You won't catch me fasting. According to the political compass, I share the same views as Gandhi and the Dalai-Lama. They obviously didn't ask me if I eat beef.

If you missed them on SportsCenter... Here are some pictures of Dirk, Eric, and Rob from the Suncoast Triathlon.

Silly Stuff From TBO.com

Battle (FSU NCAA Compliance Director) questioned whether UF was complying with an NCAA rule prohibiting such events from being public.

"The biggest thing was announcing a recruit's name over the loudspeaker," Battle said. "I read where [McCloskey] said the stadium is in lockdown. What, you can't walk by and hear a recruit's name? Is everybody deaf in the world? You're still publicizing it."

Oh, Come on. Anyone with any common sense would tell you the reason recruiting events such as this are private is so the school can't charge admission and sell consessions. That would be making money on recuits.

When Battle as informed that FSU does something similar, he said "We're looking into it, We want to know what [our coaches] are doing".

Nice. You're sole responsiblity is to make sure that you're school is not breaking any rules and you don't know what you're own school is doing.

Then the grand finale: "That's getting into silly stuff"

Sounds like FSU needs a new Compliance Director.

Its like...really...good! Rob has a short video of his new golf show at In the Swing of Things. Very impressive!

Tough times I would like to take the time to offer my condolences to those in my family for their loss. I know times are very tough and definately confusing. Performing your daily routine may now seem unimportant. I wish you the courage to be strong. The feeling that is hurting you deep down inside may go away, but your determination must not waver. It's not fair that you were put in this position, you didn't ask for it, and you don't deserve it. All you can do is wonder why. Why did he have to get hurt? And why couldn't his god damn receivers catch? Why couldn't his linemen block? And why did his replacement throw an interception directly into a linebacker that was standing still!!!

Google fun.

1. Go to Google (not yet!)
2. Type "miserable failure" in the search box
3. Press "I'm feeling lucky"
   06:01 PM | Comments ()

A determined opponent has no rival. I didn't give him too much time to realize the mistake he had made. The blow came too quickly. I turned away, unable to look at Sebastian. I knew from the deep gasps that he was dying. I thought it was kind of odd that I hesitated when I finally have him in the exact position I wanted. The reality of what I was about to do fell on me. I was about to take another life. How can anyone not hesitate, especially when his crime was merely wandering into the wrong place? My partner, on the other hand, knew no such feelings. Killing to her was just part of the cycle of life. She was an emotional creature. She loved passionately, and protected passionately. Outsiders were a threat, and all threats must be eliminated. Maybe I should have let her finish him off, but I knew better. She would take her time, toy with him, stretching out every last enjoyable minute. I had to end this quickly. I looked back at our victim. He was facing away from me, toward the blood streaks on the wall were he tried to claw his way out. For a second, I wondered if the blood would stain the drywall and what kind of cleaners I should use. Ok, focus. With my free hand, I delivered one final blow to the skull.

I slumped back down against the counter. The calming sense of accomplishment soon began to replace the fading adrenaline rush. My partner sensed my ease and slowly walked over to me. She looked deep into my eyes as her face drew nearer to mine. She opened her mouth and licked the side of my face from cheek to temple. I put my hand on her head and whispered, "I love you too, Belle".

I grabbed a pair of pliers and pulled the mouse out from space in the counter where the oven used to be. You little bastard. Sebastian, as I so lovingly named him, has been a thorough pain in the ass over the past week. He has been living under the bookshelf next to the refrigerator. At night, he was running out to Belle's food dish and storing dog food behind the new oven. Belle's water dish along with the drip pan under the fridge was more than an adequate water source. Sebastian had it all, endless food and water, and a perfect hiding spot. Best of all, we had no idea he was even there. So why throw it all away?

He easily won our first two encounters, although he had the element of surprise the first time. The next day I bought a pair of mouse traps. It really amazes me that the United States and Europe can race remote controlled cars on the surface of Mars, but you still need a small plank of wood with a spring on it to catch a mouse. I figured he was back in his hiding spot under the bookshelf. I placed the two traps on either side. I eagerly awaited the sound of the trap being sprung. Nothing. Then I heard it. It was more like a snap. I raced into the kitchen and gazed over the traps. Empty. The something above caught my eye. Sebastian raced along the curtain rod from where he had been chewing his hole. He jumped a good eight feet to the floor below. Seeing that I was between himself and the bookshelf, he opted for the small table in the corner of the kitchen. Not a good spot. As I went for him, he bolted back toward the kitchen. This time, instead of heading behind the fridge, he opted for the cabinets. He chewed through the thin wood panel that served as an access panel for the plumbing and slipped into the wall. Sebastian was gone.

I made an appointment with Truly Nolan, but it was a few days before they had an opening. There was no sign of Sebastian. The inspector walked me around the outside of the house, pointing out all spots a mouse could enter. He then offered a seal and trap treatment where they seal up all the holes and trap for the mouse. For only one small fee of $500. The mouse had already done significant damage to the wood in the kitchen. I told them I'd think about the oven. The weekend was completely uneventful. Out of sight, out of mind.

I noticed Belle sniffing under the oven. She's a dog, dogs sniff things, and I still haven't cleaned out the food that Sebastian was storing. What the hell, I pulled the bottom drawer out and shined the flashlight. Nothing. Belle was now on the other side of the fridge, sniffing at the base of the bookshelf. I half heartedly shook the bookshelf a bit. I gazed down the right side and was met by a small back pair of eyes. Shit! He's back. Belle lunged and the mouse took off into the kitchen. I'm not sure what happened next, but it involved a lot of yellow fur flying around. I didn't have anything in my hand, so what could I have done? The mouse ran into the living room. The first thing I thought of was the tree. We hadn't gotten around to taking it down yet, and if the mouse goes up there, well, not so much fun. I guided Belle to the base of the tree where she was sniffing furiously. No luck. She then bolted straight for the entertainment center and started to claw at a spot in the middle. Ok, I know where you are now how do I get you? I went into the kitchen and grabbed a frying pan. Not really sure what I'd do with it, but it made me feel more useful.

I pulled the entertainment center out from the wall to allow the dog to roam behind. The mouse bolted for Belle's box of toys. I had an idea. I pulled the love seat away from the wall and left a two inch wide escape route, with me on the other end holding the frying pan. I looked down the wall and saw him. He was wedged between the toy box and the wall. "Come on little buddy, look, I've cleared this nice escape passage for you away from that mean doggie". Sebastian wouldn't bite. I lifted up the box and sent mouse and dog scurrying back toward the kitchen. I was able to keep pace and witnessed Sebastian make the first of two mistakes that would cost him his life.

About a month ago, we removed the miniature oven from the cabinets and installed a new one next to the refrigerator. There was a wood panel that separated the oven cavity from the rest of the cabinets. There was a small hole for the oven power cord. On the second night, Sebastian had used this hole to gain access to the cabinets. In an effort to trap him in, we placed a large cardboard box in front of the hole.

Maybe he just didn't have time to think. Maybe he can't think, especially with a large canine snapping a few inches behind him. Instead of heading back to the safety of the oven/fridge/bookshelf hideout that he's been utilizing, the mouse made a hard right and entered the area where the old oven was. He slipped behind the cardboard box and attempted to move it out of the way to get to the hole. The box soon became very, very heavy and pinned him against the wall. Pushing as hard as I could against the box, I could see his tail and hind feet. I discarded the frying pan and opted for something a little more focused. I hadn't put the toolbox away from when I installed the disposal. Beth, who was now watching from a distance, handed me a hammer. I knew the box wasn't doing anything to the rodent. If I eased up, he'd have a chance at the hole, and we'd lose him. I nipped him in the rear with the hammer. Sebastian made mistake number 2. Instead of trying to burrow against the box, he turned around and exposed his head to me.

Good night Sebastian.

Yes, I'll have the fillet with house salad, a charnonney, and 10 grams of crack. Centro Ybor officials argue that the reason Centro Ybor is struggling while Baywalk is flourishing is because Baywalk does a better job of marketing.

Excuse me... BWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA..

Ahem, sorry.

For those of you in South Florida, Centro Ybor is like putting CityPlace on right on Clematis. It just doesn't seem right.

I remember when Centro was first planned. Everyone was bummed because we though Ybor would be overrun with franchises, leases would skyrocket, and the bars that we loved would no longer be able to afford to stay there. Ybor is heaven when you're 22. We knew the rules. 6th ave to 9th ave was the safe zone. You didn't go north or south of it if you didn't have to. Even in the zone, you wanted to stay on 7th. People came to Ybor for one reason, to get blasted off their ass and dance until 3AM. The demographical makup was obvious. Singles 18 and up. Of course, the numbers decreased proportionally with age. Yeah, there were 30 and 40 somethings, but not so much. They were the peoply you'd point at and say, "Man, I don't want to be the old guy hanging around at bars when I'm that age!". Cops were at every corner. Jesus Freaks walked the streets warning us of our sins. It was hedonism at its finest.

"Hey, you know what would be a great idea? Let's put a movie theatre and a Gameworks in Ybor, let's make it a more family oriented atmosphere, wouldn't that be great, Bruce?"

"Yeah, that'd be great Dave, we'll make lots of money.

And so Centro Ybor was born. Meanwhile, accross the bay.

Have I ever explained my theory of trends to you? It goes like this. Trends are started by trends setters. Trend setters usually tend to be arists and gays. They aren't very wealthy but do have an eye for taste. Thus, trend setters will usually settle in a place that is quaint and affordable. Next come the trand seekers. These are usually young single professionals looking for a fun place to live. Next come the capitalists. When an area becomes desireable, it creates business opportunities. Video Stores, Mega Gyms, Drug Stores, etc. Finally, the trend laggards. By this time, the area is now the place to live. A 1000 sq. ft. house lists for $320,000, and it sells immediately. Now big business has completely targeted the area. Small businesses are being bought out to make room for cell phone stores and chain restaraunts. So now we have the opportunist, sitting in their professionally decorated living room, sipping on their latte from the corner Starbucks with an air of satisfaction. Satisfaction because they are among the trendsetters. But in reality, the trendsetters are gone. They can't afford to live there anymore. The galleries, dive bars, specialty shops, and unique restaurants are gone, bought out. They've found a new home, and thus, the cycle starts again.

So what does this have to do with Centro Ybor vs. Baywalk. Well, for one, Ybor has seemed to break the cycle. While the artists are gone, it doesn't seem to want the capitalists. It just wants trend seekers.

Baywalk has been a welcome addition to downtown St. Petersburg. In a way, it separated itself from the cycle. The artists that fled Ybor and Hyde Park have taken up residence on Central Ave, apart from Baywalk. The two peacefully co-exist. I don't know, maybe the cycle is still at work. There are a few indications that trends are being taken advantage of, but it doesn't seem to be a threat at the moment. I guess only time will tell.

Did you ever wonder why there is a difference between "holiday" and "vacation"?

It's official, I'm sick. Caught it from Beth. We're still winding down from the holidays and I'm up to my neck in unfinished household projects. Now I have to go back to work? Not today, probably not tomorrow. Luckily I have one of those jobs that can be performed anywhere as long I have a computer and and a fast internet connection. Did I say luckily?

Phase I of the bathroom remodel is almost done. The new tile is down and grouted, and the new sink and vanity are in place. All I have to do is secure the vanity and hook up the sink. Should be completed any day now... yes, any day.

Next up are the garbage disposal and the new dishwasher. Oh yeah, did I mention that I still have to study for Microsoft exams and train for a triathlon as well? I don't have time to be sick. We also have a mouse. I can hear it behind the fridge, right now. I set traps out, so I'm waiting for them to go off. Go little mouse, you like peanut butter, just take a little taste. The little bastard has been clawing at our garage door creating piles of wood splinters everywhere. It runs out in the middle of the night, collects Belle's food, and stores it behind the oven.