Google Earth!

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2214504/google-remolds-earth

take a read folks... Google Earth has added the street view (what everything actually looks like from ground view) and put in better (3D) navigation to the program.

So what's the big deal?

If you have a mobile device that can access the internet (pda/smartphone) who would need a GPS anymore? You can actually get turn by turn directions, see the actual buildings around you, and get the most accurate digital depiction of.. well.. the world.

But why would google use street view here.. I mean, we're just Randolph County right?

You'd be shocked and amazed folks. A little over a month ago, I noticed the odd elongated white van (with an omnidirectional camera) parked in the Walmart parking lot. It was actually parked in a space, thankfully. Sections of Asheboro are already on the google streetview layer.

This (I would imagine) is going to be applied on a global level too.. and for a simple blue-collar worker like myself, this allows us to see parts of the world that I may never be able to see. Imagine the benefit to school children. Why just talk about the pyramids or the Eiffel Tower when you can see it and the surroundings on the screen right in front of you... interactively.

I've used google earth to help me lay out some plans for the upcoming honeymoon. It can show you gas prices, hotels, things to do, restaurants... etc.

If you haven't yet tried this program, jump all over it here: http://earth.google.com/

I've yet to try out the plus version, but I'm half tempted to give it a shot.

too much sleep..

that's what I wish I could say I've had over the past few days, but it'd be a lie.

So hurray for Sagebrush and Timothy's.. oh.. and.. uh... Sherwood? Okay? I never figured Sherwood would be looking for beer sales, but more power to 'em... right? Maybe this will lessen the load on those overworked folks at RockOla. Seems that they've all been ridiculously busy and since the election was certified. Funny, sounds like someone may have been right about more money being spent in Asheboro.

I know I haven't picked up anything in Randleman since...

Wedding planning has been the word of the day since this past October, and the time is drawing much closer. Am I nervous? Not really. Is She? I hope not. I think it's a shared anticipation to have it behind us. There's nothing quite like spending 11 months trying to plan a wedding. Well, I take that back. There's nothing like having 11 months where you only really have about 4 months of time to use to plan a wedding.

The beauty, though, is that we'll be on our honeymoon in 2 weeks from right now. In fact, there should be sand between my toes in exactly 2 weeks. I'll be able to get back into Picasa and start add some pictures to the blog. Visual stimulation is always a plus in maintaining an audience. Well... pictures or sheer insanity.

Those of you that are fans of beer and head to/from Raleigh occasionally, stop in Apex at the Tyler's Taproom. I recommend Lion Stout or Great Divide Yeti Imperial Stout if you like a good dark beer that isn't local... oh, and have the Garlic Fries.

"He gave up his ghost to heaven and we will miss him always"

I've spent years as a fan of the Dave Matthews Band... and I'm keeping that as a conservative description. As a musician, I kept it my goal to learn every song they've churned out... released, or unreleased.

It's hard to explain in a blog what the music that these guys produced has meant to me. It has pulled me through rough times and helped me celebrate wonderful little moments in my life... and one of the founding members of the band has left us.

One of the multi-instrumentalist for the Dave Matthews Band, LeRoi Moore, has passed away. He hadn't been on this past tour due to injuries that he received after an ATV accident in June. My fiancee and I attended a show on July 4th of this past year, and was astounded... as I tend to be at their shows.



We left the show, talking about the next one that we could go to. We left with a sense of anticipation and joy...


and it has since been, as of 8:12 this morning, completely emptied out with nothing to take its place.

what a sad, sad day.

Rest high above the clouds my friend, no restrictions.

A few notes from the weekend..

- it's impossible to find the natural paper with embedded leaves/twigs/nature things.
- red robin charges way too much for a burger.
- carolina coffee always rises above my ridiculous expectations.
- tux fittings suck the life out of you.
- the lowes foods on 64 has the best beer selection in Asheboro.
- wisdom teeth are the devil.
- wheelies-shoes are sitting on the right hand of the devil known as wisdom teeth.
- everyone should follow the slow roma tomato roasting idea that Tom Gray posted

Everything else was a blazing success this past weekend though. I spent some free time putting together a template for the wedding programs... and we're getting everything in order. The marriage license is in hand, all we need now is to go through the motions and have everything signed.

As for the tomato roasting thing...

We played host to a few folks Sunday afternoon and I love putting together finger foods. I remember seeing the post that Tom had out and wanted to give that a try, so we popped a few slices of tomato in the oven. Instead of any sugar, I added two cloves of roughly diced garlic, olive oil, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper. They hung out in the oven for about 4 and a half hours instead of the full 12. While they did their thing, I pulled together a basil infused mayonaisse, toasted some sea-salt and rosemary bread, and sliced some polly-o mozzarella cheese.

They turned out to be, effectively, two-bite french bread pizzas.

Good stuff.

so with everything said and done, the wedding is a little over 2 weeks away... and our to-do list is shrinking daily.

...gah. I need a drink.

working for the weekend

The very idea of starting off my saturday morning at Carolina Coffee and Tea is something that thrills me beyond compare. Being a coffee snob at heart, I've been hard-pressed to find a more outstanding cup of coffee anywhere around the Piedmont.

No, no... I'm not talking about Lattes or Cappucino.. I'm talking about a cup of coffee. Just hot, filtered water over freshly roasted and ground coffee beans. That is the essence of the cup. If you can't get a good cup of coffee, how can you expect a good latte? Just the same... I'm fully expecting a double espresso first, and a medium mild blend coffee afterwards.

...it's all about the crema. You won't find anyone at a big-box coffeeshop, or many mom and pop places that can pull a great shot of espresso. I could... but that's why I'm a snob now.

That would explain why I'm ridiculously happy about the espresso and coffee that I'll have Saturday... I know it's quality.

I get fitted for my tuxedo this weekend as well.

...and we put together wedding programs.

I'll try to get some pictures of the odd parking that we have now too, I'm tracking down the charger for my other digital camera.

With all of this to look forward too, I admit to working for the weekend as of this moment.

who's next?

Any running bets on the next restaurant that will actually serve? There have been quite a few gas stations/locations for off-premises sales, but we've yet to see another restaurant jump on-board.

Who is going to give those hard working (a lot of wait-staff working double shifts, 7 days a week to accomodate the change) people at Rock-Ola a break?

Chilis?
Sagebrush?
San Felipe?
Burrito Brothers?
Timothys?
Something Different?
Pizza Hut?
Olde Towne Deli?
Bamboo Garden?
Blue Mist?
Mayflower?
Sapporo? (beer and sushi go well together...)
Tuscany? (Wine and italian food? who would've imagined!)
Quotables? (miiiiight have to stay open longer than just lunch though...)
Coaches?
Zekos? (beer and pizza work well too...)

Just a few examples to ponder...

I know Sir Pizza has vowed to never serve... and there are few places that I don't think would consider it. I've never seen alcohol served in a buffet style restaurant, and I really don't think many people want an Asheboro Libre with their Biscuitville bacon platter.

Just the same, who do YOU think is going to be the next to dive in?

awkward parking in downtown...

Since when is it necessary to redo all of the parking downtown near Monroe's/the old courthouse? I can admit that the parking change near First Nation...er... Community One made a bit of a difference.

The biggest difference is not being able to see oncoming traffic until my car is halfway backed out onto Sunset Ave.

So why change things at the old courthouse/register of deeds? It's a blind turn and if you're the lucky winner of the "parking in the spot nearest the intersection", things may grow to be a bit hairy when backing out to leave. Does Asheboro need that much parking?

Pics to follow.

also, all four quik chek locations in Asheboro have their ABC permits... as well as both of the Lowes Foods stores.