Dear Unsolicited Email Sender,
Thank you for your interest in me. Your desire to tell me, a complete stranger, about my (physical shortcomings, monetary needs, love life, spiritual needs, product needs) and offer me an unsolicited solution is incredible. Many of my closest friends have not mentioned it to me; so hearing it from you is very important. However, at this time, I do not feel I need (a larger penis, a harder penis, pornography, a new mortgage lender, debt consolidation, my home’s equity checked, a date, a “date,” to make 10% of the billions left behind in [Zimbabwe, Congo, Liberia, Senegal, Niger], a car loan, a new religion, a miracle weight loss drug, to earn money through eBay, to make millions through real estate ventures, a new internet service provider, a new cell phone, a new cell phone company, student loan assistance, to investigate someone). While I appreciate you informing me of this (product, service, opportunity), I am content right now in this area in my life.
If my need for (a larger penis, a harder penis, pornography, a new mortgage lender, debt consolidation, my home’s equity checked, a date, a “date,” to make 10% of the billions left behind in [Zimbabwe, Congo, Liberia, Senegal, Niger], a car loan, a new religion, a miracle weight loss drug, to earn money through eBay, to make millions through real estate ventures, a new internet service provider, a new cell phone, a new cell phone company, student loan assistance, to investigate someone) changes in the near future, I will contact you immediately. Rest assured that I understand you are the expert in this area and have nothing but my best interest at heart. Once I do contact you, we can discuss in detail the wonderful (product, service, opportunity) that I have neglected.
Being the conscientious person that you are, and now that I have informed you of my position on (a larger penis, a harder penis, pornography, a new mortgage lender, debt consolidation, my home’s equity checked, a date, a “date,” to make 10% of the billions left behind in [Zimbabwe, Congo, Liberia, Senegal, Niger], a car loan, a new religion, a miracle weight loss drug, to earn money through eBay, to make millions through real estate ventures, a new internet service provider, a new cell phone, a new cell phone company, student loan assistance, to investigate someone), I have no doubt you will stop emailing me immediately.
Thank you for your time and frequent emails on this matter. I want you to know that I have moved each and every one of those thoughtful and well-written emails immediately into the most appropriate folder in my email box.
Respectfully,
Unsolicited Email Recipient
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You were bored and searching for something to read when serendipity brought you to my blog. Many blog responses and emails later, things see...
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Today was Halloween, M's favorite (nonreligious) holiday. The house was decorated, the pumpkins were carved, and the candy was purchased...
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Apparently our viewing public is avid for some sort of update. I guess we have both been somewhat quiet since Tucson, but I’ve received some...
July 25, 2006
July 24, 2006
The Moon is Made of ... Creamy Filling!
I finished the last of my stash of "Looney Moons" (1/2 Moons) tonight.
Fiance got me a box of the strawberry moons, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I like fruit flavors, so having the strawberry was even better than the other types I've had so far (original, chocolate, caramel). I finished those a few days ago.
Mare got me a box of the large, original flavored moons. Mmmm... creamy goodness. Those lasted until tonight.
These things kick Twinkies ass! I still like Twinkies, don't get me wrong, but the Looney Moons are softer and have tastier filling.
I'm a sad, sad boy now.
Fiance got me a box of the strawberry moons, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I like fruit flavors, so having the strawberry was even better than the other types I've had so far (original, chocolate, caramel). I finished those a few days ago.
Mare got me a box of the large, original flavored moons. Mmmm... creamy goodness. Those lasted until tonight.
These things kick Twinkies ass! I still like Twinkies, don't get me wrong, but the Looney Moons are softer and have tastier filling.
I'm a sad, sad boy now.
July 21, 2006
The Curse Lives
For anyone who doesn't believe that my last name carries a curse, I give you the following evidence:
My mother is flying back to Pennsylvania to visit my sister and her family. She is currently stuck, on board the plane but delayed just after the doors closed on the plane, at the Dallas airport. She just called to tell me that the airline announced a "20-30 minute delay, you should get a snack before getting on" but the delay is currently at well-over an hour with no apparent end in sight.
Ah, I love a good curse.
Good luck mom!
My mother is flying back to Pennsylvania to visit my sister and her family. She is currently stuck, on board the plane but delayed just after the doors closed on the plane, at the Dallas airport. She just called to tell me that the airline announced a "20-30 minute delay, you should get a snack before getting on" but the delay is currently at well-over an hour with no apparent end in sight.
Ah, I love a good curse.
Good luck mom!
Amusing Article from England
Worth a read:
Pirates/Movie article from The Independent
I do not like or agree with the opinions of the "friend" in the article, but I like both how he expresses them and that he says them at all.
Pirates/Movie article from The Independent
I do not like or agree with the opinions of the "friend" in the article, but I like both how he expresses them and that he says them at all.
July 16, 2006
Pirates and Superman
The Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is a nice sequel, but it has some problems:
One of the keys to the first Pirates film was the engaging way the three main characters interacted. But in PotC:DMC, it takes too long to get the three characters together and then they act and speak like they didn't learn anything about each other from the first film. For example, in the first film, Will and Elizabeth learn that Captain Jack has a pretty good heart and is a fairly honorable man, he just has a rather eccentric and enigmatic way of getting there. However, in this film, all their dialogue is about how he has no honor and is only out for himself. What? After all they went through with him on their previous adventure, they still think that? Doesn't make sense.
Also, the real charm is those three characters and the silly but clever problems they got themselve into and out of. The rest of the cast were there to move the plot along. In PotC:DMC, many of the bit players have much larger, expanded roles. It got so that there were so many people and stories on the screen, that I started to lose interest.
The action felt forced and overly long. The first film hit the right mix of story and action. This PotC:DMC felt like the story was almost an excuse for newer, bigger, more overblown effects. And each of these action shots felt way, way, WAY too long. For example, the scene on the broken water wheel: we had already, in essence, seen this shot with the ball of bones early in the film. On top of this, the three way fight scene just kept going and going. I found I was squirming in my seat and wishing it was over and we could move on.
The motivations of some of the characters seemed pretty thin at best. It got so that I was actually getting confused and forgetting why certain characters were in this film. Jack was the only one with clearly defined motivations. Elizabeth kept flip-flopping what she wanted and why, Will seemed to be a totally different character who had amnesia to everything that happened in the first film, and the former Commodore seemed like he was sort of added in at the tail end when the writers couldn't figure out how certain plot points were going to happen.
Lastly, this film ends abruptly. It is more of a middle film than even Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back is. It is along the lines of Back to the Future 2. They tell half of a ful story and just end in the middle. I prefer each movie to stand, basically, on its own even if they tell a story that is continued in other films.
- - - - - -
Superman Returns was a good, entertaining film. However, I think they actually hurt themselves by making it a sequel to the first two Christopher Reeve movies. This provided the film with some constraints that seemed to hold it back.
For example, Kevin Spacey ate up the scenery as Lex Luthor. He was wonderful to watch. However, the fact that he needed to be the land-mogol and somewhat comic evil genius that we saw in the first two films really hindered what he could do as Lex. I can only imagine how entertaining he could have been as the real evil genius and general business (and political) leader that Lex has been in the comics (or has been in the Justice League cartoons over the last few years).
Brandon Routh was very good as both Superman and Clark Kent. I think he could have been even better if he wasn't acting like Christopher Reeve. He gave me a vibe that he could have been more of a John Byrne "Man of Steel" style Clark Kent, one who isn't a fumbling clutz. His Superman was a good balance of power and grace.
The story itself was decent, but the entire land-scheme of Lex left a lot to be desired. Up until the "big reveal" by Lex of what his plan actually is, the movie strikes a decent balance and is a fun ride. The scene where Superman saves the day with the space shuttle and plane is worth the price of admission alone. It is thrilling and you get a true sense of the power and nobility of Superman. The effects are incredible. However, the last 45 minutes of the story could have been trimmed and cut down to around 20 minutes.
Spoiler ahead, read at your own risk (highlight paragraph to read):
Lastly, one story area that I had a great deal of trouble with was the entire Lois Lane with child and that child being "super" plot-line. It was an unneeded and distracting subplot that added time and complications to the story that just weren't needed. If Bryan Singer had done away with that twist, he would have cut about 30 minutes out of the film, it would have required some more action scenes with Superman saving the day (which would have been good), and would have allowed Superman to remain unique.
End Spoiler
All in all, I was entertained and enjoyed that Superman returned. I was just a little disappointed Bryan Singer didn't stretch and expand the universe like he did with the X-Men franchise. I was expecting more from him as a director and storyteller.
- - - - - -
All in all, I was entertained by both films. I was also a bit disappointed in both. I think both are deservedly $200-$250 million dollar movies. I do not understand why Pirates is likely going to shoot way past that figure, and I don't understand why Superman is struggling to reach that mark.
Both films could have been at least 30 minutes shorter, easily, and could have simplified and tightened the respective stories to make them even more thrilling and entertaining.
- The new Pirates movie is clever... but not as clever as the original.
- It has good effects and action... but all are a bit overdone and too lengthy.
- The acting is engaging... but feels a bit forced.
- All your favorite characters are back... plus a whole bunch that shouldn't be.
One of the keys to the first Pirates film was the engaging way the three main characters interacted. But in PotC:DMC, it takes too long to get the three characters together and then they act and speak like they didn't learn anything about each other from the first film. For example, in the first film, Will and Elizabeth learn that Captain Jack has a pretty good heart and is a fairly honorable man, he just has a rather eccentric and enigmatic way of getting there. However, in this film, all their dialogue is about how he has no honor and is only out for himself. What? After all they went through with him on their previous adventure, they still think that? Doesn't make sense.
Also, the real charm is those three characters and the silly but clever problems they got themselve into and out of. The rest of the cast were there to move the plot along. In PotC:DMC, many of the bit players have much larger, expanded roles. It got so that there were so many people and stories on the screen, that I started to lose interest.
The action felt forced and overly long. The first film hit the right mix of story and action. This PotC:DMC felt like the story was almost an excuse for newer, bigger, more overblown effects. And each of these action shots felt way, way, WAY too long. For example, the scene on the broken water wheel: we had already, in essence, seen this shot with the ball of bones early in the film. On top of this, the three way fight scene just kept going and going. I found I was squirming in my seat and wishing it was over and we could move on.
The motivations of some of the characters seemed pretty thin at best. It got so that I was actually getting confused and forgetting why certain characters were in this film. Jack was the only one with clearly defined motivations. Elizabeth kept flip-flopping what she wanted and why, Will seemed to be a totally different character who had amnesia to everything that happened in the first film, and the former Commodore seemed like he was sort of added in at the tail end when the writers couldn't figure out how certain plot points were going to happen.
Lastly, this film ends abruptly. It is more of a middle film than even Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back is. It is along the lines of Back to the Future 2. They tell half of a ful story and just end in the middle. I prefer each movie to stand, basically, on its own even if they tell a story that is continued in other films.
- - - - - -
Superman Returns was a good, entertaining film. However, I think they actually hurt themselves by making it a sequel to the first two Christopher Reeve movies. This provided the film with some constraints that seemed to hold it back.
For example, Kevin Spacey ate up the scenery as Lex Luthor. He was wonderful to watch. However, the fact that he needed to be the land-mogol and somewhat comic evil genius that we saw in the first two films really hindered what he could do as Lex. I can only imagine how entertaining he could have been as the real evil genius and general business (and political) leader that Lex has been in the comics (or has been in the Justice League cartoons over the last few years).
Brandon Routh was very good as both Superman and Clark Kent. I think he could have been even better if he wasn't acting like Christopher Reeve. He gave me a vibe that he could have been more of a John Byrne "Man of Steel" style Clark Kent, one who isn't a fumbling clutz. His Superman was a good balance of power and grace.
The story itself was decent, but the entire land-scheme of Lex left a lot to be desired. Up until the "big reveal" by Lex of what his plan actually is, the movie strikes a decent balance and is a fun ride. The scene where Superman saves the day with the space shuttle and plane is worth the price of admission alone. It is thrilling and you get a true sense of the power and nobility of Superman. The effects are incredible. However, the last 45 minutes of the story could have been trimmed and cut down to around 20 minutes.
Spoiler ahead, read at your own risk (highlight paragraph to read):
Lastly, one story area that I had a great deal of trouble with was the entire Lois Lane with child and that child being "super" plot-line. It was an unneeded and distracting subplot that added time and complications to the story that just weren't needed. If Bryan Singer had done away with that twist, he would have cut about 30 minutes out of the film, it would have required some more action scenes with Superman saving the day (which would have been good), and would have allowed Superman to remain unique.
End Spoiler
All in all, I was entertained and enjoyed that Superman returned. I was just a little disappointed Bryan Singer didn't stretch and expand the universe like he did with the X-Men franchise. I was expecting more from him as a director and storyteller.
- - - - - -
All in all, I was entertained by both films. I was also a bit disappointed in both. I think both are deservedly $200-$250 million dollar movies. I do not understand why Pirates is likely going to shoot way past that figure, and I don't understand why Superman is struggling to reach that mark.
Both films could have been at least 30 minutes shorter, easily, and could have simplified and tightened the respective stories to make them even more thrilling and entertaining.
July 12, 2006
And Back....
Well, John had another fine adventure in his Omniverse today.
The plan was to leave Saint John at 11:30am, get to Montreal with 1.5 hrs to navigate customs and get to my next plane. Arrive in Chicago with similar amount of time to find plane to So Cal and head home. Arrive here just before 7:30-- Super Shuttle to drive me home by 8ish. Relaxing evening of unpacking and tidying up, as I am now on Atlantic Time (+4 hrs) and 8 will feel like midnight to me.
Here's the reality. Saint John to Montreal goes without too much incident, however, leaving M yet again was just as painful as always. Gotta get moving already!
I got a little confused in Montreal, but was immediately set on the right path after asking a worker and had no problems reaching the plane.
And then the fun began-- because the captain of the Montreal to Chicago flight didn't want for his crew and himself to go through customs, they had to "begin the taxi" away from the gate. However, some mysterious something (which they never described adequately) meant we had to sit on the runway waiting for an hour. Yay. Go United. And then the captain has the audacity to come on and say that the tower is "fitting us in" and we are leaving "5 minutes ahead of schedule!" As the girl behind me, who apparently had an even rougher time with traveling today, said, "Whooppee-fucking-dooo." Amen, sister!
Long story short, I made it to my connecting flight while the plane was on the ground but after United closed the doors-- and they cannot make any exceptions to let me on the plane, of course. So, after hurrying from one end of the concourse to the other, I then needed to hurry most of the way back to where I started to queue into the line to try for a boarding pass on any other available flights. I got one with a departure of 8:15-- yay, a 3.5 hr layover.
I called M and left a message so she knew and I started the long walk through the 80's style Art Deco tunnel to concourse B and to my gate. M calls me back and we chat for about half an hour-- during which time she logs onto United's website and notes that, after a total of about an hour, the plane I could have been on finally takes off. *sigh
She also passes on some information that my gate-- although there has been no general announcement or an announcement at the gate at which I am sitting-- for my flight has been changed... back to concourse C. I hang up with M, go double-check the information she has relayed to me on a flight display (which involves traveling way down the concourse because, of course, Chicago O'Hare doesn't need to let you know where to go to catch flights), and sure enough, it has changed. I now high-tail it back over to concourse C and arrive nearly back where I started.
I call M back to thank her for the information, and then I break out the PBJ that she also very thoughtfully suggested I take with me.
Now, normally my stories end there. With delays and mad dashes to/through customs, etc. But not this time.
As I was sitting at concourse C, gate 16, eating my sandwich, a gentleman walked by. This guy was pretty old, but, beyond that, something about him made me say to myself, "Boy, he doesn't look so hot." He looked a little confused, and very pale. But not knowing him from Adam, I had to assume he always looked like that.
Well, on the tail end of our flight to Santa Ana, the stewardess came over the intercomm asking if any medical doctors were on board the flight. Not really a good sign. When we landed, we were delayed about 20-25 minutes while paramedics and sheriffs made their way onto the plane, resuscitated the same man I was worried about in Chicago, and took him off the plane on a gurney. I hope he's okay, and I wish I had spoken up when I first noticed him.
So, now it is midnight, I am home, have a very, very happy cat sitting next to me meowing and purring and asking for attention. I feel like it is 4 am, because I finally transitioned to Altantic Time about 3 days before needing to leave. And I have to go to bed because I'm scheduled to be at work tomorrow.
So, for those of you keeping track and who made it through this probably long-winded and digression-filled post (two things that happen a lot when I'm tired), that makes 6 total travels, three there and three back. And 8 problems with those flights (6 delays/rushes, 1 customs incident, and one medical incident).
So, basically, what I'm saying is this-- if you need to travel, find out if I'm on the same flight. And book a different one.
"Whooppeee-fucking-dooo."
The plan was to leave Saint John at 11:30am, get to Montreal with 1.5 hrs to navigate customs and get to my next plane. Arrive in Chicago with similar amount of time to find plane to So Cal and head home. Arrive here just before 7:30-- Super Shuttle to drive me home by 8ish. Relaxing evening of unpacking and tidying up, as I am now on Atlantic Time (+4 hrs) and 8 will feel like midnight to me.
Here's the reality. Saint John to Montreal goes without too much incident, however, leaving M yet again was just as painful as always. Gotta get moving already!
I got a little confused in Montreal, but was immediately set on the right path after asking a worker and had no problems reaching the plane.
And then the fun began-- because the captain of the Montreal to Chicago flight didn't want for his crew and himself to go through customs, they had to "begin the taxi" away from the gate. However, some mysterious something (which they never described adequately) meant we had to sit on the runway waiting for an hour. Yay. Go United. And then the captain has the audacity to come on and say that the tower is "fitting us in" and we are leaving "5 minutes ahead of schedule!" As the girl behind me, who apparently had an even rougher time with traveling today, said, "Whooppee-fucking-dooo." Amen, sister!
Long story short, I made it to my connecting flight while the plane was on the ground but after United closed the doors-- and they cannot make any exceptions to let me on the plane, of course. So, after hurrying from one end of the concourse to the other, I then needed to hurry most of the way back to where I started to queue into the line to try for a boarding pass on any other available flights. I got one with a departure of 8:15-- yay, a 3.5 hr layover.
I called M and left a message so she knew and I started the long walk through the 80's style Art Deco tunnel to concourse B and to my gate. M calls me back and we chat for about half an hour-- during which time she logs onto United's website and notes that, after a total of about an hour, the plane I could have been on finally takes off. *sigh
She also passes on some information that my gate-- although there has been no general announcement or an announcement at the gate at which I am sitting-- for my flight has been changed... back to concourse C. I hang up with M, go double-check the information she has relayed to me on a flight display (which involves traveling way down the concourse because, of course, Chicago O'Hare doesn't need to let you know where to go to catch flights), and sure enough, it has changed. I now high-tail it back over to concourse C and arrive nearly back where I started.
I call M back to thank her for the information, and then I break out the PBJ that she also very thoughtfully suggested I take with me.
Now, normally my stories end there. With delays and mad dashes to/through customs, etc. But not this time.
As I was sitting at concourse C, gate 16, eating my sandwich, a gentleman walked by. This guy was pretty old, but, beyond that, something about him made me say to myself, "Boy, he doesn't look so hot." He looked a little confused, and very pale. But not knowing him from Adam, I had to assume he always looked like that.
Well, on the tail end of our flight to Santa Ana, the stewardess came over the intercomm asking if any medical doctors were on board the flight. Not really a good sign. When we landed, we were delayed about 20-25 minutes while paramedics and sheriffs made their way onto the plane, resuscitated the same man I was worried about in Chicago, and took him off the plane on a gurney. I hope he's okay, and I wish I had spoken up when I first noticed him.
So, now it is midnight, I am home, have a very, very happy cat sitting next to me meowing and purring and asking for attention. I feel like it is 4 am, because I finally transitioned to Altantic Time about 3 days before needing to leave. And I have to go to bed because I'm scheduled to be at work tomorrow.
So, for those of you keeping track and who made it through this probably long-winded and digression-filled post (two things that happen a lot when I'm tired), that makes 6 total travels, three there and three back. And 8 problems with those flights (6 delays/rushes, 1 customs incident, and one medical incident).
So, basically, what I'm saying is this-- if you need to travel, find out if I'm on the same flight. And book a different one.
"Whooppeee-fucking-dooo."
July 9, 2006
The Porch is Done!
The porch is done! Yay!
So if anyone stops by today, DO NOT walk up to the porch!
Let me back up a second. Last night M's grill went kaput and some time was spent figuring out what failed. Turns out the plastic connection that attaches the gas line to the gas tank was failing and that gas was not making it to the machine. Easy, right? Well, not quite. The grill's existing line was tightly clipped onto the grill using solid brass clips. A safety feature, except if something happens and you need to replace the mechanism. I finally managed to cut through the brass fitting and we ran down to Canadian Tire for some replacement parts. A solid hour (or more) later, I managed to get the grill back up and running. And this time, the fitting is a screw-on style, so if something like this happens again, we can just unscrew that from the grill and replace it.
So, instead of grilling last night, we had Taco Night. I think M quite liked it. MMmmmm... tacos.
Okay, now for today:
I got out of bed early (8 am) and got right out there and finished the one section of railing that was needed. That took about 1.5 hours. Then, M awake and "rar'in" to go, we tackled the porch floor and sides.
It took us the majority of the day to do, but it is finished. Looks pretty good, too. M chose Jack Pine as the color for that section, a more greenish shade than the previous painting in that area. It better matches the shutters on the windows and really looks good, if I do say so myself.
I think it is safe to say that neither one of us wants to see paint or a brush for a long time!
After the porch, M weeded and I tried mowing the front lawn. Bad idea on my part. I was already very, very tired and mowing up and down that hill was a killer. However, the majority of her front yard is finished and looks okay. Hopefully I can finish the rest tomorrow and give M a small break from mowing.
We were so exhausted that we barely were able to make dinner. We grilled some steaks and garlic potatoes on the newly fixed grill (works great, but now maybe TOO good-- it was way too hot at first and we had to turn it down a lot). Again, very tasty, but our level of tired made it hard to finish the meal.
Now we are lounging around the house and preparing to watch a little TV, a movie, or do something else that is not a problem if we fall asleep during.
So, on my last full day here for a while I need to:
So if anyone stops by today, DO NOT walk up to the porch!
Let me back up a second. Last night M's grill went kaput and some time was spent figuring out what failed. Turns out the plastic connection that attaches the gas line to the gas tank was failing and that gas was not making it to the machine. Easy, right? Well, not quite. The grill's existing line was tightly clipped onto the grill using solid brass clips. A safety feature, except if something happens and you need to replace the mechanism. I finally managed to cut through the brass fitting and we ran down to Canadian Tire for some replacement parts. A solid hour (or more) later, I managed to get the grill back up and running. And this time, the fitting is a screw-on style, so if something like this happens again, we can just unscrew that from the grill and replace it.
So, instead of grilling last night, we had Taco Night. I think M quite liked it. MMmmmm... tacos.
Okay, now for today:
I got out of bed early (8 am) and got right out there and finished the one section of railing that was needed. That took about 1.5 hours. Then, M awake and "rar'in" to go, we tackled the porch floor and sides.
It took us the majority of the day to do, but it is finished. Looks pretty good, too. M chose Jack Pine as the color for that section, a more greenish shade than the previous painting in that area. It better matches the shutters on the windows and really looks good, if I do say so myself.
I think it is safe to say that neither one of us wants to see paint or a brush for a long time!
After the porch, M weeded and I tried mowing the front lawn. Bad idea on my part. I was already very, very tired and mowing up and down that hill was a killer. However, the majority of her front yard is finished and looks okay. Hopefully I can finish the rest tomorrow and give M a small break from mowing.
We were so exhausted that we barely were able to make dinner. We grilled some steaks and garlic potatoes on the newly fixed grill (works great, but now maybe TOO good-- it was way too hot at first and we had to turn it down a lot). Again, very tasty, but our level of tired made it hard to finish the meal.
Now we are lounging around the house and preparing to watch a little TV, a movie, or do something else that is not a problem if we fall asleep during.
So, on my last full day here for a while I need to:
- Do a little paint touch-up once everything is dry and we can see what (if anything) we missed or goobered up.
- Finish mowing.
- I'm hoping to get down to Dom's and have him shave my head and face for me.
- And lots and lots of cuddling, I hope. ;-)
July 7, 2006
Progress
So far I have managed to do many, but not all, of the chores on my Honey Do list. As today is the first day waking up without fog, I can get a good start on the painting and, hopefully, make a lot of progress on that task. It looks like I won't get to the deck this trip.
The porch wouldn't be taking so long except for all the spindles on the railing. They are placed very close together, are hard to paint into, and I have to be sitting down to reach them, which is an awkward position for me. I imagine the floor of the porch will seem like a breeze once I get to it!
I also discovered that I am horrible at hanging doors. I used a level and took my time but the door I hanged did not jibe with the lintle into which I was putting it. And then the next day the door didn't close so well (as though the house shifted slightly-- or like my door settled somehow). *sigh
M's dad is coming by to drop off a weed whacker for those areas we couldn't mow. Hopefully he'll have some time to offer suggestions on the door as well. He's an incredibly capable person-- he should be able to point out what I did wrong and offer suggestions to fix/improve it.
Anyway, enough stalling-- time to get out there and start painting. If you are in Canada, in this area, and have some free time and enjoy painting, feel free to stop by! :-D
The porch wouldn't be taking so long except for all the spindles on the railing. They are placed very close together, are hard to paint into, and I have to be sitting down to reach them, which is an awkward position for me. I imagine the floor of the porch will seem like a breeze once I get to it!
I also discovered that I am horrible at hanging doors. I used a level and took my time but the door I hanged did not jibe with the lintle into which I was putting it. And then the next day the door didn't close so well (as though the house shifted slightly-- or like my door settled somehow). *sigh
M's dad is coming by to drop off a weed whacker for those areas we couldn't mow. Hopefully he'll have some time to offer suggestions on the door as well. He's an incredibly capable person-- he should be able to point out what I did wrong and offer suggestions to fix/improve it.
Anyway, enough stalling-- time to get out there and start painting. If you are in Canada, in this area, and have some free time and enjoy painting, feel free to stop by! :-D
July 3, 2006
How It Really Went
On the previous post, I mentioned what my expected itinerary was. Now, here's how it really went:
With what went on with that delay, the best decision I made was to pack only my carry on. That allowed me to bypass the long United line for check in at SNA, it allowed me to rush out and make the Montreal flight in Chicago (if I had to wait for my checked baggaged, I would never have made it), and allowed me to breeze through customs so that, when I got a little lost in Montreal airport, I had plenty of time to right the ship and make it to the correct gate.
But, I am here!
As to how it is going so far-- well, great. I love my time here and with my fiance. If I didn't, I wouldn't have asked her to marry me! She's incredible.
And, of course, she had a "Honey-do" list waiting for me. So she's keeping me busy.
So far I have:
Just took a quick break. M has already decorated. The place looks down-right American! There are flags everywhere. How wonderful is that?
It is 9:17 pm and the sun is finally setting. Time to head out for some quality time with the lady in my life. I'll try to post more later.
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With what went on with that delay, the best decision I made was to pack only my carry on. That allowed me to bypass the long United line for check in at SNA, it allowed me to rush out and make the Montreal flight in Chicago (if I had to wait for my checked baggaged, I would never have made it), and allowed me to breeze through customs so that, when I got a little lost in Montreal airport, I had plenty of time to right the ship and make it to the correct gate.
But, I am here!
As to how it is going so far-- well, great. I love my time here and with my fiance. If I didn't, I wouldn't have asked her to marry me! She's incredible.
And, of course, she had a "Honey-do" list waiting for me. So she's keeping me busy.
So far I have:
- Mowed back lawn. Wow-- she's got a big yard! Was exhausted when I got done. Will probably need to mow whole thing (front and back) before I go. Will have to look into getting a self-propelled mower when I move permanently.
- Celebrated Canada Day with M and Friends. Go Canada! Wore a white shirt with large red maple leaf on chest... I was Canada Man!™ for a day!
- Met M's Mom over lunch. I think it went pretty well. She seemed to relax as the lunch continued and appeared to get comfortable with me. I guess we won't know until the inevitable call to talk about it happens. ;-)
- Have accomplished a cursory wash of porch in preparation for painting. May take Mare up on her offer to help! Damn big porch.
- Have touched up some painting around the house. Have also worked on M's bedroom door, which was sticking.
Just took a quick break. M has already decorated. The place looks down-right American! There are flags everywhere. How wonderful is that?
It is 9:17 pm and the sun is finally setting. Time to head out for some quality time with the lady in my life. I'll try to post more later.
June 28, 2006
Itinerary
This is the first time I am doing the flight during the day. I usually take the red-eye and leave at 10:30 pm and get there around noon. However, as I never seem to sleep on the red-eye, this may wind up being better in the long run for me. I'll arrive tired and it will be time to sleep.
- Alarm set for 5am.
- Super Shuttle here at 5:45-6:00 am for ride to airport (I am scheduled as last pickup for that shuttle).
- Plane departs 8:35 am.
- Arrive in Chicago at 2:30 pm.
- Leave Chicago at 3:45 pm.
- Arrive in Montreal at 6:50 pm.
- Customs in Montreal.
- Leave Montreal at 8:25 pm.
- Arrive in Saint John at 11:00 pm.
That 4-hour time difference heading back east really makes this seem like a long day. Especially for a guy who dislikes flying.
She's so totally worth it!
June 25, 2006
Motorcycle Mania
This morning I headed out to run some errands. As I was leaving the parking lot, I heard a huge roaring sound coming closer. Assuming it was a plane, I looked skyward. Clear.
My ears clued me in that it was coming from the road next to me. As I got into my vehicle, a stream of motorcyles came roaring up Jamboree, escorted by police.
The stream of motorcycles was long. I was able to drive out of the parking lot, turn onto a crossroad, and still waited about 15 minutes while the funeral procession passed by.
I have never understood why a funeral procession is allowed right of way. I get that it is a sign of respect to the fallen, whomever they were. Of course, funerals are really for the living, so who exactly are we showing respect to with these processions?
Where I live is about as whitebread as you can get in this area. Seeing the looks of consternation on the faces of those around me as this group of bikers roared up the road and stopped traffic was classic.
The sound of the loud chopper mufflers was like a huge raspberry through the morning air.
Do you think that was why the procession went up this particular road?
My ears clued me in that it was coming from the road next to me. As I got into my vehicle, a stream of motorcyles came roaring up Jamboree, escorted by police.
The stream of motorcycles was long. I was able to drive out of the parking lot, turn onto a crossroad, and still waited about 15 minutes while the funeral procession passed by.
I have never understood why a funeral procession is allowed right of way. I get that it is a sign of respect to the fallen, whomever they were. Of course, funerals are really for the living, so who exactly are we showing respect to with these processions?
Where I live is about as whitebread as you can get in this area. Seeing the looks of consternation on the faces of those around me as this group of bikers roared up the road and stopped traffic was classic.
The sound of the loud chopper mufflers was like a huge raspberry through the morning air.
Do you think that was why the procession went up this particular road?
June 20, 2006
The Gift that Keeps on Giving
My sister gave me an Amazon gift certificate for my birthday. I used it to buy some items, the last of which was the Justice League Season 2 cartoon collection. I just received it in the mail today. In opening the package, I found a free ticket for going to see Superman Returns—a movie on my “must see” list.
How cool is that? The coupon is good for up to $10.50 and for only 1 person, but is also good at any showing (regardless of the “no passes, no coupons” rule of a theatre). The one caveat I have is that I will be in Saint John for this movie and plan to see it with my fiancée; I have no idea if it will be valid there or if they will accept it. I assume so as Canadians can by this DVD collection too.
As an aside, Daily Variety and Hollywood Reporter gave pretty high marks to an advanced screening of Superman Returns. Both basically said it is an incredible action picture that also has heart. You can read more about it here.
How cool is that? The coupon is good for up to $10.50 and for only 1 person, but is also good at any showing (regardless of the “no passes, no coupons” rule of a theatre). The one caveat I have is that I will be in Saint John for this movie and plan to see it with my fiancée; I have no idea if it will be valid there or if they will accept it. I assume so as Canadians can by this DVD collection too.
As an aside, Daily Variety and Hollywood Reporter gave pretty high marks to an advanced screening of Superman Returns. Both basically said it is an incredible action picture that also has heart. You can read more about it here.
June 18, 2006
Fun with Mom
Every time I visit my mother, she has a few things she'd like me to do for her. Little "honey-dos" for her son. Which is fine; I usually have no problem with her list of things.
I went out to visit her for her birthday, which was actually nearly 2 weeks ago, but our busy schedules didn't allow for a visit until this weekend.
Today's tasks wound up being installing and setting up her Harmony 880 remote (she saw how much I enjoyed mine, and wanted to eliminate the 5 remotes she had), reading and offering suggestions on a paper she is doing for one of her classes, and painting her front room.
I took care of setting up the Harmony remote while mom went to the store for some fixings for our dinner. Got everything onto the remote with only minimal trouble.
She had nearly a gallon of the tone she used in her bedroom available, and I thought it would go with the front room fairly nicely. It is an off-white with a hint of a sea-foam green in it-- but just a hint. So we prepared the room, pulling all the furniture away from the walls and taking all the pictures and faceplates down.
As a side note-- it was 41°C at 10:30 am as we were leaving breakfast. And it got hotter. It was still 37°C when I left at 8 pm, with the sun having set nearly an hour earlier.
Now, I don't know about you, but I like to be comfortable when I paint-- especially when it is so darn hot outside and the AC is struggling to cool the place. I think this picture clearly illustrates just how comfortable I need to be.
Go ahead and laugh as much as you need. I'll wait.
Ready? Okay, we're not sure exactly how mom managed to get the angle just right for that picture, but we were in tears when we first looked at it. Apparently I'm very comfortable with my sexuality! ;-)
Here's a slightly better one-- shows I'm actually wearing shorts, not a frilly skirt.
Anyway, we managed to get the entire room painted and trimmed with the gallon we had. It looks pretty darn good, if I do say so myself. And, other than a few drops of paint on my hands, I had no paint spatters anywhere on me or on my clothes.
We then took a break and ate dinner-- BBQ ribs, rice, and mac/cheese. Yummy.
I then read over and offered suggestions on how to better focus her paper and get her back on track. She had the ideas for a good paper there, she just sort of lost her thought and needed some pushing and prodding to get her back to it. Easily accomplished.
Anyway, another good time "bonding" with mom with a day of projects. I can't help but wonder-- what will be in store the next time I visit? And will that sexy skirt be waiting for me??? :-D
I went out to visit her for her birthday, which was actually nearly 2 weeks ago, but our busy schedules didn't allow for a visit until this weekend.
Today's tasks wound up being installing and setting up her Harmony 880 remote (she saw how much I enjoyed mine, and wanted to eliminate the 5 remotes she had), reading and offering suggestions on a paper she is doing for one of her classes, and painting her front room.
I took care of setting up the Harmony remote while mom went to the store for some fixings for our dinner. Got everything onto the remote with only minimal trouble.
She had nearly a gallon of the tone she used in her bedroom available, and I thought it would go with the front room fairly nicely. It is an off-white with a hint of a sea-foam green in it-- but just a hint. So we prepared the room, pulling all the furniture away from the walls and taking all the pictures and faceplates down.
As a side note-- it was 41°C at 10:30 am as we were leaving breakfast. And it got hotter. It was still 37°C when I left at 8 pm, with the sun having set nearly an hour earlier.
Now, I don't know about you, but I like to be comfortable when I paint-- especially when it is so darn hot outside and the AC is struggling to cool the place. I think this picture clearly illustrates just how comfortable I need to be.
Go ahead and laugh as much as you need. I'll wait.Ready? Okay, we're not sure exactly how mom managed to get the angle just right for that picture, but we were in tears when we first looked at it. Apparently I'm very comfortable with my sexuality! ;-)
Here's a slightly better one-- shows I'm actually wearing shorts, not a frilly skirt.
Anyway, we managed to get the entire room painted and trimmed with the gallon we had. It looks pretty darn good, if I do say so myself. And, other than a few drops of paint on my hands, I had no paint spatters anywhere on me or on my clothes.We then took a break and ate dinner-- BBQ ribs, rice, and mac/cheese. Yummy.
I then read over and offered suggestions on how to better focus her paper and get her back on track. She had the ideas for a good paper there, she just sort of lost her thought and needed some pushing and prodding to get her back to it. Easily accomplished.
Anyway, another good time "bonding" with mom with a day of projects. I can't help but wonder-- what will be in store the next time I visit? And will that sexy skirt be waiting for me??? :-D
June 15, 2006
The Hand that Feeds You
My company eliminated approximately 200 positions today. I know of nearly 10 people from our division with whom I worked or knew socially who are out on the street right now. There may be more, as a bunch of emails were not answered or people were not available in the corporate IM.
I realize this is part of business. Companies do what they can to be profitable, to remain "lean and hungry," and to hopefully grow in the future.
But that doesn't stop the sting when it happens to you.
Luckily, most of the people with whom I work were spared this fate today. And I can rest better tonight knowing that this round is done and jobs should be safe for "a while."
But I do wonder about those who were let go. Many people don't plan for these events and do not have the wherewithall to combat it when a company lets them go. I hope that those with new mortgages, new children, and other responsibilities will be okay until they find new employment.
From what the VP of our division told us, the company provided fairly considerate severance packages to those who were let go. That should ease a little of their burdens while they start looking for a job.
About a month and a half ago, our company announced plans to "reorganize management" and to "create better synergies" in departments. My first thought was, "Oh, great, more layoffs." Why can't those in upper management remember what it was like to hear words like that? Why couldn't they respect their employees enough to add, "And there is a chance that some layoff could occur" so we would be prepared when this day came?
I am sure it is written in some manual somewhere why management does not, should not, or cannot let its employees know when cut backs are going to occur. I just wish I could find that passage so I could understand. It seems so disrespectful to me to just up and call 200 employees and say, "Your job has been eliminated. Have a nice day."
I will soldier on, doing the best I can. But my faith in the company is shaken right now and I need to gain some perspective.
And let me extend a heartfelt "Good luck!" to those who were fired today.
I realize this is part of business. Companies do what they can to be profitable, to remain "lean and hungry," and to hopefully grow in the future.
But that doesn't stop the sting when it happens to you.
Luckily, most of the people with whom I work were spared this fate today. And I can rest better tonight knowing that this round is done and jobs should be safe for "a while."
But I do wonder about those who were let go. Many people don't plan for these events and do not have the wherewithall to combat it when a company lets them go. I hope that those with new mortgages, new children, and other responsibilities will be okay until they find new employment.
From what the VP of our division told us, the company provided fairly considerate severance packages to those who were let go. That should ease a little of their burdens while they start looking for a job.
About a month and a half ago, our company announced plans to "reorganize management" and to "create better synergies" in departments. My first thought was, "Oh, great, more layoffs." Why can't those in upper management remember what it was like to hear words like that? Why couldn't they respect their employees enough to add, "And there is a chance that some layoff could occur" so we would be prepared when this day came?
I am sure it is written in some manual somewhere why management does not, should not, or cannot let its employees know when cut backs are going to occur. I just wish I could find that passage so I could understand. It seems so disrespectful to me to just up and call 200 employees and say, "Your job has been eliminated. Have a nice day."
I will soldier on, doing the best I can. But my faith in the company is shaken right now and I need to gain some perspective.
And let me extend a heartfelt "Good luck!" to those who were fired today.
Book to Film
What book, novel, comic book, or other written media that, to the best of your knowledge, has not yet been turned into any sort of movie, cartoon, or other visual media, would you most like to see? What format would you most like to see it?
(Please limit responses to top 2-3).
I’ll start:
Chronicles of Thomas Covenant: Lord Foul’s Bane (Stephen R. Donaldson), Theatrical Live Action Movie
Note: Hugh Laurie as Covenant
Over Sea, Under Stone (Susan Cooper), Theatrical Movie (Cartoon or Live Action)
Casca: The Eternal Mercenary (Barry Sadler), TV miniseries
(Please limit responses to top 2-3).
I’ll start:
Chronicles of Thomas Covenant: Lord Foul’s Bane (Stephen R. Donaldson), Theatrical Live Action Movie
Note: Hugh Laurie as Covenant
Over Sea, Under Stone (Susan Cooper), Theatrical Movie (Cartoon or Live Action)
Casca: The Eternal Mercenary (Barry Sadler), TV miniseries
June 13, 2006
Update on Move
We had some issues crop up with the plan for me to move back east. When I asked my company, they had some concerns about my moving to Canada, and New Brunswick in particular. Being a business, two major things came up: the need for business licenses and the need for new payroll services and benefits.
While we were able to pass on some information to Human Resources about this (namely that New Brunswick doesn’t require business licenses) it wasn’t enough. The company feels that the expense to check on all of this, including lawyer fees, payroll fees, time spent setting up new procedures within the company, etc., are not worth the business expenses for one person’s request to move.
However, there was a bit of a miscommunication with the HR department. While I had expressed that I wanted to be as close as possible to New Brunswick and my fiancée, my HR rep had only heard “New Brunswick or Maine” (the only state I mentioned as part of the “as close as possible” scenario). She thought her saying no was the end of it, and I thought she was still checking on other locations.
So, I brought it up again when I found we had an office in Boston. She was surprised, for the reasons above. However, once she understood my reasoning for wanting to be as close to my fiancée as possible, she then knew what to check.
It turns out that the company has business licenses and payroll/benefits support in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts, with an actual office in Boston. Since I have already cleared the hurdle of requesting permission from the groups/managers with whom I work on the work-from-home issue, all I need to do at this point is find a place to live in either NH or MA, move, and inform HR and Payroll on which date I will be effective from the new address. They would prefer that I try to correspond that with the start of a payroll cycle, if at all possible.
While this is obviously not the best solution, it gets me close enough to New Brunswick that I can drive rather than fly to see my honey. And she can visit me, too. It would be down to a few hundred miles instead of well over three thousand. We could visit on the weekends, holidays, and vacations much easier (yes, I grant that weather may conflict at times). It also allows us to further consolidate our resources, see each other much more often, and work on the immigration side of things with the lawyer under better circumstances.
I am still working on another potential solution on my end; a friend’s company has no issues with me working from Canada. They would like to hire me; however, they have some issues they must resolve before this can be accomplished. It may not fit into my time-frame for moving to the east coast. I am meeting with her regularly and hoping to hear some good news soon.
Another potential is on the New Brunswick side. Liz is going to provide my resume to her aunt. The aunt’s company seems to be in need of technical writers often and, if they like me, there may be another way to get all the way to New Brunswick on a sooner time frame. So I need to bring my resume up to speed and get it to Liz. Maybe I can interview while I am there on vacation? Or, I may take one step to NH/MA and work for my present company while looking for a more long-term employment solution in New Brunswick.
The big concern for both of us right now is getting some or all of the distance separating our relationship to disappear. As you can see, we are actively working on three options right now, and one of them, while not ideal, allows for a very immediate time-frame for moving, which would be nice. A few hours drive over an all-day, multiple plane excursion would certainly go a long way toward helping us move forward in the relationship.
Hopefully this answers any questions people have about where we stand on the move and shows that we are working on multiple angles on getting me to Canada and to my honey.
While we were able to pass on some information to Human Resources about this (namely that New Brunswick doesn’t require business licenses) it wasn’t enough. The company feels that the expense to check on all of this, including lawyer fees, payroll fees, time spent setting up new procedures within the company, etc., are not worth the business expenses for one person’s request to move.
However, there was a bit of a miscommunication with the HR department. While I had expressed that I wanted to be as close as possible to New Brunswick and my fiancée, my HR rep had only heard “New Brunswick or Maine” (the only state I mentioned as part of the “as close as possible” scenario). She thought her saying no was the end of it, and I thought she was still checking on other locations.
So, I brought it up again when I found we had an office in Boston. She was surprised, for the reasons above. However, once she understood my reasoning for wanting to be as close to my fiancée as possible, she then knew what to check.
It turns out that the company has business licenses and payroll/benefits support in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts, with an actual office in Boston. Since I have already cleared the hurdle of requesting permission from the groups/managers with whom I work on the work-from-home issue, all I need to do at this point is find a place to live in either NH or MA, move, and inform HR and Payroll on which date I will be effective from the new address. They would prefer that I try to correspond that with the start of a payroll cycle, if at all possible.
While this is obviously not the best solution, it gets me close enough to New Brunswick that I can drive rather than fly to see my honey. And she can visit me, too. It would be down to a few hundred miles instead of well over three thousand. We could visit on the weekends, holidays, and vacations much easier (yes, I grant that weather may conflict at times). It also allows us to further consolidate our resources, see each other much more often, and work on the immigration side of things with the lawyer under better circumstances.
I am still working on another potential solution on my end; a friend’s company has no issues with me working from Canada. They would like to hire me; however, they have some issues they must resolve before this can be accomplished. It may not fit into my time-frame for moving to the east coast. I am meeting with her regularly and hoping to hear some good news soon.
Another potential is on the New Brunswick side. Liz is going to provide my resume to her aunt. The aunt’s company seems to be in need of technical writers often and, if they like me, there may be another way to get all the way to New Brunswick on a sooner time frame. So I need to bring my resume up to speed and get it to Liz. Maybe I can interview while I am there on vacation? Or, I may take one step to NH/MA and work for my present company while looking for a more long-term employment solution in New Brunswick.
The big concern for both of us right now is getting some or all of the distance separating our relationship to disappear. As you can see, we are actively working on three options right now, and one of them, while not ideal, allows for a very immediate time-frame for moving, which would be nice. A few hours drive over an all-day, multiple plane excursion would certainly go a long way toward helping us move forward in the relationship.
Hopefully this answers any questions people have about where we stand on the move and shows that we are working on multiple angles on getting me to Canada and to my honey.
Books
The following is a list of books I plan to give away or sell. If you would like anything on the list, please let me know and I'll set it aside for you. First come, first served.
(This is mostly for my California friends-- I'm not sure I want to trek these to Canada! But if you make me a good argument, I may consider it.) ;-)
Softback
1. Crichton, Michael Sphere - - Sci-fi/Fantasy
2. Crichton, Michael Jurassic Park - - Sci-fi/Fantasy
3. David, Peter Sir Apropos of Nothing - - Fantasy/Humor
4. Duncan, Dave The Cutting Edge Part 1 A Handful of Men Fantasy
5. Duncan, Dave Upland Outlaws part 2 A Handful of Men Fantasy
6. Duncan, Dave The Stricken Field part 3 A Handful of Men Fantasy
7. Duncan, Dave The Living God part 4 A Handful of Men Fantasy
8. Jordan, Robert The Eye of the World Part 1 The Wheel of Time Fantasy
9. Jordan, Robert The Great Hunt Part 2 The Wheel of Time Fantasy
10. Jordan, Robert The Dragon Reborn Part 3 The Wheel of Time Fantasy
11. Laws, Stephen Darkfall - - Horror, modern
12. Newman, Kim Anno Dracula - - Horror -- TAKEN (RENEE)
13. Rice, Anne The Vampire Lestat Part 2 Vampire Chronicles Horror/Gothic
14. Rice, Anne Interview with a Vampire Part 1 Vampire Chronicles Horror/Gothic
15. Romkey, Michael I, Vampire - - Horror-- TAKEN (RENEE)
16. Slade, Michael Cutthroat - - Horror, modern
17. Slade, Michael Headhunter - - Horror, modern
18. Slade, Michael Ghoul - - Horror, modern
19. Zelazny, Roger A Night in the Lonesome October - - Sci-fi/fantasy
Hardback
1. De Lint, Charles The Little Country - - Fantasy
2. Duncan, Dave The Great Game 1 Past Imperative Fantasy
3. Feist, Raymond E. A Darkness at Sethanon 3 Riftwar Saga Fantasy -- TAKEN (MATT)
4. Feist, Raymond E. Silverthorn 2 Riftwar Saga Fantasy -- TAKEN (MATT)
5. Feist, Raymond E. Krondor: The Assassins 2 Riftwar Legacy Fantasy -- TAKEN (MATT)
6. Fiest, Raymond E. Prince of the Blood - - Fantasy -- TAKEN (MATT)
7. Fleming, Candace C. and Von Halle, Barbara Handbook of Relational Database Design - - Technical
8. Gould, Steven C. Jumper - - Sci-fi
9. Kay, Guy Gavriel The Summer Tree 1 Fionavar Tapestry Fantasy
10. Kay, Guy Gavriel The Wandering Fire 2 Fionavar Tapestry Fantasy
11. Kay, Guy Gavriel The Darkest Road 3 Fionavar Tapestry Fantasy
12. Moorcock, Michael The Elric Saga 2 (3 books) - Fantasy
13. Moorcock, Michael The Elric Saga 1 (3 books) - Fantasy
14. Moorcock, Michael The Revenge of the Rose - Elric Fantasy
15. Moorcock, Michael The Fortress of the Pearl - Elric Fantasy
16. Saberhagen, Fred The Complete Book of Swords 1,2,3 - Fantasy
17. Seinfeld, Jerry Sein Language - - Humor
18. Shepard, Leslie The Book of Dracula Collection Vampires Horror-- TAKEN (RENEE)
I will take items off the list as they are requested, and I will add more if I find any more to add. I think I may have one or two more boxes of books to go through.
(This is mostly for my California friends-- I'm not sure I want to trek these to Canada! But if you make me a good argument, I may consider it.) ;-)
Softback
1. Crichton, Michael Sphere - - Sci-fi/Fantasy
2. Crichton, Michael Jurassic Park - - Sci-fi/Fantasy
3. David, Peter Sir Apropos of Nothing - - Fantasy/Humor
4. Duncan, Dave The Cutting Edge Part 1 A Handful of Men Fantasy
5. Duncan, Dave Upland Outlaws part 2 A Handful of Men Fantasy
6. Duncan, Dave The Stricken Field part 3 A Handful of Men Fantasy
7. Duncan, Dave The Living God part 4 A Handful of Men Fantasy
8. Jordan, Robert The Eye of the World Part 1 The Wheel of Time Fantasy
9. Jordan, Robert The Great Hunt Part 2 The Wheel of Time Fantasy
10. Jordan, Robert The Dragon Reborn Part 3 The Wheel of Time Fantasy
11. Laws, Stephen Darkfall - - Horror, modern
12. Newman, Kim Anno Dracula - - Horror -- TAKEN (RENEE)
13. Rice, Anne The Vampire Lestat Part 2 Vampire Chronicles Horror/Gothic
14. Rice, Anne Interview with a Vampire Part 1 Vampire Chronicles Horror/Gothic
15. Romkey, Michael I, Vampire - - Horror-- TAKEN (RENEE)
16. Slade, Michael Cutthroat - - Horror, modern
17. Slade, Michael Headhunter - - Horror, modern
18. Slade, Michael Ghoul - - Horror, modern
19. Zelazny, Roger A Night in the Lonesome October - - Sci-fi/fantasy
Hardback
1. De Lint, Charles The Little Country - - Fantasy
2. Duncan, Dave The Great Game 1 Past Imperative Fantasy
3. Feist, Raymond E. A Darkness at Sethanon 3 Riftwar Saga Fantasy -- TAKEN (MATT)
4. Feist, Raymond E. Silverthorn 2 Riftwar Saga Fantasy -- TAKEN (MATT)
5. Feist, Raymond E. Krondor: The Assassins 2 Riftwar Legacy Fantasy -- TAKEN (MATT)
6. Fiest, Raymond E. Prince of the Blood - - Fantasy -- TAKEN (MATT)
7. Fleming, Candace C. and Von Halle, Barbara Handbook of Relational Database Design - - Technical
8. Gould, Steven C. Jumper - - Sci-fi
9. Kay, Guy Gavriel The Summer Tree 1 Fionavar Tapestry Fantasy
10. Kay, Guy Gavriel The Wandering Fire 2 Fionavar Tapestry Fantasy
11. Kay, Guy Gavriel The Darkest Road 3 Fionavar Tapestry Fantasy
12. Moorcock, Michael The Elric Saga 2 (3 books) - Fantasy
13. Moorcock, Michael The Elric Saga 1 (3 books) - Fantasy
14. Moorcock, Michael The Revenge of the Rose - Elric Fantasy
15. Moorcock, Michael The Fortress of the Pearl - Elric Fantasy
16. Saberhagen, Fred The Complete Book of Swords 1,2,3 - Fantasy
17. Seinfeld, Jerry Sein Language - - Humor
18. Shepard, Leslie The Book of Dracula Collection Vampires Horror-- TAKEN (RENEE)
I will take items off the list as they are requested, and I will add more if I find any more to add. I think I may have one or two more boxes of books to go through.
June 12, 2006
Like a Dog
In case you are wondering why I have not been posting, I have been down for the count for nearly a week. Got sick on Tuesday and was sick through today and I only worked a couple of days during that time.
I am back at work today. I would guesstimate my health at about 80% of normal.
I had an interesting confluence of events occur. I switched to a new medication a few weeks ago and the change is not going smoothly, as yet. The following is the WebMD.com definition of the side effects of this new drug:
So far, in taking this medication, I have responded with the upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea, headache (severe!), sore throat, sensitivity to light, interesting colored urine, and a skin rash. I have been on the phone with the prescribing doctor more than once during this transitional phase.
What was really fun was that this last week I also had a cold. Imagine many of those symptoms listed above combined with a stuffy head, fever, congestion, and a mild cough/minimal sneezing.
Joy.
One of the most interesting problems was sleep—the medication has kicked me back into insomnia while being sick made me want to sleep. I would go to bed and kind of be in a semi-wakeful trance-like state for a long period and then I would crash and sleep like the dead for 2-4 hours.
I feel a little like I am crawling out of it now. I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Not sure right now if that light is an opening or if it is the train, but either would be welcome at this point.
Hopefully I will get up to speed shortly. Right now, I feel like I am working in a bit of a fog. But I am working.
Knocks wood.
I am back at work today. I would guesstimate my health at about 80% of normal.
I had an interesting confluence of events occur. I switched to a new medication a few weeks ago and the change is not going smoothly, as yet. The following is the WebMD.com definition of the side effects of this new drug:
SulfasalazinePlease note that the guy with the liver disease is taking a medication that warns about liver damage. *Sigh, Most medications do affect the liver, so there is really no way around that. And my doctor is aware of all my troubles, and he thinks the risks are negligible.
This medication may cause stomach upset, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, drowsiness, dizziness or trouble sleeping during the first few days as your body adjusts to the medication. If these symptoms persist or become severe, inform your doctor.
May cause urine to be orange-brown in color. This is not harmful and will disappear when the medication is stopped.
This medication increases sensitivity to sunlight.
Notify your doctor if your condition worsens or you develop: easy bruising.
Rarely, this medication can cause serious, even fatal, side effects such as a severe peeling skin rash known as Stevens- Johnson syndrome, blood disorders (e.g., agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia), or liver damage. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop any of the following symptoms: skin rash or blisters, unusual fatigue, persistent sore throat or fever, yellowing eyes or skin, dark urine, abdominal pain.
In the unlikely event you have an allergic reaction to this drug, seek medical attention immediately. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, trouble breathing.
So far, in taking this medication, I have responded with the upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea, headache (severe!), sore throat, sensitivity to light, interesting colored urine, and a skin rash. I have been on the phone with the prescribing doctor more than once during this transitional phase.
What was really fun was that this last week I also had a cold. Imagine many of those symptoms listed above combined with a stuffy head, fever, congestion, and a mild cough/minimal sneezing.
Joy.
One of the most interesting problems was sleep—the medication has kicked me back into insomnia while being sick made me want to sleep. I would go to bed and kind of be in a semi-wakeful trance-like state for a long period and then I would crash and sleep like the dead for 2-4 hours.
I feel a little like I am crawling out of it now. I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Not sure right now if that light is an opening or if it is the train, but either would be welcome at this point.
Hopefully I will get up to speed shortly. Right now, I feel like I am working in a bit of a fog. But I am working.
Knocks wood.
June 2, 2006
How American?
| You Are 68% American |
 |
___________
Sounds about right.
Isn't it Ironic?
So, I became engrossed watching the 2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee tonight. I then looked online at their definition of this event:
"We are the nation’s largest and longest-running educational promotion, administered on a not-for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company and 268 sponsors in the United States, Europe, Canada, New Zealand, Guam, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, The Bahamas, and American Samoa. Our headquarters office in Cincinnati, Ohio, coordinates the national finals, enrolls sponsors, and produces word lists and study materials. This office operates year round."
"Our purpose is to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts, and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives."
I looked this up because a Canadian made it to the final two, Finola Hackett. The reason this confused me was the use of the world "National" in the title.
Merriam-Webster online defines "national:"
As an adjective:
"1 : of or relating to a nation
2 : NATIONALIST
3 : comprising or characteristic of a nationality
4 : belonging to or maintained by the federal government
5 : of, relating to, or being a coalition government formed by most or all major political parties usually in a crisis"
As a noun:
"1 : one that owes allegiance to or is under the protection of a nation without regard to the more formal status of citizen or subject
2 : a competition that is national in scope -- usually used in plural"
Now, I'm happy for anyone who can spell well, especially as this is a skill I never developed, and Finola kicked ass to reach second place. All 275 children in the Bee are far superior to me in their ability to spell. And I'm not picking on Finola; first, I was rooting for her to win and, second, there were many children involved from many locations around the world.
I am nitpicking the use of the word "national" by Scripps for what is obviously no longer a national competition. Doesn't this go against their own stated purpose to "develop correct English usage?"
On a serious note-- congratulations to everyone who participated in the Spelling Bee. You handled the pressure, the TV cameras, and the competition with aplomb.
"We are the nation’s largest and longest-running educational promotion, administered on a not-for-profit basis by The E.W. Scripps Company and 268 sponsors in the United States, Europe, Canada, New Zealand, Guam, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, The Bahamas, and American Samoa. Our headquarters office in Cincinnati, Ohio, coordinates the national finals, enrolls sponsors, and produces word lists and study materials. This office operates year round."
"Our purpose is to help students improve their spelling, increase their vocabularies, learn concepts, and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives."
I looked this up because a Canadian made it to the final two, Finola Hackett. The reason this confused me was the use of the world "National" in the title.
Merriam-Webster online defines "national:"
As an adjective:
"1 : of or relating to a nation
2 : NATIONALIST
3 : comprising or characteristic of a nationality
4 : belonging to or maintained by the federal government
5 : of, relating to, or being a coalition government formed by most or all major political parties usually in a crisis"
As a noun:
"1 : one that owes allegiance to or is under the protection of a nation without regard to the more formal status of citizen or subject
2 : a competition that is national in scope -- usually used in plural"
Now, I'm happy for anyone who can spell well, especially as this is a skill I never developed, and Finola kicked ass to reach second place. All 275 children in the Bee are far superior to me in their ability to spell. And I'm not picking on Finola; first, I was rooting for her to win and, second, there were many children involved from many locations around the world.
I am nitpicking the use of the word "national" by Scripps for what is obviously no longer a national competition. Doesn't this go against their own stated purpose to "develop correct English usage?"
On a serious note-- congratulations to everyone who participated in the Spelling Bee. You handled the pressure, the TV cameras, and the competition with aplomb.
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