Pub Crawl?

If you like beer as much as I do, how about "Around the World in 60 Pubs"?

This around-the-world drinking tour begins in London on March 24, 2008. The price: a bargain at $9,990. If you book before December 1st, the first two nights of drinks are included.

Don't forget to include some extra time for rehab when you get back.

Christmas Lights

Many thanks to Kevin for helping me put up Christmas lights today. It was around 80 degrees outside even though it's almost December. I don't think it will we will have a white Christmas.

Thanksgiving 2007

We had a great Thanksgiving meal at my house followed by a few beers at Cricketer's after the turkey buzz wore off (Sam the Cat's turkey buzz took a couple of days to wear off). Many thanks to Dana for doing the cooking.

East of Midnight

We are in the process of doing shift bidding at work. It's done by seniority (I've got 9 years). It looks like I'm going back to the midnight shift (7:00 PM - 6:30 AM) since my current squad filled up before I got to bid. I could have gone to dayshift or other evening shifts, but I would have to change areas and possibly work for less-than-desirable supervisors.

On a good note, Starbucks is now open 24-hours.

The State Opening of Parliament

I watched the State Opening of Parliament on C-SPAN last night when I got home from work. No one can match the English for interesing ceremonies that date back hundreds of years (some of the members of the House of Lords also date back hundreds of years). I personally enjoy the part where Black Rod gets the door slammed in his face (see picture). If you have no idea what I'm talking about, see the discussion below. It will make more sense when England re-takes Florianopolis as one of their colonies.

Source: http://www.parliament.uk/about/images/work/blackrod.cfm

The State Opening of Parliament is when the sovereign (the Queen) comes to Parliament to formally inaugurate a new Session of Parliament. She delivers the Queen's Speech from the Throne in the House of Lords' Chamber outlining the government's plans and legislation for the coming year. Black Rod is sent from the chamber in the Lords to the chamber in the House of Commons to summon MPs to hear the Queen's Speech. Traditionally the door of the Commons is slammed in Black Rod's face to symbolise the Commons independence. He then bangs on the door with the rod. The door to the Commons chamber is then opened and all MPs follow Black Rod back to the Lords to hear the Queen's Speech.

A quiet afternoon in Florianopolis

Today is day three of my four day work week. This week has been fairly quiet. I've written 2 tickets so far today.

If you've ever wondered but were afraid to ask, no we don't have tickets quotas. They are called "suggested minimum" or "expectations" but never "quotas" as that would be illegal. I'm not sure what our expectations are (it's never quantified), however if we fall below the suggested minimum, we are sure to hear about it from the boss-man.

Privacy Policy

Since my blog is not password protected, anyone can view the content. If you want to complain about any of my material, please call:

• West of the Rockies: 1-800-618-8255 (toll free)
• East of the Rockies: 1-800-825-5033 (toll free)
• First time caller: 1-818-501-4721
• Wild Card line: 1-818-501-4109 (anyone can call)

Christmas Shopping

We are under starter's orders for the Christmas shopping season. Now that the biggest fake holdiday of the year is over (Halloween), it's time for the Christmas shopping season to begin. As I write this entry, around 1:00 AM, I'm sure retailers everywhere are setting up their Christmas displays.

I always thought retailers waited until Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) to begin the Christmas shopping season. When I'm elected King, this will be one of my rules. I believe that the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas is a decent amount of time to get into the Christmas spirit. I'm certainly not a communist, but setting up Christmas displays on November 1st so that they can maximize Chistmas shopping revenue is a little excessive. Plus, here in Florianopolis, it's around 80 degrees every day which makes getting into the Christmas spirit somewhat difficult. I also think I can be nice to everyone for about a month. Any longer is pushing it.

P.S. - If you taken offense to my references to Christmas, please follow the following instructions:

1 - Turn off your computer and don't visit my site again.
2 - Call internal affairs at the Florianopolis Police Department and complain about me, even though this blog has nothing to do with my job.
3 - Call 1-800-ASK-GARY and tell them you want to sue me. Be sure to use promotional code: KMA.

Cruises

My brother and I just got back from a cruise this past Sunday (10/28/07). We sailed aboard the Carnival Legend from Tampa, FL. I should have my photos posted in a few days when I've finished editing them.

If you have never been on a cruise vacation, I highly recommend it. Other than work, where else can you goof off for a week at a time and get away with it.