Boy Scout Cookies

This may sound stupid...but why in the world do the Boy Scouts sell such crappy stuff for fund raising?

The Girl Scouts have it made in the shade with their cookies. When you see the girls camped out in front of the grocery stores with boxes of cookies there are always lots of people standing around buying them. When you see the boys camped out in front of the grocery stores with giant canisters of popcorn they have to practically beg everyone walking past to take pity on their measly little fund raising efforts and buy something.

It makes me feel bad to say "no thanks", I don't want any of your crappy stale popcorn. But then I remember that I'm not to blame - its the fault of the adult organizers who decided that gourmet popcorn canisters were the way to go. Poor kids.

Driveway Spam

A good many months ago, out-of-the-blue, a Cary newspaper showed up in my yard. I thought, "hmm...the delivery guy must have gotten the wrong house, because I never asked for any Cary newspaper."

The next week, not-so-out-of-the-blue, a Cary newspaper showed up in my yard. I thought, "hmm...what in the world? Ah well", and tossed it in the recycle bin.

Again the following week, annoyingly, a Cary newspaper showed up in my yard. I thought, "hmm...this is starting to get on my nerves now."

Not to be overly repetitive, but yet again, the following week, a Cary newspaper showed up in my yard. Argh!

At this point, I am wondering why this newspaper keeps littering in my yard. Can I fine them $200 for littering? Will the State of NC fine them for littering? If so, can I have them fined for every single infraction? :) Do I have to put a "No Littering" sign up in my yard? Can I perform a citizens arrest of the distribution manager of the Cary newspaper? Can I litter in the Cary newspaper's lawn?

I think that's what I'd really like to do. I'd like to save up all these wasteful papers that they throw in my yard in their little plastic bags. After a while when I have a big gigantic pile of them, I'd like to drive over to the offices of the Cary News and throw them all over their property. In their driveway, in their lawn, and in their bushes. Then I'd like to see them say one freaking word about it. Ugh.

I know, I know - "just call them and tell them to cancel delivery, dummy!" Of course I will, but I should'nt *have* to.

Wake Co. School Bond

The new Wake County school bond is very controversial right now. It would raise property taxes in order to build new schools. As an example of the increase, property taxes for a $200,000 home will be $94 more per year.

Are you telling me that people aren't willing to pay $94 a year to help educate the kids of wake county? Seriously? Good grief.

Of course, taxpayers should be pissed off, don't get me wrong. The real problem is that the state of North Carolina isn't giving Wake County what it needs. Mecklenburg County (Charlotte) is getting much more from the NC Education lottery than Wake County is, even though Wake county has more students. Wonder how that happened?

Here are the numbers:

Estimated proceeds: $1.2 billion a year, $425 million for Education.
Meck. Co. will receive an estimated $18 million/year, for 127,000 students.
Wake Co. will receive an estimated $9 million/year, for 127,767 students.

Apparently those folks against the bond are doing so for one of two reasons: #1, they just don't want to pay more in taxes; #2, they want to make a statement against the school board. For those who fall in category two, IMO you are justifiably pissed off at the school board for lots of reasons like forced busing, forced year-round, .etc. And how else are you to change anything? Damned if I know.

Did anyone see the 20/20 episode about the state of public education in the United States compared to education systems in other countries? John Stossel's famous "Stupid in America". Absolutely pitiful. Its good to know that some people are doing something about it. Unfortunately it seems like most people are afraid too do anything about it. But...why be afraid? It would be pretty hard to do worse.

Cinelli's in Apex

Got a pizza to go tonight at Cinelli's Restaurante in Apex. I predict that this place closes its doors pretty quickly unless they turn things around. I noticed in the forums at apexnc.com that it got a couple negative reviews, and I wasn't too impressed myself. The pizza was good, but that's where the compliments end. I don't plan to go back.

• Pizza was way overpriced. I paid $26 for a large pizza with 3 toppings and 2 domestic beers while I waited.
• The spiciest topping they had was cherry peppers, which were not spicy at all.
• As usual, I sat at the bar. Unfortunately I couldn't have been more uncomfortable since the barstools didn't fit the bar.
• Recessed lighting must have had high wattage spotlights, and I felt like I was on stage at the Ryman.

If my house were a high-rise condo in downtown...

If my house were a high-rise condo in downtown Raleigh, it would cost around $480,000.
If my house were a high-rise condo in Manhattan, it would cost more than $1,600,000.

...Its a good thing I live "in the sticks", as they say.

Reindeer Romp 5k in Charlotte

This Dec 9th I'll be running in the Reindeer Romp 5k in downtown Charlotte. This is the same day as the The Thunder Road Marathon, but I haven't quite made it up to the 26 mile level yet, although that is my long term goal. The Reindeer Romp benefits the American Lung Association, and I'll be running it with my 9 year old neice (her first race)! Her mom doesn't think she can run the whole 5k without some walk-time, so I might not be setting any PRs but it will be fun!

If you want to run but you don't want to travel to Charlotte, here are some upcoming local races, including one in Apex:

November 5 (Sunday) Raleigh
1st Annual George Williams Nike 5K - 2:00 p.m. - 5,000m

November 12 (Sunday) Raleigh
Old Reliable Run - 10,000 meters, 5,000 meters

November 18 (Saturday) Apex
Turkey Trot 5K – 5,000 Meters – 10:00 a.m.

Vermiform Appendix

This weekend my mom had severe pains in her abdomen, went to the emergency room and told them that she had appendicitis. They checked her out and her self-diagnosis was correct. They scheduled her for surgery immediately, and after it was out the doctor said that it was extremely close to perforating, and there was a lot to clean up. This led to a slightly longer recovery time than most laparascopic appendectomy patients, but she is ok and back home.

Here's an interesting little tidbit about the appendix from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermiform_appendix):

"The appendix is thought to have descended from an organ in our distant herbivorous ancestors called the cecum (or caecum). The cecum is maintained in modern herbivores, where it houses the bacteria that digest cellulose, a chemically tough carbohydrate that these animals could not otherwise utilize. The human appendix contains no significant number of these bacteria, and cellulose is indigestible to us. It seems likely that the appedix lost this function before our ancestors became recognizably human."

Peak City Grill

After the tourney today I was exhausted and starving. I decided to reward myself with a nice dinner since all I'd had to eat that day was beef jerky and Nutri-grain bars! :P

I went to Peak City Grill in downtown Apex, NC on Salem Street. I'd been there a few times before but only for drinks and bar food. This time I ordered an actual dinner, and I chose the risotto with mussels, shrimp, scallops, and tomato. FAB U LOUS. It was a nice generous portion and the taste was phenomenal. Next time I go back there I'll be tempted to get the same thing just because I know it is so goooooooood.

Update: I went there again last night (the 19th) and got the fish and chips (at the bar). I'd had it before two other times, but unfortunately it looks like they have changed the dish. The breading was different (lighter but less tasty) and the serving size a little smaller. Still good though, but I preferred what I had the last two times better. Next time I probably won't go for the fish and chips.

King/Queen Volleyball

Today I played in a K/Q volleyball tournament, where each guy plays a game of doubles with each girl/against every other guy. This was the third one I played in this summer. They are a lot of fun, and today I had my best finish so far.

I finished first (by one point) in my pool, and was ranked first (by percentage of points per game) going into the playoffs. The first match of the playoffs I got a bye - which was already the farthest I'd ever made it. The first game of the playoff was against a lefty, which was the first of the day and took a little time to adjust to - but...I got that win by a couple points.

The next match was a tie, and we had to go to a little 11 point playoff to see who would go to the final game. My temper got the best of me, when I argued (loudly) against a bad call made by the ref. Before that I was already pissed at my competition because he'd questioned one of my hits. I think he did it on purpose, just to mess with my head. Anyway - I lost the playoff and that knocked me out. ALMOST made it to the finals! :P

Watching Sports in Apex

Apex really lacks a good place to watch a game outside of the home. I know of one decent place in Apex to watch a game, and thats Spark's on 55 at Olive Chapel. The biggest problem with Spark's is that their food pretty much sucks (but the service isnt' bad and they do have some pretty cute girls working there).

The next closest place I know of that is good for watching a game is the MacGregor Drafthouse in Cary. Of course there are plenty of other places with tv's - but Spark's and the Drafthouse have large widescreen HDTVs.

Peak City Grill on Salem Street in downtown Apex has decent tv's, but they are a little small. Not bad for watching a game, though.

I noticed that the New Red Robin in Beaver Creek Crossings has all CRT style regular tv's. Thats shocking, that a new bar/restaurant opens and they don't have new HDTVs in there. Wow. Pitiful.

The new Longhorn Steakhouse in Apex, NC

Tonight I made it out to the new Longhorn Streakhouse restaurant at Beaver Creek Commons in Apex, NC. There was a decent crowd, the place had a nice atmosphere, the bar was nice and had a couple of mid-size HDTVs. The Carolina Hurricanes game was on so I sat at the bar.

The only had 4 or 5 beers on tap and they were a bit boring: bud, bud light, miller light, blue moon, and sam adams.

I ordered the T-bone and a Caesar salad. I got the SMALL T-bone but it was no slouch in size. The salad was great, and the steak would have been great if it hadn't been seriously OVER seasoned. I enjoy a little bit of seasoning but I still like to taste the flavor of the beef itself (which is why I always go with a medium rare - red in the middle - temperature). Unfortunately that beef flavor was lost in too many spices.