7/20/2007: Stephen Has Completed "Trick This!"

Well, when I started out, this seemed near impossible to do. I started out trying to do it off of the ground and then off a tee. I looked like a duck flailing as it was mauled by a wolverine. Then I tried hitting the ball off of the driving range mat, with a slight incline in it. I kept going under the ball and it would simply roll backwards. Then I put Tyson's wallet in front of it and tried that and eventually I got it to flop backwards just a few feet. But, overall, up to that point, it was a failure. Little did I know the kid in the video had actually stacked two balls on top of each other. This is exactly what the driving range owner suggested, so I did that and that worked fantastically. In fact, all 3 were higher than the kid's shot in the video. I didn't even think about him catching it in the video until after I just rewatched it. That wouldn't have been hard to do either, I just wasn't trying to. Anyways, check out the video.
Golf Trick (Medium: 3.97 MB)

7/19/2007: Nathan Has Completed "Micheal Vick"

This was the craziest thing I have done yet. I think the people around here think I am crazy now. I tried to explain myself to a couple of the people, but they didn't want to hear it.

I went first to the local park and started to hand them out to people that were walking around the walking park. I got a couple of no think yous and one or two "Is this for real". I did happen to get one teenager to take it and said that he would come. I had to explain myself then. I told him that if he could fine the place then he could come, but don't expect me there. I put one up on the bathrooms at the park just to say I was there.

I then went to a grocery store and went around the parking lot putting them on windows of cars. I got a old man mad and he told me I better get out of here and not to come back with crap like this.

So I finally went to the local Burger King and asked the guy behind the cash register to put one up in the restaurant. He went and got the manager and she told me that if this was for real then she was going to commit me to Broughton. I finally had to confess that I was doing it for a task on a website and she laughed and tried to play along the best she could.

In all the task was interesting to see how people reacted when a normal guy went and handed out what would be a crime in this town. I am glad that I won't see these people to much or they would start spreading a rumor about me.

Here is the flyer:

7/17/2007: Marianne Completes "Pete and Repeat"

Well, I started this one with the first child I saw after learning I was going today. Lucky for him, my 14 year old was the closest person to me. I told him I had a riddle for him and then said the riddle. He said “Oh, I get it.” then walked away. Oh to be 14 again and know everything. Anyway, that’s where I’m sure he would have liked the fun to stop but like any good mom, I wouldn’t let it go. I followed him around and said it a few more times to get some kind of reaction but the only reaction I got was from my 4 year old, who by the way, did not get the answer right and thought Pete was in the boat. I told her a few more times (changing it slightly so she could figure it out on her own) and when she finally got it and said “Repeat” I repeated it. By repeating it, she thought she got it wrong again and just confused her and I started to worry she’d have learning problems so I gave up and told her it was a riddle and that repeat meant ‘to say it again’ and that’s the joke. She caught on a little, thank goodness, and we went in to tell my husband our funny riddle. He caught on right away and played along for the 4 year olds sake and I am happy to say she laughed and thought it was funny as can be and is now still repeating this riddle, over and over and over again. Fun stuff.
Having had enough torturing my 14 year old and my 4 year old busy torturing my husband, I set off to find my 16 year old, after all no sense he shouldn’t be part of this. I called him away from his video game by stomping on the floor. We have a system around here, when we can’t find the teenagers, we stomp on the floor and they magically appear from the cave they have in the basement. (It took training but works like a charm.) When he came up the stairs, I didn’t tell him I had a riddle, I just socked it to him. He fell for it and said “Repeat” so I did, and then he answered again “Repeat” so I did, and then he said “Repeat” and I started to say it again but he interrupted and asked “How many times can you do this?” So I finished the riddle without answering his question and he tried to answer me by spelling the answer this time but didn’t do too well because he said, ”R-E-P-E-T-E”; that’s when the mocking started and he tried to quickly correct himself by saying, “R-E-P-E-A-T”, but it was too late, we all heard it and continued mocking him. He said “Did you call me up here for this, I’m controlling the room for Call of Duty, there’s something wrong with all of you”. I asked him to spell ‘Call of Duty’ and we laughed some more and then he went back down to the cave.

He would like me to clarify for all of you that he DOES know how to spell repeat but that he was trying to joke and spell Pete by saying r-e-p-e-t-e. By including this sentence he said it does not change the fact that I’m writing it and still doesn’t like it.

One of my sisters stopped over and the timing couldn’t have been any better because the only one left in this house to tell the riddle to was the baby. I told her the riddle and she said “Repeat” and I did, then she said “How many times are you going to do this? Dad used to say that riddle all the time. ” I don’t recall my dad saying this riddle but it wouldn’t surprise me if it were true because I am MUCH younger than her and she probably remembers things more clearly than I, the MUCH younger sister.

Her son, who is 15, had come with her and it was around this time that he decided to pipe in and ask “What?” Fool. I then told him the riddle and with a very confused look answered “Repeat?” Then I repeated the riddle and he said,”Ah. I get cha” then waved me off.
This wasn’t so bad, it was actually pretty fun. I don’t have any pics because for one I don’t really want to post my kids on the web and two, they wouldn’t let me.

7/16/2007: Nathan Has Completed "Paper Planes"

This was a fun task that took a while to download the pictures off my camera, but a fun one at that. I took a sample of 5 different planes that I found the design for at Alex's Paper Planes. I laid down a tape measure down the hall and let the best design win. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

This is all the planes laid out from right to left of how they were flown.


#1: Amanda's Special

12'3"


#2: The Classic Dart

15'8.5"


#3: Origami Paper Airplane 3

13'9"


#4: Second Origami Plane

15'3.5"


#5: Flying Fish

17"


As you can see the Flying Fish out flew the competition. I might suggest that each of you try to go to the site and fly your own creation and try some of the designs on the site to see if yours can outlast the best.

7/14/2007: Marianne Completes "Print it!"

There is not a PaintShop on this computer but there is a paint. So this will probably take all day to download but that's an even trade because it took me all day to do this task. It's not that it was hard, I just don't know how to do a whole lot of stuff on this new computer yet. It's a pain and I did three pages which is a great feat (you have no idea how great) if it doesn't load...maybe I'll care by Tuesday.

7/6/2007: Nathan Has Completed "Digg This!"

This was great getting to read different things about what people post and other stories. I actually loved the site and will plan on using it at least once a day to see what stories (mostly sports) will be posted. Well here are the stories in no particular order.

1. http://blog.yourminis.com/2007/07/a-better-digg-t.html

This was a pretty cool page that I thought was a cool idea for a new digg button. I don't think people actualy appreciate the old school Mario anymore. I would make it a little more like Mario jumping on a turtle or kicking Bowser's anus or something.

2. http://www.myfoxdfw.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=66434CA6FE6500D6A04B9F946D779145?contentId=3641729&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1

How freaking stupid can you be? A lady walks up with $16,000 and expects to buy all of the iphones. I don't think she actually reads the fine print of adds in the newspaper. I know that I read all the print when there is sales to see actually if I can get enough to do whatever with. The other fact is she actually has that much money and walks around with it. I thought she would have got jumped and robbed. For that much money I would have done it in the middle of Central Park for all I care.

3. http://consumerist.com/consumer/investigations/video-consumerist-catches-geek-squad-stealing-porn-from-customers-computer-271963.php

This creaps me out. To know that all my stuff off my computer can be snagged by a stranger when he or she fixes my computer. I know that I won't be taking my computer to anyone other than who I know for now. That is the only way I know that my personal stuff will be safe.

4. http://youtube.com/watch?v=hvNujZ3ZDKs

Dang that would suck to pay that much money and watch it hit the ground. This guy is a clumsy moron in my books. How do you just fling the box open without first making it safe to take it out of the box.

5. http://www.fazed.org/content/clock_spider/

This would freak me out to come home and find that sitting behind my clock. I am surprised we didn't see a video of the thing jumping on the guy's face and like sucking his eyes out.

6. http://www.spinwall.com/funny/croceatdog.html

This is one of those "lmao" when you see it. I can't believe that a guy would make his dog do this. I bet the croc's stomach was filled with so much crap that it stunk for a week.

7. http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=10626

This is another picture of a dumb animal trying to show its dominance over another species. The would be like me trying to knock out Chuck Lidell in the octogon.

8. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070222-squid-pictures.html?source=G1902

That thing is like freaking huge. I would loved to catch him or her on a rod and like had the fight of my life. I wounder if they took it back and ate it?

9. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070701/ap_on_bi_ge/7_eleven_kwik_e_mart;_ylt=AtfqSv0GxYvei3wi0HJBVCSb.HQA

Finally they get the clue that more and more americans like the Simpson's and will be shopping there just to say they drank or ate the same stuff and the real characters. I am waiting for one around here and some special guest appearances to open the store with.

10. http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1432/719426704_02518807b9_b.jpg

How freaking stupid can the witch be. American wearing British shirt gets gang beat at a Independence Day Parade is what the caption should say. Come on we kick their butt and took their name and sent them back to mommy and she wears that crap. I am disgusted.

There they are in no random order. I liked the site and will visit it back for more news on stupid crap that happens or gets caught on tape. I suggest anyone go to it and digg up your own news.

7/4/2007: Stephen Has Completed "Slogan Slinger"

Ok, sorry for the late posting on this, however, I think it was worth the wait. While I think this was one of the harder tasks I've ever had to do, it turned out to probably be one of the best. I went into the local Ingles and looked for like 30 minutes for everything on the list, except for Calgon. I didn't even bother looking for it, as I have never even really heard of it. I just got a Sunkist and made up a slogan for it, which I think most should find quite amusing. Anyways, the checkout process was horribly embarrassing, but in the end it turned out for the best. I have recorded audio of the encounter. The sound is a bit muffled, as the recorder was in my pocket. You should be able to make out most of the slogans though. Here is the audio file:
Slogan Slinger (96 kbps)

Also, here are a few pics:

Outside Ingles

Rice Krispies & Frosted Flakes

Sunkist: It's F--king Sunkist.

7/3/2007: Marianne Completes "Futile Fishing"

After having discovered I had no fishing license, I headed to the nearest sewer drain. I almost really caught a few frogs. They were lounging around eating bugs in what my husband tells me is a storm drain not a sewer. If I had caught any of those frogs I would have freaked 'cause that's just gross.

I guess this should be something I shouldn't show people....but hey I'm a busy mom and it doesn't take long for pool water to turn green when you don't put chemicals in the water. So here I am fishing in the kiddie pool, if I would have caught something in here I wouldn't have been that surprised.

And I am very happy to report that I definitely did not catch anything in here!

7/2/2007: Stephen Has Completed "When I Was Your Age"

Here are the costs of some things in 1940:

Car: $800
Gasoline: 18 cents/gal
House: $6,550
Bread: 8 cents/loaf
Milk: 34 cents/gal
Postage Stamp: 3 cents
Stock Market: 131
Average Annual Salary: $1,900
Minimum Wage: 30 cents per hour
(Source)

That covers all the requirements except clothes.
Using interpolation from the other items, I estimate a shirt, pants, socks, and shoes would cost between $3 and $4.

6/30/2007:Marianne Completes "Artsitc Explosions"

Well, I hope this to be more interesting after the edit because all it is right now is fruit falling. I went to the top of my motor home (the tallest place I would climb) and dropped everything. I probably should have thrown it because some didn’t break and some broke very little. It was still pretty fun, pretty sticky and pretty messy. I will be cleaning the crud off the road tonight so the neighbors can stop giving me the evil-eye.
Here are the videos in high and low quality versions:
Artistic Fruit Explosions (High)
Artistic Fruit Explosions (Low)

6/28/2007: Todd completes "Lego Fever"

I made a short trip to the store and got a small K'Nex kit (not officially Legos, so sue me!).
Now, since I am a red-blooded american male, the first step in the process was to throw away the instructions.

Having done that, I was ready to begin.
Step 1


Step 2

I took everything out and surveyed the situation and came up with a game plan.

Step 3

Then I completely threw the game plan out the window and started working. The box said this thing was 38 pieces, but I think they threw in a few extra just to confuse me!

Step4

Ok, I've got this thing figured out! There's not stopping me now!

Step5

Wait... This is completely wrong! I've got to take it apart and start all over again.

Step6

Grrrr! This is not working out, but I am NOT looking at the directions!

Step7

I took the whole thing apart and put it back together again. Now it's starting to take shape!

Step8

A few more pieces here and a few more pieces there and VOILA! I did it!

Step9

First of all I'd like to thank the academy and my family, and a special thanks goes out to all my fans! You guys are great! And I did not look at the directions.

Having finished my build, I took the car back to my desk and Darthy immediately used his imperial connections to procure the vehicle and started chasing down Obi Wan!


I think this makes a nice addition to the decor already in my cube and I had a good time creating it!

6/25/2007: Stephen Has Completed "That's So Pizza"

Well, this was interesting. I had virtually no other human contact until I was called to come into Hickory today. Once I did, I was ready to let loose a barrage of sadistic, messed up stuff, and I did, but unfortunately my voice recorder batteries died. So I settled for a couple of recordings on the computer at work and then I spent an hour recording random crap on the computer once I got home. But I think you might enjoy it, perhaps as much as watching kayakers go over a waterfall and dumping 70 tons of jello mix into the water at the last second to cushion their fall, but not realizing that jello has to take a lot of time to set up and that you probably shouldn't have turned that sign backwards at the previous fork in the river, and getting that thrill of running from the cops through the wilderness for several years and combing ticks out of your beard with twigs. That kind of enjoyment.
Anyways, here is the audio:
That's So Pizza (1.45 MB)

6/23/2007: Marianne Completes "Grocery Scattergories"

We’ve been camping all week so I had to do this in a hurry so I can get back to the beach. BooHoo. You guys did a great job on the Iron Chef!! Loved it! Also thought the Sportgy was great too but will have to watch the long video later. I’m not sure how we’re supposed to assign the next task so let me know what’s up and what I should do.
An employee and the local Meijers store told me I couldn’t take pictures at the store unless I worked for the company…good thing I already had all these! Like I’m a grocery store spy or something.
Here’s my items:
1. Thousand Island Dressing
2. Tyson Roast Beef
3. Turkey Sausage
4. Turtle Cake
5. Tropical Sweet & Sour Chicken
6. Turtle Sundae Ice Cream
7. Toaster Strudel
8. Toaster Scrambles
9. Turnover
10. Tombstone Pizza
11. Tony’s Pizza
12. Tattoo – Captain Morgan’s
13. Turkey Jerky
14. Tostitos Tortilla Chips
15. Trail Mix
16. Trix
17. Tuna Fillets
18. Treet
19. Turkey –Spam
20. Teddy Grahms
21. Triscuit
22. Toasted Chips
23. Tam Tam
24. Tolema
25. Thai Sauce
26. Teriyaki Noodle Bowl
27. Thin Spaghetti
28. Tony Cherterrs –Coconut Breading
29. Tomato Sauce
30. Tortillas
31. Taco Sauce
32. Thick-n-chunky salsa
33. Taco shells
34. Taco Mix
35. Tamales
36. Turkey Gravy
37. Tomato Ketchup
38. Teryaki Rice
39. Tabasco
40. Tangy Tomato Bacon Dressing
41. Turmeric
42. Tenderizer
43. Thyme
44. Tarragon
45. Turtle Brownies
46. Tart Red Cherries
47. Tide
48. Top Job
49. Ty-D-Bol
50. Toothpicks
51. Trash Bags
52. Tropicana Apple Juice
53. Tomato Juice
54. Tropicana Fruit Juice
55. Transformers
56. TV Guide
57. Traditional Home
58. Topps Baseball Cards
59. Trident
60. Tic Tac
61. Take 5

The pictures are located here:
Click Here For Marianne's "Grocery Scattergories" Pics

6/19/2007: Stephen & Tyson Have Completed "Sportgy"

My goodness this was exceptionally time consuming. While we were able to successfully compete in 20 sports over the last 2 days, it took pretty much all of our free time. I just got all of the videos imported over the course of the last several hours. I hopefully can convert and edit them sometime before the end of the week and post it. The video should be pretty good! Here are the sports we chose:
Basketball
Baseball
Football
Soccer
Golf
Lacrosse
Tennis
Darts
Putt Putt
Billiards
Sprinting
Javelin Throw
Ultimate Frisbee
Kickball
Dodgeball
Skeeball
Air Hockey
The Caber Toss
Baseketball
Russian Roulette

Be on the lookout for the vid soon!

EDIT: Here is the video link!
Sportgy (Medium: 44.8 MB)

6/15/2007: Stephen Has Completed "Dream Vacation"

Ok this is a golf vacation primarily. So I will need a foursome. Ideally I could take my dad and brother, but knowing their time commitments with other stuff, they would never be able to take off for a vacation like this, though I don't think I would either. I would take Tyson, Braiden, and my cousin Nathan along.

Pregame: Edwin Watts Charlotte (June 30)
We start off by driving to Charlotte. We all buy our dream set of clubs and about 20 dozen golf balls each. I also must include gas in the cost.Estimated cost: $2500 per person for clubs/balls + $20 gas = $10020

First Stage: Kiawah Island Ocean Course (July 1-July 3)

Why not start off the trip with one of the hardest courses in the world? We will be purchasing this package: Villa Championship Summer Golf Packages
Starting from $323
Enjoy your stay in one of our spacious villas and play one round on the world renowned Ocean Course and two rounds at any of the resort’s other championship courses (based on a three night stay). Green fees, cart fees, range balls, daily breakfast and dinner at any resort restaurant that serves dinner, are also included.
Estimated Cost: $323 per person for golf + $40 gas = $1332

Stage 2: TPC @ Sawgrass (July 4-July 7)

Who can resist the chance at the island green? There are many packages with varying amenities, but I preferred this one, for the forecaddie experience.
THE PLAYERS Package
3 ROUNDS, 3 NIGHTS
From $886.00 /person
Book now and receive a FREE arrival round on Dye's Valley Course and a 1-hour lesson at the TOUR Academy TPC Sawgrass. (Tyson will need this badly before we continue any further ;P)
THE PLAYERS Package includes 3 nights accommodations at the Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Spa; Two rounds on THE PLAYERS Stadium course and one round on DYE'S Valley Course. Forecaddie experience included on Stadium round and seasonal on DYE's Valley Course.
After our free arrival round at the Valley Course, we will take a little trip to Disney World for some f--king awesome fireworks. Then we will head back and go Stadium, Valley, Stadium the final 3 days.
Estimated cost: $886 per person for golf + $112 per person for Disney + $80 gas = $4072

Stage 3: The Coves At Round Mountain (July 8)

How can we break with tradition? After finishing up on the 7th, we catch a jet home. I will pay some transient to drive my car back for me, part of the money now, most of the money later. We will be paying off the course's owner to have the course at our disposal and will be playing a twelve man captain's choice: Me, Tyson, Braiden, Nathan, Dad, Michael, John, Brandon W., Ray A., Brandon F., Mark P., and Scott M. We will all be in one group, it will take all day, and we will shoot better than 55 or suicide will be committed.
Estimated cost: $28 per person for golf + $5000 to buy the course out for the day + $340 per person for first class flight = $6696

Stage 4: The Pinehurst Experience (July 9-July 14)

Pinehurst? Why not? We will start with a drive down to Asheboro for Tot Hill Farm ($39 pp) followed by heading on down to Sanford for Tobacco Road ($59 pp). Days 2 and 3 would be Mid Pines and Pine Needles 2 times each ($270 pp). Days 4-6 would be Pinehurst #'s 4, 8, and 2 ($1235 pp). That package also comes with caddies, lessons, spa massages, etc. Altogether, a pretty expensive week!
Estimated cost: $6412 per person for golf + $80 gas = $6492

So just for the pregame and the first four stages the total cost is: $28,612

If I really had it my way, I would just keep on going until we hit about every course that I've ever wanted to play.
Bethpage Black, Blackwolf Run, Bandon Dunes, Couer D'Alene, Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, Cypress Point, Poppy Hills, Spanish Bay, TPC @ Scottsdale, The Prince Course, Kapalua, Carnoustie, St. Andrews, etc. etc. Then it would be entirely likely that I'd never want to play golf again or not for a couple of days anyways. So, I think, for now, I'm just gonna stick with the shorter vacation. That would be awesome.

6/12/2007: Marianne Completes "Yummy Landscape Artist"

Preparing for this task was the hardest part. After loading everything up in the car, unpacking everything, and then getting settled (which isn’t easy when having bottles and cartons in tow) I sat on a bench along a trail in a nature preserve. I decided it would be easiest for me to paint trees than anything else. I really wanted to go to Lake Michigan and spend the day at the beach but am much happier I ended up at the nature preserve because carrying all the supplies across the sand would have made a less than serene trek. This was actually pretty fun and very calming. It was nice to have some quiet time and reflect on nature something maybe I should do more of. No one walked by, I think maybe I was alone, always a safe thing being alone in the woods. The bugs however were more than enough company once I opened my supplies. The actually painting took about 10 minutes. I figured quick and painless.

This is what I used:

Melted Blue Moon ice cream
Spicy brown mustard
French dressing
Habanero Sauce
Tabasco
Green Taco Sauce
Ketchup
Soy Sauce (which drips worse than ice cream)
Yellow mustard
Yogurt

And here’s what happened:

This is what I was looking at:

This is a practice piece that I did with some markers:

This is something I just wanted to do because I didn’t want to go home just yet:

6/11/2007: Todd Completes "Feng Shui"

Now that I am an expert in Feng Shui, I think I'm going to start charging for my services. As you will see, the results of my work speak for itself!

Here I came along these terribly drab and depressed people and just within a few minutes, their lives were never the same again! I told my co-workers that I had become an expert in Feng Shui and that I could greatly improve their outlook by just moving around some of the things in their cube. Ok, I didn't have much to work with but the look on their faces when I was done was priceless!

Here was one sullen worker, Preston, going about his drab day:


Well in just a few moments time, VOILA he was singing a different tune!


Next, I knew that I had to help Dorothy. I mean look at that bored, glazed look in her eyes. I just have to swoop in and provide her some relief:


Now, just a few tweaks of her workspace and look at Dorothy now:


These are just a few of the people that I could have helped. But there are millions of workers out there who NEED my assistance. If you know of any corporate sponsors who will bring me in to make their workplace a happy place, my fee will not be too much!

This was fun, and I think these folks had fun helping me out! They were laughing the whole time. Thanks uhh.. me, for assiging this task!

6/8/2007: Stephen Has Completed "Surprise! It's Your Birthday"

Sorry for the lateness. I am feeling a bit better now and I also won my h2h match, so woohoo! This was an interesting task, one that I took some liberties with. I don't know if it is exactly what you envisioned Marianne, as I put my own sick twist on it, but, anyways, I did this last night and have finished editing the video. Here it is:
Happy Birthday To Me (High: 15.9)
Happy Birthday To Me (Medium: 10.8)
Additionally, here is the Happy Birthday song in mp3 form:
Happy Birthday To Me (2.2 MB)

6/5/20007: Marianne Completes "Internal Pedometer"

Sometime ago, I heard of the “increase your steps to 10,000” program and it actually did get me a little curious but I was never motivated enough to actually count my steps. Having this task as my motivator, I started counting as soon as 8 bells came around (although making breakfast, dropping kids at school, and a run to the store were all before 8 o’clock and probably would have added at least another 1,000). By 8:30 I had 576 steps, the kids needed to talk to me and it doesn’t make a very good mom to have the kids saying something when I blankly stare at them while repeating the count in my head. I didn’t hear anything my daughter said while I was at 633 but soon figured out she was telling me she was going to make a craft. So it is when I was cleaning up a pile of glue and glitter that I decided I should carry a pen around. Mornings are pretty busy with kid stuff: I have to get the oldest two off to school and then I need to get the younger two going for their day, looks easier in print. Getting the younger two their breakfast, baths, and packed for the day- up to 1021. Looking for the left tap shoe-1468. Finally, our day can start. Dropping off, picking up and running errands -2688. Forgot about lunch again, so off to the Drive-thru, which by the way is the greatest invention ever -2792. (Hmm, such a little amount added to the count and such big calories. Something to think about.) More dropping off, picking up, and errands – 4547. A trip to the park- 6269. Another trip to the store to get ingredients for recipe contest-7112. I lost count somewhere in the store and think I had more than that but what can I say, counting, thinking, entertaining kids, waiting for other shoppers, and the idiot who was giving a phone number loudly while talking on his cell phone are all distracting. No matter how you try to block it when you’re counting and someone starts saying numbers…it’s all over. Back home and unpacked grocery bags- 7349. Finally something to do for me…nap time for the little ones, checking e-mail, watching a little TV, and doing laundry . You wouldn’t believe the laundry 4 kids can generate. Little ones up and we’re off for one more pick up for the day and then back home-7536. Changing laundry, changing kids, and giving everyone busy work so I can start dinner- 8019. It’s a little after 5 o’clock and I have 8645. I still have to pick up at a track meet, which means I’ll be walking around there looking for my kid among a million other kids, then a graduation, and finally home for the night. I’m sure I’ll be over 10,000 by the time this day is done. I would have lost track much more if I didn’t write my count down during interruptions. Kids talk a lot and need my attention way too much for me to keep mental count. I did however, manage to keep track without a pedometer and it’s pretty accurate except the grocery store incident. My poor feet.

6/1/2007: Todd Completes "Mailbox Critic"

This task had me feeling like I was back in High School again.
"Ok, who is the most likely to succeed... most likely to end up in a junk yard..."

On my lunch break I came up with the six letters that I was going to post on the mailboxes. I came up with the fictitious name "Mailbox Inspectors of America" and made a document from said organization either congratulating the home owner or offering hints to improve on the mailbox. You know, all mailboxes now-a-days aren't made like they used to be. Well I remember back in my day... oh nevermind!

Here are the pics of the candidates with the categories above. At the end is a link to a Word Doc of all the letters I put on the mailboxes.

Here be the pix:
Most Unique




Most Beautiful




Most Colorful



Least Unique




Most in-need of repair




Least colorful



Here are the letters!

I don't want to see another mailbox again as long as I live! Just kidding, this task was fun!

5/31/2007: Marianne Has Completed "Homemade Auto"

Today I started out shopping for my supplies and calling friends and family for the things on the list that couldn’t be bought. Not one of my friends had a shrunken voodoo head though. So I was stuck not knowing what I was going to hang from the rearview mirror. I needed to get into MacGyver mode if I wanted to finish this task so I started rummaging around my house and garage and surprisingly came up with a good bit of things from the list.

Here’s what I used:

An action figure (1)
A Frisbee (4)
A shoe (2)
A banana peel (1)
A kitchen chair (1)
A rug (1)
A used syringe (10)
An umbrella (1)
A vase (1)
A potted plant (1)
A roll of electrical tape (6)
A length of rope (1 foot)
A printed copy of this task (1)
An 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper (2)
A leprechaun (1)
A box of Lucky Charms (1)
A pack of firecrackers (1)
A wagon (1)
A cardboard box (1)
A package of markers (1)


Here I am eating the banana so I can use the peel:




























I was pretty naive when I started this task. Did you know that the axles aren’t directly fastened to the base of an auto? I wish I would have known this before I wasted the 2x4’s. I decided that I would ask my father, who’s a mechanic, for some tips. I felt as though I was more than prepared to do this task.



Here are some things I learned today:
The planning and construction of an auto may be approached in many ways. The experienced wood craftsman will find the experience a great project and people who know nothing about autos (like me), may find it just a little challenging.

When I started out I had a good plan, however, cutting the pieces was a pain and just plain wrong for anyone to ever have to do. Had I thought of using a pencil to draw an outline, I might have had this one.

It’s been discovered over the years that autos with a longer wheelbase can be faster than shorter wheelbase autos. Had people not kept this a secret from me my auto would be faster.
Here’s a picture of me putting the tailpipe on:

It’s a delicate balance to keep your auto upright and through trial and error I have discovered that a helmet is an important element when test driving your auto.

The wheels are an important element in the auto. The biggest problem is that you must insure that the wheels roll smoothly, in a straight line and roll very easily. There isn’t much you can do to correct a bad wheel when there’s a time constraint. I have given up all hope and settled for roundish.
It is necessary to have a way to stop your auto something I did not think about until I was rolling.
Having used all newly acquired auto-making skills, this is what I came up with in this video clip:

Homemade Auto (Very High: 105.6 MB)

5/30/2007: Stephen Has Completed "Penny For Your Food"

Ok, this was a pretty crazy task. I put what I thought was $5.50 of pennies in a ziploc bag.


Then I went to New China restaurant in Morganton. Tyson met me there to help out. I ordered the Chicken Chow Mein. It came to $5.30


The cashier girl was as nice as she could be about it. Tyson and I started stacking pennies on the counter, while customers came and went. Somehow I badly miscounted when putting the pennies in my bag, as I was 14 cents short, so I pulled the classic run out to the car and grab more pennies. The pennies can be seen on the right side of the counter in this pic.


I don't know what she did with the pennies afterwards, cause she did not start picking them up before we left. Here's a better closeup shot of most of them.


Here's a shot of Tyson and I afterwards, as I held the empty ziploc bag and my take out order.


I also had a first. My fortune cookie was empty. What does that mean? :(


But that's not all. I have, for you, the uncut audio from the entire transaction. It is around 15 minutes long, so load it up and listen along while you are surfing the net.
Pennies For Your Food (6.7 MB)

5/26/2007: Marianne Has Completed "On Safari!"

It sure was an interesting day to say the least. If the people in my town don’t think I’m nuts than they’re nuts! I started off trying to observe people in regular places like gas stations and grocery stores but it didn’t work because people weren’t standing around long enough for me to capture them on film. I ended up filming at a park next to the zoo.
I dressed in my finest safari clothes and set off to watch an interesting mix of people. You can’t tell by the video but people stopped to watch at each location. You can hear them in the background and you can see me trying to get out of each location pretty fast, since I don’t know all the technicalities on stalking laws.
Filming five people was harder than I thought it would be. People move way too fast for me to be able to comment on their behaviors. In most pictures I just let their actions speak for themselves.
Here is the video:
On Safari! (High: 21.3 MB)
On Safari! (Low: 6.4 MB)

5/25/2007: Nathan Has Completed "You Wanna Trade?"

I started out the day wandering what in the world I was going to be able too start trading to people that they would actually want. I was going to start with the rubber band, but thought that if they wanted a rubber band they could just go get one. after thinking a little I thought what better thing to start with than a simple penny.

Then I traded that to a guy that had a pocket full of change for a nickel.





Then I went to a woman the vending machine a asked if she would trade the nickel for a dime. She thought what the heck, but she agreed.




Then I went to the back of the plant to a guy that I knew would love to have the dime to buy him a cup of coffee, so I traded him the dime for a quarter.




Then I went out and saw a lady with some Pop Tarts To Go, so i traded the quarter for one of her pop tarts.





Then I went to a guy that I knew loved to eat. I saw that he had a half empty bottle of Dasani drinking water, so I traded the water for the pop tart.




Then I thought I know a guy that recycles, so I will see what he would trade me. I went to him and he had a pen laying on his desk, so I told him that the bottle emptied could be his for the pen. Wouldn't you know it he jumped all over that trade.




So I ended up with a pen with like one hour left to work. I knew I had enough time for one more trade. I saw a guy working with a calculator and thought I wonder if he knows how to write out the things he is typing in. I went for the opportunity. I told him I would trade the nice looking pen for the calculator. Like a sucker I reeled him into the deal.


This is where I stand with one calculator. I know that I could have went bigger, but when you work in a place like I do you will take what you get.

I liked the task, but really didn't have the resources to go bigger, who knows I might take what I ended up with and go out and see what the world has to offer.

Thanks Todd for getting ME out of the rut of my daily routine at work.

5/22/2007: Stephen Has Completed "Bad British Accent"

Ello mates. Stephen here with me task. Well I spoke with me bad accent to a few diamond geezers around the office today, but it wasn't to eventful friends. You can check out a sound byte I recorded here, I did:
Stephen's Bad British Accent (715 KB)

5/18/2007: Stephen Has Completed "Handicap Concert"

This one turned out to not be all that difficult. After lunch with the gang from work, Allison accompanied me to a handicap spot in front of Steinmart and she filmed the video of me singing "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" (I had a karaoke CD of it). I did it in the original key and it was hard on my voice, but that was for the good since it projected well. While you don't see many people looking at me on the video, off to the viewer's left, there were about 8 people over the course of the song that stopped to listen, including one black guy who stood there for a large part of the song listening. I actually quite enjoyed doing this one. Here's the video:
Handicap Concert (High: 11.2 MB)