I went to a community festival over the weekend - one of those smallish town kinda things. The day I went was after several days of the festival being rained out, so the ground was saturated. The parks department used an absorbant material to help with the water and mud - kitty litter. Unfortunatly, there's only so much that kitty litter can do - and after a while, even that got saturated and started to smell. I thought it smelled like rotten grain, and it was decided that was better that what other people thought it smelled like.
The area in front of the stage was filling up fast, so I staked out some turf in the beer area at a picnic table. I had my bottle of soda and a book with me and was settled in for the concert about 40 mintues before it started. Unfortuntaly, I made a new friend. A guy staggered over and asked what time it was. I told him, and he then sat down. Which is fine, I was more than happy to share the picnic table. He then, however, proceeded to tell me is life story. I tried to toss a couple comments out there and then go back to my book, but he kept going on. So, I put my book away and tried to listen. Why? Because people that are really drunk tend to be more than a little crazy. And Anthony's rule #1 - Don't F#@% with crazy people. I didn't want to talk to him, but I also didn't want to end up on his bad side.
Eventually, I chugged the rest of my soda, told him the time, and left with an excuse to get something to drink. When I eventually came back around to that area, I saw that he'd trapped a couple more people and manged to avoid him.
During the rounds through the carnival area while looking for some bottled water, I saw a sign for Carmel Apple Chips - which sounded pretty good to me. Now, I was thinking that this would be dried apple with some kind of carmel coating or a dipping cup of caramel. Not the case. In this instance, Apple Chips refered to Apple Slices in a small bowl filled with caramel, whipped cream, and a cherry. Totally not what I expected. It was difficult to eat since you couldn't really scoop up enough caramel to make it worthwhile. So, I just ate the apples and found some bottled water.
Finally, back at the beer tent area - I staked out a claim on some standing room and waited. I did a little folding - 'cause that's what I do - and gave away my creations to a toddler, much to the surprise and amusement of her parents.
The concert started and Saving Jane rocked. The sound could have been a little better, but it was still good. The crowd, however, didn't really get it. I was pretty much the only person jumping around and shouting, like you're supposed to do at a rock concert. Even the people who seemed interested, taking photos and the like, weren't even tapping their feet. I think the crowd was mostly people who were at the festival and noticed - "hey, look, I think there's going to be music, let's get the stroller and some chairs and go on over".
Chairs? At a rock concert? You see what I'm working with here, don't you? Anyway, the band was cool and one of my friends got to hang with them after the show, so that was cool too.
So, my shoes are still a mess, my calves hurt from jumping around, and I'm tired from not nearly enough sleep over the weekend, but I still had fun.
And now, back to work...
Monday, July 17, 2006
Thursday, July 13, 2006
things that are odd
A few odd things I've noticed recently:
1. My right turn signal is now 3 times as fast as my left turn signal. No idea why.
2. My forehead is clammy. All the time - but only my forehead.
3. Chewie at the beach
He needs nair and sunblock - in that order.
later...
Update:
4. Northeast Ohio weather. It looked like it was going to rain all freaking day - and then suddenly we've got sunshine and light puffy clouds.
5. The song: "Ridin" by Chamillionaire. He uses the phrase: "Tryin to catch me ridin dirty" 50 times in his song. Does it refer to the gun in his car, the fact that it's a stolen car, or that it needs to be washed? I just don't know.
1. My right turn signal is now 3 times as fast as my left turn signal. No idea why.
2. My forehead is clammy. All the time - but only my forehead.
3. Chewie at the beach
He needs nair and sunblock - in that order.
later...
Update:
4. Northeast Ohio weather. It looked like it was going to rain all freaking day - and then suddenly we've got sunshine and light puffy clouds.
5. The song: "Ridin" by Chamillionaire. He uses the phrase: "Tryin to catch me ridin dirty" 50 times in his song. Does it refer to the gun in his car, the fact that it's a stolen car, or that it needs to be washed? I just don't know.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
maddness
Last evening I was struck with an insanity so deep and profound as to leave an endless stain upon my very soul. I felt it coming, felt it slide about me - seeking an entrance into my vulnerable psyche. The haze of doom and bleek despair obscured my gaze and I was tricked into traveling a road I knew would only destroy me. And so, and so I did the only thing I could - I embraced the maddness and followed the siren song of horror and terror to my destination and my terrible fate.
I went to McDonald's for dinner.
Oh, I knew that the meaty fate could not continue to be cheated forever as it had been so recently. Reasonably good service, enjoyable food presented in a tidy fashion - such things are possible only with the proper alignment of the stars and planets. Some small sliver of hope - perhaps fostered by a successful visit to the post office to mail a package earlier in the day - lead me to believe that today would continue the - dare I say it? Yes, I shall - trend of quality food at the golden arches.
Sadly, it was not meant to be.
Though the restuarnt was not busy in any way, it took several minutes before the counter staff would acknowledge that I even exisited. While I waited, they engaged in a serious discussion of the new shorts that the guy had purchased and how the color scheme matched Michael Jordon's school colors. The shorts were refered to as "crispy" - and though I am fairly well versed in popular slang for a 30+ year old white guy, I was at something of a loss. The conversation moved on to how tall a person should be before they make that critial move from low top to high top shoes.
This discussion concluded, the girl called the guy by name and directed him to the counter to wait on me - clearly demarking the pecking order of the resturant.
While they had debated the fate of the universe - I had been intently studying the menu. Though I thought I had decryped the needlessly complicated menu system - I could not seem to locate the Spicy Chicken sandwich. Undaunted, I attempted to order that anyway. The guy at the register regarded me with a look I'm sure he reserved for the stupid people of the universe - then told me that they don't have that anymore.
"oh," I thought "you'll bring back the freaking McRib every two years but you can't keep something that actually tastes good on the menu?"
Aloud, I hemmed and hawwed for a moment - then decided on my standard. Two hamburgers, lettuce only and a large fry. I would have gotten a small fry, but I'm familier with their hamburger patties and knew better than to assumed that even two of them would be enough to sate me.
Getting hamburger plain + lettuce involves a lot of button pressing, but eventually he finished and took my money, then handed me change and a receipt.
Now, I may have mentioned that business was slow that night, so I was able to watch as the sandwiches were made and know they were mine since they were the only ones being fixed. From my location at the counter I could see the .... I was going to call him a cook, but he did no actual cooking. Let's just call him the Sandwich Prep Dude or SPD for short. The SPD carefully and intently focused on the task at hand with the concentration of a blind whale perfoming brain surgery on a hamster while using chopsticks. And, get this sports fans, it was under the watchful eye and assistance of his supervisor. I suspect it may have been the first sandwich he had ever made in his entire life. Perhaps, due to the strangeness of time itself in my presence, it made have been the first sandwich ever made in the history of the universe.
Once his task was completed, he launched each sandwich into a chute with enough force that, if there had not been a solid metal barrier there, they would have flown across the resturant, through a window, and from there possibly into earth orbit.
My two friends at the counter then engaged in a brief scuffle to determine who would have the honor of presenting the sandwiches to me along with the fries. The guy with the new shorts won, and he carefully folded down the top of the bag while at the same time totally ignoring once again that I existed. He placed the bag in my general vicinity without a word and wandered away - perhaps feeling the shame of handing me a bag containing what we could only hope contained food, but knowing all the while it was terrible lie.
As I exited the ... I was almost going to call it a resturant, ha! As I exited the chamber of horrors, the frier alarm went off to cap off my visit. I checked the bag to verify that my order contained 2 sandwiches and some fries and made my way home to eat.
The fries were okay - a little too salty, but still a food item and not a salt lick for woodland creatures. The first burger was bland and tasteless even by my standards and the second...
The second burger, the second burger. Halfway through this pseudo-meat unit I bit into an onion. Apparently, the SPD did need every bit of concentration and supervision that could be thrust upon him - he hadn't cleared his work surface and had mixed an onion into the lettuce.
The shock, surprise, and foul taste made me retch - I could not finish even that bite. The untainted fries went into my gullet - the rest of the burger went into the trash.
Though my hunger was mostly sated, I felt hollow inside. As with Casey and the Bat, there was no joy in mudville that day. All I wanted was a spicy chicken sandwich to burn my lips and fill my belly. Instead, I had my heart and hopes shattered upon the cold tiles of the floor of the golden arches.
I should have just fixed some ramen.
back to work...
I went to McDonald's for dinner.
Oh, I knew that the meaty fate could not continue to be cheated forever as it had been so recently. Reasonably good service, enjoyable food presented in a tidy fashion - such things are possible only with the proper alignment of the stars and planets. Some small sliver of hope - perhaps fostered by a successful visit to the post office to mail a package earlier in the day - lead me to believe that today would continue the - dare I say it? Yes, I shall - trend of quality food at the golden arches.
Sadly, it was not meant to be.
Though the restuarnt was not busy in any way, it took several minutes before the counter staff would acknowledge that I even exisited. While I waited, they engaged in a serious discussion of the new shorts that the guy had purchased and how the color scheme matched Michael Jordon's school colors. The shorts were refered to as "crispy" - and though I am fairly well versed in popular slang for a 30+ year old white guy, I was at something of a loss. The conversation moved on to how tall a person should be before they make that critial move from low top to high top shoes.
This discussion concluded, the girl called the guy by name and directed him to the counter to wait on me - clearly demarking the pecking order of the resturant.
While they had debated the fate of the universe - I had been intently studying the menu. Though I thought I had decryped the needlessly complicated menu system - I could not seem to locate the Spicy Chicken sandwich. Undaunted, I attempted to order that anyway. The guy at the register regarded me with a look I'm sure he reserved for the stupid people of the universe - then told me that they don't have that anymore.
"oh," I thought "you'll bring back the freaking McRib every two years but you can't keep something that actually tastes good on the menu?"
Aloud, I hemmed and hawwed for a moment - then decided on my standard. Two hamburgers, lettuce only and a large fry. I would have gotten a small fry, but I'm familier with their hamburger patties and knew better than to assumed that even two of them would be enough to sate me.
Getting hamburger plain + lettuce involves a lot of button pressing, but eventually he finished and took my money, then handed me change and a receipt.
Now, I may have mentioned that business was slow that night, so I was able to watch as the sandwiches were made and know they were mine since they were the only ones being fixed. From my location at the counter I could see the .... I was going to call him a cook, but he did no actual cooking. Let's just call him the Sandwich Prep Dude or SPD for short. The SPD carefully and intently focused on the task at hand with the concentration of a blind whale perfoming brain surgery on a hamster while using chopsticks. And, get this sports fans, it was under the watchful eye and assistance of his supervisor. I suspect it may have been the first sandwich he had ever made in his entire life. Perhaps, due to the strangeness of time itself in my presence, it made have been the first sandwich ever made in the history of the universe.
Once his task was completed, he launched each sandwich into a chute with enough force that, if there had not been a solid metal barrier there, they would have flown across the resturant, through a window, and from there possibly into earth orbit.
My two friends at the counter then engaged in a brief scuffle to determine who would have the honor of presenting the sandwiches to me along with the fries. The guy with the new shorts won, and he carefully folded down the top of the bag while at the same time totally ignoring once again that I existed. He placed the bag in my general vicinity without a word and wandered away - perhaps feeling the shame of handing me a bag containing what we could only hope contained food, but knowing all the while it was terrible lie.
As I exited the ... I was almost going to call it a resturant, ha! As I exited the chamber of horrors, the frier alarm went off to cap off my visit. I checked the bag to verify that my order contained 2 sandwiches and some fries and made my way home to eat.
The fries were okay - a little too salty, but still a food item and not a salt lick for woodland creatures. The first burger was bland and tasteless even by my standards and the second...
The second burger, the second burger. Halfway through this pseudo-meat unit I bit into an onion. Apparently, the SPD did need every bit of concentration and supervision that could be thrust upon him - he hadn't cleared his work surface and had mixed an onion into the lettuce.
The shock, surprise, and foul taste made me retch - I could not finish even that bite. The untainted fries went into my gullet - the rest of the burger went into the trash.
Though my hunger was mostly sated, I felt hollow inside. As with Casey and the Bat, there was no joy in mudville that day. All I wanted was a spicy chicken sandwich to burn my lips and fill my belly. Instead, I had my heart and hopes shattered upon the cold tiles of the floor of the golden arches.
I should have just fixed some ramen.
back to work...
Monday, July 10, 2006
tux fitting and a small attempt at humor
I got measured yesterday for my tux for my sister's wedding. I wasn't in the system properly since they forgot the "r" in my last name, but they eventually tracked the info down and got started. Things went pretty smoothly until they were ringing up the order and I asked if any of the cuff-links shot darts. The salesgirl was a little puzzled. I explained, "like in James Bond" - she dribbled out a nervous laugh and said, "oh no, we'd get in trouble".
Ummm...that was humor. I'm almost sure of it.
So, I concluded the transaction and got the heck out of there.
In other news...I think I left a window open at home when I left for work. And the thunder in my headsets from the Weather Channel icon on my desktop means that I'm most likely to have a damp apartment when I get home.
Back to work...
Ummm...that was humor. I'm almost sure of it.
So, I concluded the transaction and got the heck out of there.
In other news...I think I left a window open at home when I left for work. And the thunder in my headsets from the Weather Channel icon on my desktop means that I'm most likely to have a damp apartment when I get home.
Back to work...
Sunday, July 09, 2006
big cube, back to work, invisible fence, tux
With a little help from my boss and the use of his station wagon, I got the cube into work. We went at lunch time and when I brought the cube out of my apartment, his reaction was "whoa!" It just barely fit in the back of the wagon, in fact, we has to "force" it a litle to make it fit. The unloading went easier, though it was a little tricky to get it in the building. I put it on top of my cubicle and got back to work - that is, until the crowds started to gather. I mean, you can't really help but notice it and people wanted to talk about it. I printed out some details on the menger sponge and explained about the number of pieces of paper, showed the smaller versions and how they would fit in, and generally enjoyed myself. It was pretty cool to have worked on a project like this for as long as I did and really get to share it with people. A few people suggested I enter it in a design contest - though the one they are talking about is looking for outdoor items - and the paper really wouldn't hold up.
Last week was also me getting back to work. Mostly putting out fires and such - though I did find that my boss was overwhelmed by having to cover what I usually handle - I think it made him appreciate me even more. I don't think there's a big fat raise in my future because of that, but it was still nice to learn.
Yesterday, I took one of my long walks. I decided to go a differnt route and walked along a sidewalk next to a big yard. Then the barking started and two small dogs charged out at me. They were some kind of beagle/ dachuand mix - though I'm sure they thought they were part werewolf as well from the barking they did. While neither were a threat to anything except my shins (and that only with a running jump) they were moving pretty fast, clearly upset, and not tied down at all. The more agressive of the two slammed to a stop a couple feet from the sidewalk, then ran parallel to the sidewalk for a few feet and turned and barked some more. I realised that they were both wearing collarswith oversized objects on them and deduced it was an imvisible fence stopping them. And it worked too - they treated that "line" as a real fence - it was visible in their behavior and their movements as they paced me. Kinda lke a force field they kept bouncing off of. I got clear of them without incident, but had to go past them again on the way back. Personally, I think a sign notifying pedestrians about the fence would have been appropiate, but maybe the owners thought it would be funny to watch.
This afternoon, I'm headed to David's Bridal to get measured for my tux for my sister's wedding. I supposed I could tell them I'm getting measured for a bridemaid's dress, just to see their reaction, but I suspect they've heard that one before.
That's about it for now...later...
Last week was also me getting back to work. Mostly putting out fires and such - though I did find that my boss was overwhelmed by having to cover what I usually handle - I think it made him appreciate me even more. I don't think there's a big fat raise in my future because of that, but it was still nice to learn.
Yesterday, I took one of my long walks. I decided to go a differnt route and walked along a sidewalk next to a big yard. Then the barking started and two small dogs charged out at me. They were some kind of beagle/ dachuand mix - though I'm sure they thought they were part werewolf as well from the barking they did. While neither were a threat to anything except my shins (and that only with a running jump) they were moving pretty fast, clearly upset, and not tied down at all. The more agressive of the two slammed to a stop a couple feet from the sidewalk, then ran parallel to the sidewalk for a few feet and turned and barked some more. I realised that they were both wearing collarswith oversized objects on them and deduced it was an imvisible fence stopping them. And it worked too - they treated that "line" as a real fence - it was visible in their behavior and their movements as they paced me. Kinda lke a force field they kept bouncing off of. I got clear of them without incident, but had to go past them again on the way back. Personally, I think a sign notifying pedestrians about the fence would have been appropiate, but maybe the owners thought it would be funny to watch.
This afternoon, I'm headed to David's Bridal to get measured for my tux for my sister's wedding. I supposed I could tell them I'm getting measured for a bridemaid's dress, just to see their reaction, but I suspect they've heard that one before.
That's about it for now...later...
Monday, July 03, 2006
vacation
I spent a week in Myrtle Beach with some friends for a vacation. The drive down wasn't too bad since we broke it up with an overnight hotel stay. We finally got down to the condo and ate lunch, unpacked, got groceries and went down to the beach. Not wanting a repeat of last year, I slathered on the sunblock and was careful about too much sun.
And that was the lion-share of the week. Most of the time was spent sitting or walking on the beach or swimming in the ocean or pool. We ate out a few time - I usually had the salmon - and I had some awesome tasting salad. Though on the third trip some lady got dressing on my shirt.
While on the beach I did a lot of reading and I also wrote a comic strip. Since I don't draw very well, I'm going to use some photos of a couple of action figures. Should be pretty funny, I'll update the blog and post links as I work on it.
I got a pretty good tan and only some mild sun-burn on my feet and my back. Otherwise, I'm a-okay and ready to get back to life in Ohio. I'll post more as other stories come back to me.
That's it for now. later...
And that was the lion-share of the week. Most of the time was spent sitting or walking on the beach or swimming in the ocean or pool. We ate out a few time - I usually had the salmon - and I had some awesome tasting salad. Though on the third trip some lady got dressing on my shirt.
While on the beach I did a lot of reading and I also wrote a comic strip. Since I don't draw very well, I'm going to use some photos of a couple of action figures. Should be pretty funny, I'll update the blog and post links as I work on it.
I got a pretty good tan and only some mild sun-burn on my feet and my back. Otherwise, I'm a-okay and ready to get back to life in Ohio. I'll post more as other stories come back to me.
That's it for now. later...
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
weekend and giving blood - pre-vacation
Last weekend I visited my family for Father's day. On Friday we went through my sister's counseling textbooks and tried to figure out what was wrong with us mentally. It was funnier and more fun than it sounds. Seems like we're all a little OCD, incidentally - with a dash of autism thrown in for good measure.
On Saturday we ran some errands and participated in a cornhole tournement. Mom and Dad did pretty good, but my sister and I didn't advance. I could include a link to some sites on the rules and stragety, but I think you can find that yourselves.
I also worked on some origami for my sister's wedding reception - I made a hot air balloon from paper that I think is going to be the centerpiece. Should be cool.
I also gave blood - though it was a near thing. I got a card in the mail that indicated the date and location of the next drive - which I glanced at and then disregarded.
After work, I headed over to the Northampton church and was a little surprised that the parking lot was empty. Hmmm.... I looked at the card again and realized that instead of the Northampton Methodist church - where I had gone before - it was really the Northampton Baptist church that I needed to go to. Back in the car and on down the road. I wasn't entirely sure where I was going, but I made it there and gave my pint of blood. Got slightly woozy afterward, but I think that was my fault for not having eaten enough beforehand. Incidentally, the Methodist Church had much nicer facilites than the Baptists - draw whatever conslusions you'd like about that one. :)
I spent the rest of the week getting ready for my vacation. More to follow...
On Saturday we ran some errands and participated in a cornhole tournement. Mom and Dad did pretty good, but my sister and I didn't advance. I could include a link to some sites on the rules and stragety, but I think you can find that yourselves.
I also worked on some origami for my sister's wedding reception - I made a hot air balloon from paper that I think is going to be the centerpiece. Should be cool.
I also gave blood - though it was a near thing. I got a card in the mail that indicated the date and location of the next drive - which I glanced at and then disregarded.
After work, I headed over to the Northampton church and was a little surprised that the parking lot was empty. Hmmm.... I looked at the card again and realized that instead of the Northampton Methodist church - where I had gone before - it was really the Northampton Baptist church that I needed to go to. Back in the car and on down the road. I wasn't entirely sure where I was going, but I made it there and gave my pint of blood. Got slightly woozy afterward, but I think that was my fault for not having eaten enough beforehand. Incidentally, the Methodist Church had much nicer facilites than the Baptists - draw whatever conslusions you'd like about that one. :)
I spent the rest of the week getting ready for my vacation. More to follow...
Friday, June 16, 2006
Big Cube photos
Finally got some photos of the big cube - you can check them out by clicking on the small version:
Also, I may have been off on the count - I think the actual number of sheets of paper used is 1056.
Enjoy! I had fun doing this and it's given me ideas for other projects.
back to work...
Also, I may have been off on the count - I think the actual number of sheets of paper used is 1056.
Enjoy! I had fun doing this and it's given me ideas for other projects.
back to work...
Thursday, June 15, 2006
minor good deed, siRen, tidy
Last evening, while I was taking out my trash, I noticed that my neighbor's car was lit up from the inside. Their dome light was on - and the doors were locked and they weren't home.
So, I wrote a note on fluorescent green paper and taped it to the back window to their car - letting them know the situation and offering to help jump their car if they got back much later and the battery was all the way dead.
I heard them come home in their other car and I guess everything was okay since they didn't stop over. It was a little odd that they didn't say anything to me about it - if they hadn't noticed the light was on when they got back - they would have had a crappy morning and a dead car.
I did a little cleaning last night - some de-junkification. Added another 500 cranes to my aquarium just by cleaning out my pockets of various jackets and containers. 3500 in there now. I may not be an origami master - but I'm freaking prolific.
Took a break from the cleaning to play a new game - siRen. Ummm...can you say zombies? Except these zombies have good motor control - I nearly crapped my pants when one of these shambling monsters chased my character and then pulled out a gun and shot him. Looks like the game is a lot of sneaking around in the dark - unarmed.
Which isn't really my thing and I think makes it scarier. If I was confronted with zombies, I'd fight back. I'd get myself a sword or a big stick and go after them. The only good zombie is a dead zombie. Or..ummm... an incapacitated zombie.
I didn't play long before it got late and I needed to go to bed. I'll see how it goes - but at the first nightmare this game causes me, it's going to be sold and replaced with something rated "E" for everyone.
That's it for now...back to work...
So, I wrote a note on fluorescent green paper and taped it to the back window to their car - letting them know the situation and offering to help jump their car if they got back much later and the battery was all the way dead.
I heard them come home in their other car and I guess everything was okay since they didn't stop over. It was a little odd that they didn't say anything to me about it - if they hadn't noticed the light was on when they got back - they would have had a crappy morning and a dead car.
I did a little cleaning last night - some de-junkification. Added another 500 cranes to my aquarium just by cleaning out my pockets of various jackets and containers. 3500 in there now. I may not be an origami master - but I'm freaking prolific.
Took a break from the cleaning to play a new game - siRen. Ummm...can you say zombies? Except these zombies have good motor control - I nearly crapped my pants when one of these shambling monsters chased my character and then pulled out a gun and shot him. Looks like the game is a lot of sneaking around in the dark - unarmed.
Which isn't really my thing and I think makes it scarier. If I was confronted with zombies, I'd fight back. I'd get myself a sword or a big stick and go after them. The only good zombie is a dead zombie. Or..ummm... an incapacitated zombie.
I didn't play long before it got late and I needed to go to bed. I'll see how it goes - but at the first nightmare this game causes me, it's going to be sold and replaced with something rated "E" for everyone.
That's it for now...back to work...
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
completed, and McDonald's
Last evening, at a little before 10 pm, I finished the big project. 27.5 inches cubed, 928 pieces of paper, 1 bottle of elmer's glue. It's a triumph of form and math, a solid construct to represent an idea.
And it's too big to fit in my car.
So, it's still at home and still unphotographed. I'm hoping to arrange transportation sometime this week, but until then it will just have to wait.
It's also the second most dangerous project I've done. I cut myself twice on the storm window frame that I was using since my coffee table was too small. The most dangerous was the soda can metal crane - I bled a lot on that one.
In other news... I went to McDonald's last night for the spicy chicken sandwich. As I'm standing at the counter, trying to place my order, the fryer timer goes off. It's a horrible piercing sound designed to get someone's attention and cause pain. At the same time, the three little t-ball players standing to the side ratchet it up a notch or 10 and are now shrieking at the top of their lungs. The combination of the two frequencies...well...
I think it may have melted part of my brain.
I'm hoping it isn't a part I'll need later, but you never know.
But, my order was delivered promptly and, surprisingly, correctly. So, the ends justified the torment of the ordering process. Also, the counter girl must have realized the expression on my face represented pain at the sounds - she looked sympatheic. Or that may have just been my eyeballs swelling up do to the interested pressure in my head.
That's it for now... got a busy day ahead. I promise, pictures will be coming soon.
And it's too big to fit in my car.
So, it's still at home and still unphotographed. I'm hoping to arrange transportation sometime this week, but until then it will just have to wait.
It's also the second most dangerous project I've done. I cut myself twice on the storm window frame that I was using since my coffee table was too small. The most dangerous was the soda can metal crane - I bled a lot on that one.
In other news... I went to McDonald's last night for the spicy chicken sandwich. As I'm standing at the counter, trying to place my order, the fryer timer goes off. It's a horrible piercing sound designed to get someone's attention and cause pain. At the same time, the three little t-ball players standing to the side ratchet it up a notch or 10 and are now shrieking at the top of their lungs. The combination of the two frequencies...well...
I think it may have melted part of my brain.
I'm hoping it isn't a part I'll need later, but you never know.
But, my order was delivered promptly and, surprisingly, correctly. So, the ends justified the torment of the ordering process. Also, the counter girl must have realized the expression on my face represented pain at the sounds - she looked sympatheic. Or that may have just been my eyeballs swelling up do to the interested pressure in my head.
That's it for now... got a busy day ahead. I promise, pictures will be coming soon.
Monday, June 12, 2006
192 folded, tai chi, living room, wedding/muppets, father's day
In a marathon folding session, I got all 192 remaining units folded. I also got "chunks" put together in groups of 24 and 8 - and got most of those added to the main model. I've still got the "top" to assemble and put in place - and that's 64 units. With any luck, I'll have this done by Tuesday. Not sure how soon I'm going to bring it into work to display though, I'll need to get some good pictures for my website.
Over the weekend I picked up a Tai Chi beginners kit - DVD, Chi ball, and booklet. Haven't tried it yet as I'll need to clear some space in my living room. Thinking about doing another reorganization/clean-up of the apartment. I periodically de-junkify my place, but I think it needs another hit.
I haven't talked too much about my sister's wedding since:
1. It's still a ways off.
2. My roll is an usher is pretty small.
3. I can't think of weddings without also thinking of the Muppets Take Manhattan - where Kermit marries Miss Piggy.
Not sure if my sister would appreciate the connection - or the "Rainbow Connection" as the case may be.
Finally, I think I found a gift for my Dad for Father's day. He's just this side of impossible to buy for anymore, but I think I got something clever this time.
Wait, crap. Everytime I try to do something clever, it goes horribly wrong. There has been one exception and we can only hope it wasn't isolated.
That's it for now - back to work...
Over the weekend I picked up a Tai Chi beginners kit - DVD, Chi ball, and booklet. Haven't tried it yet as I'll need to clear some space in my living room. Thinking about doing another reorganization/clean-up of the apartment. I periodically de-junkify my place, but I think it needs another hit.
I haven't talked too much about my sister's wedding since:
1. It's still a ways off.
2. My roll is an usher is pretty small.
3. I can't think of weddings without also thinking of the Muppets Take Manhattan - where Kermit marries Miss Piggy.
Not sure if my sister would appreciate the connection - or the "Rainbow Connection" as the case may be.
Finally, I think I found a gift for my Dad for Father's day. He's just this side of impossible to buy for anymore, but I think I got something clever this time.
Wait, crap. Everytime I try to do something clever, it goes horribly wrong. There has been one exception and we can only hope it wasn't isolated.
That's it for now - back to work...
Saturday, June 10, 2006
origami, minor dream, work
I've in the home stretch on the big origami project, but I've hit a slight snag. As I expected, I miscounted - by 192. So, I've got some more paper to prep and fold. Not too bad, but a little disappointing, I'm not sure I'll be able to finish it up this weekend.
I had a dream last night that my parents had moved. To a much bigger house. Not sure why.
Work yesterday was...odd. I spent 2 hours and talked to 8-9 people to get one link on one web page set up. Still didn't get it launched - we're waiting on another piece. Eh, job security.
Guess that's it for now...later...
I had a dream last night that my parents had moved. To a much bigger house. Not sure why.
Work yesterday was...odd. I spent 2 hours and talked to 8-9 people to get one link on one web page set up. Still didn't get it launched - we're waiting on another piece. Eh, job security.
Guess that's it for now...later...
Thursday, June 08, 2006
wedding, buffett, origmai, dream
This will be a long post, got lots to cover.
First up, some cool news... my little sister is getting married! Her boyfriend proposed to her in a hot air balloon and since then it's been non-stop wedding maddness. It won't be until november, but she's got a lot of stuff to do. Fortunatly, our mom and her fiance are "planners" and should be able to help with much of the arrangements. I've been asked to be an usher and do some kind of origami for the reception tables. So, a big blog shout-out to my sister and her future husband.
Next up, a couple of days vacation. I took a couple of days off to go to Pittsburgh with some friends and see Jimmy Buffett in concert. Strangely enough, the concert itself wasn't as good as the last one I went to, but the events surrouding it were interesting.
1. Parking. We had to park literally as far away from the entrance as you could get. The only thing further away was the sewage treatment plant and a field. Being not a big fan of other humans, I was just as happy to avoid the crowds.
2. This also meant that there were no porta-toilets out there either. So we, and pretty much everyone else, had to use the field. Everyone was fairly cool about it. The women usually went in groups, or had a guy go with them to stand guard. The guys, myself included, tried to maintain some decorum based on how much alchol in their system. Since I don't drink, I was a perfect gentleman as much as can be possible when peeing in a field.
2b. There was also a couple that stood in the field for about 15-20 minutes, smoking weed. I was a little puzzled by this, then realized they'd "snuck off to the bathroom" to get high. We laughed at them.
2c. A helicopter kept circling the area. So, I might have made the local news while taking care of business in the field. Eh, it's buffett...
3. The trek to the entrance wasn't bad, but we were stopped at the front gate and checked for digital cameras. I had to unroll the blanket I was carrying and lift my shirt. Of course, I could have had a camera in any of the dozen pockets in my pants. Or I could have, potentially, had a camera phone like everyone else. I'd really like to see them stop people from bringing in their cell phones - the rioting would be hilarious to watch from a safe distance.
4. We found a good spot, but didn't realize it was the nexus of all beachballs. At a buffett concert, it's customary to throw around beachballs. And we got more than our fairshare. I'm fairly alert and didn't get hit unless I was ready for it, but others in my group tired of it quickly.
5. So the concert starts and then the thing that everyone said wasn't going to happen, happened. It began to rain. Now, I'm a big one for being prepared and despite words to the otherwise, I had a rain poncho. So, when it started to rain, what did I do?
I left my poncho in my pocket and took off my shirt. Hey, it's buffett - why would I care about a little rain? I tucked my shirt into the back of my pants and enjoyed it. Seems silly, but I had a plan. A wet poncho would be difficult to deal with the rest of the night and my skin would dry much faster than my shirt. So, if I got cold later, I could put on a dry shirt and be fine.
After a bit, the rain stopped and I kept my shirt off and enjoyed the weather and the show.
6. Later in the evening, but before it got really dark, I decided to head to the restroom. I'm not a fan of public restrooms in general and due to some amazing bladder control and careful fluid intake, I've never had to pee in a trough.
For those that have not seen the inside of a men's restroom in a large public venue - it's not pretty. There was a long line to get into the restroom, then a line to get to the long trough's on either side of the room. I found a spot that was only 2 deep and waited patiently. One guy couldn't wait and was peeing in a sink. The guy in front of me was having trouble walking and nearly fell over after he lost his balance as he zipped up. I caught him and helped push him in the general direction of the door.
I took care of my business and made my way to the exit. Later I heard a fight had broken out just after I left. Crazy.
7. I got back to the group without much trouble and was in plenty of time for the "Fins" song, which is amazing to see, and the "Volcano" which is fun to sing along with.
We left before the end of the show and made it out of the parking lot without much trouble - though our driver insisted on checking his cell-phone messages while trying to dodge pedestrians. Could have been ugly, but we were okay.
The next day was the drive back and a quiet evening at home.
New topic: Origami. Second tier of the project is done, I made good progress on tier three, but I think I'm going to need to do some more folding.
Finally, I had a dream last night that a system of travel had been created that involved reducing a person to dust, then putting them in a canister that bank tellers use - then sending then at high speeds through tubes or slower by UPS. At the other end they were re-hydrated and went about their lives without trouble. I used the system to move back into a college dorm-room since I was apparently going back to school.
We'll that's it for now, lots to catch up on. Back to work...
First up, some cool news... my little sister is getting married! Her boyfriend proposed to her in a hot air balloon and since then it's been non-stop wedding maddness. It won't be until november, but she's got a lot of stuff to do. Fortunatly, our mom and her fiance are "planners" and should be able to help with much of the arrangements. I've been asked to be an usher and do some kind of origami for the reception tables. So, a big blog shout-out to my sister and her future husband.
Next up, a couple of days vacation. I took a couple of days off to go to Pittsburgh with some friends and see Jimmy Buffett in concert. Strangely enough, the concert itself wasn't as good as the last one I went to, but the events surrouding it were interesting.
1. Parking. We had to park literally as far away from the entrance as you could get. The only thing further away was the sewage treatment plant and a field. Being not a big fan of other humans, I was just as happy to avoid the crowds.
2. This also meant that there were no porta-toilets out there either. So we, and pretty much everyone else, had to use the field. Everyone was fairly cool about it. The women usually went in groups, or had a guy go with them to stand guard. The guys, myself included, tried to maintain some decorum based on how much alchol in their system. Since I don't drink, I was a perfect gentleman as much as can be possible when peeing in a field.
2b. There was also a couple that stood in the field for about 15-20 minutes, smoking weed. I was a little puzzled by this, then realized they'd "snuck off to the bathroom" to get high. We laughed at them.
2c. A helicopter kept circling the area. So, I might have made the local news while taking care of business in the field. Eh, it's buffett...
3. The trek to the entrance wasn't bad, but we were stopped at the front gate and checked for digital cameras. I had to unroll the blanket I was carrying and lift my shirt. Of course, I could have had a camera in any of the dozen pockets in my pants. Or I could have, potentially, had a camera phone like everyone else. I'd really like to see them stop people from bringing in their cell phones - the rioting would be hilarious to watch from a safe distance.
4. We found a good spot, but didn't realize it was the nexus of all beachballs. At a buffett concert, it's customary to throw around beachballs. And we got more than our fairshare. I'm fairly alert and didn't get hit unless I was ready for it, but others in my group tired of it quickly.
5. So the concert starts and then the thing that everyone said wasn't going to happen, happened. It began to rain. Now, I'm a big one for being prepared and despite words to the otherwise, I had a rain poncho. So, when it started to rain, what did I do?
I left my poncho in my pocket and took off my shirt. Hey, it's buffett - why would I care about a little rain? I tucked my shirt into the back of my pants and enjoyed it. Seems silly, but I had a plan. A wet poncho would be difficult to deal with the rest of the night and my skin would dry much faster than my shirt. So, if I got cold later, I could put on a dry shirt and be fine.
After a bit, the rain stopped and I kept my shirt off and enjoyed the weather and the show.
6. Later in the evening, but before it got really dark, I decided to head to the restroom. I'm not a fan of public restrooms in general and due to some amazing bladder control and careful fluid intake, I've never had to pee in a trough.
For those that have not seen the inside of a men's restroom in a large public venue - it's not pretty. There was a long line to get into the restroom, then a line to get to the long trough's on either side of the room. I found a spot that was only 2 deep and waited patiently. One guy couldn't wait and was peeing in a sink. The guy in front of me was having trouble walking and nearly fell over after he lost his balance as he zipped up. I caught him and helped push him in the general direction of the door.
I took care of my business and made my way to the exit. Later I heard a fight had broken out just after I left. Crazy.
7. I got back to the group without much trouble and was in plenty of time for the "Fins" song, which is amazing to see, and the "Volcano" which is fun to sing along with.
We left before the end of the show and made it out of the parking lot without much trouble - though our driver insisted on checking his cell-phone messages while trying to dodge pedestrians. Could have been ugly, but we were okay.
The next day was the drive back and a quiet evening at home.
New topic: Origami. Second tier of the project is done, I made good progress on tier three, but I think I'm going to need to do some more folding.
Finally, I had a dream last night that a system of travel had been created that involved reducing a person to dust, then putting them in a canister that bank tellers use - then sending then at high speeds through tubes or slower by UPS. At the other end they were re-hydrated and went about their lives without trouble. I used the system to move back into a college dorm-room since I was apparently going back to school.
We'll that's it for now, lots to catch up on. Back to work...
Saturday, June 03, 2006
paying rent, origami, long week
So, on Friday, I did what should have been an easy task- paying my rent. I went during the day instead of after work, since I didn't want to fight the traffic. I got called into my boss's off just before I headed out to lunch and that delayed me a bit. The weather was a bit rainy, but I made it to the landlord's office without too much trouble.
But then the trouble began. Half the parking lot was blocked off - a photographer was taking photos of young women. The building where the landlord's office is located also has a modeling agency. Yes, in Akron. Who knew? Anyway, I think they were connected and I was annoyed. But then, you already knew that.
So, I get past Miss Teen Trollup USA and...
Okay, so maybe I'm being to harsh on these girls. Just because they were wearing Daisy Dukes made out of sweatshirt material and midriff baring matching tank tops is no reason to think they are anything less than Mensa inductees.
I find a parking space and head for the entrance. Which is also blocked off by yet another photographer and half a dozen similarly clad young women. They weren't taking a photo that particular instant, so I got past them, down the hall, and into the landlords office.
And there's no one at the front desk. So, I wait a few moments. And then a few more moments. And then, just for fun, a few more moments.
On the desk is a bell - which I hate ringing. I don't like the noise, for one, and I also don't like what it implies. If there's a bell, there should be someone there who's job it is to see that I don't have to ring the bell.
Yes, I'm aware that's circular logic. Let's just roll with it.
So, I ring the bell and no one shows up. I wait a bit longer, then a guy walks past the desk and past me on the way to send a fax. It takes him a while and on the way back he finally notices me. I explain that I'm paying my rent and that I don't like just leaving a check lying around. He takes the check and I head out. Only to be stopped at the main door by another Trollup Girl (tm) who's standing guard while a picture is being taken. Since I've have to knock her aside to get past her and I'm ever so slightly not quite annoyed enough to do that, I wait. And growl. Quietly.
Picture taken, I can finally make my exit and head back though the lunch hour traffic to work.
In the movie Scanners, the people with special powers can make people's heads explode just by concenrating about it. They usually get a headache - and hey, I'm totally used to those. If someone knows where the super powers prize wheel is at today, please let me know. I've got a list of people that I'd like to try them out on.
In better news... more progress on the Origami. I'm well on my way to finishing the second tier and despite a couple of tense moments involving glue, paper, and some curse words that may or may not have been responsible for the explosive mushroom growth in the yard - I'm doing okay with it.
Even with the day off, it was still a long week. I'm glad I'm in the middle of the weekend - and that I've still got another day off. Later...
But then the trouble began. Half the parking lot was blocked off - a photographer was taking photos of young women. The building where the landlord's office is located also has a modeling agency. Yes, in Akron. Who knew? Anyway, I think they were connected and I was annoyed. But then, you already knew that.
So, I get past Miss Teen Trollup USA and...
Okay, so maybe I'm being to harsh on these girls. Just because they were wearing Daisy Dukes made out of sweatshirt material and midriff baring matching tank tops is no reason to think they are anything less than Mensa inductees.
I find a parking space and head for the entrance. Which is also blocked off by yet another photographer and half a dozen similarly clad young women. They weren't taking a photo that particular instant, so I got past them, down the hall, and into the landlords office.
And there's no one at the front desk. So, I wait a few moments. And then a few more moments. And then, just for fun, a few more moments.
On the desk is a bell - which I hate ringing. I don't like the noise, for one, and I also don't like what it implies. If there's a bell, there should be someone there who's job it is to see that I don't have to ring the bell.
Yes, I'm aware that's circular logic. Let's just roll with it.
So, I ring the bell and no one shows up. I wait a bit longer, then a guy walks past the desk and past me on the way to send a fax. It takes him a while and on the way back he finally notices me. I explain that I'm paying my rent and that I don't like just leaving a check lying around. He takes the check and I head out. Only to be stopped at the main door by another Trollup Girl (tm) who's standing guard while a picture is being taken. Since I've have to knock her aside to get past her and I'm ever so slightly not quite annoyed enough to do that, I wait. And growl. Quietly.
Picture taken, I can finally make my exit and head back though the lunch hour traffic to work.
In the movie Scanners, the people with special powers can make people's heads explode just by concenrating about it. They usually get a headache - and hey, I'm totally used to those. If someone knows where the super powers prize wheel is at today, please let me know. I've got a list of people that I'd like to try them out on.
In better news... more progress on the Origami. I'm well on my way to finishing the second tier and despite a couple of tense moments involving glue, paper, and some curse words that may or may not have been responsible for the explosive mushroom growth in the yard - I'm doing okay with it.
Even with the day off, it was still a long week. I'm glad I'm in the middle of the weekend - and that I've still got another day off. Later...
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
another walk, origmai progress, AARP
After my last post - I took another walk. This one was about 4 miles total, so I think I got in around 9+ miles that day - not bad. And I slept really well that night.
I spent a good chunk of my memorial day hanging out, watching "dead like me", and working on my origami project. Made some serious progress, one layer is nearly complete. Just gotta put the outside panels in place and I'll be ready to move vertical. It's also way more structurally sound - which is a good thing.
And finally, I got a notice from the AARP. Asking me to join. I want to call them up and scream into the phone, "I'm only 33! Leave me the hell alone!"
But that would be rude.
So, intead, I'm just going to get back to work...
I spent a good chunk of my memorial day hanging out, watching "dead like me", and working on my origami project. Made some serious progress, one layer is nearly complete. Just gotta put the outside panels in place and I'll be ready to move vertical. It's also way more structurally sound - which is a good thing.
And finally, I got a notice from the AARP. Asking me to join. I want to call them up and scream into the phone, "I'm only 33! Leave me the hell alone!"
But that would be rude.
So, intead, I'm just going to get back to work...
Sunday, May 28, 2006
gardens, butterflies, trains, and a walk
Yesterday, I went with some friends to Stan Hywet hall and gardens. It's a big old house that it was far to nice of day to go inside - so, we walked around the gardens and ponds, and checked out the conservatory. Where I half expected to see Mrs. Peacock standing over a dead body with a Candlestick in her hands.
The Conservatory had a pretty cool train set up - two tracks that looped around a large area with lots of waterfalls and quaint little log houses. Pictures were taken.
It also boasted a butterfly area - protected by a "butterfly" lock in the form of 2 sets of doors. There were strict rules about entering and exiting the area to protect the butterflies - but once inside, it was amazing. The area was thick with them, including some huge - and friendly - examples of the species. Pretty cool. It was neat to get up really close to them and watch them feed on nectar and pollen - or when they were just hanging out.
One species - according to the guide - doesn't eat. They only live a few days as a moth - the rest of their life is as a caterpillar. Sure enough, the one we saw fell off a branch and died right in front of us.
There was nothing to be done except make a quiet joke about "mouth to moth resuscitation" and then move one. One of my friends had one land on his back as we neared the exit and we had to have a little help knocking it loose - after pictures were taken, of course.
The rest of the time there was spent in the gardens trying to avoid the countless wedding parties that were having pictures taken there. It wasn't easy, but we managed to avoid being including in any "special memories"
Late that afternoon, I developed a massive headache that followed me home. I took some aleve and managed to quell it enough to get to sleep that night. It was still there when I got up to pee twice last night and the last vestiges were still there in the morning.
But, it faded enough for me to venture out and take what ended up being a 3 hour walk in the hot sun. I tried to keep myself hydrated and mostly succeeded. I'm still a bit tired, but a cool shower helped and I think it was good trip. I also tried out Fazolli's - a sort of fast-ish food italian restaurant. I had pizza - which was good but seriously greasy.
And I guess that's it for now. Later...
The Conservatory had a pretty cool train set up - two tracks that looped around a large area with lots of waterfalls and quaint little log houses. Pictures were taken.
It also boasted a butterfly area - protected by a "butterfly" lock in the form of 2 sets of doors. There were strict rules about entering and exiting the area to protect the butterflies - but once inside, it was amazing. The area was thick with them, including some huge - and friendly - examples of the species. Pretty cool. It was neat to get up really close to them and watch them feed on nectar and pollen - or when they were just hanging out.
One species - according to the guide - doesn't eat. They only live a few days as a moth - the rest of their life is as a caterpillar. Sure enough, the one we saw fell off a branch and died right in front of us.
There was nothing to be done except make a quiet joke about "mouth to moth resuscitation" and then move one. One of my friends had one land on his back as we neared the exit and we had to have a little help knocking it loose - after pictures were taken, of course.
The rest of the time there was spent in the gardens trying to avoid the countless wedding parties that were having pictures taken there. It wasn't easy, but we managed to avoid being including in any "special memories"
Late that afternoon, I developed a massive headache that followed me home. I took some aleve and managed to quell it enough to get to sleep that night. It was still there when I got up to pee twice last night and the last vestiges were still there in the morning.
But, it faded enough for me to venture out and take what ended up being a 3 hour walk in the hot sun. I tried to keep myself hydrated and mostly succeeded. I'm still a bit tired, but a cool shower helped and I think it was good trip. I also tried out Fazolli's - a sort of fast-ish food italian restaurant. I had pizza - which was good but seriously greasy.
And I guess that's it for now. Later...
Friday, May 26, 2006
things that are odd...
1. Recently, I was driving along and the car in front of me suddenly slammed on their brakes as a hand extended out the driver's side window. After a slight hesitation, the hand extended a finger and pointed to the right, over the top of the car. They then proceeded to make a right turn.
There is a slight possiblity that their turn signals didn't work - however, the brake lights were fine and the car seemed to be in good condition. It's a little more likely that the person was simply a dork.
2. Yesterday, also while in a car, I saw a man mowing a lawn in a t-shirt and pajama bottoms. How do I know that they weren't just light-weight sweats? Because I have a pair just like them. Very strange.
In other news... don't be fooled by subways new "garlic bread". Being a fan of bread in general and especially of garlic bread - I thought I'd give it a go with maybe a meatball sub. Ah, but no. "It's not garlic bread, " my sandwich artist tells me, but meerly a spread that can be added to the exisiting breads. Taken aback, I quickly changed my order to the very bland standard. If it had just been garlic butter, I might have gone for it, but the consistancy was all wrong and I avoided it. As the sandwich moved through the process, I had a difficult time convincing the artists to not put extra stuff on. I finally had to tell them "extra plain" - which got a slight laugh and let me move on with my life.
It's been fairly quiet here at work today. One of my colleages' last day here is next wednesday, so we've been trying to get stuff organized.
I'm looking forward to a quiet weekend - maybe even doing a little hiking if the crowds aren't bad. Almost makes me hope for rain since I'll walk in the rain and not many other people will.
Well, I guess that's it for now. Back to work...
There is a slight possiblity that their turn signals didn't work - however, the brake lights were fine and the car seemed to be in good condition. It's a little more likely that the person was simply a dork.
2. Yesterday, also while in a car, I saw a man mowing a lawn in a t-shirt and pajama bottoms. How do I know that they weren't just light-weight sweats? Because I have a pair just like them. Very strange.
In other news... don't be fooled by subways new "garlic bread". Being a fan of bread in general and especially of garlic bread - I thought I'd give it a go with maybe a meatball sub. Ah, but no. "It's not garlic bread, " my sandwich artist tells me, but meerly a spread that can be added to the exisiting breads. Taken aback, I quickly changed my order to the very bland standard. If it had just been garlic butter, I might have gone for it, but the consistancy was all wrong and I avoided it. As the sandwich moved through the process, I had a difficult time convincing the artists to not put extra stuff on. I finally had to tell them "extra plain" - which got a slight laugh and let me move on with my life.
It's been fairly quiet here at work today. One of my colleages' last day here is next wednesday, so we've been trying to get stuff organized.
I'm looking forward to a quiet weekend - maybe even doing a little hiking if the crowds aren't bad. Almost makes me hope for rain since I'll walk in the rain and not many other people will.
Well, I guess that's it for now. Back to work...
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
wookieWear - summer edition
A quick post today - been pretty busy. But, enough time for a visit from everyone's favorite wookie - in his new shirt/beer bottle cozy.
Chewie! Not so close! Back up a bit...
Okay, that's a little better...
Great! Now, put your arms down.
Hmmm...well, you can put your arms down when you get to school.
Back to work...
Chewie! Not so close! Back up a bit...
Okay, that's a little better...
Great! Now, put your arms down.
Hmmm...well, you can put your arms down when you get to school.
Back to work...
Monday, May 22, 2006
ex-roomate, car wash
I had a call last week from my ex-roommate's mother - she told me he was getting married on Friday. For his tearful apoligy and an attempt at a renewed friendship - I would have thought that an event as important as this would have warrented at least a solicitation of gifts.
My thoughts on this:
1. I also found out that it's with the woman who moved in with us and ultimately led to him moving out. And I guess, in a way, it's a good thing. At least something good came out of that. I think I would have been more annoyed if he's broken up with her and then moved on and was suddenly getting married.
2. I'm kinda wishing that his mom stopped keeping me in the loop. If things are done - and I think/hope they are - then I don't need to be in this loop anymore.
In other news, I got a message from my sister on my answering machine on Saturday. She was calling to tell me how annoying the "free car wash" was just down the street from her apartment. Strangely enough, I missed her call beacause I was going for a walk - to a walmart in my area where the girls soccer team was having a free car wash. There were two girls holding signs and shrieking at passing cars. They were also shrieking in my general direction - though if they thought a pedestrian would be interested in a car wash, they were indeed as stupid as they looked - and sounded.
I'm going to have to blame car dealers for this situation. Car commercials are still frequently populated with screaming salesmen - as though the only way we'll listen is if we are yelled at.
In those cases, I stop listening and ignore them. As I ignored the shrieking car wash girls - and as I hope my sister was able to eventually do with her own neighborhood free car wash.
I guess that's about it for now. Back to work...
My thoughts on this:
1. I also found out that it's with the woman who moved in with us and ultimately led to him moving out. And I guess, in a way, it's a good thing. At least something good came out of that. I think I would have been more annoyed if he's broken up with her and then moved on and was suddenly getting married.
2. I'm kinda wishing that his mom stopped keeping me in the loop. If things are done - and I think/hope they are - then I don't need to be in this loop anymore.
In other news, I got a message from my sister on my answering machine on Saturday. She was calling to tell me how annoying the "free car wash" was just down the street from her apartment. Strangely enough, I missed her call beacause I was going for a walk - to a walmart in my area where the girls soccer team was having a free car wash. There were two girls holding signs and shrieking at passing cars. They were also shrieking in my general direction - though if they thought a pedestrian would be interested in a car wash, they were indeed as stupid as they looked - and sounded.
I'm going to have to blame car dealers for this situation. Car commercials are still frequently populated with screaming salesmen - as though the only way we'll listen is if we are yelled at.
In those cases, I stop listening and ignore them. As I ignored the shrieking car wash girls - and as I hope my sister was able to eventually do with her own neighborhood free car wash.
I guess that's about it for now. Back to work...
Thursday, May 18, 2006
lunch, $5, highlander trench coat
I went out to lunch with some co-workers/colleagues. We had a pretty good time and one of them bought lunch for the rest of us - which was very cool. Coming back into work I saw a $5 bill on the grass - so, I went to lunch and made $5. Didn't even have to dance on a table for it or anything.
The past couple of rainy days I've been wearing my gray trenchcoat to work - and since my attention to proper attire has waned recently, I've also been wearing my jeans and sneakers. Which, I've realized, is the same outfit that Duncan McCloud wore in Highlander. Unfortunatly, I don't have a job that lets me carry around a sword, but if that changes - I'm ready.
I guess that's about it for now - I had some weird dreams last night, but I can't remember them. Time to get back to work...
The past couple of rainy days I've been wearing my gray trenchcoat to work - and since my attention to proper attire has waned recently, I've also been wearing my jeans and sneakers. Which, I've realized, is the same outfit that Duncan McCloud wore in Highlander. Unfortunatly, I don't have a job that lets me carry around a sword, but if that changes - I'm ready.
I guess that's about it for now - I had some weird dreams last night, but I can't remember them. Time to get back to work...
Monday, May 15, 2006
visit, zoo, zips, totebag
Last Friday morning I woke up early to the sounds of my next door neighbors getting, umm...busy. Apparently I heard only the tail end of the festivities since within about 5 minutes of the last hurrah, I then heard their car start up and one of them drive away. So much for the afterglow.
I got up and got ready for work - and packed for my weekend trip to visit my folks. 8 hours later (after work) I'm on the road. The trip was mostly uneventful - though I did encounter a problem in columbus with a lane that I needed closed due to a semi stopped on the road. There were a bunch of people milling around the truck - as though they expected it to transform into a giant robot and run away. Or maybe they were just practicing putting up orange cones.
Finally got to my folks and had pizza while we watched the latest Harry Potter movie. Pretty good, but a little uneven.
Last Thursday I'd gone to a silent auction and won a gift basket - which mom really liked along with the hot tub pillow I'd gotten for her before. So, I scored a bunch of points this Mother's Day weekend.
On Saturday morning, Dad and I went and got some mulch and toured his garden. Both my parents have put a lot of work into the landscaping and it shows.
Saw my sister for a bit before she had to get ready for a wedding - then mom, dad and I headed north to the zoo. The gibbons were amazing, and the river otters are always fun. We didn't get to see too much before the sky opened up and rain started coming down. We made a quick exit and while waiting for the car, someone went past and said "Go Zips" to me since I was wearing my akron jacket. It was a little weird to see a zips fan outside their native enviroment.
From there - half priced bookstore. I was a little disappointed in their sci-fi selection, but the comics were excellent. I ended up spending slightly over $30 - which entitled me to a free tote bag. It was a neon yellow/green. I think it may have also glowed in the dark, but I haven't checked it out yet.
My sister and her boyfriend came over on Sunday for lunch - we did a little origmai and comeserated with mom's dog - who it turns out doesn't like the boyfriend and tends to bite - so the dog had to wear a muzzle. I thought she looked like a ninja, but it was clear she didn't like it - though eventually she got used to it.
The drive back home was uneventful - other than some rain. And the week I expect will be mostly ordinary. But, I'd better get back to work...
I got up and got ready for work - and packed for my weekend trip to visit my folks. 8 hours later (after work) I'm on the road. The trip was mostly uneventful - though I did encounter a problem in columbus with a lane that I needed closed due to a semi stopped on the road. There were a bunch of people milling around the truck - as though they expected it to transform into a giant robot and run away. Or maybe they were just practicing putting up orange cones.
Finally got to my folks and had pizza while we watched the latest Harry Potter movie. Pretty good, but a little uneven.
Last Thursday I'd gone to a silent auction and won a gift basket - which mom really liked along with the hot tub pillow I'd gotten for her before. So, I scored a bunch of points this Mother's Day weekend.
On Saturday morning, Dad and I went and got some mulch and toured his garden. Both my parents have put a lot of work into the landscaping and it shows.
Saw my sister for a bit before she had to get ready for a wedding - then mom, dad and I headed north to the zoo. The gibbons were amazing, and the river otters are always fun. We didn't get to see too much before the sky opened up and rain started coming down. We made a quick exit and while waiting for the car, someone went past and said "Go Zips" to me since I was wearing my akron jacket. It was a little weird to see a zips fan outside their native enviroment.
From there - half priced bookstore. I was a little disappointed in their sci-fi selection, but the comics were excellent. I ended up spending slightly over $30 - which entitled me to a free tote bag. It was a neon yellow/green. I think it may have also glowed in the dark, but I haven't checked it out yet.
My sister and her boyfriend came over on Sunday for lunch - we did a little origmai and comeserated with mom's dog - who it turns out doesn't like the boyfriend and tends to bite - so the dog had to wear a muzzle. I thought she looked like a ninja, but it was clear she didn't like it - though eventually she got used to it.
The drive back home was uneventful - other than some rain. And the week I expect will be mostly ordinary. But, I'd better get back to work...
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
slightly better today, getting my ear re-done, work
My mood has improved a bit today - at least partially since I can't seem to maintain a bad mood for too long. Tires me out.
After work yesterday, I went for a walk and headed up to the nearby tattoo and body piercing studio - with the full intention of getting my ear re-pierced. I've been to the company before - though not at their current location. The first place was a little seedy, the second was pretty classy - well, as classy as tattoo and body piercing studios go. The new location - extra seedy.
Strike 1. Door propped open = no air conditioning. The equipment generates heat and a busy place with lots of people generates heat as well. Not going to be comfortable if a person is there very long.
Strike 2. Cash only. The signs were everywhere. Having a credit card machine takes time and money to establish. Cash only is a little more "fly by the seat of your pants". And since some tattoos can be a lot of money, that's a lot of cash to carry around.
Strike 3. The owner came out, and he was looking like hell warmed over. He did one of my first tattoos and later one of his employees examined the work and didn't have anything good to say. I dunno if he was on something, but I got a bad vibe. Especially if he was going to be the one to re-do my ear.
I asked him the price for getting my ear redone - he said it was $40.00 and that it included a silver hoop.
Strikes 4 & 5. $40.00 seemed pretty high, especially since it was redoing an existing piercing - it's not like he would have had to aim or anything. And a hoop? A hoop means the hole is going to heal around the shape - and I don't want a curved hole in my ear.
So, I said something about needing to go to the ATM and made my escape.
Back to my car and then to get my hair cut - and then to the mall. I've done enough research to now be a little disdainful of getting my ear pierced in the mall, but I got it done the first time there and figured it might not be bad. Well, I looked and looked and couldn't find what I was really looking for in either kiosk - nor could I find it in spencer gifts or even the painfully girly claires. By this point I'd decided I was just going to do it myself and needed a simple post. I settled on a pair at claires and made my exit.
Later in the evening after a little pizza, a couple episodes of Lost season 1, and a little work on my origami - I decided to get to work on my ear. I started to push the post through and it started to hurt. So I went downstairs to discover I was out of ice. Back to the bathroom, I took it slow and gently worked the post into place. It bled a bit, but not too bad, and I got it cleaned up and took a shower.
It seems fine today - but it also seems like a lot of work to get a piece of metal in my ear.
In other news, nothing new on the work front. One of my colleagues may or may not be resigning - which is stressing all of us out since we're already short handed. Getting a little tired of muddling through.
Well, I guess I should get back to the grind...
After work yesterday, I went for a walk and headed up to the nearby tattoo and body piercing studio - with the full intention of getting my ear re-pierced. I've been to the company before - though not at their current location. The first place was a little seedy, the second was pretty classy - well, as classy as tattoo and body piercing studios go. The new location - extra seedy.
Strike 1. Door propped open = no air conditioning. The equipment generates heat and a busy place with lots of people generates heat as well. Not going to be comfortable if a person is there very long.
Strike 2. Cash only. The signs were everywhere. Having a credit card machine takes time and money to establish. Cash only is a little more "fly by the seat of your pants". And since some tattoos can be a lot of money, that's a lot of cash to carry around.
Strike 3. The owner came out, and he was looking like hell warmed over. He did one of my first tattoos and later one of his employees examined the work and didn't have anything good to say. I dunno if he was on something, but I got a bad vibe. Especially if he was going to be the one to re-do my ear.
I asked him the price for getting my ear redone - he said it was $40.00 and that it included a silver hoop.
Strikes 4 & 5. $40.00 seemed pretty high, especially since it was redoing an existing piercing - it's not like he would have had to aim or anything. And a hoop? A hoop means the hole is going to heal around the shape - and I don't want a curved hole in my ear.
So, I said something about needing to go to the ATM and made my escape.
Back to my car and then to get my hair cut - and then to the mall. I've done enough research to now be a little disdainful of getting my ear pierced in the mall, but I got it done the first time there and figured it might not be bad. Well, I looked and looked and couldn't find what I was really looking for in either kiosk - nor could I find it in spencer gifts or even the painfully girly claires. By this point I'd decided I was just going to do it myself and needed a simple post. I settled on a pair at claires and made my exit.
Later in the evening after a little pizza, a couple episodes of Lost season 1, and a little work on my origami - I decided to get to work on my ear. I started to push the post through and it started to hurt. So I went downstairs to discover I was out of ice. Back to the bathroom, I took it slow and gently worked the post into place. It bled a bit, but not too bad, and I got it cleaned up and took a shower.
It seems fine today - but it also seems like a lot of work to get a piece of metal in my ear.
In other news, nothing new on the work front. One of my colleagues may or may not be resigning - which is stressing all of us out since we're already short handed. Getting a little tired of muddling through.
Well, I guess I should get back to the grind...
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
pandora
I was using Wikipedia, one of my favorite sites, to look up info on the video game God of War. One of the items in the game is Pandora's Box - and Wikipedia had an article for the myth as well.
According to the site, there's some confusion as to the real story. Might have been a box, might have been a jar - might have been that the box and the woman were one.
In one version, Pandora opens the box and all the evils escape - but closes it so that only Hope is still trapped. In another, she traps Hope and lets it out later - with the idea that Hope is in the world, but it has some catching up to do.
The real question, I think, is what was Hope doing in a box of the evils of the world? I don't think they really answer that in the site article, but I believe that in some circumstances - Hope itself is evil.
No matter how terrible a person may feel, there's always Hope - and always a chance to have that Hope dashed. There's always a chance for things to get just that much worse.
So, I think by this point it should be clear that I'm not having a good week. Hell, I'm not sure that it's even been a good year - or any other band of tire.
Family: There's an underlying tension anymore and every time we talk about it - things get just a little bit worse. So, we don't talk about anything of consequence and the banality continues.
Relationship: I tried to show some honesty and caring recently - it went badly.
Work: After our 4.25 hour long meeting yesterday, we've finally got a plan of attack for our future - and given the current staffing and other resources, it's utterly impossible for us to succeed. Which, in a way, makes it a little easier- all we have to do now is fail with a little bit of style.
But hey, there's always hope, right? All I have to do, apparently, is keep my head down and shut my damn mouth and everything will work out.
According to the site, there's some confusion as to the real story. Might have been a box, might have been a jar - might have been that the box and the woman were one.
In one version, Pandora opens the box and all the evils escape - but closes it so that only Hope is still trapped. In another, she traps Hope and lets it out later - with the idea that Hope is in the world, but it has some catching up to do.
The real question, I think, is what was Hope doing in a box of the evils of the world? I don't think they really answer that in the site article, but I believe that in some circumstances - Hope itself is evil.
No matter how terrible a person may feel, there's always Hope - and always a chance to have that Hope dashed. There's always a chance for things to get just that much worse.
So, I think by this point it should be clear that I'm not having a good week. Hell, I'm not sure that it's even been a good year - or any other band of tire.
Family: There's an underlying tension anymore and every time we talk about it - things get just a little bit worse. So, we don't talk about anything of consequence and the banality continues.
Relationship: I tried to show some honesty and caring recently - it went badly.
Work: After our 4.25 hour long meeting yesterday, we've finally got a plan of attack for our future - and given the current staffing and other resources, it's utterly impossible for us to succeed. Which, in a way, makes it a little easier- all we have to do now is fail with a little bit of style.
But hey, there's always hope, right? All I have to do, apparently, is keep my head down and shut my damn mouth and everything will work out.
(later)
Well, the relationship thing is little better after some email exchanges. Still not entirely comfortable at how things have gone, but it'll work out. Work is much the same - still in the dark, still up in the air, still doomed.
I've got an hour to go before I head out today - thinking about trying to get my ear done, get a haircut, and some new pants.
I guess that's it for today...
Monday, May 08, 2006
card, ear, contacts, game
This weekend, I decided to pick up a couple of Mother's Day cards - one for my mom and one for my grandmother. I was in the grocery store card aisle and picked up a card with snoopy on it. I'm not big on mushy cards and I usually go for humor unless it's a card for someone having died. So, Snoopy is usually a non-mushy choice and I figured I was half-way done. To my horror, I opened the card and a literal shower of glitter poured out. The lights above the rack made it almost glow - as though Tinkerbell had been by earlier and had taken a crap in the card.
I hastely put the card back though the damage had been done. A woman standing nearby asked, "Bad card?" as though I'd taken the time to see the written content and been troubled for some reason. I simply replied "too much glitter" and spent the next few minutes trying to brush myself off. And as my sister will attest - it's a futile exercise. She has a glitter-phobia.
After much careful searching, I finally found two cards with a minimum amount of glitter (i.e. none) - though since the cursed stuff had already eaten its way into my skin, my perceptions may have altered.
Overall, tramatic.
In other news, I think I'm going to get my ear re-pierced today. I haven't worn one in a while and the whole has closed over. Hoping they can "re-activate" the existing hole with a minimum of pain.
My contacts are bothering me again. My eyes seem really dry and I'm begining to wonder if the "cold" is really an allergy springing up. Get it? It's spring time and the allergy is "springing up"? Yeah, I didn't think it was that funny either.
Playing Prince of Persia The Two Thones last week. Had to race a chariot though an obstacle course and once I'd finally survived that one, faced off with two huge monsters. Got my ass royally kicked. Tried a couple more times, got frustrated and stopped. Fired it up later and had to restart from the chariot race. Ass kicked, again.
Went online and looked up the cheat section on how to beat the two monsters. Tried to follow the advice - ass kicked again, though I did get a few hits in. And this is on the heels of a huge and complicated puzzle - and while on the "easy" setting. I dunno know about this game - I think it's stopped being fun - which means I'll stop playing it and most likely sell it. It's too bad, the time travel elements are pretty sweet.
Well, I guess that's about it for now - got a busy day ahead of me and a potentially 4 hour long meeting this afternoon. "Alex, I'll take 'Things that suck' for a thousand"
later...
I hastely put the card back though the damage had been done. A woman standing nearby asked, "Bad card?" as though I'd taken the time to see the written content and been troubled for some reason. I simply replied "too much glitter" and spent the next few minutes trying to brush myself off. And as my sister will attest - it's a futile exercise. She has a glitter-phobia.
After much careful searching, I finally found two cards with a minimum amount of glitter (i.e. none) - though since the cursed stuff had already eaten its way into my skin, my perceptions may have altered.
Overall, tramatic.
In other news, I think I'm going to get my ear re-pierced today. I haven't worn one in a while and the whole has closed over. Hoping they can "re-activate" the existing hole with a minimum of pain.
My contacts are bothering me again. My eyes seem really dry and I'm begining to wonder if the "cold" is really an allergy springing up. Get it? It's spring time and the allergy is "springing up"? Yeah, I didn't think it was that funny either.
Playing Prince of Persia The Two Thones last week. Had to race a chariot though an obstacle course and once I'd finally survived that one, faced off with two huge monsters. Got my ass royally kicked. Tried a couple more times, got frustrated and stopped. Fired it up later and had to restart from the chariot race. Ass kicked, again.
Went online and looked up the cheat section on how to beat the two monsters. Tried to follow the advice - ass kicked again, though I did get a few hits in. And this is on the heels of a huge and complicated puzzle - and while on the "easy" setting. I dunno know about this game - I think it's stopped being fun - which means I'll stop playing it and most likely sell it. It's too bad, the time travel elements are pretty sweet.
Well, I guess that's about it for now - got a busy day ahead of me and a potentially 4 hour long meeting this afternoon. "Alex, I'll take 'Things that suck' for a thousand"
later...
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
sick, sore, hating traffic, meeting
Still sick. Not much more to say about that.
Strangely sore. Got a weird ache on my left side, just above and below my collarbone. No idea why it's sore, but I've tried stretching and rubbing it to no avail. I noticed it yesterday and thought I'd slept funny, but it hurt when I went to sleep last night and it's still hurting this morning. Shouldn't another nights sleep cancel it out somehow if that was the case? I'm going to try heat tonight if it's still bothering me.
So, I'm driving into work, heading down a four lane one-way street. Well, three and a turn lane. I'm not turning and I'm in the correct lane to proceed forward, fully aware that we've only got two lanes across the interection to work with since one is closed for the musuem construction. I'm stopped at a light behind several cars and though it seems like it's taking forever, there's at least a good song on the radio and I'm doing okay. Light turns green and we start across the intersection, only to get stopped halfway. Turns out that the construction is now taking up two of the three lanes - including mine.
I freaking hate that. Just freaking hate it. Streets are for cars to drive upon. Don't block my lane to unload mulch or deliver a precious moments figurine - get out of the way and park. Seems like freaking common courtesy to me.
Anyway, I'm stuck out in traffic until the only open lane clears enough to let me through. And then, joy of joys - I arrive at work. We've got two meetings today - 3.5 hours total. Dramatic sigh.
So, I guess I should get back to work and try to get something productive accomplished. I have high hopes that the sun will come out tomorrow (tomorrow) and that I'll have a better day.
later....
Strangely sore. Got a weird ache on my left side, just above and below my collarbone. No idea why it's sore, but I've tried stretching and rubbing it to no avail. I noticed it yesterday and thought I'd slept funny, but it hurt when I went to sleep last night and it's still hurting this morning. Shouldn't another nights sleep cancel it out somehow if that was the case? I'm going to try heat tonight if it's still bothering me.
So, I'm driving into work, heading down a four lane one-way street. Well, three and a turn lane. I'm not turning and I'm in the correct lane to proceed forward, fully aware that we've only got two lanes across the interection to work with since one is closed for the musuem construction. I'm stopped at a light behind several cars and though it seems like it's taking forever, there's at least a good song on the radio and I'm doing okay. Light turns green and we start across the intersection, only to get stopped halfway. Turns out that the construction is now taking up two of the three lanes - including mine.
I freaking hate that. Just freaking hate it. Streets are for cars to drive upon. Don't block my lane to unload mulch or deliver a precious moments figurine - get out of the way and park. Seems like freaking common courtesy to me.
Anyway, I'm stuck out in traffic until the only open lane clears enough to let me through. And then, joy of joys - I arrive at work. We've got two meetings today - 3.5 hours total. Dramatic sigh.
So, I guess I should get back to work and try to get something productive accomplished. I have high hopes that the sun will come out tomorrow (tomorrow) and that I'll have a better day.
later....
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
still sick, hostel, meeting
I'm still sick - and the tylonal is just not quiet doing the job. I'm considering shoving a couple of pills up my nose all the way into my sinuses. None of this "bloodstream" crap - I want them to go to work right freaking where the problem is. Do my toes hurt? No, so there's no need for the drugs to even head that direction. It's plan. Not a great plan, but a plan none the less.
I watched part of Hostel last night - but not all of it. There was T, then there was A, then there were drugs, then gorey and pointless violence. Lather, rinse, repeat. Stopped watching after the first 45 minutes - it was terrible. Hellraiser had just as much gore, and it had a plot as well. This, this was just crap.
In other news... our Monday meeting, postponed until today - has been postponed again till tomorrow. I think we may have to rename this thing.
And that's it for now, back to work...
I watched part of Hostel last night - but not all of it. There was T, then there was A, then there were drugs, then gorey and pointless violence. Lather, rinse, repeat. Stopped watching after the first 45 minutes - it was terrible. Hellraiser had just as much gore, and it had a plot as well. This, this was just crap.
In other news... our Monday meeting, postponed until today - has been postponed again till tomorrow. I think we may have to rename this thing.
And that's it for now, back to work...
Monday, May 01, 2006
mucus, on the highway, getting gas, stupid little girl
This weekend I was sick. Headache, sore throat, sinus pressure - and mucus. More mucus than I realized a human being could produce. It was terrible. I filled a small trash can with klennex in no time at all. So, I've been jamming on Tylonal cold medicine most of the time and I think I'm getting better. Maybe.
I was driving on the highway on Friday and the far left lane - where I'm at - suddenly comes to a halt. I swear for a bit - but hold my ground in the hope that it will eventually clear instead of creating a problem in the next lane over by everyone moving to it.
Eventually, after much stop and go - I see a truck with one of those ------> signs on the back. Indicating that we should all get over. With some difficulty, I do. We finally go past the obstrutction and find that it's...
1. The truck with the arrow, parked in the lane with the driver in the cab.
2. Two police officers standing next to their cruisers. Unhurt. Just chatting.
3. One motorcycle, upright and undamaged. The rider was just getting on the bike, he was unhurt. His helmet was on resting on the ground, undamaged.
4. One woman, also unhurt. Walking over to her undamaged car.
Now, I clearly don't have the whole story. But at this point - everyone that was still there at the scene should have gotten away from there and freed up traffice - instead of standing there chatting. You want to chat? Go to Starbucks.
After this incident, I'm near my destination, but running on fumes. I pull into a gas station and see two pumps open on the right side of my car. I started to pull forward to go to the far one - as a courtesy - but notive a kid standing on the far pump's island. He's trying to direct a woman in a huge car to that pump - she's making a wide loop to bring the left side of her car into postion. Now, I've never needed anyone to direct me to a pump to fill my car - but even with help she wasn't doing a good job. I backed up to get away from her to the point where I wasn't sure I could reach my gas tank at the second pump. She ended up vaguely near the pump, but mostly out in the isle. The kid proceeded to pump the gas. I pumped my gas and got out of there well before they were done.
Later that weekend I find myself traveling down a residental alleyway, one lane, and encounter a little girl on a bike. I've had dealings with this little girl before and based on her previous behavior I know her to be...
1. Arrogant
2. Foolishly unobservant
3. Annoying
4. Stupid
She's on her little pink bike, riding right down the middle of the alley, coming right towards me. I slow down to a crawl and wait for her to get out of the way. I reach the cross intersection before she does, and I don't deviate from my course. Still, she keeps coming. I slow even further, prepared to stop and let her hit my car. Might be funny.
At the last possible moment, she darts into a single car parking space at the back of the building. I figure she's going to wait until I get past - which would be the sensible thing to do. Instead, she turns around and darts right back into my way - now headed away from me but still in the way.
What had been a game of chickcn or some kind of mind game has turned into rampant stupidity. As she pedels along she keeps looking back to see:
1. if I'm there. Duh, it's an alley, where am I going to go?
2. how close I am. If she was worried about me hitting her, why did she get in front of me again?
She reaches an intersection of a main street and, without looking, darts into traffic. She looks back one last time as I turn onto the street and I raise my fingers to my forehead in the international "loser" symbol.
We both survived the encounter - but I doubt either of us will be the same.
Back to work...
I was driving on the highway on Friday and the far left lane - where I'm at - suddenly comes to a halt. I swear for a bit - but hold my ground in the hope that it will eventually clear instead of creating a problem in the next lane over by everyone moving to it.
Eventually, after much stop and go - I see a truck with one of those ------> signs on the back. Indicating that we should all get over. With some difficulty, I do. We finally go past the obstrutction and find that it's...
1. The truck with the arrow, parked in the lane with the driver in the cab.
2. Two police officers standing next to their cruisers. Unhurt. Just chatting.
3. One motorcycle, upright and undamaged. The rider was just getting on the bike, he was unhurt. His helmet was on resting on the ground, undamaged.
4. One woman, also unhurt. Walking over to her undamaged car.
Now, I clearly don't have the whole story. But at this point - everyone that was still there at the scene should have gotten away from there and freed up traffice - instead of standing there chatting. You want to chat? Go to Starbucks.
After this incident, I'm near my destination, but running on fumes. I pull into a gas station and see two pumps open on the right side of my car. I started to pull forward to go to the far one - as a courtesy - but notive a kid standing on the far pump's island. He's trying to direct a woman in a huge car to that pump - she's making a wide loop to bring the left side of her car into postion. Now, I've never needed anyone to direct me to a pump to fill my car - but even with help she wasn't doing a good job. I backed up to get away from her to the point where I wasn't sure I could reach my gas tank at the second pump. She ended up vaguely near the pump, but mostly out in the isle. The kid proceeded to pump the gas. I pumped my gas and got out of there well before they were done.
Later that weekend I find myself traveling down a residental alleyway, one lane, and encounter a little girl on a bike. I've had dealings with this little girl before and based on her previous behavior I know her to be...
1. Arrogant
2. Foolishly unobservant
3. Annoying
4. Stupid
She's on her little pink bike, riding right down the middle of the alley, coming right towards me. I slow down to a crawl and wait for her to get out of the way. I reach the cross intersection before she does, and I don't deviate from my course. Still, she keeps coming. I slow even further, prepared to stop and let her hit my car. Might be funny.
At the last possible moment, she darts into a single car parking space at the back of the building. I figure she's going to wait until I get past - which would be the sensible thing to do. Instead, she turns around and darts right back into my way - now headed away from me but still in the way.
What had been a game of chickcn or some kind of mind game has turned into rampant stupidity. As she pedels along she keeps looking back to see:
1. if I'm there. Duh, it's an alley, where am I going to go?
2. how close I am. If she was worried about me hitting her, why did she get in front of me again?
She reaches an intersection of a main street and, without looking, darts into traffic. She looks back one last time as I turn onto the street and I raise my fingers to my forehead in the international "loser" symbol.
We both survived the encounter - but I doubt either of us will be the same.
Back to work...
Friday, April 28, 2006
the cornfield, meeting results, PoP:T2T
Ever see that episode of the Twilight Zone with the creepy little boy named Anthony? He's apparently got god-like powers, a bad attitude, and the abilty to "wish things to the cornfield".
Last night at the Olive Garden, I seriously wished I could be that Anthony. A family at the next table over had a child who - for no apparent reason - would perodically shriek at the top of his lungs. They were soon replaced by a group of painfully loud people. It should be noted that the group contained a guy wearing a shirt that said, "Diamonds are forever, but she'll never forget the crabs". Yep, it was that kind of crowd.
Alas, despite my best efforts, they remained loud and at the table. So, dinner was finished quickly and an exit was located. I'm all for enjoying a dinner with friends, but these people were just being rude.
The webteam meeting yesterday was fairly uneventful - not sure what all the hype was.
Playing a new game at home - Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones. Pretty cool, but a little frustrating. Yesterday I had to climb a series of platforms, attack and blind a giant, then stab him in the shins till he fell over and I could finish him off.
I suspect today will be a long day - time to get back to it...
Last night at the Olive Garden, I seriously wished I could be that Anthony. A family at the next table over had a child who - for no apparent reason - would perodically shriek at the top of his lungs. They were soon replaced by a group of painfully loud people. It should be noted that the group contained a guy wearing a shirt that said, "Diamonds are forever, but she'll never forget the crabs". Yep, it was that kind of crowd.
Alas, despite my best efforts, they remained loud and at the table. So, dinner was finished quickly and an exit was located. I'm all for enjoying a dinner with friends, but these people were just being rude.
The webteam meeting yesterday was fairly uneventful - not sure what all the hype was.
Playing a new game at home - Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones. Pretty cool, but a little frustrating. Yesterday I had to climb a series of platforms, attack and blind a giant, then stab him in the shins till he fell over and I could finish him off.
I suspect today will be a long day - time to get back to it...
Thursday, April 27, 2006
sick, meeting, cranky
Last evening, the cold that's been mildly pestering me for a while now decied to ramp up and really make me sick. Mostly a cough, but some congestion as well. So, I took some Robo-tussin last night to help me sleep and I'm DayQuill today. Well, DayQuill and Fruit Breezers those thing are excellent.
We've got our Monday afternoon meeting today. It had been resceduled to Wednesday due to a conflict in scheduling and then rescheduled again for today since a member of the team was out sick. I'd like to be out sick as well, but I think this will be a "fate of the webteam" meeting - so, I think I should be here. Too bad it's in the afternoon, I'm here for the long haul if I want to go to it.
In other news - I'm cranky. This morning I was pissed at the people that backed their cars into the parking spaces even though - a) no one was doing it as I pulled in and b) no one took more than their single space. I was just cranky based on what people usually do - instead of the reality of the day. I think I'm going to blame it on being sick.
Well, I should try to keep busy...back to work...
We've got our Monday afternoon meeting today. It had been resceduled to Wednesday due to a conflict in scheduling and then rescheduled again for today since a member of the team was out sick. I'd like to be out sick as well, but I think this will be a "fate of the webteam" meeting - so, I think I should be here. Too bad it's in the afternoon, I'm here for the long haul if I want to go to it.
In other news - I'm cranky. This morning I was pissed at the people that backed their cars into the parking spaces even though - a) no one was doing it as I pulled in and b) no one took more than their single space. I was just cranky based on what people usually do - instead of the reality of the day. I think I'm going to blame it on being sick.
Well, I should try to keep busy...back to work...
Saturday, April 22, 2006
visted, lost wallet
On Friday, one of our former co-workers came back for a visit. A couple of us had lunch with him and then hung out - talking for another hour. I was able to get caught up before hand, so the extra time didn't cause any problems. He's doing well and likes his job, but doesn't like the town where he lives. It was good to see him and I think he'll try to stop by again sometime soon - his family is all in the area so it may be doable.
Last evening I had dinner with some friends. It was pouring when I got out of my car and I had to struggle with my coat. Without realizing it, I lost something. Later that evening, as I was getting ready to leave, I realised I didn't have my wallet. I had hoped it was in my car, but a through search of the car and the house yielded nothing. Worried and feeling down, I gave up the search and headed home - where I discovered two things. One, my landlord is raising my rent yet again and two, I had a message on my machine. It was the bank where I had parked my car last night. The message left a name, phone, number, hours they would be open today - and like Pandora's Box - Hope.
I called them this morning and confirmed that they did have my wallet. Back in the car, I headed to the bank, my head filled with facts to confirm my identity. Instead, I walked in an identified myself by name and the girl produced my wallet and identified me by my picture.
I thanked them for finding it and keeping it safe - then gave them some origmai that I had made and brought along. They were surprised, but gracious.
The wallet was fine - and even the money was still in there ($7.00)
I guess if you have to lose a wallet - a bank parking lot is not a bad place to do it.
That's it for now - and though it's a Saturday, I think I may do a little work. Later...
Last evening I had dinner with some friends. It was pouring when I got out of my car and I had to struggle with my coat. Without realizing it, I lost something. Later that evening, as I was getting ready to leave, I realised I didn't have my wallet. I had hoped it was in my car, but a through search of the car and the house yielded nothing. Worried and feeling down, I gave up the search and headed home - where I discovered two things. One, my landlord is raising my rent yet again and two, I had a message on my machine. It was the bank where I had parked my car last night. The message left a name, phone, number, hours they would be open today - and like Pandora's Box - Hope.
I called them this morning and confirmed that they did have my wallet. Back in the car, I headed to the bank, my head filled with facts to confirm my identity. Instead, I walked in an identified myself by name and the girl produced my wallet and identified me by my picture.
I thanked them for finding it and keeping it safe - then gave them some origmai that I had made and brought along. They were surprised, but gracious.
The wallet was fine - and even the money was still in there ($7.00)
I guess if you have to lose a wallet - a bank parking lot is not a bad place to do it.
That's it for now - and though it's a Saturday, I think I may do a little work. Later...
Thursday, April 20, 2006
LMBR, Ducks, disconnect
The other day I saw a license plate that said: LMBR GAL I followed this GAL for a few miles (we were going the same direction, no, I wasn't stalking her) and tried to figure out what the plate meant.
Was she a fitness instructor as the LiMBeR GAL? Maybe a chiropractor as LuMBaR GAL? Or was she really into woodworking as the LuMBeR GAL? I may never know.
This morning, I saw two ducks outside the computer center - a male and a female. I quacked a greeting to them as I headed for the door and they politely quacked back. I could make a joke about Hackers and Quackers, but I'm not the kind of person that makes that kind of joke. Well, I am, but it's actually more amusing to move around that joke rather than dive right in.
And speaking of being on the periphery - I've felt more than a little disconnected the past few days. Had a conversation over the weekend that troubled me and I'm having difficulty adapting to what it means. I'll figure out what it all means soon enough and figure out how to deal with it, but until then if you see me in a daze, I'm really just thinking hard about something. Or I've decided that recreational drugs are the answer and I'm "rocky mountain high".
In either case, just let me go about my way and I'll be back to as close to normal as I ever get soon enough.
And speaking of getting back to...time to get back to work...
Was she a fitness instructor as the LiMBeR GAL? Maybe a chiropractor as LuMBaR GAL? Or was she really into woodworking as the LuMBeR GAL? I may never know.
This morning, I saw two ducks outside the computer center - a male and a female. I quacked a greeting to them as I headed for the door and they politely quacked back. I could make a joke about Hackers and Quackers, but I'm not the kind of person that makes that kind of joke. Well, I am, but it's actually more amusing to move around that joke rather than dive right in.
And speaking of being on the periphery - I've felt more than a little disconnected the past few days. Had a conversation over the weekend that troubled me and I'm having difficulty adapting to what it means. I'll figure out what it all means soon enough and figure out how to deal with it, but until then if you see me in a daze, I'm really just thinking hard about something. Or I've decided that recreational drugs are the answer and I'm "rocky mountain high".
In either case, just let me go about my way and I'll be back to as close to normal as I ever get soon enough.
And speaking of getting back to...time to get back to work...
Monday, April 17, 2006
long drive, easter visit, hot tub tea
Headed down visit with the family for Easter weekend. On the drive down there, I realized one of my co-workers was in the car just to the left of me as we got on the highway. We ended up traveling together most of the way, so that was kinda cool.
I did some sleeping in over the weekend and mostly just hung out. I helped a little with the Easter dinner while the rest of the crew was at church. Pretty quiet time.
The weirdest bit was when my Dad came out on the patio with a plastic jug filled with water and tea bags. I figured he was going to make some more Sun Tea - but instead he opened up the cover to the hot tub and tossed it in. Apparently he's been doing that since they first got the hot tub and says it doesn't take nearly as much time as the Sun Tea version does. And no leaks yet.
And I guess that's about it - oh, I did get the duck for my collection.
So, back to work...
I did some sleeping in over the weekend and mostly just hung out. I helped a little with the Easter dinner while the rest of the crew was at church. Pretty quiet time.
The weirdest bit was when my Dad came out on the patio with a plastic jug filled with water and tea bags. I figured he was going to make some more Sun Tea - but instead he opened up the cover to the hot tub and tossed it in. Apparently he's been doing that since they first got the hot tub and says it doesn't take nearly as much time as the Sun Tea version does. And no leaks yet.
And I guess that's about it - oh, I did get the duck for my collection.
So, back to work...
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Sunday lunch, glue, duck
On Sunday, while I visiting my family - I fixed lunch while they were at church. While in and of itself it isn't a big deal - but considering how infrequently I cook, this was something of a big deal. I made taco salad and everyone seemed to enjoy it. And I even helped with dishes.
I worked on my project last night and made some significant progress. Still a long way to go, but it's getting easier to hold the shape in my head and I'm having to dwell less on the construction of each area.
The hot tub that my parents came with a small rubber duck - which my folks gave to me the first time I visited after they got the hot tub. I promptly forgot it. They gave it to me again over the weekend and I forgot it again. This time...the duck is mine.
That's it for now, back to work...
I worked on my project last night and made some significant progress. Still a long way to go, but it's getting easier to hold the shape in my head and I'm having to dwell less on the construction of each area.
The hot tub that my parents came with a small rubber duck - which my folks gave to me the first time I visited after they got the hot tub. I promptly forgot it. They gave it to me again over the weekend and I forgot it again. This time...the duck is mine.
That's it for now, back to work...
Sunday, April 09, 2006
walk, sights, taxes, trip
Yesterday, I went for a walk. I needed to use my computer at work to finish up some stuff with my taxes and decided that since it looked like a nice day, I'd walk there. Now, I've walked home before when my battery died, but I got a ride later to get the car back. This would be the first "there and back again" trip for me.
I started out at 9:10 am with a hooded jacket, a pocketful of paper and I backpack with my documents. The wind was a little chilly, but not too chilly. On the trip I noticed:
a): A kitten in the window of a printing business, rolling around in the sunshine. It noticed me, but I didn't stay to make friends. It looked happy and healthy, so it must have lived there the whole time. Most people see more of their pets on the weekends - in this case, the opposite was true.
b): I saw some grafitti that had clearly been done by stencil. The lettering was in the "standard" grafitti style, but there was a dark rectangle around it of no paint, and then overspray beyond that edge. Seemed kind of pathetic - though I guess it made it easier to "tag" a larger area.
I got to work at 10:40, got a soda and some chips and played Diablo for a bit to relax. Then I dove into the taxes and did a ferocious battle with the needlessly complicated city taxes. It was worse than both the state and federal combined. In any case, they go in the mail tomorrow.
A little more Diablo and a couple of emails later and I decided to stop at the ATM on my way back so I could get some food.
The trip back seemed to go a little faster, though I didn't really time it. The distance, according to Yahoo Maps was 4.7 miles one way. So, not a bad bit of exercise - though I did stop at Wendy's and got some chicken nuggets.
I got home, finished my lunch and relaxed for a bit with some video games. My aunt called, and a with a small degree of convincing, I took a shower and hopped into the car for the 2 hour 40 minute drive to my parents house - where she and my uncle were staying the night after dropping off my grandmother for a 2 week visit. I don't get to see my extended family much - so this was a nice, if somewhat short, visit.
My aunt, my uncle, and his son headed back to Illinois this morning and the rest of my family is as church. I'll most likely head down here again next weekend for easter.
That's about it for now...going to wrap this up and hang out with the dogs for a bit...
I started out at 9:10 am with a hooded jacket, a pocketful of paper and I backpack with my documents. The wind was a little chilly, but not too chilly. On the trip I noticed:
a): A kitten in the window of a printing business, rolling around in the sunshine. It noticed me, but I didn't stay to make friends. It looked happy and healthy, so it must have lived there the whole time. Most people see more of their pets on the weekends - in this case, the opposite was true.
b): I saw some grafitti that had clearly been done by stencil. The lettering was in the "standard" grafitti style, but there was a dark rectangle around it of no paint, and then overspray beyond that edge. Seemed kind of pathetic - though I guess it made it easier to "tag" a larger area.
I got to work at 10:40, got a soda and some chips and played Diablo for a bit to relax. Then I dove into the taxes and did a ferocious battle with the needlessly complicated city taxes. It was worse than both the state and federal combined. In any case, they go in the mail tomorrow.
A little more Diablo and a couple of emails later and I decided to stop at the ATM on my way back so I could get some food.
The trip back seemed to go a little faster, though I didn't really time it. The distance, according to Yahoo Maps was 4.7 miles one way. So, not a bad bit of exercise - though I did stop at Wendy's and got some chicken nuggets.
I got home, finished my lunch and relaxed for a bit with some video games. My aunt called, and a with a small degree of convincing, I took a shower and hopped into the car for the 2 hour 40 minute drive to my parents house - where she and my uncle were staying the night after dropping off my grandmother for a 2 week visit. I don't get to see my extended family much - so this was a nice, if somewhat short, visit.
My aunt, my uncle, and his son headed back to Illinois this morning and the rest of my family is as church. I'll most likely head down here again next weekend for easter.
That's about it for now...going to wrap this up and hang out with the dogs for a bit...
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
time change, nerd, plant, glue, eye exam
First up, the time change. As the master of Space and Time, I should be fine with it - or at least in control. But sadly, that is not the case. I finally got all the time-pieces in my apartment up to speed, with two exceptions:
1. My watch. Somehow, while clearly not paying attention, I advanced my watch by 1 hour and 1 day, instead of just 1 hour. Yes, I was on crack or something. What makes it worse? I can't rewind the date indicator. I tried to wind it all the way around, but only got a few days in the future before I got ticked and pulled the pin. As a consequence, I can't use my watch until 8:00 AM, Thursday morning. The rest of the world is just going to have to fend for itself until then.
2. I have a clock that shines on the ceiling in the dark - and is also supposed to automatically set itself based on some radio signal. Well, it didn't do anything as far as resetting goes, so I unplugged it with the idea that a reset would get me the correct time. No such luck - it's just glowing on the ceiling with FF:FF - which I think means something not very nice.
So, I'm going to have to dig out the manual and set the time myself. Dang it.
In other news... as promised, here are the Nerd Photos:
http://www3.uakron.edu/dds/geek/geek.html
http://www3.uakron.edu/dds/cyberSecurity_shoot/cyberSecurity_shoot.html
Scary, huh?
Don't know if I've mentioned this or not, but I repotted my Lucky bamboo into a larger container. It's still alive and growing nicely.
More progress on the big origami - I've glue together over 100 units. It's slow going as I have to plan ahead and not glue myself into a corner where I can't fit my hands.
And finally, the eye exam. Some brief notes...
1. Didn't allow quite enough time to get to the new doctor's office.
2. Directions were not very precise.
3. Went to VisionCare - should have been at Valley Vision.
4. Hillarity ensues
5. Get to correct eye doctor and fill out forms
6. Take some cryptic eye exams, get slightly pissed off.
7. Find out my insurance sucks
8. Find out my eyes are okay.
9. No further action needed - still have same glasses and contacts.
10. If I want new contacts, I'll need to go to my previous eye doctor and get the specifications - which makes no sense to me. Why not measure my eyes and go from there?
The doctor was fine and then news was good, I suppose. But I didn't walk out of there feeling like I'd had an entirely good experience. Oh well, that's what happens when your insurance changes make you change things.
And that's about it for now - back to work...
1. My watch. Somehow, while clearly not paying attention, I advanced my watch by 1 hour and 1 day, instead of just 1 hour. Yes, I was on crack or something. What makes it worse? I can't rewind the date indicator. I tried to wind it all the way around, but only got a few days in the future before I got ticked and pulled the pin. As a consequence, I can't use my watch until 8:00 AM, Thursday morning. The rest of the world is just going to have to fend for itself until then.
2. I have a clock that shines on the ceiling in the dark - and is also supposed to automatically set itself based on some radio signal. Well, it didn't do anything as far as resetting goes, so I unplugged it with the idea that a reset would get me the correct time. No such luck - it's just glowing on the ceiling with FF:FF - which I think means something not very nice.
So, I'm going to have to dig out the manual and set the time myself. Dang it.
In other news... as promised, here are the Nerd Photos:
http://www3.uakron.edu/dds/geek/geek.html
http://www3.uakron.edu/dds/cyberSecurity_shoot/cyberSecurity_shoot.html
Scary, huh?
Don't know if I've mentioned this or not, but I repotted my Lucky bamboo into a larger container. It's still alive and growing nicely.
More progress on the big origami - I've glue together over 100 units. It's slow going as I have to plan ahead and not glue myself into a corner where I can't fit my hands.
And finally, the eye exam. Some brief notes...
1. Didn't allow quite enough time to get to the new doctor's office.
2. Directions were not very precise.
3. Went to VisionCare - should have been at Valley Vision.
4. Hillarity ensues
5. Get to correct eye doctor and fill out forms
6. Take some cryptic eye exams, get slightly pissed off.
7. Find out my insurance sucks
8. Find out my eyes are okay.
9. No further action needed - still have same glasses and contacts.
10. If I want new contacts, I'll need to go to my previous eye doctor and get the specifications - which makes no sense to me. Why not measure my eyes and go from there?
The doctor was fine and then news was good, I suppose. But I didn't walk out of there feeling like I'd had an entirely good experience. Oh well, that's what happens when your insurance changes make you change things.
And that's about it for now - back to work...
Thursday, March 30, 2006
re-nerd
I put the taped glasses and the bow tie back on for an reprise of my nerd role - this time for shots for a training course/manual. It's spring break around here, so not many people on campus. But since we took most of the shots outside, I still saw a lot of people.
It was silly - and still fun. I'll be posting some links as soon as the photos are online.
I also had some other ideas if we want to do future updates - here are the titles...
Mission: Nerd-possible
Nerds Gone Wild - On Location!
Son of The Nerd
Nerd Wars: Rise of the Nerd
Pimp My Moped
Dancing with the Nerds - or Nerd Idol
And now that I've de-nerded, it's time to get back to work...
It was silly - and still fun. I'll be posting some links as soon as the photos are online.
I also had some other ideas if we want to do future updates - here are the titles...
Mission: Nerd-possible
Nerds Gone Wild - On Location!
Son of The Nerd
Nerd Wars: Rise of the Nerd
Pimp My Moped
Dancing with the Nerds - or Nerd Idol
And now that I've de-nerded, it's time to get back to work...
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
radio free crazy, bard's tale, glue
I listen to the radio on the way to work in the morning and decided to switch over to an AM station that I saw on a billboard for Radio Free Ohio. Unfortunatly, the "voice of reason and truth" is just as crazy and irrational as the people they oppose. So, I put in a CD.
I read an interesting article yesterday that compared George Bush politics to "1984". The whole "War is Peace" seemed to strike a cord - more than a little scary.
Playing a new game the past few days - "The Bard's Tale". Pretty cool role playing game of sorts with some interesting features. First, no inventory. Everything you find gets instantly turned to money that you can use to buy weapons, but only one of each type at a time. You also get to summon creatures with magic songs to help you out - and you have a pet dog. I think this is the first time I've played a game where the main character had a pet. The dog helps out in combat a bit, scares birds, and digs up bones. Might be my favorite part of the game, actually.
I did a little more glueing with the origami model - it's slow going. I have to do a lot of planning before I start any area and I'm trying to work form the inside out. It's tricky, but I'm doing okay. I also think I may have undercounted yet again - but we're not going to speak of that.
Well, guess that's it for now...back to work...
I read an interesting article yesterday that compared George Bush politics to "1984". The whole "War is Peace" seemed to strike a cord - more than a little scary.
Playing a new game the past few days - "The Bard's Tale". Pretty cool role playing game of sorts with some interesting features. First, no inventory. Everything you find gets instantly turned to money that you can use to buy weapons, but only one of each type at a time. You also get to summon creatures with magic songs to help you out - and you have a pet dog. I think this is the first time I've played a game where the main character had a pet. The dog helps out in combat a bit, scares birds, and digs up bones. Might be my favorite part of the game, actually.
I did a little more glueing with the origami model - it's slow going. I have to do a lot of planning before I start any area and I'm trying to work form the inside out. It's tricky, but I'm doing okay. I also think I may have undercounted yet again - but we're not going to speak of that.
Well, guess that's it for now...back to work...
Monday, March 27, 2006
dream, hair, fog-free, near dark, tub, taxes, eyes
I had a dream over the weekend that my grandfather on my Dad's side was alive again. Some kind of genetic quick-cloning kind of thing. He was in a good mood and was helping us get ready for a family picnic. He keep freaking out my grandmother, especially when the phone would ring and they would both pick up differnt extensions in the house. While he and I were talking, he got up to get a couple of beers (both for himself) and we talked about making plans to go visit his grave. I think we were both a little weirded out by the notion, but he figured it was something he needed to do.
I also dreamed I rode a bike to Pittsburg to drive someone to a concern. Don't know what either of those mean.
In other news, I've been letting my hair grow out in preperation for a reprise of the "nerd" role. It's been delayed until this week and I'm way over-due for a cut. To the point that, over the weekend, someone bumped into me in Target and my hair reacted defensively and gave my "attacker" a wedgie. Okay, so, that's not even remotely true - but I did turn someone to stone with a glance. Okay, that's not true either - but I do need to get it cut.
Finally found a fog-free mirror this weekend - and not some phoney or fake thing either. This is the real deal, with the water running down the back to keep the mirror warm and consquently, fog-free. Not just fog resistant, like those cheap-ass mirrors with a fog-free "coating" that lasts about 1.09 showers. So, with my new mirror installed, I shaved in the shower last night and noticed two things:
1. I have far more gray in my beard than I would have admitted to. But, it's there and the mirror magnified all of them.
2. I have really nice eyes. Which I'd been told, but seen that close up and magnified in my new mirror, well, it's a differnt perspective. Yeah, it's a little vain - but note that I started out with the negative first - gotta keep things in balance.
Also over the weekend I re-watched "Near Dark". A sort of vampire movie, but they never say "vampire" and they never show fang. When asked how old he is, the oldest vampire among them says - "Let's just say I fought for the South. We lost." Classic.
In still more random news... my tub is draining slowly again. Last nights shower ended with water in the tub just covering my feet. Time for more drain-o, it seems.
I worked on my taxes over the weekend. I used to use telefile, but they've shut that down. So, I tried the efile route - and was really pissed when I realized there was a charge for doing it. And my carefully itemized deductions were less than the standard - and therefore, worthless. And since I didn't have last year's with me, I had to print and sign a form to finalize the whole thing. Morons. Why would I go to all the trouble and fill everything out if it wasn't my own taxes?
And finally, I'm headed to the eye doctor this friday. Thinking about new glasses - and maybe switching to those for a while. Which is a little dumb considering I'm headed into sunny weather, but what the heck.
And that's about it - I've got two meetings today, both of which I'm dreading. And I've got a lot of web-pages to make, so it's time to get back to it...
I also dreamed I rode a bike to Pittsburg to drive someone to a concern. Don't know what either of those mean.
In other news, I've been letting my hair grow out in preperation for a reprise of the "nerd" role. It's been delayed until this week and I'm way over-due for a cut. To the point that, over the weekend, someone bumped into me in Target and my hair reacted defensively and gave my "attacker" a wedgie. Okay, so, that's not even remotely true - but I did turn someone to stone with a glance. Okay, that's not true either - but I do need to get it cut.
Finally found a fog-free mirror this weekend - and not some phoney or fake thing either. This is the real deal, with the water running down the back to keep the mirror warm and consquently, fog-free. Not just fog resistant, like those cheap-ass mirrors with a fog-free "coating" that lasts about 1.09 showers. So, with my new mirror installed, I shaved in the shower last night and noticed two things:
1. I have far more gray in my beard than I would have admitted to. But, it's there and the mirror magnified all of them.
2. I have really nice eyes. Which I'd been told, but seen that close up and magnified in my new mirror, well, it's a differnt perspective. Yeah, it's a little vain - but note that I started out with the negative first - gotta keep things in balance.
Also over the weekend I re-watched "Near Dark". A sort of vampire movie, but they never say "vampire" and they never show fang. When asked how old he is, the oldest vampire among them says - "Let's just say I fought for the South. We lost." Classic.
In still more random news... my tub is draining slowly again. Last nights shower ended with water in the tub just covering my feet. Time for more drain-o, it seems.
I worked on my taxes over the weekend. I used to use telefile, but they've shut that down. So, I tried the efile route - and was really pissed when I realized there was a charge for doing it. And my carefully itemized deductions were less than the standard - and therefore, worthless. And since I didn't have last year's with me, I had to print and sign a form to finalize the whole thing. Morons. Why would I go to all the trouble and fill everything out if it wasn't my own taxes?
And finally, I'm headed to the eye doctor this friday. Thinking about new glasses - and maybe switching to those for a while. Which is a little dumb considering I'm headed into sunny weather, but what the heck.
And that's about it - I've got two meetings today, both of which I'm dreading. And I've got a lot of web-pages to make, so it's time to get back to it...
Friday, March 24, 2006
64 glued
I watched "Darkness" last night - and while not as scary as it could have been, I still shouldn't have watched it alone. The plot was a little needlessly cryptic, and then totally in your face, but overall, not a bad flick.
While I was watching the movie and eating a turnip (well, it's what I was doing, okay?) I also got out the glue and put the first 64 units together. Based on this - it's going to be 27 inches cubed.
I thought about getting photos taken at various points of the assembly, but really, it's not that big of a deal. The indivudal units are easy to build and the construction, while a little tricky in the formulation, shouldn't be a big issue. It'll still look really cool, but a play-by-play isn't needed.
Well, that's about it...lots to do today, so I should get back to it...
While I was watching the movie and eating a turnip (well, it's what I was doing, okay?) I also got out the glue and put the first 64 units together. Based on this - it's going to be 27 inches cubed.
I thought about getting photos taken at various points of the assembly, but really, it's not that big of a deal. The indivudal units are easy to build and the construction, while a little tricky in the formulation, shouldn't be a big issue. It'll still look really cool, but a play-by-play isn't needed.
Well, that's about it...lots to do today, so I should get back to it...
Thursday, March 23, 2006
the beginning of the construction
Yesterday evening I laid out the 64 units that will make one face of the giant origami construction. It looks like, if I'm at all clever, that it will go together pretty smoothly. I can already see the shape in my head, it's just a matter of putting it into place. I've not made much progress on the origami angels - pretty much everytime I have an "ah-ha" break-thru, the next step has me totally stumped.
Work has been busy this week - gotta go snag some lunch then head to a meeting. It's a little hectic when you're the expert on everything. Sheesh!
later...
Work has been busy this week - gotta go snag some lunch then head to a meeting. It's a little hectic when you're the expert on everything. Sheesh!
later...
Monday, March 20, 2006
made for TV - and human morality
I watched the made for TV remake of The Poseidon Adventure over the weekend. It was one of the most ham-handed morality plays I've seen in a long time - totally over the top. Right down to the Evil Terrorist falling into the fire under the catwalk - followed shortly there-after by the Home-wrecking Massuse who's only crime was sleeping with Steve Guttenberg. His character was - of course - reunited with the rest of his family in a hallmark moment. Which made sense since it was a hallmark film.
One reviewer on IMDB said that you could almost see when the various cast members would die - and who would make it out alive - right from the start of the film. Sort of like someone coughing in Act One of a shakespearian play - and knowing they'd be dead of the pox by Act Three.
So, what's the point? Do we really need this kind of morality shoved down our throats yet again? This movie came out in 2005, shouldn't we know better by this point? And if we don't, will this be the movie that suddenly makes us better human beings?
I've read a lot of books - a huge number. And a few of those have involved introducing some kind of influence into humanity that forces us to be better people. Chemical, virus, or whatever - the goal is to make us more peaceful. Now, these are all Sci-fi, so of course something terrible has to happen. In a Stephen King story, everyone gets stupid. In Serenity, everyone either gets so peaceful they stop breathing or gets so agressive they turn into monsters.
But, can any amount of religion, politics, or social engineering really make a differnce anymore? Are there enough made for TV movies out there to influence us?
Maybe we need to risk it. Find a way to make us peaceful and good to each other. And then force it on everyone - take choice out of the equation. If it isn't universal, those that aren't affected would quickly go totally world domination on the rest.
I don't have enough of a bio-chemical background to do this myself, but I wonder if anyone is already working on this. Seems like things are getting worse out there.
Well, enough of that for now. Starting to bring myself down. Time to get back to work...
One reviewer on IMDB said that you could almost see when the various cast members would die - and who would make it out alive - right from the start of the film. Sort of like someone coughing in Act One of a shakespearian play - and knowing they'd be dead of the pox by Act Three.
So, what's the point? Do we really need this kind of morality shoved down our throats yet again? This movie came out in 2005, shouldn't we know better by this point? And if we don't, will this be the movie that suddenly makes us better human beings?
I've read a lot of books - a huge number. And a few of those have involved introducing some kind of influence into humanity that forces us to be better people. Chemical, virus, or whatever - the goal is to make us more peaceful. Now, these are all Sci-fi, so of course something terrible has to happen. In a Stephen King story, everyone gets stupid. In Serenity, everyone either gets so peaceful they stop breathing or gets so agressive they turn into monsters.
But, can any amount of religion, politics, or social engineering really make a differnce anymore? Are there enough made for TV movies out there to influence us?
Maybe we need to risk it. Find a way to make us peaceful and good to each other. And then force it on everyone - take choice out of the equation. If it isn't universal, those that aren't affected would quickly go totally world domination on the rest.
I don't have enough of a bio-chemical background to do this myself, but I wonder if anyone is already working on this. Seems like things are getting worse out there.
Well, enough of that for now. Starting to bring myself down. Time to get back to work...
Thursday, March 16, 2006
god of war, parody, oil change, scanners and Olive Garden
First up - I finished up the God War video game. It was an awesome ending - really well executed and visually amazing. I tried some of the bonus features and got my ass kicked, but even going back through it again will be fun. I also played a little Need for Speed, set a couple of track records and had my Porche 911 up over 190 mph. It was sweet.
Day before yesterday I went and got my oil changed. While I was waiting I listened to the radio and heard a parody of sorts for McDonald's of an Alltel commercial. The alltel commercial is in heavy rotation on Yahoo Music and features Brenda - who likes things "Brendalized". It's deeply annoying. So, McDonald's has their own version of Brenda - who, instead of her cell phone plan, wants her burger "Brendalized". I was almost physically ill - but I choked it back since I didn't want to "hork" in my own car.
Went to Olive Garden for dinner last night - a brief report...
1. If you want light sauce on your pasta, tell them "no sauce" - since a request for light sauce resulted in a gallon of the stuff on my spagetti.
2. The music there consisted of recordings of whistling and accordians. I am not joking, though I wish I was.
3. A sorority alumni group took over the collected tables nearby. They were loud and annoying. I heard one "chick" remark, when ordering wine, that she wanted the wine like they serve at church.
Ever seen the movie "Scanners"? A fairly stupid film - but some of the characters in there have the abilty to make people's heads explode by concentrating.
If I had a power like that - well, let me just tell you right now that I would use it for evil. Totally. I'd be corrupted in a heartbeat - heck, it wouldn't even take that long.
Evil Power Assigner: "Anthony, we're going to give you the power to make people's heads blow up - though it will cost you your immortal sou..."
Me: "Cool, sign me up,"
EPA: "But you realize that it will cost you your sou..."
Me: "Yeah, yeah, immortal soul. Got it. Where do I sign?"
EPA: "You'll also get nosebleeds everytime you use your power."
Me: "I have tissue right here - what are you waiting for? Hit me,"
KA-BLAM! (chuckle)
That's it for now...back to work...
Day before yesterday I went and got my oil changed. While I was waiting I listened to the radio and heard a parody of sorts for McDonald's of an Alltel commercial. The alltel commercial is in heavy rotation on Yahoo Music and features Brenda - who likes things "Brendalized". It's deeply annoying. So, McDonald's has their own version of Brenda - who, instead of her cell phone plan, wants her burger "Brendalized". I was almost physically ill - but I choked it back since I didn't want to "hork" in my own car.
Went to Olive Garden for dinner last night - a brief report...
1. If you want light sauce on your pasta, tell them "no sauce" - since a request for light sauce resulted in a gallon of the stuff on my spagetti.
2. The music there consisted of recordings of whistling and accordians. I am not joking, though I wish I was.
3. A sorority alumni group took over the collected tables nearby. They were loud and annoying. I heard one "chick" remark, when ordering wine, that she wanted the wine like they serve at church.
Ever seen the movie "Scanners"? A fairly stupid film - but some of the characters in there have the abilty to make people's heads explode by concentrating.
If I had a power like that - well, let me just tell you right now that I would use it for evil. Totally. I'd be corrupted in a heartbeat - heck, it wouldn't even take that long.
Evil Power Assigner: "Anthony, we're going to give you the power to make people's heads blow up - though it will cost you your immortal sou..."
Me: "Cool, sign me up,"
EPA: "But you realize that it will cost you your sou..."
Me: "Yeah, yeah, immortal soul. Got it. Where do I sign?"
EPA: "You'll also get nosebleeds everytime you use your power."
Me: "I have tissue right here - what are you waiting for? Hit me,"
KA-BLAM! (chuckle)
That's it for now...back to work...
Monday, March 13, 2006
miscount
So, this weekend, I was re-consttructing my diagram for the big project and though I thought I was done - it first appeared that I'd gone way over what I really needed. Instead of 768 - I only needed 576. I studied on the problem for a while - then realized my mistake. I saw where the 192 were supposed to go - then realized I had missed an additional section.
I was short by 96. So, I bought some more paper and got to folding. Managed to fold the rest that I needed on Sunday while watching a movie.
So, I'm finally caught up - 864 units folded. I'm ready to begin putting it all together. Not sure when I'm going to start that - or exactly where it's going to go.
In other news - I went for a walk and bought new shoelaces.
I was short by 96. So, I bought some more paper and got to folding. Managed to fold the rest that I needed on Sunday while watching a movie.
So, I'm finally caught up - 864 units folded. I'm ready to begin putting it all together. Not sure when I'm going to start that - or exactly where it's going to go.
In other news - I went for a walk and bought new shoelaces.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
a minor problem
I reaffirmed, yesterday, that I have a problem and the problem is this:
I can't get a straw out of it's wrapper.
Well, okay, yeah, sure I can eventually extract the straw, but not in the cool "clutch the straw in a death grip and slam it on the counter until the wrapper gives way"
My method usually involves laboriously tearing the top flap and then tearing a small chunk of the wrapper away until I can actually get a good grip on the straw.
Whenever I try to do it like the cool kids do, one of two things happens:
1. Nothing
2. The straw bends - or occasionally breaks as well.
I don't know what the secret is or the mystery behind my failure. I think.... yes, I think I might be a loser. I even looked on the net for help - all I can find are the really cool kids shooting the straw wrappers like paper darts of doom.
And now it's time to go get some lunch and face my failure again. Should I risk a broken straw - or should I just take my time and suffer in silence?
Or maybe I'll just get a bottle of soda. Yeah, that's the ticket. Screwtop bottles - those I can handle.
The moral of the story... clearly, I need more sleep.
later...
I can't get a straw out of it's wrapper.
Well, okay, yeah, sure I can eventually extract the straw, but not in the cool "clutch the straw in a death grip and slam it on the counter until the wrapper gives way"
My method usually involves laboriously tearing the top flap and then tearing a small chunk of the wrapper away until I can actually get a good grip on the straw.
Whenever I try to do it like the cool kids do, one of two things happens:
1. Nothing
2. The straw bends - or occasionally breaks as well.
I don't know what the secret is or the mystery behind my failure. I think.... yes, I think I might be a loser. I even looked on the net for help - all I can find are the really cool kids shooting the straw wrappers like paper darts of doom.
And now it's time to go get some lunch and face my failure again. Should I risk a broken straw - or should I just take my time and suffer in silence?
Or maybe I'll just get a bottle of soda. Yeah, that's the ticket. Screwtop bottles - those I can handle.
The moral of the story... clearly, I need more sleep.
later...
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
zombies
Almost forgot. I had a dream last night that I was at my grandmother's house in Illinois and we were in the backyard - being freaked out by the literal army of zombies slowing heading our direction. I got the family that was with me inside and started to batten down the hatches.
There was a knock at the front door and it was a friend of my grandmother's - fortunately not zombified. I let her in and as I closed the door she said that her family was still in the van. I opened the door and sure enough - there was a mini-van full of people, just sitting there. I motioned for them to come inside and watched as they laboursly got out of the van. They were all wearing huge winter coats and carrying pastries, juice, and coffees.
Most of them got up on the porch and then just stood there - watching the zombies walk slowly up the street. I totally lost it at this point and started grabbing them by their coats and literally throwing them into the house. The lady on the stairs, who seemed more slack-jawed than the rest, was watching the zombies get closer and closer to her. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to reach her in time and decided that if she didn't move on her own and a zombie grabbed her - I was going to leave her and get my ass in the house.
The rest of the losers finally inside, I grabbed at her and managed to pull her inside with a few seconds left to close and bar the door - then realized I'd left all the potential weapons in the now inaccessible garage. I yelled at them for a few minutes in the living room and told them that if any of them did anything stupid, I'd cut them up and throw them back out there. They just looked at me and sipped their beverages.
Then I woke up - with a headache - and pissed off. Word to the wise, if the zombie horde ever rises up - you had damn well better listen to me when I tell you to move. 'Cause I'll leave you to them if you're worried about spilling your cappichino.
later...
There was a knock at the front door and it was a friend of my grandmother's - fortunately not zombified. I let her in and as I closed the door she said that her family was still in the van. I opened the door and sure enough - there was a mini-van full of people, just sitting there. I motioned for them to come inside and watched as they laboursly got out of the van. They were all wearing huge winter coats and carrying pastries, juice, and coffees.
Most of them got up on the porch and then just stood there - watching the zombies walk slowly up the street. I totally lost it at this point and started grabbing them by their coats and literally throwing them into the house. The lady on the stairs, who seemed more slack-jawed than the rest, was watching the zombies get closer and closer to her. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to reach her in time and decided that if she didn't move on her own and a zombie grabbed her - I was going to leave her and get my ass in the house.
The rest of the losers finally inside, I grabbed at her and managed to pull her inside with a few seconds left to close and bar the door - then realized I'd left all the potential weapons in the now inaccessible garage. I yelled at them for a few minutes in the living room and told them that if any of them did anything stupid, I'd cut them up and throw them back out there. They just looked at me and sipped their beverages.
Then I woke up - with a headache - and pissed off. Word to the wise, if the zombie horde ever rises up - you had damn well better listen to me when I tell you to move. 'Cause I'll leave you to them if you're worried about spilling your cappichino.
later...
language, swearing, paper, and a headache...again
Yesterday, while standing in line - which I just really enjoy, of course - the guy at the front of the line was having trouble placing his order. He was from somewhere else and his english wasn't strong. The clerk ended up having to void out his order and start over.
It got me thinking about languages - and why there are so many of them. I wonder how much time has been lost and how many problems have been created by not being able to understand each other. And even stranger is how languages tend to diverge with regional dialects. Might be interesting enough for a master's thesis.
I was also thinking about swearing - and what a strange concept it is. Some people would use the most foul language as part of their everyday conversation - and another might be on the phone to the FCC at the mildest utterance. Kids use the word poop, dookie is a viable slang term, crap is gaining acceptance - but "sh*t" is still a bad word. All of them mean to defecate. Is it the audience? If so, it's not universal. Is it the tone? I could shout "Defecate!" the next time my computer freaks out and my colleagues would laugh. If I shouted, "Sh*t!" - I would be scolded. I think this is a topic that deserves more thought - but I've got other things to cover.
I think I've miscounted my paper - I've only got a small stack left and it "feels" like I should have more. I think I'll need to count again tonight - don't want to run out mid-assembly.
I ordered a game from Amazon.com - God of War. I've borrowed and played it before and it was a blast - but I haven't been able to find it for under 45 bucks. Amazon had it for $19.99 - and it should be waiting for me when I get home. Yea!
Though I'm not sure I should play it right away. The cluster headache came back last night around 9:30. I was in bed not long after that - and got awakened by a phone call at about quarter after 10 from a friend. I wanted to talk - but explained that I was hurting and really couldn't. So, we kept the converation short and I eventually went back to sleep.
The headache is still with me this morning - lurking behind my right eye. I'm taking it slow and easy today and I'm hoping that it fades out.
And that's about it...time to get back to work...
It got me thinking about languages - and why there are so many of them. I wonder how much time has been lost and how many problems have been created by not being able to understand each other. And even stranger is how languages tend to diverge with regional dialects. Might be interesting enough for a master's thesis.
I was also thinking about swearing - and what a strange concept it is. Some people would use the most foul language as part of their everyday conversation - and another might be on the phone to the FCC at the mildest utterance. Kids use the word poop, dookie is a viable slang term, crap is gaining acceptance - but "sh*t" is still a bad word. All of them mean to defecate. Is it the audience? If so, it's not universal. Is it the tone? I could shout "Defecate!" the next time my computer freaks out and my colleagues would laugh. If I shouted, "Sh*t!" - I would be scolded. I think this is a topic that deserves more thought - but I've got other things to cover.
I think I've miscounted my paper - I've only got a small stack left and it "feels" like I should have more. I think I'll need to count again tonight - don't want to run out mid-assembly.
I ordered a game from Amazon.com - God of War. I've borrowed and played it before and it was a blast - but I haven't been able to find it for under 45 bucks. Amazon had it for $19.99 - and it should be waiting for me when I get home. Yea!
Though I'm not sure I should play it right away. The cluster headache came back last night around 9:30. I was in bed not long after that - and got awakened by a phone call at about quarter after 10 from a friend. I wanted to talk - but explained that I was hurting and really couldn't. So, we kept the converation short and I eventually went back to sleep.
The headache is still with me this morning - lurking behind my right eye. I'm taking it slow and easy today and I'm hoping that it fades out.
And that's about it...time to get back to work...
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
700 units and a pile of paper
I'm up to 700 units folded for my big project - and I think I can finally say I'm in the home stretch at this point. Of course, I still have to put it together.
My angel project was also worked on last night - and things did not go so well. I made a breakthru on one of the steps - though it seemed counter-intuitive when I tried it. And then slammed to a halt with the next step. Sometimes I can look ahead at the next step and determine how they got there. In this case, it looks they used a differnt piece of paper.
The other model that I worked had instructions written in Spanish - and I had better luck with that one. Go figure.
The headache is mostly gone - though I still get traces of it lurking around.
Can't imagine why - work has been stressful. Got some issues with some co-workers who shall remain un-named that are bringing me down. I guess it's time to sharpen the wooden stake and go hunt me some soul-sucking vampires.
In slightly more hopeful news...I just recently read that babies are natually helpful. Gives me a little hope for the species. Too bad we seem to outgrow it.
Well, that's it for now...back to work...
My angel project was also worked on last night - and things did not go so well. I made a breakthru on one of the steps - though it seemed counter-intuitive when I tried it. And then slammed to a halt with the next step. Sometimes I can look ahead at the next step and determine how they got there. In this case, it looks they used a differnt piece of paper.
The other model that I worked had instructions written in Spanish - and I had better luck with that one. Go figure.
The headache is mostly gone - though I still get traces of it lurking around.
Can't imagine why - work has been stressful. Got some issues with some co-workers who shall remain un-named that are bringing me down. I guess it's time to sharpen the wooden stake and go hunt me some soul-sucking vampires.
In slightly more hopeful news...I just recently read that babies are natually helpful. Gives me a little hope for the species. Too bad we seem to outgrow it.
Well, that's it for now...back to work...
Monday, March 06, 2006
catching up again
It's been a few days since I've blogged - got a bit to catch up on.
1. Last weeks headache. I'm prone to headaches (it's all that thinkin I do, dontcha know?) - so having one is almost no big deal. This one, however, lasted about 36 hours. It was only really bad for a few of those hours, but it was enough to keep me home from work for a day. And that was a very boring day - since DVD's and Video games were both out. And I tried to keep reading to a minimum too. So, lot of paper-folding.
2. Which brings me to topic two - the big origami project. I'm up to 680 modules folded. Which means I've got about 88 to go before it's time to start putting it all together. I'm not sure what happened to my notes - might have to recreate them before I start.
3. The Flash is still not back on the stands. I haven't bought any comics at all since they stopped making the flash. Rumor has it that they'll start the new Flash series in the summer by killing off the current Flash and replacing him. Wankers. DC Comics is going to get a harsh email from me, I think.
4. Coca-cola is coming out with Coke Blak. In addition to not being able to spell - it's also going to be a mix of Coke and Coffee. I can imagine going to a returant and having to ask for my coke plain. Wankers.
5. Came into work yesterday to check on a project and work on a few things. Wasn't as productive as I could have been, but I think it was still worthwhile.
And that's about it for now...back to work...
1. Last weeks headache. I'm prone to headaches (it's all that thinkin I do, dontcha know?) - so having one is almost no big deal. This one, however, lasted about 36 hours. It was only really bad for a few of those hours, but it was enough to keep me home from work for a day. And that was a very boring day - since DVD's and Video games were both out. And I tried to keep reading to a minimum too. So, lot of paper-folding.
2. Which brings me to topic two - the big origami project. I'm up to 680 modules folded. Which means I've got about 88 to go before it's time to start putting it all together. I'm not sure what happened to my notes - might have to recreate them before I start.
3. The Flash is still not back on the stands. I haven't bought any comics at all since they stopped making the flash. Rumor has it that they'll start the new Flash series in the summer by killing off the current Flash and replacing him. Wankers. DC Comics is going to get a harsh email from me, I think.
4. Coca-cola is coming out with Coke Blak. In addition to not being able to spell - it's also going to be a mix of Coke and Coffee. I can imagine going to a returant and having to ask for my coke plain. Wankers.
5. Came into work yesterday to check on a project and work on a few things. Wasn't as productive as I could have been, but I think it was still worthwhile.
And that's about it for now...back to work...
Monday, February 27, 2006
to sleep, perchance to fall over
I was getting ready to leave my cube to get some lunch and, standing there with coat in hand, I nearly fell asleep. I could almost hear the turbines powering down and if I had been seated, I would have gone ahead and drifted off. But some small error-checking routine stopped me and prevented me from dropping to the floor in a heap. My knees, unlike a horse's, could not be locked. So, I just plodded my way to get food.
I went to bed at a reasonable hour last night and I was up at a reasonable hour this morning. Not sure why I'm so sleeply today.
I've been getting a little down on myself at work these past few weeks. I'm really dreading going to work anymore. Doesn't help that my cold is finally starting to get the upper hand, either.
No real news on my origami projects. I folded about 50 more units for the big project, but no updates on the angels. I really want to do the Daedalus one, but it seems way complicated.
That's about it for now. I guess it's time for me to get back to it...
I went to bed at a reasonable hour last night and I was up at a reasonable hour this morning. Not sure why I'm so sleeply today.
I've been getting a little down on myself at work these past few weeks. I'm really dreading going to work anymore. Doesn't help that my cold is finally starting to get the upper hand, either.
No real news on my origami projects. I folded about 50 more units for the big project, but no updates on the angels. I really want to do the Daedalus one, but it seems way complicated.
That's about it for now. I guess it's time for me to get back to it...
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
bad meat and angels
Last evening began with a trip to the grocery store to purchase, among other things, some hamburger patties.
Return home, open package, and reel from the stench. Oh, yeah, it was bad. And the date on the package confirmed that it was best by Feb 17. And it was not at it's best.
So, reciept in hand - back to the store and the customer service desk to return the meat. She took the re-wrapped package and issued a refund. More meat was purchased and dinner was cooked.
Later on, I worked on my Origami Angel samples - with little success. I think I must be slipping or I'm just getting old and not learning as fast as I used to. I'll try again tonight.
And that's about it. Work is kinda sucking today, but I'll get through it...
Return home, open package, and reel from the stench. Oh, yeah, it was bad. And the date on the package confirmed that it was best by Feb 17. And it was not at it's best.
So, reciept in hand - back to the store and the customer service desk to return the meat. She took the re-wrapped package and issued a refund. More meat was purchased and dinner was cooked.
Later on, I worked on my Origami Angel samples - with little success. I think I must be slipping or I'm just getting old and not learning as fast as I used to. I'll try again tonight.
And that's about it. Work is kinda sucking today, but I'll get through it...
Monday, February 20, 2006
origami, double red, headache
Well, I'm up to 500 origmai units built. I've got the rest for my big project cut, but still quite a ways to go before I'm ready to start putting it together.
I've also got a commission on my plate - building origami angels for a christmas event. I'm still trying to find a good model - and still wondering if I want to try this. So far, the numbers they'll need are somewhere between 250-450. And I won't have much notice on how many they'll need. It's not like - "we'll need X by DateX". More like, "on DateX we'll tell you how many we'll need by DateX2"
There's payment and supply issues as well - not to mention feeling a little odd about using some design and making a profit on it. But, well, I think if I can pull it off - it'll be visually amazing. Hundreds of paper angels? It would be something to see.
Too bad they don't want cranes - I could do thousands before christmas. Literally.
In other news... I gave blood last week. The red cross had sent me two cards about differnt blood drives - then another card about one of those being canceled. Then they called me to see if I would do a double-red and if so - would I care to make an appointment. Since I usually feel better after a double-red vs. a regular donation - I said I would. Got there a with a few minutes to spare and waded through the tedious history section. The actual donation went pretty smoothly and I alternatly read my book, talked to the attendant, and watched the screen of the collection machine. Had one brief scary moment - a message came up on the screen about "Clearing air from system".
The double red means they take out a pint of blood, centerfuge the red cells out, then return the plasma and some saline. Then they repeat. The attendant explained that the system has multiple sensors to prevent any air from entering the tubing headed for my arm. So, it was doing its job and clearing things out.
So, I'm glad that it worked - but a little disconcerted that it was even a potential issue. Maybe they should have some new code for the attendants that won't weird me out.
In other news - I had a headache much of the weekend. I think it's the same one - hanging out in my head and just generally lurking around. Maybe I'm thinking too hard? Ignorance is bliss and what not.
I could talk about work - but that would just make the headache worse. So, I'm just going to get back to it and hope the day finishes up quickly.
Later...
I've also got a commission on my plate - building origami angels for a christmas event. I'm still trying to find a good model - and still wondering if I want to try this. So far, the numbers they'll need are somewhere between 250-450. And I won't have much notice on how many they'll need. It's not like - "we'll need X by DateX". More like, "on DateX we'll tell you how many we'll need by DateX2"
There's payment and supply issues as well - not to mention feeling a little odd about using some design and making a profit on it. But, well, I think if I can pull it off - it'll be visually amazing. Hundreds of paper angels? It would be something to see.
Too bad they don't want cranes - I could do thousands before christmas. Literally.
In other news... I gave blood last week. The red cross had sent me two cards about differnt blood drives - then another card about one of those being canceled. Then they called me to see if I would do a double-red and if so - would I care to make an appointment. Since I usually feel better after a double-red vs. a regular donation - I said I would. Got there a with a few minutes to spare and waded through the tedious history section. The actual donation went pretty smoothly and I alternatly read my book, talked to the attendant, and watched the screen of the collection machine. Had one brief scary moment - a message came up on the screen about "Clearing air from system".
The double red means they take out a pint of blood, centerfuge the red cells out, then return the plasma and some saline. Then they repeat. The attendant explained that the system has multiple sensors to prevent any air from entering the tubing headed for my arm. So, it was doing its job and clearing things out.
So, I'm glad that it worked - but a little disconcerted that it was even a potential issue. Maybe they should have some new code for the attendants that won't weird me out.
In other news - I had a headache much of the weekend. I think it's the same one - hanging out in my head and just generally lurking around. Maybe I'm thinking too hard? Ignorance is bliss and what not.
I could talk about work - but that would just make the headache worse. So, I'm just going to get back to it and hope the day finishes up quickly.
Later...
Thursday, February 09, 2006
origami, racing, and dreams
I've made good progress on my Menger sponge project - finished up unit #300 last night. Still a long way to go before I can even start assembling the final form, but it's a good start.
Also played a bunch of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit last night. Earned a couple new cars in the game - pretty sweet.
Then I went to bed and the nightmares started. I took notes this morning of what I could remember...
1. Visiting my grandmother at her house. I go into the den/guest bedroom and find it's flooded with about 4 inches of water that, for some reason, doens't spill out into the rest of the house. Then I notice a small black worm that suddenly stretches toward me, flares it's front section, then flaps it like a manta ray and glides through the water toward me as it returns to normal. It's a leech, it's on the hunt, and it's looking for me. Prudently, somewhat girl-y, I jump up on a weight bench and call for help. When help arrives, they see the leech glide under the bed to hide. Rather than waste time trying to capture it, Grandma decides that she doesn't really need that room and - after getting me out - has the room sealed up forever.
2. Dad has decided he doesn't have enough space to work on projects and rents several hundred thousand square feet of space in a warehouse. I go to visit him and he's busy building shelves. He's already built hundreds of floor to ceiling shelves and the place is a maze of empty wooden shelves. I get lost trying to find the exit and the bathroom.
3. I'm in a cemetary and notice a well cooked beef steak sitting on a plate on top of a gravestone. I get a little closer and realize, somehow, that it's not beef - it's human.
4. I'm in a strange bathroom, maybe a hotel - and I'm trying to figure out how to use the facilites with the toilet nearly full of water and the lid partially closed - without making a mess.
Brief intermission as I get up and use my normal bathroom for real.
5. I'm at work and we're trying to track down a virus that has a graphic interface - we can actually see it eat files like a little blob on the screen. We discover it on one machine - then realize it's already spread to every machine in the School of Law.
6. I'm playing Need for Speed - but this time I'm actually in the game, behind the wheel of one of the cars. I'm racing the Desert Canyon track against one other car - trying to beat them to qualify for the next track. The other car is all over the road and I can't get past them. I finally make my move and pull up alongside them - and it's Paris Hilton talking on her pink cell phone with her dog yapping at my from the passenger side of the car.
Back to reality - this morning I glanced in the mirror and realized that if I let my beard get to long, there's a huge patch of white/gray hair on one side of my chin. It looks a little odd, but I was running late and didn't have time to trim it.
So, I grabbed a coke and an apple and headed out the door. Spent far too long scraping off my car, said hello to my neightbor and came to work.
And now it's time to get back to it...
Also played a bunch of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit last night. Earned a couple new cars in the game - pretty sweet.
Then I went to bed and the nightmares started. I took notes this morning of what I could remember...
1. Visiting my grandmother at her house. I go into the den/guest bedroom and find it's flooded with about 4 inches of water that, for some reason, doens't spill out into the rest of the house. Then I notice a small black worm that suddenly stretches toward me, flares it's front section, then flaps it like a manta ray and glides through the water toward me as it returns to normal. It's a leech, it's on the hunt, and it's looking for me. Prudently, somewhat girl-y, I jump up on a weight bench and call for help. When help arrives, they see the leech glide under the bed to hide. Rather than waste time trying to capture it, Grandma decides that she doesn't really need that room and - after getting me out - has the room sealed up forever.
2. Dad has decided he doesn't have enough space to work on projects and rents several hundred thousand square feet of space in a warehouse. I go to visit him and he's busy building shelves. He's already built hundreds of floor to ceiling shelves and the place is a maze of empty wooden shelves. I get lost trying to find the exit and the bathroom.
3. I'm in a cemetary and notice a well cooked beef steak sitting on a plate on top of a gravestone. I get a little closer and realize, somehow, that it's not beef - it's human.
4. I'm in a strange bathroom, maybe a hotel - and I'm trying to figure out how to use the facilites with the toilet nearly full of water and the lid partially closed - without making a mess.
Brief intermission as I get up and use my normal bathroom for real.
5. I'm at work and we're trying to track down a virus that has a graphic interface - we can actually see it eat files like a little blob on the screen. We discover it on one machine - then realize it's already spread to every machine in the School of Law.
6. I'm playing Need for Speed - but this time I'm actually in the game, behind the wheel of one of the cars. I'm racing the Desert Canyon track against one other car - trying to beat them to qualify for the next track. The other car is all over the road and I can't get past them. I finally make my move and pull up alongside them - and it's Paris Hilton talking on her pink cell phone with her dog yapping at my from the passenger side of the car.
Back to reality - this morning I glanced in the mirror and realized that if I let my beard get to long, there's a huge patch of white/gray hair on one side of my chin. It looks a little odd, but I was running late and didn't have time to trim it.
So, I grabbed a coke and an apple and headed out the door. Spent far too long scraping off my car, said hello to my neightbor and came to work.
And now it's time to get back to it...
Friday, February 03, 2006
slightly odd phone message
There was a message on my answering machine yesterday when I got home. It was from - I think - my former room-mate's oldest son. It was a kind of bland "haven't talked to you in a while" kind of message - and that was about it. No "purpose" - other than the obvious trying to re-establish communications. There was no phone number left and since I canceled my caller ID - no way to tell the number. And he called at 8:00 in the morning - on a Thursday - when I would be certain to be at work.
So, to sum up:
Random phone call, no apparent purpose, no return number, called when I couldn't possibly be home.
While I'd like to think this was a friend trying to get back in touch and doing a poor job of it - I'm a little uneasy. Was he calling and didn't think about me being at work until he was already leaving the message - or was he calling to make sure I wasn't home?
I'm going to stop my speculation at this point since I have no proof of anything either way.
I guess that's about it for now... looks like another busy day on the horizon. Back to work...
So, to sum up:
Random phone call, no apparent purpose, no return number, called when I couldn't possibly be home.
While I'd like to think this was a friend trying to get back in touch and doing a poor job of it - I'm a little uneasy. Was he calling and didn't think about me being at work until he was already leaving the message - or was he calling to make sure I wasn't home?
I'm going to stop my speculation at this point since I have no proof of anything either way.
I guess that's about it for now... looks like another busy day on the horizon. Back to work...
Thursday, February 02, 2006
might as well have been the smoking section
So, I go out to dinner last night with a friend and though we have requested a non-smoking table - we have to wait just outside the bar area of the resturant. The 5 mintues turned to 10 and the smoke started to bother my eyes and my lungs. Finally, we got seated just outside what I'm guessing could be a small banquet room - as far away as possible from the smoky bar. Which was great. The server came around quickly, drinks were ordered and delivered, and the food came out quickly. I had fish and it was well prepared and tasted good. Turning out to be a nice dinner.
Then a couple gets seated in the banquet area and while I'm pretty sure that whole section was also non-smoking - the guy had a cigerette out before he even got his coat off. Coffee was served to them and she started smoking as well.
Ten feet away - no obstructions. Before too long, my eyes were bothered and so were my lungs. I started to smell it on my clothes and skin.
Never having seen anyone violate the no-smoking rule in a given area, I wasn't sure of the protocal. Nobody else seemed bothered and their server didn't say anything to them. Should I approach them? Should I talk to the server or manager? By the time the manager stopped by to ask us how things were - and it was prefunctory question at best - and the server buzzing to and from our table like a hummingbird, well, it was really too late. I was nearly done eating and dessert wasn't going to be an option.
I guess I'm tired of walking through a haze of smoke to get into a building, of waiting near a smoking section, and of the annoyance in general.
Next time I go to a resturant I'm going to pay more attention to where I'm seated and I'm going to start asking questions and pushing buttons as need be.
That's it for now - time to get back to work...
Then a couple gets seated in the banquet area and while I'm pretty sure that whole section was also non-smoking - the guy had a cigerette out before he even got his coat off. Coffee was served to them and she started smoking as well.
Ten feet away - no obstructions. Before too long, my eyes were bothered and so were my lungs. I started to smell it on my clothes and skin.
Never having seen anyone violate the no-smoking rule in a given area, I wasn't sure of the protocal. Nobody else seemed bothered and their server didn't say anything to them. Should I approach them? Should I talk to the server or manager? By the time the manager stopped by to ask us how things were - and it was prefunctory question at best - and the server buzzing to and from our table like a hummingbird, well, it was really too late. I was nearly done eating and dessert wasn't going to be an option.
I guess I'm tired of walking through a haze of smoke to get into a building, of waiting near a smoking section, and of the annoyance in general.
Next time I go to a resturant I'm going to pay more attention to where I'm seated and I'm going to start asking questions and pushing buttons as need be.
That's it for now - time to get back to work...
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
small goal
I have discovered a small goal for myself - to use an entire tube of chapstick before I lose it. Since the tube is opaque, I have no idea how close I am to my goal. I'm only going to use a "normal" amount since it wouldn't be a realisitic accomplishment otherwise.
Hey, you gotta start somewhere.
It's another busy day here at work, so I should get back to it...
Hey, you gotta start somewhere.
It's another busy day here at work, so I should get back to it...
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