4.28.2004
When we get bored and there are no mice or bees to kill, we like to build things here around the house. And we are not limited to illegal movie props. Our latest project: a batting training aid my brother told me about known as Mauer's Quickswing. Joe Mauer is a rookie catcher for the Minnesota Twins who was picked ahead of Mark Prior in the draft a few years ago as the number one pick. This device was created by his dad to help him hit better. With softball/baseball season in full swing (pun intended), what better time than now to rip off their idea and improve as a player. (Their patent is only pending, so hopefully we won't get sued.)
Mauer's Quickswing sells for $100. 5824's model cost us less than $20. (another up-close photo) A couple trips to Home Depot to pick up some PVC pipe and parts, using only a hacksaw, a drill, some fishing wire, and skills learned from watching American Chopper we were able to create a fully fuunctional batting training aid.
Our model does not currently use baseballs. Instead, we hit foam ball that are the size of golf balls. This helps to improve hand-eye coordination even more than hitting a baseball would. (Well, that and hitting baseballs into the side of our house would probably get our landlords upset.) And like the Bud Light Treadmill, our model folds up for easy storage.
Note: This batting tool is about 80 times better than the Hit-A-Way baseball endorsed by Reggie Jackson. Paul Molitor endorses the Mauer Quickswing. Fred McGriff endorses Tom Emanski's Defensive Drills video. Supercal strongly recommends using the 5824 SwingQuick (patent pending).
Mauer's Quickswing sells for $100. 5824's model cost us less than $20. (another up-close photo) A couple trips to Home Depot to pick up some PVC pipe and parts, using only a hacksaw, a drill, some fishing wire, and skills learned from watching American Chopper we were able to create a fully fuunctional batting training aid.
Our model does not currently use baseballs. Instead, we hit foam ball that are the size of golf balls. This helps to improve hand-eye coordination even more than hitting a baseball would. (Well, that and hitting baseballs into the side of our house would probably get our landlords upset.) And like the Bud Light Treadmill, our model folds up for easy storage.
Note: This batting tool is about 80 times better than the Hit-A-Way baseball endorsed by Reggie Jackson. Paul Molitor endorses the Mauer Quickswing. Fred McGriff endorses Tom Emanski's Defensive Drills video. Supercal strongly recommends using the 5824 SwingQuick (patent pending).
4.25.2004
we've combated mice and defeated them. now, we must fight our war against bees. we have bees infiltrating our garage. this is a particular problem for me because we get our mail through the mail slot in the garage.
i went in there this evening and started to hear a buzz... a loud buzz. i didn't see anything, so i just thought a bee might be buzzing outside. then, i saw it. this thing was huge. it's not your normal small bee. this thing was about the size of a child's thumb and it was hairy. i looked for something to swat it with and picked up a lid from a styrofoam cooler. as it neared, i took a swat and hit it dead. i swear to you, not two seconds after i killed the first bee, another bee (just as big, mind you) came buzzing up from out of nowhere. still armed with the lid, i took a swipe, but missed. the second bee starting his attack pattern and came after me, but i landed my second swipe. (danny 2, bees 0)
now, i'm afraid to go into the garage (even to check the mail). i think these bees are going to mobilize and ambush me. if they form an alliance with the mice, we could be in for a two-front war. we will call for aid if we need it.
i went in there this evening and started to hear a buzz... a loud buzz. i didn't see anything, so i just thought a bee might be buzzing outside. then, i saw it. this thing was huge. it's not your normal small bee. this thing was about the size of a child's thumb and it was hairy. i looked for something to swat it with and picked up a lid from a styrofoam cooler. as it neared, i took a swat and hit it dead. i swear to you, not two seconds after i killed the first bee, another bee (just as big, mind you) came buzzing up from out of nowhere. still armed with the lid, i took a swipe, but missed. the second bee starting his attack pattern and came after me, but i landed my second swipe. (danny 2, bees 0)
now, i'm afraid to go into the garage (even to check the mail). i think these bees are going to mobilize and ambush me. if they form an alliance with the mice, we could be in for a two-front war. we will call for aid if we need it.
4.23.2004
The landlords are doing some work on the adjoining property. The workers dug a trench in our driveway to do something with the water line. Nothing really interesting about it, but if anyone has anything they need to bury for a long time, maybe we can help you with it. Extra fee for anything that may be considered illegal.
4.15.2004
jason's been in mexico all this week. we should probably take advantage and move all of his stuff into the garage or nail it all to the ceiling. maybe we'll put tell him we put one item of his in the toilet, but we won't tell him what item (seinfeld reference).
suggestions?
suggestions?
4.09.2004
baseball season means that we get to use our multi-TV set up more often. pretty soon, Casino 5824 will have a sportsbook. now that i think about it, we could probably have a poker room, a blackjack table, and a sportsbook. i feel a casino night coming soon.
4.02.2004
i got him!
4.01.2004
Danny has declared war upon Disneyland. Actually, just against Mickey Mouse. Okay, just against a mouse that I have named Mickey.
Danny claims to have seen a mouse run around in our room and has set out traps to catch it. (I have not seen any evidence of this mouse.) After Day 1 of Operation Rodent Kill, the score is mouse 1, Danny 0. The mouse was somehow able to outsmart one of Danny's WMD (Weapon of Mouse Destruction). The peanut butter bait was gone, but the trap was still set. One of the traps under my desk did manage to catch my left foot. Don't worry, I'm okay.
I am reminded of my rat-hunting adventures with my roommate Dan (no relation to Danny) from my Berkeley apartment. The rats (these were no ordinary mice) were never in our apartment, but they were on the open walkway area outside our door and were considered a threat. We set up some monster rat traps on the ledge (we were on the fourth floor) with Cheez-its. We even had a scoreboard outside our apartment where we kept track of our kills by drawing a rat and then the no-smoking circle over it. In just a few weeks, we had 3 rats and 1 bird. That was one dumb bird.
Danny claims to have seen a mouse run around in our room and has set out traps to catch it. (I have not seen any evidence of this mouse.) After Day 1 of Operation Rodent Kill, the score is mouse 1, Danny 0. The mouse was somehow able to outsmart one of Danny's WMD (Weapon of Mouse Destruction). The peanut butter bait was gone, but the trap was still set. One of the traps under my desk did manage to catch my left foot. Don't worry, I'm okay.
I am reminded of my rat-hunting adventures with my roommate Dan (no relation to Danny) from my Berkeley apartment. The rats (these were no ordinary mice) were never in our apartment, but they were on the open walkway area outside our door and were considered a threat. We set up some monster rat traps on the ledge (we were on the fourth floor) with Cheez-its. We even had a scoreboard outside our apartment where we kept track of our kills by drawing a rat and then the no-smoking circle over it. In just a few weeks, we had 3 rats and 1 bird. That was one dumb bird.
