johngauger.com

House Tour 2

2008-02-24T17:33:00.000-05:00

It's coming along quickly.

Progress

2008-01-31T12:47:00.001-05:00

Our new home is progressing quickly now! The exterior is just about done. After wiring is completed in the next 10 days, it'll be time to drywall.

Changes

2007-11-07T12:05:00.001-05:00

Sarah and I are building a new house. The process has been ongoing for a few months already. We ran into a few setbacks (septic field and badly placed water overflow valve), but are finally underway.

In other news, I'm now working at Sweet Briar College. It's quite a change from defense to women's education, but I love it at SBC.

So I think that I'll start posting updates on the construction to this site/flickr/youtube. More pictures can be found by clicking on pictures on the top right of this site...

I'm doing better

2006-06-23T22:21:00.000-05:00

I had my wrist surgery on Wednesday. While being awake for surgery sounds weird, it wasn't that bad. It was a tumor...I will found out the lab results on Tuesday (scary!). developing... (touche drudge)

In other news, I was just given an advance copy of the new Sufjan record - Avalanche. WOW!!! It's really good/different yet similar than Illinoise. yummy

update: here are pictures of my inury and also pictures of sugar's injury....

Sugar was limping al around becasue of her bandage.. It was adorable and sad. She had her toenail ripped off while at the groomer because she flipped out in a little cage (poor thing).

Any Duke Loss is a good Duke Loss

2006-04-05T05:41:00.001-05:00

I actually watched women's basketball for the first time last night (or at least the last 5 minutes of regular time and the whole OT). I learned a bunch of things which I'll get to in bullet form in a second.

It's always a good thing to see any Duke player/supporter upset. I already knew this transcended sports (lacrosse, hockey, soccer, etc), but I now know that it also crosses the gender line. I found myself rejoicing in the disappointed looks of the Duke women.

Things I learned:

Women's basketball is completely unwatchable
Many women wear mouthguards while playing basketball
There are people that have an uglier basketball shot than I
Women's basketball players flop like European soccer players when fouled

Blueberry and Chocolate

2006-04-04T09:32:00.000-05:00

On Sunday, I was partaking in my new addiction (frolf...frisbee golf) w/ Nathan McGlothlin. Halfway through our 'round', the two guys in front of us stop us on a wooded hole and say, "Do you have any chocolate?". Nathan and I respond with a confused look...Prompting one of them to say, "Chocolate....Do you have any blueberry?". We once again look at them in utter confusion. He responds, "You know...grass....pot?". I respond with an emphatic no. He says, "Well the two guys in front of us said you two were smoking pot". In response, I take out my cell phone and my keys from my pockets and tell them that's all I'm carrying. After an awkward pause, they take off to the next hole. This situation begs a few questions:

Do Nathan and I look like pot smokers?
What type of action while playing frolf could we possibly have done that looked even remotely like smoking any substance...let alone pot...
Since when is pot called Chocolate or Blueberry?
Am I out of touch?

I'm so excited

2006-01-31T08:31:00.000-05:00

I was at my parents last weekend. We had a death in the family. It was a rough couple of days.
On Saturday night, I was playing billiards in their basement with my uncle when Sarah burst through the door and yelled, "GUESS WHAT I FOUND?!?!" (she had been to the grocery store so I had no clue). She continued, "FLAVORED CREAM OF WHEAT!!". My uncle Mark gave me an inquiring, confused look as I laughed. Sarah had been looking for flavored cream of wheat for literally months in Lynchburg to no avail...and finally she had found her holy grail of breakfast health... Thank you Aberdeen Kleins (for you also provided crab meat for the crabcakes the next day).

Imogen Heap on Letterman .... then the dropcast

2006-01-11T09:02:00.000-05:00

Imogen Heap will be performing on Letterman tonight! She was supposed to be on last night, but was bumped due to time. Kudos to Dave for the quick reschedule.

In other news, Dan and I will be interviewing her before her Baltimore show this Sunday night for The Dropcast. Her new album, Speak for Yourself, is one of my favorites of the year. I heard her song, Hide & Seek, on All Songs Considered and was hooked.

Annoying Day at the Gym

2005-12-29T22:50:00.000-05:00

I worked out on the ole elliptical/stairstepper at the gym today. My workout started nicely as I watched the morning sportscenter. About five minutes in, my workout took a turn for the worst... (foreshadowing) An older gentleman started working out on the machine to my left. He had an anoying habit of clearning his throat about once a minute. Once a minute turned into once every 15 seconds (literally). I ignored it initally then started turning my head quickly at each "ahem". This method didn't seem to work so I stepped it up a notch to clearning my throat when he cleared his. I lasted about 7 "ahem"s in 90 seconds or so then gave up. I was so annoyed .... my ears were being assaulted. With 5 minutes of my workout left, a gentelman started working out to my right. He was an older man sporting some fashionable zubas and a tank top that had the long cut on the sides (so better to see his sagging man-breasts). He had on approximately 6.7 gallons of cheap musk. I literally felt sick to my stomach. I frequently wiped my face with my towel becuse my sweat smelled better than his cologne. I will brave the Y once again in the morning - hoping to avoid these men...

Buffalo '66

2005-12-16T10:00:00.000-05:00

I love this movie ... I'm not sure what made me think of it though. Vincent Gallo's confidence\cockiness doesn't come off in his performance or directing. I think the loneliness of his character is what endears me to this film. The photo booth scene is seriously one of my all-time favorite scenes - It's awkward\quirky\loving\then awkward again.

Also, go listen to Pattern is Movement... I even catch my wife humming, "I know that I shouldn't, but I did it, I did it" sometimes. (and that's sayign something to have her appreciate mathrock)

God Bless The USA (by deleting this song from our collective memories)

2005-11-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

the song...
First of all, I'm very much a patriot and agree that we live in the greatest country on earth.

Can't we all agree that Lee Greenwood's I'm proud to be an American needs to stop?? This was once again pounded into my skull by having to listen to a coworker play it over and over again in MIDI form. It was the backgroudn music for a powerpoint slideshow that someone sent him with crazy pictures of the war.

Shortly after 9/11, I was at a dinner theater in Delaware called 'The Three Little Bakers'. I grew up seeing shows at that place and it defintely holds a special place in my heart. At the beginning of the night, there was a special 'patriotic' moment where first God Bless America was sung by all in attendance. That was nice - I apprecited it. Then one of the performers took the stage and sang proud to be an American. On the centerpiece of our tables were small American flags on sticks. You guessed it - not only was it a peer-induced stand and sing-along, but we also all ended dup waving these little plastic American flags around. Once again, I love the flag, but c'mon now!! Does this song really represent patriotism or just makes us feel like we are somehow standing up for our country. BLAH!!

The New and Improved Cracker Barrel Menu

2005-11-07T19:47:00.000-05:00

We went to Cracker Barrel after work for some reason today. (Sarah gets cracker barrel urges...Which we normally regret after eating of course).

They have a new menu now. It's definitely more aesthetically pleasing with the red highlighted items and contrasted browns, but the restructuring just doesn't feel right. There are no more 'country dinner plates' namely... boooo

We filled out a comment card on the new menu and expressed 'strong displeasure'. Sarah added "Bring back the s'mores!!!" and I added "Uncle Herschel would not approve!!". (uncle Herschel being the not-so-mythical figure from the breakfast menu...My grandparents once met him sitting on a cracker barrel rockingchair). So there I am once again, giving it to the man. Fell the wrath of my comment card Cracker Barrel elite!!

Jenn and Dave are gettin hitched

2005-10-31T09:49:00.000-05:00

Congrats!!

This weekend in chilly Pittsburgh brought my sister-in-law a husband-to-be. Now there will be another sports fan in the family (Frankson side that is)...and for that I'm thankful.

Aaron Neville has bad taste in facial tattoos

2005-10-25T21:55:00.000-05:00

Apparently, I'm the last one in the world to realize that Aaron Neville has some odd cross type tattoo on his face. I've always been a huge fan of making fun of his music and his distinctive falsetto/pull - the - mic - away - while - singing thing.

I saw this tattoo while he was singing during the 7th inning stretch at game 3 of the world series. It's hard to make me wince at "God Bless America", but I would've smirked less if Lee Greenwood would've appeared and sang, "I'm proud to be an American".

Tangent time: I hate forced reaction to a song (unless its momentous and governmental like the national anthem or the hallelujah chorus). The minute that you here Lee Greenwood's voice sing I proudly stand up....you know there will be the slow stand (cousin of the slow clap). Even worse is the Christian forced stand. The minute that you hear the opening of "I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb", you know that you will have to literally stand and pledge your allegiance to the Lamb or everyone will state at you as some sort of blasphemer. You've gotta love the first guy who stand sup and pledges...it's like it's this dramatic step of faith when actually everyone is just thinking - ok when is someone doing it...just get it over with. Enough already people, stay seated and will somone tell Aaron Neville that the cross/dove/chevrolet symbol tattoo looks dumb.

Dropcast #3 Justin McRoberts and The Traveling Guys

2005-10-25T18:53:00.000-05:00

We just released the third episode of the dropcast (the podcast run by Dan Portnoy and I). In it, we talked to the travelling guys - two men doing random acts of kindness aroudn the world. They are currently helping out with the Katrina disaster.

We also talked to Justin McRoberts. He has been one of our favorite interviews yet. He's just a genuine, humble man. He was gracious enough to let us record and play his cover of, the pedro the lion song, "The Secret of the Easy Yoke". This song is one of my personal favorites of any musician. We'll definitely be checking in with Justin in the future.

check out the show

bbq vs barbecue vs Carolina barbecue

2005-10-18T13:04:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I was golfing (LA) and was told we were having barbecue for dinner. Being a transplant southerner now, I had visions of pig on a bun. My only question was, "Is it regular barbecue (pulled or sliced pork with barbecue sauce) or is it Carolina style barbecue (pork in a vinegar based sauce)?". I was really hoping it wasn't Carolina style. Not only do I not like Carolina style because it makes me think of Duke/UNC, but also it's like licking a bottle of vinegar - nastAY. Strangely, the idea of the ritzy country club we were at serving pork sandwiches never sounded odd to me.

Eventually, I brought up the question to my boss. He laughed, then informed me that barbecue was steak or chicken grilled on the barbecue. See the difference for me is all in the definite article --> "A barbecue" makes me think of steak and chicken on the grill while "barbecue" makes me think of a pig on a spit. Big difference. Now if we could only overcome the problem of communicating the concept of a 'fish taco' to us east coasters life would be...oh so much easier.

Short weekend In LA

2005-10-17T10:04:00.000-05:00

I spent a long weekend in LA on business. My team did cross training with each other then hit the golf course. I flew through Vegas to get to They..they really do have slots at the airport terminal. On separate nights, I hung out on Rode drive and Sunset Blvd. Sunset was unbelievable. The wealth was astounding. I was walking down the street and saw the little sign for the sky bar and did a double take. It was surreal to see the roxy, viper room, whiskey a go go, comedy store, laugh factory, boa lounge, the standard, etc. I hear about these place on the news, but never hang out at them. LA is so expansive. Thejusty jsut stretches for as far as you can see. Luckily, I had gps in the company Lincoln Navigator that I aroundaroudn for the weekend. Without good ole Helen (the gps), I would've done nothing fun. Rodeo drisuppressionssingly sedate at night while Sunset wasn't slowing down at 2:30 AM on Saturday night. My only celebrity runins were with Joe Rogan and Jay London.

Golfing was good times. We played at the Braemar country club in the Valley. The views were definitelyble! I'm defintely still a novice, but my good swings are coming more frequently (1 in 10 lol). I ate like a king all weekend. I was told that we were having having bagels for breakfast one morning and was dissapointed. Bagels turned out to be bagels, salmon, and halibut (I think it was halibut at least). I had caviar and a dessert with godiva choclate melted all over it at some restaurant in marina del ray. yum I definitely could get used to life out west.

The comedians at the comedy store were mixed. Joe Rogan was by far the funniest. He was hilariously self-deprecating. So, all in all, it was a good time (and suprisingly very valuable from a learning/getting to know the people I work with standpoint). It would've been so much better with Sarah there though. The rest of the pictures can be found in this flickr set.

CROKINOLE!!!

2005-10-12T22:20:00.000-05:00

Crokinole is this random game that i discovered while in Lindsay, Ontario. I played it becaus of its similarity to curling (I've always had a strange fascination with the game come winter olympics time).

There are little wooden discs that you flick across the slick board. It's a hybrid of curling and crossfire (remember that game with the orange guns and beebees?). So it's insanely addictive to at least a few people including me. Apparently, it's a game that Canadian couples play at cocktail parties.

My friends are split 50/50 on this game. Sarah tolerates it...where people like Josh Wooley love it. Anyway, if you are anywhere near a canadian tire - go buy this game.

I interviewed Denison Witmer

2005-10-11T13:18:00.000-05:00

The interview with Denison Witmer went well. We had to wait until after the show, until after merch was sold, until after everyone cleared out before it went down. Good conversation was had. Denison is such a humble, quiet-hearted man.

I think I would've liked his show better had be brought his backup band. His music was beautiful and true to form, but my mind kept wandering.

Richard Swift

2005-10-11T13:10:00.000-05:00

I'm in love with the unreleased song, Atlantic Ocean, by Swift. They played it at their show in Lynchburg and I constantly sing the chorus to my wife. Nathan gave me a copy that he got from the vhs of the show...the recording turned out surprisingly well.

Since I saw them twice in a week (boston being the second), I've really been liking them.

This site is back up

2005-10-11T12:38:00.000-05:00

So...after a few years of neglect, my website is back up.

I have good intentions of actually updating this site, but time will ultimately tell.