Prosthetically Hip

And there was much Rambling

February 22, 2012 10:29am

Despite a run-in or two with the Po-Po which basically amounted to them telling us to get out of the way, Mardi Gras this year with my krewe – the St. Anthony Ramblers – was pretty smooth and a lot of fun. As usual the Panorama Brass Band was great, and everyone seemed to have a good time. My, how has our little Krewe grown.

I managed to get a few photos and some video:

Abitas: Andygator (Aimee), Wheat (Em), Red Ale (Wheel as Che Guevara – get it?), Light (Paul), Turbodog (Panda), Restoration Ale (Allen), Purple Haze (Bea). Bonus: Alice and Misty!

Barnaby performing a wedding on the balcony at the R-Bar on Mardi Gras Day.

The St. Anthony Ramblers, with our band, Panorama Brass, at our first stop – the R-Bar.

All over the goddamned place

February 14, 2012 5:51pm

So, I decided to make a quasi-random disc for the truck. I pulled it together by moving the scrollbar randomly up and down, and picking a song on the screen. Interesting mix:

Q Lazzarus – Goodbye Horses
Slayer – South Of Heaven
David Bowie – New Killer Star
Cannibal Corpse – Stripped, Raped And Strangled
Etta James – At Last
Katatonia – We Must Bury You
? & The Mysterians – 96 Tears
Mr. Bungle – Pink Cigarette
Goldfrapp – Human
Tom Jones – Motherless Child
Bernard Herrmann – Twisted Nerve
NOFX – Linoleum
Nina Simone – I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl
The Church – Under the Milky Way Tonight
Type O Negative – Kill All The White People
Blackalicious – Deception
High on Fire – Fury Whip
VAST – I’m Dying
Massive Attack – Heat Miser
Mastodon – The Emerald

And if you wish to give it a listen, I made the playlist on YouTube and embedded it below if you want to give it a listen:

Going Backwards to Move Forward

February 13, 2012 9:40am

Who’s got two thumbs and can indicate that their motor vehicle is moving in reverse and is therefore eligible to acquire a tag that indicates that said motor vehicle abides by a baseline safety standard? This guy.

The other week I got a ticket for making a proper stop at a stop sign. You know – the “rolling stop”. Well, while the cop was writing me up, he offered me a two-for-one special: in addition to the stop sign ticket, he’d ALSO give me an expired brake tag ticket.

How thoughtful. I coulda kissed him right then and there.

Actually, in a way I am thankful. I would much rather be pulled over for something when I am completely sober vs. when I may be less so. My brake tag expired in July and I hadn’t renewed due to a reverse light issue – they didn’t work. Fuses fine, bulbs fine. I had replaced an electrical component (that had a literal meltdown) that I hoped would be the solution, alas no.

So, what did I do? Called my EE (Electrical Engineer) buddy and Best Man™, Mikey, and we spent some quality time on a cold day under the truck.

On a series of good first attempts, we basically tracked the issue down to the reverse switch on the transmission. Got a new one down the street, and managed to install it (and perhaps more importantly) move the wires from the old wiring harness to the new one on the first shot.

So now, I have a valid brake tag and a date with traffic court tomorrow. I guess it’s good to have a date on Valentine’s Day.

#00FF00 Onions

February 11, 2012 10:55am

So, I can safely add an item to my never-buying-again list: Green Onions.

In January, I saw an article on Lifehacker (gorram I dig Lifehacker) on regrowing green onions with just a cup of water.

Fast forward to a week ago and a rudimentary fridge cleaning. Bea was about to pitch some old green onions, and I luckily had the presence of mind to grab them and try out the kitchen hack.

Well, as you can see to the right, it works. I cut them down to just above that plastic band, and ran a straw across as a support.

I’m never buying green onions again.

Abita Amber in a Can!

February 7, 2012 4:45pm

Finally, Abita has come around to canning. Don’t get me wrong, there’s something I really like about the Abita bottles, but here’s why I’m happy they’re canning (in no particular order):

1. Weight. That much glass vs. that little aluminum really adds up, especially when you want to stay mobile. And let’s face it, that’s often. At 13oz, the can weighs 6oz less than the bottle – which means a 12-pack of cans weighs 4.5lbs less!
2. Disposal. We take our glass to the Metairie Target to recycle, all other recyclables are picked up curbside by the city. So, now we can just rinse it at home and put it on the curb. And when you have to take your trash with you, just crunch it down. Easy. Quoth the Ballzack: “I don’t go to Metairie unless I really have to.“
3. The Po-Po. The Quarter/Mardi Gras/Hashing. While you can walk around with a drink throughout NOLA, you’re not supposed to in the Quarter. Let’s face it – there are a number of circumstances where a cop might take it easier on you if you don’t have glass in your hand.
4. Wheels. Hopefully this will help with the tire hazards in the city. Now if only we could do something about all the errant nails…
5. Shelf Life. Beer in aluminum keeps better and longer than in glass. Not that you should have to keep it for long…

I unfortunately don’t have a bottled or draught to compare it to, but it more or less tastes like good ole Abita Amber.

Excelsior.

Brace Yourselves. Mardi Gras is coming.

February 3, 2012 9:48am

Thank you, Imminent Ned. I made the above image the other morning after seeing something similar on r/NewOrleans.

Yes, Mardi Gras approaches (Holy Crap, Krewe du Vieux is Saturday!), and I’ve been immersing myself in Game of Thrones and work. And mead.

I’ve almost finished book five of GoT, and I’ll never finish the mead – there’s just not enough in the world for me.

That’s all for now. Back soon, I promise.