The Rotten Beef Blog

It’s a sore subject with a lot of people, except the ones driving the huge SUV’s, but even now reality is starting to sink in for most of them. I’m talking about the ever increasing cost to fuel your vehicle so you can go to work and make more money to fuel your vehicle to go to work to make more money to fuel your vehicle…well you get the idea.

So what are you to do? The gas efficient hybrid cars are flying off the lots after people wait over three to sometimes six months to get one. Cant’s get a hold of one yourself? Your 19 year old beater starting to drain you dry?

I’m beginning to think the Flintstone’s car is looking pretty good right about now. But wait, I don’t think we have to get that desperate just yet. Lately I’ve noticed more and more scooters on the road. Yes, SCOOTERS! Not the kind you had when you were a kid, but the kind that are powered by battery or gas. The are pretty good in size and even quite comfortable. Why I even saw one yesterday that could seat two adults comfortably.

Since I’m still new to the whole scooter thing myself, I did some research. I did an internet search for Which scooter is right for me and found some very good information. If you’re going down the road to the gas pump, but doing it on fumes, consider a smaller two wheel version of transportation. You may be surprised as to how far and fast you can go!

Today while on vacation, I needed to get some food for my evening meal. I walk into a store I am unfamiliar with. The store is fairly good sized but a bit messy. the selection, not what I am used to. I found t=food that will do for what I had planned for my meal. When I get to the checkout, the cashier rings the order and put the items in an empty cart. After ringing up everything he asks, “would you like a bag for your groceries?” So I answer “yes”. He inquires how many I say two and he adds $.20 to the bill. After I bag the groceries, I start to push the cart away and he tells me the cart is for the next customer. Now what if I decided not to take any bags? would I have had to carry all these out in my arms? Just curious.

Although I do  like the idea to help keep the environment green, I think it would be a good idea to let the customers know ahead of time as to the “hidden” cost of taking your purchases home.

If you are concerned about the world environment you live in and how it will affect your children or the next generation’s place in it, visit some Green Websites for ideas and suggestions on how to make the world last longer for generations to come.

Today I went on vacation. I haven’t been on one in over 6 years. After Going through the wonderful horse hockey at the airport, I now remember why I haven’t.

Check in was relatively smooth. The line, like the DMV and other places were like a Disney Theme park. Ropes wrapping around and around. Less than 30 minutes to check in, not bad.

Now heading to the terminal, this is where it gets more fun. We have to show our boarding pass and photo id to get on the tram that takes us to the terminal. I hand the screener my boarding pass and wallet with my id VISIBLE through the “Clear plastic window” open. He says to take it out of the wallet. Why? So he can see the expiration date. WTF? This has always bothered me. My ID has expired but the picture still looks like me! What the fuck is the big deal?? The ID expired NOT my picture. Why the hell does this make a difference. So I comply and get on the tram.

When we get to the other end (at the terminal where the gates are) they have the shoes off rule. OK, I understand, but I have to show my boarding pass and ID AGAIN!! WTF? Did my ID expire on the tram ride over? Give me a break! And if that wasn’t bad enough, as well as taking my shoes off and putting my cell phone in the bucket, the alarm went off. What did I have on my possession? NOTHING. Just my clothes. “take you belt off sir.” I was wearing a small stretchy belt with about 6 inches of leather on the end to clasp it and oh yeah, a “very small” (by that I mean less metal that a 50 cent piece and about as big) belt buckle. So I take it off, pass through the detector with no problems and proceed to gather my belongings. At this point, I just slip on my shoes on so I don’t hold the line up and walk over to a bench to tie them. After tying my shoes, I proceed to put my belt back on. But wait, where is my belt? My pants are falling down and I cannot seem to find my belt. While searching, I hear an announcement on the public address system. “If anyone has lost a belt come to…” I couldn’t make out the rest. I start walking by all the scanner lines asking if anyone has a belt. No one answers. I speak a bit louder and still no one answers. Finally someone tells me to check the information desk (which I was standing in front of calling out loudly but not receiving a response). When I approach the desk I ask the woman there who is jabbering away with a co worker if someone just called out about a lost belt. “What does it look like, we get hundreds of them?” Well, they just announced it on the PA system. “Can you describe it?” What a pain in the ass this bitch has turned out to be. After a lengthy description about what a belt looks like, I get it and I’m on my way.

I need a coffee now! more to come….

Jenna Bush, The Bush Family and the White House had all kept a tight lid on plans for the May 10th wedding. Everything was kept under wraps, right down to where the vows would be taken.

Weeks before she got married though, Jenna Bush told news outlets that she would wear embroidered organza by Oscar de la Renta for her wedding day.

Well you know, she could have kept that secret too. Personally, I don’t really care about who married who, who had a baby or even what color socks this person is wearing this week. I would have rather seen more pictures like this of the new bride!

Or Even This….

The weather is starting to warm up throughout most of the country. With that comes Summer time fun. Time to be outdoors and maybe splash in the pool or take walks in the cooler parts of the day or night. Speaking of which, something I could never figure out (especially in the warmer regions of the country) is how people can sit in their garage with family or friends and actually enjoy it.

I’ve noticed this before and it struck me as kind of odd, but I seem to be seeing it more and more. People sitting in their garages. Inviting over the neighbors. Smoking some cigarettes, drinking some beer and sharing some jokes. I have no problem with this and I think everyone has a right to relax in the manner of which they choose. But this isn’t just stepping out to smoke a quick cigarette. They have progressed from having lawn furniture in the garage to bringing in (or out) full length sofas, love seats, recliners, television sets, even going so far as to maybe carpet or linoleum tile the floor of the garage.

Hey I’m all for keeping a smoke-free home, I’m just not a hot weather fan. Which by the way, I have seen some fans in these garages too, but they were just the little 12″ oscillating kind.

Is this a family tradition? Is it some part of a specific culture or regional upbringing? I am not sure. But if these people enjoy it, that’s fine by me.

I say, Bring on the A/C!!

Wow! It just keeps coming. First a big steroid scandal and now an affair with (what reportedly was) a minor? According to a report in the New York Daily News,  Roger Clemens had a decade-long affair with country star Mindy McCready. Allegedly this “romance” started when Clemens was still a member of the Boston Red Sox baseball team and the “young” Miss McCready was only 15-years old trying to get into the music business.

“He flatly denies having had any kind of an inappropriate relationship with her,” lawyer Rusty Hardin said. “He’s considered her a close family friend. … He has never had a sexual relationship with her.”

Clemens, under investigation for perjury, filed a  lawsuit against his former trainer Brian McNamee stating his reputation has been damaged. If the allegations about a romantic link to the country singer McCready do come to light, that could mean big points for Brian McNamee’s legal team in the legal battle currently waging.

Will the Rocket be grounded? I say, if he is retiring, let him retire in peace.

Super Bowl win, chosen MVP and now a marriage. In case you haven’t heard, Super Bowl XLII MVP Eli Manning married his college sweetheart Abby McGrew Saturday on the shore of the Sea of Cortez in Mexico in a sunset ceremony.

According to reports, around 50-60 friends and family members (including 6 bridesmaids and 6 groomsmen) flew to Mexico to be in attendance for what their minister said was one of the most beautiful weddings he has ever presided over. The ceremony was brief, about 15 minutes and a reception followed afterwards on the beach.

Now the interesting stuff,  Abby McGrew carried a bouquet of white roses and wore a white gown with gold embroidering with a large bow and short train in the back. Her six bridesmaids wore champagne-colored strapless dresses.

Manning and his groomsmen wore khaki suits and white roses in their lapels. Manning wore a tie with blue and white stripes, while his groomsmen kept their collars open. Sounds pretty casual for the guys.

Now I know what girls wear at weddings is big with women, but be honest here guys. Do you really care what kind of tie Eli wore at his wedding? Is that going to influence your decision of what tie you wear at your wedding? Unless of course you’re a New York Giants fan.

Regardless, it was a happy occasion enjoyed by lots of people. Congrats Eli! Better start concentrating on football, it’ll keep your mind focused when the honeymoon ends.

I sent my laptop off for repair around 6 weeks ago. It was still under warranty which was good so I wasn’t worried about the bill. The retailer where I purchased the laptop and also dropped it off for repairs called yesterday to let me know it had returned and the repairs were complete.

I head over tonight after work to pick up my computer. It takes the guy 10-15 minutes to track down the whereabouts of it. When he returns with it, the first thing I noticed was the key on the keyboard that had fallen off I specifically requested to have put back on was not. Not only that but the guy couldn’t even find the key that I sent along with the laptop. I ask him what the deal was. He proceeds to explain in retail terms “although the first repair was covered under warranty, the key falling off was considered wear and tear” therefore they did not reattach it.

I’m thinking (out loud of course) Why didn’t they at least contact me, tell me it wasn’t covered and would I like to have it fixed anyway? “No clue” he says. Apparently not. If they brought a car in for and oil change and the mechanic noticed the tire going flat, should he let it be just because that wasn’t what they originally came in for? Just an analogy, but I’m sure you see my point.

Luckily, the tech guy at the counter was willing to help. He snagged a key off one of the floor models, and proceed to fabricate it (wasn’t the same exact one) so it would fit and at least cover the gaping opening in the keyboard. Very nice of him and I of course thanked him.

So out of incompetence, ignorance or just plain stupidity, comes a random kind act. Thanks for helping me out computer tech guy!

Talk about some silly shit! In sports news last week, construction workers building the new Yankee Stadium revealed that another worker who is a big Red Sox fan hoped to put a “jinx” on the Red Sox Nation’s number one enemy by secretly burying a Red Sox jersey in the concrete foundation of the new stadium.

The Yankees didn’t appear very concerned. Basically stating there is no truth to the rumor. In a statement released Friday, they called it a 10 day late April Fool’s joke.

Saturday it appeared as if their tune had changed. After about five hours of drilling, they finally located the shirt under 2 feet of concrete. Sunday, they pulled the jackhammered No. 34 David Ortiz Red Sox jersey in shreds from the battered hole in the foundation.

Two days ago it was a joke to the Yankee organization. Now they are destroying the concrete foundation of their new
$ 1.3 Billion structure? There has even been talk with the district attorney’s office about possible criminal charges against Gino Castignoli, the worker who allegedly buried the jersey in cement.

I guess with all the money the Steinbrenner family has and can throw around, a few days off schedule and a few more dollars to repair the foundation of their new home, what’s the harm. Right?

I think the thing the Yankees need to be more concerned about is not a so-called “jinx” but the safety of their fans and members of all the visiting teams. I’m no structural engineer, but I do know I wouldn’t feel safe knowing some paranoid people went drilling, digging and jackhammering just for a small piece of fabric that would have no effect on the structural integrity of the new stadium.

While watering the garden this morning, I noticed some sprouts that appeared. The green beans were actually above ground. Somewhat of a surprise to me as the package said germination is about 7-10 days. No complaints from me though. The sooner they grow means the sooner I eat them. Also in my herb garden, the oregano has sprouted a bit as well. Fresh herbs, Yummy! I better get some recipes together. Looks like it may be a good season. I’ll haves pics and videos up soon.