Friday night we had some severe weather.  There were tornadoes in the area.  One of them touched down on the east side of Indianapolis.  This tornado hit about half a block from where I work.  It followed a road and tore up houses for about half a mile where it mainly knocked over tress and damaged some roofs.  Then it probably really touched down and it tore through the area directly north of work.  It destroyed an apartment complex called Falcon Point.  Not just an apartment building but an entire apartment complex.

News Story Here

Saturday morning as I sat in the recliner sipping a coffee I read the story in the newspaper and like most people that read about things like this it seemed far away and distant even though it was only about 12 miles from our house.  I read about the 70,000 plus residents that were without power.  I logged into my servers at work to verify that we had power and that was the last of it.

Sunday more and more news stories came out about the damage but it didn't really hit me until I drove to work on Monday morning.

I just can't describe what I saw. 

These apartments are leveled.  The houses that suffered damages are mostly salvageable.  The fast food restaurants, bank, gas station, and liquor store at the intersection near the apartments all suffered heavy damage. 

To make a bad situation even worse this isn't the best area of town.  Most of the people didn't have renters insurance so they pretty much lost everything.  At work, four people are now homeless. It's all just so sad. 

---

Other stuff....

Friday night we did something but I don't remember what.

Saturday friends came over and we drank and hung out.  Before the drinking we went shopping.

Sunday we went to Kings Island.  It was a gorgeous day!  We hit the water park and some of the roller coasters. 
Monday I worked, drove to Peru to meet my parents half way since my sister had been staying with us. 

Tuesday I worked.  I also watched Rambo (the new one, number 4).  It was actually a really good movie.  Sly still has it.

That's it!

What a busy last few days....

Friday:  This was Carb Day at the speedway.  It was cold, nasty and rainy.  The practice and race was canceled but thankfully the Stone Temple Pilot concert was still on.  STP was pretty good but the ravages of drugs have definitely clouded some minds.  The one thing that made me extremely happy was that they didn't try playing a bunch of new songs but stuck with the songs that made them famous....Lady Picture Show, Wicked Garden, Interstate Love Song, Vasoline, etc.  The crowd was kind of rowdy but what can you expect for a general admission concert that was only $10?

Saturday:  Golf with friends.  What a fun day on the course.  It was absolutely stunning outside.  I even managed to hit some good balls.  After gold I went to get supplies for the 500.  My brother and his girlfriend came down in the evening for the race.  We all went out and ate dinner together. 

Sunday:  Early early early morning.  We woke up about 4:15-30 for the race.  We got around and was on the road around 5:20am.  We got into the racetrack and started the party!  What a day!  The 500 is truly one of the best days that you can have.  If you have never been to the Indy 500 you should make every attempt to come to Indy and join the party.  Words just can't describe the day. 

First off, the 500 is the single largest sporting event in the world.  400,000+ fans converge in one area for one race.  The infield is no longer the infamous 'Snake Pit' of yesteryear but it is still crazy.  It's basically one solid party.  Our group this year was 7 cars strong and had about 20 or so people. 

We had a grill going almost all day long.  I made breakfast, lunch, lunch2, and lunch3.  After the race it takes about an hour or two for traffic to work out of the infield, but once you get out it's pretty smooth sailing out of the speedway area. 

I'll have to post some pictures later.

Monday:  Nothing special.  Watched Indiana Jones which just happened to kick major ass!  Also my brand new $1,000+ veneer broke in two biting into a burrito, WTF. 

Tuesday:  Dentist appointment.  Played some GTA4.  Went shooting.  Pictures later...but Trace and I had a good time. 

That's the last few days, it's nice to have a catch up post.

I've been really busy lately but nothing totally interesting has happened.

Amanda went to Florida for the weekend.  She had a rough first night.  Lost luggage, car problems, etc. 

A friend of ours son is spending a couple weeks with us.

I'll update more later.

It seems like everything is non-stop lately.  I can hardly keep up with all the things coming at me.  Yeah, things aren't *that* bad, but compared to the status quo of the last year or so it's been busy.

Yesterday after work I came home and had some relax time...I wanted to take a nap but decided that I would stay up instead.  I played some GTA4, watched LOST, surfed the net, and then worked out.  Soon after I finished working out Amanda came home.  She worked out while I cooked dinner.  We had a late dinner, but it was pretty good.  I made grilled chicken salads with spring greens, sprouts, baby cucumbers, cheese, broccoli, salad crunchies, roasted almonds, and balsamic vinegarette dressing.  We also had a side of steamed broccoli that I put kosher salt, fresh ground pepper, and parmesan.

Nothing else too exciting.  I have a dentist appointment today and will (finally) be getting my final veneers put on my teeth.  Thank GOD!  I also have a cleaning so that sucks.  I hate cleanings, hopefully I have a good hygienist that can just clean my teeth and save the lecture.  Yeah, I brush my teeth 2-3 times a day but I don't floss every day.  Who does? 

Nothing else exciting...

Sadly vacation is over and it's back to the daily grind.  I miss summer vacations of yesteryear! 

Our vacation was fun.  We didn't do anything earth shattering but it felt like we did a lot.

I'll have to post details later.

Amazingly we managed to pretty much stick to the Body For Life plan, although we missed our last two exercise days since we were on the road.  Not too bad for a vacation.

Well, I think that I figured out while people get campers. Sadly the realization of the reason has kind of shattered my childhood camping experience. So first a little background information.

My family camped. In fact one of my earliest memories is camping with my family. Well, it wasn't just my immediate family, it was grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Everyone had a camper and we spent many weekends at the campground. I was about 3 or 4 at the time since my brother was just a baby.

Over the next few years we had different pop-ups and trailers. There were camping trips to the UP of Michigan, many to Florida, all over Indiana and some to Ohio. It was really one of my favorite things to do during the summer. Granted it wasn't really 'roughing' it but it was fun.

Sadly my parents have sold their final camper and the camp lot we owned.

I have suggested camping to Amanda but it has never really went anywhere. Granted the camping that I have suggested is more camping and less recreation. We came close to buying a tent and trying that, but we never did. I really don't know how much Amanda would have enjoyed herself.

This week is our first stay at home vacation. We aren't doing anything like normal (ie a cruise or something).

Finally on to the reason why people have campers....

They don't want to sit at home for a vacation.

---------------------------------------

Today Amanda's dad came over and we are hitting a bunch of wineries throughout Indiana. We have hit one already and are on the way to the next. Oh, I typed this on my phone in the car so please excuse any typo's.

Wow, it's been a while since I updated.  Believe it or not but I have been kind of busy.  Plus, we are on vacation even though we are going anywhere for vacation.  It's the first go nowhere vacation that we have had together. 

Saturday we watched a movie.

Yesterday I had someone help me put in the emergency backup sump pump.  I also cleaned a little bit.  We then ate dinner.

We ate dinner with a girl that I graduated high school with 10 years ago.  I haven't seen her since graduation and we reconnected via facebook.  It turns out that she lives about 3 miles from us (we are about 130 miles from where we grew up).  Amanda was nervous about meeting her and her husband but I think we had a pretty good time.  It's nice to meet new (old) people.  Plus it's always nice to have someone else to call to come by for parties and cookouts.  Especially since everyone is popping out kids and can't drink. 

After dinner we stopped by DQ which was a mistake.  It seriously looked like a bomb went off in there.  The place was a disaster.  All that they were missing was a rat crawling across the floor.  I used to work at DQ when I was 16 and it never looked like that.  Kids today....

I know that a lot of you read my wives Xanga so you know that we are doing 'Body for Life'.  So far, so good!  I'm really excited about the program and the concept behind it seems really sound.  Every summer for the past few years I've spent a couple months shedding the winter bulk and this summer is no exception.  I'm excited for this program because it is so different from anything else that I've done before. 

Ok Xanga world, I want to get a lot of our running around done today, so I am going to go get around!

Today was a good day.  I left work early to meet Amanda at the doctor.

Then I wanted to get my concealed carry permit renewed, but I needed to get a new drivers license first with my correct address.  I went to the license branch, waited in line and they told me I need a bill or bank statement with my address.

I went out to my car and found a letter from the insurance company for membership dues.  I took that inside and they said that didn't work because it didn't have a due date.  I went back out to my car and found an actual bill and went back inside.  I once again waited in line and was told this time that the bill was to old. 

Seriously, WTF.  I just want to change my damn address not get my first license.  How the hell do all these illegal immigrants get licenses? 

I then go to the bank to get the bank statement that I'll need to get my license.  I also get the $50 and $75 money orders that I'll need to get the lifetime carry permit.  There was no one in line but the bank was soooooo slow.  Listen, if someone takes the time to walk their ass into the bank help them over the bastards in the drive up. 

I get that stuff and go back to the license brand.  I do manage to get a new ID this time. 

I go over to the police station to get my permit and they were closed.  I missed them by about 5 minutes. 

Oh well, I'm ready to go tomorrow or Friday.

I came home and tried watching some TV but proceeded to take a nap.  I woke up about 7:30 on the couch and then came up to lay down with Amanda.  I slept until about 9pm or so.  The nap felt really good because I was pooped. 

We woke up and had dinner while we watched American Idol.

Next week we are on vacation!  I'm looking forward to having a couple of days off.  I need a break.  No big plans though.  Maybe we'll sneak away to Chicago or possibly even Nashville.  That will probably be about the limit of our traveling with gas prices all crazy.  

Ok Xangans, have a good night, I'm off to bed.

Nothing too exciting yesterday.  They poured our driveway...we can't drive on it for two weeks though.  The yard is all botched up now. 

I mowed the yard yesterday and went for a run.

I went to bed too late and had trouble waking up.

Today I  have a doctor appointment.  I also need to go get a new concealed carry permit...I was an idiot and let mine expire last week. 

Nothing else super-exciting.

What in the heck is up with gas prices?  They went up $.20 yesterday to $3.66.  Has the gas prices started to affect any of your decisions?  I just wish that I could shower when I get to work, because if that was the case I would so start riding my bike to work.  Maybe I should get a moped.  HAHA, could you imagine my goofy ass on a moped!

Ok, that's it for now.  I'm still planning an essay....but that will be later.

This past weekend I was gone doing military stuff so there isn't much to share.  Thankfully it never rained hard nor did it get cold...only damp and chilly.  I was definitely glad to sleep in my own bed last night!

We watched 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' in the theater.  It was funny but be wary, that it has a couple male nudity shots.  That makes two movies in a row with guys junk in them that I watched....is movies headed in that direction?  The junk shots actually did contribute to the plot believe it or not. 

That's about it.  I'll have a better post later on.