Top 5 Pet Peeves

Sometimes when I am living my life I run into people that do things that just piss me off. These things I call pet peeves. Now a pet peeve is actually defined as a minor annoyance that an individual identifies as particularly annoying to them, to a greater degree than others may find it. Since I am currently experiencing some of my pet peeves on a daily basis I decided to write about them. 

1. People acting like they don't have anywhere to go when they are walking with me
2. People who constantly miss pronounce things after I told them what they are called
3. When trying to hold a conversation, one word answers ( Awkward silences) 
4. Not having work to do, but having to stay at work
5. When people stand super close to my and look over me shoulder while I work

Reason for # 1

Basically, when I am walking through a metro station and I know that I have to swipe my metro card I will get it out and ready to swipe before I get up to the card stand. If you are walking with me and you wait until you get to the card stand to reach for your metro card then don't fucking walk with me. I do not want to wait for your ass.  

Reason for # 2

If I am training someone on a new software or talking to them about an idea I will try to take my time to explain everything to the best of my ability. If I am saying one thing like SysInit and they keep saying SysI-N-I it pisses me off. Especially since in my line of work SysInit and Sys I-N-I are two very different things. 

Reason for # 3

When its just two people in a country where everyone else doesn't speak English I would want to have a conversation with the other person who speaks English. I try to start conversations about anything and everything. This person will only respond with one word, or nothing that helps the conversation continue. 

Reason for # 4

This may sound stupid, but when I am at work and have nothing to work on it pisses me off. I still have to sit at work and try to look productive so I can get paid. People can't know that I finish work too fast, or that they can get work done without me being involved. 

Reason for # 5

This is my number 1 pet peeve. While I am sitting and working and people are right around me I hate it. I need my space, especially when I am moving from computer to IO cabinet to computer. It gets really difficult when people are standing right where I need to be. And since they are the customer I can't really push them out of the way, or can I? 

Blazers vs Pistons

Trailblazers just couldn't get it going tonight against the Pistons

It was a long drive home from the Palace of Auburn Hills to my town home on the south side of Ann Arbor tonight. I made the journey to Auburn Hills to see the greatest professional team in Oregon battle against the worst team in Michigan. If you compare the two teams records and the team on paper this should have been an easy game for the Trailblazers. I, like the Blazers, came into this game cocky.

Crawford just couldn't heat up shooting 4-13

I could point out the home court referees or the fact that the Blazers are on a road trip and were playing a back to back. I could also point out that the starting Small Forward Gerald Wallace received a dnp (Injury/Coaches Decision??). But I feel that this game should have been a victory for the Blazers no matter what. The fact is the Blazers came out cold. Jamal Crawford and Wesley Matthews shot a combined 7-27 while LaMarcus Aldridge was sidelined due to foul trouble most of the first half.  This game got so out of control that even Luke Babbitt and Chris Johnson got to see some PT. In Luke's 4 minutes on the floor he was able to shoot 0-2 and commit 2 fouls.


In the second half it looked like Nate motivated them enough to actually put effort into this game. The Blazers got within 1 point many times throughout the second half but could on take the lead. I was holding my breath down the stretch when it looked like we would work a miracle out with a 3-pointer, but they were not dropping tonight. I have to make note of the final play of the game, because it was an embarrassing to watch. With 4.4 seconds on the clock, the ball is in bounded to Raymond Felton who takes it up the sidelines. Aldridge comes over to set a screen, but Raymond tries to go behind his back and kicks the ball backwards towards the Pistons hoop. Detroit falls on the ball and the game is over.

It was rough being a Portland fan in Detroit tonight.

Point Fanny Pack

There is this game that my girlfriend came up with to pass the time simply called the point game. A person is considered a point if they are wearing outrageous outfits such as:

• tie dye
• Jandles(jesus - sandals)
• fanny pack
• jean shorts
• crocks (if you’re an adult male)
• jacket/sweatshirt tied around the waist

If the person is wearing one of these articles they are considered a point. This point goes to your running total, or your total for the day, depending on how your group of friends would like to play the game. If you find someone wearing multiple points you will get all the points. Keep track of what points you are calling though, some cheaters like to call a double point(repeat calling of a single point).

Feel free to post your points as you see them. You will see in large public gatherings, such as Comerica Park, will be full of points. But the best kind are the rare points in the every day world, such as the man with the fanny pack and double phone clip. My girlfriend would call this extremely un-dateable. So go out and start judging people for what they are wearing, it will make you feel better for sure. The list of points is open, so if you find something unforgivable please post and let me know.

Enjoy.

Detroit Lions Vs. Chicago Bears

Detroit, MI - It was a very cold morning on January 3rd. But that didn't keep people from coming out to cheer on their favorite worst team in the NFL. It was the battle for the title of the best worst team in the NFL. The Chicago Bear(7-9) came into Ford Field looking to end the season with a W. The Detroit Lions(2-14) were hoping to do the same on their home field. The reason that I was able to venture to this game was because my wonderful girlfriend got me the best tickets in the house for my Christmas/birthday present.

We got to the game leaving from Flint in a good amount of time. We found a parking lot to park at that was the same parking lot that my buddies and I tailgated at before the Final Four the year before. Brought back some good memories. I of course being the wanna be photographer that I am brought my Nikon DS5000 with my telephoto lens that zooms up to 200mm. I how ever did not know that Ford field had strict rules on how big a zoom lens was allowed. I had Ashley, my girlfriend, put my camera and the regular lens and zoom lens into her purse and we departed from the car to Ford Field. As we walked in the cold we got closer to the stadium and around to the entrance. Ashley and I had to split up and get into separa

te lines. Of course the line for the men was 5x longer then the women/family line.

As I was waiting in line thinking that Ashley got in with my camera and extra lens I stand corrected. Ashley comes and tells me that I cant take my zoom lens. I just assumed that it was because it was an extra piece of equipment. So I take the camera and extra lens back to the car while Ashley goes in and finds our seats. As I walk back the sca

lper who was selling tickets on my first trip was now looking for extra tickets. I get back to the car and switch out the standard lens for the zoom lens. When I get back in line and finally to the pat down stage the man notices my lens and the zoom. He tells me that this intense of a lens is no permitted. Already have walked to and from my car 3 times I did not want to make a 4th and 5th trip. The guy tells me I can try to get in and tucks it away into my coat. I am able to get in with it and feel really good about myself for doing so.

We get to our seats, Section 128 row 23. Right on the 40 yard line on the Bears side line. I am in heaven. Da Bears are my favorite football team. We take a look around and notice that there seems to be more Bears fans then there are Lions fans. I had to pleasure to sit next to one of the Bears fan who by the end of the game was calling for Coach Lovie Smith's job. Besides the Bears love to my right Ashley and I were annoyed the entire time by a yapping drunk Lions fa

n behind us. He would not stop talking, at one point Ashley and I c

ounted to see what would be the longest time he remained silent. It was 6 seconds.

The first half was a tight game in the first half with the Lions being ahead 13-10 at the break. In the first half there was an interesting moment when a fan decided to jump on the field and run from the Bears end zone to the Lions end zone. He did not streak or anything just one crude gesture to the refs and laid down in the end zone.

The second half of the game was all bears. This game was Jay Cutlers best game of the year. He threw for 4 touchdowns and had 0 interceptions. A rare occurrence for the Bears starting quarterback. My favorite player, #23 Devin Hester, did not score a single touchdown against the Lions. But ended the game with 75 yards receiving . The bright spot of the game with 2 touchdowns on 46 yards receiving was Devin Aromashodu.

The Bears ended the game with a W. Winning 37 - 23 against the Detroit Lions. It was a great day. Even though it was 20 bellow and the walk to and

from the car was super cold it was worth the walk. It was a great January 3rd and it was a great Birthday present.

Best Christmas Gift

In Portland on Christmas day the Portland Trailblazers went up against the Northwest leading Denver Nuggets. I was fortunate enough to have tickets to this game, and what a game it was. My brother and I got to our seats early like I always like to do when I go to a game. Our seats were in the lower bowl behind the Nuggets bench. At one end of the court you could see Ty Lawson and Chris Anderson warming up for this Division match up. On the far side of the court the young rookie power forwards were warming up for the Trailblazers.

As people kept pouring into the Rose Garden my brother and I decided to get a tasty beverage. He went domestic with a Coors light while I went local with a Widmer Hefeweizen for just $1 more. We convened back at our seats and continued to enjoy warm ups. Soon

the lights went dim and we were listening to a great national anthem by a local saxophone player. The national anthem was over and the starting line ups were being announced. The crowd was very excited for this Christmas day game, especially after the hard, but successful road trip we just got back from(3-1).

The game started out very close, going bucket for bucket for most of the 1st quarter before the Nuggets center Chris "Birdman" Anderson came up with a couple of blocks. At the end of the first quarter the Nuggets were leading 31-24. Brandon Roy was the only reason that the Blazers were staying in the game. The blazers played a tough 2nd quarter which ended with a Brandon Roy shot with 2.0 seconds left to bring the Trailblazers within 2. Roy ended the half with 25 points. The second half held much of the same as the first half. But the Blazers didn't rest all of their hopes on Brandon's shoulders. This half Martell Webster picked up the slack(11 points) along with the two point gaurds Steve Blake(17 points, with 5 three-pointers) and Andre Miller(14 points). The game staid tight until mid way through the 4th quarter. The blazers picked up their defense and went on a run that allowed them to take over the lead and hold the lead till the end of the game.

In the 4th quarter the blazers were able to edge the Nuggets by 13 points. In the end the blazers were victorious with a score of 107-96. The player of the game was Brandon Roy with 41 points, 6 Rebounds, and 4 Ast.

Overall the game was the closest game that I have been to in a long time. The Blazers 6th man(the home crowd) was really in attendance this game. Getting as loud as they could and standing for the final 3 minutes of the game. And as a sign in the stadium stated, Santa is really a Blazers fan after all.

Memphis Blue's is Rocking

This week MemphisSmoke promises to be a good time. They have live performances on Wednesday thru Saturday. Starting off Wednesday at 8:30 Howard Glazer and the EL34s will be performing. Howard Glazer has just released his second album Liquor Store Legend which he is hoping to do as well as his debut album Brown Paper Bag which climbed all the way to 19 on the Living Blues national radio charts. His music grabs from every inch of his musical background be it blues, rock and acoustic. He is accompanied by Bob Godwin on the bass and Charles Stuart on the drums as the EL34s. This Wednesday night promises to be filled with some great blues music and some good drinks as always with $2 20 oz bud lights and $3 U-Call it from 4PM - close.

Thursday and Friday night starting at 9 and 10 respectively will continue the good music and good fun with The Reefermen performing live. From what I have been told by my brother, who has seen them once before at Ye Old Saloon in Royal Oak, this is a great band that play a lot of great classic covers. If you check out there myspace page you can sample of their original tunes which you know they will be performing Thursday night. The Reefermen are more of a rock jam band with some sick guitar offered on most of their tunes.

Finally closing out the music at Memphis Smoke for the week we have the Detroit Blues Society Jam. The music will start at 9, the jam will start at 10. Bring your friends, your instruments, and even your band and jam with the Detroit Blues Society.

Top 5 songs to listen to on a Monday morning
1) It's All Right - Traveling Wilbury's
2) It Was A Good Day - Ice Cube
3)The Time's They Are A-Changin' - Bob Dylan
4)Roll the Windows Up - Nipsey Hu$$le
5)One Fine Day - The Offspring

Guitar Teachers

In my never ending quest to become a great guitarist, or even just an average guitarist, I have stumbled across a web site devoted to teaching people like myself some simple songs. This website is called Three Chord Guitars. The man who started this site goes simply by Mojo. I know what your thinking, but its not the same Mojo on the popular Detroit morning radio show.

This site is totally free and Mojo hopes to keep it free for as long as he can pay the hosting fees. This is a very helpful site when it comes to learning some popular songs such as Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues. It also is great to learn just some sweet blues riffs. This website overs up chords charts and videos for beginners up to experienced players. So if you are interested in learning some guitar riffs, or learn to play some of your favorite songs visit Three Chord Guitars.

Another great place to learn just some cool riffs and folk type songs is a web site called Lesson share. This website is hosted by Jeff Keen who is a great guitarist. He focuses mostly on Folk and country style riffs to teach you via videos and tabs. My favorite that I am trying to master right now is the Sugarfoot Rag for Guitar.

If you work better with just reading tabs then a great website that has a great archive of guitar and bass tabs is Ultimate Guitar. You can search through the archive with ease and they have multiple tab styles for many of the songs. The Ultimate Guitar Tabs archive also offers news on popular musicians along with open forums where you can talk about music events in your area, along with picking techniques and such.

Top 5 Guitar songs I hope to learn
1) Folsom Prison Blues-Johnny Cash
2) Sugerfoot Rag
3) The Times The are a Changin' -Bob Dylan
4) Cocaine Blues - Johny Cash
5) Here Comes the Sun -The Beatles