Suddenly, it's August

Don't faint. I really am posting a new blog entry. I've probably been to the worse blogger on the face of the earth the last six months or so, and I guess I owe an explanation.

So what happened?:
I got busy with work, turned a year older and realized that when I read other people's blogs, I found their lives much more interesting than telling you what was going on with mine. Turns out people still looked here and when they didn't see me post for a while, took me off their links. I guess they're missing out now.

Where did you go?
Well the 2006 IndyCar Series season started, so I've been in Miami, St. Pete, Japan, Watkins Glen, N.Y., Dallas-Fort Worth, Kansas City, Richmond, Kansas City (again), Nashville, Milwaukee, Michigan and Des Moines. I think I went to Michigan to see some family too. The season is almost over, so I'll be in Sparta, Ky., Sonoma, Calif., and Joliet, Ill., in the next few weeks.

Did you do anything cool on those trips?
I had dinner with Geoffrey and Stacy in Tokyo. Ate more meals with friends from the road than I can write about in this space. And have vowed revenge on a race driver for dumping water on me.

What happened to that racing site you started?
Yeah, lost interest in that too. I blame my partners in crime.

Isn't this a sham post? Aren't you on MySpace.com?
Yeah, it probably is, but don't feel bad. I don't update the MySpace page either.

Contributing to new site

Check out Four Word Race Reviews for a funny look at the racing world in four words or less. No I'm not the only contributor. It just looks like I am.

Glutton for punishment

Why oh why do I watch Texas Tech play basketball? The last two Mondays I've dedicated four hours to watching the Red Raiders play on Big Monday. The problem is, I haven't seen them "PLAY" on Big Monday. Tech is 12-11 and mid-pack in the Big 12. ... The only entertainment I may get from Lubbock in March may be "Knight School" on ESPN.

I should stick to being disappointed in the football version of the Red Raiders.

This, that and the other thing

Been a while since I rambled online, so here goes.

* Life has settled into a pretty mundane routine for me. Get up, go to work, work for a bit, eat lunch with co-workers, work some more, go home, watch "Family Guy" re-runs on TiVo. Get bored watching TV, read book, go to sleep. I need to shake things up. I just don't know how.

*Things are starting get settled with my home (I know, I promise photos soon). I'm expecting a pretty nice tax refund, so the next capital improvement project will have a budget soon. I'm going to be redoing my kitchen -- and the upstairs guest bathroom, if I can. Basically it will be a hardware switch, a new refridgerator and new dishwasher and look into replacing the floor with a wood laminate (though that may have to wait so I can do the whole ground floor. Also on the list of things to buy this year are: New TV/Home Theatre in a box; new monitor and printer for laptop (And maybe replace this four-year-old laptop). Yes, I'm still that crazy first-time homebuyer. I really must stop watching those "Flip That House" type show.

* My friend Brent has started his own online column (it's a blog, but we're humoring him). Surprisingly (not really), it's about his favorite basketball team, the Boston Celtics. Click on the "All Things Celtics" link on the right side of the screen. Then comment to him that he really needs to seek professional help.

That's all for now.

Loosly based...

Have you ever thought the pieces of your life would make a good book? Maybe you thought your life is actually based on a work of fiction. I'm not talking Salinger or Hemingway or even Nick Hornby.

My life as a book -- Kyle Smith's Love Monkey... better yet, just watch CBS television show loosely based on it.

The main character in the book could be me... circa 2001 (when the book takes place) except I don't live in New York. He even works at a newspaper for god sakes. There's a line in that book that describes my life for the past 6 years.

"When I was younger I thought about what my life would be when I reached this age. Job I loved, wife, family, riches beyond end... well 1 out of 4 isn't too bad."

I think I may need therapy. But read the book. It's that good.

Happy Born-On Date

Today is Amanda's birthday. She's had a pretty rotten last few months, (can't go into details, but those of you who know, know). I wanted to take a little time to recognize the fact that she was born on this date. Here's a few other people born today.

English physician Peter Roget, who compiled 'Roget`s Thesaurus,' in 1779; American orator and statesman Daniel Webster in 1782; English author A.A. (Alan Alexander) Milne, who wrote 'Winnie the Pooh,' in 1882; comedian Oliver Hardy of the legendary Laurel and Hardy team, in 1892; actors Cary Grant in 1904 and Danny Kaye in 1913; filmmaker John Boorman in 1933 (age 73); Temptations singer David Ruffin in 1941; and actor Kevin Costner in 1955 (age 51).

Have a good one Amanda!

What the deuce?

Just got back from dinner with some friends.

I don't go out as much with groups like I did when I lived in South Carolina and when I do, they are some-how work-related. Tonight, my dinner companions were people I work with, but it was a little different than most times when we go out.

There was little talk about work. Most of the time we just sit around and quote movies or"The Family Guy" and bust on people we know. Of course we turn on each other at some point as well, but that just comes with the territory.

I forgot what it's like to go out with a group of people and just laugh for no reason. I need to do it more often.

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas

Happy New Year

Happy Haunakah

Good Kwanzaa

And happy Festivus to the rest of us