Johnny Rockstar

I'm Famous

2010-05-14T15:49:11Z

My hands are in this video too.

Jail Break

2010-05-07T17:46:26Z

This morning the dogs crawled through a hole in the fence and went into the neighbors’ yard to play with their dogs. Apparently this is not the first time it has happened. Incidentally, the first time it happened I was asleep and Kathryn was in the shower so neither of us heard the husband when he was knocking on our front door. Worse still, the neighbors keep their back door open in the morning so their dogs can come in and out as they please. So when our dogs make their uninvited visit, they go directly into the neighbors’ house, play with their dogs and annoy their cat. Fortunately, they are super nice people. So when I went over there this morning to collect our dogs, we had a nice chat about his dogs escaping yesterday and his other neighbor returning them. It’s a neighborhood thing I guess. To top it all off, our dogs were too excited to come home, so I ended up picking one up and tucking him under one arm while I drug the other back by the scruff of her neck. All in all, it wasn’t the greatest way to wake up.

Caution: Deliciousness to Follow

2010-04-26T15:19:48Z

Saturday morning we loaded up the dogs and headed to the dog park. Unfortunately, we never made it. Instead, we ended up spending most of the day running errands and getting ready for a barbeque dinner we were hosting--one that we had decided to hold just before falling asleep the night before. The dogs, however, did get to go inside two pet stores and help pick out their toys and treats. So it wasn’t a total waste on their end. Also, couple of friends brought their part-greyhound puppy over when they came for the dinner, so the dogs spent several hours running circles in our backyard.

But back to the meal. First I rubbed seasoning on cubed pieces of steak. Then I made a BBQ-Mango marinade and glaze while Kathryn deveined a bunch of jumbo shrimp. We marinated the shrimp while I cut up red, green, and yellow peppers, zucchini, onion, and mushrooms. Then skewered everything, slapped them on the grill and hit ‘em repeatedly with the glaze. Kathryn made coconut-mango rice and I spent the last few minutes whipping up a double-pitcher dose of Mojitos. One friend brought some salad, another brought some beer and it was a meal made in heaven.

New Dog

2010-04-23T16:47:17Z

We adopted a new rescue dog, Samson, formerly Badger. Technically we’re still in the trial phase, but I don’t see us giving him back – even if he ate one of the eyes off my sock monkey and has run away twice. Shilo seems to be much happier with a companion, and that’s the important thing. We just have to get him into doggie school ASAP.

Parental Visitation

2010-04-08T20:00:13Z

My parents drove back to Michigan this morning after spending five days with us. While Kathryn and I worked, they took in the sights. Then in the evenings, as per the usual Jamros tradition, we ate our way across the city. We also hit up trivia, played pool, listened to music, ate cake and visited the dog park. As sad as it was to see the car drive away this morning, it will be nice to have my bed back tonight.

Kathryn got tenure today!

2010-04-01T00:06:49Z

Woohoo for her. It seemed to be a surprise. She new it was coming at the end of the year, but it kind of snuck up on her.

I’m trying to post more, but between work, freelance work, and painting the house, I haven’t had a whole lot of free time lately. Parents are coming down this weekend with their new puppy and I can’t wait for Shilo to have a friend for a little while.

Kind of a short post, but I’m on my way out the door.

Ouch

2010-03-24T23:32:55Z

I threw darts for maybe ten minutes last night; my shoulder has been in dull, aching pain all day today. During lunch I popped two advil and put a heating pad on it—that took care of the pain for a few hours. But it’s back now. Stupid darts.

Dog Brain

2010-03-20T00:29:44Z

I’ve been watching my dog lately, just observing the way she interacts with the world, and it’s got me thinking. Watching her flip out when I put her collar on has made me wonder when was the last time I was so excited about something that I couldn’t control myself? I mean completely, lose control; as in spinning in circles, jumping up and down, and yelling. I can’t think of a time that I have ever been that excited. Not now when a new video game comes out. Not a few weeks ago when I got my new job and moved to Memphis. Not as a kid on Christmas morning or at a birthday party. Not ever.

I just can’t relate to that level of excitement. I can relate to her barking at a noise in the middle of the night. I can relate to her look of bliss when I scratch her belly. I can even relate to her clinging need to press right up against me when she sleeps. And yet, I just can’t relate to the way she completely loses it when I pick up a ball to throw or pull her leash out of the bag.

I wonder what it’s like to be that lost in excitement. I also feel just a tiny twinge of jealousy that it all comes from something so simple.

Busy Weekend

2010-03-13T23:01:10Z

Last night we celebrated Kathryn’s birthday with a sushi dinner followed by a Freak Engine Improve show, and then it was drinks, fried food, and cheesecake at the Celtic Crossing bar. Tonight we see the Memphis Roller Derby and then we hang out with the Rollergirls at the Young Avenue Deli. Tomorrow, we’re off to the dog park so Shilo can get some much-needed exercise.

Memphibian

2010-03-12T16:36:41Z

When Mark first heard I was moving to Memphis he sent me a long string of text messages that culminated with his coining the term “Memphibian.” I like it. I adopted it. I am a Memphibian.

First Day

2010-03-09T17:14:53Z

Technically, this is the first day of week two. But I since my previous post was Last Day, I wanted to continue the theme. I’m getting settled into my new job and new life in Memphis. The job is great – I enjoy the challenge of the work and everyone I work with is close to my age, which is a much-welcomed change. As I’ve never been much of a car guy, the learning curve is pretty steep, but everyone is friendly and there are plenty of resources to utilize. On top of that, I enjoy learning about new topics. So things are good.

Outside of work, we’ve been slowly unpacking and integrating all of our stuff. There are still a lot of unopened boxes, but it’s coming together. Our donate-to-good-will box is overflowing with things we no longer have use or space for. We’ve also spent a fair amount of time finding new places to eat in the neighborhood.

So that’s that. I’ll try to update a little more often now that the big storm of moving and job starting is over and things are slowing down a bit.

Last Day

2010-02-26T14:17:06Z

I couldn’t sleep this morning, because of nerves I suppose. So I woke up early and ended up at work a few minutes early for my last day at Life Plus. It’s a strange feeling to know I will never be in this office again after today. But it’s hard to feel too sad when people keep bringing in treats. There are roasted walnuts, pastries, cupcakes, tarts, and cheese and crackers. It’s going to be a melancholy but delicious last day here.

Big News

2010-02-23T15:16:29Z

I haven’t been very good about posting here lately, mostly because I’ve been so busy. However, since I got an email from my grandpa asking why he had to hear from my cousin that I’m moving, I thought I better put up and update.

The big news is that I’m moving to Memphis in just a few days. I found a new job in Memphis and will be moving in with Kathryn this coming weekend. We’ve got a 102-year-old shotgun house one street back from the cultural epicenter of the Memphis art scene. The neighborhood is full of old houses, funky stores, and hip restaurants—some a little too hip, but most have been great so far.

This all happened just as the annual Life Plus Miami trip was coming up, which is one reason I haven’t posted—no time or energy. I had to call my boss, who was already in Miami, on her cell to give my two weeks notice. Then instead of packing my house and getting my affairs in order, I spent five days in Miami. Not to complain, it was a fun trip as always. The timing was just a bit off.

Ear Hair

2010-02-08T19:16:32Z

It’s snowing again today, with a forecast of a twelve inch accumulation by tomorrow. As most people are barricaded indoors at the moment, I took this opportunity to get my hair cut. Just as I suspected, there was no line and everything was going perfect until the hairdresser took the tiny clippers to my ears. After doing the standard close-up around the outside of my ears, she then proceeded to use the clippers IN my ears. That’s right ladies and gentlemen, I’ve reached the point in my life where the insides of my ears have become part of my haircut.

Oh also, accidentally shaved off my beard last night. I was trying to trim it up a bit and took off a big chunk. The only thing to do was mow it all down. It was a sad evening. But now my chin, head, and ears are all trimmed and looking good.

Battle Scarves

2010-02-02T22:20:39Z

Traditionally, I’ve never been much of a scarf wearer. However, when my big sis started knitting, I got jealous of every else’s handmade scarves and asked her to make one for my Christmas present. She did and I immediately fell in love with it. I never knew the back of my neck could be so warm. I had no idea how much warmer in general my chin and torso could be when I’m out and about in cold weather. This was a couple of years ago. I’ve dutifully worn my scarf every day the temperature dips below 45 since. This past Friday I discovered a new use for my scarf.

Thursday night an ice storm blew through encasing Batesville in a thin shell of ice. By Friday morning the precipitation had evolved into snow, and after accidentally sighing loudly while looking out the window at work, my boss sent me home around ten in the morning so I could drive to Memphis before the proposed eight inches of snow accumulated. Before getting out of town I had to fill my gas tank. This how it happened:

1. Pull into gas station. Get out of car.
2. Put credit card into thingy and turn to open gas cap.
3. Realize new car (thanks again mom) has gas lid opener lever inside.
4. Open door, push dog back, pull lever, close door.
5. Go back to the pump. Notice lid still closed.
6. Open door, push dog back, pull lever again, close door.
7. Go back to the pump. Notice lid still closed.
8. Realize latch must be frozen due to aforementioned ice storm.
9. Open door, shove dog back, pull lever forcefully, close door.
10. Go back to the pump. Realize lid is not going to open.
11. Try to pry lid open with finger nails. Wince and stop.
12. Try to pry lid open with car keys. No luck.
13. Think maybe I loosened it.
14. Open door, shove dog back, pull lever again, close door.
15. Go back to the pump. No luck.
16. Wedge keys into crack in lid.
17. Open door, wrestle dog back, pull lever, hear keys drop, close door.
18. No luck.
19. Wedge keys even further into crack in lid.
20. Open door, wrestle dog back, pull lever, hear keys drop, close door.
21. Still no luck.
22. Try to pry lid open with keys.
23. Measure arm span and discover it woefully to short to reach both lever and lid at the same time.
24. Consider trying to pull lever with foot.
25. Try to pry lid open with keys.
26. Open door, fight dog back, take off scarf.
27. Realize Sarah’s expert craftswomanship made scarf too tightly knitted to fit lever into gap in yarn.
28. Try anyway. Fail.
29. Fight dog back again.
30. Fold scarf in half, loop fold around lever.
31. Walk carefully back to tank with scarf ends in hand, yelling at dog to stay.
32. Dig keys into crack, pull on scarf, cheer in excitement as lid pops open.
33. Put scarf back on, close door, pump gas.

Thanks Sarah. I couldn’t have done it without you.