http://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blogFri, 27 Jul 2007 22:50:29 GMTSo I went to see a 1963 Ford Fairlane 500 last night. It was in great condition but the battery was dead so I could not turn the engine on or drive it. I told the man I was interested but just had to hear it run and drive it around the block. He told me that he would charge the battery for me and give a call when it was charged. When I got back to the office I gave it a few hours and called back. It was nearing 5pm so I thought if it was charged I would stop by. The seller told me that he wanted to charge it all night and that his back was hurting so he would be unable to do anyting that night. "Call me in the morning and we will set up a time for you to drive it."  I talked myself into it all night. Well, I had a docs appointment this morning and thought I would stop in after and drive the car. As I was walking into the doctors office, at 8am, he called. "Rick, we sold the car last night", I was outraged! What in the world? How in the world have people come this far? Well, as a friends wife always says "You gotta love 'em or you'd kill 'em!" Now I totally agree... Thanks for the wise words Steph!
]]>http://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/c361bb4b-992a-406a-a2ce-6e3a6296e429http://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/c361bb4b-992a-406a-a2ce-6e3a6296e429Fri, 27 Jul 2007 22:50:29 GMT500aaaarrrggghhh!chargingfairlanefordford fairlaneI have thought of cutting up a sun visor for protection as well as making some armor out of nylon netting. I really am excited about going but at the same time fearful of the pain involved with getting hit... We have been joking about wrapping ourselves in bubble wrap and heading out to the field. Not sure this is one of the better ideas. Cardboard, layed clothing and other ideas have also showed their ugly face. Well at this point I just hope my wife does not look at me and think "What in the world was I thinking?" while I gear up in cardboard and cut up sun visors. There is no doubt that this is going to be disasterous!
20 men, an open field near water and guns that shoot .68 gel caps at you at 260 feet per second. Someone call an ambulance or the Coast Guard! The question is not, will someone get hurt but when and who. I am too dumb to be any good at this. Well, wish me luck and I will write back after... That is if I make it out!
]]>http://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/343ccd69-71b9-495e-adf0-cdecf8c7db0ahttp://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/343ccd69-71b9-495e-adf0-cdecf8c7db0aTue, 03 Jul 2007 22:19:54 GMTbloodcoast guardgearouch!paintballshootingwarMy wife gave me some gifts and a wonderful card as well. We all sat outside that day grilling and enjoying the heat. The kids played in the sprinkler (yes my youngest as well - only 11 months old) and the dog sniffed all the same bushes she has countless times. Then during our evening service at church my baby girl decided to walk and give dad another precious gift. It is so amazing how the things you value change when you are a parent.
One complaint though... I did not get a "Greatest Dad" shirt! Well, maybe if my wife reads this I will get one next year.

Sappy I know, but what can I say...
]]>http://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/29d53d7e-5c3c-44d2-8e9b-61ed1ca2df30http://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/29d53d7e-5c3c-44d2-8e9b-61ed1ca2df30Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:50:10 GMTbaby girlfathers daykidsloveparent
Seems he and his brother were going fishing 2 weekends ago and decided to take his brothers pickup and camper with them. The camper is the type that sits in the bed of the truck and was equipped with a stove, refrigerator, and a couple of other nice to haves. The plan was to go up into the mountains to fish some of the streams at higher elevation. Well, they got packed and headed out the door. They were talking while driving up the mountain when KABOOM!!! The camper blew up and started on fire! It almost caused them and everyone behind them to wreck! They pulled over immediately and ran back to try to put out the fire. Well the inside of the camper was charred and all the seat cushions and curtains were on fire. There was also a propane tank swirling around with flames shooting out the nozzle. Neither of them had anything to grab the flaming tank and shut it off with so they backed up... As they did so a guy in a motorcycle drove up and the man having gloves on reached in and shut off the tank. The funny thing was that he had their camper door with him. According to him he was about 6 cars back when the door came flying through the air and slammed down on the highway in front of him. What in the world?! Well they thanked him and proceeded to put out all the small fires in the back of the truck. Well come to find out, the camper had a gas refrigerator with the pilot lit... the brother had put the propane tanks on the inside and as you might know, propane tanks have release valves so that pressure does not build up at higher elevations. Well, as the truck went higher the gas was released and kaboom! Needless to say they did not catch any fish that trip. They decided to head home shortly after the fires were all out.
Funny thing about it was that when they got back home they took the camper off the truck and placed it on stilts. They had spent the week cleaning it and fixing the damage when this last week we had tons of wind. Yes, the camper blew over and is now a pile of rubbish. Maybe these guys should get a tent?!
]]>http://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/fa92c48f-c83c-43fd-8b11-3d3ee8bd108fhttp://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/fa92c48f-c83c-43fd-8b11-3d3ee8bd108fMon, 11 Jun 2007 21:08:08 GMTcampingfishfishing taleskaboom!propanerubbishwindI have a German Shorthaired pointer that we got from a rescue when she was 2 and now she is 10. Yesterday was unbelievably windy in Frederick when my wife left the house. We have a covered porch that we use for sitting out in the evening and also close the dog off in when we leave. Well yesterday my wife took the kids out and lefet the dog on the porch. Well the wind blew the door open and off went the dog. I got a call at work from the community officer stating that she had my dog at the police station and had tried to contact someone at the house with no luck. She was wondering what wshe shuld do with my dog. Well, since the door had blown open I figured she could not put the dog back there again but she could put her on the tie-down we have in our backyard. Well, I got home and there was no dog but there was a notice on the door saying that she had gotten out. I figured they decided not to leave her. I went to the station and asked where I could pick her up and they said they had put her in the yard and closed the gate. Well, if you know the GSP breed you know they have springs for legs and my small 3 foot fence was no match. I asked the officer why she had not put her on the tie-down and she stated that we have a "fight or flight" law in the city. This is where the real story starts...
"Fight or Flight"? I asked... She stated that you could not put a dog on a tie-down or any sort of tether to a fixed object. The reason being is that if a dog comes into the yard the dog has no choice but to fight if provoked. This is where I cannot stop my eyes from blinking in amazement. I asked her why they thought it better to have a dog loose where it could get out of a yard and cause an accident or possibly hurt someone (not that my dog would). She said it was for the dogs protection. Wow! I thought. For the dogs protection?! What about people? What about the cars that they could get hit by? And frankly, how many times would the scenerio where a dog comes into the yard while my dog is tied down and then provokes her to fight happen?  She stated at this point that the law has been there for a few years and that many surrounding cities have the same law. I ask when and where these things get voted on. She was unsure but told me I could sit in on a town meeting and ask that question.
Anywho, I thought I might share this and ask if anyone had anymore information on this? Seems that these reasons can't possibly be the olny ones and are far from correct. Sorry for how long this one is just had a lot to ask and say.
Thanks for listening... I promise I will have a more cheery post this coming week.
BTW, if any of you are in the area and need to fill a Saturday Frederick is having its 100th Anniversary Celebration this weekend. There is a free event off highway 52 and CR 13 just 1 mile east of I-25 in Frederick. There are also some free concerts in the evening.
]]>http://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/910830fe-79e4-4bbc-af0e-4d67e77ae0d1http://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/910830fe-79e4-4bbc-af0e-4d67e77ae0d1Fri, 08 Jun 2007 23:02:43 GMT100th anninversaryblinkdogfight or flightgsplawrantraveAhhhh... A long weekend and not much to do. Wonderful way to arise on a Saturday morning. Last weekend was Memorial Day and thus we had a long weekend here in the States. Well, I arose like any other morning and went into the bathroom of our small turn of the century house. I was brushing my teeth and was walking down the hall past a window when I noticed a ladder that had not been there the night before. Odd I think, but why not... Maybe my wife is out doing something to the window. Well, I get back the the bathroom after grabbing my clothes and finish brushing my teeth. I am about to get into the shower when I hear a scrapping at the window. BTW, the window has no curtains but has the original glass from 1901 which is quite wavy and hard to see through, that is unless you are right up against it. Well, you guessed it. The landlord, a 65+ year old woman, is up on a ladder scrapping the window frame with a steel brush while I stand there, ready to shower, looking back at her. Not knowing what to do in a situation when an elderly lady is checking out what God has given me, I wave at her to be cordial and say hello. To add a bit to the already awkward situation, she smiles a crooked smile and waves back. I walk out into the hallway and bust into laughter. What in the world? Well, I just hope the odd smile was one of happiness and not of horror!

]]>http://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/d5ffc8f7-a926-441c-80f9-9a7058af4dbehttp://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/d5ffc8f7-a926-441c-80f9-9a7058af4dbeFri, 01 Jun 2007 17:38:29 GMT1901horrormemorial daymorningoddshowertoothbrush"The Life of a Thirty-something Designer"

Meeting after meeting to discuss changes to the website. "We need to change it without changing it too much!" Well, now that we had that cleared up I would set off on my journey to get the site "freshened up" as some would call it.

Back at the desk a few days later I have some ideas and pass them through the boss. It is love at first site. "Let's do it!" I get back to my computer and start to hack away at it.

An eerie feeling comes over me a few weeks later as the changes have been completed. It is now time for internal customers and users to test it out and make sure they like the changes.

Days later the changes are approved with very few additions. I once again I go back to the desk and make the changes. One last round of testing for the crew and they will be good to go.

Wait did I forget to say that a week prior there was a release of a lit piece that touted the new changes. Now there is problem. Changes are not finished but the site must go up or we will have egg in the face. "Well, most of the changes are made so why not deploy."

DEPLOY!

Now the site is live and there is still testing being done. More changes ensue... I go back make the changes and while we are waiting to deploy there is a change of heart. Now all the changes are no longer perfect but are the worst changes anyone has ever seen! Remember site is live and we have approval to deploy. More people jump on the bus and the changes are now not the worst but only a fool would have made those changes and to add to it all that approved are on the bus as well.

I am now frantically digging in my pocket for change... The bus is coming but I am standing in the street and the bus is headed toward me. I see the headlights but I can't seem to move. Will there be an escape?

Tune in next time for -
Flat as a pancake - or - Dodged a bullet
]]>http://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/068b607f-69b9-466c-a9d9-899fc5e7de37http://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/068b607f-69b9-466c-a9d9-899fc5e7de37Fri, 11 May 2007 21:56:20 GMTaestheticapprovalbuschangecrushing painthirty-somethingweb design
1) Wake up
2) Continue to wake up
3) Shower
4) Forgo shower for more sleep
5) Large Coffee
6) Get to work have more coffee
7) Bike ride at lunch

Seemed like a good plan but after 24oz of coffee and a grape fruit leather the bike ride is a disaster. The ride started out with the best of intentions but after about 20 minutes (maybe less) the body starts to remind me that I had coffee for breakfast and lunch. Not many vitamins and minerals in coffee...
CRASH!!!
I am going to puke! I start to sweat and can't go further. Body curls into ball on the trail and tries to forget the world. Laughing and jeering ensue from person I am riding with. Can't move yet or I might respond. Few minutes later I can move and I am back on the bike. More laughing and jeering... Friends! Body is much happier but still no energy. Ride back is easier. Get back to car and am shaking... Maybe I need coffee... or not!
Thanks Jeremy for the fruit leather. Not sure how far I would have gone without.
Back at the office now cooled down and have had lunch... Feel better. Maybe next time I will try RedBull...

Now I know "coffee does not a meal make!"
]]>http://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/67fbf939-666b-4632-afc1-e8e8a1b4f594http://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/67fbf939-666b-4632-afc1-e8e8a1b4f594Wed, 09 May 2007 19:09:00 GMTcoffeecrashfriendsjeeringmountain bikemtbpukeridethis brochure done by the end of the day?" I  look down at the paper and now know my doom. My head thinks "this is a brochure?" Well... it is what I am paid for. Then the boss says "I just emailed you the copy." I check my email and it starts. The copy is 4 pages written in 8pt font. Now I know I am in trouble. Now I am sure that if you have ever had to design and layout brochures and flyers that 1 sketch and 4 pages of copy are not a good start for a brochure. Then the statement every designer dreads... "Since I wrote it out for you this should take no time at all..."

Head starts to hurt. Now I not only have just a few hours to finalize this thing but when I finish, it is no suprise since he did all the work. In the famous words of Charlie Brown... "AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!"

I have now started and have tried desparately to get the text to fit for a few hours. Then a call comes. "Do you have a draft for me yet? Did they get the line drawings to you?" Did I mention that this brochure had to fit on 2 pages not including cover and back?

You have mail...

It was the line drawings which always spice up a brochure... I now have less space... Wait attached is also a set of 25 call-outs for the image. Wonderful...! Did I say "AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"? Now it is on! Well, I must get back to work, time is growing short and the text just seems to be growing. Maybe no one will notice the 4pt font or the 1 inch images.

This is a job for memeKode!!!!
]]>http://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/67441b0f-cd43-4ac3-9089-b8f941ad48a4http://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/67441b0f-cd43-4ac3-9089-b8f941ad48a4Tue, 08 May 2007 20:19:26 GMTargh!arrrrgggghhhh!!!copydesignerdilemmafonttrouble
Forgot my lunch this morning and did not bring a thing for breakfast today. 10:15 and the body is saying "need food for energy" so I write the email to the guys at work about lunch. "Wings Wednesday" I state in the subject line. But there have been gripes about the Wednesday special. So I throw out the fact that I would really like Mexican food. No answer, so I write, in no uncertain terms, TAMALES! That sparks  a few emails and we are off. One of the emails is about the wings and how they do not want wings. Exchange server must be slow... no it is just the brains of others that need lunch. Belly growls louder "need food for energy!" I trudge over to the IT office where we chat a bit more about the Mexican food. Del Sol, Casa de Durango, both of which would satisfy the need for Mexican food. I.T. director chimes in with the fact that Chipotle is a good place. I cringe and leave the room before I hear any more. Back at my desk... "NEED FOOD FOR ENERGY!" the stomach says. The usual conference call with the lads throwing out ideas while actually sitting there reading emails or doing whatever else there is to do other than think of where to go. Then a stipulation... I only have $7.00. So much for Del Sol or Casa de Durango. Then as my stomach starts in on the last grumble before meltdown I hear it... "How about Taco Bell?" It is over, the choice has been made and my craving for tamales has been whittled down to rehydrated beans, paper thin tortillas and tomato ketchup they call salsa. Well, I guess they do have those cute sayings on the packages. They say "Live to fight another day" right?

But will I???
]]>http://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/25fb4dbc-0639-4203-900a-75aaf73c52f0http://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/25fb4dbc-0639-4203-900a-75aaf73c52f0Thu, 03 May 2007 04:59:37 GMTconcallfoodi.t.mexican foodtaco belltamaleswingsI am "Da Man!"
]]>http://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/1cd29535-46e3-412f-a72b-e9c8020ed308http://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/1cd29535-46e3-412f-a72b-e9c8020ed308Wed, 02 May 2007 06:23:13 GMTbad musicboredconversationda manlate night rantsoffice
Random I know... but that is how I work!
]]>http://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/2bbb32c9-0a24-49af-b018-49b9dce8ee4chttp://www.giveness.com/member/RickLopez/blog/view/2bbb32c9-0a24-49af-b018-49b9dce8ee4cTue, 01 May 2007 04:45:45 GMTcell phonecoloradogreen lightrandomred lightstoryweirdyou da man