Farewell.

Today, I'm announcing my final posting here at “Your Friendly Neighborhood Mac Guy”. Effective immediately, I am effectively closing both “Your Friendly Neighborhood Mac Guy” and it’s second-cousin-twice-removed site, “Five Things”. Neither blog is going away, I’ll keep them up as long as Blogspot allows it. the same crap content you know and love will now be found at my new blog, “Spicy Brown” – http://spicybrown.deepmustard.com.

It’s been a terrific run since I started way back in… harumphharumph. This decision did not come easily for me, since being here is something that I've loved to do since I discovered my voice here on the Internet. There have been a few reasons for doing this and I hope you all switch your bookmarks over to the new site.

Finally, to quote Babe Ruth, who's pictured here:

"There's been so many lovely things said about me, and I'm glad that I've had the opportunity to thank everybody. Thank you."

Q&A:

Q: Why are you shuttering two sites?

A: I have a long commute back and forth to work. As a result, my blogging time has shrunken dramatically. There’s also my family; for some strange reason they want to spend more time with me.

Q: What happens to all that crap content you’ve posted?

A: They will still be available at http://macfixer.blogspot.com and http://five-things.blogspot.com -- until Blogspot pulls the plug.

Q: Where can I locate you?

A: I’m always available at http://www.deepmustard.com.

Q: I love you, run away with me!

A: First off, that’s not really a question, secondly, I’m already happily married, thank you very much.

Q: Are you done yet?

A: Yes.

"Strange Things Are Afoot At Your Friendly Neighborhood Mac Guy"

Okay, maybe paraphrasing it, there is something in play that's been promised for a long time (since April 2007 to be exact).

It's all for the better, my friends...that's it for now.

2008 Election Results

What The Hell Am I Eating 10: Two Kinds Of Larabars

Wassup 2008

Simply brilliant - mainly for reuniting the guys behind the video sensation of 2000...

Man, this stinks!

Got this email from our favorite sub -- oops, I meant grinder shop here in New London:

Due to reasons beyond our control we must close Grampy’s Downtown Delicatessen.
This was not an easy decision to make
and it was a sad one.
We have serviced our many friends and customers
for 14 years and will miss all of you!
These economic times are not easy for any of us. Unfortunately, what is going on in our Country has directly affected our ability to operate.

George W. Bush: How'd He Do?

This is from Letterman... funny, funny stuff:

What The Hell Am I Eating 9: 3 Musketeers Mint

Guys backflip into jeans

Not too sure how many times they screwed it up, but the end result is mighty cool...

What If Sarah Palin Was a Disney Movie?

This is so funny, it's not :-(

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

What The Hell Am I Eating 8: 2 Kinds Of Chewing Gum

Piccadilly Pound

Mason has been playing guitar since he was a little one. This is him playing a piece from memory at his last recital.

Remixing NIN

I've never really been a big Nine Inch Nails fan, but I love what they've been doing with their music: releasing it for free onto the web.

On their site, http://remix.nin.com -- there's the opportunity to remix their music... mighty friendly in this age of lawyers and C&D's and takedown notices.

So, with their virtual blessing, I remixed their song, "The Hand That Feeds" -- and I'm sharing the results with all of you. Being a hip-hop head, I decided to give my remix an old-school hip-hop twist. Hope you like it...

The Hand That Feeds (strippedmix) (free registration may be required)

9/11: A Day I Won't Forget [part 1]

This is a journal entry I had written back in 2001, with the idea that someday, when I felt OK with returning to "that day" mentally, I would flesh it out and share it with you. Here is some of it:

Sonia had slept over her grandparent's house with Mason that night. I took the LIRR like I always do, and the ride was as uneventful as it usually was. I had gotten a 2-way message from Linda Dreeland complaining about someone not being able to access their QuickMail. Since I am usually the first one in, I told her I'd take a look at it once I got there.

I had accidentally left Sonia' Gap knapsack on the train on Friday. We were supposed to pick it up over the weekend, but the Lost and Found is closed those days.

Once I had gotten into Penn, I made a beeline for the Lost and Found. After 2 fretful days of wondering whether or not it had actually made it there or not, the guy behind the counter had me fill out a card.

Who would've thunk it? He actually READ the card, realized I wasn't talking about a Gap plastic shopping bag, but a Gap MESSENGER bag! He had it all along, and Sonia's stuff was safe inside it, and I felt relieved.

Bag in hand, I decided to take the A train instead of the C or E, because it skips 23rd street, and I was hoping maybe I’d run into Sonia on the subway, like we sometimes did on the way out of work...then I could surprise her by giving her bag back.

The A trains stopped coming; I tried to cross over to the C or E line, but my Metrocard wouldn't work. A bunch of us crossed over to the E, and of course, our Metrocards wouldn't let us in...the message on the little screen said, "Just Used" – grr!

After speaking with the token clerk,  I was finally let in through the gate. I caught the E train downtown, and it made all local stops to 14^th street.

At the 14^th street station, an announcement came on that we were held there by MTA supervisors, and that we’d be moving again in 5 minutes. What was supposed to be just a 5 minute wait turned into 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes... we weren't moving at all, and I still had to get to work to check on Linda’s email.

Some of us had stepped out of the subway onto the platform for some air (it was an unusually warm September day and there was no A/C in my car). A few of us had gathered around the conductor’s opened window and were asking him questions. All he knew was that there was an "incident" at the World Trade Center. He didn't know anymore. I told a black couple, "at least I have a good excuse for being late" I was thinking of how it would look while walking down Spring Street, since I always would use the Twin Towers as my orientation beacon. You usually could spot them from anywhere in Manhattan.

A black guy listening to his Walkman spoke next: "A plane hit the Twin Towers!"

We had thought it was a small plane like a Piper Cub or Cessna. I thought of the B-25 that had run into the Empire State Building in a fog. This was a clear day, however. How could you miss the biggest buildings in Manhattan?

A young guy came over next: "Two...two planes hit the Towers...they also hit the Pentagon" 

Pacing

Pacing, originally uploaded by macfixer.

It's funny, how much of my family's life revolves around food. Anything in life that happens is cause for a family get-together for a meal.

This is the morning of February 22. My dad's mother had died earlier, and there were plans to make. After dropping him off at the funeral home, I went back to my parents' place to pick up the rest of the family to join him for brunch at Bollinger's in Farmingdale.

Even though he was up late the night before; even though my dad's mind was racing with what to do next, he still had the presence of mind to call the immediate family together for brunch.

It was bittersweet, that meal. I wish I could tell you what I had, but I don't remember.

What The Hell Am I Eating 6: Pop Rocks Chocolate Bar

Index Card Sketch

Index Card Sketch, originally uploaded by macfixer.

A doodle I made while listening to Mason's guitar class back in 2005.

Back To School Time

Waiting To Board The Bus, originally uploaded by macfixer.

• I work at a college, and "the crunch" is most definitely upon us. This year is especially challenging because of construction, faculty and students coming back at the same time.
• Mason is headed back to school on Tuesday, which means...I won't lie...someone's going to be looking after him. It's hard to work and watch after a bored kid at the same time.
• My wife got some startling news from a recent doctor's visit. I'll update you more when we know for sure, but it's definitely bigger than the common cold treatment she went in for.
• My summer was good -- got a chance to take a couple of weekend trips. I still have too much vacation time left over. Rats.

That's it for now. No, I never heard back from the "Car Talk" folks, other than an apology for not getting back to me. I'm now in "wait and see mode" and I'll go from there.

Holy Crap! I Submitted A Question To The "Car Talk" Guys! (UPDATE 2)

I was finally able to get through to a producer over at "Car Talk" and they said they'd call me back on Tuesday to get me all set up for Wednesday. This is mighty cool, since it could mean I'd be in the show by that weekend.

I'm so excited!

Related:

Holy Crap! I Submitted A Question To The "Car Talk" Guys! (Update)

Holy Crap! I Submitted A Question To The "Car Talk" Guys!

What The Hell Am I Eating 7: Flame Broiled