Epic Status Photoblog

Tom Brings new meaning to the phrase “The computer is busy.”

 

? The glowing beast that is Tom’s computer.? It’s complete with three gauges, including left and right channel audio volume and hard drive usage meters.? The? cover is off, showing the blue cold cathode lighting inside.? The 69kV sign came from his work after it was produced in error.? Instead of running wiring through dusty and insulation filled ceilings like most telecom folk, Tom wires power panels that go in power company substations.? That’s some serious voltage.?

 

? This is a true model 500 telephone set (500 set), produced by Western Electric.? This is the real deal, the original model that was then duplicated by everyone else.? Back in those days, you would have rented this expensive peice of equipment from the phone company for an added monthly charge because you couldn’t afford it.? This baby blue model is very hard to find, making it much more valuable.? This is his regular phone that he uses daily.?

Tom and I met at college through a telephone/data technical program, this should explain our interest in phone equipment and the like.

 

? An ash tray that is shaped like a candlestick style phone.

 

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? This is the clearest shot I could get of Mason without using flash.

 

? Killians, good beer.

 

? Tom’s new tattoo, his friend did this one. ? I believe he designed it also.

 

? Tom said they really need to do laundry.? I agreed.? This is at the bottom of the stairs leading to the basement.? I thought we went through a lot of clothes.? Two adults plus two kids equals crazy amounts of laundry.

 

? A very interesting floor vent, it looks like it’s homemade out of the metal runner stuff that goes in? outer doorways.? This may be a one of a kind creation.

 

? How about some moonshine water?

 

? Tom’s Pachinko slot machine.? These are imported from Japan and sold to U.S. consumers.? In Japan, gambling is illegal so they play with tokens and I think they can trade tokens for items.? Probably similar to your local Chuck E Cheese’s or Nickel Arcade.? The machines can be modified to accept quarters, although it then becomes illegal.

 

? Steady there

 

? Seven VS Dollars slot machine.? The title makes no sense to me, but the graphic looks good I guess.? This may be a good example of Engrish.

 

 

? A shot glass and a whistle, on a rope.? I guess this is for when you’re getting ape wild.? I wish I had that much fun when I go out.

 

? This is talent right here.? One of Tom’s best tricks is he can drink beer while smoking a cigarette.? There is no deception involved.? Notice the cherry glowing and the smoke stream above the cigarette.? At the same time he finishes the remaining half bottle of beer and? exhales smoke.?

? Keep Out: Sewage Lagoon.? Now everyone thinks its a pond to catch frogs in.

 

Who would name a street “Dead St?”? Really though, would you?? Would you want that as your address?? If you wear black nail polish, no response needed.

 

Jamming on his bass guitar.

People, Unusual

We were hanging out at a bar named West Port on the West end of Des Moines and some people walked up to the building but were staring back at where they came from.? It sounded like they were called by the driver to come help him.? They were hanging out at the bar to avoid the police, as they said there was a large amount of weed in the car.? Going outside, I could see that somehow this car drove straight dead-on into the tree.? Technically he hit the tree after pounding into the bank of packed snow.? The tracks appear to suggest that he was going straight the whole time also, ruling out the possibility that he didn’t? steer sharp enough.?

 

 

Cars, Des Moines, People, Unusual

The fridge is looking bare, time to get creative.

 

Adam came over to show us his brand new underwear.? Should have bought the spiderman kind, those are awesome

 

Some song by Chaka Khan came on the radio and Adam was like “this song rocks.” He started headbanging and getting crazy with it

 

This is my poop face.? Oops, think I did poop a little

 

Due to the weather, the front window was frozen shut. We ordered through the back window instead. They looked at us like we’re weirdos but we didn’t have time to waste going inside.

 

Our local K’s Merchandise is closing.? ? I thought this phrase was really awkward sounding. I’m not sure that I’ve ever seen the words “in progress” in any advertising material ever. Usually you’d see “now” or “this week only” or “while supplies last” or something that tends to sound more motivating. Maybe they’re just keeping it real?

 

We went to the Hessen Haus to meet some of his friends and celebrate a birthday. ? I don’t have any pictures of them, but they were quite nice and outgoing.? Although I believe they were heavily intoxicated by the time we showed up, blame it on the European beer.

The Hessen Haus is a unique bar just outside of downtown Des Moines. ? At one time it was a train station, but it’s been converted into a bar.? You can’t tell much from the outside, but it’s really nice looking on the inside, a lot of European country styling. ? They have a ton of imported beers on tap, of course they are mostly German.? ? This is usually a fun place, although often too crowded.? Not a place for the impatient.

 

This is the courthouse, the architecture makes it look much smaller than it is. Gigantic floors inside.

Then we went over to Johnny’s Hall of Fame on Court Ave in Des Moines.?

 

This is Spaghetti Works, off of Court ave near downtown. They apparently are remodeling the place. I heard there were talks of adding condos to the unused floors above. I think this is a 4 or 5 story building, brick construction.

 

This interesting building is across from Johny’s Hall of Fame. I think there might be a bar in here also. It looks like the ground floor has two business suites and the top is residential. If anyone wants to name the businesses or building name, feel free to chime in with a comment.

Buildings, Des Moines, People

Brittany came over and we three went to meet Ryan and his brother at House of Bricks. We had to leave there soon to meet their drunk friend from Minneapolis who walked from there to the High Life Lounge.? He was beyond drunk and we had to go babysit him.? The three of them started drinking at around 3pm because the HOB had a “beer olympics” going on where they competed against other teams at various “sports” while drinking.

Most of the shots were taken at High Life Lounge, a retro 70’s bar in downtown Des Moines.? The service at the bar was more horrible than usual.? There were usually? 10 people waiting for a drink at a time while 1 bartender took his sweet time.? Stop trying to get rich off of us and add a second bartender on weekends.

Just after we arrived I went to wait in line to order.? Eventually the herd of people ahead of me were served and it’s my turn.? I asked what beers are on tap and the bartender handed me a menu, moved on to someone else, and never came back to me.? They only have a few beers so? he could have easily just said it.? He continued to serve person after person, while I was staring his way, giving him? the “I’m ready” signal.? After waiting and waiting I tried to get his attention by mentioning that I’m ready.? Still no response.? Luckily a very friendly waitress noticed my frustration and was nice enough to submit my request for a beer to the bartender.? Not long after, she lifted my order off the counter, turned 90 degrees, and handed me the beer.? ?

Because of their horrible customer service, I avoid this place at all costs.? The only time I’m caught here is if I can’t convince other people to go elsewhere.? This bar is an absolute downer every time we’ve been there.

 

? Cherish is getting ready to go out.? “Just another two hours and I’ll be ready”

 

? Brittany got here, it took a little while because it was snowing and she has shitty low profile tires.? Now we’re ready to go.

 

? Race to the bat mobile.? …I lost.

 

? Here’s a random shot over the table. I’m not sure if Cherish or I got this one. Apparently these people knew they were getting photographed. At least two of them were looking straight at the camera.

 

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Very catchy shirt: “Wanted: meaningful overnight relationship.”? Love it!

 

? A? bad shot of some of the nostalgic ’70’s decor inside the High Life Lounge.

 

? It was a blurry night, everyone had shakey hands.

 

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They were drinking since around 3:00pm.? Needless to say Ryan and his brother were drunk, their friend was trashed.? After he spent some time vomitting and praying to the asphalt in the parking lot, he came back in to sleep through some humiliating antics.? Lucky for him he was in and out of sleep and probably doesn’t know how embarrassed he should be.

 

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While he was dozing, some lady came up and tried to write something on his exposed beer belly.? It didn’t work very well since she was writing with lip stick.? Good try though.

 

People from other tables came over to get their picture taken with the drunken passed out guy.? ? I got one of Ryan with his friend.

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Now we’re leaving the High Life Lounge and going back home.? It snowed more.

 

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Drinking takes so much energy out of you, we were all starving by the time we got back to our apartment.? We made a pizza and grubbed it down.

 

? Cherish had a hard time figuring out what this was supposed to be. After looking at other hands, it’s apparently an H for House of Bricks.

 

? All of us were tired, even the cats… and they’re nocturnal.? Shnookums yawns to prove my point.? Our cats sleep so much during the day and night, I wonder how they could even be classified as one or the other.

Bars, Des Moines, People

We celebrated Heather’s birthday. ? We went to La Hacienda, next a small bar on the south side of Des Moines named Josepe’s, then to Wellman’s Pub on Ingersoll ave.

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Looking? down the table at La Hacienda

 

Gigantic margaritas make everything blurry.? It’s hard to tell the size of the margarita from the picture but it was huge.? They had 3 or 4 sizes to pick from and we figured it would be cheapest to get the biggest one instead of ordering multiple small ones.? This glass could probably fit 2/3 of a whole pitcher.

 

? Quatros Amigos, they gathered to sing Heather a birthday serenade.? The song was lovely, but we have no clue what it said.? They could have been singing “…and you stupid? Americans can’t even pronounce the menu right, it’s (fah-he-tah) not (fah-jie-tah).”? I wonder what the English translation of the Mexican birthday song is.? I’m very curious to hear if it’s similar to ours or not.? Chime in at the comment box if you know.

 

? Steve says “what up.”? We don’t see him too much lately.? He gets bored at bars so he doesn’t go very often.

 

? He hates cameras.? Many people are uncomfortable with getting their picture taken.? I’ve noticed that people think they have to pose for pictures.? As soon as they see someone with a camera up, they stare and smile like they’ve always done.? It’s ok to take some posed (fake) shots, but in general I don’t care for them.? I like to catch real emotions and situations when possible.? This was Steve’s real reaction to my paparazzi style.

 

? Playing pool at Josepes.

 

Josh glows in the light of the neon beer signs at the bar.

 

? I was the only sober one… just kidding.

 

Cherish changed the camera settings to some weird electronic blue filter mode.? The gals are cracking up about something.? We are now at Wellman’s Pub on Ingersoll Avenue.

 

? How about some sexy poses?

 

I’m not quite sure if tampons are as enjoyable to smoke as cigarettes.

 

Biting her straw, “tee-hee.”

 

? Richard and Heather dancing.

 

Great pose, too bad it’s a blur.

 

? Not sure what the idea behind this was.? Everyone is doing a different thing.

 

? Cass is giving Brad a lap dance.

 

? Cherish took this of herself, unintentionally.? I like.

 

 

Bars, Des Moines, People

We went to Adam’s apartment in Ankeny to hang out and love Jesus for a while. He is in the middle of a few-month long fued with his roommates. They were supposed to be out all night, but they came back 10 minutes after we arrived. We hid in his bedroom to avoid stray bullets.

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Adam shows off his new cell phone.? According to him it slices, dices, collates copies, and works out your abs.

 

This is Killer Claire.? Yes, the dog is named Claire.? Actually she’s quite calm for such a ginormous pup.

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? Adam has a mirror above his bed.? Adam, do you comb your hair while? laying? in bed?? Adam, you freak!

 

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? “Here, get one of my good side.”

 

? Adam had this huge flag on the wall.? It’s a requirement for military men to have these in their bedrooms.? ? The? colonel comes by for random quarterly inspections.

 

? All this patrioticism has got me feeling like doing some star spanglin’.

 

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? Some more star spanglin’ fun.

 

? Adam gave this to his mother when he was a kid.? Apparently it was given back to him and now he proudly displays it on his closet door handle.? I still can’t tell if that’s supposed to be a picture of Jesus or a ninja with a vail at the bottom.

 

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He showed us a beautiful poem that he and Ross wrote in high school, named “Randi the Whore.”

 

The Guinness was flowing.? Look at the different colors in the glass as the beer settles.

 

Supposedly he only owns this because he found it on clearance at Wal-Mart. I’m putting money on it being some weird fettish.

 

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I had him flip the top-hat piece so it looks like one of those hats you see in Asian movies.? I call it “Darth Wasabi” for lack of anything more unique.

People