« October 2006 | Main | December 2006 »
Good Ol' Days
November 30, 2006Hot dang its cold outside.
I woke up about 8 this morning and my goodness its cold. I don't remember it being this cold — dating all the way to last year.
And I really love it when the roads get slick.
I mean, everyone should be entitled to at least one fishtail per year. Its a little rush when you jump the gas and then you rear end starts to misalign from your two front tires.
I still remember one time my dad had the greatest idea in the world.
When I was about 14-years old, my brother was about 15-years old; we had a day similar to today.
We didn't have to go to school, and since my dad was there, I'm guessing it was a Saturday or Sunday.
I wasn't really aware of what was going on, so this is going to be a 10-year story of “he saids.”
So my dad goes up to my brother with the brilliant idea of doing a couple donuts with the car.
At the time the car was a '78 Chevy Malibu. It was a color resembling Baby Blue, so naturally it was nicknamed "Big Blue."
We hadn't had the car all that long, but it was just a car for transportation purposes only. And a little hotdog fun on the side.
Anyways, he goes up to brother with the proposition of doing donuts in some parking lot by the building he worked at on Sheppard.
And low and behold, about 2 hours later they come walking back through the door. But the had to walk all the way to get back home.
The story goes something like this.
Since my brother only had some type of permit, he was still new to the whole driving thing. And since the roads were iced over and it was a weekend, nobody had really driven on the roads to slush them up.
Before they even made it to the parking lot my brother starts to corner, gives it a little too much gas, slams into the curb and breaks the damn axle. I don't really remember if it was the front or the rear, but it was still the axle.
So after walking back home, my brother a little upset because he broke the car, and my dad a little upset and giddy because it was his lame idea, the called a tow truck.
I wonder what would have happened if they actually made it to the parking lot to do donuts
Posted by Clayton Hein at 09:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
I'm back
November 29, 2006For those who read my blog, I'm back.
For those who didn't read it, shame on you, but welcome to the show.
You want to know what I miss. I miss field trips.
I miss having my parents sign a permission slip allowing me to do god knows what, so I wouldn't be the schools responsibility in case I was mangled by a goat.
I also miss the anticipation of taking a 3-hour, 55-mile bus ride to the middle of nowhere.
I miss taking a lunch that mom packed with care.
I still remember one field trip I took; I attended John Tower elementary by the way, where we went to an old train station.
What a good time. We were able to walk around the razor sharp, rusted insides of the train and do what we pleased in small groups.
I don't know why that little memory stuck with me so many years, but I still remember the first time I actually got on a train.
It was earlier this year, with my dad, on our way to a Chicago Cubs game.
Where are the permission slips?
Posted by Clayton Hein at 01:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Coolest phone ever
November 20, 2006I just got done playing with the coolest phone ever. The G'zOne from Verizon wireless.
What a doozie.
It can be dropped and it will still work, and you can even use it in the shower. What a phone, what a phone, what a phone.
I can't reveal too much, so look for the review in Sunday's paper. But I just wanted to let you know what I've been up to, and a couple random thoughts.
1. football, 2. video games, 3. being a dad.
In no particular order, that's what's been on my mind.
1. Football. I had a good "football weekend." That quoted term is what I like to tell my wife when Saturday and Sunday are around the corner.
"Hey babe, ready for football weekend," is what I usually ask her. She usually replies with a "yeah, whatever."
I can't help it, its too much fun to pass up.
And I am leaning towards putting Ladanian Tomlinson up there with the greatest running backs ever. He has played on a predominately week team, except for the past couple of year, and man is he a joy to watch tot the rock. And he doesn't celebrate, too much, after he scores a touchdown.
2. The new Gears of War is awesome. You can shoot people, chainsaw them, snipe them. It's the game that beats all games. But I have problems with all the 15-year olds genius videogamers. You guys play too much and are too good. I guess I'm gripping because you continually kick my butt.
3. The wife and I are about 7 months deep into the pregnancy and its getting closer and closer to an anxiety sandwich. I've been doing my breathing exercises and everythings going ok. Just kidding. Can't wait...I just wish it didn't cost so much to deliver a baby...I should have been a doctor.
Posted by Clayton Hein at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Playstation 3
November 17, 2006What a crazy day.
The playstation 3 came out last night, midnight, at Wal-Mart, and it wasn't all that bad of a scene.
Nobody got shot, like other places, nobody got jumped, and it appears the rest of Wichita Falls had a smooth selling period.
But with only about 50 units being sold in Wichita Falls, for an estimated 100,000 people in Wichita and another 200,000 in surrounding areas not close enough to DFW or OKC, that's not a lot.
I actually wanted to buy one.
But could I justify spending $600 plus on a new video game console. Nope, but I could try I thought.
The system alone is worth about $1000. And from what I've seen it on Ebay, the systems are going for a cool $4000 price tag.
Who the heck is crazy enough to buy it for $4000. Gotta be a rich parent with a loved/spoiled child.
And to the people who waited in line, more power to you. It takes gut to want something bad enough to sleep on concrete for. Have fun playing it...but for all those just wanting to sell it on Ebay...I hope you don't make too much money.
Yes someone deserving might get it for Christmas, but who's going to pay the electric bill?
Posted by Clayton Hein at 04:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Life or death conversation
November 14, 2006Old people have the best conversations. I'm guessing it’s either because they hold no punches or they're not afraid of the answer they're going to get.
During my hospital visit, where a lot older people hang out, I overheard two older gentlemen, probably in their 80s, discussing death.
One gentleman had just had a tumor removed from behind his ear, and the other man, a good friend, I assumed, was there with his mother - getting her treatment.
The one with the tumor removed had a large bandage wrapped around his head. The other was just happy to see him alive.
They started joking. One said he was at the hospital to have his ear removed. I chuckled. The other person with the tumor had his graphed off recently, and he knew that.
They were in high spirits during the entire conversation. Back and forth, the two battled like they were in their 20s discussing last night’s party.
As the tumor man sat down, awaiting his turn with the needle, the other had to go. He leaned down to the other man's wife, said it was glad to see you, and that he probably would see her again.
He looked at the bandaged man, and said "I know I'll see you again. I'll be speaking at your funeral."
His wife said, do you have your literature prepared. Without a break in the conversation he replied, "Yeah, I'll see you in hell."
Posted by Clayton Hein at 09:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Who Voted?
November 07, 2006
This is the first time I've voted with the new machines. Gotta say I like the electronic voting machines.
It’s been a mess in some places, as it might be in Wichita Falls, but hopefully all will go well. I've heard all types of conspiracy theories about people hacking into the voting machine and changing votes that way. But you can't be scared about everything.
I didn't get to vote for the Bond issue, because I live in the City View School District, I guess, but I support the thing anyway.
From what I'm getting, a lot of people don't want to give WFISD $60 million to screw around with.
Wichita Falls needs upgrades to the schools.
$60 million isn't that much - I know an athlete who pulls down more than that. Hell, I know 100 athletes who make more than that.
Just because you're 60 years old and don't have any grandchildren, or you think the building was perfectly fine when you went there in the '50s - shouldn't make sense.
I support Kinky, because the guy is fantastic. Gotta love a guy with a big cigar — it's Freudian, but who doesn't have a slip every once in a while?
I support Mac, and Farabee, because they have a good-standing history with Wichita Falls.
Let's just hope for a good turnout.
Posted by Clayton Hein at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tootsie Pop
November 06, 2006
Remember the Tootsie Pop and all of its magical goodness.
Well I certainly do.
It's been the standard of the sucker category for years and years.
The flavor lasts the longest, it’s the thickest and generally the best sucker made in the candy industry.
But I have two questions. One, how many licks does it actually take to get to the center, and, two, what does the Indian child shooting the star actually get you?
I once tried getting to the center of the Tootsie Pop by just licking it, but i failed.
If I remember correctly I got to about 200 or so and just said the hell with it. That was funny because I was on a church bus at the time.
I hated that little owl too. He would always deliver the same "ONE, TWO, THREE." I thought, maybe once, it would change during my childhood of watching that dumb commercial.
And I still remember the "get a shooting star on the wrapper, get free candy" guarantee.
Was anybody actually dumb enough to try that out?
What did the person at the register say when a little kid walked up to the corner store, slapped down his used Tootsie Pop rapper and demand a free one?
"Sure kid, now get the heck out of my store!"
Who actually fell for that one? I remember a friend who saved the dang things. I wonder if he still has them all - waiting on the day to turn 'em all in?
Posted by Clayton Hein at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Don Jose's
November 02, 2006I love me some Don Jose's food.
I love Mexican food, and can basically eat it five nights out of the week, but after last night's trip to Don Jose's, I have a suggestion.
Time to move.
The restaurant was packed. And for a Wednesday night, that's pretty dang good.
I'm not saying to go overboard and drop $500,000 on some property off Kemp Street — I'm just saying some waiting room would be nice.
My party was two parties of about six just standing in the way.
The building used to be a Dairy Queen, so the extra seating is out of the question.
The also, it seems, maximized their sales per square foot, so the cramp feeling started to set in while eating.
Don't get me wrong, I had a heck of a time, but after standing in the way of the servers and busboys, I almost went nuts.
I'm guessing the building is about 4,000 square feet. They could easily move into something like a 10,000 square foot building and be successful.
Especially with those tasty margaritas.
Posted by Clayton Hein at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
