http://www.chezcliff.com REI and Other Stuff Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:24:45 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en On my recent trip back to the mosquito Great Lake State of Michigan, my sister was showing off her"work in progress" . . . a beautiful four bedroom log cabin. Neither my sister nor her husband are in shape to build such a cabin.  A contractor must be involved.  Odds are ... http://www.chezcliff.com/2008/07/24/builder-is-a-builder-is-a-builder/ Sometimes it's just better to throw yourself to the wind and enjoy it. My mom convinced me to treat myself to a special dinner.  Contrary to popular belief, a special dinner is not held in some frou frou French restaurant.  My favorite is all about simplicity.  It's all about raw, natural ... http://www.chezcliff.com/2008/07/23/omakase/ It’s funny the things that go through your head when you’re at 35,000 feet. Nearly 10 years has passed since my full time flying experiences really began.  Switching airlines, frequent flyer mileage, red-eye flights, lost baggage . . . Yet my greatest anxiety when flying is not flying itself but rather ... http://www.chezcliff.com/2008/07/22/alternate-paths/ My head feels like a taxidermist gutted it. The medicine cocktail my doctor gave me pretty much screwed up my head.  I stopped taking the medication days ago but periodically feel a flash-back.  He told me it normally takes 7 days for this medicine to leave the human body.  When I ... http://www.chezcliff.com/2008/07/17/cobwebs/ I don't get it. Months ago, a detailed analysis of my budgetary affairs was performed.  Based on several months of expenses, confidence was high that maybe for once my budget would be spot on. It was then the realization hit: I was in over my head. OK.  The situation was not bad.  My ... http://www.chezcliff.com/2008/07/15/the-other-shoe/