Happy Thanksgiving

...to everyone!

Be thankful...be happy...be stuffed!

The Mullet is Not Dead...It's at the NHRA Races

This is much later than promised, but finally my vacation post.

SNARK ALERT: If anyone is going to be offended by trailer park or redneck references or other such snark, I suggest you skip reading this post.

If you are still reading...don't balme me!

Every year in October we go to the NHRA races in Las Vegas. We camp and hang out and watch the races. It is a great little get away. I'm not as good with the camera as most of you all, but here are a few photos to set the stage.

If you have never been to the NHRA races, let me tell you they are teh awesome! That feeling you get deep in your stomach when a 7,000 horsepower engine blasts off. The unique smell of "top fuel" nitro that burns your eyes and nose so pleasantly. The beer. The fair food. The cute little drivers in their fire suits.

Speaking of which...may I present my NHRA boyfriend, Larry Dixon?

Okay, well his car anyway. Believe me, he's just as adorable out of the car. Almost. CO knows all about this, by the way, and he's fine with it. He likes the car, you see. Besides, my NHRA boyfriend made me love going to the races, so CO will live with that. Also, he has an NHRA girlfriend, Melanie Troxel. Funny, but I have no pictures of her. Go figure.

Another great thing about this trip...due to the proximity of the Las Vegas track to Nellis Air Force base, you get treated to a free air show in addition to the fast cars.

It is a great bonus...except when the whole flippin' fleet takes off at dawn. Between the planes and the cars, this isn't so much a restful vacation.

But even with all that wonder, the very best part of the races just might be the people watching. See, for a fast sport, things can move rather slowly if there is an oil down on the track or something. You have to learn to entertain yourself during the lulls in the action. But if you're a people watcher, there is entertainment aplenty.

Entire trailer parks empty out for an NHRA event. It is a place of Van Halen* concert t-shirts, ribbed, white, Wal-mart brand tank tops, tattoos and...mullets. If you thought the mullet was dead, you just haven't been to an NHRA race recently.

During one particularly long stretch of track maintenance, I pulled out my camera, and began randomly snapping photos. CO asked what I was doing. I quietly told him I was playing "I Spy a Mullet." He began to play, too. These gems weren't hard to spot, seeing as how they were sitting in the row in front of us:

The second one was subtle...he just wasn't embracing it like the first guy...but in my book, still a mullet. And the fun does not stop here. Oh no! There were more. So many more.

I'm not sure this is technically a mullet, but Dude...seriously.

This next one certainly qualifies, however. The ponytail kind of blends in, but focus on the dude in the yellow baseball cap, and I think you'll agree.

Oh, and this guy is livin' the life.

But wait...there's more!

You may need to zoom on this one. Long-sleeved grey t-shirt in the middle there. Yeah...that's a good one!

So there you have it...my mullet collection. All of these shots were taken in the span of an hour or so, and there were even more...believe me! But either I was not quick enough to snap a photo, or the subject was moving and the shot came out blurry, or I was too far away. Still, I think it is a fine collection, if I do say so myself.

I did manage to snap two other folks that amused me, as well. First, this guy:

He's kind of hard to see, but he's the one near the center with the short shorts, shaved legs, no socks and black dress shoes. Yes, you heard me those are black dress shoes! What the fuck is up with that?

And this one...this was the photo CO wanted me to take. I think he was a bit smitten with her.

CO said it was going to get a bit lost in translation, because the photo is not picking up her black bra underneath that white tank top there, and you cannot see her boyfriend's long pony tail (the mullet that got away), but you do get a shot of the cig, the tribal arm band tat, and the gut hanging over the belt.

Ahhh, the NHRA. You gotta love it.

Yes, of course I DO relaize we were there too. And for those of you with long memories, you might recall this post in which I admitted to some decidedly redneck behavior well worthy of any of these fine, mullet-sporting folks. What does that say about us? Frankly, I am certain that somewhere, my photo resides on a blog-full-o'-snark, and I simply remain blissfully ignorant.

I'm sure any snark thrown my way would be well deserved.

Oh, and while CO and I were there over Halloween, we decided NOT to wear our costumes (picture previously posted, but since deleted). We were pretty sure no one would get it.

*And yes, I like Van Halen. But still...

Joel Is The BEST!!

Let me say it again...Joel is teh awesome!

Why, you ask? Well, I'll tell you.

On last Friday's Fuck Off Thread (FFOT), I proclaimed a hearty fuck off to the guy who was harassing my parents...a collection agent masquerading as an attorney. Many of you rallied to my support, threatening A Team tactics and all sorts of misery on this scum-sucking bastard. I can't tell you how much that support meant to me from all of you.

Then Joel took it one step further. He used his skills and knowledge to sniff out all kinds of useful information on this guy, this law firm, and various legal ramifications my parents can pursue.

Just last week, I was considering ending this blog. All of the political blogging wore me down, and I just wasn't feeling it. I forgot for a moment why this hobby is so valuable. It is the connections with other people that make this worthwhile.

Believe me...I'm feeling it now. I remember now.

So in case I don't tell you all enough, thank you! I am glad you are all here...a part of my life in a strange but important way. Even when we don't agree, I still learn valuable things from you, and frankly, I would miss you if you were gone. All of you.

Thanks again...especially you, Joel.

Veterans Day

Thank you to all those who have served this country, kept us safe, and made it a place where we can live free...even when that means doing incredibly stupid things.

I would like to especially honor some of my favorite men who are veterans...my daddy, my grandpa, my Uncle Jim, my cousin Dennis (who earned three purple hearts in Vietnam, and is still the most decorated soldier in his little corner of the world), my cousins Bill and Phil, my Uncle Tommy, my car club friends (Darwin, Ken, Ray, Ed, Norberto), my office partner, Tom, my dear friend's hubby, Doug, and my blog friend Cullen.*

You guys are made of awesome (to steal a quote from Nightfly)! Thanks just isn't enough for all of your sacrifices for this country.

*If I missed anyone...I am sorry. PLEASE let me know, because the oversight was not intentional.

Ugh!

I just spent three whole days interviewing interns. If I have to hear one more person tell me their greatest strength, I may have to stab them with my pencil. Seriously. No more.

But the upside of all this torture is that a) it is much better to be on my side of the table than theirs, and b) we had one crazy guy that, of course, I must share with you.

First, he had an odd facial tick that made him look like the Joker of Batman fame.

While I felt sincerely bad for him, it gave me the creeps. Shudder.

Then there was this...

Interview 101...or things NOT to say during an interview:

1) My mom was real happy I got this interview.

2) My mom thought I should become an accountant because she has done her own taxes before, so that is how I decided to become an accounting major.

3) (Delivered in a monotone, with absolutely no affectation whatsoever) My mom says my greatest strength is my outgoing personality.

4) My experience in customer service taught me how to deal with difficult people. Sometimes customers can be angry or unhappy, and I learned that the best thing to do is just hang up on them until they cool down.

Mmmm kaaaaaaaay. Thanks so much for taking the time to come by and speak with us today. We will be in touch.

Home

I am back from vacation. I have a post mentally prepared about it, that I will post sometime this week. It is full of snark and pictures, so prepare yourselves.

For today, I just wanted to remind everyone to go vote. No matter who you are voting for, make yourself heard. It is the only way the system works.

And no matter what happens today, each of us should remember that America may not be perfect, but it is still the greatest country in the world. And it will remain so, regardless of the outcome of this election.

Yay, America!