The Fantastically Strange (or Strangely Fantastic) World of Richard A Cowley

Day 365

2011-05-31T20:59:00.000-04:00

So, we have finally come to the end. I started this project one year ago and today is the day I finish it. Some things have changed over the past 365 days; some better, some worse. To be honest, there are plenty of things that have stayed the same. Life isn't as bad as it could be, but it certainly isn't as good as I want it to be.

I've spent far to much time contemplating life, my own future, what success is and how to find it. I've become distant from some, which I'm saddened and disappointed by. It is regrettable. But I have met new people and learned new things. I've reconnected with some and gotten closer to a few others. Some days life continues to confuse and frustrate me. Other days I take what's given and do the best I can.

Anyway, here we are at the end. Maybe I'll do this again. Maybe I'll try something different.

I could say "So long, and thanks for all the fish!" But instead I think I'll just say that some things in life are bad - they can really make you mad. Other things just make you swear and curse......

Day 364

2011-05-30T22:00:00.000-04:00

One day, whenever that day may be, I will own a house. And that house will have a deck, or patio, or back porch, or whatever. And on that deck/etc. I will have a grill. And it will be good.

Day 363

2011-05-29T17:21:00.000-04:00

No, sir. I don't like it.

Day 362

2011-05-28T17:55:00.000-04:00

Well, this whole year long experiment is almost over. I think I should cut my hair. Besides, if I don't, I run the risk of my hair going full blown Mel Kiper Jr.

Day 361

2011-05-28T01:30:00.000-04:00

Big money! Actually no money at all. You can make all the crazy bets you want when you play for free!

Day 360

2011-05-26T20:45:00.000-04:00

This is one of about 20 pre-made meals that were brought down a while ago. I've been eating them ever since, and I still have a full freezer.

Day 359

2011-05-25T19:18:00.000-04:00

It's Interstellar Towel Day! Why? Here's why!

Day 358

2011-05-24T21:13:00.002-04:00

A tuna pita. Tuna is probably the only fish I eat. Most likely because I make it with far more mayo than it needs.

Day 357

2011-05-23T21:05:00.000-04:00

The best candy bar. Ever. It's not really all that misogynistic. It's really more like solid milk chocolate.

Day 356

2011-05-23T01:27:00.000-04:00

This was my favorite part of campus back in college. But now they're destroying it to build a big new building. I suppose there's no standing in the way of progress. And I suppose there's no reason to attend any Queens sponsored events or give them any money. Ever.

Day 355

2011-05-21T22:13:00.000-04:00

Hold on a second... Elephants aren't dinosaurs! What are we teaching the children of today?

Day 354

2011-05-20T21:52:00.000-04:00

Air hockey? Yes.

Day 353

2011-05-19T13:30:00.000-04:00

Ha! Frank Lloyd Wright has nothing on me!

Day 352

2011-05-18T22:38:00.000-04:00

A friend made some ice cream. It's dark chocolate and rice crispy treats. And chipotle peppers.

Day 351

2011-05-17T22:47:00.000-04:00

Usually, I only want Chick-fil-A when it's closed. That's usually on Sundays.

Day 350

2011-05-17T00:16:00.000-04:00

I found out where the beef has been all these years. It's what's for dinner.

Day 349

2011-05-15T21:35:00.000-04:00

A nice home cooked meal. And it wasn't one I had to cook myself. This, and a lot of other good things, was all due to my parents being in town.

Day 348

2011-05-14T20:00:00.000-04:00

Doing lots of work on the truck. So long running board.

Vaya con dios window motor.

Day 347

2011-05-13T13:26:00.000-04:00

Blogger decided to stop working for a few days. Still waiting for day 345 to come back. If it doesn't, then it's probably staying lost. Starting to understand why professional bloggers back-up everything they do.

Anyway...here's a picture I had laying around.

Also, it's Friday the 13th. Not to be confused with Friday, Next Friday, or Friday After Next.

Day 346

2011-05-13T13:16:00.002-04:00

Pile of junk ready to be thrown out. Feels good to clean out some stuff.

Day 345

2011-05-11T23:32:00.000-04:00

I could drink cherry limeaid every day.

Day 344

2011-05-11T00:02:00.000-04:00

Picture by one of the busiest people in the business of arts, crafts, & general awesomeness.

Day 343

2011-05-09T19:41:00.002-04:00

Somehow, I doubt that...

Day 342

2011-05-08T19:00:00.001-04:00

From summer to winter and now back to spring.

It's also Mother's Day, so make sure you give her a call.

Day 341

2011-05-08T14:27:00.000-04:00

This is the game that nearly broke me. The clunky controls. The (intentionally) poorly designed save system. Spending more time in load screens & pointless cut scenes then actually playing the game. I could go on, but wont.

Day 340

2011-05-07T02:46:00.000-04:00

Putzing around at a movie theater. Also, I'm getting very close to throwing my phone into a wall.

Day 339

2011-05-05T21:18:00.002-04:00

Night sky.

Day 338

2011-05-04T22:00:00.001-04:00

A nice pot of mixed veg.

Also it's May 4th, or May the fourth. And, if you're so inclined to do so, you could say, "may the fourth be with you."

Day 337

2011-05-03T22:18:00.000-04:00

When you're a kid and say things like, "When I grow up, I'm going to have a root beer float whenever I want to, because I'll be an adult." Well, I'm having a root beer float because I'm an adult.

Day 336

2011-05-02T21:25:00.000-04:00

Working behind a desk. What's that all about?

Day 335

2011-05-01T17:00:00.000-04:00

You'd think that by now I would have learned to get Mother's Day earlier than a week before Mother's Day. You'd be wrong. Off I go to Hallmark...along with half the city of Charlotte.

Day 334

2011-04-30T23:05:00.000-04:00

An optical illusion on the wall. You can find plenty more on Google.

Also, the NFL Draft has ended. Some surprising picks. Some very questionable picks. Some downright bizarre picks. And, of course great ones. How did the Jets do? Only time will tell if their picks end up on the good list or the bad list.

Day 333

2011-04-29T15:34:00.000-04:00

Look at this huge bug that decided to land outside my door.

Day 332

2011-04-28T19:21:00.000-04:00

Using one of my many acquired panthers cups for the NFL draft tonight.

My 2 cents on what the Panthers should do? Well, no QB in this years draft is worth the #1 overall pick. If they do take Cam Newton as their pick, it would probably set the franchise back several years. This has nothing to do with him or his ability, it's to do with the situation he would enter into.

Apart from having a first time head coach, Ron Rivera, and the lockout preventing him and his staff from meeting with his players, there are other concerns. The Panthers have a sub-par offensive line, which means 2 things - no protection & no ability to set up the run. Steve Smith, the Panther's only real threat at as WR, wants out of Carolina. So that means Cam Newton will have to run for his life with nobody to throw to. The defense also needs to be shored up.

Basically, there are other needs that need to be addressed before trying to get a QB. Truth be told, no matter who they take in the draft will not make an impact on the team until next season. I think that getting to .500 is and should be viewed as 2011's goal.

Day 331

2011-04-27T23:57:00.000-04:00

The recepie on the cereal box calls for the whole box of the sugar coated cornflakes, then sugar, brown sugar, whipped cream, then corn syrup and chocolate chips. No thank you, Turkish, I'm sweet enough.

Day 330

2011-04-26T22:14:00.000-04:00

What with the royal wedding coming up, I though I'd show a letter opener I got from the UK years ago.

Day 329

2011-04-25T21:58:00.000-04:00

Much like St. Andrew's day, St. George's day is also another forgotten/ignored holiday. It would have been this past Saturday, but Easter was too close, so it was moved to today.

Wearing red instead of green or blue.

And having some Old Speckled Hen instead of some Guinness or haggis.

Day 328

2011-04-24T14:14:00.000-04:00

It's Easter, so I'm going to start a new tradition. Watching Life of Brian. Always look on the bright side of life.

Day 327

2011-04-23T20:53:00.000-04:00

A home-made, non-bathtub mint julep. Infuse bourbon with a bunch of mint leaves, then build. 1 oz of bourbon, 1 to 2 oz of simple syrup (1 cup sugar & 1 cup water boiled together then cooled), ice, seltzer to fill the glass, stir and serve.

Day 326

2011-04-22T18:54:00.000-04:00

Good obstacle course, or greatest obstacle course?

Day 325

2011-04-21T19:37:00.000-04:00

A Muzak machine!? I thought those things were long gone.

Day 324

2011-04-20T22:29:00.000-04:00

Much like the stress machine in The IT Crowd , I had never heard of cheddar bunnies before today & now I've seen/heard them everywhere.

Day 323

2011-04-19T23:37:00.002-04:00

Giant size pig in a blanket. A knackwurst would have made it mega size.

UPDATE: To make an ultimate pig in a blanket, wrap a knackwurst in bacon, then cheese, and then the croissant. Or you could make a corn dog egg roll. Or make anything found at http://thisiswhyyourefat.tumblr.com/

That way madness lies: 3 Bacon and cheese wrapped hotdogs wrapped up in 1 big croissant, with some mustard and ketchup between the dogs; wrapped in a large slice a supreme pizza; wrapped in burrito (meat, cheese, beans, etc.); beer battered and fried; cut in half and placed in between the layers of a triple bacon cheeseburger (with mayo, pickle, etc.). Add a fried egg if desired.

Please don't make this. My heart was hurting me just thinking this insane concoction up. If you do, and you eat it, I am not responsible for what happens after. You have been warned.

Day 322

2011-04-18T20:48:00.000-04:00

Some "fresh" pasta from the grocery store with turkey sausages.

Day 321

2011-04-17T15:57:00.000-04:00

It may not be much, but any deposit is better than another withdrawal.

Day 320

2011-04-16T18:01:00.000-04:00

The gas pump stopped here. It refused to give me more gas. It just stopped. Luckily it was enough to give me a full tank.

Also, my neck is still stiff, but felling much better than yesterday.

Day 319

2011-04-15T18:53:00.000-04:00

My neck hurts. I've been using this ice pack most of today.

Day 318

2011-04-14T21:38:00.000-04:00

That's a lot of sevens.

Day 317

2011-04-13T22:44:00.000-04:00

Sorting through my tool box. What I don't understand is the number of punches I have.

Day 316

2011-04-12T21:05:00.000-04:00

I was rummaging through my closet today (probably going to make a Goodwill trip) and I found this hat. I honestly forgot I had it.

Day 315

2011-04-11T20:37:00.000-04:00

Waiting for a new motor for the AC unit. 10 min later, it was replaced and I haven't had to worry about the heat or the pollen.

Day 314

2011-04-10T23:23:00.000-04:00

Well...I can't say this is going to be an unqualified success...but hey, better than a hole

Day 313

2011-04-10T00:17:00.000-04:00

Chips,

Chips, and CHiPs.

Day 312

2011-04-09T02:53:00.002-04:00

Another birthday celebration.

Day 311

2011-04-08T00:23:00.000-04:00

Visiting the ol' alma mater. Here's the last yearbook they published. It's from 2002. Lots of funny pictures in here.

Day 310

2011-04-06T19:40:00.000-04:00

What's on the box and what's in the pan look almost the same. SUCCESS! Tasted ok, though. Not a huge fan of wine sauces.

Day 309

2011-04-05T16:11:00.000-04:00

Some trees that fell due to last nights big storm.

Day 308

2011-04-04T21:04:00.000-04:00

Because parking on the right side is too mainstream...

Day 307

2011-04-03T15:23:00.000-04:00

No, I'm sorry Time Warner, but thats the wrong Casino Royale. The fact that that is David Niven and not Daniel Craig kinda gives it away.

Day 306

2011-04-03T04:01:00.000-04:00

Being responsible and recycling dead batteries and ink cartridges.

Day 305

2011-04-02T01:39:00.000-04:00

Off to Target. What wonderful new adventures will I be doing next? Tune in tomorrow! Same Bat-time! Same Bat-Channel!

Day 304

2011-03-31T19:59:00.000-04:00

My favorite part of Easter.

Day 303

2011-03-30T18:33:00.002-04:00

Soccer camp - over.

Day 302

2011-03-29T21:11:00.000-04:00

Creative Loafing. Charlotte's own free newspaper telling you about all the goings on around the city. There are really only 2 uses for it here in this apartment complex. First it's for when you're painting something, and second it's for when you need to put something around glass objects when moving.

Day 301

2011-03-28T20:27:00.000-04:00

The smell is amazing

Day 300

2011-03-27T18:00:00.000-04:00

Red guitar.

Day 299

2011-03-26T20:29:00.000-04:00

Hole in the wall patching project, part 1. Next step is the sanding.

Day 298

2011-03-25T18:11:00.000-04:00

The view from being upside down on an exercise ball.

Day 297

2011-03-24T16:05:00.000-04:00

All the rain last night washed off this pollen from my car. Too bad the same amount is already back on it today.

Day 296

2011-03-24T00:16:00.000-04:00

HA! "Friend" jumbo shrimp?

Day 295

2011-03-22T20:55:00.000-04:00

Tortellini. Not homemade, but close enough. Don't have the room to make fresh pasta.

Day 294

2011-03-21T22:48:00.000-04:00

It must be close to Passover. It's the only time that the grocery store every carries this many Manischewitz products.

Day 293

2011-03-20T22:53:00.000-04:00

Tried to get the angle right to show how dirty my windshield got in one day. Soon my entire car is going to be green.

Day 292

2011-03-20T01:23:00.002-04:00

Supermoon

Day 291

2011-03-19T03:39:00.000-04:00

Poker?

Day 290

2011-03-17T21:16:00.000-04:00

Green Shirt - Check. (2 actually)

Irish Cider - Check. (Originally called Bulmers in Ireland)

Guinness Hat - Check.

Must be St. Patrick's Day. If only St. Andrew's & St George's Day were celebrated similarly.

Day 289

2011-03-16T23:09:00.001-04:00

3D?

Day 288

2011-03-15T16:35:00.000-04:00

Rainy day.

Day 287

2011-03-14T22:47:00.000-04:00

It's Pi Day.

Day 286

2011-03-14T00:24:00.000-04:00

These places closed down years ago in Charlotte. Now there's a new one. Not quite as good as I remembered it, though.

Day 285

2011-03-13T03:09:00.000-04:00

Tried out a new photo app for my phone.

Normal camera

New App.

See the difference? Me neither.

Day 284

2011-03-12T01:24:00.000-05:00

My new tooth brush has a tongue scraper on the back of it. What an age we live in.

Day 283

2011-03-10T21:46:00.000-05:00

Spaghetti carbonara. Because the "fresh" tortellini package didn't keep it fresh enough. Technically it isn't a complete carbonara since it has no bacon in it. I'm one of those strange people that doesn't actually like bacon all that much.

Day 282

2011-03-10T00:29:00.000-05:00

I guess these Christmas lights are now Lent lights....

Day 281

2011-03-08T20:13:00.000-05:00

Got rid of my busted printer. Now I have a big empty space on my desk.

Day 280

2011-03-07T08:58:00.000-05:00

Brand new washers! We have finally been brought up to speed with the late 1990's!

Day 279

2011-03-07T00:01:00.000-05:00

Uptown. Or downtown if you live north of the city.

Day 278

2011-03-05T15:26:00.000-05:00

Half for lunch, half for later

Day 277

2011-03-04T18:34:00.000-05:00

Spring has sprung. You know what that means? Weeks and weeks where my eyes are blood-shot and itchy, my nose is stuffed, and my throat is scratchy. Great.

Day 276

2011-03-03T21:25:00.000-05:00

Ingredients: Eye of newt, and toe of frog, wool of bat, and tongue of dog, adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting, lizard's leg, and owlet's wing

Day 275

2011-03-02T20:08:00.001-05:00

Refried beans.

Day 274

2011-03-01T13:28:00.003-05:00

I didn't even know I was playing

Day 273

2011-02-28T20:39:00.000-05:00

Everybody in the pool!

Day 272

2011-02-27T23:18:00.000-05:00

To the Light-Rail (because this was more important than finishing I-485)!

Day 271

2011-02-26T20:44:00.001-05:00

Nothing like a shiny, clean pot.

Day 270

2011-02-25T21:18:00.000-05:00

This is what I saw when trying to use the urbanspoon app to find someplace to eat dinner. It just kept spinning and spinning and spinning. In the end, I gave up and went to Portofino's. So I guess it kinda worked.

Day 269

2011-02-24T22:57:00.000-05:00

Another computer. This time I just removed the hard drive (in my hand) and plan on recycling the rest.

Day 268

2011-02-24T00:16:00.000-05:00

Trying to fix dead computers. Not that anybody wants a tower/desktop PC anymore. A true lesson in futility.

Day 267

2011-02-22T23:40:00.000-05:00

An actual fortune from a fortune cookie. "Look around yourself. Your answer is nearby." Philosophical and mysterious.

Day 266

2011-02-21T18:28:00.001-05:00

Ahh, Jersey Mike's...a small slice of home. Probably the closest thing to real subs I could hope to find here in the south.