I have been home alone for roughly 2 1/2 weeks.
In that time I have accomplished the following:
Cleaned the back room, kitchen (sort of), bathroom, front room, and 2 1/2 bedrooms.
Managed to start, but not finish the painting of my chair
Listened to a dozen baseball games
Made $80 in a yard sale
Spend said $80 on candy
Ate about 40 Otter Pops
Lost 8 pounds
Walked approximately 78 miles ("Is that right?" you say? That's only 4.5 miles a day, and to my office and back is 3 miles...)
Managed to not:
Burn the house down
Break any bones
Cause any other damage to myself or others
If figure it's a successful outing.
Friday, June 30, 2006
Movies
So I'm talking about 2 movies in 2 days. What can I say? I went to see "Superman Returns" today. It's a must see in the theaters. They did a very good job. My Bishop went with me, he giggled the whole way through, and is already waiting for the sequel.
One note: I plan to take Tara to see it, but I will not be taking the girls to see the movie. There is a scene that I think is too graphically and emotionally intense for them (The movie is PG-13...), they will have to wait for the DVD to come out, where we can non-chalantly skip that scene.
A great movie. It makes me want to go out and stop some bullets with my eyeball.
One note: I plan to take Tara to see it, but I will not be taking the girls to see the movie. There is a scene that I think is too graphically and emotionally intense for them (The movie is PG-13...), they will have to wait for the DVD to come out, where we can non-chalantly skip that scene.
A great movie. It makes me want to go out and stop some bullets with my eyeball.
Book Review
American Legend - The real life adventures of David Crockett
Buddy Levy
This book is about Davy Crockett. It's okay if you have the song going through your head right now, I've had it running through mine for the last week and a half.
This book is interesting, it talks about Davy Crockett's life in the military, in Congress, and at 'home'. (Not that he was there much.) It was a very interesting book to read.
The book tries to show the facts behind Crockett's life, and show what of the folklore is just tall tales. The book, of course, ends with the battle of the Alamo, where Davy Crockett died.
Anyway, it's good read.
So much for taking the day off...
So I was enjoying my day off, I stayed up until 4am last night (Justice League Season 2).
I was going along nicely, Sorrel called to drag me out of the house and come eat curry. (At work.) I planned to bring a book to read, leaving my laptop at home to encourage the fact that I was not working...
Anyway, Marty called a few minutes later, long story short, I needed to reinstall a server and update a server image. (Different server than last night.) I told him it was today or July 10th, we figured people wouldn't wait that long, so it's today. Sometimes you can't use vacation for trying.
I was going along nicely, Sorrel called to drag me out of the house and come eat curry. (At work.) I planned to bring a book to read, leaving my laptop at home to encourage the fact that I was not working...
Anyway, Marty called a few minutes later, long story short, I needed to reinstall a server and update a server image. (Different server than last night.) I told him it was today or July 10th, we figured people wouldn't wait that long, so it's today. Sometimes you can't use vacation for trying.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Movies
I am working from home today. I needed to get some work done without the millions of interruptions you get sitting at the desk in the office. I figure I can get 2 days worth of work in one day by being somewhere that no one bothers me.
So far so good, I got a lot done this morning. (just taking a short break...)
One thing that doesn't come under the heading "interruptions" is playing DVD's, listening to baseball, etc.
This morning I finally finished "2001: A Space Odessey". All I can say is equal parts interesting and weird. I don't remember the book(s) being all that weird, maybe I will have to go back and read them again.
I also just finished watching "New York Doll". It was a facinating show. It followed Arthur "Killer" Kane from the New York Dolls as he prepares and goes to a 'reunion' concert with his old band. He joined the church a few years before the concert, and the movie really does a good job showing the 2 different environments. It really is a compelling show.
Now I'm listening to a baseball game. All I have left to do today is permanently power down 3 servers, reinstall another, and update some documentation. I am nowhere near as far behind as I was this time yesterday...
So far so good, I got a lot done this morning. (just taking a short break...)
One thing that doesn't come under the heading "interruptions" is playing DVD's, listening to baseball, etc.
This morning I finally finished "2001: A Space Odessey". All I can say is equal parts interesting and weird. I don't remember the book(s) being all that weird, maybe I will have to go back and read them again.
I also just finished watching "New York Doll". It was a facinating show. It followed Arthur "Killer" Kane from the New York Dolls as he prepares and goes to a 'reunion' concert with his old band. He joined the church a few years before the concert, and the movie really does a good job showing the 2 different environments. It really is a compelling show.
Now I'm listening to a baseball game. All I have left to do today is permanently power down 3 servers, reinstall another, and update some documentation. I am nowhere near as far behind as I was this time yesterday...
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Voting Day
Nothing big really happened today. I didn't have any real shouting matches, I didn't get to stare anyone down, nothing. (Don't worry, I took care of all that and more today at work. I had a scorched earth policy today. I plan to work from home tomorrow.)
Anyway, we had a pretty large turnout for a primary election. We had 442 voters. I know, that sounds low, but we didn't have purple finger dye, and no one was being threatened that they would be killed if they voted, so I guess everyone (but the 442) decided to stay home.
One really old lady came in to vote. I should have looked to see how old she was. Anyhow, she went up the voting machine, I showed her where to stick her card, then walked away when she got the information screen, to give her some privacy. About 2 minutes later, she came up and said "It didn't let me vote. It voted a blank ballot. What happened?" I stuck her card back in, it said a ballot had been cast. I asked her what happened, told her the ballot was cast, she said "I was reading it, and it flickered and went away." Well, this didn't happen, it sounded like she kept pressing the button over and over until it voted.
The rule is one ballot per person. She wanted another ballot, I told her she couldn't have one, then our counts would be inflated at night, and it wouldn't be fair to any other voter. (We couldn't for sure say if the ballot was blank, after all...) She got madder, wanted to talk to someone else, but luckily for her, she was already talking to the highest authority at the polling place. By this time, she was ticking me off, demanding her new ballot. I called the county clerks office, they verified the rule, and I got just the slightest bit more forceful with her, got her out of the way of the other voters, and talked her out of the building. I indicated that if she really wanted to talk to someone else, she could head over to the county clerks office and talk to them. (Which the best they could do is offer a provisional ballot, which they would eventually not count after finding her signature in the register.) I look forward to helping her again in November.
I was on my feet pretty much the entire time from 6am to 9pm. By the time I got done, my feet, ankles, knees, and hips really hurt. Last night I ended up not being able to sleep in the bed, I went out to my chair, put the lower body vibrator button on, and watched "2001: A Space Odessey." I got to the part where they were landing on the moon, and somewhere in the 10 minute landing sequence, I fell asleep. This morning, I woke up, although my knees and hips felt better, my feet and ankles did not. I called and got a ride into work. Things went downhill from there. (I forgot to take my medicine for one, secondly, today was supposed to be pancake day, but the pancake guy didn't make it in.)
Long story longer, the new voting machines worked well. 441 out of 442 voters agree with me.
Anyway, we had a pretty large turnout for a primary election. We had 442 voters. I know, that sounds low, but we didn't have purple finger dye, and no one was being threatened that they would be killed if they voted, so I guess everyone (but the 442) decided to stay home.
One really old lady came in to vote. I should have looked to see how old she was. Anyhow, she went up the voting machine, I showed her where to stick her card, then walked away when she got the information screen, to give her some privacy. About 2 minutes later, she came up and said "It didn't let me vote. It voted a blank ballot. What happened?" I stuck her card back in, it said a ballot had been cast. I asked her what happened, told her the ballot was cast, she said "I was reading it, and it flickered and went away." Well, this didn't happen, it sounded like she kept pressing the button over and over until it voted.
The rule is one ballot per person. She wanted another ballot, I told her she couldn't have one, then our counts would be inflated at night, and it wouldn't be fair to any other voter. (We couldn't for sure say if the ballot was blank, after all...) She got madder, wanted to talk to someone else, but luckily for her, she was already talking to the highest authority at the polling place. By this time, she was ticking me off, demanding her new ballot. I called the county clerks office, they verified the rule, and I got just the slightest bit more forceful with her, got her out of the way of the other voters, and talked her out of the building. I indicated that if she really wanted to talk to someone else, she could head over to the county clerks office and talk to them. (Which the best they could do is offer a provisional ballot, which they would eventually not count after finding her signature in the register.) I look forward to helping her again in November.
I was on my feet pretty much the entire time from 6am to 9pm. By the time I got done, my feet, ankles, knees, and hips really hurt. Last night I ended up not being able to sleep in the bed, I went out to my chair, put the lower body vibrator button on, and watched "2001: A Space Odessey." I got to the part where they were landing on the moon, and somewhere in the 10 minute landing sequence, I fell asleep. This morning, I woke up, although my knees and hips felt better, my feet and ankles did not. I called and got a ride into work. Things went downhill from there. (I forgot to take my medicine for one, secondly, today was supposed to be pancake day, but the pancake guy didn't make it in.)
Long story longer, the new voting machines worked well. 441 out of 442 voters agree with me.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Primary Elections - Go vote
Well, we are finally nearly to the day that all the mailings and telephone calls stop. That's right, tomorrow is election day, the noise level ought to drop drastically.
So far, Tara has gotten anywhere from 1-3 mailings a day in support of the incumbant. We have heard from the Mayor, Govenor, President, First Lady, some dude in Congress, and many other concerns people wanting us to vote for the incumbant. We have only gotten one or 2 mailings total for the challenger, and one phone call from some guy supporting the challenger, wanting our vote for him. Tara somehow got my email attached to her name on some Republican mailing list, the incumbant emails every other day. (At least someone for him sends it.)
This has all gotten me to thinking. (I'm still not going to affiliate, this is kind of attention is not the sort I seek after.) How does a regular person get to be elected anymore. It used to be back in the day, you could decide to run, and have an election of your peers. (Meaning people very much like you who share your same beliefs.) Now, it seems that if someone throws enough money at an election, they can make it turn out all right for them. Well, I'd say that 99% of the people this position represents doesn't have nearly the same amount of money as the person who is being elected, how can the represent them?
One way to get into higher elected positions is to "work your way up". I think this leads to people becoming detached from reality from being in govenment too long. They can get into trouble that way. (Or we could.)
Now, I'm likely to vote for the incumbant for one reason. (Assuming he makes it to the general election, we'll see what happens tomorrow.) Several years ago, my brother Adam was living with us, working down the street at a restaurant. (Not an election year, mind you.) He had broken(?) his arm, but didn't really go see the doctor, not having medical insurance. The congressman came in, talked to him, and eventually got him the number and address of a couple of clinics he could go visit that wouldn't cost too much. Then a couple of days later, he came back to check up on Adam. Now, I am not outraged at anything he has done in Congress, really, and he showed some character back then, so if his name is on the ballot, and I don't personally know the person he is running against, I will likely continue to vote for him. (Reserving the right to someday in the future become outraged, by the way.) At least several years ago, he was in touch with a teenage kid, who he never even had to acknowledge.
Not to influence anyone. I just wanted to get the story out in case something funny happens tomorrow at the polls and everything else leaves my mind. I'm really hoping for another "reporter stare down".
Vote the way you want. Just make sure you vote. Oh yeah, and the old saying "Vote early and vote often" does not apply here.
So far, Tara has gotten anywhere from 1-3 mailings a day in support of the incumbant. We have heard from the Mayor, Govenor, President, First Lady, some dude in Congress, and many other concerns people wanting us to vote for the incumbant. We have only gotten one or 2 mailings total for the challenger, and one phone call from some guy supporting the challenger, wanting our vote for him. Tara somehow got my email attached to her name on some Republican mailing list, the incumbant emails every other day. (At least someone for him sends it.)
This has all gotten me to thinking. (I'm still not going to affiliate, this is kind of attention is not the sort I seek after.) How does a regular person get to be elected anymore. It used to be back in the day, you could decide to run, and have an election of your peers. (Meaning people very much like you who share your same beliefs.) Now, it seems that if someone throws enough money at an election, they can make it turn out all right for them. Well, I'd say that 99% of the people this position represents doesn't have nearly the same amount of money as the person who is being elected, how can the represent them?
One way to get into higher elected positions is to "work your way up". I think this leads to people becoming detached from reality from being in govenment too long. They can get into trouble that way. (Or we could.)
Now, I'm likely to vote for the incumbant for one reason. (Assuming he makes it to the general election, we'll see what happens tomorrow.) Several years ago, my brother Adam was living with us, working down the street at a restaurant. (Not an election year, mind you.) He had broken(?) his arm, but didn't really go see the doctor, not having medical insurance. The congressman came in, talked to him, and eventually got him the number and address of a couple of clinics he could go visit that wouldn't cost too much. Then a couple of days later, he came back to check up on Adam. Now, I am not outraged at anything he has done in Congress, really, and he showed some character back then, so if his name is on the ballot, and I don't personally know the person he is running against, I will likely continue to vote for him. (Reserving the right to someday in the future become outraged, by the way.) At least several years ago, he was in touch with a teenage kid, who he never even had to acknowledge.
Not to influence anyone. I just wanted to get the story out in case something funny happens tomorrow at the polls and everything else leaves my mind. I'm really hoping for another "reporter stare down".
Vote the way you want. Just make sure you vote. Oh yeah, and the old saying "Vote early and vote often" does not apply here.
2.21 Gigawatts!
(Sometimes I throw in a title that has nothing to do with the content, just to confuse the natives.)
Warren Buffett is giving away his fortune. Well, not all of it, just 85% of it. For me that amounts to $3.47, give or take 5 cents, but for Warren Buffett, that's a fair chuck of change. Of course, it's esitmated that he still will have 6 Billion dollars left. I can't even imagine having anything nearly close to that much, much less having given away $34 Billion already. Thinking that high makes me think it's just funny money.
It's like at work, paying the IT department for your phone line at your desk, but you work in the IT department. One day one number is in the account, the next it's a totally different number, and a different account has a higher number. It just moved. I wonder if that's what it's like to move $34 Billion and still have $6 Billion. Luckily, I never will have to find out. (I'm perfectly happy having enough once in a while to buy Tara something nice...)
Anyhow, I hope a lot of good comes from it.
Famous comic book newpaper reporters
So, I have now (re)watched Superman I & II. Classics. I am most definitely ready for "Superman Returns" on Friday. I really really hope they treated the movie right.
Anyhow, J.K. Simmons was great as J. Jonah Jameson in the Spiderman movies. Just out and out funny. Steals the scenes he is in. I figure he took his cue from Jackie Cooper as Perry White in the Superman movies. (The old ones anyway...) He played a great distracted newspaper editor.
Anyhow, J.K. Simmons was great as J. Jonah Jameson in the Spiderman movies. Just out and out funny. Steals the scenes he is in. I figure he took his cue from Jackie Cooper as Perry White in the Superman movies. (The old ones anyway...) He played a great distracted newspaper editor.
Picture(s) of the day
Some may know, some may not, but we have had day after day after day of perfectly clear, perfectly blue skied days. It's kind of nice, really.
Since a picture entitled "Blue Sky, No Clouds" isn't all that interesting, I'm adding a second for your viewing pleasure. Me watering the lawn. As you can see, it doesn't really take all that work from me. And at the swing set, you can see where the lawn is dying from lack of sufficient water. Okay, so it's not all that pleasurable of a picture...Sunday, June 25, 2006
It's only 6 more months till Christmas
In honor of it being June 25th (6 months from and to Christmas), I wore my red (and green) hot chili pepper Christmas tie to church today. I got exactly zero comments about it, I doubt anyone got the signifigance of it.
2006 Goal update - 25 June
| 1: Move up on ITRC forums. 3618 points this week, nothing new, as expected... | ||
Picture of the day
According to IMDB.com, there have been 5 films with the title "Under the bed" (Mostly comedy shorts...) Well, here's my entry. Just don't ask me where everything went that was under there, I don't really know. For all I know, it's attacking metropolis even as we speak.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Start of Yard sale
Or close to the start, anyway. Someone already stopped and picked up a couple of things.Friday, June 23, 2006
Chair
I started painting my chair today. I say started because I stopped before finishing the first coat. This was primarily because I was tired of the fumes.Anyhow, you can now see what the finished product will look like. Hopefully I will finish it this next week.
Picture of the day
Tomorrow's the yard sale. I have a pile of stuff ready, as you can see. My rules were simple, grab some clothes, grab some toys that people have a hard time picking up, and grab all stuffed animals that do not have a name or a strong emotional attachment.
We'll see how it goes. Not sure what to expect from the yard sale. I will be really happy to clear $150, but I'm not holding my breath.
New blog tip
Did you know that when I post a picture here as a "large" size picture, you can click on the picture on the blog, and actually see the thing in a size where you can make things out? I just went back on the page, some of the pictures of the Sacred Grove and Niagara Falls I really like, they are even better larger. Click on a picture and see.
Oh, you already knew that? I'm just a little slow I guess.
Oh, you already knew that? I'm just a little slow I guess.
The "platform"
At work, I'm on the Platform foundations team. Our managing director is starting to not really like the name "platform". Too many people are associating the name platform with just the Operating System. We use the term platform to mean "the set of technologies we manage as a whole". This includes the OS, all system utilities, the applications running on the system, etc. I have about 10 platforms I shepard, spread across 75 servers.
Well, in looking for a new name for "platform", I tried the thesaurus at thesaurus.com. I don't think it's being all that helpful.
While I think it would be kind of funny to use the term belvedere, dais, plank, or skidway, I don't think anyone else would go for it. Then I looked to see what they had for "system"
Now this has some possibilities: combination, integral, order, structure, modus, and scheme might all work. The HPUXSecure platform becomes the HPUXSecure integral. Maybe I can influence some mathematics background on everyone else. We become the Integral Foundations team, and Humanities majors everywhere fear us.
This is what happens when you leave me alone for too long...
Well, in looking for a new name for "platform", I tried the thesaurus at thesaurus.com. I don't think it's being all that helpful.
| Main Entry: | platform |
| Part of Speech: | noun 1 |
| Definition: | furniture |
| Synonyms: | belvedere, dais, floor, podium, pulpit, rostrum, scaffold, scaffolding, skidway, staging, table, terrace |
| Main Entry: | platform |
| Part of Speech: | noun 2 |
| Definition: | policy |
| Synonyms: | manifesto, objectives, party line*, plank, policy, principle, program, promise, soapbox*, stump*, tenets |
While I think it would be kind of funny to use the term belvedere, dais, plank, or skidway, I don't think anyone else would go for it. Then I looked to see what they had for "system"
| Main Entry: | system |
| Part of Speech: | noun 1 |
| Definition: | whole |
| Synonyms: | arrangement, classification, combination, complex, conformity, coordination, entity, fixed order, ideology, integral, integrate, logical order, order, orderliness, organization, philosophy, red tape*, regularity, rule, scheme, setup, structure, sum, theory, totality, utilidor |
| Main Entry: | system |
| Part of Speech: | noun 2 |
| Definition: | plan |
| Synonyms: | arrangement, artifice, custom, definite plan, fashion, logical process, manner, method, methodicalness, methodology, mode, modus, modus operandi, operation, orderliness, orderly process, pattern, policy, practice, procedure, proceeding, process, regularity, routine, scheme, strategy, structure, systematic process, systematization, tactics, technique, theory, usage, way, wise |
Now this has some possibilities: combination, integral, order, structure, modus, and scheme might all work. The HPUXSecure platform becomes the HPUXSecure integral. Maybe I can influence some mathematics background on everyone else. We become the Integral Foundations team, and Humanities majors everywhere fear us.
This is what happens when you leave me alone for too long...
Election time noise
We have a primary election coming up here. The local congressman is running in a primary against another republican. I am not affliated with a political party, and this election is reinforcing my decision. Tara is currently registered as a Republican. In the last 3 days, she has gotten 4 mailings from people supporting the incumbant. Yesterday, she had a recorded message from the mayor. The day before someone else left a recorded message reminding her to vote. Today, Laura Bush left a recorded message. I didn't get through it, but deleted it. I hope she wasn't inviting us to dinner...
I have no idea how much money is being spent on the primary but the incumbant, but things are getting aggressive around here. Name dropping (which is really all the recorded messages are) never really affects me all at much. I really don't care that Donny Osmond's maid has a sister whose aunt on her hunband's side supports a political candidate. I vote for the person I want to. (At least I vote.)
A couple of years ago, the city council election got pretty warmed up. One lady that was running ended up at our door, but she was a little lost and was 1/2 a block outside her council district. She asked that I vote for her, I told her that I couldn't. She got a brief suprised look, then asked why. I told her it was because I lived in a different district than she was running for, it took a couple of minutes to convince her, but I finally got her straightened out.
I work as an election judge, and have been doing it for 6 or 7 years. One year one of the city council candidates came to the door, identified herself asa candidate, then identified me as an election judge, and wanted to ask for my support. This of course ticked me off. First of all, I was ticked off that she had a list of election judges and was bugging me. Second, she was asking for me 'support', and leaving it some sort of opened ended thing. I briefly wondered if she expected me to electioneer for her at the poll on Election day. I gave her my best "John being curt" performance, and she left.
The last presidential election, some reporter came in and was bugging people who were standing in line about who they were going to vote for. The guy was wearing shorts, and golf shirt, and had sunglasses on top of his head, with a pencil on his ear. I jumped on him right away, you can't be doing that sort of thing in the polling place. I told him he needed to stop right away. He told me he was "the press", and could do whatever he wanted. My response was "Oh yeah?", I folded my arms and gave him "the look". He started blabbering something else, I gave him the option of taking it outside or being escorted out by the cops. He told me I wouldn't call the cops on him, I said nothing, but continued staring him down. He left the building. Victory for me.
This year, we are starting electronic voting. I am the Poll manager, meaning I'm in charge of the polling place. I am sure there will be more than one person worried about those "infernal computers" not counting their vote, recording who they are and how they voted, and there is bound to be one person who thinks the computer didn't do what they told it to do. (I love that one, by the way...) It's also a closed republican primary, there is always someone affliated with another party who demands to vote in the primary. (It's not going to happen) Luckily we also have some stuff to vote on for the city, they can at least vote for something while they are there. It should be an interesting day.
I have no idea how much money is being spent on the primary but the incumbant, but things are getting aggressive around here. Name dropping (which is really all the recorded messages are) never really affects me all at much. I really don't care that Donny Osmond's maid has a sister whose aunt on her hunband's side supports a political candidate. I vote for the person I want to. (At least I vote.)
A couple of years ago, the city council election got pretty warmed up. One lady that was running ended up at our door, but she was a little lost and was 1/2 a block outside her council district. She asked that I vote for her, I told her that I couldn't. She got a brief suprised look, then asked why. I told her it was because I lived in a different district than she was running for, it took a couple of minutes to convince her, but I finally got her straightened out.
I work as an election judge, and have been doing it for 6 or 7 years. One year one of the city council candidates came to the door, identified herself asa candidate, then identified me as an election judge, and wanted to ask for my support. This of course ticked me off. First of all, I was ticked off that she had a list of election judges and was bugging me. Second, she was asking for me 'support', and leaving it some sort of opened ended thing. I briefly wondered if she expected me to electioneer for her at the poll on Election day. I gave her my best "John being curt" performance, and she left.
The last presidential election, some reporter came in and was bugging people who were standing in line about who they were going to vote for. The guy was wearing shorts, and golf shirt, and had sunglasses on top of his head, with a pencil on his ear. I jumped on him right away, you can't be doing that sort of thing in the polling place. I told him he needed to stop right away. He told me he was "the press", and could do whatever he wanted. My response was "Oh yeah?", I folded my arms and gave him "the look". He started blabbering something else, I gave him the option of taking it outside or being escorted out by the cops. He told me I wouldn't call the cops on him, I said nothing, but continued staring him down. He left the building. Victory for me.
This year, we are starting electronic voting. I am the Poll manager, meaning I'm in charge of the polling place. I am sure there will be more than one person worried about those "infernal computers" not counting their vote, recording who they are and how they voted, and there is bound to be one person who thinks the computer didn't do what they told it to do. (I love that one, by the way...) It's also a closed republican primary, there is always someone affliated with another party who demands to vote in the primary. (It's not going to happen) Luckily we also have some stuff to vote on for the city, they can at least vote for something while they are there. It should be an interesting day.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Picture of the day
I think these are called zinnias, but I'm not sure. Whatever they are, I never try to encourage them at all, but they come up every year. Tara likes them.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Superman
Today in the mail, I got the following:
Superman (the first movie) from netflix
Superman the Animated Series, season 3
Justice League, season 2
I figure at this point, I can overload on superman. Just in time to prepare for the movie. (Coming soon to a theatre near you.)
In each of the 2 shows I bought, there was a coupon for a free ticket to see the "Superman Returns" movie by July 31. I was planning a excursion on Friday for the show, now I don't have to pay for myself. Drew and Kaylyn said to plan on them, I have several people at work who want to go, and my Bishop wants to go. He is in Idaho with a broken car, his battery imploded and burned out the alternator, I figure the least I can do is use my other coupon for his ticket. Then he doesn't have to worry about it, just enjoy the show. (It's not much, but it's something.)
I have a paper to write tomorrow at work for a meeting on Friday, I plan to take one of the DVD's to work to use as "paper writing background inspiration". Or something like that.
In other news, our TV is starting to lose a little color in the top left corner. I'm not sure what that means, the TV is 6 years old, we haven't had any problems with it until now, and if I can see the color fading a little, it could be even worse. Anyway, it's no reason to get rid of the thing, but it's starting to show it's age. When it goes for sure, I am sure we have no use for one of these, but you never know...
Superman (the first movie) from netflix
Superman the Animated Series, season 3
Justice League, season 2
I figure at this point, I can overload on superman. Just in time to prepare for the movie. (Coming soon to a theatre near you.)
In each of the 2 shows I bought, there was a coupon for a free ticket to see the "Superman Returns" movie by July 31. I was planning a excursion on Friday for the show, now I don't have to pay for myself. Drew and Kaylyn said to plan on them, I have several people at work who want to go, and my Bishop wants to go. He is in Idaho with a broken car, his battery imploded and burned out the alternator, I figure the least I can do is use my other coupon for his ticket. Then he doesn't have to worry about it, just enjoy the show. (It's not much, but it's something.)
I have a paper to write tomorrow at work for a meeting on Friday, I plan to take one of the DVD's to work to use as "paper writing background inspiration". Or something like that.
In other news, our TV is starting to lose a little color in the top left corner. I'm not sure what that means, the TV is 6 years old, we haven't had any problems with it until now, and if I can see the color fading a little, it could be even worse. Anyway, it's no reason to get rid of the thing, but it's starting to show it's age. When it goes for sure, I am sure we have no use for one of these, but you never know...
Picture of the days
So I forgot to get a picture for yesterday. That means today is "bonus picture Wednesday". My first picture involves Stake Office treats. Jelly beans. Jelly Bellies, to be exact. I try to pick out the Coffee and Cappichino flavored beans before public consumption...
My second picture (not a good one) is of some trees someone planted on the path to work. They are grown in the espallier style. I have thought for a few years that I would like to do this, but never got around to it. Now I can sit and watch this for a couple of years to see how these grow, then do it myself after I have seen it happening. Nice for me.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Walking vs. Riding a bike vs. Riding the bus
I woke up this morning not really wanting to walk to work. It's not like there was really anything wrong, I was just feeling lazy. I even tried calling 2 people that drive by on their way in, but they didn't answer. After that, I sucked it up and walked to work. It really wasn't all that bad, really.
When I got to work, 2 people rode up on their bikes. I only briefly thought that it might be nice to ride in. Then I remembered how much I really don't like riding a bike...
This evening I walked by the bus stop by my office, a bus pulled up. I thought about how the bus only saves me 3/4 of a mile (half the length home), if the bus is right there, it shaves off 15 minutes, but if I have to wait, I could possibly get home faster by walking. It really isn't worth the bus pass just to get to and from work. (Plus during the school year I need to get people to their school before going to my office, then it's really not worth it...)
All in all, walking is not all that bad a way to get places. Of course, it's not raining, it's not frezzing, etc. I'm not asked to pack what I can carry and travel 1300 miles, things like that. But for going to or from work, even though I complain sometimes, it's not really that bad.
When I got to work, 2 people rode up on their bikes. I only briefly thought that it might be nice to ride in. Then I remembered how much I really don't like riding a bike...
This evening I walked by the bus stop by my office, a bus pulled up. I thought about how the bus only saves me 3/4 of a mile (half the length home), if the bus is right there, it shaves off 15 minutes, but if I have to wait, I could possibly get home faster by walking. It really isn't worth the bus pass just to get to and from work. (Plus during the school year I need to get people to their school before going to my office, then it's really not worth it...)
All in all, walking is not all that bad a way to get places. Of course, it's not raining, it's not frezzing, etc. I'm not asked to pack what I can carry and travel 1300 miles, things like that. But for going to or from work, even though I complain sometimes, it's not really that bad.
Picture of the day
Today's entry are the tomato plants. You can see how big they were when they were planted, they are maintaining that trend.The stones are 4 inches tall each, to give an indication of how big the plants are. there are a number of blossoms and a number of baby tomatos going right now.
One month from now, you will not be able to differentiate between the plants from the same distance.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
2006 Goal Update - 18 June
It's been a month since I posted one of these. I'm not really sure what happened, it just kind of slipped away...
1: Move up on ITRC forums. 3618 points this week, same as last week, and the week before that, and the week before that. I don't think I will get back to this until I get done with the work project that is 5 months and counting...
2: Mission Journal - Nothing new done this week. I was seriously ready today to put signifigant time into this today, but I can't find my USB stick, and ended up not getting this done. The USB stick affects more than just the journal entry, I am in trouble if I don't find it.
3: Garden Retaining Wall - Nothing done this week.
4: 6 Wooden Chairs - I have now puttied the holes for the chair I have. Monday it gets sanded, Thursday it gets painted.
5: Weight - 222 this week. I gained signifigant weight on vacation. (Isn't that where you are supposed to do it?) I blame this on several factors: laziness, all the soda I drank, all the computer game playing I did (could be filed under laziness, I know.), and good eats. I had a day dedicated to chicken wings, I imagine 5 pounds came from that...
6: Gazelle - I'm taking this off, walking several miles a day makes it so that I don't need to use this thing. Plus it seems to be bad luck, I have only used it 1 mile since putting this one on here. Maybe by taking it off, I will start using it.
7: Vacation - Visiting my parents was nice, but it's also nice to be back at work. Things kind of piled up because I didn't do it out there. I go back on July 1. (Not on the space shuttle)
8: CPAP usage - I'm taking this off starting next week, this isn't an issue any more.
Wasting time update - 427 badges at MSN games. (14 since last time, most from this week)
1: Move up on ITRC forums. 3618 points this week, same as last week, and the week before that, and the week before that. I don't think I will get back to this until I get done with the work project that is 5 months and counting...
2: Mission Journal - Nothing new done this week. I was seriously ready today to put signifigant time into this today, but I can't find my USB stick, and ended up not getting this done. The USB stick affects more than just the journal entry, I am in trouble if I don't find it.
3: Garden Retaining Wall - Nothing done this week.
4: 6 Wooden Chairs - I have now puttied the holes for the chair I have. Monday it gets sanded, Thursday it gets painted.
5: Weight - 222 this week. I gained signifigant weight on vacation. (Isn't that where you are supposed to do it?) I blame this on several factors: laziness, all the soda I drank, all the computer game playing I did (could be filed under laziness, I know.), and good eats. I had a day dedicated to chicken wings, I imagine 5 pounds came from that...
6: Gazelle - I'm taking this off, walking several miles a day makes it so that I don't need to use this thing. Plus it seems to be bad luck, I have only used it 1 mile since putting this one on here. Maybe by taking it off, I will start using it.
7: Vacation - Visiting my parents was nice, but it's also nice to be back at work. Things kind of piled up because I didn't do it out there. I go back on July 1. (Not on the space shuttle)
8: CPAP usage - I'm taking this off starting next week, this isn't an issue any more.
Wasting time update - 427 badges at MSN games. (14 since last time, most from this week)
Picture(s) of the day
Today's topic is Calandars. Since Tara and the girls will be gone the entire month of June, I thought I' d post the June pictures. You can see we have a variety of themes...
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Walking, Reading, goofing off, whatever.
2 book reviews in the same week. How nice for you.
I'm sure you are thinking "Is the only thing he is doing right now is reading?" My answer is no, but I have been reading while I walk, and since I left Buffalo, I estimate that I have walked 29 miles this week. (Tuesday-Today). This is just a rough estimate, I lost my pedometer in Buffalo, so nothing exact, but I know it's just over 1.5 miles to my office from home, 0.5 to church from home, etc. They add up quick.
I have also been attempting cleaning projects that are difficult while the pitter patter of little feet exist in the house. Kate and Emma's room is an example. What a mess. I cleaned the top of the fridge this week. I have completely filled our garbage can this week, mostly just with junk that got tossed out.
Last night I watched an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. It was the episode "The Phantom Planet." I had seen it before, but some things can always be watched a 2nd time. At the library today, I got "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", and "2001: A Space Odyssey". The second one is (partly) just to build up my attention span to be ready for the 160 minute "Superman Returns." (It's also partly so that I can watch it without completely boring Tara.) After 2001, I will likely watch "The Right Stuff".
This house is very quiet with me here all by myself...
I'm sure you are thinking "Is the only thing he is doing right now is reading?" My answer is no, but I have been reading while I walk, and since I left Buffalo, I estimate that I have walked 29 miles this week. (Tuesday-Today). This is just a rough estimate, I lost my pedometer in Buffalo, so nothing exact, but I know it's just over 1.5 miles to my office from home, 0.5 to church from home, etc. They add up quick.
I have also been attempting cleaning projects that are difficult while the pitter patter of little feet exist in the house. Kate and Emma's room is an example. What a mess. I cleaned the top of the fridge this week. I have completely filled our garbage can this week, mostly just with junk that got tossed out.
Last night I watched an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. It was the episode "The Phantom Planet." I had seen it before, but some things can always be watched a 2nd time. At the library today, I got "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", and "2001: A Space Odyssey". The second one is (partly) just to build up my attention span to be ready for the 160 minute "Superman Returns." (It's also partly so that I can watch it without completely boring Tara.) After 2001, I will likely watch "The Right Stuff".
This house is very quiet with me here all by myself...
Book Review
I am Jackie Chan: my life in action
This book talks about the life of Jackie Chan.
The first half of the book talked about his 10 years in a school for Chinese Opera. There he learned Kung Fu, amoung other things. (It was an interesting place, to say the least.)
The second half of the book talks about his rise to stardom. After getting out of the school, he became a stunt man, and eventully works his way into acting, becoming famous after Bruce Lee died.
One of the things I liked about the book is that you get little synopsis of his movies, and synopsis of all the major injuries he has gotten doing his own stunts. I can relate to that.
The book also has a new chapter every 4 or 5 pages, which makes it easy to read, especially if you are walking doing the street and need to stop to cross streets and things like that, if you time it right, you can end the chapter, cross the street, and start the next. Just a little tidbit.
Picture
This is Emma's corner of Kate and Emma's room. Don't let the cleanliness fool you. When I walked in this afternoon, their room looked as if it had been ransacked. I'm not sure that I could ever apply this term to a room before, but it fitted in this case. This is the reason you don't see the rest of the room, I haven't finished cleaning it up.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Picture(s) of the day
Today's picture is of the back room. I am providing the picture just in case the girls have forgotten what it looks like.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Book Review
Wedding of the Waters: the Erie Canal and the making of a great nation
Peter Bernstein
I really liked this book.
To commerate the trip to Buffalo, I picked this book up before we left. It had been a recommendation from someone else. Growing up, I don't really remember hearing much canal history in school. 3 weeks ago, this struck me as odd, since it's a mile from my parents house. I asked Tom while we were at the airport on Tuesday, he had canal history in school, and had to do a report on it. Maybe I missed it, we moved just before 8th grade, maybe it was a 7th grade topic in Tonawanda. Or maybe I just wasn't paying attention, it's not like I had to put much effort into high school.
Anyhow, the author goes through the stuff that went into thinking up and getting approved the canal, digging it, and what things the canal led to. (His point is that it was the leading factor in Westward expansion and the building up of the Midwest.) It was a very interesting book, I recommend it to all.
Picture of the day
We have a number of pea plants doing well in the garden right now. I had eaten over half of them before I decided to make them 'picture of the day' material. Snow peas come in #2 on my list of "best things eaten directly out of the garden", right behind tomatoes.
Speaking of tomatoes, I have a number of them out there.
I have a lot of yard work to do. I only got the yard half mowed tonight, I got home about 8:30 tonight, 10:30 last night, and 10:00 the night before. This is less conducsive to yard work. I am planning to work Saturday morning, so I am seriously concidering playing hookey tomorrow in order to work around here, my berries look like they are in trouble if I don't act fast...
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Road Rage
There is a new term for Road Rage. It's called Intermittant Explosive Disorder. Now they are saying it's something genetic, people can't help the fact that they are losing control. (They were born that way. Sounds familiar.)
I don't know. Sounds like an excuse to me. The new report on the TV we saw said you shouldn't be angry at people with road rage, they're victims. I love it when the lines between "news" and "dead pan comedy" blur.
I don't know. Sounds like an excuse to me. The new report on the TV we saw said you shouldn't be angry at people with road rage, they're victims. I love it when the lines between "news" and "dead pan comedy" blur.
Sacred Grove Bonus picture
So there were 5 pictures. You don't have to look if you don't want to...
This is a picture of the Palmyra temple from the road at the Smith family log cabin. One seeing this, Emma went into her normal story about how temples were nice, but they didn't have any doors so you can't go in. This is a little better than her old story where any time we pass a temple, she would tell us how her parents were in the temple and wouldn't come out. I never did figure out who exactly she was talking about.
Sacred Grove #3
The last time we visited, I had my cell phone in my pocket and forgot to turn it to vibrate. Much to my suprise, the thing went off right here at this bench. That's where my day started falling apart. I ended up having to reinstall a server and restore all the data over a dialup connection. About 30 hours after the phone call, I got to go to bed. That's why I was grateful my parents got DSL, I didn't necessarily need it this time, but I didn't want another marathon...
This bench will always have a special place in my heart...
Sacred Grove #1
On Sunday after church, we drove up to the Palmyra to visit the Hill Cumorah and Sacred Grove. We had kind of a hard time trying to keep the 3 older girls reverent, they really enjoyed "running through the forest". I guess they are city people.
We took a bunch of pictures at the Hill and in the Sacred Grove, it was hard to judge with the camera's display and try to get the lighting right. I have 4 pictures of the place itself to share that I like.
Picture of the day
I took the camera home so that I could give the girls a picture of something each day from home to look at while they stay out there. Today's installment is their flowerpots. Enjoy!
Things I left behind
Here is a short list of some of the things I forgot to bring home from Buffalo. I have some updates, including a book review, thoughts in the Atlanta airport, a trip to Palmyra, and a couple of others, but it being the first day back to work, it's a busy day.
The things I have forgotten:
My hammer
An epipen
Deodorant (Had a backup, don't worry.)
Scriptures (Also have a backup)
2nd Battery for my laptop (I would have been in real trouble if I only had one)
Zoo Tycoon (On purpose. :) )
Tara and the girls (Oops.)
A library book, due in November
The paperback my Mom gave me to read
The car charger for my cell (Not a big deal, since I don't have a car)
That's all I can think of right now.
The things I have forgotten:
My hammer
An epipen
Deodorant (Had a backup, don't worry.)
Scriptures (Also have a backup)
2nd Battery for my laptop (I would have been in real trouble if I only had one)
Zoo Tycoon (On purpose. :) )
Tara and the girls (Oops.)
A library book, due in November
The paperback my Mom gave me to read
The car charger for my cell (Not a big deal, since I don't have a car)
That's all I can think of right now.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
More Niagara Falls pictures
I have 3 more pictures to show. They aren't really pictures of the Falls, really, but of a couple of things I don't think people pay attention to. (Maybe they actually do, I don't know.)
This picture is a view of the rapids that lead up to the falls. It's not rapids you want to find yourself in, as it usually means you are about to go over...
This picture is of one little 'rapid'. You find it along one of the paved footpaths they have. Kate wanted to know when that waterfall would get really tall. She was trying to figure out when it would be as tall as the real ones. (I had told them about how the water eroded the limestone faster than the shale, eventually creating a rockslide...)
This is a picture of the Rainbow bridge. (Hint: The rainbow is grey.) Usually on nice sunny days, there is a rainbow at the falls, depending where you look, it is at times near the bridge. You can also look down the gorge.
Niagara Falls
We went to Niagara Falls today. We stayed on the U.S. side, mainly because of the little terror problem they had up in Toronto this week. The border is a little tighter, and it wasn't worth the hassle. (Plus Tara doesn't have her birth certificate, and was worried about it.)
The Falls are still there. The girls don't really remember the visits from one time to the next, so I get to give all the information I know over again, and look really smart every time we go.
There weren't very many people there today. (Even less over on the Canadian side.) I partly blame this on the forcasters who were calling for thunderstorms this afternoon. (I think it was actually scattered thunderstorms...)
The girls, as always, were enthralled with the waterfall. Ruth really liked it.
The thing about the U.S. side of the falls is that you can get very close to the water. Like spitting distance when you have cotton mouth. You are just right there. There's no other way to desribe it. Kaylyn went with us, she had never visited the U.S. side, and seemed to like it. If you visit, and end up on the Canadian side (for the view), make sure you take the time to go over to the U.S. side and walk around.
I'm sorry that blogger doesn't like the size of the picture and is dropping the resolution. Someday I can show the high res pictures. Maybe I should drop the resolution on the camera just a little...
Bookends
Emma and Evan has been nearly inseparable the past couple of days. This is the only picture I have so far. Yesterday, they we both sitting on the sit-and-spin twisting themselves around in circles. It appears that they are cut from the same cloth. They have just been playing as long as possible with each other, all day. If they lived near each other, rather than 2000 miles apart, they would be completely inseparable. That might be good for them, but not necessarily good for responsible adult. I have a feeling the 2 of them together would be 4 or 5 times as crazy/mischievous/wild as one alone, and each of them is a handful alone.
They are having a good time. I'm sure Emma is enjoying herself.
All he needs now is a giant lollipop.
This is my nephew. I'm not sure where he got this hat, but I'm pretty sure that my brother wouldn't like it one bit. He now has a bright green fuzzy hat, but I don't have a picture of that one...
4 little angels
Grandma pulled out her dress up box the 2nd day we were here. The girls naturally were drawn immediately to the wings and things. Ruth wore one, but wasn't too sure about it.
Rest stop garbage cans in Nebraska
I'm not sure what people were putting in these things before they started posting these notices, but they really still aren't very clear about it. Is it supposed to make me think for a few minutes if I really want that stinky diaper before I drop it in?It's a mystery to me.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
New headphones
I almost bought new headphones today. There is a Radio Shack that is closing down here, liquidating their inventory.
They had a cell phone/iPod combo headphone set, but I was not sure if I would like it or not, it was $20, and didn't necessarily want to jump on it. The store closes on Sunday, they have 2 of them, maybe I will go back, maybe not. They are Plantronics headphones, I'm sure they would be good quality, but I don't know about buying it.
I don't often use my cell and iPod at the same time, it usually happens while mowing the lawn. Occasionally it happens at work, but I don't always take the iPod to work.
Anyone out there have something like this?
They had a cell phone/iPod combo headphone set, but I was not sure if I would like it or not, it was $20, and didn't necessarily want to jump on it. The store closes on Sunday, they have 2 of them, maybe I will go back, maybe not. They are Plantronics headphones, I'm sure they would be good quality, but I don't know about buying it.
I don't often use my cell and iPod at the same time, it usually happens while mowing the lawn. Occasionally it happens at work, but I don't always take the iPod to work.
Anyone out there have something like this?
Sleep
I haven't been sleeping well lately. It's mostly because I have had one nostral plugged for about a week. I haven't been able to use my Bi-Pap machine. (At least use it and sleep at the same time. It kind of defeats the purpose.)
Anyway, I'm not plugged up now, and am looking forward to sleeping tonight.
Anyway, I'm not plugged up now, and am looking forward to sleeping tonight.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Game Time
Settlers of Catan
Mom - 1
Tara - 1
Me - 0
Kaylyn - 0
Age of Empires III
We have moved up to "Expert" setting, trying to beat the computers. So far, only one success...
Mom - 1
Tara - 1
Me - 0
Kaylyn - 0
Age of Empires III
We have moved up to "Expert" setting, trying to beat the computers. So far, only one success...
Monday, June 05, 2006
Chicken Wing day.
Today is Chicken Wing day. I have even about 25 chicken wings today, of varying types. I am full of chicken, which is not a bad thing, really. We went and got some for lunch, then had more for dinner.
Book Review
The Bourne Supremacy
Robert Ludlum
The second book of the Bourne Series.
This book was good, but I didn't like it as much as the first book. I wouldn't recommend reading this book first, get the first one done, then move to this book.
I thought there was much more action in the first book, replacing much of the 'thinking' and suspense that existed in the first book. It was a good story, and worth the read.
At 600 pages, it's a little longer, but can be read in a short time.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Certification exam
I took the first of 2 "HPUX Certified Systems Engineer" exams back in October of last year. (And passed it...) The second exam, HPUX Networking and Security, was at the time "Soon to be released. I talked to the guy whose team was developing the exam, he said that if the exam was not released by Christmas, contact them and ask about it. I did, because there was no sign of the exam, they said it would take "2 weeks." In the middle of January, they said "By the end of the month". I asked a few weeks ago, they said "May 31 the exam will be released." It may be released, but I don't see any sign of it yet. I wonder if it ever will be released.
There's no real reason for me to complete the certification, I'm just doing it. It's not like anything will be different at work, they know what I can do, are happy with it, and the cert does not give me a pay raise or anything. I may be doing it for myself more than anything else. It doesn't really matter if they never release the exam.
There's no real reason for me to complete the certification, I'm just doing it. It's not like anything will be different at work, they know what I can do, are happy with it, and the cert does not give me a pay raise or anything. I may be doing it for myself more than anything else. It doesn't really matter if they never release the exam.
Stake stuff
I think I left some things undone back home in my calling. Either that or I wasn't all that clear to Reed when I left the things he needed to do for me. There are a number of things I need to get going. Sometimes it's hard to pick up and leave for a couple of weeks, I hope it all works out and the Stake President doesn't get frustrated...
Family Gathering
We had a little gathering tonight. (A barbque, really.) We invited people over for a visit. The Hortons, Grapes, Hatzenbuhlers, and VanRys came by for a visit. It was nice to see them again.
I could have invited anyone, really I don't know which of my good friends still live here. I really didn't keep up with anyone one I left for my mission. (I'd like to say "Leaving old things behind", but that wasn't really the driving reason, I was very bad about writing even home back then.) I am here another 10 days, I will have to make at least some effort to make contact to people while I am here, if nothing else to give them a card for this little blog...
I could have invited anyone, really I don't know which of my good friends still live here. I really didn't keep up with anyone one I left for my mission. (I'd like to say "Leaving old things behind", but that wasn't really the driving reason, I was very bad about writing even home back then.) I am here another 10 days, I will have to make at least some effort to make contact to people while I am here, if nothing else to give them a card for this little blog...
Game Time
Age of Empires III
Dad, Me, Dave, and Drew
Me - 1
Dad - 0
Dave - 0
Drew - 0
Dad, Me, Amy, Dave
Me - 1
Dad - 0
Amy - 0
Dave - 0
I still think I'm ready to take on Tom again, possibly. At least my confidance is up.
Dad, Me, Dave, and Drew
Me - 1
Dad - 0
Dave - 0
Drew - 0
Dad, Me, Amy, Dave
Me - 1
Dad - 0
Amy - 0
Dave - 0
I still think I'm ready to take on Tom again, possibly. At least my confidance is up.
Friday, June 02, 2006
Game time
Age of Empires III
Dad, John, Dave, and Tom - 1
4 Computers - 0
Dad - 0
John - 0
Tom - 1
I'm getting a little tired of losing like that to Tom.
Dad, John, Dave, and Tom - 1
4 Computers - 0
Dad - 0
John - 0
Tom - 1
I'm getting a little tired of losing like that to Tom.
Roast Beef on Weck
Yesterday for lunch, the "Girls" (Not kids) went to lunch. They brought back roast beef on weck, and loganberry drink. The long time between having this makes it taste even better when you get to have it. It's so good.
It really is too bad that you just can't head down the street back home and pick this up. Roast beef on weck is a Buffalo origonal, like wings, but people just don't eat it elsewhere. That's too bad, because people would really like it.
If I was doing it, I would offer mild and "kicked up" horseradish on the thing, to allow people to acclimate to the taste. It would be nice if some restaurant back home would start a 'local only' type menu, where they got some recipes of some local place, which you can't get regularly. A "Buffalo" section could be there: beef on weck, wings, that kind of thing. A "New Orleans" section, a "Boston" section, a "Chicago" section. that kind of thing. They would just have to make sure that they had really good recipes for the things they did, it would take off, I think.
You look at some of the really big cities, like New York City, Toronto, LA, things like that. They have great diversity, and lots of different restaurants. You can have a different type of food every night. Finding the really good places can be a challenge, there are so many, but not in a small market, where you combine different things into one...
Maybe I should just be less lazy some times, and break down and cook beef on weck more.
The loganberry I believe is a type of blackberry. I wonder if it will grow and thrive at home.
It really is too bad that you just can't head down the street back home and pick this up. Roast beef on weck is a Buffalo origonal, like wings, but people just don't eat it elsewhere. That's too bad, because people would really like it.
If I was doing it, I would offer mild and "kicked up" horseradish on the thing, to allow people to acclimate to the taste. It would be nice if some restaurant back home would start a 'local only' type menu, where they got some recipes of some local place, which you can't get regularly. A "Buffalo" section could be there: beef on weck, wings, that kind of thing. A "New Orleans" section, a "Boston" section, a "Chicago" section. that kind of thing. They would just have to make sure that they had really good recipes for the things they did, it would take off, I think.
You look at some of the really big cities, like New York City, Toronto, LA, things like that. They have great diversity, and lots of different restaurants. You can have a different type of food every night. Finding the really good places can be a challenge, there are so many, but not in a small market, where you combine different things into one...
Maybe I should just be less lazy some times, and break down and cook beef on weck more.
The loganberry I believe is a type of blackberry. I wonder if it will grow and thrive at home.
Game Time
Age of Empires III
Tom - 1
John - 0
6 Computers - 0
I've been the Germans recently. It looks like I will have to switch, they seem to be having a hard time against Tom's Ottomans. Or I am just not that good of a player.
Tom - 1
John - 0
6 Computers - 0
I've been the Germans recently. It looks like I will have to switch, they seem to be having a hard time against Tom's Ottomans. Or I am just not that good of a player.
Stanley Cup Playoffs
I'm in Buffalo for the Stanley Cup Finals. Unfortunately, the Buffalo Sabres are not in the Stanley Cup finals. Oh well.
If you had asked me about hockey this time last year, I would have told you the NHL was dead, never to come back again. I figured if they did come back, the fans would not, and further bankrupt the thing. It looks like I was completely wrong. Not that it matters any.
If you had asked me about hockey this time last year, I would have told you the NHL was dead, never to come back again. I figured if they did come back, the fans would not, and further bankrupt the thing. It looks like I was completely wrong. Not that it matters any.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Game Time
Age of Empires III
John Vs. Tom
Tom - 2
John - 0
John vs. Tom vs. Dave
Tom - 1
Dave - 0
John - 0
John and Tom vs. 6 computers (Moderate difficulty)
John and Tom - 0
Computers - 1
John vs. 7 computers (Easy difficulty, but not easiest)
John - 1
Computers - 0
John Vs. Tom
Tom - 2
John - 0
John vs. Tom vs. Dave
Tom - 1
Dave - 0
John - 0
John and Tom vs. 6 computers (Moderate difficulty)
John and Tom - 0
Computers - 1
John vs. 7 computers (Easy difficulty, but not easiest)
John - 1
Computers - 0
Beat the Streak update
After going 3 for 12 and only having currently a 2 game streak going, I have decided to change my strategy. Previously, I had picked a different team each day, going alphabetically down the list of teams.
I only had today and tomorrows picks made, and they both had first names ending in vowels, so here is my new strategy:
I only pick players with first names ending in A, E, I, O, U, and sometimes Y. The team is selected randomly.
If I win the game with this strategy, I will have a party and serve only alphabet soup.
I only had today and tomorrows picks made, and they both had first names ending in vowels, so here is my new strategy:
I only pick players with first names ending in A, E, I, O, U, and sometimes Y. The team is selected randomly.
If I win the game with this strategy, I will have a party and serve only alphabet soup.
Vacation Report - Day 4
Today I tried to mow the lawn, trim the edges & hedges, etc. The only problem with that is that it is hot and humid here, and I haven't reacclimated to the weather yet. I had to take several breaks. I also drank something like 100 ounces of water during the afternoon. Today it's much cooler, I will get back out there to finish cleaning things up and to clear out the gutters.
Emma wanted to go home again, we distracted her a few times, but I think she just misses her normal routine.
We went to the mall to let the girls buy a book each, and the mall had a carousel in it. We let the girls take a ride on it. They were all very impressed.
Emma wanted to go home again, we distracted her a few times, but I think she just misses her normal routine.
We went to the mall to let the girls buy a book each, and the mall had a carousel in it. We let the girls take a ride on it. They were all very impressed.
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