Origins of the French drain

Ya know when a writer uses a title that has nothing to do with the topic being covered - just a clever reference or obscure analogy? Yeah ... not the case for this blog entry.

That's right - we actually had a rather formal discussion surrounding the topic of the construction, use, and even current plans that we have for this technology. No wonder no one else but me, Billy and Kevin show up for breakfast!

So for the 2nd week in a row, I'm absolutely positive I may be only 1 of 3 people that reads this blog. Kevin is from Royse City so I'm not sure we can really call what he does reading ... but we'll count it anyway.

I was only going to use it as a subject line because I was certain the topic would be a dead end but I was wrong - Billy needs to install the common drainage technique at ProSoap to protect some electrical lines and solve a pooling issue and Kevin ...

... STOP ...

I started writing this last Thursday and was not able to complete my thoughts. Considering I can barely remember how to get from the garage to the bathroom, I'm giving up on this week's blog. It was pretty boring anyway. And if it wasn't, I couldn't remember!

It did have a cool title. Anyhoo, a good friend of the MMM Breakfast Club sent me a note over the weekend stating that he could not post comments. I suppose I never looked at the admin settings which were set to only accept blog members responses.

Moving forward, I'm opening it up for abuse. So go ahead ... Jeff! I know you're dying to prove me wrong on a previous post.

Stay tuned for more wacky, inconclusive, scatter shooting from Yours Truly. I leave you with a great Proverb: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1)

... and a picture of a French Drain ...

Alligators, Underwater Bandwidth, and Outsourcing in 3 Minutes

Based on the title, I'm positive this will only be read by 2 people other than myself. This morning offered up a crazy array of topics and good 'ol man burns from all around the table. To recap ...

Billy claims that his new bike is 3 minutes faster than the old bike. Sounds crazy but since he is a triathlete (is that a word?), we should take his word for it - this is important stuff to him ...

What am I saying? The dude is off his rocker. I think he just pedaled faster due to the excitement of a new toy. That still doesn't take away from his athleticism - I hope the extra time translates into a higher finish in his next race. Check out his team at tri-prosoap.com.

OK - back to ripping on Billy. He also claimed this morning that there are alligators up in the north river on Lake Ray Hubbard. Although I'm willing to believe there has been the occasional alligator around Texas reservoirs, I've never seen any nest sitings while fishing through there over the past 7 years. To the left is a picture of an American Alligator nest. If you see one on Ray Hubbard, please call the Garland Police.

I know they are rampant in Texas around the Gulf. Ironically, that's where Billy used to drink too much beer. He's probably having a flashback or maybe he saw the guys that caught the fish on the right and got scared.

That is an Alligator Gar - a common fish found up in the river (although not that big - the picture is a record.)

Here's some links that I thought would give Billy's concerns some validity but turned out to be vague and downright silly in some respects (sill belf?) I like how the game warden never says there is one but there could be. Not a shred of proof ...

• Video coverage of an alligator on Ray Hubbard - Nice try - it looks like the Loch Ness videos - a disgrace to Rockwall citizens - we look like the interviewees after a tornado in OK.

More vague reports that don't make sense:

• Heavy rains sweep 10-foot alligator into Lake Ray Hubbard. - Although Lake Lavon is apparently a natural habitat for alligators.
• Interesting forum - watch out jet-skiers!
• Large alligator spotted in Lake Ray Hubbard: Rockwall: Heavy rains sweep reptile out of natural habitat.
• Alligators Sighted Near Dallas, Texas - The author of this article is well known for his Big Foot research (no kidding!)
  

So what else? Well, I claimed that Global Crossing built 1/5 of the world's underwater bandwidth to Asia/Europe. I also stated that these monstrous networking wonders were encased in pipe measuring a mile or more in width.

No one really believed that so I would expect a response to this blog proving me wrong so I can be the moron that I advertise. When I'm wrong, I'm usually really wrong. Maybe my use of the word "mile" refers to the mileage of undersea cable that Global Marine has installed and services. So prove me wrong.

So what about Kevin? Well, the more we find out about what Odee Company does, the more we find out what they don't do. We're still not sure what Kevin is producing each day, but we do know that it's not t-shirts, hats, or anything else cool. He didn't deny invitations as a possibility and mostly makes Chris watch the machine while he checks his email.

Wow. I though Mens Morning Mentoring was supposed to be uplifting and encouraging! Well, we did get our heads together and pray ... which is a great way to start any work day.

Links:

• MIT Open Course Ware

Unanswered questions:

• Should Jerry start an Executive MBA later this summer or simply do a free one from MIT?
• When will the Self's get a new grey hound to compliment Castor?
• What happened to Robert, Justin (Billy's neighbor) and Mike?
• Will Justin Graves ever show up?

Show up next week to find out the riveting details. And post a comment, will ya?

All the best, jerry

Hebrews 13

1Keep on loving each other as brothers. 2Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. 3Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Summer is officially here.

So the Stars went out on a low point ... as a final kick in the pants before I get my summer amnesia on route to college football season, my Stanley Cup Final Home Game 1 tickets came in the mail today. Oh well - bust out the golf clubs and lawn chairs and enjoy watching Osgood get lit up by the you Pens (Crosby, Malkin, Staal and the likes.)

Anyhoo - the 33 year hope is dead, hockey will not waste any of my time until October and I've decided to re-purpose this blog and actually use it!

Today I plan to email some buddies and direct them here for recaps on our Mens Morning Mentoring breakfast talk. Whether it's just dudely topics that get noodled on while scatter shooting, prayer requests, scripture sharing ... whatever ... I'd like to capture our thought process as we grow in the fraternity of manship.

Stay wise ... Go Stars.

Stanley Cup Playoffs - Biggest Seven Game Comebacks

So my Stars are in a deep hole against a Red Wings team that can seemingly score at will. All hockey knowledge aside, I am just the 13 year-old kid that remembers Mikey Mo getting drafted #1 and desperately watching my team try to get to Lord Stanley's Final.

OK - so hockey superstition rules and this is how I see it (which never works out but I don't care):

Besides the Boston RoidSox, only 2 other professional teams have come back to win a seven game series after being skunked 3-0. They are both NHL teams:

In 1942, the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Detroit Red Wings after being down 3-0 in the Stanley Cup Final!

In 1975, the New York Islanders manhandled the Pittsburgh Penguins after being down 3-0 in the Quarter-Finals.

There are 33 years separating those 2 come backs. There are 33 years separating 2008 from the last comeback. Is it in the ... Stars ... for the next NHL 3-0 comeback?

I'll be watching Wednesday to find out. Either way, what a great season! This team will only get better. Next stop ... Pittsburgh!

j