Google Hates Me

*geek alert – You may want to skip down to the more filling parts of this blog*

I’m always amazed how much traffic my site actually gets even though only a fraction of visitors actually comment. On average, I get about 1300 unique hits a day now. Take a peek.

Of course, a big chunk of that is web-bots indexing my site. And while I’m not even close to exceeding my bandwidth, it is frustrating trying to separate the real clicks from the bot clicks. In the past, I’ve been hesitant to set up a robot.txt file1 as I don’t want to discourage new readers from finding me. However, I think it is time to implement some controls to keep it in check.

The funny thing is I always assumed Google was the biggest indexing bot for my site. Boy was I wrong. Yahoo was way ahead by almost 2/3’s. Google was second with MSN bringing up the rear. I also discovered a sp@m bot indexing me as well. I guess this explains why my sp@m hits have jumped up a lot lately. I googled its IP address and added it to the filter so we’ll see how it goes.

1 Said file resides on your server and searchbots will query it and only index your site based on instructions included. You could set it for once a day, once a month, or never.

Brag or Barf

I am happy to report I made it to my early training session on time this morning. Not only that, I finished w/o once throwing up.1 The session was exactly what I wanted/needed and I expect nothing but good results. (Are you reading this brettcajun? *eg*)2 I’ve been trying to keep myself hydrated to avoid feeling hella sore tomorrow. So far so good but we’ll see how I feel in the a.m. as I have another session bright and early (ok 10:00 am bu that is early for me). I’m also taking a big dose of Glucosamine chondroitin to help keep my joints in line with the rest of my body growth. I’ve had joint problems in the past and I don’t want my training derailed by ‘faulty connecters’. *g*

Afterwards, I had lunch w/roblog and took a ride in his new baby. We had lunch at Tower Burger. And no, I didn’t have any fries. I had a nice healthy grilled chicken and mushroom w/a side of chili (read lots of protein here).

I’m way behind on my blogrolling and reading my faves. I’m trying my best to catch up. Apologies in advance if I haven’t stopped by lately to say hi.

1 I came close but I think that had more to do with creatine on an empty stomach.
2 Brett is coming up to SF for bloggerpalooza 2007 over Pride in late June. We have a challenge going to see who can be the buffest.

Super Who?

Time to hear me get ‘bitchy’.

I couldn’t be bothered to care who is playing in the superbowl or that it even occurred. If everyone at work wasn’t in such a dither I would have missed it all together. Every damn TV in the place had to be on “the game”. I absolutely detest football1. There! I said it. I’m a football-hating mother fucker. I know many of my fellow bloggers like, even love, the accursed game. Well, good for you.

It isn’t the game itself I detest but the backward mentality associated with it in this country. I’m sure if I’d grown up straight it wouldn’t have been a problem but I didn’t. And growing up in rural East Texas I got a double dose of torment. In my hometown, football was considered not only a right of passage to manhood but a weekly judgement of your emergent masculinity. Not being into football immediately earned me the various titles “fag, sissy, geek, pussy, or all of the above” on a routine basis. It didn’t matter that I excelled in track.2 Nor did my father do anything to help the situation by being an avid football lover. Well, that and he couldn’t help but remark on a regular basis about certain less popular players being queer and a detriment to the game.

So no, I don’t like football. You can keep your stick-up-your-ass game and all the juvenile behavior that come with it. I’ll stick to hockey.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled program…

1 You’d think with all the hugging and those tight tights I’d be in heaven. You’d be wrong.
2 I could run a mile in just over 5 minutes. Not the best but pretty damn good.

Get With It Already…

So, the date went well. We had dessert first. *g* Besides that, He really is a sweet guy. I like hanging out with him as we can always have a conversation ‘afterwards’. It’s nice to be able to just enjoy someone’s company w/o expectation.

On a side note, can I just tell you something? I already like having Friday/Saturdays off. All the guys I see around that never seem to be available, suddenly are. I’m used to not having anything planned or to do, I was overwhelmed by the boys suddenly vying for my attention. *g*

I start with the new trainer on Monday. His schedule is a little tight so I have to get up a tad early. However, I see this as a test of my conviction to stick with it. I took the weekend off however, I expect by Friday, I’m gonna hurt all over.

Switching subjects completely now, I downloaded a new plugin for firefox. It’s call Scribefire. It basically, lets you blog directly from you browser window w/o the need to log into your blog. It works w/blogger, wordpress, typepad, etc. I like it so far. I tend to surf and blog at the same time so this little feature is a win win in my book. OH, I also added some little chat thingeys on the left. It does a better job of showing when I’m online via the various IM clients I use. You can still click the chat link if you don’t use a IM client but for those who do, I think this makes it a little more obvious.

Kickin’ the Dirt

I can report my temper tantrum over the CAD functions at work had an affect. A line-up announcement went out the very next day and the Deputy Director stopped me to find out the details. I couldn’t believe she actually agreed w/me for once. I rarely feel self-righteous but sometimes it just feels sooooo good. *climbing off the cross because I’m sure someone else needs the wood *

In other news, I have a date Friday night after my EMT ride along.1 We’ve gone out before. Its more of a ‘friends w/benefits‘ scenario but we rarely see each other so I’m looking forward to it. And speaking of dates, I ran into a guy in the Castro this week that I see at Gold’s gym sometimes. Actually, I ran into him 4 different times in the space of 2 hours. I finally stopped and flirted by asking if he was stalking me. He is just delish to look at it even if a wee bit young for me. He has a few pimple scars on his face but they only add to his look.2 Up until recently, we’d only exchanged looks. I figured I wasn’t his type. Then, we bumped into each other in the steam room one day a few weeks back. He has been much more friendly ever since. Turns out, I don’t see him much because he lives up in Marin. He comes into the city on his days off to work out as the Gold’s here is bigger. I had to dash off to work so couldn’t stay around. I hugged him and gave that extra squeeze to make a point. However, I was a little flustered. I’m kicking myself now for not giving him my number. Oh well, there is always next time.

Speaking of the gym, I’m back into a consistent routine. My max weight isn’t as high as before but I’m sure it will come back quickly. I can already see some of the “tightness” returning to my muscles. I’m meeting with the new trainer this weekend to talk about routines, price, etc.

1 Did I mention I’m off Friday/Saturdays now? I am and looking forward to it.
2 I don’t really go for the pretty boy look. The scars give his face character IMHO.

Teeth Like a Bulldog

I only got one day off this week due to my change of schedule. I spent it playing Lost Planet. So far, I really like this game. This visuals are good and the levels are pretty diverse. It hasn’t caught on a lot so haven’t had much of a chance to play online yet. I’ve gotten bored w/Gears of War. I’ve beaten it twice in solo mode already. I mostly play it online now. Way more fun.

On a side rant, I’m a little annoyed. I met a gamer online recently and we hit it off as buddies pretty well. Anyway, he discovered I’m not into doing the nasty on cam so now he pretty much ignores me. Don’t get me wrong, I know that men often think with the little head vs the big head1. I so have egg on my face. Apparently, his brother-in-law is in the hospital and he has been helping with that. I feel about 2 inches tall now.

It doesn’t help that I have a fight on my hands at work right now either. I discovered this week a function built into the software we use has been disabled via a recent software update. A function so vital it could create more liability for our department as well as get people hurt. None of the supervisory staff seemed to care at all. Well, they are in for a fight because I ain’t about to drop it. I’m a tenatious bastard to say the least.2 If I have to take it to the media, I will.

There is some good news though. I found out the City is planning on hiring EMTs again soon. Like end of February soon. They are working off of an old list however, this means I can get my name on the new list! Oh, wouldn’t that give me a shit-eatin-grin!

1 I live in SFfor christ’s sake. I’ve gotten laid going to the post office!
2 Once I get my teeth into something, there is no distracting me.

What’s Next?

A resounding thank you, thank you for the belated birthday wishes. Alas, I didn’t take any pics while down in lala land. I’m horrible w/remembering to take the damn camera. You’ll just have to take my word for it, a good time was had by all.

I did get a few admonishments for not announcing my birthday up front. Well, pay attention. How much plainer could I have made it? *g* Joking aside, I normally don’t make a big deal over my birthdays. So what if I’m a year older. I survived the childhood from hell. Nothing since has ever been that difficult. My life continually gets better1 so I’m not complaining. Sure the vain part of me is beginning to notice I’m not young anymore; I have a few wrinkles here and there. My hair is ever getting shorter.2 And the boys aren’t as quick to look my way. But hey, that is the nature of life so why should I resent it?

I’m still in the best shape of my life. Oh, I whine about my muscle loss but that is minor compared to when I was uber skinny. I also have a job that pays the bills and allows me some room for playtime. My career of choice is on track albeit a bit slow. My health is good for my age. What’s to complain about? Oh sure, I could have been hung rich, pretty, or all of the above. Hell, I could have been a lot of things. And if a frog had longer legs he wouldn’t bump his ass either. My point here is I learned, somewhat painfully, to worry about what-is vs. what-might-have-been. I try to make the best with what I got. And frankly, I think I’m doing a pretty damn good job of it.

In simpler terms, I treat this body like a rental! I won’t be going to my grave some pristine corpse. Oh no, I plan on skidding into the grave a 60 mph a tore-up-from-the-floor-up, used and abused husk! I may not get my deposit back but that’s ok too. I’ll be able to say “what a ride!”

1 *Crossed fingers* it stays that way.
2 As I get older, I realize it is not falling out, it is falling thru!

Touched

No, not there. I was especially touched to get home and discover the wonderful birthday cards in my mailbox. A few were expected but the majority were from bloggers. A big thank you to everyone who sent cards.

A special thank you to Joe in MI. Joe sent a card and as a present, he made a donation to the trust fund for the fallen officer. That made me cry w/happiness.