Same traffic here), batteries and durable food items
(like Ramen noodles, beef sticks, gum, candy, etc.). The unit to which I am
normally assigned, the 79th MPCO, is getting ready to head home after a
little over a year here. They are bringing us their furniture, appliances,
and leftover stuff to make life a little easier.

Since I cannot discuss our operation of the facility, I can tell you what we
have replaced.

"The Abu Ghurayb (pronounced ah-boo GRAYB), [Abu Ghraib] prison is located
approximately 20 miles west of Baghdad is where Saddam Kamal (who was head
of the Special Security Organization) oversaw the torture and execution of
thousands of political prisoners. The prison was under the control of the
Directorate of General Security (DGS) also known as the Amn al-Amm. As many
as 4000 prisoners were executed at Abu Ghraib Prison in 1984. At least 122
male prisoners were executed at Abu Ghraib prison in February/ March 2000. A
further 23 political prisoners were executed there in October 2001. The
facility occupies 280 acres with over 4 kilometers of security perimeter and
24 guard towers. The prison is composed of five distinct compound each
surrounded by guard towers and high walls. Built by British contractors in
the 1960s, Abu Ghraib is a virtual city within a city. The political section
of Abu Ghraib was divided into "open" and "closed" wings. The closed wing
housed only Shi'ites. The open wing held all other varieties of real or
suspected activists. The "closed" wing was so named because its inmates --
at least until 1989 -- were permitted no visitors or outside contact. Cells
measured approximately four meters by four meters and held an average of 40
persons. Saddam Hussein declared an unprecedented amnesty to thank the
Iraqi people for their "unanimity" in the referendum of October 2002, which
extended his powers for another 7 years. The "full and complete amnesty"
applied to any Iraqi imprisoned or arrested for political or other reason
but reportedly murderers on a death row would be released only with consent
of the victims' families. Abu Ghuraib prison was reported to be deserted
following the amnesty. However, many prisoners remained unaccounted for and
according to one report Iraqi TV acknowledged that there was no freedom for
those convicted of "the crimes of spying for the Zionist entity [Israel] and
United States" although it fails to give numbers. According to another news
report authorities claimed that 13,000 inmates were released from Abu
Ghuraib prison, however numbers were unconfirmed. There have been several
press reports of mass graves within the perimeter or near the prison, but
this is not apparent from imagery alone. Further analysis using ground truth
imagery and human sources may help confirm the existence and location of any
mass graves." (courtesy www.globalsecurity.org - they also have some imagery
of the facility on their website).

As promised, here's my address:

<supplied on request>

Happy Birthday Ninja

Thanks errbody...

Happy Birthday VJ!

Damn! I leave for a day or 2, and all of you start posting.
Oldtimer- I am either impressed by you knowledge of wrestling, or I am concerned by it. I don't know which.
Happy damn birthday, VJ! Sheeit!
Ian- as usual, you have so little to say....*LOL*
LL- I hope you had a rip- roaring day.
 .....Clue Master- What can I say? The female is creepy- but creepy guy thinks she's hot as hell! I am so very glad she did not surface during the hunt. Nobody would've posted atall
OTS!!!! Where ya been dude! Homeowning is fun! There is never a question of what to do with extra time, or money- heheh.
Hi Terry V!!!!

WHERE'S GREEN?