Much Anticipated Release of the Big Boi pants Voicemail

Busch's My Way - A New Way to Grocery Shop

Busch's website can probably explain their My Way program better than me, but I can provide some good color commentary.

They keep track of all your items purchased so when you login they tell you which of those items are on sale. You just click on the "+1" to add to your cart. Then here is another huge added value for me - they do the legwork and have the bags ready at the store in 3 hours. You just pull up and they bring the bags out to the car. No wandering around the store, no waiting in line to check out.

The strange thing is that this program has been around for 3 years and I've only used the system once that I can remember. But I just used it today and found it very easy and enjoyable to use. Perhaps they've upgraded the system since the last time, or maybe I just wasn't ready for this super advanced technology.

A time saver?

I think it is. I could see really getting used to the navigation and getting the online 'shopping' done in 5 minutes.

Words with friends

For the past two months, I've been playing words. First of all, I hope the makers of scrabble are taking a nice fat royalty. If not, that is a shame. Second of all, I am horrible. I have yet to win a game or come even close. How can I be so smart but so bad? (lol) I think I need to go to a weekend seminar or something to improve my skills.

Another Eviction Update

I spoke with the Deputy, who said I could schedule the eviction for tomorrow (Friday) after posting the notice on yesterday (wed). I told him to hold off until I can speak with my tenant because I would rather have them move out on their own so the deputy doesn't have to be paid to watch me throw their shit on the street. As much fun as this could be, it would cost me time, money, and sweat.

So I called the tenant and he said they would be out for sure on Sunday night. I warned him clearly that if he was not out by 6am monday morning that I would be returning later that day with the deputy. He seemed to understand, even though you can never be sure with these deadbeats. I expect they will be out Sunday night.

I drove over there today on my lunch break and planted the FOR RENT sign, and I will be posting on craigslist soon. The next step is for me to evaluate the dammage. I will likely need to paint and repair some random shit. So best case is to have someone in there by the end of the month. That costs me repairs plus missed rent of another $700. All in all, this tenant will cost me over $4,000 in missed rent, repairs, and legal fees. That amount is well beyond any annual profit from this property.

When I reflect on this particular property, I am discouraged. I bought the house in 2006 and had a good lifer in there for several years before he died. Since then, I have bad very bad luck with three evictions in a row. This has cost over $13,000.

My only hope is to pay off these damn properties so the missed income I will incur in the future does not hurt so much. Or if I can find quality people (how many times have I said this?) then none of these issues would come up.

Olympic Observations

After watching some Olympics this year, I have the following observations:

1. Misty Mae-Treanor's headshot makes her look ugly.
2. The US basketball team will easily win gold, and today they scored 156 points against Nigeria. That is amazing. However, they still couldn't beat the '92 dream team. BTW, how the hell did we take bronze in '04?

From Wiki:

The close outcome of 2000 and the humiliating results of 2002 prompted a number of NBA superstars to agree to join the team for the FIBA Americas Championship 2003, which the squad was required to participate in to qualify for the 2004 Summer Olympics. The team easily cruised to a first-place finish, earning it a spot in Athens, Greece the following summer.

However, the dominant team that competed in 2003 could not be kept together. Nine of its 12 players elected not to participate in Athens. The revamped 2004 team consisted of some young NBA stars early in their careers, such as Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, but also included recent Most Valuable Players Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson. The team was coached by Larry Brown.

After struggles in several exhibition matches, the vulnerability of the 2004 team was confirmed when Puerto Rico defeated them 92–73 in the first game of the Olympic tournament in Athens. The 19 point defeat was the most lopsided loss for the USA in the history of international competition.

After winning close games against Greece and Australia, The USA fell to Lithuania, dropping to 2–2 in the Olympic tournament. Even after an 89–53 win over Angola, the Americans entered the knockout rounds in fourth place due to goal average, the lowest seed of their group. The Americans faced undefeated Spain in their quarterfinal game, winning 102–94.

However, the semifinal match saw the team defeated by Argentina 89–81, ending the United States' hold on the gold medal. The USA did rebound to capture the bronze medal by defeating Lithuania.^[27] Still, it marked only the third time that an American team failed to win gold (excluding 1980 Moscow Olympics boycott), and the first time for an American team composed of professionals. Before 2004, American teams had only lost two games in all previous Olympic tournaments, whereas in this one the American team lost three.

3. The gymnasts still have not developed breasts.

4. After having kids, the beach volleyball due of Misty and whoever have sagging boobs. They should have had some work done. I guess its not too late? But I would have had the work done before millions would be seeing me on tv. They will never have this type of audience again.

5. Bob Costas looks the same as he did in 1991.

6. Ryan Seacrest should not be broadcasting sports.

7. Michael Phelps did not train as hard as he did for the '08 games.

8. I enjoy watching the Olympics more in my house than I did in my ghetto condo in '08 down the street from White Castle.

9. I'm spent. 

Eviction update

I documented the ridiculous vmail she left me telling me to put my big boy pants on and to act like a man. And how that motivated me to drop everything and drive straight to the courthouse for the writ of restitution. And then another car accident.

Today I received a call from the sheriff telling me he posted the eviction notice on the door! This means they are OUT!

My big fear was the judge who hates me would find a way to delay further. But he surprised me and actually did his job! And to my amazement the sheriff was out the next day.

What's up now, bitch? I put my big boy pants on, didn't I?

Moral of the story: don't fuck with me.

BMW Electronics

A few weeks back I went to a Tigers game and drove the new BMW Z4. We packed a cooler for a little tailgating action. A small cooler, just enough to hold a 12 pack. We parked, killed the beer, and went into the game.

I dropped off my buddy, and on the way back home, the radio went out. Then all the electronics went out: blinkers, power top, airbag warning, basically everything besides the engine. I got home, worried, and opened the trunk to unpack the cooler. It tipped over, and water leaked all over the trunk. No big deal, right? Well, it turns out the battery and all electrical components are in the trunk, without a seal to protect it. Just a weak carpet-like cover with no seal. Did I mention no seal?

It turns out the water was in the battery compartment where the computer hard drive and radio amplifier is housed. All fried. Totally fried. I was driving around the car while the wires were basically on fire, melting from the combination of water and heat (that day was 100 degrees).

I took it to a friends auto shop and he said immediately, "call your ins agent and take it to the BMW dealer." So I did. And its a good thing, because the $9,700 original estimate (State Farm says $8,000 is what they will pay) is covered by my comprehensive policy because it is classified as a "sudden" accident. The other thing is that the entire harness needs to be built to suit which takes 6 weeks. In car world, that means 10 weeks. Goodbye summer with the top down.

note: the dealer will do the work for whatever State Farm says, so my total out of pocket will be the deductible of $500.

side note: yes, I do feel bad about myself.