Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Random Thoughts #22

After a 13 1/2 hour day which did include a couple of good leads and a 520 mile stint behind the wheel, I'm safe and sound here at COTR headquarters.  No work for the rest of the week.  I've poured myself a nice glass of Crown Black and think some blogging is in order.

Sad news from the Center of the Universe.  An early morning fire broke out in Malta and took out a building on Front Street destroying five businesses.  As of this writing, there are no reports of injury which of course is great. The building can be replaced but the lives affected makes my heart heavy.  Saddest of all is that the building housed the local weekly paper, the Phillips County News.  I'm very saddened at the fact that over 100 years of archives were probably lost.  It's Malta.  While I'm sure that many years are on disc or stored electronically somewhere, I have no doubts that many original copies of the PCN are gone forever.  I'll update more when I have more information.

Things that crossed my mind while wondering how the Bobcats will stop Taiwan Jones this weekend.

When GW passed the tax cuts in 2003, liberals complained that they only benefitted the rich.  Now we see that everyone got a tax cut and that if these cuts expire, people making $50,000.00 a year will see their taxes go up $2,900.00 annually.  That's $241.66 that will come out of their paychecks every month. I guess to the liberals, a family making 50k a year is rich. 

I need to get all the gibberish on my digital recorder put into writing.  I have the history of the first seven LBOH's recorded.  Trouble is that I don't have any more room until I have them transcribed.  Biggest problem is that when I'm driving down the road I have great random thoughts and when I sit down at my computer I can't remember any of them.  It sucks getting old.

Williston, ND is an old town.  It's dirty and run down.  The effects of two different oil booms are very apparent.  We opened a new location there in an effort to take advantage of the latest boom so I'm hoping things work out for the boss's sake.  It's a seven hour haul one way and I look forward to finding someone to pound the pavement there so I don't have to make anymore trips.  Unless of course the contacts I've made start buying a lot of equipment.  Then all bets are off and I'll keep the money and drive there every month with a smile on my face and dollars signs in my eyes.

That's not to say if we find someone, I won't give them the tools they need to succeed.  I make money when they make money.  I just don't make as much.  That's all.  Hey, greed is good.  Right?

Michael Vick is starting in the NFL again.  What he did was wrong, but does that mean he shouldn't be given a second chance?  The guy spent his time in the joint.  Hopefully, he's learned his lesson.  In the billion dollar industry of the NFL (and all pro sports) you would be foolish not to start him if he's playing well.  I'm not saying that you have to root for the guy. Just saying that I never doubted he would start for someone again.

I spent the last two days trying to get my foot in the door with the oil producers in Williston.  I think I have a better chance of convincing Diane Lane that I'm what she's been looking for her entire life than convince these arrogant pricks we can do what we say we can.  I just think we might be a little to late to this party.  Hopefully not but it's what my gut is telling me.  And one oil rep I met with yesterday. She pretty much said that as well. She was polite in the way she said it, but the message was very plain.  It made me glad that she wasn't hot and single.  That would have just added insult to injury.

I know I gave Potter's Crown Canadian a rousing  review a while ago but after being on the go since 6 AM Montana time I thought I deserved a treat.  The Crown Black was just what the doctor ordered.

Williston might be a little run down but Crosby and Watford City are both nice clean towns.  The burger I had in Watford was better than the steak I had in Williston so that was enough to convince me.

Getting anxious for the elections.  If Barbara Boxer and Harry Reid both lose and the House falls from the witch's evil clutches, America just might survive our first communists president.

I've put 8,000 miles on my truck since the end of July.  That's a lot.  I love my pickup except for the color.  It will be paid off in December, earlier if I can get a couple of deals done.  I'll hang onto it until it falls apart or I find a job that pays me a lot more money.  Sad thing is that I'll never by another GM product again after this and I love GMC trucks.  Next truck is a Tundra.  It's more American than a GM anyway so why not?  Hopefully not for about 10 years or so though.  Would love to stay out of a vehicle payment for a long time.  I bought this one cheap and it's loaded.  Everything but the 6.0 litre and a sun roof.  Leather, OnStar, XM, heated seats.  Maybe I can repaint it someday.  Its maroon and silver, the same colors of the other university.  Almost didn't buy it just because of that, but the deal was way to good and like I said, it has everything.  I just say it's the same color as the University of Alabama.  After all, the um, changed their colors from rust and baby poop about 10 years ago so these aren't their real colors anyway.

Watched an episode of "Swamp People" last night for the first time and its the BEST show on right now.  Second place isn't even close. It's off the charts on the "unintentional comedy" scale.  They have to subtitle these guys.  It's awesome.  They are supposed to be speaking English for God's sake.  This show does nothing but advance the in-bred cajun stereotype. They showed a guy shooting a gator with a .22 from about 100 yards. Yeefuckingha!!  Be proud Weesziana!!

I should actually take my day off Friday and clean the carpets my house.  Instead I'm going to Billings to see 5Wood and take part in the "Ales for Trails" benefit.  Mostly by paying $20 and tasting some microbeers. I know, I know, I'm a great philanthropist.  It's how I was raised.

I am going to clean my closets Friday and give a bunch of stuff to charity.  I could have a garage sale but don't really have enough to have a good one.  Besides, the church I give my clothes to send them all overseas.  Last year was the first year I ever asked for a receipt.  In these times you have to do what you have to do.  Had never done that before but with Barry in charge I will take advantage of everything I can.

My house is a little cluttered right now though so getting that done is a bit of a priority.  Have to get rid of that stuff in case the rich golfer woman that I haven't met finds her way into my heart (thanks for the link Buzz BTW, but her financial statement wasn't included Nice form though, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!!)

Better catch up on my DVR.  The Crown is starting to taste better and better. Imagine that.

5 comments:

Buzz Kill said...

The Vick saga is all the media talks about in this neck of the woods. Not the Phillys on the verge of winning their 3rd straight division title (the magic number is 4). No, they who should be the captain of the Titanic. The Eagles promised Kolb the starting position and he took a face plant/concussion because the offensive line sucks. Now their going to renege on the deal because the back-up quarterback had a good game against last years worst team in the league (and it was a close game at that). The team needs to keep their word.

Glad you liked thefuture Mrs. Madman. I saw the picture after her tee shot and I have no idea where her ball went. Bwahahaha

Joanna Cake said...

It's the same over here. It's the middle class that get squeezed from both sides. We earn too much to claim any benefits but too little to be important enough to want to pacify.

moi said...

What gets me is that congress thinks anyone making between $150,000 and $250,000 a year is rich. But their math is faulty.

Let's assume $250,000 a year. Then take 40 percent off the top for state and fed taxes as they currently stand. That's 100 thou right off the top.

Then add in, say, a four bedroom home with a mortgage that's probably around $2,000 a month, property taxes, and monthly expenses to clothe, feed, entertain, and educate, what, a couple kids on top of it all?

Plus, college and retirement savings accounts.

Comfortable? Most certainly. Rich? No.

Heff said...

I think America has wised up from constantly hearing this "Hopey, Changey" B.S.

IT'S TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE !!

Milk River Madman said...

Buzz,
Football is king. That's just the way it is. I'm a baseball fan and don't even follow the NFL hard until the WS is over. The Phils will crush my Reds in the first round but for the first time in 15 years, I have a dog in the hunt.

JC,
Isn't it amazing how the party that is supposed to champion the working man does whatever they can to make it hard to enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Moi,
Well put. It's simple math that liberals can't understand. No one stops them from making whatever they can. How about when a politician is defeated in a primary or general election, they have to donate their remaining campaign war chest to the reduce the deficit.

HEFF!!!! How the hell are ya? Thanks for stopping by. Not only do I believe in terms limits, I also think that you shouldn't be able to have a government job for more than 5 years. Interesting to note that Max Baucus, one of Montana's dipshit Senators (yes, we have two that fit that description) gave his entire staff raises last year. 8-14%. That is just such fucking bullshit! The rest of us are taking cuts and federal employees are getting raises? I would love to get a chance to kick him right in nuts.