The Random Ramblings of Samm Diep: August 2009

27 August 2009

Google Maps "Street View"

Have you ever checked out the Street View on Google Maps before? In many ways it's quite cool. You can take a virtual tour of the area and the surroundings.

When Mike and I were planning our trip to Jacksonville last summer for a tournament, we decided to make a mini-vaca out of it and stayed at the beautiful Fig Tree Inn. I must have spent every single day the whole before the trip, taking the virtual tour from our front door, down two blocks to the beach. In this instance, it was quite practical and I was happy it was available.

The other day, I was googling directions from my house and decided, "Sure! I'll hit the 'street view' button just out of curiousity." To my surprise I saw a photo of my house with Mike's truck and my car both parked in the driveway.

I couldn't help but to be slightly alarmed and wonder, "When was this photo taken? How come I didn't notice someone in my neighborhood with a big camera?" Then, I started feeling slightly violated.

The functionality is quite cool and realistic, but it's just a little creepy to think that someone just goes through the neighborhoods snapping photos of people's houses from all different angles.

Have you street viewed your house recently?

16 August 2009

Here's something you don't see everyday

We snapped this photo in Grand Forks, ND while en route between.... I don't remember.... somewhere between Minneapolis and Rugby. It was very loud and a little freaky.

12 August 2009

Rugby, the Geographic Center

Sometimes, spending a few days in the "small town" can be quite refreshing. Everyone's smiling and friendly. They all know each other. You have huge family meals with a lot of people and a ton of food. Everything is done manually. And, everything you need is within five minutes of each other.

Mike and I are on a small roadtrip through Northern MN and a couple small towns in ND. We've spent the past couple days doing some work in Rugby, North Dakota. Rugby, in case you didn't know, is very proud of the fact that they are the geographic center of North America.

I used to only come through here once a year, during the coldest time of the year, for the annual Northern Lights Shootout. We've been through twice now this summer and I am amazed at how a town that gets SOOOO cold in the winter time (record low of 60 below in 1936) could be so hot in the summer. It was up to 99 degrees today with about 50% humidity (Yuck!) and I couldn't save my gummies... :(

Our Trip:
A. Minneapolis, MN
B. Alexandria, MN
C. Fargo, ND
D. Rugby, ND
E. Mahnomen, MN
F. Fargo, ND
G. Minneapolis, MN

View Larger Map

09 August 2009

Beginner's Ruck

I played cribbage for the first time ever yesterday with Mike. Before that, I had only played it on the pool table. I've always wondered how it was played. Against my wishes at the time, because I really just wanted to play some pool, Mike really wanted to teach me. Well, we didn't do the pegging part, but I actually enjoyed it.

In our first game, I scored a 14 and a 20. I guess that's pretty good since the highest possible score is 29? Here were a couple of my best hands:

07 August 2009

Green Eggs and Me

Green Eggs and Sam (with one "m") by Dr. Seuss

I am Sam
I am Sam
Sam I am

That Sam-I-am!
That Sam-I-am!
I do not like
that Sam-I-am!

Do you like
green eggs and ham?

I do not like them,
Sam-I-am.
I do not like
green eggs and ham.

Would you like them
here or there?

I would not like them
here or there.
I would not like them
anywhere.
I do not like
green eggs and ham.
I do not like them,
Sam-I-am.

Would you like them
in a house?
Would you like them
with a mouse?

I do not like them
in a house.
I do not like them
with a mouse.
I do not like them
here or there.
I do not like them
anywhere.
I do not like green eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

Would you eat them
in a box?
Would you eat them
with a fox?

Not in a box.
Not with a fox.
Not in a house.
Not with a mouse.
I would not eat them here or there.
I would not eat them anywhere.
I would not eat green eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

Would you? Could you?
In a car?
Eat them! Eat them!
Here they are.

I would not,
could not,
in a car.

You may like them.
You will see.
You may like them
in a tree!

I would not, could not in a tree.
Not in a car! You let me be!

I do not like them in a box.
I do not like them with a fox.
I do not like them in a house.
I do not like them with a mouse.
I do not like them here or there.
I do not like them anywhere.
I do not like gren eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

A train! A train!
A train! A train!
Could you, would you,
on a train?

Not on a train! Not in a tree!
Not in a car! Sam! Let me be!

I would not, could not, in a box.
I could not, would not, with a fox.
I will not eat them with a mouse.
I will not eat them in a house.
i will not eat them here or there.
I will not eat them anywhere.
I do not eat green eggs and ham.
I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

Say!
In the dark?
Here in the dark!
Would you, could you, in the dark?

I would not, could not,
in the dark.

Would you, could you,
in the rain?

I would not, could not, in the rain.
Not in the dark. Not on a train.
Not in a car. Not in a tree.
I do not like them, Sam, you see.
Not in a house. Not in a box.
Not with a mouse. Not with a fox.
I will not eat them here or there.
I do not like them anywhere!

You do not like
green eggs and ham?

I do not
like them,
Sam-I-am.

Could you, would you
with a goat?

I would not,
could not,
with a goat!

Would you, could you,
on a boat?

I could not, would not, on a boat.
I will not, will not, with a goat.
I will not eat them in the rain.
I will not eat them on a train.
Not in the dark! Not in a tree!
Not in a car! You let me be!
I do not like them in a box.
I do not like them with a fox.
I will not eat them in a house.
I do not like them with a mouse.
I do not like them here or there.
I do not like them ANYWHERE

I do not like
green eggs
and ham!

I do not like them,
Sam-I-am.

You do not like them.
So you say.
Try them! Try them!
And you may.
Try them and you may, I say.

Sam!
If you will let me be,
I will try them.
You will see.

Say!
I like green eggs and ham!
I do! I like them, Sam-I-am!
And I would eat them in a boat.
And I would eat them with a goat...

And I will eat them in the rain.
And in the dark. And on a train.
And in a car. And in a tree.
They are so good, so good, you see!

So I will eat them in a box.
And I will eat them with a fox.
And I will eat them in a house.
And I will eat them with a mouse.
And I will eat them here and there.
Say! I will eat them ANYWHERE!

I do so like
green eggs and ham!
Thank you!
Thank you,
Sam-I-am!

05 August 2009

The Sweet Tea Chronicles

It is no longer a secret. I have recently developed an unhealthy obsession with sweet tea. I can't recall exactly when I first tried it, but man am I crazy about this stuff! Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) there really isn't any place in MN where you can ask for sweet tea without people looking at you like you're absolutely wacko! Or, my favorite answer is, "We have UNsweetened tea and I could bring you some sugar."

Sugar, schmugar! Give me the SWEET TEA!

Anyway, ever since Ronald decided to add this to their menu, people are now a little more familiar with the words "sweet" + "tea" together but until you've tried the real stuff, in the south, on a hot, sweaty day, you can't truly appreciate it.

This was the best $17.99 investment I've made from Target in a very long time. I have probably brewed at least one fresh batch a week over the last month and a half.

Sweet Tea Reviews (out of a possible 5 Stars):

Lipton (store bought)

McDonalds

Famous Dave's BBQ

Jason's Deli

Chick-Fil-A

Bono's BBQ Pit

Tradewind (store bought)

02 August 2009

Red Cherry by LeeAnn Chin

I'd never even heard of the "Red Cherry" until Mike and I passed this truck yesterday.

Then, on my way to the billiard club last night, my friend Matt asked if I'd like him to pick me up anything from LeeAnn Chin's. I got some shrimp dish and as a special treat, he also picked up, none other than, the Reeeeed Cherry..... SCHWEET!

I got raspberries and kiwi with raspberry frozen yogurt. Mmmmmm.... The food wasn't bad either.

[excuse my chalk-covered hands]

The Random Ramblings of Samm Diep