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Caterers suck.

2007-08-01T03:28:00Z

Well, I’m writing this so I can look back 20 years from now and laugh.

2 weeks ago we finally nailed down the menu with the chef doing our catering. We haven’t been too happy with him because he is hard to get a hold of, and promised to basically do all of the planning on the wedding, renting of tables, china, flatware, chairs, etc. Basically, he made it sound like we would tell him we had X people coming and he would do the rest which is the major reason we were willing to pay ALOT for the site (which he also owns).

Sunday, 14 days out from the wedding Becky was finally able to talk to our french chef about the final costs for the food. We were told, 4 months ago, that $20/head would not be a problem. We re-iterated to him at our meeting that we HAD to stick with $20/head. Well, you can guess, he says he can do it for $26/head. When Becky says, “How can we get that alittle lower” he goes off on this rant about how he’s so great, and he has to pay these people to help him (which he also quoted to us that WE had to pay them $400 for the night), etc. etc. and how if we can’t do that, we need to call another caterer. Needless to say, we were livid.

So Becky remembers one of her co-workers talking about a wedding he worked as staff at a few weeks ago. So she asks him about it and not only does he work for a catering company, he’s part owner and he’ll call his wife who runs it and she can work with us. So we do and everything seems great. They can do dinner for $17.95/head, they can do it that day, etc. etc.

Becky came home for lunch (this was yesterday) and we decided to stop by the caterer because they office is about 10 blocks from our house. They hand us a proposal, and yes, the food is $17.95, but they also need to hire waiters. No problem I think. WRONG.

This is what they define as “waiters”: *Team Lead - $25/hr for 6.5 hours (includes 1 hour of driving from their office to the site) *3 “waiters” - $19.95 for 6.5 hours EACH *1 cook - $25/hr for 4 hours. *1 dish washer - $17.50/hr for 4 hours *1 chef for carving station - Free (WHOOPEEEEEE!)

Oh, and, not only this, they have the balls to charge us, get this, 18% gratunity included on the entire price of the food. Not optional, like, we HAVE to pay them. I’m sorry, you’re a f*cking waiter, no way I’m paying you $25/hr AND 18% tip. That’s crazy. Completely and totally nuts. And, on top of all of this, they wanted to add a bartender to open wine bottles and, I guess, pump the keg. Oh, and it might get dark before they are done washing dishes, so we need to rent lights they can turn on.

So, what does their $18/head dinner end up? $28.71/head. Yeah, thanks, thanks for working with us to come in under $26/head you f*cking jackasses.

Luckily, the french man had a change of heart today and called Becky at work to say that he was sorry, and he could bring it down to $22/head and $350 for wait staff. So yeah, in other words, we didn’t need go through any of this.

To the youngin’s out there, NEVER GET MARRIED. ELOPE, RUN AWAY!!!!!!!

I'd buy this guy's album

2007-08-01T03:02:00Z

7/24 Ride

2007-07-25T16:09:00Z

My Ride

2007-07-24T04:56:00Z

Necter of the gods

2007-07-23T04:52:00Z

I just made… beer.

6 Gallons of it. I’m not sure if it will be ready for the wedding (19 days, YIKES!) but it’s going to be awesome none the less. That is, unless I totally messed it up and then it’s going to be nasty. Here’s to hoping I don’t give myself Botchilisim (which would SUCK, LDO).

In other (wedding) news, we talked to the caterer today. Besides bemoaning some Jewish mom who was totally overbearing and called him every day to check to see if there were “flies” and to see if he watered his lawn, we got a menu worked out. I’m sure it won’t please some (my dad, people who don’t like prosciutto and melon), there are some crowd pleaser’s on it and we left a lot up to him, we told him to buy/prepare whatever was fresh and he could buy out in Palisade. He’s a french chef, it will be good (and covered in butter, so… good). We also found out that our Wine bill is going to be much cheaper. We will pay $14.50/bottle and we only pay for what we drink. We will need to provide the other refreshments, so we are going to get a keg and make a boatload of ”Hemingway” punch and atleast 300 bottles of water.

Also, I got shipping notification that our rings are in the mail, and so is my shirt. WICKED.

Now, I just have to check with my best man to see if he’s got the strippp… playing cards ordered yet, for the bachelors party.

Anderson Ranch: Day Opps

2007-07-19T03:51:00Z

Ok, my terrible blogging habit bit me again. I totally got busy and sucked and didn’t post again while at ARAC.

However I had an awesome time, met lots of cool people (except this Tim guy from Florida, total loser).

I’ve posted a bunch of pics to Flickr from the 2 weeks, and I’ll post some nice pics of some of the work I got in a couple weeks (well, probably after my wedding).

Anderson Ranch: Day 1

2007-07-02T04:00:00Z

Well, got up here just after 6:00pm and dropped off my crazy heavy suitcase (it has wheels, but they have gravel).

We then ran into Aspen and ate dinner.

By the time I got back, I noticed black smoke in the air.

What?

Is that possible, they started firing the wood kilns already? (When I was last up here, they only had 2 kilns, a huge 3 chamber naborigama and a small cat arch kiln). So I go into the kiln shed and what do I see? A NEW TRAIN. Hells yes. It was full and ^11 was down up front. They were firing a full load for the 14th generation potter from Japan that spends his summers here.

The rumor is that the first woodfiring for our workshop will be wednesday, with hopefully 2 to 3 firings over the next 2 weeks. HOT. I’m not sure what I want to make yet, I’m thinking about starting off with some small bowls and cups, to get going. Move up from there and be throwing Pitcher by the end of the day.

Then, hopefully the day after I’ll throw some big things in pieces.

It should be interesting if jason will want us to throw some specific things, or if we will be free to go and do as we please.

I’d like to make some cups and do the handles as coils that I will throw on some textured mats/blocks I have. That sounds cool. maybe some loose square short mugs.

Also thinking about doing some Chester (Chister) Neely style little vases. We’ll see.

iPhone has dropped

2007-06-30T17:50:00Z

My buddy pat was 3rd in line (only had to wait 9 hours in 100+ temps) to get an iPhone. I have proof:

<embed src="http://www.slideflickr.com/slideShowV2.swf?nsid=71881727@N00&set_id=&tags=iPhone&tag_mode=&user_id=71881727@N00&favorites=&group_id=&contacts=&frifam=&single=&first_id=&sort=&v=1.6&codeV=1.38.1.189&ispro=0&minH=762&minW=350&magisterLudi=88700b59fa9bb744ef0300419fe8526c&auth_hash=&auth_token=&flickr_secret=&method=&slideshow_paused=Currently paused.&slideshow_fast=fast&slideshow_med=medium&slideshow_slow=slow&slideshow_end1=End of show reached.&slideshow_end2=Now looping from the beginning.&slideshow_loop1=Re-playing%20last%20ALLOWED_COUNT%20photos.&slideshow_restart=Click%20here%20to%20resume%20your%20show.&slideshow_add_to_faves=Add%20to%20faves&slideshow_a_fave=A%20fave&slideshow_view_photo_page=View%20photo%20page&slideshow_no_title=No%20title&slideshow_none=No%20photos%20found.&slideshow_loading=Loading...&back_txt=Created with Slideflickr.com!" height="500" width="500"></embed>

Also some videos of iPhone magic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BKI94lufAQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOm503-MPqk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv6mgRlXBLk

Refinishing floors sucks.

2007-06-26T02:58:00Z

What else is there to say. You have to wear rubber gloves, knee pads, and use sandpaper.

I have friends that call that a good time, I, however don’t.

Oh, and my blog is back up, yeah!

I'm going. . . junglecrazy(.com)

2007-03-08T21:00:00Z

The guy that brought you bugmenot.com has brought us junglecrazy.com . It’s an alternative Amazon.com interface that only shows you items more than 85% off. That’s right, mega-deals, and you know I love me some mega-deals.

Example: Want to know what tools are on sale? http://www.junglecrazy.com/tag/homeimprovement

Awesome.

My Grandma's Biscuit Recipe

2007-03-06T00:46:00Z

1.5 cups flour 2 tsp Baking Powder .5 tsp Salt 3 Tsp Crisco (not level tsp, more is better) .5 cup milk Bake at 450F for 10 minutes. My grandma passed a way last week. We are eating Biscuit's and Gravy tonight in her honor.

Hire Me.

2007-02-09T03:38:00Z

I am looking for work doing web design. If anyone reads this that knows of an open job, please email me. rds [at] robotdeathsquad -dot- com.

11/27/06

2006-12-01T18:42:00Z

2 years. Best 2 ever. I love Becky and she loves me.

Christmas

2006-11-27T03:12:00Z

Becky keeps asking me what I want for christmas. Here's a list of possibilities:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0009I6S0O/ref=ord_cart_shr/103-6876994-9737436?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002XL3BA/ref=ord_cart_shr/103-6876994-9737436?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002Y2XXQ/ref=ord_cart_shr/103-6876994-9737436?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0596007779/ref=ord_cart_shr/103-6876994-9737436?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GEDJTY/ref=wl_it_dp/103-6876994-9737436?ie=UTF8&coliid=I4RETZAN88WY3&colid=3I4WMDWI97BZK
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002MRN4C/ref=wl_it_dp/103-6876994-9737436?ie=UTF8&coliid=IWMFIGRC01JA9&colid=3I4WMDWI97BZK
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0609611011/ref=wl_it_dp/103-6876994-9737436?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3R010FK96BI1B&colid=3I4WMDWI97BZK
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0563161272/ref=wl_it_dp/103-6876994-9737436?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1IBUH38G8UN95&colid=3I4WMDWI97BZK
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1858943302/ref=wl_it_dp/103-6876994-9737436?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1DGDVVEZCKJPV&colid=3I4WMDWI97BZK
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0811837319/ref=wl_it_dp/103-6876994-9737436?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2F1075XTFOEID&colid=3I4WMDWI97BZK
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400053595/ref=wl_it_dp/103-6876994-9737436?ie=UTF8&coliid=IC7CO6GTCJ07A&colid=3I4WMDWI97BZK
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1564963152/ref=wl_it_dp/103-6876994-9737436?ie=UTF8&coliid=I20VR4GQMY57N8&colid=3I4WMDWI97BZK
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/057110973X/ref=wl_it_dp/103-6876994-9737436?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2X9H7U4ZOPI61&colid=3I4WMDWI97BZK
http://www.mediumdesigngroup.com/store/detail?item_id=742696&style_id=63
http://www.mediumdesigngroup.com/store/detail?item_id=741642&style_id=51
http://www.mediumdesigngroup.com/store/detail?item_id=742549&style_id=41
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=DW368k&btnG=Search&lmode=online&scoring=p&price1=60.00&price2=125.00&lnk=prsugg
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=DW317K&btnG=Search&lmode=online&scoring=p&price1=60.00&price2=125.00&lnk=prsugg
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=DW745&btnG=Search&lmode=online&scoring=p&price1=200.00&price2=400.00&lnk=prsugg

Yeah, that should do it. Edit:// Just kidding. Workmate® 425 Project Center http://www.blackanddecker.com/ProductGuide/Product-Details.aspx?ProductID=2658 I want that, bad.

Meet Annie

2006-11-08T05:08:00Z

This weekend was a humane society open house at Petsmart here in town. Becky and I went down to see if there were any beagles or jack russel terriers to adopt. We found some of the cutest puppies and were almost ready to adopt one when we found out they were 1/2 coonhound (seriously, Blue Tip Coonhouds) and 1/2 Border Collie. Way to big for us (60lbs).

Becky was mad! She had really thought she was going get one!

Well. . . it was meant to be! Today we got a call from my mom. The guys that run the car lot next to her shop had found a stray dog. So we went up there and meet our new dog Annie!

According to another business owner, her owner stopped at the liquor store up the road from us and she jumped out of the trunk 4-5 weeks ago. He’s seen her hanging around since but couldn’t even catch her. I don’t know why he never called animal control but she living out there for over a month. Anyway, today, my mom’s neighbors who run a car lot were moving trucks in the lot around to get one out. He backed a truck up and left it running with the door open while he moved this other car out. When he got back in the truck, there was Annie! He knew my parents rescue animals so he brought her over to my mom’s shop and she called us.

We love her already! She understands TONS of commands, sit, stay, laydown, come. And (and this is big) she can catch a Frisbee! Becky took her to the dog park to let her run around alittle and see if she would come back to her and not only did she catch a few frisbees someone was throwing, she was beating all the other dogs to the frisbee. She seems super smart and has already learned where her “bed” is and will go lay in it if I say “goodnight”.

Amazing!