Random Ramblings

Things that have popped into my head and out of my mouth during the day....just to give you an idea of what being around me is all about, lol

On a Nikon commercial (to Matt): btw, I will never buy a Nikon for the sole reason that Ashton is a douche. He is the epitome of adverse advertising.

On CHUCK promos: Damn January is too far away.....NBC why do you tease me so???

On Sunday Night Football commentating, and NFL Commentating in general: damn, who do we talk to to become commentators? Seriously, we grab Matt, Steve, and I for the booth; Selina and Courtney for field reporters, we'd be allllllllll good. Besides, how many times have we called plays and whatnot before it happened, and predicted the game winners?

To a friend on telling people off: You'd be amazed how many people just don't get "Fuck You" as a subtle hint.....

On Dixon's (PIT backup QB) first NFL start: I'm betting they told Dixon he was starting tonight and he went...."Wait...um...Ed Reed, Ray Lewis....Can I be a cheerleader instead??"

On the Local NFL team while out and about (Mind you, I was WEARING my Broncos Jersey...I KNOW, shocker): Naw, the Bucs could lose a fixed game. I mean, hell, they lost their Bye week!

About Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 while talking to one of the cashiers at GameStop: great graphics, so-so storyline, easy peasy if you've ever played GRAW or Rainbow 6.....Should have known anything THAT popular would have to be so-so, what with average IQ and attention spans these days, lol

When asked about my football watching habits for the weekend (DEN played and won already on Thursday): I'm rooting for whomever is farther from DEN in the playoff hunt, lmao

On cooking lunch: Ooops...um...that can't be good. Hey Rocky, hungry?

Bring on 2010......

I say this as a half jest, as, though i know we still have five weeks left of 2009, I'd like to skip them.

As most of you know, I have never been exactly fond of hospitals or doctors, and, luckily, have always been pretty healthy and thereby able to avoid them. However, I also have genetics, and got the blessing of discovering the joys of amelogenesis imperfecta right around my 28th birthday or so. It rapidly accelerated to the point where surgery has become necessary, and, from talking to the doctors I have seen, there was not a thing I could have done either way once it started, since there is no known reversal treatment.

So, now that I'm unemployed, I have the time to get this fixed, and I'm going to. Most of you already know about the condition itself, since you know ME, but instead of sending out a bunch of emails, this is easiest for me.

I went to do my first consultation on the 9th with Dr Stein, who confirmed there was no kind of reversal action that could be taken, and he gave me the information of a good surgeon, Dr. Moffett, to get a consultation and cost estimate done.

So i saw Dr. Moffett this morning, and the consultation, including xrays, took about two hours, or, just enough time for the monsoon to start so that it took 45min to drive the 9 miles home, and of course I had to go through construction to get there, lol.

Dr. Moffett described the procedure to me in entirely too much detail, which I will spare you most of, except to state that, basically, what i am getting done is some surgical removal, an aveoloplasty and frenulectomy, as well as a, if you will, sanding down of bone spars to ease discomfort and allow the prosthetics I will be getting to fit better.

It looks like the operation itself is going to last about three hours, and I'm probably going to draft Dad into driving me, since after the surgery I have been informed I will be hella-loopy for the rest of the day, possibly two. (Yes, Hella-Loopy is the technical term. It means swimming in pain medication).

I'm working on the financing portion now, because my medical insurance went with the job, because the castings are $1600, and the operation including anesthesia around $7100. Anyone know a good bookie? lol. But I figure I will be having the procedure done around the early to middle part of December.

Anyways, I'm sure I'll be dropping updates as I learn them.

For now, I'm off to go kill shit in my bday present from Mouse, the XBox360 Modern Warfare....damn addictive as hell.....

And, once again, thanks for all the birthday wishes and for all of those who have stood by me.
To all the others, well.......

Music for the Moment

Fave song off the new Bon Jovi album, "The Circle". Give it a listen......whole album is only $4 at Amazon.com......

Superman Tonight

There's something about you
I wanna rescue
I don't even know you so what does that mean?

Maybe I'm cynical
Painfully logical
You're tragically beautiful
And that's good enough for me

You're looking for a hero
But it's just my old tattoo
Tonight I'll swear I'll tell my soul
To be a hero for you

Who's gonna save you when the stars fall from your sky?
Who's gonna pull you in when the tide gets too high?
Who's gonna hold you when you turn out the lights?
I won't lie, I wish that I....could be your Superman tonight.

If somebody sent you
An Angel to save you
What would you tell him to turn him away?

That your heart don't break?
That you're lips don't kiss?
That life is just a lie?
That heaven don't exist?

Who's gonna save you when the stars fall from your sky?
Who's gonna pull you in when the tide gets too high?
Who's gonna hold you when you turn out the lights?
I won't lie, I wish that I....could be your Superman tonight.

Who's gonna fix you,

The next time you break down?
Stranded alone by the side of the road
It's your baggage that's dragging you down.
Don't look back, let it go
Oh, ohohoh...

Who's gonna save you when the stars fall from your sky?
Who's gonna pull you in when the tide gets too high?
Who's gonna hold you when you turn out the lights?
I won't lie
I wish that I was that Superman...

Who's gonna save you when the stars fall from your sky?
Who's gonna pull you in when the tide gets too high?
Who's gonna hold you when you turn out the lights?
I won't lie
I wish that I could be your Superman tonight.

(oh, oh, , oh, ohhhh)
Superman tonight.
(oh, oh, , oh, ohhhh)
You're Superman...
(oh, oh, , oh, ohhhh)
Tonight.
(Ohhh, ohhh...)

Interesting find

Was working on transcribing one of my gazillion (ok maybe a small exaggeration) notebooks into typed text for a couple novels when i came across this little poem/limerick on the margins of one.

I have NO idea whom the original piece was aimed at, since the ink is a different color than that in the rest of that portion of the notebook, which I was writing stories in back in 2006, apparently.

So your guess is as good as mine....but, here it is:

Heartburn

Excuse me miss...Is this seat taken?
Can I buy you a shrink?
Forgive me for wanting to see my friend...How stupid of me to care.
I did something wrong...I know that now.
I thought i could trust...I opened my heart.
Won't do THAT again.
Get out the mellows..watch it burn.
What a beautiful sight.
The smell of broken promises lights up the night.
You tell me you're sorry..Ask me to forgive..
So u can sleep better.
They're empty words..A salve for your mind.
What should you care...the fault is all mine.
The audacity of asking...To spend time with a friend.
What was I thinking...

Well, THAT was educational.

So...as part of my unemployment criteria, i had to go to the Unemployment Center today. Like I texted a few of you, if you're a people watcher, going to the Unemployment Center is like going to Wal-Mart at 3am.

But I digress.

So I get this letter in the mail on Monday telling me that I have a mandatory Unemployment meeting scheduled for 1pm on October 21st.
Anyone else see a problem with that? Right. Monday was the 26th. I don't own Doc Brown's DeLorean, so I apparently was in trouble now for missing a mandatory meeting. I mean, the unemployment check ain't much, but, hey, it's something and it covers many of the bills after getting my Student Loan deferred.
So I call the number on the letter and explain how I had just gotten the letter in the mail. The woman who answered the phone sounded unsurprised, and re-scheduled me for this morning at 11. Then she asked if that would be ok with me.
I replied that I was unemployed, what else did I have to do?
She laughed at me. Or maybe it was supposed to be with me. Who knows?
Anyway, I show up for the meeting this morning at about 1030, shaved, showered, and in business attire.
Apparently, I didn't get the memo.
Anybody watch the Simpsons? I met Cletus the Slackjawed Yokel today. Or a dozen of him/her. I walked into that office, and I thought I'd died and gone to Lakeland. There was one other guy in a collared shirt there, but I found out about five minutes later he was actually a courier.
Everybody else was dressed in what can what charitably can be called Jessica-Simpson-chic. There were people wearing clothes five sizes too small, they had their kids with them, and quite a few had apparently not heard of bathing, punctuality, or reading signs, since they kept talking on and answering their cell phones that had loud enough ringtones to be heard on an airport tarmac.
Over the jet engine noise.
So i sign in and the harassed-looking girl (she had to be all of 17) at the counter handed me some paperwork to fill out, then did a double take at my clothes. She smiled at me and moved my letter I had received to the front of the pile. Probably helped that she couldn't smell me from across the room either.
So after about an hour of twiddling my thumbs in the lobby, one of the "Employment Specialist Managers" called out about 25 names, mine included, and led us across the office complex (nee strip-mall) to a conference room, which she apologized had only been designed for 15 people. At least the leather chairs were comfortable.
In the 45 minute briefing that followed, I learned that the Unemployment Center doesn't like to be called that, they like to be called the Employment Opportunities Center, and that the best way to find new jobs these days is online. She also outlined a bunch of classes that they teach there, like resume writing, how to act during an interview, and one called Dress for Success.
After stating the name of that last one, she looked around the room at the Wendy Whitetrash and Timmy Trailerpark get ups most everyone was wearing then said "I suggest all of you take that one, except for you" and pointed a finger at me.
Well, damn, I ain't making friends with any of THAT group. You should have SEEN the looks I was getting, all because I understand proper etiquette (Not that I USE it all that often, but I CAN act like a useful member of society on occasion).
Another thing I learned was that the reason I am having so much trouble finding a job is because I am a single, healthy, white male. Not joking. The lady leading the briefing put up numbers for us showing that, due to the rough economic times, a lot of companies are hiring parents, people with families to support, people with disabilities, veterans, and a large number of ethnicities, some of that due to equal opportunity, but much because those are the people that need jobs more. Now, I have no problem with that and understand it very well on an intellectual level. But it's also depressing as hell to think of where that leaves me on the employment ladder.
After the group meeting, we were separated and did a small battery of Q&A with an employment specialist in small groups. Mine was me and a lady who was either very very pregnant or trying out to fly over races and sporting events. I took the better part of valor and didn't ask. Or, surprisingly, make a wise ass comment...until now.
Then we had a typing test and some one-on-one face time with the specialist, who asked what kind of job i was looking for. So I told her.
"I've been unemployed for a month and a half. I'm looking for a paying job."
She laughed and said she remembered talking to me on the phone on Monday and that I was a very funny guy. So I asked if she had any openings at a comedy club. It went on like that for a couple of minutes, but I got her number. Of course, it was on her business card, but, hey, i can PRETEND she doesn't give one to everybody, right?
After that, since it was nearly 4pm, she suggested I just keep doing what I have been doing and showed me the state employment website (which is actually who sent me the letter anyway), and said she looked forward to seeing me again next month.
All in all, I learned basically nothing but spent 5 hours away from the house, so......

A Little Teaser.....a couple things I'm working on:

Superhero Stanley Part the Eighth: Life in the Fast Lane
By
Brian R. Kupfer


My angular Canadian sports car, which is almost as old as I am, stood out amongst the other traffic on the city streets.
Honestly, it stands out anywhere I go.
Hell, if you were bright green you would too.
Doesn’t help that the car was only made for two model years, and once I had her parked, she always drew a crowd, what with her gull wing doors and styling out of RoboCop, but on crack.
That, and the videos on YouTube that got leaked of me and a half-dozen PD cruisers chasing down a gang of Satanic bikers had helped the notoriety of the vehicle a bit.
So I’m not all that big on subtlety.
Hell, anyone who straps on body armor and a costume and runs around town bringing vigilante justice, sometimes with, if not the help, then the willing disinterest, of the Police can’t be all that big on subtle to begin with.
When I don’t want to be recognized, I have a dark blue Ford Focus. Whereas there is exactly one Safety Green Bricklin in the whole city, there are close to a gazillion cars like my Focus.
Totem sat in the passenger’s seat, his head out the window, tongue lolling happily out of his mouth.
The Bricklin’s Ford 351 Windsor V-8 grumbled soothingly while we cruised down the nearly empty night streets.
But, hey, Saturday was Halloween, so things were bound to get a little interesting. Combine your normal “Saturday Night’s All Right for Fighting”-style abandon and recklessness with the anonymity and release of and identity-hiding costume, and the sky was the limit for the mayhem that might be ready to uncork in the city.



The Interview
From the second ETF novel
"Pheonix from the Ashes"
by
Brian R. Kupfer


Deciding to see about finding an appropriate aircraft for her flying style, Stacy takes a look around, then notices something partially obscured in the rear, shadow-filled corner, on the left side of the hangar.
Walking towards this shrouded shape and looking more closely, Anrak can start to make out the nose of a legendary SLUFF poking out from underneath the tarp covering it.
Stacy grins and her eyes sparkle when she recognizes the aircraft.
She completed some of her intermediary flight training in the Ling-Temco-Vought A-7D Corsair II before deciding to fly transports.
Watching Stacy start to smile, Aaron is seized by a momentary apprehension.
What if she doesn’t make it in? He wonders, thinking he wouldn’t be averse to bending the rules a little, or a lot, to get his friend on the roster.
This is precisely the reason he will be moderating the test, not actively taking part in it. Otherwise he might adversely affect the outcome of the tests, and then they may not get the best people for the job.
Besides, she’s got that look on her face, I think it’s the others I should be worried about.
“If this old girl still flies, I’ll use her.” Stacy tells Fieldman, nodding at the A-7 in the rear corner.
Aaron looks in the direction the blonde woman is indicating, seeing the LTV A-7D Corsair II sticking out of the gloom back there in the corner for the first time.
“Ah, Stace, that jet’s going to be part of the air park here.” He informs her, looking at the Vietnam-era workhorse. He notices the stubborn set of the woman’s jaw, and realizes, although it seems like a dozen lifetimes have passed in the six years since they have seen one another, Stacy Anrak still doesn’t know how to take no for an answer.
“But let’s take a look, anyway.” Aaron amends with a shake of his head.
The two aviators walk to the corner and pull the heavy tarp off the forty-six foot long aircraft.
The jet is in pretty bad condition, the paint flaking and faded, the tires half flat, cobwebs strung across the folded wings, and bird refuse littering the vehicle.
However, looking it over, Aaron notices that the airframe appears sound, and both the engine and avionics are still attached. This could be a good thing.
“Well, it might fly. You sure about this, Stacy?” Aaron asks her.
She nods in return.
Aaron sighs.
“Okay, let me talk to the MX wing on base and see what kind of rabbit I can pull out of my hat.” He mutters, just before Patrick “Dono” O’Donnell steps off of a ladder near the door and walks over to them.
A few minutes later Wahren “Wolf” Morast, Matt “Shaba” Hunter and Kristine “Golden Eagle” Vermes arrive in one of the dark blue Dodge crew vans that seem to populate every Air Force Base in the free world.
After Aaron has made introductions all around, the assembled aviators start to hear the growl of a pair of Pratt and Whitney F100 turbofans in the distance, rapidly closing, then roaring past overhead, and Matt Hunter grins at them.
“That’s Mukey and his WSO in that F-15E I was telling you about.” He comments to
Wahren.
Morast gives him a look that says, “No shit.”
Overhead, the distinctive three-tone green and gray Strike Eagle crewed by Neal “Mukey” Hirsch and David “Warlock” Samuelson banks to its right while setting up for final approach, the big barn door of an airbrake opening on the aircraft’s spine, its flaps and gear down.

Finishing up their run, Matt "ElTitoBendito" Bendix and Suzanne Wagner look up at the massive air superiority fighter when it swoops overhead, crossing the runway's threshold.
Matt Bendix watches the Strike Eagle during the time it seems to float to a landing, seeing the twin puffs of contact smoke that indicate the main tires have kissed the pavement.
"That's one of the main reasons I joined this outfit, Suzanne." Matt comments to his current running partner, indicating the landing multi-role fighter, "I never get tired of that sight."
"I figured it was all the women you meet." Wagner responds sarcastically.
Bendix looks the shorter blonde-haired woman up and down, slowly, while they jog back towards the BOQ to shower and meet the others, being sure she sees him do so.
"Yeah, the eye candy's a perk, too." He replies with a glint in his eye.
In response, Suzanne slugs him in the shoulder, knocking him off stride.
Why do I put up with you? Her eyes seem to say.
Matt grins in response.

Inside the hangar, Hunter and Morast are crawling around the Corsair II, muttering to themselves and throwing questions at the Randolph maintenance wing, or MX, representative that has just shown up.
After a few minutes, the two men climb down and dismiss the MX man.
"Well, it might just fly. They haven't done anything to it since it landed here back in '84, and were going to gut it and put that tacky blue paint on the canopy before they stick it in the air park, supposedly some time next year. Only one way to find out if she still works." Matt comments.
Wahren grins, climbing up the handholds in the side of the A-7, and finding the release for the canopy.
The glass canopy rises, slowly, when the under-used hydraulics struggle to life, finally lifting the canopy rail enough for a person to fit into the cockpit, which Wahren does while Matt and Aaron attach an auxiliary power unit to the A-7D.
Wahren looks over the simple cockpit for a moment, then flips on the aircraft's power.
Surprisingly, most of the dials light up immediately.
A few flicker for a couple of seconds before coming on, and three stay dark.
Wahren thumps them with his finger, but the stubborn instruments stay unworking.
"Well, we've got juice at least. Valder, get some fuel to this thing." Wahren barks out commands, pointing at the fuel truck parked outside the hangar, "Dono, see if you can find an air pump. Let's find out if these tires are just flat from age or if they're somehow compromised."
Patrick nods before setting off to search the hangar.
While they are scouring the area, a deep throated, immestakeable sound can be heard out on the taxiway, where the F-15E Strike Eagle that has just landed is pulling to a stop near the hangar.

By the time Suzanne and Matt Bendix arrive at 0830, after showering and changing, the A-7D is filling the hangar with the roar of its Alison TF-41-A1 turbofan, and its main gear are almost fully inflated again.
"Looks like you've got a ride, Stacy." Aaron comments to the blonde woman once the engine spools down and they can hear one another.
"Captain Morast?" A Lieutenant calls out from the hangar door.
Wahren looks up from inside the Corsair II's cockpit, arches an eyebrow, then climbs down and walks over to the young officer.
"Yeah?"
The officer looks confused, and rightly so, while looking Wahren over, sure that there are no officers in his Air Force with ponytails and goatees.
Wahren looks him in the eye and says two words.
"Special Operations."
The Lieutenant blinks, swallows hard, and nods in response. He has heard that some of the more elite units grow long hair and beards to better blend in with civilians, especially when on secret missions. He also knows no SpecOps member is someone to be trifled with lightly, and, looking around at the people in the hangar, this knowledge is reaffirmed.
“Uh, call for you at Base Ops, Sir."
"All right. Gang, be right back." Wahren calls out to the people assembled in the hangar before jumping into the other officer's staff car.



Star Wars
The Phantom Squadron
By
Brian R. Kupfer


Haw’B’rads looked up from the Comm board and blinked.
“No way.” The dark red-haired man muttered.
He read the message again, just to be sure, then rubbed the bridge of his nose with the thumb and first finger of his right hand.
He then took a deep breath and got up from the console to go find his boss, thier squadron leader.
He already knows he is going to regret the man’s answer for the rest of his life.
Although, with the information he just read, that may not be very long.

Lucius Augustus looks up at the knock on the door to his Officer’s entry portal.
He arches an eyebrow at the door, sets down the logistics file he has been looking over, and puts steel into his voice.
He can feel it, a little flutter in the Force that lets him know a very dangerous mission is just ahead for his team.
He also knows that his half-Chiss, half-Alderaanean X-Wing pilot, Haw’B’rads, is on the other side of his door.
However, he will be sure to hide this knowledge from the pilot about to enter his office, as he has always hidden his force abilities for the last twenty years, since he was lucky enough to escape the purge that was Order 66.
If people knew he had been trained as a Jedi Knight, he would certainly be hunted. It was a certainty in Palpatine’s Empire.
“Come.” Lucius mutters towards the door, and it swishes open, admitting the young pilot.
Haw’B’rads came through the portal before it had fully retracted into the ceiling, a grim look on his blue-tinged face.
“Hey there, Captain Bad Ass Mo…” The pilot starts, halting at the glare from his Commanding Officer.
“Don’t finish that thought, pilot.” Lucius commented, steel in his voice.
“Yessir.” Haw replied with a facetious salute. “Looks like Republic Command’s opinion of us has gone way up. So much so, that if I didn’t know we were on the same side, I’d have the sneaking suspicion they were trying to kill us.” Haw stated wryly, dropping a printout of the information he had received from the Comm station on Lucius’ desk.
Lucius quickly scans the paper before covering his face with his hands.
“Greenley and Otauna are dead.” He muttered through his fingers. “As soon as I get ahold of them, they’re dead.”

* * * * * * *

“We have a clone of the Sith assassin.” Commander Dur’an nodded in confirmation, “But, you know how sometimes cloning isn’t, well, exact?”
He looks over at the Phantom Squadron members with a raised eyebrow after this comment.
“Yeah, and?” Lucius queried warily.
‘Well, he’s….sorta….well, see for yourselves.” The Commander stated while pulling aside a heavy velvet curtain that covers a transparisteel viewport.
All of the Phantom Squadron’s jaws almost hit the floor in unison when they drop in amazement.
There, in the next room, stood the clone of Darth Maul, with the same terrifying black-and-red tattooed face crowned by the stub horns. The clone’s eyes were even that malign-looking shade of orange-yellow.
There, however, the resemblance ended.
The clone was wearing heavy robes, much like the original Maul had, but these robes were sky blue with, of all things, flowers on them.
The clone was happily humming to himself, while wielding his double-bladed yellow lightsaber, viciously chopping up vegetables and dropping them into a stew, using Maul’s superhuman speed to do so.
It was, needless to say, a disturbing sight.
The Commander dropped the drapery over the viewport just as the clone waved cheerily at them.
“What’s….what’s….” Haw’B’rads stuttered.
Lucius thumped him in the back of the head with his open palm.
Haw nodded at him.
“Thanks, boss. What’s wrong with him?” The X-Wing pilot asks Commander Dur’an while inclining his head towards the covered viewport.
“We call him Darth Paul. He’s a little….touched. He has all of Maul’s skills, but none of his anger or drive. But, man he makes a great soufflé.”

Keep the Peepers Peeled Peeps....and now...to bed, then the Motor Trend International Auto Show in the morning.....

Thursday Joke......with a purpose

The Pastor's Ass

A Pastor entered his donkey in a race and it won.
The Pastor was so pleased with the donkey that he entered it in the race
again, and it won
again.

The local paper read:

PASTOR'S ASS OUT FRONT.
The Bishop was so upset with this kind of publicity that he ordered the Pastor


not to enter the donkey in another race..

The next day, the local paper headline read:



BISHOP SCRATCHES PASTOR'S ASS.
This was too much for the Bishop, so he ordered the Pastor to get rid
of the
donkey..

The Pastor decided to give it to a Nun in a nearby Convent..
The local paper, hearing of the news, posted the following headline the next day:

NUN HAS BEST ASS IN TOWN.
The Bishop fainted!
He informed the Nun that she would have to get rid of the donkey, so she
sold it to a farmer for $10.
The next day the papers read:

NUN SELLS ASS FOR $10.
This was too much for the Bishop, so he ordered the nun to buy back the
donkey and lead it to the plains where it could run wild.
The next day the headlines read:

NUN ANNOUNCES HER ASS IS WILD AND FREE.
The Bishop was buried the
next day.

The moral of the story is ....


Being concerned about public opinion can
bring you much grief and misery. It can even shorten your life..
..So be yourself and enjoy life to the fullest.
Stop worrying about
everyone else's ass and
you'll be a lot happier and live longer!

(Those of you who know me pretty much know I care jack and squat about other people's opinion of me, so I had to forward this on. Thanks to Missy for letting me steal it!)

A Man Can Dream, Right??

So, I've been working on more Novel stuff the past couple days, in addition to some photo editing.

Once again, while I am writing I always see my writing in my head as a movie, since I am a very visual person.

If only I could get Hollywood to pick up the ETF saga.......I even know who would be in the soundtrack, lol. But, here's who I would cast if I were in control of casting for an ETF movie....enjoy and I would love your feedback!!! Also, directly below the cast is a list of who drives what in the books and stories.......

Day Four: Rollin' Columbo

28 September 09

The rain had stopped by the time we got coffee'd up, but the wind was brisk enough at 60 degrees to forgo going topless today. With no real plan set, we just went out to bomb around Columbus.

The first thing we found was the AMA Museum, who had a Hollywood cycles exhibit going on. Surprisingly, I snapped a few pictures, but only put a couple of my fave customs on here. Wait a week and check my Picasa.

Once out in the parking lot, I decided I wanted to play with the camera settings a bit so Perry ran the 'Stang around the deserted lot while I shot close and at distance.

From there we headed over to Greenlawn Cemetery and check out the large sprawling grounds and pay our respects to the Ace of Aces, Edward V. Rickenbacker, who is buried there, with much of his family.

From there we went downtown, through German town, the Brewery district, and past Nellie's Ohio State University.
We then traded cars (because three adults cannot fit in a 2010 Mustang) and headed over to Columbus International Airport (That's for Michelle AND Perry ;) ) to pick up Michelle before heading out for dinner.
And the end of the night thus far??
MNF, baby.
Probably won't post tomorrow, as it's my travel day.

Ohio Trippin', Day 3

27 September 2009

Lazy, down day today.

Started off rainy.

After a while it cleared off and we went and got some coffee and I showed the Mayhem how the rental handled some fantastic twisting roads and rippling hills, which the Mustang just ate all up. Even passed a Ferrari 355 free and clear, with Perry acting as the photog. Once the sun came out we dropped the top to envoy the view better.

Rest of the afternoon was mainly Perry and I just chillaxin' and shootin' the shit. Hit over at Quaker Steak and Lube and watched football after bombing around the countryside outside Columbus a bit.

The 355. Vroom. Buh-Bye. Guy could NOT drive...I never even goosed the 'Stang or got over the speed limit.

Clapton's little house, lol.

Perry and Ellie goofing off. She's SO well behaved it's not even funny. Rocky needs to take notes. Of course, the dog loves me. She's got taste, lol.

Ohio Trippin', Day 2

26 September 2009
Dayton, Ohio
0600 hrs

Day two dawned foggy and wet. This was disappointing to Bri, Jye, Bob, and Rob, since it meant that a lot of the flying probably wouldn’t be taking place today. After hitting the nearby McDonalds for breakfast, we made a fun-looking convoy of three bikes, (Jye’s Aprilla Futura, Adam’s Honda Nighthawk 550 and Rob’s Kawasaki) and a Mustang and beelined it for the NMUSAF.

I pulled into the main lot ad the boys hit the motorcycle parking. The first open spot I found to park was right next to a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro RS. So I backed the ‘Stang in beside it and people showed up from around the lot to start taking pictures of the two modern muscle cars sitting side by side.
The boys met up with me and we locked the helmets and bags into the Mustang before heading into the museum.

Since I had been there the day before, I was elected the unofficial tour guide.
Walking in to the Early Years gallery, I was walking backwards like I had told them I was going to to see their impressions. None of the three had been here before, and they all came to a halt as one, nearly openmouthed.
It’s that kind of place, it just stops you in your tracks.
Once we had started into the Early Years Gallery, I told them I’d meet them in about an hour or so, then hustled my booty over to the Modern Flight Gallery to finish off the aircraft I hadn’t shot on Friday. Once done there I hit the Cold War Gallery and the Missile Gallery, before wandering outside to shoot the Air Park aircraft.

From there, the Boys and I jumped on the shuttle bus and headed down to the Dawn Patrol Rendezvous air show, which all four of us completely enjoyed….it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to see these World War I ‘birds in their element. The sun decided it was finally time to come out during the airshow.

After the airshow, the boys and I parted, they heading over to Cincinnati for the night and me heading off to see Perry in Columbus, after stopping off at the Huffman Prairie airfield. Huffman Prairie, although technically a part of the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, is so remote that there were actually deer wandering across the access road. Didn't hit any, thankfully.
Now, one thing you might not know if the first airfields were not straight, but circular. It was amazing and historic, and a real sense of awe hung over the site.


Since the sun was out, I dropped the ‘Stang’s top (Christine, take notes ;) ) and hit I-70 over to Columbus. Luckily, THIS rental had cruise control, unlike the PT Cruiser from the San Antonio trip earlier in the year, so no speeding issues.

Arrived in Columbus safe and sound and reunited with Perry for drinks, steak, and movies.
And for the record, Day Two totaled 1183 photos, upping my 1-day record from Friday.
Thus endeth day 2.

Ohio Trippin', Day 1

25 September 2009
Tampa, Florida
0400hrs local

There is something amazingly clean and peaceful about Tampa in the pre-dawn hours, something you cannot see in this city at any other time.
There is a silence, a serenity, that exists at no other time here.
That is, until the burgundy 1998 Chevrolet S10 flareside rolls down Kennedy avenue, Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” pumping out of the speakers.
Knowing his friend is already in Columbus, as he had checked the tracker on Jye’s bike before leaving the house.
By the way, the S10 was mine, of course, and I was haulin’ down Kennedy at about 55.
I made it to the airport parking people I use, and they had an issue with the shuttle bus, so had to go get another one. Once that showed up, I was off to Tampa International.
I arrived at the airport with just enough time to check in and jog my happy ass upstairs and board the plane.
Yeah, My plane was scheduled for departure at 6am, we actually rolled at 5:50.
However, I ended up being the middle seat of three. But the brunettes on either side were hot, and quiet, so it was a great flight into Atlanta.
Figures, we land in Atlanta at 7:20, my next flight is supposed to leave at 8:15. We land at gate D3 or some shit and I had to chuck all the way to C2 to catch the Dayton flight. Tall ass bald white man chuckin' like at a track meet through Atlanta airport.
You KNOW I got some looks!
Got to my gate just as they called my flight.
Wander back to my seat, gorgeous redhead sitting in my row.
Of course, I’m in the middle again. About this time I’m starting to think this might be a pretty good trip.
I should know to keep my mental mouth shut.
Big ol’ mamajamma with a cute little baby was the window seat, and he shows up at the absolute last minute, of course.
However, the FA took one look at the situation, and, since there were only 85 people on the 737, she offered him his own row.
Valerie, I know you’re married, but I love ya for that! AirTran has AWESOME FAs!
So the flight taxies out, and the redhead dozes off.
I’m reading Rickenbacker’s autobiography when I notice something out of the corner of my left eye. I’ve scooted over to the window to give the redhead and I some room. She wasn’t short either.
I look out the window and can see another aircraft. SouthWest. Probably a good 1500 feet or more below us. Knowing FAA guidelines, he was probably more like 2000 below.
Grabbed the camera to take a shot of him, but he was going faster than we were, and was under the wing by the time I got the lens cap off. So I shot the wing, see?
Flight was uneventful, and e landed in Dayton early.
Bonus.
I wander over to enterprise, and I tell ya, that little woman behind the desk was as chipper and cute as a damn kitten. But she had bad news for me. They didn’t have anything left in the class range I had reserved. Someone had wrecked another car in that class, so they had given mine to them.
Would I mind taking a different car? They only really had this one left, they’d just got it in.:

So I took it.
Oh yeah.
For you non car people, this is a 2010 Ford Mustang convertible that had 200 mi on it when I took possession.
I think I’m in love.
So, I pulled out of the rental lot and found a quiet place to park and fiddle with all the bells and whistles.
Then I hit out for the Air Force Museum…..sorry, they changed the name a few years back. It’s the National Museum of the United States Air Force now.
Whatev, it’s still a lot of fun.
Today I managed to go on the exclusive Restoration and Research and Development tours. The Research and Development tour held many one of a kind aircraft, and was definately a highlight that I am glad to have hit. The Restoration tour was also amazing, but extremely close held, as was evidenced by the fact that once we were in the hangar, they padlocked the doors.

I also made it through the Early Years and Air Power Galleries, and halfway through the Modern Flight Gallery before my stomach reminded me that all I’d had for sustenance since dinner at 1830 last night was a couple of bottles of Mt Dew and a Venti White Mocha from Starbucks.
Oops.

So now I’m cross-loading the 1137 photos I took today and waiting for the Meier boys to get here, after having killed off a family size Lasagna at the Pizza Hut near the hotel, the Days Inn nearest the Museum.
So, enjoy the photos. Ben, Jim, Geoff, some of your requests are in here.

Tomorrow, I‘m finishing off the Modern Flight Gallery, hitting the Cold War Gallery, shooting the Dawn Patrol Rendezvous. And trying to do a Wright tour in the a.m., hitting the bike shop and Huffman Prairie, if I haul my butt out of bed early enough, plus whatever Jye and AdamBob want to do.

Weekend Update with Brian Kupfer...lol

Yeah, as most of you know, I became unemployed as of wed the 16th. Took them a little longer than they said it would. But, right now, I'm enjoying the time off. Already got my unemployment ppw filled out and the deferment info for my student loan. Have also already done a preliminary interview ;). However, enjoying being able to catch up on my sleep, reading, TV and writing.

Can't WAIT till NMUSAF next week, hanging out with Wolf and Mayhem, and then hitting VT the week after. Besides the Museum I hope to take a Wright tour and hit the Bicycle shop and Huffman Prairie ;)

Still debating whether I want to rent a car while in VT and drive over to Old Rheinbeck....the logical part of me is saying to wait until next year to do that, but its been an Early Years of Aviation-themed year thus far, so.....we'll see.

Anywho, thought you guys would like an update on the situ. Have not decided if I am going to shelve the Vegas plans or not......I'll have to see how things look closer in first. I mean, right NOW I can still afford it, but....we'll see how the finding a job goes. Ko, Jenna, Lacey, I'll let you know if I change that!

Two Weeks

Yes people, it's almost time. In two weeks it's time to chillax with Wolf, Mayhem, and the NMUSAF, then come back for four days, and then up to New England to spend time with Familie Kupfer from 3-10 October. Cannot WAIT for my vacation, even if it means I miss getting to see my niece whom i haven't seen since 2006, as she will be down the 24th-29th...grrr...however, nothing else will kill my mood between now and then...right Lacey? Only ups right now!!

One door closes.....

So, apparently, I will be jobless as of next Friday at the latest. So I have been informed. Interesting. Luckily I have savings up and it will not affect my OH and VT trips....though by week 2 of October I may be hurting for funds......In my line of work, WHY would you tell someone they are going to be released a week in advance? Seems like too many opportunities for disaster. If only I were that person........and the applications multiply.......any hints on open jobs will be greatly appreciated. End of breaking news, you may now resume your regular programming.

Intro-duce, Intro-spect

Hi. I'm Brian R Kupfer. Most of you know me as Bri, a lot of you as Valder, a few as Crash, and two of you as Waldo. I'm an avid sports lover, whether it be NFL, NBA, IRL, F1, FIFA or MLB. I'm a writer, a photographer, and a techie.

What I'm not is myself. At least, not the me I remember, and that most of you remember. I haven't been for a few years now, and it's time to change that. Yes, I fully realize people change as they get older, but sometimes that change isn't for the best.

Take me, I've always had an active mind and a hot temper. Lately, I can't turn either of them off, so I'm always pondering and pissy. Not the best combination.

Wasn't always this way. Hell, most of you don't remember this way at all.

Let me put it an a way my fellow Buffyphiles will understand. My temperament has gone from Xander to Angel.

Exactly.

Hell, I hadn't even realized the change until i was talking to an old friend that we shall call "Jim" yesterday, and when I got off the phone, I realized that, even though I was talking to a person I care about, and was in a place I always love going to, drinking a good beer and eating an awesome burger, all I did on the phone the whole time was bitch and moan.

That is so NOT me.

I see Christine, and Breann laughing. Keep laughing, you have never met the real me. He started being supplanted years ago. Probably four or five, if I had to guess. Geoff remembers him....I was kind of an ass at times, but I was a CHEERFUL ass.

So, the point of all this, I'm betting you are asking yourself.

I need to rediscover me. And I'm going to start working on it. I'm heading back to the basics, trying to remember what worked, and what didn't. I have a bad feeling it will take time, and may actually be a race to save myself from the slope I'm sliding down.

Anyone care to bet against me?

Looking Forward

Well, we're about into the last quarter of 2009, and I'm excited for these last months. Have a few things coming up I'm jazzed for, because, as the new Bon Jovi single puts it, "We weren't born to follow"

September 25-29.
During this time, I will be spending at least two days at the National Museum of the United States Air Force and around Dayton with one of my best friends, Jye Meier. I'm sure hijinks will ensue, since we will have a bunch of cameras, a WWI airshow, a motorcycle or two, and a rental car. Oh, yeah. Bradshaw hasn't decided if he will show up there yet. The remainder of the time will be spent in and around Columbus with another of my best friends, Perry Snook. Again, expect the Mayhem.



October 3-10
Yearly trip up north to New England. Kupfer family craziness is assured. Not sure if my brother is coming this year, but I will have grandparents, plenty of aunts and uncles, and a cousin or two around.



October 18
Lake Mirror Classic Auto Show in Lakeland.....yeah, you probably remember the photos from last year.



November 8
Mopars with Big Daddy car show, Ocala
'Cudas, Chargers, Challengers, Superbirds, Daytonas.......I have a feeling I'm going to be dragging Messer....

November 10
Bon Jovi releases "The Circle", their 11th studio album. Check the first single, "We Weren't Born to Follow" right here

November 16-19
Vegas, baby. Can't wait to hit the Strip and get to see Kody, Jenna, Jim, and possibly Lacey and Brianna if they're around!

November 23
If ya know ya know

I've also still been thinking a lot about the direction my life has taken, and how to nudge it "back on path." The whole employment thing threw me for a loop for a while there, and once I get that all stabilized I am going to start working on the steps to get my life where I want it. I already know what the first two steps need to be, the first being the surgery to correct my Amelogenesis imperfecta, and the second to shift back to student mode and work on my MFA. I've been looking at schools a bit lately, so hopefully in 2010 will again be a student, because the BA apparently has gotten me so far. I'm also working on shopping the "Superhero Stanley" series as a novella, and Hahn and I are working on a different style story as well. Also, I have Jim and Geoff looking over a new ETF story for me as the work on the Saga novels continues.

Anyway, that's my mini-update for now.......