Car Shopping Sucks!

We went to look around today and got sucked out of ~3 hours and a host of new dealer tricks.

Trick #1: They were trying to sell us a "new" Jeep Grand Cherokee that had nearly 6,000 miles on it!!! Of course they never bothered to tell us this and then tried to overlook it once we noticed.

Trick #2: As we were sitting at the table, Salesman Dufus asks if we'd like to see/test-drive the car we were discussing. We said sure so he sent Salesman Dufus Jr. to retrieve the car and pull it up. A few minutes later, Dufus Jr. comes up and says to us, "I can't find it - I know we haven't sold it" Then they point out the window and say some other customers are looking at it. "Don't worry though, the first person to make the deal gets the car." At the time there was few others in the dealership so this entire episode was being concocted to get us ready to make the deal. Slime-balls.

We ended up leaving. Annoyed that we lost so many week-end hours talking back and forth with idiots.

Pokemon League Champion!!!

On the back of Beefcake and Dialga I was proclaimed the Pokemon League Champion today after I beat Cynthia - the former champ!

Omar Looking to Distribute Cash

Dear Friend

My Name is Mr. Omar jassim, I am 53years old, a citizen and a merchant
in Dubai,United Arab Emirate (UAE).I was born an orphan, I have no
father or mother,And I have no relatives. My wife dead 2 years ago of
Cancer of the Breast With much stress and sufferings, she left our 5 years
old child all alone for Me to take care of not knowing that I have been
diagnosed with Cancer, which was discovered very late, due to my laxity
in caring For my health.

It has defiled all forms of medicine; Right now I have only about a few
months To live, according to my Medical Doctor. I have not particularly
lived my Life so well, as I never really cared for myself but the Oil
business.Though I am very rich, I was never generous; I only focused on my
business As that was the only thing I cared for. But now I regret all this
as I now Know that there is more to life than just wanting to have or
make all the money In the world. I believe when Allah gives me a second
chance and heal me I would Live my life a different way from how I have
lived it.

I have sowed a seed for my healing I have willed and given most of my
Properties and assets to my immediate and extended family members and as
Well as a few close friends. I want Allah to be merciful to me and
accept my soul and so, I have decided To give arms to charity organizations
and give succor and comfort to the
Less privileged of the Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina Victims, as I want
this To be one of the last good deeds I do on earth so far, By
distributing some of this money to some charity organizations.
Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this my self
anymore,I once asked close friend of mine to use my funds in one of the
Saudi Bank with Trust and distribute the money to the charity homes in
my name in Bulgaria And Sudan. They cashed the money but kept it only
to themselves believing that My death is near. Hence I do not trust them
anymore, as they seem Not to be contended with what I have giving them
already.

The last of my money, which no one knows of, is the huge cash deposit
of Twenty Two Million United States Dollars (US$ 22 Million) that I have
in One of of the Security Finance Company in Europe since the year 2003
Waiting for payment. I want you to collect this deposit on my behalf
And disburse it to the Tsunami Earthquake victims in Asia, and Hurricane
Katrina Victims.
Also part of it will be used for my only child for his upbringing as
you will Be responsible for his education, health and other activities to
remember his Parents when he becomes a man. Please send me an e-mail to
indicate your wiliness To assist with trust in this disbursement.
I will set aside 10% for you for your time and efforts. I need Your
urgent reply with the below complete information.

Your Full names:
Your Residential Address:
Your phone/Fax numbers:
Your Age:
Your Occupation:
Your current Email Address:

As soon as I receive this from you it will enable me go ahead and
inform the Company where the said fund is presently deposited to change the
ownership in Your name and get it transferred to you for the project and taken care
of my Only blood left that is my child.

Be informed that this is all about TRUST and believing that it will be
Safe in your hand. I will also plead to you to always pray for me
because Only Allah heals. Please for urgent response send your reply to:

Snacks at wrestling match

What snacks do folks eat at Mexican wrestling matches? Sure there are refrescos (soft drinks) and palomitas (popcorn), but the most popular snack food is patas de pollo or chicken feet. A good sized bag of boiled feet costs 5 pesos or about 50 cents. I didn't buy any, but talked a kid in front of me into giving me one of his. There is more meat on the feet than you might think. The custom is to throw the foot at the wrestlers after you eat the meat. I simply hurled my foot with most of the meat still on the bone.

Lucha Libre

I went the Lucha Libre (wrestling) in Cuernavaca last week, and took my little video camera. Here's a little video I made about the experience!

iChat with Mullins reveals new beard

Here's a screen snap. Do you like the bearded Mullins? I think it works for him.

Elvis licks chops from grave...or from spaceship

A new treat has surfaced in Lincoln and Erin was kind enough to bring me one. It's the Elvis Edition Reese's Big Cup. The package comes with two giant sized Reeses's Peanut Butter Cups with a layer of banana creme under the peanut butter. These are very tasty, although I suspect that Elvis would prefer them deep fried in butter.

Street Tacos

We stopped at a place called "La Gringa" to try out the famed Tacos Al Pastor or as I call them, Street Tacos. Erin loved them! The trumpet of meat spins near a flame while a guy slices pieces onto fresh tortillas. Que ricos!

Subiendo Tepoztlan

We climbed the mountain at Tepoztlan to get to the ancient pyramid on top. The view from above is fantastic!



On the way down I payed this guy a handful of pesos to hack open a chilled coconut for me. Tasty, although it could have used some rum.

Erin visits me in Mexico

Erin flew in to Mexico City and we had a great weekend. We ate great food at Las Mañanitas where the peacocks roam freely. Erin was proud that her shirt matched the peacock feathers.



During the visit we discovered a tasty product in stores with a politically incorrect name...."Negrito" or little black kid. It's a chocolate covered pastry with chocolate filling. I'm hoping stores in the U.S. start stocking the little black kids, but I'm not holding my breath.

Ready for some football???

We're in that summer lull. Georgia Tech is looking to be flat to down this year in football but the season in general is still worth getting excited about...

http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=1144&CID=684204


Nebraska should be solid...

http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=1144&CID=689906

Nursery Progress Continues

It was a good week-end in the nursery as progress became more evident. Recent highlights include:

1. The furniture came and we set it up and bought a nice firm mattress
2. We had some nice shutters installed covering our nice new window - both great insulators to help keep out the heat.
3. Bought and installed a new ceiling fan and dimmer switch (featuring a remote control!)
4. Getting some of the decorative stuff up - note the picture of "little duke's great grandmother and great, great grandmother below...pretty cool.

Here are a few snaps:

Michigan

There are those who say it is hard to beat a nice summer day in MI - especially on the lake. I think those folks might be right.

Here's Steph in her "Here Comes Happiness" shirt enjoying a trip across Mona Lake.

Speaking of excessive heat....

SInce it's pretty damn hot in Mexico and nobody has A/C, keeping chocolate from melting is a real problem. Buy a snickers bar and there's a good chance you'll be dealing with a melted mess. Enter Nestle, with a product called Carlos V Xcuizi, or as I call it, the premelted chocolate bar. It looks like a normal candy bar, but peel off the wrapper and you'll find a plastic tube of thick chocolate sauce that you squeeze into your mouth. Nifty of gross...you be the judge.

What would Al Gore say to this!!!???

Dino's in Chicago

One of the highlights of transferring flights in Chicago is the underground connector between terminals B and C. I always hope we need to change terminals. They've stopped playing the United Airlines themed music though which makes the hike a bit less enchanting.

On our return from a recent trip to Michigan the place was nearly barren - perhaps because it was ~6am!



The real excitement came from a scale replica of a local museum's dinosaur bones which were prominently displayed in one of the terminals.

Orrie DeBruyn & Beagle

While in Michigan we stumbled across some old scanned photos one of which featured Steph's great grandfather Orrie and one of his pet beagles (name unknown). Kind of a cool photo though...

More from MX

Kid in street demands 15 pesos to make a bracelet for Erin. I suprised the kid by giving him 20 pesos.


Here is the kid's handiwork.



In other news, break dancing apparently still "cutting edge" in Mexico.