Slightly Rough

New Rancid Single

2009-04-08T22:02:00.001-05:00

Craig is blogging, check it out...

2009-03-28T10:31:00.000-05:00

TruetoTexas.com Blog: Texas State History Museum

To all the cars I drove before

2009-01-31T15:34:00.000-06:00

I never finished this one, but what the heck. Here goes...

Jonathan Schwartz mentions in his book that when he was a kid making lists was something he did to calm down when got anxious.

OK. I'm not anxious, but here goes. My mother likes keeping track of cars that people have owned. They're milestones in our lives.

Cars I have owned

1. 1970 Ford Fairlane - bought from a co-worker of my father's when I was 15. Had to wait a couple of months to drive it. It had a bench front seat. I guess this is my midlife crisis, because I want that car back. TFAKA Pete, our friend Pete B., and I all had big blue sedans. We would drive past Kara R.'s house in the morning and honk. We called ourselves the Blues Patrol.

2. 1985 Plymouth Turismo - My parents bought me this when I was graduating from high school. I drove it the whole time I went to UT. No one with legs could fit in the back seat. I would have to put the back seat down and people would have to get in through the hatchback. Glen Benavides from Doctors' Mob rode in the car that way one time.

3. 1990 Chevy Lumina - First car Michelle and I bought together. She drove it out to California after I joined the Navy. Her brother went along for the drive. He left the emergency brake on while driving it one time, that earned him the nickname "Smoking Wheels."

We drove it from California to San Angelo when we transfered there. With a U-Haul hooked up behind. The knuckleheads in Monterey who put the trailer hitch in did it with one or two bolts. We stopped in Phoenix to have someone look at it for some reason, they were horrified.

When we passed through New Mexico we ran into the worst rainstorm I've ever seen in my life. Couldn't see five feet. That was bad because two minutes before we were on a mountain surrounded by 18-wheelers. Then I saw some lights which meant that the truck was within five feet. We managed to pull off at a Dairy Queen. I stood under the overhang and struggled to light a cigarette. I struggled to be able to put it in my mouth, my hands were shaking so badly.

We drove it from San Angelo to New Jersey. Lots of snow. Michelle drove it through many an ice storm in Maryland when she was essential personnel.

4. Mercury Grand Marquis - I'm not even sure about that one. Was it a Marquis or a Grand Marquis? I bought it from Javier, the soldier who sat next to me at the basic Russian course at DLI. He was from Houston too. Our class sergeant, Ron, found out that Javier had never had a drink and was turning 21. So we took him to the Tex-Mex place, was it El Torito that was by the water? Anyway, we figured that seeing as he was Hispanic he ought to lose his drinking virginity to tequila.

Wicked people we were. That night ended up with Ron, Javier, and me stuffed by Ron's wife into their hatchback. We sang Beastie Boys songs all the way home. I'm in my car, I'm going far, and Cuervo's what I'm using.

Javier didn't want to charge me anything for the car, he knew it would die any day. Michelle and I insisted on paying him something, so we made him take $200. After Javier gave me the instructions on how to start it, I regretted on the insisting.

You had to turn the key and leave it in place for 2 minutes. Then you could turn it over once. If the car started, you had to let it run, without touching the gas, for at least five minutes. If it didn't start you had to let it sit for a minute, then start again.

I had to get out of the house way early to make sure I could get to the barracks on time. Once the car started it was pretty good. It got me from our apartment in PG to DLI pretty reliably. Going home, not so good, but that wasn't so much of a worry.

It died after three months, blew a rod. A salvage company gave me $50 for it. So $150 for three months' of driving. Not bad.

5. Mazda RX-7

I can't remember what year it was. We bought it in Maryland off of some Chinese guy. His family had a Chinese restaurant and they gave us some free food and me a beer or two after we did the deal there.

When I walked out to the car, he had taken the plates off. He told me this was a normal thing to do, I had no idea, not being from Maryland. So I drove home with beer breath, in a car registered to some guy with a Chinese name, and no plates. I remeember hoping my military ID would help out on any problems.

That was kind of a fun car to drive. Except in the ice. I was essential personnel at the Fort and lived on post. I would pile everything heavy I owned into the truck to try and put some weight on the wheels. With ice, it didn't matter, I don't know why I bothered. I spun out driving 2 miles per hour.

6. 1994 Ford Explorer

Right before the second transfer to Monterey, we traded in the Lumina and the Mazda for the Explorer. That was the second best car we ever got. It was big, roomy, great for a military family on the move. We could put Abbie's pet taxi on the folded down backseat and she could look at us through the space in between the front seats. After the experience we had with the ice and snow in Maryland, we were certain to get a four-wheel drive.

Over six years, we drove that car from Maryland to Monterey, I drove it back from Monterey to Maryland, we drove it from Maryland to Washington State, then from Washington State down to Houston.

I've seen the whole country through that windshield. I-80 through Kansas, through the Mojave desert, over the Snoqualmie Pass in Washington....Abbie loved that car. She would cry to be let out of her taxi and then quietly sit on the armrest or Michelle's lap. She liked to out her paws on the windowsill and watch as we passed cars. If we passed a truck she would jump back and hide her face in Michelle's arms.

Michelle moved back to Baltimore while I still lived in Monterey, in 1995. We were apart for about six months or so. So I hung out with the boys; Michelle's brother, guys from my language class...Bob was one of them, he, Shawn, and me were regulars at the Taco Bell. I drove, because I like to drive and had the big car.

Bob and I drove back to DC/Maryland together, he in his car, me in the Explorer. We bought walkie talkies and freaked out truck drivers by talking in Russian on them. I had just bought And Out Come the Wolves and I played it the whole way. We stopped at my parents' in Katy. We had to go the Southern route because it was November and we didn't want to get stuck in any weather.

When Michelle and I drove across country in the Explorer, it always seemed like there was a "trip song" that we heard on the radio the whole time. Let's see which ones I can remember:

Hey Jealousy by Gin Blossoms
Queen of Memphis by Confederate Railroad

the squeeze reader: Take Them (They're Yours)

2009-01-04T12:11:00.000-06:00

Links to some covers of some Squeeze songs

Daphne Resting

2008-12-21T20:31:00.001-06:00

DSC00640
Originally uploaded by rrbooth

the squeeze reader: All we need is here

2008-12-06T21:34:00.000-06:00

the squeeze reader: All we need is here

Lily will be back soon

2008-12-06T09:06:00.000-06:00

There's a couple of things this 41-year-old married man has learned in life

2008-10-25T11:00:00.001-05:00

$150,000 Wardrobe for Palin May Alter Tailor-Made Image - NYTimes.com

The missus is pretty frugal, so I've never had to really question what she spends on clothes. If I really did need to, though, I wouldn't be quick to question.

These people questioning this have not learned this lesson.

I'm a bitter clinger

2008-10-25T09:15:00.002-05:00

Heh.

A Random Walk Through Rob's Rhapsody Account; or, It Was Summertime in Northern Michigan

2008-10-14T11:17:00.004-05:00

What I'm listening to at the moment:

Valse de Balfa - Boiling Bayou Cajun Band
Goodbye Girl - David Gates
Slave To Love - Bryan Ferry
I'll Never Fall In Love Again - Burt Bacharach
Pepper - Butthole Surfers
Take The Skinheads Bowling - Camper Van Beethoven
My Funny Valentine - Chet Baker
Love's Crashing Waves - Difford and Tilbrook
Hackensack - Fountains of Wayne
I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' - Frank Sinatra
Little Ol' Wine Drinker Me - Merle Haggard
All Summer Long - Kid Rock

Overheard in the Slightly Rough Household

2008-10-06T21:21:00.003-05:00

Me: OK, Daphne, that's Lauren - we like her. That's Whitney - we like her.

The Missus: Why didn't we name her Heidi?

Me: Because Daphne's a cool name and Heidi's a bitch?

The Missus: How would you know? Do you watch the show?

Me: No! I don't watch the show. It was just on the TV.

Welcome to this humble neighborhood

2008-10-05T20:01:00.002-05:00

I was craving gorditas from La Michoacana and started on my way. I got partway and remembered that there had been a Vietnamese sandwich shop in the same strip mall that closed before I could try it.

Then I started to crave Vietnamese sandwiches, which I like even more than pho, the Vietnamese standard.

I turn the car around and head for Bellaire. Lee's Sandwiches!

All the while I'm humming Bhindi Bhagee.

Daphne, Don't Be Ridiculous

2008-09-24T20:42:00.002-05:00

Well, yep, we are the chumps in the cat phone book.

But she's so cute!

Well, please give a hearty welcome to Daphne Tilbrook Booth!

She is named, of course, for a Squeeze song and for the Squeeze frontman.

Georgia objects to Houston mayor's outburst at aid workers | Chronicle | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

2008-09-23T20:19:00.000-05:00

Houston Chronicle: Georgia objects to Houston mayor's outburst at aid workers

Some salty language from a frustrated Mayor Bill White to emergency workers last week at Reliant Park has kicked up dust from Austin to Georgia.

After receiving a complaint Friday from Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, Gov. Rick Perry yesterday asked his staff to investigate comments White made to two Georgia Forestry Commission employees who came to Houston to help manage the distribution of federal and state supplies to area residents hit hard by Hurricane Ike. Perdue said in a letter to Perry that White had "verbally and profanely abused" the women.

If Governor "Shit for Brains" Perdue had been on the god-damn US 59 and Westpark Tollroad for three god-damn hours yesterday in the car with me I'd have filled the asshole's ears with a whole lot more words the little bitch never heard before.

Pussy.

Bug-Out Bag List

2008-09-21T17:44:00.010-05:00

This is part of my series of lists on being prepared.

A bug-out bag is a kind of a survivalist term for a basic disaster supplies kit. I like the term bug-out bag because it emphasizes to me that I should try to keep it small enough to fit into a couple of bags the wife and I could carry.

This gets into a tricky question. I'm not going anywhere without my wife and our cat. The cat won't walk on a leash, I don't think. So, I have to try to imagine us carrying her in a pet taxi and carrying backpacks. I really hope it doesn't come to that, but I'll plan for it.

Anyway, here's the list for the home kit. I'll have to think about a kit to keep at work or in the car too.

1. Clothes

I'll wear a left-over pair of combat boots I have broken in but are still pretty new. I prefer Dickie's for work now and have several pairs. They're pretty durable. A white t-shirt and denim work shirt. In the bag will go some spare skivvies and t-shirts.

2. Water

Water is heavy and I'd rather not carry it, but you've got to have it. I'd rather not carry big bottles, the smaller ones are more flexible for packing. I don't know if the smaller ones are sturdy enough. Do I need to go with a canteen? Well, I always have many bottles of water in the fridge and freezer at home. I'll have to come back to the canteen idea. I guess that's a measure of how pessimistic I am.

We're supposed to have three gallons of water per person for 72 hours. Two people, plus a gallon for the cat, that's seven gallons which weighs 58 pounds. That's a lot to carry. I guess we'll plan on carrying that in the car and if we have to go by foot we'll take what we can.

3. Food

I never had to eat an MRE, thank goodness. From their reputation, I think I'll be trying out some camping food. Three breakfasts, three lunches, three dinners.

Lily eats Fancy Feast. I need six cans of that.

Can opener

Pringles - It wouldn't be a hurricane without potato chips.

4. First-Aid Kit

This list looks good.

5. Other

-Swiss Army Knife or Gerber Tool
-Toilet Paper
-Duct Tape (always a good and useful thing)
-Buc-ees sells sunglasses that are also safety glasses (picture)
-Mess Kits - I guess the contents of this will depend on the food I get and if I can heat up food in the packages. At least I will need something to heat water in.
-Hand-Crank Radio
-Portable TV
-Batteries (AA)
-Compass
-MP3 Player
-Cash
-Silver Coins - I have a few, not enough though. I know I should be a gold bug, but I would think that silver would be better for everyday needs purchases.
-Deck of Cards - We're always up for a game of spades.

Preparedness

2008-09-21T17:23:00.004-05:00

I've been very lucky when it comes to experiencing disasters. I was in the military and been in the Pentagon a few times. Any one of those days could have been a terrorist attack. I've been to the top of the World Trade Center a few times. Any time could have been the day. I've been through several hurricanes, flooding events, blizzards, and even watched a whole bunch of people evacuate our very large city just because a hurricane was near. (I'm not being superior, I seriously considered leaving as well.)

All those disasters, we were lucky. I've been kind of prepared, but I think now is the time to take things a bit more seriously and get prepared.

I'm going to make three lists on the old blog here. All are disaster-preparedness lists of varying purpose.

1. Bug-Out Bag - (List) - The backpack that holds the supplies of last resort. If we have to leave the house, leave the car, and hoof it or take shelter somewhere, we'll have some food and other things to keep ourselves alive. I can't think of a circumstance where this type of bag would be necessary, but if I prepare such a bag, then I won't need it.

2. Survival supplies for the house - If we lose electricity for a couple of weeks, I need to be better prepared than we were for Ike. I expect that in such a scenario we would be able to resupply, but I don't like to rely on other people, either private businesses or the government.

The items on this list are intended to be left in the house if the need to leave arises quickly, but they could be packed into a car if need be.

3. Survival infrastructure for the house - Some rather large things I'd like to get for the house to make it more hurricane resistant. They are not going to be things we would take if we were to leave, in general.

I don't normally edit blog posts after I publish them, but I think I will make an exception.

Stuff's getting better. Stuff's getting better every day.

2008-09-20T14:54:00.004-05:00

Well, one week later and things are quite different and better here. We're not sitting in the dark wondering if the plywood on the windows would hold back a two-by-four launched by a mini-tornado.

In fact, we were out of power for maybe nine hours, which in this storm gives me no right to gripe about anything. So, no complaints from me, we're very lucky and happy. I lived through Alicia here and we were without power for a week. The year before or after we had bad tornadoes up off of 1960 and also had the power out for a week. I know it is no fun.

I did a few things to prepare or help that other people have found interesting or helpful.

1. I try to never let my gas tank get below half full. I was able to top up the two cars on the Thursday before the storm (Friday night/Saturday morning). We would have been able to drive on a limited basis for a week before we would have had to fill up.

2. I always have bottles of water in the freezer. They are great for keeping things cold in a cooler. When they thaw, you have cold water to drink. The downside is that the bottles aren't designed to handle the freezing and get misshapen. They can even spring a leak.

Anyway, when I went back to work at the huge corporation on Tuesday I started stocking the freezers on our floor with half-liter bottles of water. My co-workers were able to take them home and didn't have to hunt for ice.

3. We got plywood cut for Rita to fit our windows and equipped with Plylox. I can't recommend this product highly enough. They seem more secure and easier to use than any other way to get plywood up. I probably didn't need to do it, but I prefer to be overprepared.

4. The hand-cranked radio and the battery-powered TV were great things to have. We both find Frank informative and non-alarmist. I guess we'll need to buy a new hand-held TV after the switch to digital.

Now, like a lot of people (I assume), I want to be even more prepared next time. So here's my list of things to do to prepare for the next hurricane.

1. Buy a generator.

I've never really wanted one. It seems like a great expense for a few days comfort, but I think that I can just save the cost of all the food in the refrigerator and make it worth it.

2. Buy at least two five-gallon gas cans. Keep them full during hurricane season. I'll need to pour the cans into the car once a month and refill them, as I understand it, gas has a shelf life. One can is for the generator, the other is for a car. We can get to San Antonio or Austin on a tank of gas, but I'd like to have the cushion if evacuation burns up a lot of fuel.

3. Stock more canned food.

If we had lost power, we would have had a feast for a few days cooking everything from the fridge, but after that we would have been looking for canned food like everyone else. I'm starting to buy a few things here and there and putting them in the bottom of the pantry.

4. Stock some MREs, or camping food.

OK, I know it sounds survivalist. One of the first political books I ever read was How to Prosper During the Coming Bad Years by Howard Ruff and I always thought it was alarmist stuff. I agreed with the politics of it but I don't think civilization is going to collapse or anything.

On the other hand, I'm a skeptic when it comes to relying on other people to do their job. I figure I've got to do things myself. I can't rely on the Wal-Mart to open back up after another disaster.

So, I think I also need a bug-out bag for the missus, the kitty, and me. We won't be walking anywhere with the cat and I can't forsee us needing to leave, but I don't want a tornado to leave us without shelter and we have to rely on the kindness of others for food.

Heck if we get a Cat 3 hurricane that pulls an Allison and comes back and floods us, food will be a long way off. I'll try to be ready.

5. We need some batter flashlights. I have a great Q-Beam like light but it has a limited life.

Well, one of the missus and my favorite things in the world is to drive to Galveston or Surfside and walk on the beach. We do that several times during the year, even in the winter. We're so sad that it probably won't ever be the same. We're ready to come down and spend some money though. Let us into the Purple Cow as soon as possible!

Hurricane's over folks, keep moving, nothing to see here

2008-09-15T16:31:00.004-05:00

I was in line at the Sam's this morning. It was two deep to check out. Less busy than a typical Saturday.

I had some stuff for the studio in the basket. We were open yesterday and today, business was good. People without A/C are happy to partake in ours and we are happy to have them.

The guy behind me in line says, "Windex? That's a weird thing to buy in the middle of a hurricane."

I don't like strangers talking to me so I said the first thing I thought, "Hurricane's over."

Turns out the guy was from Seabrook and it wasn't over for him. I wished him luck.

There's a few things that need fixing, no doubt. Electricity, gasoline, and stoplights.

This is Houston, though. We don't stand around waiting for someone to take care of us. We open for business.

The nail place near us is open. Guys have shown up in the neighborhood and are hauling away brush. The sandwich shop near us has made a killing. Odd considering that everyone has been eating sandwiches for days.

Where does the mayor get the authority to declare a curfew? I went looking for this curfew declaration in writing on his web site. Nothing there. I searched the city charter, nothing.

He was saying on the radio that there were some exceptions to the curfew, and seeing as I am an early riser, I'd like to know if I can be on the road.

Or maybe the mayor has decided that he can rule by decree.

Hurricane Ike - Photos

2008-09-13T08:17:00.001-05:00

DSC00494
Originally uploaded by rrbooth

Flooding!

Hurricane Ike - Photos

2008-09-13T08:16:00.001-05:00

DSC00497
Originally uploaded by rrbooth

Hurricane Ike - Photos

2008-09-13T08:15:00.001-05:00

DSC00496
Originally uploaded by rrbooth

Thanks to clean living we're on the clean side of the storm

2008-09-13T07:09:00.003-05:00

I complained up and down that this storm was going to interfere with my wine-drinking time, and it did. But a little while ago the power came back on after eight or so hours, so no complaints are further to come from this house.

We got a little sleep, the wind was howling and the house was complaining with creaks and shudders on occasion. We're near Highway 6 and Westpark and got the clean side, although it didn't sound so clean.

View Larger Map

I opened up the garage back door a few minutes ago, the back yard looks fine. Thanks to Ike for powerwashing the deck for me.

I peeked out the front and, uh-oh, somebody's lost a bunch of shingles and they're in my neighbor's yard.

It is still raining like a son-of-a-gun, so figuring out which roof will have to come later this morning.

Fort Booth, Redux

2008-09-12T18:09:00.001-05:00

DSC00490
Originally uploaded by rrbooth

Three years ago we put up the boards for Rita, now it's Ike.

Deja Vu All Over Again

2008-09-11T20:40:00.003-05:00

The boards are back up.

I paid some painters to put the boards up on the second floor. We already had the wood, it makes us feel safer, what the heck, why not.

Plylox, by the way, are the best.

We have cat litter, box of wine, and a big bottle of vodka.

We'll be fine.

Seven Years

2008-09-11T13:27:00.001-05:00

RIP Mr. Eichler.