Cheesy Videos XXX (That Would Be 30, Not Some Kinda Pr0n Clip)

Wherein we ask Siri a question...



Who'd a thunk it?

Today's Happy Hour Soundtrack Entertainment

"You and me and rain on the roof"... as John Sebastian sang...



Most entertaining and cool in a couple o' different flavors... both temp-wise and entertainment-wise.  What a wonderful summer this has been, and IS.

Cheesy Videos XXVIII

I was gonna post this as an update to the post below and then I thought "Wait.  We have a category for this!"  And so it is...



Cheesy.  No doubt.

Cheesy Videos XXVII: A Sop to St. Paddy's Day

Alternate title: "Scrapin' the bottom o' the blogging barrel, yet again."



Never let it be said we don't celebrate the holidays.

Update, 1810 hrs:  I remembered I had a photo of the band on this cigar.  Here it is:

A picture is worth 1,000 words, or one cheesy video.  Or sumthin' like that.

Cheesy Videos XXVI

Nothing more to add other than what's in the video...



We have an empty chair or two, Gentle Reader, and the beer is both (a) good and (b) cold.  C'mon down!

Just for comparisons sake, here's what Happy Hour looked like in Former Happy Days, Part Two:



Much more pleasant, eh?  The cherry tree, Gentle Reader, it was all about the cherry tree.

What I Did This Morning (Cheesy Videos XXV)

We're in ABQ as we speak but it was NOT a good trip.  We hit snow just outside o' Santa Rosa, it got pretty slithery west o' Moriarty and downright treacherous in the mountains just east o' ABQ, where it was a 35 mph world for the better part of an hour.  Then we dropped down into ABQ and all was right once more.  For what it's worth... The Tart handles pretty well in snow, her driver not so much.  Gettin' old is a bitch.

Cheesy Videos XXIV

It's been over a year since we posted a Cheesy Video, so dontcha think it's time for another one, Gentle Reader?  This one is about one of the Usual Subjects, which is to say wind and dust.  Herewith:



Well, there ya have it.  It'll prolly be another year before we post a Cheesy Video.  You're welcome.

I MIGHT Have Learned Sumthin' Today

My Inner Eight-Year-Old was insistent with his nagging today and we blew off configuring the new box in favor of a rare outdoor Happy Hour.  Rare... for this time o' year... I should add.  So I shot the video below... since v-logging is all the rage these days, or so I've read in other places.  And who am I to disregard the trendy and the topical?

We had some issues with this vid.  First of all, there was no sound when I viewed the vid locally.  At first I thought that was coz I also had Pandora goin' on my phone and the phone mutes Pandora when you switch to the video camera.  So I naturally thought ALL audio was muted... but NO!  The Tube o' You picked up the audio just fine.  And then there was the video orientation... I shot in portrait mode but the vid came out in landscape, which means I look like I'm layin' on my side.  But the Tube o' You came to the rescue yet again, with their editing tools that let you flip the vid 90 degrees.  This ain't technology... it's MAJIK.

So the net-net is I get a letter-box video.  NEXT time we shall shoot phone vids in landscape and won't have these issues.  I don't wanna hear stuff about fanboi phones and how they get this stuff right without intervention or external processing.  Coz it's a case of "Fanboi phones?  FANBOI PHONES?  We don't NEED no steenkin' fanboi phones!"

Cheesy Videos XXIII

It's been a while since we got the Mino HD out and recorded a Cheesy Video for your entertainment and/or enlightenment, Gentle Reader.  But!  Wait no more!  Here it is... new and mebbe improved!

Or mebbe not so improved.  We're still All Cheesy, all the time.  Watch in HD if'n ya have the bandwidth.

So now it'll be football until around 1700 hrs (with the teevee's volume turned up an extra six clicks to overcome the wind noise), at which time we'll turn to Center Ice to see if the Woeful Wings can snap their SIX GAME LOSING STREAK.  Aiiieee.

It Feels Downright Chilly

Here's what we look like at the moment...

I'm thinkin' I might have to break out the flannel for this afternoon's Happy Hour unless it warms up right quick like.  I kinda doubt we'll make the forecast high o' 77 at the rate we're going.

I had to get up at oh-dark-thirty again this morning, what with The Green Hornet having yet another crack o' dawn car doctor's appointment over in The Big(ger) City™.  So... up at 0600, shower, shave, toss down a couple o' cups so as to be caffeinated enough to safely pilot a four-wheeled conveyance on the public thoroughfares without endangering the civilian populace, and out the door at 0730 hrs.  And back by 0900, having spent all of 20 minutes at Rembrandt's Auto Body getting TGH's top latch replaced and then moseyin' over to the car wash to get her cleaned up a bit.  She was REALLY looking quite shabby, what with not bein' washed for at least two weeks... on account o' because it just ain't smart to drive a convertible with a leaky top through the car wash.  Like this:

Would you believe that video has been viewed 812 times?  S'true, Gentle Reader.  I think it's coz of my wonderful harmonizing with Keef on rhythm gee-tar.

Cheesy Videos XXII - After Dinner Whiskey Hour 06-27-2011

It's been nearly a year since we've posted a Cheesy Video and we find ourselves out of practice and the Cheesy Video Camera out of juice.  But neither of those circumstances will stop us, of course.  Herewith this evening's After Dinner Whiskey Hour, aka "watching a storm blow in."

It wasn't much of a storm... there bein' only enough rain to make The Green Hornet resemble a Green Leopard (spots, yanno?).  But we takes what moisture we gets, even when it comes in the smallest of doses.  And the dose most certainly WAS small, Gentle Reader.

Cheesy Videos XXI

A semi-successful attempt at catching fireflies and heat lightning on video:

Just a relaxing summer's eve in suburban Pittsburgh.  What?  You were mebbe expecting pics of the NE Regional Association of Good Humor Men convention?  I apologize.  I haven't written that post yet but I AM working on it.  In the meantime, here's an illustration of the difference between the Air Force and the Navy.

This is my room in the Visiting Quarters at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Base.  Pretty spiffy, eh?

This is berthing on a US Navy warship, specifically the USS Little Rock (CLG4).  OK, I'll give ya that this is a WWII/Cold War era cruiser.  But.  Quality of life, Bay-bee.  Quality of life.  

Cheesy Videos XX - Summertime Kids

It ain't all military pomp and circumstance and male bonding on this trip... there are the grandkids, too.  Earlier this evening:

SN2 has a great lot with a verdant grass-covered hill that's just perfect for rolling down.  I have it on good authority that this same hill also does double-duty as an excellent sledding hill in winter.  But there are some things we'll accept on faith and do not have to witness in person.  I don't DO "winter" anymore.

Actors appearing in this edition of "Cheesy Videos:"  Grandson Sean, Granddaughter Ava (in the pink top) and brief cameos by Granddaughter Angelina (with the kite) and Great-granddaughter Aria... in the white dress.

Cheesy Videos XIX - Drainage...

...or lack o' same.  A quick trip out around P-Ville to illustrate our marvelous drainage system, otherwise known as 18th Street.

And now it's down Highway (US) 70 and into Beautiful La Hacienda Trailer Park.  



What a nice day!

Technical note:  I publish these things once the video is uploaded and before the vids are available in HD, i.e. fully processed by The Tube of You.  HD usually comes on line about an hour or so after the post date/time.  These things ARE better in HD, believe it or don't.  For what that's worth.

Cheesy Videos XVIII

Happy Hour earlier today...

I said cheesy video, didn't I?

Cheesy Videos XVII - Sunday Happy Hour

So... there we were, enjoying Happy Hour under the awning on the verandah on a lazy Sunday afternoon...

I got it only slightly wrong, coz the cottonwood blossoms (or whatever they're called) are quite visible... at least in full-screen HD.  It only got better as the afternoon progressed... in that the sun caught the cottonwood detritus better and better as the sun sank ever closer to the horizon, increasing the angle of my view and bringing those blossoms into their full glory.  Which, I suppose, is a classic case of "ya hadda be there."

So... about that hockey game:

Phoenix, which won 50 games during the regular season and finished fourth in the West with 107 points, has not reached the second round of the playoffs since the Winnipeg Jets accomplished the feat in 1987. The Coyotes can change that when they face the Wings in Game 7 at Jobing.com Arena on Tuesday night. The Red Wings have not won a Game 7 on the road since 1964.

[...]

Brad Stuart and Darren Helm scored for Detroit, which was 20-4 on home ice the past two postseasons. The Wings have won only once in three home games this series. Detroit was given three power plays in the first 4:42 of the contest, but failed to convert and didn't receive another man advantage all day. Phoenix, meanwhile, went 3-for-5.

"That's probably the game right there," Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg said of his team's inability to score on the power play early. "If we would have scored one or two, the outcome would be a little different. Their power play was better than ours tonight, their PK was better than ours. I think that's the game."

Heh.  Z is the master of understatement there.  The power play was non-existent, the PK, in a word, sucked.  Howard gave up one soft goal (the shortie) early but the rest of the goals were  the result of defensive breakdowns that were, in the end, inexcusable.  All in all a miserable game for my Wings and one that would be completely forgettable if not for the implications it holds in this series.  Game Seven is Tuesday night in Phoenix and it will be a corker, no doubt about that.  I hesitate to predict the outcome but you KNOW where my heart is, Gentle Reader.  We remain hopeful.

Spring Is Springing

And said Springing always involves wind... fierce wind, as it were... here on The High Plains of New Mexico.  Rogers and Hammerstein made Oklahoma famous for its "wind rushing down the plains" but believe me:  all you Okies ain't got nuthin' on New Mexico when it comes to straight-line winds.  Tornadoes, yes... you win, and you can keep all of those, thank you very much.  I'd prefer El Casa Móvil De Pennington remain in Roosevelt County unless I choose to move it elsewhere under its own motive power.  We need no relocation assistance from the Weather Gods.

So. You'll note we're having a minor wind event from the illustration on the left. Which means we shall take Happy Hour indoors today, all while rockin' and rollin' in both the figurative and literal senses. I tried to illustrate what it's like inside El Casa Móvil De Pennington during a wind event about a year ago when we first began playing around with our tiny and oh-so-cool Mino HD.  So... just for grins and giggles, here's that effort.

Cheesy Videos V: "It's Just the Normal Noises In Here"

We’re having a bit of a wind event here on The High Plains of New Mexico tonight (33 mph, gusting to 48). I thought it would be interesting (if only to me) to check out the MinoHD’s low-light capabilities and give all y’all a taste of what it’s like to rock ‘n’ roll inside an RV during high winds. The results are a little short of spectacular… or even acceptable… in that the Mino’s mic didn’t quite pick up the sounds of the wind like I hoped it would. But that obviously isn’t stopping me from posting the results… as I have no shame and very little taste. (Watch in HD if'n you have the connection speed to do so.)

The title of the vid (and one part of my lame commentary therein) is a hat-tip to Tom Petty. “Damn the Torpedoes” was in heavy rotation back in Former Happy Days... specifically those in Oregon and Ol’ Blighty... which is where I happened to be when the album hit Number One on the charts (Oregon in '79, England in '80). I spent more than a few minutes listening to selected cuts off this album while waiting… oh-so-patiently… for YouTube to finish processing this vid. Entertaining, that was.

The video wasn't (and still isn't) all that good as far as illustrating the wind noise goes, as the Mino has some pretty good built-in noise cancellation. But as I noted:  I have very little taste and NO shame.

Cheesy Videos XVI

We haven't done any video for a good long while, so why don't you join me for a two-minute walk around El Casa Móvil De Pennington?  It's actually pleasant outdoors at the moment but not pleasant enough to... um... stay out there for any length of time.

You'll note this is the 16th installment of Cheesy Videos, which is an irregular feature at EIP.  Previous editions are here, conveniently located in one place for your viewing pleasure.  As if you care.  Heh.

Update, 1242 hrs:  Apropos of not much... we've warmed up to 34 degrees as I type and the racket of falling ice on my roof is MOST annoying.  Alas, we are trapped within the walls of El Casa Móvil De Pennington until the roads (and my driveway) are clear so there's nothing to do other than grin and bear it.  And why are we trapped, you may ask?  Because The Green Hornet HATES snow and reacts in the most vicious of ways should I attempt to force her into dealing with it.  We know when not to push things, Gentle Reader.

Cheesy Videos XV... Or: I Need a Video Capture Card

What we're watching this evening:



That would be a lil over two minutes of the 2009 Isle of Man TT, and more specifically the Super Sport race. The video is just TOO damned cool in high-def... it's almost like being there, and I kid thee not.  There are on-board cameras giving you the racer's eye view, aerial shots from helicopters, and roadside views... and it's ALL amazing stuff, this!

So... what we're watching: The IoM TT lasts a whole week in June of each and every year and there is racing on alternate days during TT week. I went for the entire week in 1982 and that was my PEAK motorcycling experience... something I doubt I'll ever be able to match, let alone exceed. If you chased the link above you'll note the reference to "Mad Sunday:"

The future of the TT is always in doubt with regards to the safety, especially "Mad Sunday" when any member of the public can ride the mountain section of the course which is open one way from Ramsey to Douglas.

What The Wiki fails to mention is there are no speed limits on Mad Sunday.  Which means I rode across the top of Mt. Snaefell well in excess of 100 mph... two up... and laughing all the way.  I also rode every inch of the rest of the course while (mostly) observing the posted speed limits, and more than once at that.  And knocked back more than a few pints of Okells while watching the racers speed by, mere feet from where I was enjoying my pint.

Ah, memories.

Cheesy Videos XIV - Drainage, or Lack of Same

Just a lil trip out and about in P-Ville on a rainy day, the purpose of which is to illustrate the fact Portales has no storm sewers or a drainage system of any sort... other than our streets.



Sorry about the shakiness of the video. The roads in these parts are rough, the video camera is small, and I was mostly preoccupied with my driving. But... this should give you a flavor of the high entertainment value that comes from driving around town on a rainy day... but not on a mo'sickle.