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Some Good Stuff, Some Bad Stuff… How Did the Past Week Treat Ya?

July 22, 2013 By Jeff 35 Comments

shelleyRemember that scene in the Poseidon Adventure where Shelley Winters volunteers to tie a rope around her considerable waist, and swim a long distance underwater to help save her friends? And it just goes on and on, and is excruciating because we know she’s all fat and old? Well, today I am Shelley Winters.

I’ve been working ridiculous hours, in order to create a much-needed cash injection. And I don’t know what’s going on with me, but it’s kicking my ass. I’ve done much longer stretches, but this one is taking a toll. Maybe it’s the unrelenting heat, in conjunction with the crazy hours? I just don’t know.

And the cash injection? Yeah, well… On Friday Toney’s car shit the credenza, and the guy at the first garage gave us a repair estimate of $1200. So, there you go. Injection gone — in order to get us back to where we were last Thursday. Good stuff.

I’m not going to go into detail about the car troubles, because I don’t want to hear it. Why don’t you fix it yourself? Why don’t you do this, or this, or this? Blow me. I’m in no mood. We’re getting a second opinion on it, from a more reputable mechanic. I don’t trust the first guy, and won’t give him a nickel. I’m picking up a distinct “unnecessary repairs” vibe coming off that dickhead. We’ll see. We should know something this afternoon.

A couple of people have told me that it’s a good thing I’m working all these hours, to pay for the repairs. I don’t look at it that way. The extra money was supposed to improve things, not maintain the status quo. Is my point of view outta whack, or do you agree? Let me know your thoughts on it.

Yesterday morning I got out of bed, crop-dusted my way to the coffee maker, and flopped down in a living room chair with the newspaper on my lap. Within minutes Toney came home from the grocery store, and said, “What was that weird email you just sent me?”

Huh? I’d sent no emails. I was barely conscious.

Turns out some asshole overtook one of my Gmail accounts — my personal one — and sent a message that contained a malicious link. It went to every contact associated with that account. Grrr… Check out the activity log:

ukraine
Once again, the former Soviet Union! What’s the story?? Why does all internet mayhem seem to originate in one of the Eastern European countries? It seems to be a hive of alcoholism, bad haircuts, and low-rent criminality.

It didn’t take long to regain control of the account, but the damage had already been done.

One cool thing? The email went to the help desk at my old hosting company, and they responded with a detailed list of things to do when your email account is hijacked. I’m not even a customer there anymore, and they still tried to help. It wasn’t a canned response, either. They’re a small company, and I loved them for a long time. But they couldn’t keep the Russians out of my files, so I had to move on. Ironic, huh?

Yeah, it’s been a challenge. But the work marathon is almost over — just two more days. And I did get some promising news last week about one of my extracurricular projects, which excites me. I cling to any positive scrap of good news, like a life preserver.

And a publisher of textbooks(?!), offered me $200 to reprint a couple of my Ads vs. Reality photos. This is the second time it’s happened; last time I got $300. How cool is that? Found-money for snapshots of burgers I ate in 2007!

Also, a member of the vast network of liars and backstabbers forwarded this photo, straight from the stadium at least week’s MLB All-Star game:

All Star Fish
That made me smile. It looks like it was taken on the freaking field!

And my brain is coming up with good ideas again. I’m tired as hell, but the ideas are flowin’. Sometimes I worry, because I go through protracted idea droughts. But it’s kicking right now. It gives me hope.

So, it hasn’t been ALL bad.

Sorry I’ve been away for so long. What’s been going on with you guys? Anything remarkable from the past week or so — good or bad? Please bring us up to date on it, in the comments section.

And I’ll see you again tomorrow.

Thanks for reading!

Now playing in the bunker
Use the Surf Report’s webhost: HostGator!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dogberry says

    July 22, 2013 at 2:05 pm

    It must be summer in West Virginia — it rained and the power went out on Friday. Nothing like sitting in the dark sweating.

    Reply
  2. Jed says

    July 22, 2013 at 2:14 pm

    Thanks for asking, my back is feeling much better. Oh, and the dick is fine too. May we come in and hang out for a spell?  

    Reply
  3. TR says

    July 22, 2013 at 2:36 pm

    My husband busts his ass working double shifts, working over night, working weekends to keep us afloat. The place where I was working part time closed and I can’t find another job for the life of me. He jumps at the chance for any extra work actually he downright demands they let him work doubles sometimes lol.

    Reply
    • Jeff says

      July 22, 2013 at 3:27 pm

      I work a ton of hours too, and am thankful that option is available to me. However, as I’ve said many times before, I reserve the right to bitch about it.

      Reply
      • TR says

        July 22, 2013 at 3:50 pm

        Oh I know, I wasn’t implying that you were bitching. My husband bitches about too lol.

        Reply
      • rachael smith says

        July 25, 2013 at 2:30 am

        You absolutely have the right to bitch. But, my husband has been in construction for years and for a while when dinosaurs walked the earth he dreaded being asked to work over time. He hasn’t had a full 40 hr week in two or three years. Feel free to complain, but too much is better than not enough. 😉

        Reply
  4. Joe T. says

    July 22, 2013 at 2:51 pm

    I don’t blame you Jeff….I can’t fix shit. And all I hear from others is, “Oh, all you have to do is……..” Fuck ’em.

    Reply
  5. Henderson says

    July 22, 2013 at 2:54 pm

    I got a buddy having some hard times. Marriage going in the toilet, step-daughter hooked on heroin, bank trying to foreclose, etc. I’ve been helping him out with little cash infusions, or buying stuff from him I don’t need, whatever. I find out last week that my money has been going to help support some little hoochie mama he has on the side.

    I swear, I am so finished helping him drag bodies out into the desert. Men are pigs.

    Reply
  6. madz1962 says

    July 22, 2013 at 3:25 pm

    Cars: I just had to get 4 new tires (AGAIN), an alignment and power steering fluid. I’m ashamed to say I did NOT purchase Blizzaks. I went with a Dunlop knockoff. $500 for the whole shebang.

    Yesterday – drove back from Rhodie Island – about 150 mile trip. Literally put the blinker on to turn into my driveway. Driveway is on a sharp ass curve that has seen it’s share of accidents. I literally roll downt he window and turn the radio off so I can hear what’s coming down the road. Proceed to make the turn and Beloved yells “WATCH OUT” – young guy on a motorcycle came tear assing around the corner. Slammed on the brakes, he locked his bike up and laid it down but still went careening over the handlebars.

    Fucked up his bike pretty bad but he was able to walk away. he thinks he may have broken a rib. Called his uncle to pick him up (uncle had a trailer). Fucking horrifying. I can’t get the image out of my head. I’m grateful he was OK (except for maybe a busted rib) but the image of him somersaulting over his bike is going to stay with me for a long time. He said he was a hockey player and that the rib was no big deal.

    Oh – and I couldn’t make this shit up if I tried – kid’s name was Jeff Beck.

    We have called the town numerous times to put a “Watch your ass on this curve” sign but they won’t do it. They told me *I* could purcahse the sign if I felt the need. We have had 5 MAJOR accidents there. Fucking horrifying.

    Reply
  7. madz1962 says

    July 22, 2013 at 3:31 pm

    Jeff, I just saw “The Poseiden Adventure” on HDNet last week. I was always sorry Shelly Winters died in that flick and yet the dumb twat/twit “Nonnie” lived.

    Reply
  8. Billy Joel says

    July 22, 2013 at 3:50 pm

    I heard Detroit was broke, so I gave him a buck when I saw him at the exit of the grocery store parking lot with a cardboard sign.

    Reply
  9. Jimbo says

    July 22, 2013 at 4:52 pm

    I’m having car issues here too… on Friday I got a “Check Coolant Level” message. Today the repair shop told me that it’s a bad water pump and thermostat housing. Too bad they were replaced back in 2011… I’ll get a second opinion.

    And there was all sorts of bullshit involved too. First they said that I should get a metal thermostat housing… except that the one on there already is metal.

    Then they said I should only go with BMW factory parts, not aftermarket parts… but BMW doesn’t make a metal thermostat housing for the ’95 M3. So which one is it?

    I’ll take it to the dealership later this week. In the meantime, the leak is slow enough that I don’t need to rush it.

    Reply
  10. Alex says

    July 22, 2013 at 5:44 pm

    AC had shit the bed right before the hottest and humidest week we’ve had so far. I’m hoping its just low on freon (still has freon in it, so at least the a-coil is fine), but I got a feeling the compressor has shit the bed. It only draws a hair over two amps when running.

    Reply
    • Greg says

      July 22, 2013 at 6:04 pm

      I can’t remember for sure, but I think my heat pump draws somewhere between 8 and 11 amps. Yea. Something’s wrong.

      Reply
  11. WB in OH says

    July 22, 2013 at 6:04 pm

    Nothing worse than busting your ass to get ahead of things only to have something unexpected gobble up al your hard work.

    Reply
  12. sunshine_in_va says

    July 22, 2013 at 6:25 pm

    Put MY Smoking Fish pictures up Jeff, and I just might help you out with your car repair payment!!!!!

    Reply
  13. Jorge says

    July 22, 2013 at 6:57 pm

    My 2 year old secret tried to throw himself over a railing into a bird exhibit at the Chicago Zoo a couple of weeks ago.

    I caught him by the ankle before he hit the ground. All the bystanders were women. There was a collective gasp as he went over. I hauled him back by the ankle, turned him over and laughed at him.

    I handed him to my wife when he started to cry, but I still think it was funny.

    Reply
  14. ron says

    July 22, 2013 at 8:42 pm

    cars and major appliances all know when extra cash is about to appear
    they have drawing to see whose turn it is

    Reply
    • Henderson says

      July 22, 2013 at 9:32 pm

      What is “extra” cash? Never actually seen any.

      Reply
  15. squawvalleyskip says

    July 22, 2013 at 9:06 pm

    I don’t blame anyone for getting shit fixed instead of fixing it themselves. I have two tool boxes the size of small dressers out in the garage, and I paid a guy $1300 to do the brakes on my F350 dually a couple months ago. Now the check engine light is on in the ’06 Tacoma I commute 90 miles a day in when I’m not riding the Harley. And since I recently messed up my back, I’m not riding to work. I fix shit at night for a living, last thing I feel like doing is fixing my own shit when I get home. And now, due to budget problems, work has cut most of the overtime. At least the wife has a job and all we are responsible for at this point in our lives is a mortgage payment and a 140 pound mastiff/pit bull mix. But I really would like to get shit all caught up, so we can get back into going to the coast and flying our paragliders. Been too long since I’ve been airborne.

    Reply
  16. chill says

    July 22, 2013 at 9:46 pm

    I’m on salary, so any extra hours I work do not equate to extra money. For the company, it’s the all-you-can-eat Buffet of Free Overtime.

    In other news, my dad is back in the hospital. Pneumonia this time. He’s 88 years old. He’s expected to recover, but at this point he hasn’t moved on his own in two weeks, and it’s going to take some weeks of physical therapy to get him back in “shape”. There is a light side to this. A couple of years ago when something similar was happening, my brother told his 20-year-old son that our dad was in rehab. To which my genius nephew responded, “Wow, I didn’t know Grandpa did heroin”.
    .

    Reply
    • clintcurtis says

      July 23, 2013 at 6:49 am

      Best of the best to your Dad, I did pray for him. Got kinda the same with my Dad,,,except he’s driving a shitbag car from Indy to Seattle later this month at the age of 83!
      Chill, make amends for all past hatreds, and send him off with love. He did his best in the past, and you can do your part by living it better!

      Reply
      • chill says

        July 23, 2013 at 7:18 am

        Thank you, Clint; that means a lot.
        .

        Reply
        • madz1962 says

          July 23, 2013 at 9:15 am

          I have/had/am having same thing with my mother (81). She did a month long stint in the hospital back in April – May with pneumonia. She’s home now but bedridden. Too afraid to try the wheelchair so no rehab right now. I just hope she doesn;t get pneumonia again from just lying there.

          Good luck, Chill. I know exactly what you’re going through!

          Reply
  17. squawvalleyskip says

    July 22, 2013 at 11:36 pm

    And on an unrelated note, I just got the Visa bill. Seems Harold Mueller, whoever the fuck that is, PayPaled himself some $253 on my card. I don’t even have a PayPal account, wouldn’t use them for anything. But somehow this asshat got my CC # and PayPaled himself something. PayPal did say they’d reverse the charge, and the CC company is issuing me a new card. They wouldn’t give me old Harolds address though. I really wanted to pay him a little visit. My fuse has been pretty short of late. Harold just lit it.

    Reply
    • clintcurtis says

      July 23, 2013 at 6:43 am

      Can I provide backup for you? Seriously, I got vacation time to burn!

      Reply
    • Max says

      July 23, 2013 at 1:03 pm

      I’ve always wanted to do something like that… count me in as well!

      Reply
  18. clintcurtis says

    July 23, 2013 at 6:40 am

    Okay, yeah, I work a ton of overtime. Somehow I got into the right career field where it doesn’t seem so bad. Believe me, I’ve done retail, worked in a fish plant, been a diesel mechanic, but my weather gig is the best of all best. Yeah, long hours sometime, but actually saving lives and stuff is incredible!

    Reply
  19. Skully says

    July 23, 2013 at 10:15 am

    I save a ton of money doing my own home and auto repairs. It really does help…BUT.
    I don’t make a single dime writing. It’s something I like to do, but I don’t make squat doing it. I guess everyone has their thing.

    Reply
  20. icecycle66 says

    July 23, 2013 at 12:41 pm

    I want to know why the price of your old sandwich pictures has gone down.

    Is the quality of photo they chose less than the previous one?

    is the old pictures of food industry in sway?

    Also, I want a copy of the text book with a photographer signature. I bet I could get dozens of nickles on ebay with swag like that.

    Reply
  21. icecycle66 says

    July 23, 2013 at 1:27 pm

    Is it Houghton-Mifflin that wants your picture?

    Man, they’re the big time.

    Reply
    • Jeff says

      July 23, 2013 at 3:32 pm

      St. Martin’s Press.

      Reply
  22. Lew in bama says

    July 23, 2013 at 3:06 pm

    Enjoy your extra hours while we govy type workers “enjoy” mandatory furloughs due to sequestration. Just daring to check your blackberry on furlough day puts you in violation of the law. The 4-day work weeks aren’t that bad, but squeezing 40-50 hours of work into 32 hours sucks.
    And dno’t forget we lose a day, we also lose that days pay…20% paycut leaves a mark…

    Reply
  23. t-storm says

    July 23, 2013 at 10:19 pm

    I love it when you tell us to fuck off. And that wasn’t sarcasm.

    I just started a job in Cleveland where I’ve been told the overtime is there is I want it. I like that. Possibly the most professional company I’ve worked for, and there have been a few.

    Reply
  24. Tammie says

    July 27, 2013 at 1:13 pm

    The Russians….they like you Jeff.

    Perhaps there is a Babushka who has a crush on you?

    Reply

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