Baq's Weblog

I’m currently working on a project that will require me to shut down a lane of the Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach for the duration of the project. After assembling all the necessary documents (Traffic Control Plan, Encroachment Application, etc) I’m off to Caltrans to submit my application for review. It just so happens that the office I need to visit is District 12 of the California Department of Transportation, located in the stunningly attractive city of Irvine.

*Ehm*.

So, where was I? Ah, yes… I enter the gated compound where District 12 is located amongst some other random businesses that must have been insignificant as I don’t recall taking the time to acknowledge their names. I take my ticket, I park my truck, and I walk the quarter-mile to the counter of the permit office. After an insightful, and always delightful discussion with the gentleman at the counter (who always seems to remember me, but only after he’s told me the same story about how he went to the Balboa Bay Club one night and they wouldn’t accept his cash for a beer. Credit cards only.), I slide the guy my parking stub.

“Can you validate my ticket, please?” I ask.

“Nooooo. Hehe, No No No No. I can’t do that here” he says all too happily.

So I return to the main counter and ask the security guard (who has his feet up on the desk) if he can validate my ticket. No. Why not? I ask. Isn’t this a state-run agency? I pay taxes to help fund this place, now I have to pay to pop-in and say HI?

“We’re in a budget crises, man.” he explains to me.

“Oh.”

So I take my stuff and I leave. Defeated. As I pass the small java cart in the lobby I’m reminded of all the times I’ve purchased a pack of gum or a bottle of pop at Horton Plaza to have my parking stub validated and I’m tempted to stop and buy a drink. But I’m in a hurry to leave and there’s a line. Besides, I think I would have thrown-up if the java chick stamped my ticket for a $3 latte after being denied by Caltrans. I just didn’t want to know.

As I hurry out the door and towards the back of the parking lot to my truck, I hear the wise words of the security guard in head, “…the first 20 minutes are free”.

How long was I in there? I break out into a brisk walk. $1 per half hour. $1 per half hour. Damnit, I can’t get it outta my head. $1 isn’t jack-squat. Shit, I can loose $100 out the window without even flinching, but it’s not about the money. Not this time. It’s about the principle of paying to park to pull a God-damn permit for which I’m required to have, for which I will end up paying several hundred (possibly thousands of dollars) in review fees, inspection time, etc… for a civic project to benefit those within the beautiful state of California… which was designed, implemented, and approved by the state of California, to an institution for which my taxes are funding.

As I pull up to the toll booth I notice the “First 20 Minutes Are Free”-sign. I look at my watch and guestimate that it had been about 33 minutes since I entered the massive parking lot. I hand the young girl my ticket.

“2 dollars please” she says smirkingly.

I’m about to open my mouth to tell her that I had only been inside for 33 minutes, and that 20 of those minutes should be free. But I know better. If I had made it out in less than 20 they would have been free. But I didn’t, so they don’t. So now I must pay for 33 minutes.

Strangely, I don’t think Caltrans is receiving any money towards their budget crisis from my parking fees, as the security guard suggested. After all, the toll attendant didn’t ask me who my two dollars should be applied towards.

You may have beaten me this time PARK PLACE CENTRAL PARKING… but I will have my day with you.

There will be a bell tower, and I will climb it. And I will have my day with you.

Posted by Baq at 11:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

In an effort to keep myself ultra-busy this year (and I don’t mean business busy), I have joined a soccer league. I’m kinda excited about being part of a team again (and I don’t mean business team).

Unfortunately my Cory won’t be able to play with me. She’s having foot surgery in a couple of weeks as a result of playing too much soccer in high school and college. Hmm… maybe its better that she doesn’t show me up in front of my new teammates.

If you live in the ‘Diego area and you wanna join… check it out here.

Posted by Baq at 6:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

A plan isn't a plan, unless you have specifics:

What Will Happen

How It Will Happen

What I'm Currently Using To Make It Happen

Posted by Baq at 10:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

So, here’s the deal… and it’s a biggie this time. This year I will run a marathon. I WILL RUN A MARATHON. There, I said it out loud. Now I’m not just crazy in my head any more, I’m certifiable. To be clear, this will be my first marathon. Ever.

I know… I know… we’re only eight days into the New Year. Coincidence?

This must be some sort of cheap New Year’s resolution shenanigan, you say.
It must be some sort of pathetic attempt to grasp a bit of attention, you say.
This is a goal that is unrealistic, you say.
You’re stupid, you say.

Well, I won’t deny any of it. It’s all true. But just you wait and see... I’mna finish that god-damn race no matter what it takes. Even if I have to hitch a ride on some fat girl’s back (how the heck do all those biggies finish anyway?).

Go ahead; if you have something to say… get it out now. At least then you’ll have a chance that I may forget your harsh, hurtful words. But if you wait too long to poke fun at me, I just might make you eat your words. And when I say eat your words, don’t you think for a minute that I wont print-out your comments on some of that nasty old smoky smelling paper they have in the back storage room at the Good Will, sprinkle it with some garlic pepper and Tabasco, put it in a small care package with my race socks and send it to your ass for a good feastin’.

Posted by Baq at 10:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Tonight I went to Best Buy with a $200 gift card that’s been burning a ginormous hole in my wallet for the past month and a half. There are so many things I want for myself… and Best Buy is place to get them.

Tonight I was on a mission. As I haven’t had very much free time over the past couple of months, and since Cory isn’t exactly head-over-heals crazy about going to Best Buy, I thought it would be best if I made the most of the trip and actually spend the glorious, shiny blue, credit card-sized bundle of love that I’ve been keeping safe near my most private of places. Unfortunately, the mission was not accomplished.

I already have an MP3 player, and I told myself that I’d wait for the next generation of digital cameras before I upgrade. I just bought a new cell phone (at the mall of course), and I’m weary of purchasing a $50 PC game, for fear of it never actually being played.

I thought these were the types of things I liked the most. After all, it’s moments like these that I’ve been training for since I turned geek in college. Why in the heck couldn’t I find anything that would ultimately cost me…nothing? Free… and I choked.

There was even something that I really “needed”, and as I entered the store I told myself that if nothing of exceptional worth struck me as a must-have, I would fall back on my needs over my wants. Like I was saying, I’ve been needing a new deck for my car. I need to be able to play MP3s not only from my office, home, and arm (while on the go), but I need to play them from my car as well.

However, as I stood in front of the car stereos, with Outcast blasting their new song for the umpteenth time from a set of 12" woofers only 3-ft from my ears, gazing at all the ridiculously mechanically inept, pixeled-to-the-maxed graphics on a 7-color screen, I was amazed. Did they really think that I was gonna fork over my precious $200 gift card, PLUS, another $200 of my own hard earned money for a token piece of crap that displayes car chases and other stupid scenes …and oh-yeah (I can’t forget this part)… bytheway it plays music too?

I think I’ll just let this $200 gift card continue to burn a hole in my pocket… at least it’ll keep my ass warm during these cold So-Cal winter months.

Posted by Baq at 11:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

pics of new year's eve have been posted. you will only be able to find them here.

Posted by Baq at 10:27 PM | Permalink

Of all the very important and highly realistic New Year’s resolutions that have crossed my mind today, I think I’ve finally got one that is not only manageable, but could (potentially) be quite rewarding come the end of 2004:

I will purchase a lottery ticket every time I have the opportunity.

After reading this article, and this article, I’ve come to ask myself why good things like that don’t happen to my family or me. Then it donned on me that since I’ve been old enough to purchase lottery tickets, I’ve only indulged a handful of times. Geez, you’d think the lottery commission would remind us that we can’t win if we don’t play.

Posted by Baq at 4:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)