Tell us what's happened to you recently (that's interesting)

zengonzo · 2010-01-04T06:17:49.000Z

Christmas Math

=

Rimbo · 2010-01-04T14:05:24.000Z

On Wednesday, my Dad and Mom arrive in town.

On Thursday, my Dad turns 70. To celebrate, we’re going to take a day trip up to Pasadena. Gonna watch a little football game together, he and I. :)

Creole_Ned · 2010-01-04T16:39:25.000Z

This morning I heard a tremendous crash upstairs, followed almost immediately by the sound of water running down inside the cupboard in my kitchen that houses the fusebox.

This was not good.

I called Tim upstairs and in a very calm voice he said, “Can you come up and help me?”

This is what I found when I got upstairs:

He fell while trying to manhandle a fully loaded carboy used for home brewing. The water seeped under the dishwasher and found its way to my suite below. Luckily it went past the fusebox and not into it.

Upstairs, there was blood everywhere, swirled in the water on the kitchen floor, dripping off the stove and cupboards, splattered down the hallway and into the bathroom. I got out the first aid kit and bandaged up his arms, one of which had a wound that looked like it went right to the bone. He was remarkably calm the whole time, even as he said he felt he had broken his right arm (the same one he has broken twice before).

Fortunately, it turned out to just be banged up and not broken, though he required 15 stitches on one of the wounds. He’s right when he says he got off lucky.

While he was at the hospital I cleaned up the mess and let the dog out to pee.

Here’s hoping he buys six packs from now on.

Rimbo · 2010-01-04T16:42:32.000Z

egads

Demon_G_Sides · 2010-01-04T17:13:53.000Z

Dear lord.

robsam · 2010-01-04T17:20:03.000Z

Creole Ned:

Here’s hoping he buys six packs from now on.

In cans.

Omniscia · 2010-01-04T17:21:28.000Z

Somebody needs to buy that guy one of these:

Five gallon plastic carboy made from a clear, stain-resistant, non-porous PET plastic that is impermeable to oxygen. Light and virtually unbreakable.

And a carboy handle.

Griddle · 2010-01-05T10:09:20.000Z

Home brewing is serious business.

WarrenM · 2010-01-05T11:54:38.000Z

I applied for my passport this morning, seeing as I’m a US citizen now and everything. It was kind of funny.

Apparently what they tell you on the web site isn’t really what you need for when you show up at the post office to do this. The lady behind the counter was asking everyone, “Did you read the notice at the start of the line? If not, go back and read it, the web site isn’t correct”
Once I read that and got everything I needed, she looks at my form and says, “You need to fill in travel plans”. I said I didn’t have any and she strongly suggested that I make a vague estimate about travel sometime in the future. Apparently, applying for a passport without travel plans is a red flag to the government (people sell passports for good money, she said).
Then she insists that I fully fill out the section on my parents (which the form says is optional) because that’s also a red flag. So I call my Dad because I don’t know his exact birth year and all that. So I get that done.
As I’m writing the check at the end, I ask her if there’s a more expensive option I can pay for that will get it done quicker. She says there is but if you do it, it’s a red flag. So I go with standard processing (4-6 wks).

Holy crud, it’s a minefield out there! I think I got very lucky with this woman as she was very nice and was willing to explain all the pitfalls to me before I fell into them.

Dravalen · 2010-01-05T12:00:07.000Z

WarrenM:

As I’m writing the check at the end, I ask her if there’s a more expensive option I can pay for that will get it done quicker. She says there is but if you do it, it’s a red flag. So I go with standard processing (4-6 wks).

Man, sounds like she was full of something, I did the expedited passport when I got mine without any issues.

WarrenM · 2010-01-05T12:01:02.000Z

Well, I’m guessing a “red flag” isn’t fatal - it just means they may give you a hassle and demand more documentation or whatever. Or they may not. I just didn’t want to take the chance.

TheTrunkDr · 2010-01-05T12:11:10.000Z

WarrenM:

I applied for my passport this morning, seeing as I’m a US citizen now and everything. It was kind of funny.

Apparently what they tell you on the web site isn’t really what you need for when you show up at the post office to do this. The lady behind the counter was asking everyone, “Did you read the notice at the start of the line? If not, go back and read it, the web site isn’t correct”

Once I read that and got everything I needed, she looks at my form and says, “You need to fill in travel plans”. I said I didn’t have any and she strongly suggested that I make a vague estimate about travel sometime in the future. Apparently, applying for a passport without travel plans is a red flag to the government (people sell passports for good money, she said).

Then she insists that I fully fill out the section on my parents (which the form says is optional) because that’s also a red flag. So I call my Dad because I don’t know his exact birth year and all that. So I get that done.

As I’m writing the check at the end, I ask her if there’s a more expensive option I can pay for that will get it done quicker. She says there is but if you do it, it’s a red flag. So I go with standard processing (4-6 wks).

Holy crud, it’s a minefield out there! I think I got very lucky with this woman as she was very nice and was willing to explain all the pitfalls to me before I fell into them.

If you’re not traveling why do you need it quicker?

WarrenM · 2010-01-05T12:12:19.000Z

If you’re not traveling why do you need it quicker?

Oh, I just wanted to get it over with quicker. Once I have it, I’m done … completely done with immigration. That’s a big milestone for me. But 4-6 weeks will work too…

ChristienMurawski · 2010-01-05T12:12:33.000Z

Dravalen:

Man, sounds like she was full of something, I did the expedited passport when I got mine without any issues.

That you know of. Just think of all the cool lists you’re probably on now!

-xtien

TimJames · 2010-01-05T12:33:01.000Z

WarrenM:

Oh, I just wanted to get it over with quicker. Once I have it, I’m done … completely done with immigration. That’s a big milestone for me. But 4-6 weeks will work too…

This sounds like a red flag.

cheapfilms · 2010-01-05T12:42:52.000Z

Did you have to burn your other passport?

TheTrunkDr · 2010-01-05T12:46:35.000Z

cheapfilms:

Did you have to burn your other passport?

Why would he?

WarrenM · 2010-01-05T12:47:09.000Z

Did you have to burn your other passport?

I don’t know. It’s Canadian and it expires in a year or so … I’ll double check with my lawyer once I have the new passport, though.

AndrewMyers · 2010-01-05T13:14:01.000Z

Does Canada un-citizen you once you naturalize in the US, or can you still legitimately wear your canada pin on your backpack when you’re abroad?

Demon_G_Sides · 2010-01-05T13:14:12.000Z

It’s good for you since you’re also not a native citizen, so it’ll reduce the hassle. you’re lucky to have such a nice lady help you!