collisionbend.com

Well, I’m back in the saddle again. I sent my narcoleptic MacBook back to Apple for repair, and they had it for over 4 weeks.

The first time I called to fnd out where it was, I was told that if I called back in 24 hours, they would have a tracking number for me. Fine.

I called back the next day, and they had no idea why my repair was delayed, but they would expedite it. Wonderful.

The following day, I called again, and the support rep told me he could do nothing about it since it was already expedited, and he told me to “just sit tight” and maybe I’d “have it back by the end of the week.” Ohhhhhh-Kay.

I called the next day, and I was immediately transferred to Apple Care, where the rep listened to me for about 30 seconds, read my issue file, and immediately told me to hold the line and she would be back with her manager, who would take care of the issue.

Well, I came out of that phone call with a new computer, no questions asked. Nice.

The only fly in the ointment was that they have a backlog of orders for the MacBook because of the RSD issue, and they couldn’t get me a new MacBook for over three weeks. So she offered me a MacBook Pro as a replacement — free — which turns out to be about a $900 upgrade.

Nice. Very nice. Proof that the squeaky wheel does, indeed, get the grease.

It arrived late Friday, and I have been alternating between family stuff and computer setup for the last two days, much to the consternation of my bride.

So far, I like the keyboard more than the MacBook keyboard, which I liked. This one has a much better feel, however (it’s also backlit). My only complaint with the MacBook Pro is that my watch gets caught against the left front corner of the computer, restricting my motion somewhat.

I guess it’s time for a new watch.

I also like the speed increase. This thing feels like it almost anticipates your next move, it’s that fast. The MacBook was fast, but the MacBook Pro smokes it. There is no comparison here: the difference is like night and day.

All in all, it’s been a busy few weeks (I’ve also visited Washington, D.C. of late, which I will tell you about soon); it’s nice to be able to get back to work. Finally.

I’m enjoying a nice, cold, Sam Adams Black Lager at the moment: Troy Smith led the consensus #1 Ohio State Buckeyes to a 24 - 7 victory over the Texas Longhorns in NCAA football action tonight.

Thanks, guys!

After losing 9 seniors to the NFL draft this past season, coach Jim Tressel assembled his troop of last year’s second-teamers and elevated them to starters. People wondered how they’d really do this year, regardless of the talent: after all, they had little experience, especially in the defensive secondary.

The Bucks turned in a defensive gem.

Thanks, guys!

People wondered how they’d do after losing several offensive linemen to the NFL draft. Ummm… lemme see here… Heismann candidate quarterback Troy Smith sacked only once, completing 17 of 27 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns.

Thanks, guys!

To me, the Bucks deserve the #1 rating, especially after tonights decisive win; there’s no doubt it at all. So, who’s #2?

My money’s on Notre Dame this year, which should make things interesting this season, as I have a good friend in South Bend who would love to knock me off the #1 perch (she thinks I have a tendency to gloat about the Buckeyes. OK, maybe I do, but with good reason, OK?).

The Bucks beat a solid Texas team tonight, no doubt about it. They played tough. Ohio State has some issues to address, as well: the defense still has some question marks, although I think the one with Jame Laurenitis’ name next to it needs to be removed.

So thanks, guys! I appreciate your effort. I appreciate your pride. I appreciate your dedication. I appreciate that you all — like myself and many others in this state — bleed Scarlet and Gray. It also means that I have to come up with a new “Buckeye Blend” for a CSS file this year… for Michigan week, and possibly for a bowl game…

Thanks, guys!

On Friday, June 6, 1977, a mere 29 years, 3 months and 3 days ago, I graduated from Rocky River High School. On that day, I weighed 172 pounds.

I know this because I was at Lakewood Hospital earlier that morning, having tests for a minor surgical procedure I was to have about 10 days later.

Today, I weigh 171.4 pounds, better than 1/2 a pound less than the day I graduated from high school.

Most folks can’t say that.

In fact, last Christmas I couldn’t even say that myself: I was about 75 pounds overweight, my blood pressure was through the roof, I had severe sleep apnea, I also snored ferociously, I had almost uncontrollable gastric reflux, and my blood chemistry was all out of whack.

In short, I was a mess: I was on the short road to six feet of dirt.

Then, on my birthday, one week before Christmas, I received an email from a cousin: his younger brother, all of 51 years of age, had just come out of a quadruple heart bypass operation. His blockages were 100%, 99%, 95%, and 72%. The doctor said he had at least two heart attacks in the previous week that he didn’t know about. He was also 30 pounds overweight.

He could have died.

And there I was, some 75 pounds overweight, thinking to myself, “[expletive deleted]! Just who the hell am I kidding?”

So I got to work. I developed a plan. I joined WeightWatchers on January 7 of this year. I worked the program. I learned about myself and about how to eat properly. I learned to plan ahead, cook lightly, eat even lighter — and still be properly nourished.

And over the next 9 months I lost 74.4 pounds — almost a third of myself. My blood pressure is now normal; hypertension is off my diagnosis list. My sleep apnea is a thing of the past. I still snore a little, but that is now more due to allergies and a worn-out mattress than anything else. My reflux is now well under control — almost non-existant. And my blood chemistry — well, I’m still waiting for the results from a recent blood test — but I can assume that it has improved as well.

And now I’m 1/2 a pound lighter than I weighed in high school, which was my goal.

Who said I don’t finish things? I could have walked out in the middle of it all, saying that it was too hard for me, but I didn’t: I hung in there and got the job done. I found it difficult, but certainly not impossible.

So if you find that you need to do something like this as well, know this: If I can do it, surely you can, too.

(71.8 — 74.4 — -2.6)

First off, let me just say that I’m in mind of (as my grandmother used to say) Lori Kozey at the moment. My bride and I just saw a movie that I think she might enjoy greatly.

We saw “The Illusionist,” starring Edward Norton, Jessica Biel, and Paul Giamatti.

Great flick.

It’s not one of those movies that you’ll rant and rave about for years to come (uhhhh… it’s a romance, truth be told — but read on), but more like a movie that after you see it you’ll leave the theater impressed; you’ll buy the DVD when it’s released, because it’s a movie you’ll want to see again.

I’m not going to delineate the plot line here, save to say that at least 90% of the film is told from a recollection — the past — and only the last 10 minutes or so is actually “current time” within the story line itself.

This is probably the only way this story could be told.

But enough about the story. The movie is well-acted, with Norton in his usual excellence. Like Kevin Spacey, when Edward Norton takes a role, you forget that you are watching Edward Norton play a role — you see the man he portrays, which is the the essence of great acting.

Norton is probably the best actor of his generation, and I’m beginning to think that he might be the best ever — this from an admitted Kevin Spacey fan.

But it’s Giamatti that steals the show here. You never see Giamatti, yet he is in almost every scene, just like Norton. He plays one of the meatiest roles I have ever seen him portray with a depth and understanding I never thought he was capable of portraying. In short, he was excellent.

Jessica Biel… well… this is the first real exposure I’ve had of her, and her role was short but well-played.

My only gripe with the movie is that they let you know too much in the end, in the final five minutes — but, then again, perhaps not: you’re led to believe that Giamatti has figured it out, but then you remember Norton from earlier in the movie, saying to Giamatti, “that’s one possible way of doing it.”

The photography was excellent, and the special effects superb. I really felt I was in 1850s Vienna (yes, it’s a period piece), and for a movie to do that I have to take special attention (being a history buff makes that even harder to do with a period piece like this).

All in all, while it’s not the best flick you’ll ever see, I highly recommend it. There’s enough turns and illusions to keep even the best whodunit solver in their seats, waiting to see the outcome.

What I didn’t care for — and why I will never go back to Leow’s Richmond Heights — is this: first off, the place was over-run by kids — deliberately getting in your way, bumping into you, etc. Not that I have anything against teenagers (I was one myself once), but the only solace I had with the whole issue was the intense number of policemen in the theater lobby. A trouble spot, perhaps?

Nonetheless, we didn’t feel safe in there.

The other thing was the signs that said, “Free refill of large popcorn.” Well, I went for the free refill, only to be treated to the gal in charge of the snack bar holding her palm out to me in “stop” fashion, yelling, “NO! We’re closed! Go back to your seat!”

No “sorry, sir…” no “I wish I could, but…” nothing. Just loud and rude. Meanwhile, her employees were filling up huge bags of popcorn to — and I heard them talking about this as I approached the stand — you guessed it: they were taking the leftover popcorn home. My only solace there was that the popcorn really wasn’t very good at all (we just wanted it because that’s what you do when you watch a movie in the theater, ya know?): it was stale, tasteless, soft, and vapid.

And no salt whatsoever. Yeeeuuuuuucccccchhhhhh!

I can understand that they were closed; that’s not the issue. The issue was that this young person was extremely rude to me, which was definitely not right; further, I left a damned good movie to get a refill on my popcorn at the behest of my bride, whom I always want to keep happy, and I returned empty-handed.

I’ll say it again: I will never return to Leow’s Richmond Heights theater. Never.

~~~~~

On the lighter side of things, I made my WeightWatchers weight goal this morning.

After 9 months, I’ve lost 72.4 pounds (my personal goal is still 1.4 pounds to go). Now, I have to level off and maintain my weight over the next 6 weeks, which I hear is a bit of a challenge.

Fortunately, they give you great instructions.

(71.8 — 72.4 — -0.6)