This collection of entries is from the Category "Mundane".
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The roller coasterI'm getting tired of this... I'm just not sure of what yet...
At one time late yesterday, I had heard a forecast that said the upper end of the snowfall could be as much as 13 inches.
This morning... MAYBE it was 3"-5".. and the alerts were all cancelled... and the storm was over.
So... am I more tired and fed up about:
The snow storms piling-up the snow in big batches...
The roller coaster temperatures that never seem to get warm enough but sure seem to plummet at the drop of a hat...
The weathercritters who just can't get it right... they can predict the temperatures pretty well... but snowfall? When? Were? How much? NO WAY...
posted at 07:23 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Monday, February 25, 2008
Oh, here we go AGAIN...Still another storm rollls in later today with possibilities of up to 9 inches of snow...
I am SO over this...
read more of this entry »
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO IL
345 AM CST MON FEB 25 2008
...A WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA...
.LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING OVER NORTHEAST COLORADO THIS MORNING WILL INTENSIFY AS IT MOVES TOWARD THE MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TODAY...THEN MOVES ACROSS SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND INDIANA TONIGHT. GULF MOISTURE BEING PULLED INTO THIS SYSTEM WILL CAUSE RAIN TO DEVELOP AND SPREAD ACROSS NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA AROUND MIDDAY. RAIN IS EXPECTED TO QUICKLY CHANGE TO SNOW ACROSS FAR NORTHERN ILLINOIS...WITH THIS CHANGE OVER SPREADING SOUTH AND EAST ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE REGION DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS IN EXCESS OF 6 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA...WITH HEAVIEST TOTALS ACROSS FAR NORTHERN ILLINOIS WHERE THE RAIN TO SNOW CHANGE WILL TAKE PLACE EARLIEST. AS THE STORM CONTINUES TO INTENSIFY TONIGHT...WINDS WILL INCREASE FROM THE NORTHEAST WITH GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH RESULTING IN CONSIDERABLE BLOWING SNOW AS TEMPERATURES DROP AND THE SNOW BECOMES MORE POWDERY. THE SNOW WILL GRADUALLY TAPER TO FLURRIES BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON...THOUGH SOME LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST INDIANA INTO TUESDAY NIGHT.
ILZ003>006-008-010>012-251745-
/O.UPG.KLOT.WS.A.0004.080225T1800Z-080227T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KLOT.WS.W.0004.080225T2200Z-080226T1800Z/
WINNEBAGO-BOONE-MCHENRY-LAKE ILLINOIS-OGLE-LEE-DE KALB-KANE-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ROCKFORD... WOODSTOCK... WAUKEGAN... OREGON... DIXON... DEKALB... AURORA
345 AM CST MON FEB 25 2008
...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 12 PM CST TUESDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHICAGO HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 12 PM CST TUESDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.
MIXED PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...THEN QUICKLY CHANGE TO SNOW. SNOW...HEAVY AT TIMES WILL THEN CONTINUE WELL INTO TONIGHT...WITH TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 9 INCHES BY TUESDAY MORNING. THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DIMINISH TO FLURRIES BY MORNING...HOWEVER...STRONG NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTING TO 35 MPH WILL CONTINUE TO CAUSE CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.
A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. THIS...COMBINED WITH BLOWING SNOW WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS.
$$ « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 07:48 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Sunday, February 24, 2008
OSCAR® nightAnother trip into the city for the annual Academy Awards party at B&B's.
I just didn't like the evening... wait... that came out wrong... I loved being with our friends and having a good time...
It's just the Red Carpet.. and the Awards... meh
No stellar dresses... STUPID people doing the coverage of the Red Carpet....and with SO many "dark" movies nominated, it was just kind of depressing, and since we don't see those kind of movies, we had no vested interest with anything in the show.
On top of that, no contest this year at the party because "because Michael always wins!!"
Well... not ALWAYS...
read more of this entry »
Performance by an actor in a leading role
Daniel Day-Lewis in “There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)
Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Javier Bardem in “No Country for Old Men” (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
Performance by an actress in a leading role
Marion Cotillard in “La Vie en Rose” (Picturehouse)
Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Tilda Swinton in “Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros.)
Best animated feature film of the year
“Ratatouille” (Walt Disney) Brad Bird
Achievement in art direction
“Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (DreamWorks and Warner Bros., Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
Art Direction: Dante Ferretti
Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
Achievement in cinematography
“There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage and Miramax) Robert Elswit
Achievement in costume design
“Elizabeth: The Golden Age” (Universal) Alexandra Byrne
Achievement in directing
“No Country for Old Men” (Miramax and Paramount Vantage) Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Best documentary feature
“Taxi to the Dark Side” (THINKFilm)
An X-Ray Production
Alex Gibney and Eva Orner
Best documentary short subject
“Freeheld”
A Lieutenant Films Production
Cynthia Wade and Vanessa Roth
Achievement in film editing
“The Bourne Ultimatum” (Universal) Christopher Rouse
Best foreign language film of the year
“The Counterfeiters” An Aichholzer Filmproduktion, Magnolia Filmproduktion Production
Austria
Achievement in makeup
“La Vie en Rose” (Picturehouse) Didier Lavergne and Jan Archibald
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“Atonement” (Focus Features) Dario Marianelli
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Falling Slowly” from “Once”
(Fox Searchlight)
Music and Lyric by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
Best motion picture of the year
“No Country for Old Men” (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
A Scott Rudin/Mike Zoss Production
Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
Best animated short film
“Peter & the Wolf” (BreakThru Films)
A BreakThru Films/Se-ma-for Studios Production
Suzie Templeton and Hugh Welchman
Best live action short film
“Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)” (Premium Films)
A Karé Production
Philippe Pollet-Villard
Achievement in sound editing
“The Bourne Ultimatum” (Universal)
Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg
Achievement in sound mixing
“The Bourne Ultimatum” (Universal)
Scott Millan, David Parker and Kirk Francis
Achievement in visual effects
“The Golden Compass” (New Line in association with Ingenious Film Partners)
Michael Fink, Bill Westenhofer, Ben Morris and Trevor Wood
Adapted screenplay
“No Country for Old Men” (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Original screenplay
“Juno” (Fox Searchlight)
Written by Diablo Cody
« hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 11:47 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Cinema MarathonThis is so cool. I don't know if a national chain of movie theaters has ever done this before....
Today, starting at 11am, select AMC theaters will start a marathon of movies nominated for Best Picture at tomorrow's Academy Awards.
Michael Clayton 11:00 a.m. There Will Be Blood 1:20 p.m. Atonement 4:20 p.m. Juno 7:00 p.m. No Country for Old Men 9:00 p.m. For $30, you get a free large popcorn with unlimited refills all day. Oh, and there's this "collectible pass" for the event.
I think this would be SO COOL... but... if I have problems sitting through one movie, how am I going to sit for 5 movies over 12 hours?
posted at 10:06 AM | Link | Movies | Care to comment? | § |
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Crappy sunset
OK... sunset.. creating long shadows over my front lawn...
Does NOT make the situation more... ummm... "palatable"
posted at 05:22 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Changes in the cityAs my memory seems to have been going haywire over the past months, it's nice to find things that jog the memory.
I was reading this post I wrote back toward the end of 2005 that referenced a list (and VOLUMINOUS comments) at Eric Zorn's blog at the Tribune of stores, shops, buildings, institutions that have left the Chicago landscape. (I think this was in reaction to MARSHAL FIELD'S leaving the landscape, a move that I STILL think is WRONG... but... I digress...)
I was SHOCKED to find out that people are STILL commenting on that blog entry for things that they remember that are no longer around...
But what a GREAT way to reminisce about ... "the old days"...
... and, are you old if you talk about "the old days"?
posted at 11:47 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Monday, February 18, 2008
Closer crap
Oh god...
The sun is out.... I open the drapes on our patio door...
and there it is...
They've laid waste to the backyard too...
My blood is boiling...
posted at 09:58 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Oh crap
OK... I'm am SO NOT HAPPY... and I'm not sure how to go about talking about this, but let me summarize:
Neighbor. 2 Golden Retrievers. Neighbor lets the dogs out, while he either stays inside the house or stands in the garage and smokes.
Dogs do not stay on his property - they go to the neighboring properties...
... and proceed to... ummm... dump... their waste.
Neighbor calls dogs back inside... DOES NOT CLEANUP AFTER THE DOGS. EVER.
So, during the snowfall season... they've been crapping on my lawn... and now that the snow has melted a bit... I can see them... everywhere...
We've had this issue for years now. During the summer, our lawn mowing service would come weekly to mow... and ... well... that would.. umm... dissipate the issue...
We've had TruGreen ChemLawn come out to fertilize and treat the lawn and leave us messages that we should clean-up after our dog.
OUR DOG.
Do you have any idea how ANGRY I am right now?
posted at 03:55 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Friday, February 15, 2008
Rockstar Curling?OK... saw this today... and it just FEELS like it's something out of The Onion... but... could it be true?
Somebody is floating the idea of a reality show that can actually produce - as a winner - an Olympian.
So... what kind of sport would work for that? How about... curling!
Now, it has turned into a American Idol reality thing with five male and five female slots to produce the entries to the Olympic tryouts.
The cool thing, that was unfortunately false, is that at one time they were talking about "closet curlers" that are rockstars would be involved - specifically John Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen. How cool would that have been? How cool would it have been for those guys to expose more people to the sport?
posted at 01:32 PM | Link | Olympics | Care to comment? | § |
Thursday, February 14, 2008
The color of rosesYou know... Valentine's day.. make me think of roses... and just how damn confusing they are when you try to buy flowers for someone and have to be worried about the damn color of the rose so that the gift doesn't get misconstrued... and not only color, but how many as well. It's not like everybody agrees on all the colors, too. It's insane.
read more of this entry »
According to the "language of flowers", certain rose colors carry specific symbolic meanings.
Red: love, used to say "I love you," but also stands for courage and respect.
Red & White Together or White Roses with Red Edges signify unity and togetherness.
Pink: symbolizes grace, sophistication and elegance. Also symbolizes gentle feelings of love and friendship.
Dark Pink: Gratefulness and appreciation.
Light Pink: Admiration, sympathy
White: Innocence, purity, secrecy, friendship, reverence and humility.
Yellow: Often akin to joy and deep friendship or platonic love. In German speaking countries, however, they can mean jealousy and infidelity.
Yellow with red tips: Friendship, falling in love
Orange or Coral symbolizes enthusiasm and desire
Burgundy: Beauty
Blue: Mystery
Green: Calm
Black: used to signify death (black being the color of death) often of old habits. In a positive light it signifies rebirth after death. Also, slavish devotion (as a true black rose is impossible to produce).
Purple: protection (paternal/maternal love)
The rose also has various supernatural and literary attributes.
Pale Colors:convey warmth and friendship.
A Dozen Roses: stand for "there are dozens of ways I care about you."
Two Dozen Roses: stands for the 24 hours in a day and tells that "you think about them every hour".
Three Dozen Roses: signify a romantic attachment unlike any other.
Four Dozen Roses: mean unchanging and unconditional love. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 01:16 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Shot through the heartIt's Valentine's Day... meh.
But I thought it was interesting to hear about what I would think would be another "shot through the heart" that is being planned, though not from cupid... or Bon Jovi for that matter.
There's this Spy Satellite (identified only as USA 193) that was launched on December 14th, 2006 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on a Delta II rocket. Shortly after reaching obit, ground controllers lost the ability to control the satellite, and have never regained it.
So, this thing is in this decaying orbit. Since there was never any contact, 1,000 pounds of the maneuvering fuel (hydrazine) is still onboard. So, the United States is concerned that this huge thing is not going to burn-up completely when it finally dives into the atmosphere. The hydrazine is deadly, so the United States is going to shoot down the satellite first. With an anti-ballistic missile. To make sure the tank gets ruptured and the hydrazine gets dissipated.
Let's look at a few things. this satellite is about 5,000 pounds. The government is worried about the debris. Larger things have re-entered with little damage, like Mir (clocking in at about 274,000 lbs). Even Skylab, that had major pieces survive didn't do that much damage (about 169,000 pounds).
I'd like to believe the government is worried about the hydrazine, but... come on... truthfully... don't you think it's because they're worried key technology components may survive reentry and be recovered by other unnamed countries? I mean... hello!... Spy satellite!
Still... kinda cool if they could actually hit the thing.
posted at 01:11 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
This is getting tiresomeI knew there was more snow this season...
Snowfall this season up through today: 45.2 inches
Snow up to this date last year? 13.5 inches.
posted at 06:16 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Sunday, February 10, 2008
This is ridiculous...-6°F (about -21.11°C)... -30°F wind chill (that's about -34.44°C for you international types)
It's becoming obvious to me that I've accepted the past mild winters as normal, because this winter is just weighing hard on me...
posted at 10:08 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Early shutdown.. and a struggle...The snowstorm is actually here... heard a rumor that the building actually shutdown around noon. I looked out the window and saw the frontloader moving snow piles around and the parking lot was empty. My office is more of a branch office - nobody is really here to say go home.. and since my manager is actually located across the country, I had to contact her to let her know about the local weather. Needless to say, I left a few hours early.
The trip home was terrible, but actually moved better than I had anticipated, but it was still a struggle to get there.
Perhaps this will be the biggest one of the season... maybe...
posted at 10:13 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Super Fat Pączki Tuesday
Who's bright idea was it to schedule Super Tuesday on the same day as Mardi Gras?
I mean... there's too much scheduled today... it's Fat Tuesday... which really is Mardi Gras... which is the last day of Carnival... (that started on Twelfth Night, which is the 12th day after Christmas, January 6, or as the dictionary says "the evening of the fifth of January, preceding Twelfth Day, the eve of the Epiphany, formerly the last day of the Christmas festivities and observed as a time of merrymaking"... which also marked the end of a winter festival that started on All Hallows (also known as All Saints) Eve — now more commonly known as Halloween)... but it's also Shrove Tuesday... but that's also Pancake Day? ... and then, in Chicago, it's Pączki Day... but that's only for Chicago, Detroit, Hamtramck, Milwaukee, and South Bend... because it's really supposed to be on Tłusty Czwartek or Fat Thursday which would have been last Thursday... which is also Fettdonnerstag, or Schmutziger Donnerstag in Germany... or Giovedì Grasso in Italy... and all of this is because of Ash Wednesday tomorrow...
THERE IS JUST TOO MUCH HAPPENING WITH TODAY...
... and I'm supposed to go out and vote today?
But... it's only a Primary election... and I don't exercise my right to vote on those days... because it requires me to officially declare a party and I refuse to do that. I always rather vote for a candidate that I believe in regardless of the party affiliation.
I'm just looking forward to the end of all the damn political advertising... at least until we do this all again later this year - for "real".
posted at 08:23 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment | § |
Monday, February 04, 2008
Super Fog
Wow... the fog rolled in today.. and it's sticking around... and it's not our usual fog - this one is thick. Tonight the visibility went down to one-tenth of a mile.
I love fog. I love walking in it. And, if the traffic is light, I love driving in it. I loved driving home after work tonight.
It was thick, but it didn't feel dangerous... and it felt great.
posted at 09:51 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Super... snow
Went to my sister's house to have an impromptu Super Bowl viewing party. What was REALLY great was that B&B were also invited, and picked-up (and dropped-off) my mom. It was great having them at Diane's.
Now, you know, I love watching the game. There is just so much surrounding it, between the pomp and circumstance of a championship sporting event and then there's the great commercials that are rolled-out just for that event. That means that you really can't take much of a break from watching anything. But that also means that everything could be interrupted with talk... usually loud... at any time. And my family is all about the socializing and between B&B.. and Jack.. and my mom... well, there was a lot that was going on.
I feel that I REALLY never heard the game. I'm pretty sure i saw most of the plays (and I have to tell you, this was a wonderful game to watch... and I found out I was the only Patriots fan in the house...) Really really enjoyable game.. close, well fought, well played. And you gotta love a game - inside a dome (well, the roof was closed) - on grass.
OK... favorite commercials? Bud takes them all again, with FedEx Carrier Pigeons being up there. Oh, and screaming animals in a Bridgestone tire commercial (even a little screaming... grasshopper?)
The surprise of the evening? It was that while we were enjoying the game, eating pulled pork from Sweet Baby Ray's... it was snowing the whole time and we didn't know.
There was 3 inches of snow on my car when we were getting ready to leave. The streets were plowed in places. The expressways were not really clear. A treacherous, slow drive home - I felt the back end slide-out once... made be back off a bit and I wasn't doing anything bad.
Update: You know, I can't complain with this year's USA Today Ad Meter rankings of this year's commercials.
Update: It's official.. .and WOW. An estimated 97.5 million viewers watched the game. It was the second-most watched television program of all time, behind the 1983 finale of "M*A*S*H," which was viewed by 106 million people. The previous most-watched Bowl, with 94.1 million viewers, was Dallas vs. Pittsburgh in 1996. The game scored a 37.6 rating among adults 18 to 49, making it the highest-rated Super Bowl in that target demographic in eight years. The 1996 Super Bowl remains the highest rated with a 41.2 rating.
posted at 10:33 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Friday, February 01, 2008
Still comin'
Over 6 inches as of this morning. Our area was supposed to be around 4". Somebody didn't see this coming. The snow distribution is nothing like they said it would be. At least it doesn't feel like it to me.
At least the traffic was really light. People must be staying home, schools must be closed.
A good thing, too, since the roads weren't cleared. The plows couldn't keep up overnight.
posted at 08:11 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Crazy drive home
It was snowing all afternoon. Something tells me the Weather Critters got this wrong - we weren't supposed to get hit this hard north and west of the city.
The drive home was a mess.... We barely moved during the entire trip. In fact, the needle on my speedometer never actually moved - I have no idea how fast I was traveling. The road surface was a mess.... no one was out plowing either.
And this is to continue until noon tomorrow...
posted at 05:16 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Office etiquette rule #421...If you happen to see a coworker who is walking - with a purpose - toward where the restrooms are located, DO NOT stop this person to chat...
If you notice this coworker shifting slightly back and forth with their eyes pretty wide open... STOP TALKING TO THEM...
If you notice the co-worker's knees subtly move toward each other...
STOP TALKING IMMEDIATELY...
posted at 10:53 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
OK... now this is crazy...Man... Chicago weather can be really extreme at times...
Case in point:
High yesterday 48°F (almost 9°C). Woke up this morning and it was -2°F (almost -19°C)... that's a 50 degree swing in about 18 hours.
Add into that the Wind Chill: -22°F (almost -19°C)... this is crazy.. because it'll be in the 30's for the weekend...
It was like a blizzard outside last night - the snow was blowing sideways. Looked like hell. More snow to come in the next couple of days.
Traffic was terrible this morning - slow moving. The salt just doesn't work at these temperatures.
posted at 10:12 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Here we go again...The weather is going to go crazy again... another "the sky is falling!" weather report .. and alerts... and warnings...
Was actually in the 30's this morning... and I found it refreshing...
posted at 09:23 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Monday, January 28, 2008
New signage
Carol pointed out something in the neighborhood that I have never seen before. I guess I never paid attention.
For as long as we've lived out here, we are constantly seeing "For Sale" signs in front of houses.
One in front of a house looked quite normal... from a local RE/MAX realtor. Except.. it was night.. and the sign was lit. It has solar panels on top and, judging by the color of the light, white LED's lighting the sign!
Then I noticed another sign on the bottom, hanging off the main sign... it was a website address for the street address of the house. Great idea... and cheap... it just redirects to the realtor's page, but then you can pick the homes that she's brokering, like this particular one...
I like seeing the use of technology creeping into things we've used to take for granted.
posted at 07:22 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Setting the stations
Remember that radio we bought yesterday for Carol's truck?
Well, we had it installed today...
Actually, first I went online and pulled the most complete list of radio stations and frequencies in the Chicago area. I'm saying "most complete" because trying to find a complete list of stations that you can receive in the area is damn near impossible. There were always stations missing or mislabeled.
OK... so... programming a car radio...
while in motion...
while reading a manual... and associated frequency lists...
trying to press VERY TEENY program buttons...
while wearing a restrictive seat belt (that locks frequently)...
while driving bouncing and swerving over, through - and perhaps dodging - the ever-growing fields of some menacing potholes...
trying to find something to fill 6 selections in the AM band...
not to mention filling 3 bands of 6 selections in for FM...
All on the way driving to my mom's house for dinner.
My head was BUZZING by the time I stumbled out of the car. I wasn't in good shape at all... but at least Carol is happy with having a radio with a display that she can actually read... though I have to admit, it looks great and has a great sound (something she's been sorely lacking)...
posted at 11:24 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
"TiVorexia"This writers strike is just nuts... nothing to REALLY watch on TV except Reality and Game Shows...
..and now, a new word to describe how the strike is manifesting itself - TiVorexia.
See... when you setup a Season Pass to record your favorite shows, typically you set the Show Type to "First run only", so you only get the first showing of an episode of a show, and not the reruns. Great feature.
Now, with the strike, there's no new episodes of many of the shows we watch... and you look at the "To Do List"... and all you see is the Show Name... and "None scheduled" instead of the list of shows coming up to be recorded...
Carol actually thought ahead, and TiVo'd shows that she wasn't going to watch until later sometime... well... later is coming around sooner, and our TiVo still has things to watch.
posted at 04:11 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Snow slopWow - what a mess driving this morning.
It had actually warmed up (if you can call it "warm") to 29°F (almost -1°C) and it lightly snowed during the course of the night.
I mean lightly.. .covered everything, but barely... maybe an inch or so...
...and yet, it was one of the worst drives I've had in the morning recently. The side streets weren't plowed. the main streets weren't plowed. I was going down Higgins Road and I saw a police car up ahead on the right shoulder. When the traffic made it up toward him you could see a car down in a steep ditch along the road.
I can't figure out why - if the snow had already started last night during my drive home at 5pm, and it was only an inch or so since then - why were the streets in such bad shape?
At least it's not as bad as the 36" water main break in the city this morning that produced a huge hole and flooding up to 4 feet deep in the area, flooding nearby houses and stores.
Hey, on the positive side... sometime overnight, our driveway got plowed... and it must have been from the plowing company and not like last time.
posted at 09:10 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Monday, January 21, 2008
The "holiday"The Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an odd experience because, for me at least, it's not a holiday - it's just another work day.
You can tell, though, by the amount of traffic that many people have the day off. You can tell by the number of open parking spots in the garage at work that many people have the day off.
Not only a day to celebrate the life of a monumental civil rights leader, it's also a day that is used as a call to service for the community.
The origin of the day is not only his birthday, but it's also rooted in labor rights and unions...
So... today i work.
posted at 09:09 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Exploding PopA cold night.. .was down to -6°F (about -21°C). We knew we were going to have problems last night going to the hockey game.
Other than the obvious when we couldn't get the garage door to open (it would only travel between 6 inches and a foot even after stopping, reversing slightly and restarting it, taking several attempts to open the door all the way), it was on the shelves near the utility room door that we saw the issue.
We store soda on the shelving unit. Several of the bottles were freezing, so we had to get them inside so they wouldn't get screwed-up.
Too late for some of them, though.
The glass bottle six-packs of IBC Root Beer weren't surviving well.. in fact, 3 bottles were frozen and shattered.. and there's frozen root beer all over the shelves and other bottles.
We cleaned up the bottles, but we'll have to wait for a thaw to cleanup the shelves.
posted at 04:08 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Pull throughOK.. .another in what seems to be a series of small things that make you happy...
It is absolutely great to pull into a parking lot, or in my case - a parking garage, and find a parking spot... that you can pull through! You know the ones, where you're in one aisle and the spot that you pull in is open... but so is the one in front of you... allowing you to pull forward into that space.. so you can just pull out at the end of the day instead of having to back up! And you don't have to go through the effort of backing up into the space either!
This ONLY works when the parking spaces are straight, and not on a diagonal, because either the opposite spot is angled the opposite direction, or if it's not, that means that aisle is one-way the wrong way... and I HATE HATE HATE people that pull forward into those because it takes them FOREVER to swing their car around to pull out... .or even worse, just drive down the aisle the wrong way.
See? Small things...
posted at 08:33 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Pen PocketYou know... sometime you're just thankful for little things...
... little... odd... things...
It's winter here in Chicago, so I wear button-down shirts to work (no suits, thank gawd)
Being a geek, I not only love having a pocket on my shirt, but I also use it, holding onto whatever I would need.
But, you know what's cool? Having the style of pocket that actually has a separate little sleeve that holds a pen, so that the pen doesn't flop around the pocket... it's all self contained, snugly holding my pen...
That's cool...
posted at 08:47 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Monday, January 14, 2008
Left ShoeOK... I've been having this problem for at least a year now, and I have absolutely no explanation for this.
My left shoe constantly unties.
It doesn't matter at all which pair of shoes I have on. The left one always unties.
I have no explanation to offer. And it just pisses me off having to continually stop and tie my shoe.
Doesn't make any sense....
posted at 10:18 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Sunday, January 13, 2008
The Last PlaceOK.. just a small Pet Peeve here... but...
Carol said something and... do you ever have something that all of a sudden triggers something... or at least reminds you that you have something that bothers you?
Today, it was something that was innocent that everyone says, but it just riles me up when i hear it.
"It figures... it was in the last place I looked..."
See? innocent... but... my brain just goes...
OF COURSE IT'S IN THE LAST PLACE YOU LOOKED! IT'S ALWAYS IN THE LAST PLACE YOU LOOK, BECAUSE WHY WOULD ANYONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND CONTINUE TO LOOK WHEN YOU'VE ALREADY FOUND WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR!!!!!!!
posted at 12:17 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Friday, January 11, 2008
The new words of 2008...I think I'm getting tired of two words that are all I hear the last few weeks...
"change" - if you've been listening to all of the political events... and...
"bipolar"...
posted at 11:19 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
What does this mean?I always worry when I leave the house in the morning for my trek to work, and, as I drive through the neighborhood, all I see are squirrels everywhere, standing upright, eating nuts...
... what does this mean?
posted at 08:06 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Things that are scary, and yet piss you off at the same time...OK... look... I'm getting upset at all of our liberties and freedoms being encroached upon... America is not the same place that it used to be... not that I'm saying that we should be EXACTLY where we were 8 years ago, but... I don't know... I just get pissed-off at things...
like... oh... Federal wiretapping... especially those of the warrant-less variety...
But, when you have a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act investigation (which is used in the government's most sensitive and secretive criminal investigations, and allow eavesdropping on suspected terrorists or spies)... when THOSE wiretaps get CUT OFF because the government didn't pay the bills to the phone companies....
something REALLY SCREWED UP is happening in government...
Phone companies cut FBI wiretaps due to unpaid bills
posted at 03:51 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
I can't imagine a car crash like this...In Florida, on I-4, imagine not being able to see in front of the hood of your car. Normally, in fog or smoke, you could see pavement at least a little bit in front of you. In this case - no. I never heard that there are "Fog Warnings" that have a scale to them - 1-10. Anything over 7 is supposed to be risky for driving. the alert was for a 10.
Now, add to that a wildfire that started as a controlled burn that got away from the Florida Division of Forestry.
Sometime after 4am is when it all hit at the same time... and the horrendous collisions began.
I guess it wasn't just one crash, but rather 10 crashes involving 70 vehicles. 38 injured. 5 died. In a 2½ mile stretch of road.
Responding fire crews had to walk in front of the engines to guide them through the smoke & fog because the drivers just couldn't see.
There were reports of people hearing erie sounds of crashes, screams, people calling for help all around them... popping of tires from the vehicles engulfed in flames... and not being able to see any of it.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
HB, EP, wherever you are...Ummm... ok... could be all those times going to the annual Elvis Night at U.S. Cellular Field (you know... I'm still having problems saying that... I STILL call it Comiskey... I mean, how long do I have to refer to the place as TPFKAC™? It's going to be 5 years already...)
...but.. .Happy 73rd Birthday, Elvis Presley... wherever you are...
posted at 09:41 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Monday, January 07, 2008
January Tornado(s)OK, this is crazy...
It was 64°F (a bit over 17°C) today. If that's not crazy enough, let's add-in tornadoes, up by the Wisconsin border. Homes blown apart, 12 cars of a freight train blown over. Saw cell pone video of the actual tornado that was seen. There's a question if there was one, two, or three... but they have finally figured out that it was an F3 tornado (on the Fujita Scale... oh wow... they decomissioned the scale.. now there's an Enhanced Fujita Scale... with enhanced damage indicators... hmmmm... may have to read-up more about this...)
Anyway... it's January. Tornadoes in January.
posted at 10:36 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Surely the polar ice caps are melting...Now we're up to Flash Flood Warnings from the Winter Storm Warnings because it's so warm today, all of the snow has melted and it's got nowhere to go...
High today: 61°F (a bit over 16° C). Stepped outside today to... ummm... turn off our Christmas lights... almost felt "balmy"...
Sorry, I would rather have this than a typical Chicago winter weather.
Watched American Gladiators tonight. I was so pumped-up to watch this show. Carol and I used to love the original - in fact, we went to a live show at the Rosemont Horizon (now Allstate Arena) back when the show was originally airing (can't remember when.. must have been in the early 90's)
Though the show still holds a sense of nostalgia for me, perhaps... I am over with it? I can't help but to feel like there's a faint smell of "professional wrestling" with this, which just taints it for me...
posted at 10:41 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Another day of birthday...You know, no matter how old you are, you have to like it when you get to extend your birthday bay a day or two, just so you can celebrate it with family... or whoever.
So, went to my mom's for dinner today instead of tomorrow, since she is playing social butterfly tomorrow and going to a party herself.
Carol had stopped earlier today and brought along a great cake from Deerfield's. - Double layer chocolate cake, covered in chocolate mousse, with a layer of ladyfingers around the outside. Oh, man... wonderful... and it wasn't really sweet, somehow, which is what made it wonderful.
Woke up today to ... green grass. All that snow? GONE. Why? It's warm today, finally... even warmer tomorrow...
posted at 09:24 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Friday, January 04, 2008
51Happy Birthday to...
ME
Finding birthday cards strewn around the house... on my pillow (after I had gotten up to ... ummm... go... to the bathroom), on my chair by my computer... on my dashboard covering up my spedometer... and then one in my backpack under the Velcro strap holding in my laptop...
... and a wrapped DVD case (you just know it's a DVD by the size and weight).
So... still another year has passed... and I'm still here to see it.
Which is all good.
At least it's warmer today when I woke up: 25°F (about -3°C).
posted at 08:29 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Unusual packages...Came home tonight to find two interesting items...
The first, in the mail, was a CD from the neurologist's office, of the brain MRI that I had a week ago Wednesday. It has software on it that autoloads and you can browse through all of the images of each series that was taken. A very odd journey through my brain...
The second was hanging from my front door, in a clear plastic bag.
It was the English Translation of the Message of the Quran .
Yes, a paperback version, distributed by the Book of Signs Foundation, with a cover letter.
Not something I would have gone out and bought (probably ever), but... I don't mind having a copy around.
posted at 05:50 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Just a tad bit worse...Woke up to find the temperature is 0°F (about -17°C).
There is heat out there somewhere that is supposed to be coming this way.
Oh, who am I kidding... it's not "heat"... let's just say "warmer air"... I mean, this is Chicago.
posted at 06:52 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Clean entryI got home after work today and as I pulled into my clean driveway I realized I had forgotten to mention this yesterday.
In the middle of the Rose Bowl game, the doorbell rang and it looked like a family of 4 that wanted to know if we wanted our driveway and sidewalks cleared.
Since we hadn't seen "hide nor hair" of our plowing service, we said sure... and they did a wonderful job with shovels and a snowblower. Looking out at the snow they had to cut through, it was a lot deeper than I had thought - maybe 9 inches to a foot (in places).
And, as anybody knows, it's not the snow on the driveway that's the killer - it the mound of snow that the village snowplow leaves at the end of the driveway when they come along and plow the street.
Wonder if we'll ever hear from our plowing service ever again, or did Carol's incessant phone calls to their voice mail scare them off?
posted at 04:58 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Plunged into the cold...Great way to start the shortened work week... the temperature is 3°F (about -16°C). Going to be cold all day.
And then I thought I saw 50°F (10°C) later, like maybe next week?
And the climate isn't changing?
posted at 07:19 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
OK, a lazy way to start the new year...So.. what have I done to start 2008? Let's see...
- Woke up
- Watched the 119th Tournament of Roses Parade on HGTV (only thing better would be to watch this in HD, but all we had was the KTLA feed, and I'd rather have a commercial-free viewing experience with commentators that talked about what was used in the float construction, and the advantages of certain pieces, rather than the pre-written inane banter of major network coverage)
- Watched The Winter Classic from Buffalo... first time ever in the United States... imagine... an NHL hockey game - a regulation in-season game - played on a temporary ice rink built between the 16-yard lines on the football field in Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, NY where the Buffalo Bills play. An NHL-record 71,217 fans watched in the middle of a snow storm (with the vast majority staying to watch the entire game) (best sign that a fan held up: "Look Mom, no roof"). And, it has to be settled in a shootout. What a GREAT event for the NHL (oh, it was Pittsburgh 2, Buffalo 1)
- The 94th Rose Bowl Game. uggh... how friggin' embarrassing... another Big-10 fiasco at the hands of the Pac-10, with the Illini losing to USC 49-17.... ugggh...
And basically, those few things took up my whole day, outside of Carol cooking-up a wonderful breakfast and dinner...
Welcome to 2008...
posted at 10:12 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Happy New Year all!ugggghhhh... just got home after a HORRENDOUS drive from Wrigleyville out to the suburbs. The weather just wasn't right today/tonight/this morning... whatever this time period was...
ooops... so much for that "Rabbit, Rabbit" thing.... there must be a way around that for New year's celebrations
It started snowing while I was at work (yes, I had to actually work today). The drive home wasn't really treacherous yet, as I stayed on the most traveled streets... thank God for the lack of regular traffic.
Picked up Carol and made our way into the city to Barry & Buffy's. The Tollway and expressway were wet and slow... no traffic tie-ups, just a constant slow speed, which, in the long run, was not bad at all. The snow by us was deeper, heavier than what we experienced by them. I felt good, though, knowing that the weather-critters were predicting the snow ending my 11pm, which gave the plows/salt trucks a few hours to work before we had to make it home.
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Don't remember what was on TV all night... with all the conversation, ummm... some of it, ummm... LOUD... it was difficult to figure out what was going on anyway. That snow? Just kept comin'. Kenny kept leaving throughout the night, about every half hour or so just to keep on top of it by shoveling the sidewalks.
Had Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve on, as usual. It just seems like the right thing, somehow a tradition...
..ummm... even though Buffy's birthday was just Sunday, somehow I wind-up always getting a cake (mine is Friday), which I always feel awkward about, but... turn down cake? Are you crazy?
11pm came and went... the snow kept coming... changing from light snow, to big heavy flakes, to smaller flakes blowing around...
Midnight came as we watched another tradition of our - putting on Channel 7 (the local ABC affiliate - for "Countdown Chicago") to watch Janet Davies make a fool of herself again. She didn't disappoint. She didn't seem as drunk as we've seen in prior years, but still an awful lot of fodder for our comments (thank you You Tube). The local events that were being covered were just... subdued. The Willowbrook Ballroom’s 68th annual Big Band New Year’s Eve Party? After "Dancing With The Stars", the local experts didn't live up to what we're used to seeing.
Well... it was finally time to call it a night... and we made our slow drive home. Snow stopping at 11pm? No... it's after 1am and still snowing. The side streets were bad. Southport was a little better. Addison was almost a little better. the competition on the streets of revelers attempting to get a cab was fierce - we've never seen so many people hailing cabs on New Year's before. The Kennedy - well, not so bad, though we did see a car spin out in the left-hand lane that wound-up pointing toward us (perhaps a New Year's Eve amateur?) The Northwest Tollway - still not great. I wasn't comfortable even doing the limit, though apparently idiots in SUV's were.
From the Tollway home was actually a bit treacherous.The plows were nowhere to be found. We slowly made our way home - to find our driveway still unplowed. Think we're gonna have to find another service, because this guy isn't doing this well, if at all.
So, we're home safe and sound.
Another year starts, still with all the unknowns awaiting ahead.
Here's to a better 2008! « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 02:41 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Manny'sIn lieu of an "Away Team" trip up to LaValle like we've been doing, the guys that are down here got together for lunch today... OK... it's just me and Barry and Joe. Not a big deal, but it turns out that the place we went to both Barry & Joe have been to before. In fact, Joe used to go there quite often in a prior life when he worked in the area.
We went to Manny's deli on Jefferson in Chicago's "South Loop" area... an area that didn't look ANYTHING like it does now just a few years ago. Huge developments, both commercial and residential.
And then there's Manny's. Who ever heard of a cafeteria style deli that's been around since 1942, a place that politicians STILL do business there in the seating areas, a place that STILL has a GOOD selection of cigars in the humidor at the checkout cash registers, a place that has... COMPLIMENTARY VALET PARKING?
Had a Reuben (Barry and I were standing around for quite a while waiting for Joe and smelled that sauerkraut so... had to have the Reuben). Haven't had that quality corned beef in quite a while... so tender and moist...
Man... Carol was jealous that we were going after seeing it on Check Please! I'll going to have to bring here there some weekend...
posted at 02:57 PM | Link | Friends | Care to comment? | § |
Friday, November 02, 2007
No no no no... this is *TOO* early...A long story, but one that NEEDS to be told, becuase... THIS IS GETTING REDICULOUS...
A few weeks ago, I was at Lowes... and they had started displaying all their Christmas merchandise... I went to Home Depot - same thing.
At Walgreen's this week, you could find Halloween candy in one aisle, Christmas candy - and decorations - in the next aisle.
Today, I'm reading a great Chicago blog - Gaper's Block - and found something even more disturbing.
There's a station here in Chicago - WLIT 93.9 FM - that, every year, switches to 24 Christmas music during the season. They are scheduled to do it next Friday - November 9!!!!
There's a rock station here - WCKG 105.9 FM - that is a talk (sorta rock) station. They are actually pulling the plug on their format, dumping their on-air personalities, and starting something new... someday soon... and... they're not saying what it is... (rumors are saying that it will be "adult-contemporary music format for women between 25 and 54")
So. sometime later today, WCKG is going to start playing Christmas music until they figure out what they're doing! Today!
So... what does WLIT do? They want to get the jump on WCKG, so they start their 24-hour Christmas music format THIS MORNING - FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2!
TWO RADIO STATIONS IN CHICAGO - PLAYING CHRISTMAS MUSIC - 24 HOURS A DAY - STARTING TODAY, NOVEMBER *** 2 *** ?!?!?!?!?!?!!!!!!
This is CRAZY!!! Whatever happened to No Christmas Until After Thanksgiving!!!!!
UPDATE: WCKG didn't go Christmas... at least not yet... interesting idea: if they get WLIT to move off their regular Adult Contemporary programming earlier than they were going to, then perhaps they can make a grab at the WLIT audience when WCKG changes to a format similar to what WLIT NORMALLY has
posted at 04:55 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
33 centsI've been hearing the news over the past week or so... and I kept seeing the prices go down... now I guess they're trying to catch up...
Gas prices are up 33 cents a gallon today compared to what I paid on Monday...
posted at 08:56 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Disappointing spooksSo.. it was - what I thought - a very nice day. Sunny. Low 60's. A bit breezy, though.
And ... thanks to our screwed-up government, Daylight Saving is still in effect for an extra week, just to allow the Trick or Treater's out there one extra hour of daylight.
So, I was disappointed in the turnout - another downturn in visitors. You know I keep track of the kids.
So... here we go... here's the look of the numbers over the years:
2006: 57
2005: 56
2004: 61
2003: 69
2002: 79
and... drumroll... this year's count: 46
And that doesn't count the 3 kids that came back (they were in my first group - at 4:21pm).. .and.. it doesn't count the dog dressed like a devil, either.
posted at 07:31 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Monday, October 29, 2007
Stealing a TacoOn the way home from work today, I had to stop by Taco Bell.
Now... why would I do that... and why would you care?
Because everyone in the United States is getting a free taco today. Now... again... why?
Because Taco Bell ran a promotion that was called "Steal a Base Steal a Taco". In a nutshell, if anybody in the World Series steals a base in a World Series game, America gets a free a free crunchy seasoned beef taco .
So - there it was: last Thursday, Game 2, bottom of the 4th. - Thank You Boston Red Sox rookie center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury (he walked after two out, and stole second in a 2-1 win by Boston over Colorado)
The place wasn't crowded at all... you could only cash-in today from 2pm-5pm. I can't imagine what the chain's 5,800 stores were like during all of this.
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EVENT: Taco Bell Corp. ("Taco Bell") is tapping into the national pastime with a completely outside the bun idea: During any game of the 2007 World Series (the "Games"), currently scheduled for Wednesday, October 24, 2007, Thursday, October 25, 2007, Saturday, October 27, Sunday, October 28, 2007, Monday, October 29, 2007 (if necessary), Wednesday, October 31, 2007 (if necessary), Thursday, November 1, 2007, (if necessary), Games or event dates and times determined in the sole discretion of the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball, and/or Major League Baseball Properties, Inc., as applicable, and are subject to change, Taco Bell will offer the prize identified below for ANY "stolen base" as determined by Taco Bell in its sole discretion. For purposes of this event, an eligible "stolen base" is defined as a base stolen during regulation or extra innings play and is subject to the determination/designation of the official Major League Baseball scorekeeper as an official stolen base. Any attempted stolen base which does not result in an official stolen base as defined herein, will not be eligible for the "Free Taco" as outlined herein. If a base is stolen during regulation or extra innings play by any player for either team, Taco Bell will offer every person in the U.S. the opportunity to obtain one (1) free Crunchy Seasoned Beef Taco (Approximate Retail Value 77¢, prices may vary) ("Free Taco") at participating Taco Bell® restaurants in the United States on the date designated herein. No product substitution, cash redemption or alternative will be allowed. Only one (1) Free Taco will be permitted per person, regardless of how many eligible bases are stolen during the Games. In the event the Games are not played on October 24-November 1, 2007, the offer will be good during any Games of the 2007 MLB World Series to be announced.
ELIGIBILITY: No Purchase Necessary. This offer is open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia only. Void in all other territories, possessions, commonwealths and all other countries. Void where prohibited. MLB Entities (as defined below) and employees thereof are ineligible.
SPONSOR: Taco Bell Corp., 17901 Von Karman Avenue, Irvine, CA 92614.
HOW TO OBTAIN A FREE TACO: If an eligible base was stolen during the Games, Taco Bell will make an announcement through selected media channels, including a press release and its web site (www.tacobell.com), that eligible consumers can obtain their free Crunchy Seasoned Beef Taco on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 (if base is stolen in Games 1 or 2 on October 24 or October 25, 2007) OR November 6, 2007 (if base is stolen in Games 3-7, October 27, 28, 29, 31, November 1, 2007) ("Redemption Date") only. To obtain the Free Taco, consumers must visit any participating Taco Bell® restaurant in one of the fifty (50) the United States or District of Columbia between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. (local time) on the Redemption Date only and request a Free Crunchy Seasoned Beef Taco. Free Taco's will not be offered on any other date or time, regardless of circumstance. Limit one (1) Free Crunchy Seasoned Beef Taco per person. Participating Taco Bell restaurant manager reserves the right to deny Free Taco to any person he/she reasonably believes has already received a Free Taco or has engaged in any other fraudulent activity. All eligible consumers: Everyone in line at a participating Taco Bell restaurant before 5:00 p.m. local time will receive a Free Taco, even if it is provided after 5:00 p.m. Free Taco offer is subject to store availability and Taco Bell reserves the right to substitute an item of equal or greater value if due to unavailability. All restaurant managers decisions are final regarding to Free Taco offer. As a condition of the offer, consumers agree: (a) to release, and hold harmless Major League Baseball Properties, Inc., Major League Baseball Enterprises, Inc., MLB Advanced Media, L.P., MLB Media Holdings, Inc., MLB Media Holdings, L.P., MLB Online Services, Inc., the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball, and the Major League Baseball Clubs, and each of their respective shareholders, employees, parents, directors, officers, affiliates, representatives, agents, successors, and assigns (hereinafter,"MLB Etities") and Sponsor and their affiliates, subsidiaries, retailers, sales representatives, distributors and franchisees, and each of their officers, directors, employees and agents ("Promotional Parties"), from any and all claims, demands, losses, promises, causes of action, and liabilities, in this contest/promotion or any use/misuse of the prizes awarded hereunder including a Free Taco, (b) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and participant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental, consequential, or any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses; (c) all causes of action arising out of or connected with this Offer or any Free Taco or any advertising, marketing, promotion or publicity materials in connection therewith, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; and (d) any and all claims, judgments, and award shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, excluding attorneys' fees and court costs. By participating, consumers agree that all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, participant's rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the Sponsor in connection with the Sweepstakes, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules. By entering, entrants consent to the jurisdiction and venue of the federal, state and local courts for Irvine, California.
Taco Bell is an official sponsor of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights used with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. Contest not produced or executed by any MLB Entity. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 04:50 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Yep... it's coldWoke up this morning to 39°F outside... yeah.. the season has turned...
It's been a disappointing fall, though... it's been warm for so long, that the trees REALLY haven't changed colors as well as they used to. Add to that the high winds we had recently, and the trees are becoming more bare than retaining colorful leaves.
Well, at least I won't be staying in the house this morning, having to go to work. yesterday it was 61°F in the house, and that just made a bit too uncomfortable.
posted at 07:57 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Another season overBoston sweeps Colorado in the World Series... and thus brings to a close another baseball season...
My heart goes into hibernation until the spring...
posted at 11:32 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Went to see GoneDrove into the city to pickup B&B to drive to the Evanston Century 12 theaters to see Gone Baby Gone.
Well, I have to say lately that I think I've decided that "my kind of movie" is one that entertains, it could be "light", it could be "action"... and this movie doesn't fall into that genre for me. I was reluctant to go, but as Carol pointed out to me, I seem to have been steering our movie going in that direction when the four of us are together and it was time to see one of "their" movies.
A bit dark... a bit disturbing (the subject matter)... but.. I MUST admit, well performed... and enjoyable in that sense.
And, to top it off, my legs didn't twitch at all in those seats, and I haven't the foggiest reason why.
After the movie, we drove back to their neighborhood to hit a LITTLE restaurant that we love going to - El Tapatio. The food was great, as always, but tonight our issues were 1) sitting under a speaker that was JUST TOO LOUD... and 2) since when do all these toddlers love Mexican food? the restaurant is TINY and the tables really close together, especially in the back where we always seem to sit, but I don't like have to scoot my chair as close to the table as possible (up against my stomach) to stay out of the way of the lady sitting behind.. .and the toddler always running into my chair... the amount of kids in such a tiny restaurant was startling...
We went to their house afterward to watch Game 3 of the World Series (there's no way Boston is gonna loose this series... sorry Colorado...) and had some yummy hot apple pie from Dinkel's (complete with a great vanilla bean ice cream, too).
posted at 11:07 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Elevator Entrance EtiquetteAm I off-base here? Is there some kind of cultural thing going on?
When I'm in an elevator and when I reach my floor... the doors will open...
WHY OH WHY OH WHY.. am I sensing that certain people of certain ethnic decents... have this... compulsion.. to enter the elevator before you can get out?
That's why I'm asking if it's a cultural thing that I'm just aware of... or are these individuals just discourteous?
posted at 01:29 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Welcome to Chicago WeatherSo, the official high temperature on Sunday was 87°F.
Today, I woke up and it was 48°F. The high was only 53°F - 34°F colder than Sunday for the marathon. Today's temperature would have been so much better for that event - more seasonal, I suppose.
That's why they scheduled it at this time of year.
posted at 02:17 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Deadly HeatIt's October. Baseball is over. It's fall...
it's not supposed to be 87 degrees outside.
That's why the Chicago Marathon is scheduled at this time of year.
The race started today at 8am. At 11:30, for any runners that didn't make the half-way point, they were diverted to the Finish Line.
The organizers shutdown the marathon.
It was already too late. A 35-year-old guy from Michigan died after 19 miles.
24,931 of the 35,867 that started actually completed the race (about 4,000 finishing under 3½ hours) - when the officials stopped the race. And about 10,000 registered runners took the heat warnings to heart and didn't even start the race.
Still, over 300 were hospitalized.
On top of that, there were many reports of the water stations were depleted... many runners not getting any water until mile 8... or mile 13, depending on the reports I was hearing.
posted at 02:53 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Thursday, October 04, 2007
50 years ago today the world changedIt was 50 years ago today that life on this planet changed. The Soviet Union launched the first satellite to orbit the earth - Sputnik 1 (or "Спутник-1") On October 4, 1957 at 19:28:34 UTC. It was 22.8 inches in diameter, 183.9 pounds, orbiting on an elliptical orbit that took about 98 minutes. It took until January 31, 1958 for the U.S. to even fight back in what has always been described as a "Space Race" by launching Explorer 1 (ummm.. after Vanguard TV-3 explodes on launch pad on December 6, 1957). NASA was created on October 1, 1958 from the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) by the congress's National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (commonly called the "Space Act") Public Law #85-568, 72 Stat., 426. Signed by the President on July 29, 1958. Sputnik-1 orbited 1,440 times and lasted about 3 months. The transmitter batteries ran out after 22 days.
It all REALLY started 50 years ago today, 9 months to the day after I was born.
posted at 12:20 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
FogWhat a great foggy morning. It's mornings like this that I am reminded about how much I love fog... and I really can't tell you why. Fog usually means no wind - not even a breeze. For some reason, too... it seems quiet. So mysterious. Driving is always a heightened experience... not knowing what's ahead of you... an enjoyable drive to work, for a change.
posted at 08:13 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Allergies?Man... I'm exhausted.. and even though I know that part of it was the week I was busy and the time up in Michigan, I'm thinking it's my allergies. I know that when I feel like this, it's because my body just seems to be reacting to fighting something. I'm not giving in and saying I'm sick, but ... maybe.. the allergies are just zapping the energy from my body... I'm just not used to being outside of air conditioning for extended lengths of time... it's that Michigan pollen, I tells ya...
posted at 08:52 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Back to the grind...Oh man... between my week of being an Ambassador of Chicago to my friend Ali... and this past weekend going up to Michigan and attempting to relax, today I'm back at work... and I don't wanna be...
I'm feeling really fatigued.. could be all that pollen up in Michigan that I'm not used to.
So... bobbed in the pool for only a while... the BUGS up there are CRAZY... worse than I have ever seen.. SWARMING mosquitoes.. and BIG ones.. that you can SEE from a distance... they're crazy...
So... where did we spend a bit of time? Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo. This place is BIG.. no ... B - I - G. How big? At 130,000 square feet, there are only three casinos in Las Vegas that have more casino floor space - MGM, Caesar's and Mandalay Bay. Four Winds is bigger than The Venetian, Bellagio, Luxor, Rio, Wynn... well you get the idea. Went when we got up there on Saturday - BIG mistake... MAN there were a lot of people there.. idiots.. asswipes... I've NEVER been BUMPED so much in a casino... as if these people didn't care... and were just oblivious... I mean... people just stepping in front of someone waiting for a slot machine? It ALMOST got us turned off from being there and going back... well, that and what appears to be the total lack of smoke handling systems to scrub the air from all the damn smokers... but.. Tuesday - TOTALLY different... so it had to be the weekend.. and a holiday weekend at that...
So, now I'm back at work... no days off until Thanksgiving... depressing... the days are getting shorter, too... and may baseball team is in LAST PLACE...
...depressing...
posted at 10:44 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Severe weather alertNever, in my... ummm... 29 years in my career, have I EVER had to evacuate my office due to severe weather... until today.
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Carol called me... from the stairwell of her building. They heard the tornado sirens going off outside, so they evacuated to the interior stairwells in the building core (sounds right, knowing how these buildings are built... keep away from glass, and the concrete core for the elevators, stairs, and God knows what gives GREAT protection if something happens). So what do we do? Get up and look at the window!
She called me a few minutes later saying they heard about funnel clouds being sighted in Elgin coming straight this way, through Hoffman Estates. Great. Don't like hearing about funnel clouds passing through the town where we live.
I told everybody in the cubes around me what was going on... where she was (not far away at all) and what they were doing.
And then the announcement over the building PA:
May I have your attention. May I have your attention please. This is a severe weather alert. All personnel should immediately move to the center core of the building, restrooms, stairwells, and inner core offices, away from all glass or mirrors until the all clear is announced.
...and then the alarm went off along with strobes.
Off we all went, first to the conference room suites in the center of our office space, with all the full length glass... Well, we were shagged out of there and told to wait in the stairwells...
... and you know.. when the staircase next to the elevators is just a step or two from the railing that overlooks the lobby with it's glass windows... it's just too hard to resist staying in the stairwell... you know, you could EASILY get into the stairwell if something would happen...
...so that's where I stood... with at least a dozen other people.. including others from meetings in the conference rooms, with their laptops and wireless connections, constantly checking radar and NWS reports...
The sky was turning black... you could see the underside of the clouds getting lower... but no rain, which made a bunch of people walk outside to see what they could see. Reports of funnel cloud sightings in Schaumburg, where I work, started to trickle in. It looked NASTY outside. The radar showed a really bad cell skipping through directly west-to-east with us in the way. Then it got dark, quiet...
...pretty soon the skies got lighter.. and lighter.. and then they just opened-up... a deluge. needless to say, nobody stayed outside.
After a few minutes of continued deluge, the internal alarm systems sounded the all clear and we went back to our cubes.
Hard to get motivated after that, though. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 03:46 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
DrizzleI opened the garage door and glanced outside, It was gloomy, but I could see a fine drizzle coming down. I took off my glasses and left them on the roof of my car. I walked out onto the driveway. The neighborhood was perfectly quiet, rare for a weekday morning. I looked across the street to my left and saw a bunny sitting in the parkway, getting wet. There wasn't a breeze at all. Quiet and calm. I looked to my right and I saw a squirrel standing up watching me, just taking in the drizzle.
I really enjoyed that rain.
posted at 08:31 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Saturday, August 04, 2007
mmmmmm.... creamy.....I wanted to go get some audio to use in my podcast, so I drove up to the Wisconsin State Fair.
I really do enjoy going up there. The drive was pretty crappy this year with all of the highway construction in Illinois, but it was tolerable.
It's been a few years since I've been there, but it just seems that things change and yet they stay the same. Obviously the permanent buildings don't really change, but all of the other food vendors (as well as the other "non-food" vendors) may have different setups.. or are new to the event. What a wonderful place to just graze on food.
Which lead me to the destination of my pilgrimage: The Cream Puff Parlor.
83 Years at the fair - they are WONDERFUL. I wanted to bring some home for my family to eat tomorrow, but... whipped cream? Summer? long drive home? How am I going to pull this off?
I bought a 6-pack and this year a special add-on: a special soft-sided cooler the same size as the 6-pack box, that has 2 re-freezable ice packs that slip into the lid and the base of the cooler! Sweet... and they cooler is made with insulted reflecting mylar so you could use it as a warming bag, too, when not transporting cream puffs.
posted at 05:56 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Ahhhhh... a chance to ... relax?Carol took off this morning to drive up to Diane's in Michigan for the annual "Summer Club" weekend with the girls.
The house is mine... all alone... until Sunday night...
....ahhhhhhhhh....
posted at 08:46 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Grim ReapurrrrrDo you remember a show on Showtime called "Dead Like Me"? It was a favorite of ours, a great show about... grim reapers. The concept is the reapers must take the souls of people before the actually die so they can "move on". I know, it sounds grim, but the show was anything but.
Anyway, there was an article published in, of all publications, The New England Journal of Medicine about a cat that lives at a nursing home in Providence, Rhode Island. I thought it was odd that a nursing home would own a cat, but then I remembered that animals do have a therapeutic affect on the elderly. And I thought it was VERY odd to have a story about a cat in The New England Journal of Medicine.
But, you see, Oscar lives on the third floor - the dementia unit.
Oscar goes on his own rounds each day... he has his own schedule, and he MUST visit each patient. If a door is closed, he waits to go in. He jumps onto the bed of each patient and surveys them. Most times after his survey he will jump down and move on to the next bed.
But, there are times when Oscar will curl up beside the patient.. and wait.
The staff knows that if Oscar is found laying next to a patient, they have to act quickly. The staff will start making phone calls. To the family.
Because, within about 4 hours, the patient will be dead. Oscar keeps them company until they pass. The staff calls the family to inform them that the time has come and gives them the opportunity to be with the patient for the last time.
When the patient takes his last breath, Oscar gets up, looks around, and leaves.
Coincidence? Look, I would say that... but if it happens a few times, you start to wonder.
But this cat has done this... 25 TIMES.
If anyone ever saw "Dead Like Me", you'd be convinced Oscar was a reaper.
The New England Journal of Medicine - A Day in the Life of Oscar the Cat
posted at 03:08 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Thursday, June 21, 2007
SUMMER IS OFFICIALLY HEREYes... Finally... Summer is here... well, at least astronomically speaking... longest daylight day of the year...
and the daylight gets shorter from here...
Bummer
posted at 01:06 PM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Monday, May 07, 2007
Ummmmm.... a bit too mundane...To those people that actually contacted me (and there was more than one, so that SHOCKED me...) about my lack of postings... I don't think I can come up with an excuse. I just got a bit busy, a bit burned out, and... well... guess it was time for a bit of a break... I even got behind on my podcasts (and I'll be fixing THAT soon...)
I am OK, Carol (my wife) is OK... I have a thing or two to tell you that I haven't really blogged about before (I think).
I hope that the one... or two... or three people that actually read this blog weren't disappointed by my absence. I just got a little burned out... happens to bloggers after five years... and on top of that, had website issues (oops... people rushing to my website to read things and I went over my bandwidth allocation for the month)
I think I'll back-fill a few things, just so that I can make a note of a few things... nothing earth shattering, just sports stuff... a few other items... you know...
... so, I'm back.. just in enough time to probably go offline again... cause we leave for Las Vegas on Sunday! woot!
posted at 10:22 AM | Link | Mundane | Care to comment? | § |
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Ides of MarchSoothsayer Caesar!
CAESAR Ha! who calls?
CASCA Bid every noise be still: peace yet again!
CAESAR Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music,
Cry 'Caesar!' Speak; Caesar is turn'd to hear.
Soothsayer Beware the ides of March.
CAESAR What man is that?
BRUTUS A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
CAESAR Set him before me; let me see his face.
CASSIUS Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.
CAESAR What say'st thou to me now? speak once again.
Soothsayer Beware the ides of March.
CAESAR He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.
Julius Caesar Act I Scene II
posted at 06:34 AM | Link | Mundane | 2 comments | § |
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
SPRING IS HERE!!!! ... oh wait... no it's not...OH MY!!!!!
It was a record high temperature for this date today... 73°F (for you people outside the US... it's about 22°C)
This was exquisite! It wasn't just a warm breeze that still had that cold bite behind it after the breeze was gone... no... I felt... warmth... it smelled different.. .oh, such a tease... it's going away, I know... but... now I just want days like this when baseball starts next month...
posted at 01:29 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Monday, March 12, 2007
OK... this is a dumb move...Woke up at my normal time... but it was dark outside. Pitch black. It was that damn Daylight Saving thing. It was cloudy... and dark. this is going to be hell for a few weeks... my body feels like it's just not supposed to be up right now, feeling awfully groggy... So, we get more time of sunlight in the evening. I'm starting to think "big deal" and what goos is that when you don't have sun to wake you up in the morning...
...though I have to admit, traffic didn't feel all that bad this morning...
posted at 08:28 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Time TravelYes.. I Time Traveled last night. Well, actually this morning.
I was a bad boy an stayed up way too late, playing in Second Life, talking on Skype with some friends... before i knew it, it was 2am... but wait... suddenly I time traveled! I went ... to the future!
OK, not exactly, but I can't remember the last time I was awake for this event, when it is 2am, but, suddenly ... it's actually 3am! That's when I knew that it was a mistake staying up late...
Yes, it was the magic of Daylight Saving, under the new laws... all of my Windows XP machines made the transition just fine... for the first time, none of my Windows 2000 machines did not. are there patches available? I'll need to see... even my TiVo's transitioned correctly... my Treo 700wx was fine... then there's all the clocks, both in the home and in the car, watches, the microwave, the stove, the DVD recorder, the VCR... which, I come to find out, won't even listen to the remote...I can't get it to change the time! Perhaps it's time for the VCR to be pitched... the Infoglobe needed a phone call to pick up the new time from the caller ID...
What makes today so much nicer, is that it's getting warm outside... in the 50's... and having the patio door open was just so refreshing...
posted at 10:34 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, March 09, 2007
Daylight Saving HellThank you so much, Congress... moving Daylight Saving just makes no friggin' sense... how much is this going to cost businesses, let alone how much this is going screw up home life.. I am NOT looking forward to being in my house on Sunday... there's just too many gadgets in the house, and I've just got this feeling that the next few weeks will be hell trying to get everything to sync-up correctly..
Y2K again? Daylight time may baffle computers
posted at 11:40 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment | § |
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
$370 MillionMega Millions. Who will win it? Someone has to in it tonight... otherwise, it's going to get a little crazy around here...
Mega Millions jackpot swells to record $370 million
Update: Lottery waiting to hear from $370 million winners
Winning numbers were 16-22-29-39-42; Mega Ball number was 20
Two winning tickets: one sold at Campark Liquors in Woodbine, New Jersey and the other at Favorite Market in Dalton, Georgia. The largest previous multistate lottery jackpot was $365 million in 2006, when eight workers at a Nebraska meat processing plant hit the Powerball lotto. The Big Game lotto, the forerunner of Mega Millions, paid out a $363 million jackpot in 2000.
posted at 01:52 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Monday, March 05, 2007
25 years removed from the funnyIt was 25 years ago today that John Belushi was found dead at age 33, in a hotel room at the Château Marmont on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California.
I loved his Saturday Night Live characters, especially the Samurai character (my favorite - "Samurai Delicatessen" and "Samurai Stockbroker" where he accidentally hits Buck Henry in the forehead), his Joe Cocker impersonation - even in a duet with him - is priceless.
And, if you grew-up in Chicago at that time, "The Blues Brothers" is the pinnacle of Chicago films.
posted at 12:48 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Casimir Pulaski DayAre we the only city that celebrates a Polish Revolutionary War hero?
Chicagoland still boasts the 2nd largest population of residents of Polish descent (behind only Warsaw) in the world!
posted at 11:12 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Making of a Legend?We did something totally out of the ordinary/mundane today... We drove into the city and picked-up B&B and drove downtown (South Loop) to Buddy Guy's Legend’s.
read more of this entry »
Now, there is so many reasons to do this and I'll tell you the primary one in a little bit. But a major contributing reason is that this is a very important blues club in Chicago since 1989, the most famous, I think, and it's the club of blues legendary Buddy Guy.
He's a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a chief guitar influence to rock titans like Hendrix, Clapton, Beck and Vaughan, a pioneer of Chicago's fabled West Side sound, and a living link to that city's halcyon days of electric blues. Another contributing factor is that the club is being evicted - Columbia College owns the building and it's turning it into a student center and the lease expires on May 31.
Now, the real reason that we went is because Buffy has a coworker that is singing tonight. Old Town School of Folk Music has classes - Blues Band - Live!. Work out the blues with your own Old Town School band. The first meeting will include a jam session, ensemble selection and band placement. Eight weeks of practice will land your band a gig! Final performances will be at Buddy Guy's Legends or another Chicago blues club. Class time depends on student's ensemble designation. They serve very good food there, so we were there early to eat. We were all VERY pleased with our food.
We had to sit through 3 bands before we saw the band that had the singer we were there to see. At times, it was painful... no, really painful, that we were actually checking our ears to see if they were bleeding... 1st band (Lady and the Tramps), very capable, but the lead singer had... ummm... a very poor choice of clothing - she was heavy, and wore a spangly red tube top, and... you know, we really didn't need to see her belly roll actually move as she gyrated on stage, not to mention she had to keep pulling the top up. (I wound up listening, but not watching - I just couldn't do it). Second band (The Rubber Duckies), all guys, keyboard was lead vocalist, a very good sound. Third band (The Carrie Yoko Blues Machine?), female lead much larger than the first, though she dressed so much better. Problem with her - she yelled her vocals. She was the one we had to check our ears for blood.
Two obvious thing taught in class - you must name your group, and you must introduce the bad during a song.
Then came the the fourth group - The Taildraggers, with the person that we came to see - Becki Gartner. OK, now, I'm not saying this cause she's a co-worker of a friend, but... she was definitely the best of the evening. Great voice, good quality, not overpowering. The group was good, too... they even had a guy playing a dobro lap slide guitar, which adds a lot to the sound.
Great, different evening... better than going to a hockey game that we were supposed to go to tonight... « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 09:10 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Vanishing beesI know that, on the surface, this may not seem disastrous - Honey Bees Vanish, Leaving Keepers In Peril
They're calling it "Colony Collapse Disorder" With CCD, most adult honeybees abandon a hive and disappear, abandoning the queen and a remnant of younger bees. It is causing agricultural honeybees nationwide to abandon their hives and disappear.
They just... disappear. No bodies to autopsy to figure it all out. It's happening in at least 22 states..
So what? A third of our diet and billions of dollars in the agricultural economy relies on honeybee pollination. No bees, no fruits, nuts, vegetables...
"If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years left to live." - Albert Einstein
posted at 08:19 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
There was an election?Somehow, I lost sight of the fact that there was an election today. Maybe it was because it was local, and we were BOMBARDED by political ads. The only ads I saw were for the mayoral election in Chicago (Dailey won by 71% for a 6th term). Our own village had elections, too tat I somehow didn't know about ... so.. I guess I didn't vote.
For me, that is what an election should be... quiet.
Now, If I could just get this GM President's Day sale with the "Hail to the Chief" music off the damn TV, I'll be soooooo much happier
posted at 10:43 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
woot! Break out the spring jackets!42°F yesterday... BALMY... before yesterday, we had 24 days under freezing... this feels so good.. I mean, it's STILL cold, but... I guess it's all relative.
But... I have been to White Sox games when the temperature was worse than 42°F... again... it's ALL relative...
posted at 11:18 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Monday, February 19, 2007
The Double-Edge SwordOn one hand, the drive to work was great - nobody was on the road.
On the other hand, it's a holiday - President's Day. Carol is off work, I am not.
I think I'd rather have the day off...
posted at 08:29 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
SnowIt started Monday night and had been snowing all day. Final total at O'Hare: 8.6". This was a pretty big deal, disruptions everywhere. The travel to and from work yesterday was a mess... almost 3 times the length of a normal commute. I heard on the radio yesterday that the commute on I-290 from downtown to basically next to my office was 2 hours and 30 minutes. And, although they had all night to work it, the commute this morning was pretty severely impacted, too. It's a cold snow, to, meaning that you can plow, but salting the streets won't work, since the temperatures are in the teens and salt is not effective.
Still... it's still better than upstate New York and the Lake Effect Blizzard that's been going on for over a week.
I still can't imagine having - within the course of a week - snowfall of up to 141", That's almost 12 feet of snow. In one week.
posted at 09:39 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Monday, February 12, 2007
Cars .. cars.. cars.. cars.. oh, and kidsHad a few hours I had to take off this afternoon (comp time for overtime), so I drove downtown to the 2007 Chicago Auto Show. I haven't been to the show in years... and this time was the perfect time to do it - during the week, and during the day... though.. I was there for four hours - four hours of non-stop walking, no sitting, no eating, no drinking. In retrospect, this was a huge mistake. I can't do that anymore... my legs were twitching.. and almost flopping by the time I was trying to make my way back to the car...
Anyway, the day & time meant that the crowds were non-existent. You could walk the floor, look at the cars, sit in them if you'd like, without being jostled by so many people.
Great seeing all the cars... I was pleasantly surprised that you could actually find cars for under $20,000 that I wouldn't mind TOO terribly owning... And, of course... there were cars that I wouldn't mind owning in spite of their price. Oh, and another surprise was how nicely priced some of the hybrids were.
Now, unfortunately, it still wasn't a great experience being at the show for one specific reason -
Maybe it was because it was during the day. Maybe it was because they were free (to get in), but the amount of families with kids was pretty much unbearable. It wasn't that they were there - I am sure that mom & dad were there looking at possibly a new car for the family. The problem was that at a minimum 75% of the parents let their kids run rampant throughout the show floor, frequently having the kids leave the sight of the parents. They were everywhere, running, jumping in front of adults to open a car door, jump in and close the door behind them and sit and screw with the car for 5, 10, even 15 minutes at a time. It was unbearable. A lot of the vehicles have working batteries to be able to show-off their navigation displays, which means the radios are active... so let's see what hip-hop station we can pull in off of FM and how high we can crank the volume... I was at the Inifiniti exhibit, and had a kid almost push me out of the way to climb into the driver's seat of a GX35, only to close the door behind him, and, after some flailing at the switches and flipping the wiper and light stalks on the wheel, proceeded to stand up on the leather seats so that he can get outside the open sunroof, to yell at the rest of his family at the Hummer exhibit. No one stopped this kid, even when the family finally came by. How fed up was I? I was standing next to a Nissan 350Z convertible that I wanted to get in, but I was behind an elderly couple .. a little girl pushed her way ahead of us, climbed in and slammed the door shut. She then proceeded to immediately start playing with the power seats... pushing the seat as far forward as it could go, and then she played with the tilt.. to tilt her face damn near into the steering wheel... I let her, and prayed that she would just crush herself... the elderly couple eventually told to little asswipe that adults want to see the car and she reluctantly left, leaving the seat in the fully extended position, requiring the man to lean in and get the seat fixed before he could sit down... and it was 4 hours of this...
posted at 08:40 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, February 09, 2007
Has Global Warming forced us to...I know we had a GREAT "heat wave" a month or so ago, and we're now going through this HELLACIOUS cold snap, but.. has the fear of Global Warming forced us into action?
Work starts on Arctic seed vault
...within a year the first seeds of what will eventually be home for samples of all 1.5 million distinct varieties of agricultural crops worldwide will be tucked safely inside the vaults deep in a mountain on the archipelago of Svalbard.
There, at the end of a tunnel 120 meters into the side of a mountain, 80 meters above estimated sea levels even if all polar ice melts, and 18 degrees Celsius below freezing, they will stay like a bank security deposit.
The Norwegian government is footing the $5 million construction bill and the Global Crop Diversity Trust is providing the estimated $125,000 a year running costs.
The function of the Arctic Noah's Ark will be to hold samples of all the food crop varieties in case disaster strikes any of the banks -- like the typhoon that wiped out the Philippines agri crop gene bank in October.
The vaults on the remote archipelago 1,500 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle should have been dug and lined with meter-thick concrete by October ready for systems installation and a formal opening early in 2008.
posted at 01:08 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Thursday, February 08, 2007
6 straight days6 straight days of temperatures under -0°F
I know Mother Nature seems to average things out, so this is probably payback for the 37+ days over 32°F a month or so ago...
posted at 08:42 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Hey! It Warmed up!It's only 0°F outside! woot! Heat Wave!!!
Of course, it's now snowing... hearing that it's over 2 hours to drive on the Edens from Lake Cook to downtown.
posted at 10:13 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Craziness in the astronaut corpsI woke-up, put on the Today show... and was shocked at the breaking story overnight that led the cast...
So bizarre... so... foreign... what causes someone to do something like this? Especially, a shuttle astronaut????
CNN Stories (Updated)
Astronaut to face attempted murder charge
Astronaut's star appeared to be on rise at NASA
Astronaut flies back to troubled Houston home
NASA wants to know if there are 'lessons to be learned'
No attempted murder charge for astronaut Nowak
NASA chief: We didn't recognize Nowak was troubled
Sexy e-mails shed light on astronaut's bizarre behavior
NASA fires astronaut Nowak
Orlando Sentinel Story - Astronaut charged with attempted murder
I heard that.. and immediately thought about some guy going nuts, 'cause after all... the astronaut corps is mainly men... but, no... not a guy... a woman... Navy Capt. Lisa Marie Nowak - a Mission Specialist on STS-121 (July 4-17, 2006)... you know, a flight that was a return-to-flight test mission and assembly flight to the International Space Station, responsible for operating the remote arm during scheduled EVAs. She's married, with three children
You know... somebody driven, intelligent, skilled... under significant scrutiny to make sure she is physically and mentally fit for spaceflight.
Oh, such a strange tale... more bizarre the more I hear of it...
read more of this entry »
OK... ALLEGEDLY... this is what is "known":
Nowak drove over 900 miles.. from Houston to Orlando International Airport.
Nowak wore a diaper during the 14-hour drive so that she wouldn't have to stop for bathroom breaks
Oh, yes... now, while that sure doesn't appear normal, let me remind you...
Astronauts wear what NASA calls maximum-absorbency garments to collect their waste during space travel.
Now, why would she drive to Orlando? She was going to... "meet"... NASA Engineer Colleen Shipman who was on a flight, coincidentally from Houston to Orlando, who arrived at 1am.
After waiting 2 hours for her luggage, she walked to her car:
As Shipman walked to her car she noticed a woman in a trench coat who appeared to be following her, the police report said. She quickly jumped into her car and heard "running footsteps" behind her, Shipman told police.
Nowak slapped the window of the car as Shipman locked it, the report said. Nowak then tried to open the car door, saying that her ride had not arrived.
Shipman told Nowak she send for help, but when Nowak said she couldn't hear her and started to cry, Shipman cracked her window, the report said. The 2-inch space in the window was all Nowak needed to send pepper spray into the car, police said.
Her eyes burning, Shipman drove to a tollbooth and reported the incident.
OK... now.. Why did Nowak do this?
The charges against Nowak stem from an alleged love triangle in which Nowak and Shipman were competing for the affections of astronaut Bill Oefelein, police said.
... Commander Bill Oefelein, the pilot of the last Shuttle Mission - STS-116 Discovery (December 9-22, 2006).
Charges? Attempted kidnapping, battery, and attempted vehicle burglary with battery... and destruction of evidence.
Yeah, destruction of evidence...
When an officer found Nowak at a bus stop, she was wearing a different coat, and the officer observed her putting items in a trash can, the police report said. The officer retrieved a wig and a BB gun from the trash can, the report said.
Police found in Nowak's bag a tan trench coat, a new steel mallet, a folding knife with a 4-inch blade, 3 to 4 feet of rubber tubing, large plastic garbage bags and about $600 in cash, the report said. ...police found diapers, six latex gloves, directions from Houston to Orlando International Airport, e-mails from Shipman to Oefelein, a letter indicating how much she loved Oefelein and directions to Shipman's home address in Florida, the report said. Oops.. correction.. She also was initially charged with destruction of evidence, but the judge said he found no probable cause for the charge.
So... there's an alleged romantic triangle between these people... allegedly.
According to the report, she told police that her relationship with Oefelein was "more than a working relationship but less than a romantic relationship."
Strange... creepy...
UPDATE: Looks like she's also going to be charged with Attempted First Degree Murder...
Navy Capt. Lisa Marie Nowak had already paid her bail on three other charges when she learned that she would not be released because Orlando police were planning to add attempted murder to the list, said Allen Moore, a spokesman for the Orange County Corrections Department.
Nowak will remain in protective custody until her first appearance on the new charge, which will likely come Wednesday morning, Moore said. The additional charge is likely to be filed Tuesday afternoon, Moore added.
One legal analyst said police and prosecutors likely added the new charge because they were miffed the judge granted Nowak bail when they requested she be held without bond.
UPDATE:
A family statement said Nowak had recently separated from her husband of 19 years, who works at NASA Mission Control. They have a teenage son and young twin daughters.
The Associated Press reported that there had been signs of problems before Nowak's arrest. In November, police were called to Nowak's home near the Johnson Space Center after a neighbor reported hearing the sounds of dishes being thrown inside, AP reported.
Michael Coats, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, issued a statement saying Nowak "is officially on 30-day leave and has been removed from flight status and all mission-related activities." « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:17 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Monday, February 05, 2007
Oh, crap... how can today be colder?Woke up this morning... and we've got new records for the last 11 years...
-9°F (or for those from elsewhere in the world: -22°C)
Wind chill? Even worse - (there are Wind Chill Warnings out until 1pm today) Current Wind Chill: -30°F (-34°C)
posted at 06:36 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Sunday, February 04, 2007
The world is frozenWoke up this morning...
-6°F (or for those from elsewhere in the world: -21°C)
posted at 07:15 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Holed-up in the houseSpent the day holed-up in the house... it is officially the coldest day we've had in 11 years. It's bad outside. Nobody went out to get the mail.
We have to make ice for the game tomorrow - and I came up with the idea of taking our extra ice trays, fill them up, and just put them in the garage.
Worked like a champ.
posted at 08:17 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, February 02, 2007
Thank God I have 55 inches at homeI don't believe... or maybe I should believe... that the NFL are such... ummm.... asswipes...
I read today in Chicago Tribune's Eric Zorn's column about something that they are doing that just doesn't make any sense to me...
According to an article in The Indianapolis Star, the NFL is screwing with the definition of copyright, forcing places to cancel their Superbowl Parties.
The NFL considers big gatherings -- whether in churches, movie theaters or casinos -- to be a huge no-no if the game is being shown on TV screens bigger than 55 inches wide or if the host charges admission to watch
How could this be?
...the NFL is being quick to point out that federal copyright law bans public exhibitions of NFL games on sets or screens larger than 55 inches.
This is written in the federal copyright law?
Well, thank God for my Sony 55 inch TV at home..
Oh, one more Superbowl item, courtesy of the folks at The Onion - yes, the Bears are awakening the city of Chicago... "Bears Inspire A City Still Reeling From Great Chicago Fire Of 1871"
posted at 01:36 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Early Spring? Way to go, Phil!Punxsutawney Phil did NOT see his shadow this morning, which, according to German folklore, means we can expect an early spring instead of six more weeks of winter.
Since 1886, Phil has seen his shadow 96 times, hasn't seen it 15 times and there are no records for nine years, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.
Now wait a minute... was it Phil?... or was it the handlers? Phil talks to the handlers, who transcribe what he says so that it can be proclaimed... hmmmm...
Longtime handler Bill Deeley retired and was replaced Friday by Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Inner Circle members John Griffiths and Ben Hughes.
Oh wait... from the official FAQ at the official website:
Phil's forecasts are not made in advance by the Inner Circle. After Phil emerges from his burrow on February 2, he speaks to the Groundhog Club president in "Groundhogese"(a language only understood by the current president of the Inner Circle). His proclamation is then translated for the world.
And, in case you wanted to know...
The Germans believed that if a hibernating animal cast a shadow February 2 -- the Christian holiday of Candlemas -- winter would last another six weeks. If no shadow was seen, legend said spring would come early.
And if you really really really wanted to know...
GPS Coordinates
Gobbler's Knob is located at the following coordinates (these readings were taken with a GPS unit placed on the stump on the stage at Gobbler's Knob):
N40.93027 W78.95772 (hddd.ddddd°)
N40 55.816 W78 57.463 (hddd°mm.mmm')
read more of this entry »
Phil's official forecast as read 2/2/07 at 7:28 a.m. at Gobbler's Knob:
El Nino has caused high winds, heavy snow, ice and freezing temperatures in the west.
Here in the East with much mild winter weather we have been blessed.
Global warming has caused a great debate.
This mild winter makes it seem just great.
On this Groundhog Day we think of one thing.
Will we have winter or will we have spring?
On Gobbler's Knob I see no shadow today.
I predict that early spring is on the way. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 07:34 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Defending commercial jets against...?I had heard talk about this, as an option for the future, but I had thought it was going to be expensive. It turns out, they are actually doing commercial flight tests of ananti-missile system. The tests, though on commercial MD-11's , are all on freighters from FedEx, so no passengers are involved.
posted at 12:50 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Christmas Number 2Up until this past Christmas, the "extended family" celebrated Christmas Eve together. This year - just us. Today was our regular Christmas Eve.. actually, a little bit better because everyone could be together... and today was the only time that everyone was available...
Was a little dicey, though... with the Bears in their first playoff game after a bye... and they BARELY won.. as everyone was traveling to my sister's house in Bucktown.
posted at 10:16 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Thursday, January 11, 2007
WickedWe went downtown and met B&B to go to the Ford Center for the Performing Arts (also known as the old Oriental Theatre on Randolph) to see Wicked.
Boy, do I have mixed feelings about this experience.
On the plus side, gorgeous venue, and it was really great and refreshing to be around people (mostly women that actually dressed-up to go to the theater... they way it always has been.. and should be... (in my opinion).
The script for the show... is ok... good, even. The cast - first rate.
The seats sucked. We were in the "Dress Circle" which is the first level above the main floor. But - way in the back on the theater. What made it worse, is that it was easily 20 to 30 feet underneath the balcony, so your view was clipped at the top, and I could see the very top of the stage. I had no idea that having that clipped effected the way I enjoyed the performance... but it did. I guess I just need to see the whole proscenium, even maybe the ceiling as well, to feel that I was actually in a legitimate theater, instead of a drive-in theater. The audio sucked. It was fine for dialog and solos, but put a full orchestra and full chorus up, and it was mush. Hated the frequency envelope that was used - made the orchestra sound small, canned.
Did I like it? Let me see it again and I'll tell you.
Afterward, in the rain, Carol & I walked around the corner on State Street and caught the end of the 10 o'clock news at Channel 7 (WLS - the local ABC affiliate, where I worked 30 years ago), who has a glassed-in studio right there on State Street underneath and sort of to the side of where the regular studios and offices are at State and Lake.
I even made a prominent spot in the crowd shot at the end of the news!
posted at 11:22 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Monday, January 08, 2007
Philosophical differences of Rock?The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum announced the inductees for 2007.
I've got an issue...
Museum name? The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Rock and Roll.
Using that as the MAIN focus... why, oh why are they inducting Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum???????????
read more of this entry »
THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES ITS INDUCTEES FOR 2007
1.8.07
January 8, 2007
For Immediate Release:
THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES ITS INDUCTEES FOR 2007
New York -- The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation today announces its inductees for 2007. The inductees are:
- Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five (Kid Creole, Cowboy, Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, Mr. Ness, Raheim)
- R.E.M. (Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe)
- The Ronettes (Estelle Bennett, Ronnie Spector, Nedra Talley)
- Patti Smith
- Van Halen (Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar, Alex Van Halen, Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth)
The five inductees will be honored at a ceremony on March 12, 2007 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Presenters and performers at the induction will be announced in February, 2007. “We couldn’t be more proud to honor this unique, diverse group of rockers, rappers, singers and poets. This is what rock and roll is all about,” said Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation President and C.E.O., Joel Peresman.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on March 12, 2007 will also honor Ahmet Ertegun, legendary founder of Atlantic Records. Ertegun, who was a crucial figure in the careers of artists ranging from Ray Charles to Aretha Franklin to the Rolling Stones to Led Zeppelin, was instrumental in founding and was the Chairman of the Foundation. The Rock Hall Museum in Cleveland’s main exhibit hall is the Ahmet Ertegun Exhibition Hall.
The 2007 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, R.E.M., The Ronettes, Patti Smith and Van Halen were chosen by the 600 voters of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. Artists are eligible for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after their first recording is released.
In addition to being honored at the ceremony on March 12, 2007, each artist who is inducted is commemorated within the I.M. Pei-designed museum in Cleveland, Ohio. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame displays the signature of each inductee inscribed in glass. In addition, there is an exhibit of artifacts from this year’s inductees, and a multi-media film presentation with highlights from each artist’s career. The exhibit on this year’s inductees will open in March, 2007 and will run for one year.
For more information, please contact Tristin Aaron, Ken Sunshine Consultants at 212 691 2800. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 05:28 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Why do I feel devastated?I recorded all of the events of my party last night, dinner, cake, gifts.
I transfered the files off my iRiver this morning, and listened to it...
I listened to dead air... hours and hours of dead air... I had cabled the in and out of the mic preamp backward, and it didn't record a single thing.
Even though I wanted to use pieces on my podcast, I really just wanted it for myself... a record of people coming out and being with me, celebrating my birhday...
...and GOD did his hit me hard. Suddenly, the new year felt a thousand times worse... I wanted a copy of a part of my life, and I lost it... and then - I lost it. I actually started to cry... well, bawl actually. It was just another log on the fire... and the sense of loss was just so real to me... a recording of a one-time-only event, never to be reproduced. Gone. Only to be locked away in my brain, as a memory that lately seems to fade all too quickly. Maybe that's why I wanted the recording... a a backup to my failing memory.
It hurts.
It hurts really bad.
posted at 01:24 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Saturday, January 06, 2007
PartyRegardless of how this year has started for me, tonight it didn't matter.
We hosted a small party of family and friends at the Weber Grill in Schaumburg. It was wonderful - the food was good, the company was great... Janie & Gary had just come back from their home in Santa Fe which was buried in the same snowstorm that hit Denver... but no one has heard about how bad it was in New Mexico.
We had everyone come over to the house for cake.. (and to open presents, as well). Carol got the cake from Deerfields bakery. It was chocolate with an off-white fronsting... with black pinstripes and the White Sox logo! GREAT GREAT cake... one problem though - we have NO idea what the black frosting is made of, but it stained our teeth.. it stained our skin (and yes - we could not was it off!) and stained our clothes. Gave us a good laugh.
Lots of great presents (mostly new shirts(?!)) and a great gift certificate from my sister Diane - City Segway Tours - Chicago! I get to ride a Segway around the museum campus this summer!!!
It was a monumental birthday for me, and it was wonderful to have people together... for me. It meant an awful lot to me. I don't think anyone really knew, but.. it REALLY touched me, even though it was just a small dinner, and cake, and a few gifts.
posted at 10:22 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, January 05, 2007
I do not like 2007Every single day this young year has sucked for me... loads of bad luck... the bifold door on our pantry fell off, our nice new-ish gorgeous patio door was dripping water during a rain storm,.. I had a significant birthday (OK, that really shouldn't be a sucky thing), and then i went to my neurologist today as she was giddy that she actually found something in the cerebral spinal fluid they sampled a few weeks ago - now giddy, is not good, it just means that something was found ad so many possibilities exist, and most of them aren't good ,and most of those have some nasty treatments...
Is it too early to want the year to be over?
posted at 07:23 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Thursday, January 04, 2007
5050
I could say that this is going to be the high temperature today, which it is... it's been unseasonably warm for a while, with about a month straight of above average temperatures... No White Christmas for 2006.
I mean... I could say that for today...
...but, no... the 50 is up there for a reason.
Today is my birthday and I turn <shudder> 50 today.
I am no longer in my 40's... now I am viewed as being old. I think I become eligible to join AARP today.
Over the past years, I have actually started to come up against instances of ageism. I have the issue when I'm in Second Life. It doesn't matter which life I'm in, I've seen it and experienced it.
I have to rationalize that - overall - I am happy, and that I'm still alive, without any major medical issues and that I am still working full-time (which, trust me, I wouldn't do if I could find some means of support).
Happy Bitrhday to ME.
posted at 09:01 AM | Link | Mundane | 2 comments | § |
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
The WallI hung the pictures on the wall tonight.
I had this grandiose plan to put some of the ~40,000 digital photos that I have on a wall in my family room and have it done in time for Thanksgiving. We bought picture frames at Ikea that fit what my design vision. I had mattes cut to fit the frames. Then, as I was just beginning to choose the pictures for the wall my hard drive crashed. It took a while, but I had the drive recovered and I got my photos back. Over the weekend, now that the holidays are just about over, we started the work. I had selected 61 photos. We whittled it down to 30. We started assembling the frames, hanging the picture frame wire (which SUCKS - thank you so very much Ikea), traded the existing 5x5 mattes with my new either 5x7 matte or 4x6 matte, and mounted the photos.
I bought a laser level and marked the wall. What I had hoped to have was 30 photos. They really wouldn't fit in the space available in the wall - we had to cut down to 24. Then I decided a design change, where instead of 3 rows of 8 frames, I decided for 3 rows with 8-7-8 frames, cutting the group down to 23 pictures. It was hard to come up with a final cut, but we did. (oh, and in the process of marking the wall, I dropped the laser level about 5 times, all of them barely missing Indy The Bunny's head, who was crawling around the floor at my feet wanting to know what I was doing. The second to last crash did the level in - it no longer auto levels, and I then just took measurements and manually adjusted the level. I LOVE the laser level! Too bad I broke it...)
The frames we bought are about an 1¾ inches deep, and there are two mounting positions within the frame for the matte - forward against the glass, or back against the back of the frame. i decided to alternate each picture in a row - front, back, front, back... etc So I had to go through the frames and set the spaces for front mount or back mount...
Then Carol cleaned the glass, sealed up the frames, and I hung them on the wall tonight.
A once empty wall now holds 23 pictures of family and friends. It was startling to see this once empty wall now filled with frames and photos.
And now... we're thinking about other walls...
posted at 08:00 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Rear view mirrorDriving to work this morning... and there's more traffic than the last few weeks.. (duh)... clear skies... sunrise.. low on the horizon...
Nothing I hate more than, as I'm driving, traffic comes to a stop in front of me, I apply the brakes in a safe fashion... and you HAPPEN to glance in the rear view mirror, seeing the car behind you careening toward you... only to have the driver jerk the wheel at the last minute, throwing the car onto the shoulder to avoid plowing into your trunk... because the driver isn't paying attention to the traffic in front of him...
posted at 09:14 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Monday, January 01, 2007
Happy New Year 2007Hey there everyone... a new year is upon us...
We spent the evening last night at B&B's, with friends... ringing in the New Year... after SUFFERING through watching the Chicago Bears LOSE to the Green Bay Packers... which.. the WHOLE thing, about the NFL MOVING the game from noon to 7pm... on New Year's Eve, causing chaos in homes, restaurants, and bars around Chicagoland, (do you have/go to a party? do you open your business instead for Bears fans to watch the game?)
We watched the local coverage of New Year's celebrations around Chicago, and heckle the people being shown, whether they are the local hosts doing a poor job transitioning from remote to remote... or the choice of clothing that everyone being shown is wearing... and... perhaps the sad state of decent music being played at these venues
So... that was last night.. celebrating with friends...
This morning, it was the Tournament of Roses Parade. We caught the KTLA broadcast in HD on Discovery HD. We normally watch the HGTV coverage, because of the different approach to it (all bout the float decorations and materials), but... it's just damn hard to pass-up HD broadcasts...
And George Lucas as Grand Marshall... an Ewok float... a Naboo float... original costumes from the movies... The Grambling Marching Band dressed in Empire Officers uniforms playing Star Wars music... and 200 marching stormtroopers, in uniform and all variations of them, all of them fans from around the world. Way cool...
Well.. it's way too late in the day to say "Rabbit, Rabbit!" as your first words of the day to have good luck (or, if you blew it, before you go to sleep tonight, you can still try to get some luck, your last words have to be "Tibbar! Tibbar!")... But.. I wonder what happens on a day like this? I mean.. are we supposed to say "Rabbit, Rabbit!" as our first words after midnight, instead of "Happy New Year"? or... is it the first words to utter after you awake for the day?... I'm so confused...
posted at 03:21 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Nobody inThe only time of year that I truly enjoy going to work - the week between Christmas and New Year's. There's nobody on the streets on the way to work. There's nobody in the parking garage. There's nobody in the office.There's nobody in their offices calling this office. Quiet. Peaceful. Relaxing.
posted at 04:41 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Monday, December 25, 2006
Merry ChristmasMerry Christmas everybody!
It's hard to shake the feelings of Christmas Morning.. and the expectations when you were a kid... when you become an adult... and adult with years under your belt... Though you love every gift you get, somehow you feel like you're chasing the elusive excitement and joy of receiving toys as a kid on Christmas morning.
So... this year brought Jackson's first Christmas he could react to (last year, he was 14 weeks old, this year 15½ months). It's great seeing Christmas through his eyes... I can't wait 'till next year when he should be more excited.
An odd Christmas Day for us, part of the odd Christmas season I suppose - Diane, Melinda and Jackson took off after opening presents to drive to Melinda's family in downstate Illinois. The house was empty, except for me, Carol, and my mom. It felt... empty...
...except for my stomach, which feels bloated, tight, and cramping...
posted at 08:42 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Sunday, December 24, 2006
A smaller EveWe've always celebrated Christmas Eve with our extended family - aunts, uncles, cousins.
This is our first year together where - it's only immediate family. We went to Diane & Melinda's for just a buffet of appetizers, very low key, no present exchanges (that's tomorrow morning).
Still... it felt odd... small... something I wasn't accustomed to... and I'm not sure I like it. I don't see that extended family much,, and I just missed them somehow.
The concept of an appetizer buffet is very bad for me. The appetizers were all setup on an island in the kitchen, and we spent our evening in the back family room.
Me - I spent my time in a continuous slow walk... around and around the island... using just a napkin and no plate, I grazed for what seems like hours, taking a bite here and a piece there... over... and over...
I know I'm going to pay for this somewhere along the line...
posted at 10:43 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, December 22, 2006
Twitch?I had something happen today, that quite frankly... I'm not comfortable talking about.
Why? Because I can't believe I had this done...
A girl in the office came up to me this afternoon (after I was walking around trying to figure out what a loud noise was that we had heard... it was thunder!). We went into a larger, empty management-size cubicle and she asked me if I was having back problems. I explained my situation.. that for years my legs have been spasming... I had no pain, but the spasms can get severe... and it's not fun trying to drive if your right leg twitches, causing your foot to tromp on the accelerator...
She then told me that she is a practicing healer.. and that she can help me with a "treatment" as a Christmas Present...
read more of this entry »
We spent the good part of the next half hour to a nhour with her rubbing her hands together in a circular motion, as if to gather heat and energy.. she would direct her hands at me, occasionally stationary, occasionally sweeping over me as I stood in the cube. She never physically touched me. Yet, I did have sensations of cold, heat, and occasionally a movement somewhere inside of me.
OK, look... she's a very attractive girl, probably the best looking woman in the office. Who wouldn't want to spend private time with her in a cube? But.. this was different... she proceeded to tell me about what she does... and the people that she has helped over the years. How she is trained in 6 of the 9 healing techniques that are used at Children's Memorial Hospital. How the power of prayer works, even long distance over the phone.
I sat down for the last half of the session, and she continued to work on me... standing in front of me, behind me... to the side... she touched me once, to put her hands on my left shoulder to apply downward pressure.
I sat in that chair, one that should have triggered my twitching. It didn't happen. I went back to my cube. My legs were still the rest of the day. As I write this, I haven't even felt the slightest sensation in my legs.
WHAT THE HELL DID SHE DO??? HOW DID SHE DO IT??? WHY AREN'T MY LEGS TWITCHING?
Look.. I'm a geek... I believe in science... what the hell happened? What's going on?
UPDATE: 31 hours. It took 31 hours before I felt the slightest bit of a twitch, and then it was muted, subtle, no where near what I've experienced for years. I have NEVER had a 24 hour period in years without twitching... what is this???
UPDATE: One week later, the twitching has returned, no where near as severe as it has been, no where near as frequent.
She did something to me... what she did, how she affected me, I have no idea. All I know is that she did something and for me there was a change. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:44 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
...huh?... what did I need to do???The day after a myelogram, I was told could be hell, because of headaches. I had one last night, but I took Tylenol (not Advil, not aspirin) and it helped.
Today - no headache...
...but...
I really feel like I had a side effect. I was loopy - my short-term memory was shot. I couldn't remember things that I neded to do, that I thought about just minutes earlier. Let me give you the final example of the day...
I went to Walgreens to pick up a prescription and I bought 5 containers of Dibbs ice cream nuggets (mmm.. mint... love these things...) I came home, put the Walgreens bag on the counter. The first thing I do when I get home, is bunny-proof the family room and let the "kids" (bunnies) out o fthe cage so they can romp and exercise. I prepped the room, turned on the TV... and went upstairs to sit down at the computer and login to Second Life...
About an hour to hour and a hlaf passes when Carol finally came home, and I can hear her yelling at me downstairs. I cam edown to find 1) the "kids" ar still in the cage - I had prepped the room, but never opened their door to let them out, and more importantly 2) I never put the ice cream away in the freezer - it was still in the bag on the counter.
That's what my whole day was like.
posted at 07:18 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
A needle into the spine...My little medical journey to finding the reason why my legs twitch changed today from hands-off to my first "invasive" procedure.
read more of this entry »
I was downtown at Northwestern's Intervention Radiology department. Radiology? Yep. I had two procedures done - a spinal fluid draw (for testing the fluid) and a myelogram.
It all starts with a lumbar puncture - inserting a needle into the spinal canal. Yep. Needle. Into the spine. So, do do it accurately and hopefully pain-free, not to mention avoiding having to re-stick you, the insertion is done under the guidance of using a fluoroscope. I was face down on a table, with a doctor, nurse, and tech (an all female crew!) working on me. The worse thing was the local anesthetic. THAT hurt. After that, though, I didn't feel a single thing. So, they drew a sample of cerebrospinal fluid. That takes some time, since, it's not really drawn, but the container fills by itself i gathered. When the fluid flow slowed down, the table I was on tilts, so I was tilted onto my feet to get the fluid to flow better! When that was done, they injected a contrast dye into the spinal canal. The sensation was of cold filling your spine - a VERY weird feeling. Obviously, the sensation was confined to the spine, unlike contrast dyes that are used for MRI/CT scans, where they are injected intravenously the sensation being heat and it radiates through your body as it follows the arterial blood system.
The doctor was quiet, professional, and quick. When she was done, the nurse and tech took over to produce about a dozen reference xrays of my spine using the fluoroscope system, which required a bunch or table tilts and contortionist positions for me to flip into. The only almost-accidents that almost happened were due to... umm... the oversized parts of my body - my shoulders (I have really broad shoulders, even for somebody not as short as I am, so when I lay on my side, I'm a bit "taller" than regular-sized people) and my nose (yes, it's a bit oversized) and they tech didn't look when she swung the emitter around.
Then I had to roll onto my hospital bed and they wheeled me back to Intervention Radiology. Not the only time I had to roll. When back in my curtained space, somebody came to draw some blood. That's when I realized that I was in for some bad time. I was starting my stay in a hospital bed - flat on my back (well, I don't have to be on my back, but have to be flat - head even with feet. For THREE HOURS. Then.. it started. My legs started to twitch. it started pretty suddenly, and the twitches were severe
I was wheeled in for a CT scan (hence the spinal contrast dye) and I had to roll off my bed onto the scanner table. Found out something i didn't know about the GE Lightspeed CT Scanner - the scanner can tilt! Very scary to see this massive thing tilt. the tech put a cushion under my legs and taped them down to try to dampen the twitches. It was TERRIBLE. But, somehow, she was able to get shots that weren't blurred.
When I was done, I was told I could crawl back onto the hospital bed. Wait.. I could crawl? Why did I have to roll before? It turns out that they have you roll - to mix the dye in the spinal column!!! I was taken back to another curtained area and that's where i stayed until I was released. Carol was able to be with me when I was back in the curtained areas, which I was thankful for, because i was a mess. The twitching was worse, and I was so uncomfortable having to have my head flat against the bed. I was able to get a nurse to get me a folded-up blanket to put under my head. That half-inc to inch of material was just enough to change the way my head felt, and still kept it flat.
We had arrived at the hospital at 10am for a 10:30 appointment. The lumbar puncture was over by noon, the CT scan done by 1pm. I am flat on my back... and realize it's been 19 hours since I had something to eat. And I can't eat on my back. The next two hours were hell, and passed slowly.
When I was sprung at 3pm, we went directly to the cafeteria.. and I chowed-down (Carol had eaten when I was having the procedure done)
Then, I drove us home. 4pm. Rush hour. Downtown Chicago to the NW suburbs) my twitching was terrible.. I had started to feel bad, all because of me not eating. I pulled-over at the Des Plaines Oasis and we changed duties, with Carol driving the rest of the way home. When we got there, I went to bed for about an hour. I felt bad. It wasn't until about 9pm that I started to felt slightly better. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 07:58 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Super Bowl MumbleThe Bears advancing into the NFL playoffs has got the city all giddy again. Chicago Magazine has posted the lyrics and a video for "The Super Bowl Mumble," this year's "smash-hit update" of the now famous (in Chicago anyway) "Super Bowl Shuffle."
Oh, yeah... not to mention that at the beginning of Monday Night's Bears game, Senator Barack Obama came on to address viewers
posted at 11:04 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Huge steaming piles of... snow?I had a doctor's appointment over lunch today, and it was just a short ride from my office.
I was driving down the road next to the WGN radio tower, when I noticed something I have never seen before.
There were large piles of snow along the banks of the road. They appeared to be steaming.
The weather has been so strange, with the temperatures in the 50's, that the cold piles of snow were generating a local fog (hence, the appearance of "steam"), that would roll off and collect on the road.
This weather is just out of control - It's supposed to be warm until Christmas, negating a possibility of a White Christmas.
posted at 12:23 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, December 08, 2006
Cold ScottIt's been bitterly cold recently... in the teens and single digits overnight... and yet we wound up traveling to Zanies in St. Charles (at Pheasant Run) to catch a comedian/story teller/great guy that we saw last May, TV's Craig Ferguson.
He was in-town to do 3 nights, one at each Zanies (Chicago last night, St. Charles tonight, and Vernon Hills tomorrow night).
He seemed to enjoy Chicago back in May... this time: not so much...
read more of this entry »
How Craig opened the show:
I am SO glad to be here, I cannot tell you... I don't mean St. Charles, I mean here, in the warm. Here...
I don't know you are still alive... any of you!
I never experienced anything like this in my... I KNOW cold! I nver been around anything like this in my LIFE!
I KNOW what cold is! I was married to a Scottish woman! I KNOW COLD! « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 11:22 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Scary MaryMashups are all the rage... audio or video...
Now, what would happen if...
Mary Poppins was recut into a horror movie???
posted at 01:03 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, December 01, 2006
Winter StormOne week of above average temperatures, in the 60's... and overnight all hell broke loose.
We're getting hit HARD with a snow storm in the northwest suburbs. We've got about 6 inches of snow, that has sleet buried underneath (probably a few inches). The street looks like it was plowed hours ago. It didn't start snowing until after 11pm last night. I was worried that I wouldn't get out of the driveway, but I plowed through it (of course, the garage door didn't close, probably because of snow falling underneath the door and the door couldn't hit the floor.
The drive was slow, but not treacherous. The snow was coming down so hard that the rear defroster couldn't melt it, and the windshield wipers couldn't keep the window clean.
The commute was just under an hour (it's normally 15-20 minutes). The garage at work was empty. So is the office itself. There are a handful of people here. Quiet.
They're expecting another 6 inches by this afternoon (whoever "they" are...)
posted at 07:56 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Chillin'So, I'm chilln' my soft drinks at my desk at work, while I'm chillin' waiting for the chilly air to take over Chicago... and the snow. Yes, the Winter Storm Warning is up, and we're going to get dumped. It's been in the 50's for over a week now, and overnight the temperature plummeted into the 30's. The huge snowstorm is just around the corner If you believe the TV weather critters, we could get over a foot of snow in the next 24 hours.
Almost 60 degrees to one foot of snow in 36 hours. Welcome to weather in Chicago.
Now, as to my drink chillin'... I bought the CoolIT USB Beverage Cooler from ThinkGeek. Yes, USB Powered. it plugs into a USB port and chills the plate almost immediately down to 45 degrees. I want to keep my drinks cold at my desk... and I want to see if this works.
posted at 10:58 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
She's homeCarol got discharged late this afternoon. She drove herself home, since her truck was still in valet parking for the doctor visit on Monday. She's got 2 meds to take, one (Lisinopril) is the exact same dosage that I take for my blood pressure. The second one (clonodine) is only to be taken when her BP is high. So, we had to get a blood pressure monitor. We bought a wrist cuff. it's easy to use and very convenient. She can return to work Monday, so she'll take it easy for the rest of the week.
It was so nice having the bed to myself for two nights... I'll miss that ... but, she's out of the hospital and home.
posted at 04:43 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Nope... not yet...We thought Carol would be home today.
Nope... not yet... her BP went up overnight, so they tried all day to get it back down. By the time I left tonight, it had gone back up to 190/110. She's been having blood draws and there's nothing else wrong right now. The doctor said that sometimes there's no clinical reason to cause it... sometimes it just happens. So, now they have to see if they could just get it down and controlled with medication.
Carol's bored, watching TV being the only entertainment. And no guests, just me, and I'm only there in the evenings.
She'll be ok... I know it...
posted at 08:47 PM | Link | Mundane | 2 comments | § |
Monday, November 27, 2006
240/150Carol scheduled a doctor's appointment today. She's been complaining about headaches, and she feels that her blood pressure is up. When she was at the gynecologist recently, her BP was up though she claimed it was because that she wasn't sleeping (hormone issues from menopause) and if she could sleep, she'd be better. Actually, she said if she could sleep for 5 straight nights, she would see her doctor about her BP. Well, she got a new med (Ambien CR) and now she sleeps great. So, she made the doctor's appointment.
Well, he takes her BP, and it's 240/150. They threw her in a wheelchair and rolled her next door to St. Alexius Medical Center.
So, she was admitted, and she's up in a room on the cardiac floor, as they struggle to get her BP down. By the time I left her tonight, it was down to about 140/100... so, we'll see what happens.
She's in good spirits, because high blood pressure is one of those things that don't effect how you feel, very much.(One of the reasons that it's so deadly... and i know, since I have high blood pressure and I'm taking medication for it).
posted at 08:48 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Shamed into lightsIt's taken 22 years, but we finally got forced into it.
Carol is hosting the annual Christmas Club event this Friday. We had put up the 9 foot Christmas tree that we bought (looks really good), but the outside of the house looks so un-Christmas-y. And all of the houses around us just seem to have more and more lights. We've never had outside lights in the 22 years we've lived here. Never. But, now we are feeling shamed into doing something, both to meet the pressure of the neighbors and have something to welcome the club girls.
We decide the best and quickest thing would be to get net lights to put over the bushes. So, I had to go out shopping, and went to Walgreens to get some extension cords and a timer for outside, Lowe's didn't have any net lights (they sold-out yesterday), so I went to Home Depot. Twice. the second time to buy them out of the net lights, since they don't cover as much as we had thought.
So, we have multi-colored lights on the bushes, lit dusk-to-dawn. It's not bright (we wanted white lights, but there weren't any available), but it's colorful and at least it's something.
posted at 02:14 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Long Lost FriendIt really is strange when the planets align...
Tonight, Carol didn't plan on anything to cook (still recovering from preparing thanksgiving), so we were trying to figure out what to do. On a lark, Carol decides on pizza from Giordano's. We haven't been there in years, and we could use a nice deep dish.
So, Carol called-in the order, and I went to pick it up. I walked up to the corner, not paying attention to the lady that was standing to the side. The girl behind the counter asked what she could help me with, I say I'm there for a pickup, and give my name. The lady next to me, who had her back to me, whips around.
It's our friend Teri, who we haven't seen in a year or two. She happens to be in the same place, picking up a pizza order to bring home!
We talked for 5, 10, maybe 15 minutes... trying to catch up with each other. While we were talking, her son Joey came out of the bathroom. He's taller than her now.
Damn I miss them...
posted at 06:12 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
MattesI had this great idea for a wall in our family room... I've been cooking this up for a while... We went out an bought some picture frames from Ikea.
30 of them.
I am going to arrange them on one wall and show off some of the pictures I have taken. I am going to go through my library and produce some 5x7 prints of a whole bunch of stuff.
The frames are square (9x9) and the mattes inside are cut for 5x5 prints. I wanted to do something different, but with the same frame. My idea was to get new 9x9 mattes with 5x7 cutouts, and I can rotate the image to portrait or landscape, and the frame is still square, so all of the frames on the wall wouldn't have to rotate - everything stays the same, just the image inside rotates.. makes it easy to plan the wall. Also, the frames are deep (over an inch) and you can mount the mattes either forward (up against the glass) or back (to the rear of the frame, creating depth) which also adds to the variety on the wall, and yet keeping the same 9x9 square form.
Anyway... I needed 30 mattes to be cut. 9x9 with a 5x7 cutout. I sent to a Michael's to get the mattes.
The kid behind the counter had absolutely no clue what I was asking for... the whole concept that I was asking for a matte that wasn't one off the shelf was daunting... and then asking for a square matte with a non-square cut-out... I can't tell you how many times I had to explain it, even when I had one of the 5x5 mattes from the frames. He couldn't get it.
Thank God there was a guy who was actually working on cutting mattes at the time that could help out.
I ordered 6 extra with a 4x6 cutout. just in case I get a picture from someone in that size.
How long is it going to take to cut 36 mattes? They're going to be ready FRIDAY DECEMBER 8. Why would it take that long????
posted at 12:38 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, November 24, 2006
Black FridaySo, I had this great idea yesterday. I wore my binaural mic's and recorded some segments for my podcast, complete with sounds of the turkey sizzling on the grill, the wood being started in the charcoal chimney, crackling and popping. This would be so cool.. you could almost smell the smoke...
Well, you could if it recorded.
The 9-volt battery in the mic preamp was dead, and like an idiot, I didn't check any of the recordings.
I need sound for a podcast, and I screwed-up the only chance I have all year. Now, i needed something else to fill-in.
It's Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving. The day that everyone is going out shopping for the Christmas sales. I never leave the house on this day. The traffic from all the shoppers is bad.
But, I needed some audio. So, I ventured out. To Woodfield - home to nearly 300 stores and restaurants, including dozens that cant be found anywhere else in the Midwest, Woodfield is the Chicago area's largest shopping center and the number one tourist attraction in the state of Illinois.
On Black Friday.
It was bad, really bad. Somehow, though, I tolerated it, accepted it, recorded an open and close and ambient sounds of shoppers, took a few pictures, had lunch and left. I guess I was just in a good frame of mind and I could totally have done this (as a shopper).
posted at 02:36 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Wicked Good ThanksgivingAh, yes... the time of year to give thanks with family and freinds...
It's also a big stressful day for me. I cook the turkey every year. Actually barbecue it on my Weber. This year, added stress: no more regular Kingsford CharcoalNo... I've decided to go with wood - Wicked Good "Weekend Warrior Blend" Hardwood Lump Charcoal. I just loved this whole idea of using wood charcoal instead of charcoal briquettes.
I heard that the wood burns faster and hotter, so I started the wood later than I have in the past - I started the first chimney at 1pm. The chimney lights fine (but I used 4 sheets of newspaper just in case), and seems to be completely involved a little faster, by maybe 5 or 10 minutes. and it's HOT... not just hot, but HOT. I threw the first chimney on the grill, started a second, added chunks to the first batch. The second chimney is done at the one hour mark from the start of the first, and both chimneys full of charcoal are in the grill, soaked hickory chips thrown over the top, and the turkey (18.3 lbs), in a rack, breast-down, on the grill at 2:05.
Pouring the chimneys into the grill was interesting. First, let me say that this is the best weather we've had on Thanksgiving in years.. and possibly ever... it's about 60 degrees. I don't need a jacket, and I had a fleece sweater on. Had. The charcoal was so hot, that when I poured a chimney into the grill and the heat so intense, my sweater started to smell as if it was starting to liquefy and melt. I really didn't need the sweater anyway.
2 hours and 10 minutes later, the turkey was off the grill and resting under an aluminum tent at Turkey Carving Central. Done.
Did the new charcoal work? Hell, yeah! Was the juiciest bird we had ever had... the meat was still moist putting the leftovers away after dinner.
As I write this, the charcoal is still burning in the grill. All the vents are closed, it should kill the fire. No. That's how hot the fire was.
posted at 11:35 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Love
Back in September, Carol and I along with our BBFs B&B, went to Las Vegas for a nice short vacation. We hadn't been to Las Vegas together in quite a few years.
While we were there, we took in a show at The Mirage called "Love" (I talked about it in Show #16 of my podcast). It's the only Cirque du Soliel show that moved me to tears. And I wasn't the only one from our group. To hear the original master recordings of The Beatles, remixed, blessed by the surviving members and spouses of the departed, and presented as a Cirque show was just so friggin' moving... shocked.. SHOCKED!!! the hell out of me.
THIS is the show to see in Las Vegas.
But the music.. THE MUSIC... all familiar, all known, all original recordings... but.. you're hearing them for the first time.. remastered... remixed...
I ordered the CD (and Audio DVD) from Amazon. It was released to the public yesterday, and sure enough the Amazon box was waiting at my door when I got home. I brought it to work with me today. I popped it into my laptop, jammed my earbuds in, and started to listen...
I just finished my first pass at the soundtrack, and I'm restarting it to listen to all over again.
It's like listening to the stage show... flowing song to song, no breaks.. standing on its own as a remarkable piece of history, as if the songs are all new again.
Like the Beatles? GET THIS ALBUM.
posted at 12:47 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
THEY DID IT!!!!!I just got off a call from the hard drive recovery company that I talked about last week.
THEY RECOVERED MY HARD DRIVE
We walked through some of the directories to make sure that the information was indeed there... and it was!
The photos.. the documents.. the tax info...
The data is being copied-off to a MyBook external hard drive. I should have it Friday or Monday.
They hold onto the failed hard drive (or "troubled" hard drive, as it was called) for 10 days, after which it goes into a destruction program. I have about 48 hours for the copied data to still be spinning on their servers if there's an issue. After that, they have to go back after the original drive. They also are supplying a stack of DVDs that they're going to pull off selected data onto (just in case the drive has issues during shipping), so they're going to grab as much of the photos as they can.
You know how happy I am? I am dancing in my cubicle!!!! Thank God there is hardly anybody in the office today...
posted at 09:58 AM | Link | Computing | § |
Sunny sweetYeah... sweet drive to work.. clear skies.. bright sun... and nobody on the roads. Yesss... sweet commute... everybody must have taken the day off to get a jump on holiday travel, getting to where they need to be before tomorrow...
posted at 07:59 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Buildin' the grill...Rearranged the garage... and just got done assembling my brand new Weber grill, in prep for Thursday. Yeah, after 20+ years, it was time to retire the old one... it was pretty bad looking... what surprised me is that the whole assembly was done without a tool... well, except a hammer to hammer-on the end caps on the axles to hold the wheels on. All bright shiny new. Love the new addition - a removable ash bucket underneath... oh, and the grill itself has little doors built in so you could add charcoal after the fire's been lit.
I'm still SO worried about this year's turkey. Did I talk about this? Instead of using regular Kingsford Charcoal, I'm going to try Wicked Good "Weekend Warrior Blend" Hardwood Lump Charcoal. Yes, wood.
So, after 20+ years of barbecuing a turkey, I had it all down - how much charcoal to use, how long it would take to cook, how to monitor the bird, how the hickory chips should be prepped, when to add them, and how many... I'm switching to a new fuel that burns quicker and hotter...
and now I have to use all my many years of skill to adjust.. and save the Thanksgiving Turkey,,,
posted at 06:02 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Early ThanksgivingWe drove up to Wisconsin and spent the day at our friend Chelby & Damian's house, to celebrate Thanksgiving a little early. We've had the pleasure of being included in Chelby's Extended Family Thanksgiving celebrations for a quite a few years now. We went up slightly early, because Carol was asked to do her wonderful stuffing, and since Carol was looking for someone to shorten some kitchen drapes that she had bought, she made a deal with Chelby - shorten the drapes in exchange for teaching how to make the stuffing. Done.
It had occurred to me when we got up there, that they didn't know about me being diagnosed with Type II Daiabetes... which I sort of forgot about... The only soda they had was either the real stuff, that I shouldn't have, or... what I would consider "odd" flavors. White grape? Tangerine? I had a Diet Coke that was found in the back of the fridge. I had never had a Diet Coke in a can... it had absolutely no flavor.. .and tasted like I was drinking Alka Seltzer. I am SO happy that I've avoided Diet Coke so far, if that's what it tastes like... in a can, at least.
posted at 08:14 PM | Link | Friends | § |
Thursday, November 16, 2006
The slimmest of hope... at a priceI spent the morning searching the internet for hard drive recovery companies. None of these places has any online means of generating a price quote, but everything I'm seeing shows well over a thousand dollars to recover a drive.
My lack of backup has now officially begun to cost me. Real dollars.
I found a company in Madison, Wisconsin that wouldn't charge me for an attempt to recover, only if they recover data.
I called an talked to a tech... and found out that, because of the clicking noise, my 250Gb Maxtor MaxLine Plus II hard drive was 30%-40% likely to have had it's platters turned to dust and not have anything recoverable, based on the hundreds of that drive model that they have seen recently.
That left 60%-70% likely that SOMETHING could be recovered. It was worth a shot, so my hard drive is now on it's way to Madison Wisconsin, hoping beyond hope that SOMETHING can be pulled off...
... I feel like I lost part of my life when that drive went down... all of those photos, those memories...
posted at 01:08 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
It's gone... all gone...I've been working on a project at home, to put up a series of picture frames in our family room that would hold selected images from the extensive digital photo images that I've shot over the years...
When my old computer died, and I got a new one, I transfered the old hard drives to external USB enclosures. this also upset the database I use to catalog the photos. So, I had to go in and tell the software that the image that used to be here on this disk, is now over on this disk and this directory structure. I had been tagging my images so that if I wanted to see something an image of a place or a person, I could just call it up.
I had been working on the database fixes all week. I got them all done.
I had just started to select the photos. I knew of a a few that I needed to include on the wall I was going to select more than the number of frames I was mounting, just so I can see what they look like printed.
I cam home tonight after work, went on my machine to do more photo selection. I thought I had smelled an odd odor in my den. It wasn't strong, but it smelled like ozone.
My machine was locked-up. Frozen. I cold-booted the machine, and logged back in.
And that's when I heard it... a clicking noise.
My one big, critical drive from the old machine is clicking, and not mounting.
It's dead. I lost it.
All 34,000 photos I've taken.
NO BACKUP.
I've lost it. I've lost it all. All my photos, documents, spreadsheet, tax information...
Depression sets in...
posted at 08:53 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Sunday, November 12, 2006
The fallFall to me has two parts.
The first is the wonderful colors of the trees and bushes as the weather changes early in the season. So bright, so invigorating with the first few chills in the air.
The second, is the bleak, gray cold days. The leaves are all gone, the trees are bare, the winds are cold and there's no sign of sun for days.
We went from almost 70 degrees on Thursday to the 30's on Friday. Wind. Rain.
Depressing.
posted at 09:26 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, November 10, 2006
Season ShotEvery year, I'm in charge of barbecuing the thanksgiving Turkey... I've only had one bad one in about 20 years... so, when I see things about turkey preparation, I have to read it.
This is over the top: Season Shot. For hunters.
For those guys that go out and shoot their Thanksgiving Turkey.
See, why bother trying to get all the metal shot out of the bird, when you can have shotgun shells made with "tightly packed seasoning bound by a fully biodegradable food product" ??? "The Season Shot pellets will melt in the oven seasoning the entire bird."
Oh, My.
And they have plans for new flavors: Cajun, Lemon Pepper, Garlic, Teriyaki, and Honey Mustard.
I've got a feeling that it's not really available.. yet.
posted at 01:07 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Thursday, November 09, 2006
You know... just like Jack on "Lost"...I had to take off of work this afternoon. I had an appointment with a neurosurgeon downtown at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
What a gorgeous day, for November.. 68 degrees.. the drive downtown wasn't so bad, though not totally free and clear. It's maneuvering downtown that's a bitch. I had t go to the 675 N. St. Clair which is just east of Michigan Avanue... tight streets, lots of traffic, lots of peds. Thank Dog I had left early to compensate for the possibility of travel issues.
My buddy Barry knows Northwestern Hospital pretty well, but this is my first time. It's a sprawling campus in the middle of town. I had to go to the 20th floor of one of the pavilions and I was SOOOoooo impressed with the facility.. the people... The doctor is a spinal surgeon, so this is right up his alley...
So... again, another doctor that doesn't understand what's going on (MRI's do not show what the symptoms would indicate), but I'm at the right place... a teaching/research hospital. We've got another test on the books that would help the diagnosis... so I'll need to coordinate it with my neurologist and the new "Team"/doctor.
Thank God I had stopped at the oasis on the way into the city to buy snacks and drinks for the drive home... I left at the beginning of Rush Hour and it took me about 90 minutes to get home. So i listed to some Podcasts on my iPod on the drive.. and the time passed pretty easily.
posted at 07:39 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
You have to wonder...Here it is.. just a day or so after the elections... the Democrats have taken over the House and Senate... and the republican-led administration, with so many ties to "big oil", had taken a "thumpin'" (as George W. said)...
..and gas prices go up???
The whole world falls apart, with nuclear threats, continued unrest in the middle east.. .and gas prices fall... but... give checks-and-balances against big oil supporters and the prices go up???
Coincidence???
posted at 09:32 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
I never thought today would come...I JUST WANT IT ALL TO END...
It's Election Day in the United States.
Campaign Advertising has just gone downhill over the years... I can't tell you what the hell any candidate stands for because it feels like all I hear & see is what is wrong with the other candidate... attack, attack, attack... and it's not just radio ads... or TV ads... our mailbox has been stuffed with material for the last week or so... and what about the damn pre-recorded telemarketing??? (I have to admit, Carol was ecstatic that Bill Clinton called and left a message... just for her...)
I strongly believe that there should be some kind of legislation passed to limit the length of time that candidates can run ads... like maybe 4-6 weeks, and that's it...
Update: I went to vote.. what a mess and it was because of our poling place, a grammar school a few blocks away. First.. the kids have the day off (and that's a great idea... you just don't want adults roaming the halls of a grade school). For some reason, they setup the voting stations in a back hallway of the school, which made it almost impossible to move around, between the voting stations, tables, judges, voters...
It was a choice of a paper ballot (connecting two halves of an arrow with a special pen, with the whole ballot being scanned when you're done) or electronic (touchscreen). Issues? They're were down to just 4 pens to mark the ballots if you used paper, causing long lines), and down to 5 smartcards for the touchscreens (again, causing lines).
I chose to use the touchscreen.. I had to - I'm a geek and wanted to experience this. I loved it... it's a very easy experience, easy to read and follow. The slowest part?... OH! BEFORE I FORGET!!! THERE HAS GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY TO HANDLE THE ELECTION AND RETENTION OF JUDGES! How many were there? It went on for pages and pages and pages on the touchscreen... anyway... The slowest part? Verifying your votes. When you use paper, well... by default, you are verifying what you're doing. On a touchscreen, it'll show you all of your votes, and if you under/over voted for anything highlighted in red. Your votes are stored on the smartcard that you use to activate the machine. But, as a backup and a physical record, there's a paper tape that is printed, and you must review it as it's printed after you have verified your on-screen vote. When you're done, the smartcard is ejected from the machine. You bring the card to a judge, who copies the data, erases the card, and hands it to the next person waiting in line. I enjoyed using the machine.. now I wish they had more cards/machines/pens.. and why the hell weren't we in the gum like the last time???
posted at 12:54 PM | Link | Current Events | § |
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Picking a fake treeWe've had an atritificial Christmas tree for for all of our married life. On top of that, there are years where we don't even put up the tree. I know, a lot of you won't understand that, but since there's just the two of us, we don't need a tree to celebtrate the holiday. We usually don't have anybody over during the holidays, so theres no tree, no lights... just a wreath on the front door (and we're pretty sure that the rabbits don't miss a tree either).
But, the last few times when we've had to put the tree up, it's been a chore, and after 20 years... it's seen better days.
So, since we're putting up a tree this year, we decided to get a new one. We've seen ads for this online store, that has a warehouse in Barrington, that's open to the public only on weekends, so we took a drive to Tree Classics
The place was packed... the company took a cornetr of their warehouse and setup one of each style of tree, some of them at the different heights offered, and you can just wander through the "forest" and check out what you like. If you find something, you flag down a worker with a clipboard, who fills out a form, and you got to a cubicle to pay. Then you go to the dock doors and guys wil help you take your tree to your vehicle.
We chose a realtive thin (or at least on the thin side) tree that was 9 feet tall that would look great in house, not thinking about how big the box was. Thank god we had Carol's Grand Vitara... we had to put the passenger front seat down to get the box to fit. Thank God the rear seats are split, because I was able to sit back there. And then, we didn't think about how heavy the box was. Carol crushed her thumbnail as we tried to get the box out of the truck.
So.. it's in the garage... have no idea where we're going to store this thing... it's so much biger and heavier than we thought it could be.
posted at 06:55 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
This year's count: 57We always keep paper and a pen at the door to tally the Trick-or-Treat'ers.
Today, it was sunny, but the temperatures went from 62 degrees down to 44 by the time the kids showed-up. Speaking of which, the first ones came to the door at 4:52, which seemed late to me. It was barely still light out (wonder how the new daylight Saving is going to fix that next year).
I was disappointed... hardly any inspired costumes, just your run-of-the-mill football player (Go Bears!), LaCrosse player (OK, that was a little surprising), cheerleader, princess, and only one Captain Jack Sparrow, that was an older teen-ager.
Today's count: 57
2005: 56
2004: 61
2003: 69
2002: 79
We took count the years before, but never kept the information - 2002 was the first year I had my blog up and running (I know one year was over 100).
posted at 07:16 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Not as impressive as you may thinkSaw a photo set at Flickr or the annual ILM-Lucasfilm-LucasArts Halloween Party.
Not as impressive as I would have hoped. Now, don't get me wrong, there are one or two costumes that are pretty inspired... but it just looks like a "normal" (yeah, like there's a normal one) Halloween Party.
But... you have to like the Trojan Rabbit complete with a some Monty Python Holy Grail knights inside (apparently, this won Best Costume of the night). The runner's up, or honerable mention,or.. whatever went to a Marie Antoinette (decked-out in all handmade clothing and wig), a digital camera that took real images (complete with tourist hanging onto the strap) and (you gotta love this) a Wack-A-Mole with companion walking mallet)
(In case you don't look at the photo set, you'll miss not only those costumes, but also Bride of Frankenstein, a Stick Man, the Stephen Colbert Greenscreen Challenge, Britney Spears (which actually looks pretty good/accurate), K-Fed, a cardboard stormtrooper (finally! A Lucas-tie-in), Chinese Take out, a sugar glider (what? You don't listen to Dawn and Drew?), some Katamari Damacy characters, an R2 unit with an oompa loompa, a Deviled Egg, replica ILM Security Badges, the Starbucks mermaid and (yawn) Spiderman, A burrito (looks like Chipotle), characters from Serenity (!), a chef, an attempt at Lucille Ball , A real stormtrooper (as opposed to cardboard), Flavor Flav (oh, God), ... even Borat showed up.)
posted at 01:16 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Monday, October 30, 2006
I love/hate my phoneI bought a new cell phone back on the 11th - a Palm® Treo™ 700wx with Windows Mobile 5.0, not Palm OS. I love this thing. It's come in handy. having access to email, my contacts and calendar, even the Internet.
So, this morning, I noticed that it was acting really sluggish... it would take many seconds to delete an incoming email. Then, I couldn't delete the email before by the time the phone turned off from not being used. Then I couldn't turn the phone off/on. I pulled the battery, and the unit would just boot to the Palm splash screen. I tried hard reset. Nothing. No change.
It had been under 30 days since I purchased it, so I went back to the store tonight. The same guy that sold me the phone waited on me. I went to the store with just the phone, in an attempt to just say "Phone broke - fix", but the "tech" had gone for the day. Will told me if I had the box, they'd just swap the phone.
I left, drove all the way home, gathered the box, cables, software and a receipt and drove back to the store.
Will had already pulled a box from inventory, and we started processing the work order/exchange. that's when we found out that the phone was already on someone's account, as a defective phone, and that was the last phone they had. So, he called another store in the area. They didn't have the phone. He called another store and they had one, so I had to drive a while to get to the store.
So, I have a new phone, now covered under an insurance plan so that I can get a replacement/repair after my 30 days are up. After having the phone die, and going to a store that had another defective phone, I'm not feeling comfortable with the hardware, though I really do like it, so... I might as well be prepared for another excursion in the future.
posted at 09:28 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Last time we save time in OctoberSo, we did the annual Fall Back thing at 2am this morning. We forgot to change any clock in the house before we went to bed.
Now, starting next year, the whole Daylight Saving (yes, it's Saving not Savings) rules change next year.
It used to be the first Sunday of April to the last Sunday of October. Starting next year it's the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.
Of course, this is somehow supposed to save energy. I think it's a conspiracy with the Candy Companies, so there's more light when kids go Trick-or-Treating.
Now, how much software and firmware has to be changed to accommodate this? I know Windows does the adjustment automagically at the correct times, so some fix has to be out in for that change, but what about other things, like VCR's? Automated thermostats? Think about the items that you don't have to touch when the time changes... all of them won't change correctly starting next year...
posted at 11:01 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Root veggiesW had B&B come out to the house just to hang out... it's been a while since they've been out. It's a windy day outside - High Winds Warning all day, though it's sunny and chilly... we've been averaging about 10 degrees cooler than what the average for the day. Carol cooked a pork roast, that was cooked over a bed of root vegetables, and we had egg noddles and corn... it actually turned out really well. We hung out and checked out a movie that we've never seen before - Inside Man, a better movie than we had thought.
We love having them out here..
posted at 10:56 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Monday, October 23, 2006
Taking a header - Part IIToday was the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, and was won by Robert Cheruiyot from Kenya in 2:07:35. It was lousy weather - temperatures hovered around 40 degrees, but the wind gusted to over 20 m.p.h. (so there was a typical Chicago Wind Chill) and it misted on and off...
... affecting the runner's footing.
Sure enough, as Cheruiyot reached the finish line, he thrust out his right arm and briefly wagged a finger signaling that he was No. 1, spread both arms wide and seemed to lean back. His foot stepped on a race decal, skidded and went down on the red finish mat, hitting the asphalt hard while sliding forward across the line. He never broke the tape, but tapes are ceremonial, and his body crossed the line.
So he celebrated in the hospital with minor bleeding on the surface of his brain, and he has also been told to rest for up to three months to give the brain time to heal.
According to a spokesperson, the decal is made of non-skid, non-slip material and is designed specifically for outdoor sports in all-weather conditions.
Ummm.. guess not.
posted at 12:06 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Taking a header - Part IAbout 1 o'clock this morning, I woke up, having to go to the bathroom. No big deal, this is what my life has been for the past couple of years.
I rolled out of bed, placed my feet on the floor, and then...
...WHAM!...
I never had my balance when I rolled out of bed. I was never dizzy, no sense of vertigo. My legs seemed to support me, but I must have planted my feet waaaayyyy off balance...
..and collapsed into my nightstand, tipping it, sending things to the floor, including myself, and along the way scaring the hell out of Carol who was silently asleep (at least, I think she was silent).
I was awake, but I just remember realizing my body isn't in the position that I think it is just before I crashed. So, I wasn't dizzy, but maybe this is vertigo?
I've been unsteady on my feet for the last few years, and, come to think of it, I've had this sensation MANY times before,where I'm not where I think I am. When that happens, I'm not dizzy, it's almost like a type of disconnect when I finally realize "Hey! I'm not supposed to be here!" and then try to compensate.
Even though I am frequently off-kilter, I have never lost my balance and fallen.. up until this morning. But, take it with a grain of salt.. .I had been sleeping, and was barely awake when I rolled out of bed. (It's not like I rolled out of bed onto the floor either... I had swung my legs underneath me... I just never got vertical.
I think I'll partially blame that new 4-inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper... making the bed too tall to easily get in and out of for us Height Challenged individuals.
Gotta blame someone.. or something...
posted at 07:26 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, October 13, 2006
TriscadecaphobiaFriday the 13th.
So far, the world hasn't exploded/imploded, and in general, doesn't seem any stranger today than yesterday.
posted at 02:08 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Too early for this...I'm at work. In my cube. yes, actually working.
Pam - my next door cube neighbor - is suddenly hanging over the wall between the cubes, and says "Michael... look".
I stood up... looked out the window across the floor from us... to see...
SNOW. BLOWING SIDEWAYS left to right. I went to the window... looked down and saw the snow accumulating on the grass, the bushes, the trees, lamp posts...
Holy crap, it's actually snowing... sideways....
NOOOOOooooooo!!!!!! I'm not ready for this!!!!!!
Update: O'Hare registered 0.3" of snow - a record earliest snowfall
posted at 10:21 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Saturday, October 07, 2006
The best day outsideToday was the day.
Today was the day where it was warm (70's), sunny, not a cloud in the sky...
... when the leaves have all changed, and they're all still on the trees. Color everywhere. Gorgeous. It'll probably all be gone by the end of the week, so today was the day to be outside and pay attention to the color all around you.
Autumn is here (baseball is over - at least for me - , so I can finally talk about this), and the temperatures haven't plumeted... so today is just a perfect day.
posted at 01:42 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Monday, October 02, 2006
A fall storm?Huge huge huge thunderstorms going through the area tonight. We had a power blip that wasn't long, but, damn, there was lightning and thunder. It's also pretty warm, so this is like a late summer thunderstorm... in autumn.
posted at 08:54 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Back to civilizationJust got back from our Annual "Away Team" trip to little LaValle, Wisconsin with Barry and Joe to what is now John's permanent home.
Man.. .I guess I'm just a City Boy at heart... that's just WAY too far off the grid for my comfort. I mean, I had no cell service the entire time I was up there... good ol' Spring just didn't have the coverage.
Late yesterday afternoon, we were on the deck, overlooking the lake, eating some salmon fillets that John had smoked... just watching life on the lake pass by.
We did that for two hours. Maybe more. I couldn't tell. I just watched and ate and watched... and time just passed... so relaxing, and yet not boring.
I guess that was the whole weekend... relaxing and not boring. Good to get away every once in a while to do this.
And... I blew the whole "Rabbit, Rabbit" meme thing, along with "White Rabbit" or Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit! today... just too relaxed.. and, being away from home, you kind of forget things...
posted at 05:42 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, September 29, 2006
Terror in a small townOur buddy John (the guy that retired a few months ago) lives in a small town in Wisconsin called LaValle.
6½ miles to the southwest, is a small town called Cazenovia that we've driven through a few times, even when we were up there back in July.
Just over the wires is a story about a kid (15 years old) that shot and killed his High School Principal today, the day of their Homecoming.
Update: We found out after we got up here that another kid from the high school was killed in a car wreck 15 minutes before the shooting. The two things weren't related - this kid was running from a police traffic stop, lot control of his vehicle, ran into a ditch and flipped the car a few times. His passenger wasn't hurt - he was wearing a seatbelt, the driver wasn't.
This is going to send small town, rural America into a turmoil up there... and we're on our way up tonight...
posted at 11:05 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, September 22, 2006
What the hell was that?The tornado sirens went off, which is startling because they're about a block away, so they're pretty friggin' loud.
Jeez did it rain.. I think I heard it was up to 2" an hour. Schaumburg police are reporting rotation in the clouds (hence, the reason for the sirens). Man... hardly any wind... but jeez did it come down...
There's no debris anywhere... just rivers of water rushing down the streets. I have standing water on my lawn.
This was bad... I really feel like we dodged a bullet.
And to top it all off - we're just hours away from the Autumnal Equinox - the beginning of Fall...
posted at 06:27 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Homes have more TVs than peopleOK. Example: Our house:
Number of Occupants - 2 (well, 2 human, 2 rabbit)
Number of TV's: 4
Researchers: Homes have more TVs than people
posted at 01:32 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment | § |
Thursday, September 21, 2006
What the hell is this?Just got home from Midway Airport... ready to go to sleep...
We've just returned from Las Vegas where we've been for a couple of days...
We left, and the temperatures were going to be in the low 90's yesterday.
We got off the plane, and the temperatures are almost in the high 40's.
SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM - not ready for the... "absence"... of summer...
posted at 02:37 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, September 08, 2006
To Boldly Go... 40 Years AgoWhere were you 40 years ago tonight?
Sitting in front of your TV?
Watching NBC?
Star Trek premiered on NBC 40 years ago tonight, on September 8, 1966
Take a moment and stop to think... How many thing has Star Trek, its 4 spin-off television programs, its 10 motion pictures, its thousands of novels and millions of fans have affected every day life... whether you have noticed or not... whether you liked it or not.
posted at 11:52 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Monday, September 04, 2006
BD'sA popular day for birthdays for us!
Happy Birthday to my sister Diane!
Happy Birhday to my buddy Barry!
posted at 12:54 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Beers, dogs, and friendsLabor Day Weekend - the traditional end of summer.
Time to spend it with friends. Went to B&B's for the day. We were all going next door to Kenny & Pat's for a barbecue. Debbie came over. And then - before we went next door - Diane and Melinda brought Jackson over, so B&B could finally meet him before he turned one years old. Jackson was a big hit. It was a great visit. We went next door, sat outside in the backyard, I had a couple of beers (!) and we had some hotdogs from Falatic's Meat Market in Michigan.
Celebrate the "End of Summer"... a time that came and went too quickly.
posted at 10:00 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, September 01, 2006
Rabbit Rabbit? SCREW THAT TODAY...This is where I usually post the "Rabbit, Rabbit" meme thing, along with "White Rabbit" or Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit!.
Screw that.
Luck?
DON'T HAVE ANY.
I have a back hoe sitting in the middle of my front yard.
I the middle of the Most Perfect Lawn I have ever had. In the 22 years we've been here, the lawn has never never never looked this good.
Now I have a back hoe as a lawn ornament.
Why?
I blogged about this once, but it's been happening every once in a while ever since.
Today, it pushed us over the edge. Anytime we took a shower, flushed a toilet.. the drain in the utility room backed-up, flooding the room. And this time, it just wasn't a little. Carol called the plumbers that we have use before, had them come out on an emergency.
We have a blockage. In the sewer line. It has to be dug-up and fixed (hence, the back hoe). We were lucky in the respect that - YAY! - they didn't have to tear-up the lawn. They tore-up our landscaping that my sister Diane slaved over. So now... the plumbers got enough of the work done so that we could use water in the house. Emergency Call fee? $850. But they have to come back Tuesday to do the rest of the work.
The back hoe is staying on my lawn until Tuesday. Burning out the lawn.
CRAP.
The cost of the whole sewer replacement? Just under $7,000!
CRAP!
Then I got a weird call at work yesterday just before I was leaving. A doctor's office called, telling me that the doctor needed see today.
I found out that this is the doctor that reviewed the results of my sleep study. And I was upset that - without knowing anything - that this doctor wanted to see me that quickly.
So, I went to the doctors. What a great facility. Big. What a great staff. Here's a few tidbits from the sleep study: I have significant sleep apnea - 90 events an hour. My blood oxygen level - which should normally be in the 90% range, drops and stays in the 70% range overnight. I am oxygen starved, screwing up my brain and organs. I need a CPAP machine, I need it now, and I need to get this under control and breathe normally overnight. The doctor and nurses all seamed really concerned when they saw the results.
I now have a prescription for Flonase and a loaner CPAP machine (until I get clearance from the insurance company and I'll get my own). I have to start using it right away with the mask tat I have from the sleep study.
And probably use this every night for the rest of my life.
The third thing that happened today, and perhaps the saddest, is about Diane's beagle Chelsea. All of us love this dog. But she's 12 years old, and has had a major problem develop that required Diane to take her in to the Vet...
Chelsea has some form of a very aggressive cancer... and the vet gives her about 6-8 weeks. If she got chemo, she would probably have 6-8 months.
This is going to devastating to a lot of us... Chelsea has been a major part of our family and has a place deep in our hearts.
So, screw any lucky "Rabbit, Rabbit" crap.
Welcome to September.
posted at 07:59 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Thursday, August 31, 2006
75the weather - in my opinion - has been great lately. After such a friggin' hot heat wave, the temperatures have been cooler that the average temperature for that day. It's been around 75 degrees (average is supposed to be 80).. and you know? 75 - in my opinion - is perfect. 75 and sunny. Perfect temperature. Perfect environment.
Just perfect.
posted at 01:17 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Monday, August 28, 2006
Indication of the beginning of the endI left the house this morning and saw something that I didn't realized i hadn't seen in a few months... kids waiting for a school bus.
All over the neighborhood.
That - to me - signals the beginning of the end of summer.
posted at 08:18 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Monday, August 21, 2006
BackSpent the weekend at my sister Diane's house up in Michigan with B&B.
We left on Saturday morning, drove up to Harbert, stopped at Falatic's Meat Market (butcher.. for meats for our meals, since Carol shopped for other groceries on Friday and packed them into the VERY crowded trunk)
The weather wasn't great when we got there.. we were there early enough for pool-time, but no sun.. and it had been raining, so we went to Redamak's for lunch. Took off for Indiana.. stopping first at Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets mall for Buff to do some quick shopping, then over to Blue Chip Casino, where I sat down and played Blackjack for the first time since... well, first time this decade, I think...
Had a Prime Rib dinner at Skip's. Crashed at home, pool the next day with fresh chicken brats and hotdogs. B&B took the car and went to New Buffalo to get some fresh corn on the cob for dinner and some Sweet Baby ray's barbecue sauce... for the ribs that Barry prepared for dinner. Great meats, great cooking, great meals, great company.
Today, B&B took the car and went back to Lighthouse and Blue Chip, Carol bobbed in the pool and I did some podcasting.
The drive home late this afternoon was a breeze, with the exception of the hour we spent on Lake Shore Drive from Soldier Field north.
We love going up there just to "get away"... and we acually travel well together...
posted at 08:09 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Eewwww... I didn't need to see that...Why the hell am I even sharing this with you?
Just went into the men's room at work...
and it looked like... someone... didn't make it to the urinals in time....
eeeewwwww..
posted at 03:55 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
New DellBroke down and ordered a new Dell to replace the old machine. I REALLY didn't want to do this, but I don't have a choice. It's doesn't even boot anymore... it would show the Safe Boot menu and then.. never boot. Now, it's not even getting that far. New machine doesn't ship until next Wednesday.
I HOPE TO GOD THE DRIVES ARE STILL OK.. OH, PLEASE LET THEM BE OK...
posted at 03:17 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Monday, August 07, 2006
$2,134The total costs of car repair - $2,134.
OK, that wasn't just to fix the electrical problem..
The alternator had a bad diode that charged the battery - sometime. OK, that needed replacing. That fixes Saturday's problem.
I complained about road noise coming from the rear. Well, yeah.. the tires are cutup and cupped and have tread issues... OK, new set of tires
Well.. why did the tires degrade? Well, the rear struts were worn and shot. Replace the rear struts.
Braking seems week? Yep... rotors are fine.. but needs brakes both front and rear. Replace brakes.
Original belts on the car? Well, we're replacing the alternator so... replace belts.
$2,134 later, I have a car that rides better and quieter.
posted at 05:49 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Not moving itCarol and Diane were coming back home today, and I was to meet them at my mom's house.
I started to think about this as the time came closer to me leaving. I was totally ignoring the sick car in the garage. I started to think about the car - if it starts - dieing again, God knows where, on the way into Chicago, or in-town... I realized that this is a stupid thing to do.
So.. I talk to Carol for the first time... fill her in... talk to my mom, and let her know... then Carol calls back saying she doesn't want to go to my mom's, then... so I call my mom and let her know about Carol... and then my sister calls and YELLS AND BERATES ME about how I should have made the decision earlier and then if both Carol & I would go to my mom's, then she would have just stayed in Michigan (like I knew that was an option)
This weekend had all the earmarkings to be good... and turned into a private hell...
posted at 08:12 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Turned worse...I had a wonderful day, just goofing off, copying some things off of TiVo, exploring and playing in Second Life...
Then dinner time rolled along.. and passed... and I got hungry and I jumped into the car and drove to Portillo's to grab an Italian beef.
It was a gorgeous night, had the window open, and I pulled into the drive-thru. As usual, the place was hopping, so they had guys outside taking the orders and delivering food to the cars to help expedite the process.
A guy comes over and I complete step one of the process - give him the order, and in-turn radio's the order inside. He walks away to process other cars.
I'm sitting there, listening to the radio...
when I look down and see my ABS light go on.. I panic, yell "NOOO!!!" and start playing with the brake pedal.. I don't need brake problems now...
And then I realize... my tachometer is at zero. The car had died. No noise, no rumble, ... it just faded away. I never heard it.
I turn the key, only to hear "click...click...click...click"
Dead battery. WTF?
read more of this entry »
I see the guy walking down the line again, to service the cars behind me. Well, as the line moved, two guys working the line (the order guy and the money guy) push my dead car along... until we get close to the building where a second lane exists. Directly in front of that second lane - in the distance - an aisle and a parking space directly ahead. the guys start pushing and get up a good head of steam...and I roll past the other line of cars and stop in the parking space.
I try the key again. "rrr.... rrrrrrrr....click...click...click...click"
I grab my beef sandwich and go inside to get a drink and sit down to eat dinner. There was almost enough power to get the engine to turn over. Maybe the battery will recover enough after I eat.
It didn't.
I called Sprint 411 from my cell phone and got the number of a towing service in the area that they connected me to and even Text Messaged the name and phone number to my cell. The guy on the phone says it's probably the alternator.
He shows up 20 minutes later, jumps the car which turns over effortlessly, and I drive home... with the tow truck right behind me... just in case.
I made it into my garage... my lights never dimmed along the way. No electrical issues whatsoever.
Cost of the tow - $50.
I no longer like my weekend. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 09:52 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, August 04, 2006
Not as much fun as I had hoped...I was hoping to have more fun than this at home...
My computer has been Blue Screen-ing. The old BSOD. It's not software. It's not a driver.
It's hardware.
I can't keep the machine up and running for more than a few minutes at a time.
This could get expensive...
posted at 10:17 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Thursday, August 03, 2006
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this time of year!Carol took off for my sister Diane's house in Michigan this afternoon for the Annual Summer "Club" function with the ladies... and isn't coming back until Sunday!!!!
Wooooo HOOOOOO!!!!
I'm alone for the weekend!!!! YES!!!!!
posted at 06:15 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Monday, July 31, 2006
Heat and WaterFriggin' oppressive heat over the Chicago Area... over the United States.. hell, Europe has it as well... WTF?
I have been REALLY lucky so far... we've had some really nice sized thunderstorms rolling through the neighborhood every other day or so... until recently.
I've avoided watering our plants.. can't avoid it any longer...
So.. since I spend no time around the outside of our house, I was shocked and appalled to find out something going on.
We had to get a new lawn mowing service this year, because the one we've used had to close down.. due to some family thing...
So our new guys are.. well, OK. Not stellar, but OK.
I left the hose out behind the house for at least the last month, maybe longer... like I said, it's been a while since I last watered. The hose is on one of those plastic hose mobile cart things. Just siting there.
So I go out there and start unwinding the hose... and I'm HORRIFIED to find out that the lawn crew... has never touched the hose mobile when they cut the grass. They NEVER MOVED IT. The grass under the hose mobile was over a foot tall. So I moved the damn hose mobile, forcing these idiots to cut the damn grass!!! The feed hose that goes to the cart was buried in the grass and I had to rip it out of the grass clump to move the cart!
posted at 08:47 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Grinder BashThe White Sox threw a party for season ticket holders today (actually, on Thursday and Friday, too). They used to do this almost every year. They suspended this or a few years, because the park had renovations being done, almost year long. Now, that the season ticket base has grown so dramatically, the team decided to throw another party.
I LOVE these things. There's something special about being in the park - when the team isn't there playing ball. I took my buddy Barry to share this unusual event.
read more of this entry »
We're in the middle of this god awful heat spell, so the first thing we did was get wristbands to be allowed out onto the field. HUH? Yes, we were allowed to walk out onto the field...
You know how special it is to walk out onto center field of a major league ballpark? Feel the unbelievable grass at your feet.. level... no holes... no weeds... look around and get an idea on how much room a centerfielder has to cover..
We strolled around the field... went into the Sox bullpen, both the dugout and mounds... then off to the Sox dugout... the phones were live.. if you opened-up the box and pulled the phone off-hook, the opposite phone (bullpen-Dugout) would ring automatically... we walked to the visitor's dugout... watched people playing catch in the outfield... we stopped to watch a woman throwing to.. her husband? no arc to her throws, good mechanics, zip on the ball.. she's played... we lapped the field... and we went inside to get something cold to drink in the patio area...we made a mistake by not getting any of the free food (chicken, ribs, dogs, burgers, potato salad, cole slaw)... we walked the tunnel underneath the stands and visited the Visitor's Clubhouse.. looked at the lockers, and ALL OF THE SNACKS AND DRINKS... we walked across the tunnel to the Conference Center, the big conference room still setup for a Post-Game Press Conference... and then we checked out the Scout Seats food and beverage café (REALLY nice)... then we went out of the tunnel, walked up a ramp, onto the main concourse of the park, where we waited.. and waited.. and waited in the heat (no breeze, but no sun either) to look at and get our pictures taken with the World Series Trophy.
That was long and draining for me.. let alone barry, who is still not up to 100% healthy. We walked the outfield concourse.. and got to Fundamentals, which was open. Barry didn't feel comfortable climbing all of those stars, so I went up alone, and saw the batting cages, pitching cages, training field, and the Scott Podsedik Run.
I came back down, we walked into the Patio area for lunch and.. NO FOOD. They had shutdown for the day... we were able to get a cold drink..
It really felt special to be there again. I miss the park. I know I'm there each weekend, but this is sooo much more special.
It makes you feel special.
So.. we left the park.. hungry.. with nothing to do.. so.. we went to Horseshoe to gamble for a couple of hours! « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 07:03 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, July 28, 2006
This Batty HeatOK.. so.. I KNOW it's summer... I KNOW it's supposed to be hot...
But this is rediculous... nationwide record heat? Europe?
A week at a time? And then, another week? Another week in the 90's? Hear index over 105?
And then, on TV this morning, hear that in Sacremento, bats are falling out of trees because of heat and dehydration.
posted at 09:27 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Thursday, July 27, 2006
The Hurdle to BedOur friends B&B told us about this mattress cover they got from Overstock.com. The love it. We tested it on their bed and loved it - reminded us of the mattress at the Venetian. So I went online and ordered a Serta® Ultimate 4-inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper and it showed up yesterday. It came in this little box, all 37 pounds of it. So, we found out that we have to unroll it and let it air out. No way the size of the roll is a full-size bed mattress topper.
So we unroll it and unfold it on top of our bed and... sure enough it's the right size... and within seconds, any creases and folds are gone.
Now... it's becoming clear... we have a more significant problem...
Box spring... mattress.. new 4 inches of foam...
We're short, and the top of the bed is now belt high. How are we going to get in at night?
posted at 09:14 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Maybe on the right path?I finally had an appointment with a neurologist today. It has been months and months, and because I was a new patient, this was the first opening I could get.
So.. it's the same thing.. "I don't know"... because like all my problems and all my doctors, it's all the same.. "I don't know".. and whatever I have, it doesn't "fit" with test/scan results.
But, now with her, it's like.. OK, let's go down this path and start eliminating. I have another series of blood tests to take.. eliminating Vitamin deficiency, Lyme Disease.. stuff like that..
Oh, and she wants me to go in for a sleep study... my fatigue, coordination issues... it all fits sleep apnia... along with - believe it or not - high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.
I feel comfortable with her.. great attitude... I think maybe, SOMEDAY, we'll figure this out.
posted at 03:13 PM | Link | Health | § |
Monday, July 24, 2006
Carol's AirI don't know how a woman, who is CLEARLY intolerant of heat, has been driving around in an SUV that doesn't have working air conditioning during the oppressive heat wave (that may be rearing its ugly head again this week).
We brought her truck in to get serviced today (along with, oh, a RECALL that had to get fixed).
She should feel better now. At least while she's driving.
posted at 05:39 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
I'm screwed...myesetrdamy, I accidenallmy spilled mmy Diet Pepsi all ovtetr mmy desk. MUnftotrmunatelmy, I gtot a little on mmy laptop keyboatrd, and now... well, you can see that I'm gtettingt extra key ptresses. I can't logtin because I'm gtettingt invtalid passwotrds.
Gtreat.
posted at 09:19 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Back from the weekendJust got back from a weekend trip to the small-town America, central Wisconsin style.
Carol and I along with Barry & Buffy traveled almost 200 miles to a small town called laValle - population 329 - in south central Wisconsin
read more of this entry »
Our friend and former co-worker that retired recently (that Barry & I went to his retirement party recently) and there was another party for him, this time for friends and family, at the house he's retiring to in Wisconsin - 200 miles away in LaValle.
We left Saturday morning, drove to Rockford and had breakfast at Cracker Barrel. We drove up and stopped 19 miiles short in Reedsburg to check into a motel (Super 8! Free wireless internet! (yeah, try getting a good DNS) more friggin' channels on the Tv than any other hotel I've stayed in anywhere!) and then drove to the house.
Life is different up here. This is small town America. There is NOTHING here for miles. No cell service! NOTHING here. John lives on a man-made lake and we were hoping that somehow it would be cooler there... WRONG..
It's a scorcher - high humidiy, 97 degrees on the sign at the bank in town. John was genuinely srprised at all of us that came up to visit and party. We stayed about three hours... outside the whole time (in the shade).
We left, drove into Reedsburg and got some ice cream, in enough time to go to the movie theater to catch Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. (really enjoyable). Drove through the drive through at the mcDonald's across the parking lot from the hotel and retired for the night.
This morning, we drove back to LaValle to eat breakfast at Granny's (a tradition). and we took off afterward.
We stopped at the Ho Chunk casino so Barry and Carol could play some blackjack. THen, we were off... Carol drove most of the way, thank God... the traffic was terrible. we had multiple areas that we were STOPPED on the tollway. It was a full hour longer to get home trhan to get up there.
All-in-all, a great weekend. The 4 of us seem to travel well together.
« hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 05:51 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, July 14, 2006
Hardly anything to sayI feel I've hit the summer doldrums... nothing much going on, every thing the same... why write about it?
We at the beginning of a real significant het spell that will last a week. Temperatures in the mid to upper 90's... high humidity. Heat index 105 and above.
Tomorrow B&B and the two of us drive up to Wisconsin for the weekend.. more on that some other time...
posted at 10:24 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
SmellOH.
MY.
GOD.
This is NOT NOT NOT the best time of yesr driving to work in the morning.
Actually, it's not he drive to work. It's not the parking in the parking garage.
It's walking from the car to the building.
In the humidity. If there's heat, God help us.
We're downwind of a waste treatment plant. Human waiste treatment plant. Vile. Nausiating. Disgusting.
posted at 08:00 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
MY DAY OF FIRSTS
OK, I'm thinking of posting this entry later, sometime after I can tell my family about what happened today before they read it here first.
read more of this entry »
I don't want to spend a lot of time on this... since I'm tired and it's been a long day...
Around noon today, I ate a Cobb Salad from White Hen. Around 1:45, I had to go.. to the bathroom. Things were moving around inside, and I had to... ummmm... get rid of the salad... so I was off to the bathroom...
While there, this WAVE of nausea came over me, and a pretty good pain - belt high on my left side. I was getting sweaty... but I had a teleconference at 2pm, so I... ummmm... finished up as much as I could and got back to my desk...
I was feeling worse... tingly.. sweaty... lightheaded... the pain, like a cramp, was barely subsiding... The telecon was over and I put my head down on my desk...
The next thing I knew, Pam in the next cube was calling my name.. I was OFF off my chair, kneeling at my desk.. feeling TERRIBLE... she looked at me.. I guess I was pale white and my arms were glistening in sweat... Pam got on the phone and started calling 911.
Yep - it was 2:30 and a Schaumburg Engine showed-up (they were close by) and started assessing my situation... which was getting better... the nausea was subsiding... the disconnected-ness was gone... my hands slightly tingled.. and - most importantly - the pain was subsiding.
The paramedics showed in in my cube with a gurney... so at 2:45, i was being hauled out of my cube on a gurney, being taken to a local hospital. At this point I didn't know why, because all of my symptoms eased and vanished - no pain, no nausea...
It was a REAL TRIP getting wheeled-out through your office area. It's hard to say "hi" to people as you're being wheeled-out. I mean, I was waving to people, joking about the White Sox... I mean, I felt fine... Security people holding doors... cafeteria people in the lobby saying "good luck".. WEIRD
the got me outside... in the rain. Strapped to a gurney in the rain. Had to joke about that with the guys..
So.. it was time for MY FIRST AMBULANCE RIDE. Somewhere along the way, I remembered my digital camera in my pocket (I DON'T GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT IT).. So I took a few P.O.V. pictures from the gurney for the blog... and then one of the paramedics offered to take my picture!!! (that's also included in this post)
You see? I felt fine! I have the picture to prove it!
We got to the hospital a little too quickly.. they were still on the radio with the hospital when they where backing into the bay... they wheeled me into the E.R... and since I was feeling SOooo good, i had to get off the gurney and walk into the Waiting Room and get triaged just like anybody else off the street.
Carol showed up about a half hour later.. ( I had called her earlier from my office to let her know what was going on). I was finally in an E.R. bed after about an hour.
And then... the long wait began...
Things done in the meantime: Got int a hospital gown (HATE THESE FRIGGIN' THINGS)... had an EKG... had blood drawn... had an IV port put in (Woo Hooo! FIRST I.V.)... And then... wheeled-in for a CT Scan (Woo Hooo! FIRST CT SCAN) (It's weird when a machine talks to you "Breathe in" "Hold your breath" "Breathe") The IV Port was used here.. to get hooked-up to some kind of contrast dye solution... so that a few scans were taken.. and then the dye was automatically injected into the port by the machine... and then another series of scans are taken.. had this WEIRD sensation of HEAT in my groin and a metallic taste in my mouth...
And then got wheeled back to my bed.. IN ENOUGH TIME TO WATCH THE BEGINNING OF THE ALL-STAR GAME.
OK, this is taking TOO FRIGGIN' LONG. I feel FINE.
So after FIVE AND A HALF HOURS in the ER, I FINALLY get released with prescriptions for two antibiotics.. and a diagnosis of the POSSIBLE start of diverticulitis. The E.R. doctor contacted my doctor, and I have to see him in a few days.
We just wanted to go home... and FINALLY get food.. and eat takeout at 9pm....
Long day.
AND I FEEL FINE. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 09:06 PM | Link | Health | § |
Friday, July 07, 2006
Traffic?Oh, man - I love weeks like this...
Commuting traffic is just non-existent. The holiday just fell in the right spot that people took off the whole week instead of just the weekend.
Sweet, easy, commuting...
posted at 11:31 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Not Fair!Back to work - only three work days this week.
It's gorgeous outside - sunny, blue sky, no clouds, 70's.
Where was this weather this past weekend? Why is it here NOW when I have to work?
posted at 09:30 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Back in townCarol and I are back from our little vacation. It's always great getting away to Michigan.
Even this weekend when the weather sucked. Hot, humid, overcast, thunderstorms. WE had a gorgeous pool in the back and we couldn't use it until today when the weather finally broke!
And then - horrors! - The DirecTV satellite dish got moved by the roofers laying a new roof and - gasp! - we could only watch local stations! We had to rough it!
We had one lunch out (Redamak's) and one dinner out (Red Arrow Roadhouse)- the rest of our meals my sister Diane cooked for us and they were all good. It's just nice to get away...
The best part.. the drive home! Why? Because no one was on the road and we were home in 2½ hours, including a stop for gas in Indiana, driving into the city to drop-off my mom, and stopping at 7-11 for newspapers!
posted at 06:33 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, June 30, 2006
Long weekendI've got a doctor's appointment this afternoon and then... THE LONG WEEKEND....
We're all going up to Diane's house in Michigan... hopefully to do nothing.
I am SOOOOoooooo looking forward to this....
posted at 10:02 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Life has been explainedI just got an email from Barry that had a joke in it.
Now, you know that I usually don't republish that kind of stuff in my blog, but this one, somehow, just summed up my life experience...
read more of this entry »
It's all so clear now.
On the first day, God created the dog and said: "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years."
The dog said: "That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?"
So God agreed.
On the second day, God created the monkey and said: "Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span."
The monkey said: "Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?"
And God agreed.
On the third day, God created the cow and said: "You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years."
The cow said: "That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?"
And God agreed again.
On the fourth day, God created man and said: "Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years."
But man said: "Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?"
"Okay," said God, "You asked for it."
So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.
Life has now been explained to you
Now go forth. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 11:00 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Hail still there?I walked outside the garage this morning to look around to see if there was any damage after that HORRENDOUS storm on my way home last night.
We have the plastic trays that we placed under our downspouts to help divert water away from the house.
In this one tray - a pile of hail from last night.
A pile of hail from last night - 10 hours later there was STILL a pile of hail in this downspout tray...
...amazing...
posted at 07:54 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
HAIL!After John's Retirement Party, Barry and I stopped for dinner, and then I drove back into the city to drop Barry at home and then drove home. When I got off the Northwest Tollway, I could see this huge cloud wall coming toward us - dark menacing. The winds were picking up. There was lightning everywhere, and a lot of it was strikes to the ground... close to where I was driving.
About 2 miles from the house, the skies opened. The rain was a deluge. Traffic crawled because we couldn't see in front of us... windshield wipers TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE as they wouldn't get rid of the rain fast enough. We couldn't see the lane markers for the rain, the standing water, the darkness and the headlights.
The deafening roar of the rain hitting steel in the car got LOUDER as I pulled into the neighborhood. I got the car into the garage as quickly as possible.
I jumped out to see HAIL coming into the garage...
Hail everywhere. hail was starting to coat the driveway.. so intense and so dangerous,
It didn't last long, but the coating of hail on the concrete lingered....
Worst micro-storm of the season....
posted at 09:18 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
2004 finally cameI left work early to drive into the city to pick up Barry, and the two of us continued to the northern suburbs.
A friend of ours, a co-worker from one of our former employers was having a party.
I've known John for a couple of decades. OK, since I started at the company in 1978. Almost the whole time I knew him, he always talked about retiring in 2004. He would be the right age... whatever the pressures du jour on the job would push to hard... he would just mumble "2004... 2004..." and we all knew what he meant.
It was a few years late, but, for John, 2004 had finally come.
read more of this entry »
Barry and I went back to the building that we worked at... what seems like... a decade(?) ago...
And yet, walking into the building... it felt the same... it felt like a REAL comfortable, familiar jacket, as if wraps around you. The company was hosting a Retirement Party in the Executive Dining Room on the 3rd floor.
We went up the same familiar elevator, walked across the atrium to the dining room...
A small group of people outside the room were gathered around a drink table... maybe one or two looked like someone I used to know...
We went inside the main room and just stopped. John was mingling with people across the room. Most of the people were around the periphery - John was toward the center of the room.
So, when Barry and I turned the corner, John was busy, but everybody in the room could see us turn the corner...
I DISTINCTLY remember hearing an "Oh my god!" from a woman across the room. John may have heard that and started looking around and saw Barry and me and let out a large "ALL RIGHT!!!" and came over to us... of course everyone in the room wanted to know what was going on and we could feel the eyes on us and the whispering going on...
After John bear-hugged us, we talked for a while.
I started looking around the room...
I had been gone 8 years, Barry has been gone a little less...
I was utterly amazed at the number of people still with the company.. UNHEARD OF in this day and age. There were people from "My Class" (people that started the same year as me in 1978) that were still with the company! Barry and I mingled for over an hour, talking to people that we never thought we'd talk to again... let alone see again... in the same building where we worked...
When the party was winding down.... and it was time to leave.... I knew then how much John was pleased to see us...
On the way out... I snuck down to the second floor.. to look at the old department... look at my old office... the same pieces of art still on the walls...
It was so surreal... but I'm glad we were there for our friend... « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 09:01 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Monday, June 26, 2006
Summer boomersLove this time of year where it's sunny one second and dark clouds/thunder/lightning/torrential rain happens the next only to revert back to sunshine afterward. The storms can really be intense but only last a few minutes.
It just got finished raining in one of those storm cells that flies through the neighborhoods. This morning, the sun was out when I got into the shower. There's no window in the bathroom, so I was startled when I heard rolling thunder through the exterior walls of the house!
I don't know why, but I love these storms...
posted at 01:04 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
SOLSTACESummer - Astronomically, at least - has officially arrived.
Darkness... tunderstorms, hot...
Gonna be a good day!!!!!
Longest Day of the Year!!!!
posted at 07:26 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Soup-to-nuts?Saw this today at Gaper's Block...
Here's an interesting list of things apparently only heard/spoken by people who live in Chicago.
Is "Soup-to-nuts" a regionalism???? I find that hard to believe that we're the only ones that say this...
posted at 02:10 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Russell'sCarol and I went to my mom's house like we normally do on a Sunday. But, we haven't been there for a week or so, and Diane,Melinda & Jack weren't going to be there, so we went out to dinner.
Today is Father's Day, so we went to a place that we always went to on Father's Day - Russell's Barbecue in Elmwood Park. We thought it would just be a nice way to remember dad, and with it being a Sunday night, we shouldn't have a problem parking or finding a table..
WRONG.
We had to circle around the lot twice to find a place to park. The lone was so long, it almost went out the north door.
My dad used to come here in the 30's when it opened and always came here since. I remember being a kid and coming here. It was different back then - there was no patio area, just the main building. They had tables outside the building as well as across the parking lot in a grassy area, with canopies. The main building inside and out was a cream color, with what looked like finished pine booths. The big thing for me as a kid was the metal Juke Box selector at each table, that accepted coins, and you flipped pages, like a menu or book, to find out what selections were available and made your selection by pressing alphanumeric buttons below the glass display of the flippable menu pages.
I remember the booths, the coat racks attached to booths. I remember a logo on the wall of a very happy hamburger that appeared to be dancing.
The place has changed a lot over the years, and yet it never changes. It's all dark brown now with a western motif, the tables outside replaced with an inside patio with skylights. (read the overview at CenterStage).
I waited in line almost half an hour to place our order, but it was served quickly in traditional Russell style.
While I was waiting at the counter, there was an older gentleman, perhaps in his mid 70's, more likely older. He was about the same height as my dad was. Balding as my dad was. He leans over to me, and in a raspy voice (like my dad had) says to me: "you picked a bad night to come here."
I just laughed. And then he said "I've been coming here since high school, and I an't never seen it this busy."
Just like my dad, coming since his childhood.
It felt good to be there, and the food was the same as it ever was.
posted at 09:17 PM | Link | Family | § |
Friday, June 16, 2006
My Mundane Second LifeI have made a significant blunder.
I heard about this "Virtual World" "thing" on a podcast (OK, it's Adam Curry's Daily Source Code...) and I was intrigued. I wanted to know more about it.
So, I signed up.
I am now a resident in Second Life.
Probably the biggest mistake of my life.. my First Life... My Real Life (RL)...
This Virtual World is so immersive... whatever you wanted to do in an alternate universe, you can do here. Buy land, build a home, furnish it.... open a store, make money... go to an established club and spend money... buy a suit or a casual outfit, buy new shoes.. spend money.. meet people, build friendships and relationships... I've even been to a wedding (of two people in SL not RL). It's just so open ended... think of it and build it... sell it for money, make a profit... find a partner... anything...
So, I'm meeting new people from around the world... and I feel like I'm actually meeting them, just not "chatting" with them... we all have "avatars" in SL (Second Life), so when we meet, we actually vitually meet. It's so interesting to see how people construct their avatars, and how they look and dress. The only restriction in this world: the beings are humanoid. I've met all kinds of people, mostly human... some have fairy wings... some are animals, like a bi-ped fox complete with bushy tail. Some people pattern their avatars like some fantasy character, others just like anybody else on the street... few, like myself, try to represent themselves exactly how they are in Real Life... perhaps we're looking for "validation" as ourselves in the alternate universe...
I've even been able to get more listeners for my Podcast, probably more than I personally could do by word of mouth...
I stay up late... talking and interacting with people around the world that I've "met" but never have met, from Australia, Canada, Belgium, The UK, the Netherlands... and not knowing that, because no one has accents when you chat... doing things I just don't do in Real Life (RL), like go dancing at clubs to DJ's spinning music... yeah, like I'd do THAT in Real Life...
It's pretty addictive.... no, VERY addictive... that's why I haven't posted much here... everyday is the same... go home, jump on the computer and hit the daily dance party at a certain Podshow venue... break for dinner... and back on again... talking and having a great time, exploring the world well into the night...
posted at 11:19 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
A new season of Watering Zen
Well, we've been having several sunny days with no rain, so that signals to me that the hose has to come back out and I have to resume my "Watering The Plants" duty. The plants this year look different - the came up so much fuller and healthy looking, minus one hosta underneath our hawthorne tree that looks healthy but just really tiny, and the three Black-Eyed Susan's. So, looking back at last year, it's around the same time of the year, and we got our first bloom - one of the daylilies in front of the garage, just days before a year ago.
So, I guess I'm back to my Watering Zen time... the soil was drier than I thought, taking an awful lot of water. Our lawn service comes tomorrow, so I may set up my sprinkler and timer tomorrow evening to make sure the plants are taken care of. The lawn looks OK, but just may be on the verge of fading.
posted at 08:26 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Saturday, June 03, 2006
The "Extended" Baseball "Family"I may have talked about this before, but I believe there's a phenomena that happens between Season Ticket Holders to a sporting event. Over many games, you start recognizing some of the people around you that show up in the sames seats, game after game. After a while, you may exchange pleasantries about the game. It may take years, but you may find out their first names. You may never find out their last names, but you start to learn non-sporting things about them - usually about family and maybe friends.
And then, rarely, you step outside of the sports arena and may see them "outside". And then there's the really outside.
Today, we were invited to a wedding... Sunday Jim's - a guy who has tickets behind us was getting married, so I felt we had to go, if not for the sense of friendship (which is tenuous at best since your only link is through your tickets) than for the shear curiosity of it.
read more of this entry »
So, we went to Saints Volodimir and Olga Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ukrainian Village in Chicago. Very nice, ornate, small church. The bride - Oksana - is from the Ukraine. The groom - Jim - Greece. We were shocked to find out that the man we've called Jim, or referred to him as Sunday Jim from our little "White Sox Family" was not named Jim! His real name is Dimitrios, or Dimitri! And yet, he's "Jim".
The wedding was scheduled for 2:30. SCHEDULED. Jim's limo and Oksana's limo pulled up outside the church at 3pm. The priest didn't look all that happy. The service was... interesting, as very few words were in English - basically just the vows. The rest were sung in Ukrainian (This has to show up in my next Podcast).
The service ended a little after 4pm.
The reception was at 7pm.
How could we kill the time? By driving up to Wrigleyville and visiting the remarkably recuperative Barry and Buffy. They were kind enough to offer us a haven to kill the time. We talked and snacked. We weren't too much in a hurry to now drive to Greektown to a restaurant called Venus. Other than "Jim" and Oksana, there was going to be nobody else that we knew - except Janie & Gary who had another wedding to go to but would try to make it afterward.
The reception was inside the restaurant - there's no "banquet" facilities there, so the wedding easily took-up 3/4 of the space.
We got there at about quarter after 7, thinking things would be in full swing.
Jim & Oksana got there a little after 8pm.
We started getting appetizers. We were seated at a table for 6, with two chairs empty for Janie & Gary, and we were joined bu Alexia - Jim's cousin, and her brother - Jim. The appetizers were fantastic.
The music started with a keyboard player. All Greek - no idea what was being played. Eventually, during the course of the night, he was joined by a guitar/mandolin/Greek-Stringed-instrument-thing player who doubled as vocalist. Alexia said that the guy sounded exactly like some big Greek star. We'll have to take her word on that. Eventually, they were joined by a percussionist.
Janie and Gary showed up at about 9 or 9:30. I can't recall. Between the loud music (we were pretty close to the stage) and the fact that WE HADN'T EATEN DINNER YET, it was all a blur. Jim (Alexis's brother, not the groom) made a comment that after all of this, he doesn't want to eat anymore.
We were served our dinners at 10pm, almost on the dot. And, to our disappointment, didn't live up to the appetizers. maybe a mjor issue was - it wasn't hot.
Needless to say, we ate and didn't stick around. On the way out, the bride and groom grabbed the four of us (me, Carol, Janie, Gary) for some formal pictures with them.
And then we escaped.
As we always say - we're going to have a good time or a good story, and I'm leaving out SOOooo many pieces! « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 11:19 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
A garage door and Indy
Carol stayed home today to be there when we FINALLY receive delivery of something we've been waiting on for a few months (if not really a few years) - a new garage door.. we both love it and I think it's a HUGE improvement over the old one. The whole concept of natural light inside the garage is just mind boggling.
As long as she was home, Carol called the vet to see if we could get Indy into the vet today. Indy still wasn't really eating - she'd take a few bites of lettuce and stop, take afew bites of carrot and stop, take few bites of hay and stop, but drink as much water as she wanted. She was also getting "quieter" and Chip was really bothering her. Carol couldn't get an appointment until 5:30, so I got home after work and immediately took off for the vet. This was the first time we visited the new facility. It's not all that easy to get to for us, but at least we know the area, so we can take shortcuts depending on traffic.
So, the doc checked her all out, put her under anesthesia to xray her (and clip her toenails) and then did... a dental exam. Out of all the years we've had rabbits, non of our bunnies ever had dental issues - until now. She had problems with her molars having grown "unusually" and were probably hurting her gums or cheek, so the doc worked on them (probably with a dremmel).
A tech brought her back to the exam room, still a little woozy. She went right back into her carrier and settled down. After a while, we could hear her grinding her teath. She looked different. On the way home, she looked much more relaxed than the trip into the city. Sure enough, first thing she does when she gets home is eat.
posted at 08:27 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Monday, May 29, 2006
I can't believe I'm bitching about this...We had NOTHING scheduled for today - a perfect way to spend Memorial Day. It was a day of laying around and doing something I haven't done in months - just goof-off on the computer. I used to spend time on the computer every night... until we bought that damn 55" HDTV.
I'm a slave to it - when it calls, I must obey. It shows us wonders of the world, like cooking shows, reality shows, crime dramas... but when it has something special it needs to show, it has our full attention - primetime crime dramas on the networks, certain sporting events, travel - oh, the travel... we don't use our dining room anymore, it's now tray tables in front of the TV...
We never went outside today.
It's too hot.
Actually, I think it's not the temperature, but it's been so damn humid lately, that the heat just kills you. Today, it didn't last too long - a whole bunch of little, tiny really intense thunderstorms moved through the area. The kind where it went from sunny to pitch black in under a minute and the rain came straight down - no wind - soaking everything.
The plus side? The temperature dropped a bit. But everything is just so green outside.
This is my favorite time of year - late spring, when everything is deep, healthy green, before summer when the lack of rain and scorching sun turns the lawns brown.
posted at 08:42 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Indy, Indy, Blinds, MI3Well, our older bunny Indy seems to be having problems - she's not eating much at all and she just wants to be alone - a good indication that she's sick. It's almost like at the end of 2004, but she was really in distress and really hiding. This is like she's a little... off. She wants to eat and she eats a little, but then just stops. She's urinating with a good stream, so we're not sure what's going on.
Speaking of Indy... there's another Indy on TV today - the Indianapolis 500.
WHY THE HELL CAN'T ABC BROADCAST THE INDY 500 IN HD? Hell, Fox broadcasts all of the NASCAR events in HD, and this is a special event! What the hell!
We had to get new blinds for the bedroom - the one on my side of the bed actually started to fall apart from all that exposure to the sun after all of these years. Carol went to Lowes and had some blinds cut to size... too bad they were the wrong size. At least she had them cut too long so she could go back and take some more off. After she struggled with that, then we had to change the mounting hardware... Let's just say the task took way longer than either of us thought. Then, when everything was done, we rushed to the AMC South Barrington 30 to catch a 3:10 showing of Mission: Impossible III.
Eh.
It was OK (I got over my Tom Cruise issues quickly), and there was a LOT of action, but... I don't know, it seemed a little implausible (what? an IMF Mission being implausible? Well, it wasn't the mission - it was the fact an IMF agent would get married to someone that doesn't know what he really does for a living - I think that was my problem)
UPDATE: On Thursday night, ABC broadcast the Scripps Spelling Bee. LIVE. IN HDTV
posted at 05:59 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, May 26, 2006
TV Cheeky Monkey
It's been a long time since I stepped into a Comedy Club (sorry, Erin), so making the pilgrimage to Zanies in St. Charles (at Pheasant Run) was a bit of a trip. We bought these tickets as soon as it was announced and we've been waiting to see somebody that we've been dieing to see - a man, not known for stand-up, but for his story telling skills, and just all-round funny man.
TV's Craig Ferguson.
As in the man from Glasgow, you know - the boss Mr. Nigel Wick from "The Drew Carey Show (from 1996-2003), the writer of this wonderful little movie "Saving Grace", and currently the host of CBS's The Late Late Show and the author of the novel "Between the Bridge and the River".
(God, I hope by now you know who I'm talking about)
Zanies is an odd place - it's like the attic (or closed-in loft) of a barn - so it's narrow and long (in fact, you enter through a silo). The show was a sellout, and that was just the 8pm show, he had a 10pm show to do as well - also sold-out! Interesting crowd - all ages. And I mean, ALL ages.
What a GREAT show! He's really great! What you see on the Late Late Show is him. His act is actually in the same style as his monologue - no set-up jokes, just stories that all fit together and flow well.
You know it's a good show when it feels short when an hour and a half passes (OK, there were two other comedians as well) and you still want to hear more stories!
HIGHLY recommended!
read more of this entry »
It's Hard to Stay Up
It's Been a Long, Long Day and You Got the Sandman at the Door
But Hang On, Leave the TV On and Let's Do It Anyway
It's OK, You Can Always Sleep Through Work Tomorrow, OK?
Hey Hey
Tomorrow's Just a Future Yesterday « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 11:39 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Thursday, May 25, 2006
HumidWe had a few lines of small, intense spring thunderstorms last night. While laying in bed, trying to fall asleep, the bedroom was constantly being lit-up by lightning. No thunder, just tons of lightning (I always thought they were together - or maybe the thunder wasn't significant - there was a constant rumble because of the constant lightning.
This morning: overcast, but hot and humid. Well, no so much hot as warm, but humid as all hell.
Stifling.
posted at 09:58 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment | § |
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
How could I have slept through this?Something wasn't right today. I felt tired. My blood sugar levels are a little "up" (just a few points, but up nonetheless). I feel really fatigued. I guess this is my life now. Just feeling horrendously tired.
So, I was all excited to sit down in front of the TV and watch the Season Finale of The Amazing Race. (Those of you that have been here before know that this is my absolute favorite reality show right now. I've been longing and yearning to try-out for the show and be on it... Why don't I? I need a partner and NOBODY I know wants to do it...)
So, I'm all geared-up to watch the show and...
I fell asleep.
At least I woke up at the very end to see who won.
Thank God for TiVo. I'll probably watch it sometime this weekend and get caught up and enjoy it. Awake.
I LOVE THIS SHOW.
posted at 09:19 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Monday, May 15, 2006
Not-so DailyI'm looking at the current month calendar over in the right-hand column, and I'm feeling a bit disappointed.
Has my life become so mundane and boring that I can't post every day?
Apparently. This stretch of time is the worst in the past four years of this blog. I mean, I always published something.
Man, I'm going to have to force myself to write something. Even if it's nothing.
I guess, sort of like this entry... only maybe better...
posted at 09:22 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Michiganing
Got back in enough time to watch the Survivor: Panama - Exile Island finale & Reunion.
Sorry, Terry should have had it, not Aras.
We spent yesterday & today at my sister's house in Michigan, where - due to the crappy weather, we didn't do anything.
Which, I must say, is not a bad thing. Sometimes it's just nice getting away some place else, any place else, and she's got a great any place to be.
We had lunch yesterday at the Red Arrow Roadhouse, which you can't beat for price and quality - and it's now no smoking!
Diane grilled dinner (fillet's!) and celebrated Carol's birthday, and Carol made breakfast/brunch this morning (since she was the only non-mom in the house for Mother's Day).
The travel wasn't too bad yesterday on the Dan Ryan. Today we got off at Stoney Island and took Lakeshore Drive up since we had made a "Meat Run" to Falatic's and had to deliver some goodies to B&B in Wrigleyville (thank God the game was over, traffics was bad enough on Addison).
I really enjoy being up there - really want to do it again soon - with better weather, though...
posted at 09:51 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, May 12, 2006
GloomyWe've had a lot of rain and high wind warnings both yesterday and today and its' supposed to be this way through Monday. It's in the 30's at night and daytime highs are only in the mid-40's. There's a Low Pressure system parked around Lake Michigan and all of the great Lakes states are getting this crappy weather. And the low isn't supposed to move-off for days.
Depressing.
And we'll all supposed to go up to Diane's in Michigan for the weekend. Travel should be terrible, and then we can't spend any time outside for the weekend.
It's always nice being up there, but I think we may be stretching it a bit this time...
posted at 10:20 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment | § |
Monday, May 08, 2006
E.W. has C.O. as #1!I was reading this weeks' Entertainment Weekly and flipped over to the issue's The Must List and there it was - Number #1 was Cute Overload!
This is a great website. I know Carol goes there often. She says that if she's having a bad day, she goes over there to see all of the damn cute pictures there, and you always feel better.
Go check it out - it's got the world's best cute animal pictures!
posted at 08:19 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment | § |
Friday, May 05, 2006
Super M ModeWow, I sure haven't been writing here very much.
I think what's happened is that my life has phased into Super M mode - as in Super Mundane. Nothing of note is happening. At all.
I'll post something about baseball games I go to, but that's because it's out of the ordinary for me. Everything else is everyday stuff.
So boring, so mundane. Why share? It's not interesting - at least I don't think so because it's just everyday life.
You get up, you go to work, do your job, go home, talk to the wife when she gates home, play with the kids (OK, bunnies in our case), watch some TiVo, watch some TV, go to bed.
lather, rinse, repeat.
I mean, nothing is standing out to talk about. I blinked and this week passed by me.
Maybe I just need to find those mundane things "of note", just to write about it.
Then, there's my attempt at podcasting. It's hard to put together a show on a regular basis. What? You didn't know I had a podcast? Well... I do. It's just not published anywhere yet. They're coming. I'm stockpiling them. I can tell you that it's nothing special - just an extension or "supplement" to this blog. And it looks like I've finally set a schedule - twice a month. And I'm starting to have problem with lack of content - similar to here.
It'll all break through - someday.
posted at 03:38 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
One HeadlightI have a feeling that there are people out there that totally understand this...
I woke up this morning and walked into the bathroom, turned-on the light, and looked into the mirror.
The first thing I see is not the excessively screwed-up hair, the squinting, wrinkled eyes, the crappy body shape and condition...
No, it was this tiny white spot, about double quadruple the size of the period at the end of this sentence.
The zit at the end of my nose. It looks like a personal headlight, like it should be illuminating my way around the bathroom.
I've been getting zits all over my nose ever since I started using Breathe-Right's, and this one stirred-up front-and-center.
And you have at least a day before it'll go "down" and become a bit invisible, because after you decide to... ummm... remove the white spot from the tip of your nose, then you have to worry about the red flesh that sticks around, that still call attention to the area. And, during the day, you feel like you have to look into any reflecting object, just to make sure that it doesn't "grow back".
I feel like I've been hiding my face all day... I feel like I can't hold a conversation with anyone, as the zit is going to be the only thing they're going to notice...
posted at 01:42 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Robe Day!I haven't had one of these kind of days in a long, long time...
It's when you get up in the morning, put on your robe, and don't take it off until you go to bed at night.
Came in handy, too, as I napped on the couch, trying to watch the White Sox/Angels game. I'd drift off an inning at a time and check out the scores and pitching when I'd wake up.
I love days like this... days of nothing. It's a great way to recharge.
posted at 08:15 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment | § |
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Two Ongoing ComplaintsThere are really only two complaints I have lately, and I think everybody else around here has the same two:
The Weather and Gas Prices.
We're going from 60's in the afternoon to the low 30's (complete with frost and freeze warnings) by the time we wake up. The house was 61 degrees this morning because we don't have the heat turned on any more. Why should we? It's late April! Not only that, but we have one of those houses that - to get the optimum balance of heating OR air conditioning requires the opening or closing of certain vents around the house, and they're mutually exclusive to the function that you need them for. That means that if we decide that it's getting too cold in the house, we have to flip all of the vents that we opened/closed for air conditioning when it's been near 80 and house is just cooking.
And Gas Prices? Don't get me started... We're just pennies away in our area when hit hist the $3.00-mark for regular. I've been over $3 for a few weeks now using Premium. The whole situation is just pissing me off. I can't help believe that if the Iraq war didn't happen that we'd be involved somewhere on this planet with anybody that wasn't producing all the oil they could. I can't believe that we're looking at $3, with the possibility of $4 actually happening in the not so distant future.
Yes, America is addicted to oil. Yes everyone is complaining., even the damn SUV drivers which are sucking-up more gas now than 10 or 15 years ago. Are they cutting back their use? No, they're just paying more to live the American Way.
I don't know, I'm just so pissed off at a situation that has no "silver bullet", no easy fix, no short-term fix, and maybe not even a long-term fix...
...and then you hear things like an executive leaving Exxon Mobile and getting $400 million in a retirement package?
How insane has all of this become?
read more of this entry »
Wait... some details...
It's Exxon Mobil's CEO Lee Raymond.
He has called global warming a hoax.
His total compensation package is worth $398 million. That brought his total compensation during his 13 years as chairman to $686 million.
Last year Exxon Mobil had a world's record profit of $36 billion. Profit. It is now the largest corporation in the world. That retirement package is only, what, 1 percent of profit?
C'mon, how 'bout taking one for the country and doing something with gas prices?
Now, admittedly, back in 1999, when Exxon acquired Mobil, oil was at $10/barrel. Looking through my gas records (I only use Mobil gas, and yes, I have records going back that far), the year started at $1.19.9 in January and ended at $1.53.9 in December (with the initial big jump in February/March), a steady rise all year for Premium grade.
$1.19. Ah yes, I remember those days... « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 10:42 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Monday, April 24, 2006
Update on CarolCarol went to the Emergency department this morning.
She's got fluid behind the knee, a badly bruised kneecap (no breaks) and strained ligaments. They gave her crutches to use to try and stay off the leg, she has to ice it and keep it up and she should see a orthopedist (which, my guess, she won't do).
posted at 05:11 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, April 21, 2006
This is not a rodeo, this is the PBR
I mentioned back in February that we got tickets to the PBR.
Well, tonight was the night.
The crowd was very disappointing. Our seats we upstairs, almost even with the chutes, which was a good vantage point. However, it was just a bit too far away. It was a good angle to view the bull and what they do, but it would have been nice to be closer - but that's what you get when you spend $35 a seat instead of $100 a seat (boy, that's steep).
This is the first time the PBR has been to Chicago. Tonight's event was Round 1 of The Jack Daniel`s Invitational of the Built Ford Tough Series.
They did something different with the structure of the event, which sounded new as well. Tonight was Round 1. Tomorrow afternoon at 2pm is Round 2 and then just 6 hours later at 8pm is Round 3 and then the Short Go Round. That's a lot of riding within about 27 hours.
Tonight, out of the 45 riders that competed, 15 got scores. The lowest was a 60.00 (Rogerio Ferreira on Salty Kisses was offered a re-ride and declined), the highest was an 89.00 (Helton Barbosa on Sports Machine).
All and all, it's much more entertaining to be at the event than watching it on TV This has a lot to do with the stadium announcers, but even more so the Barrelman (who is dressed like a Rodeo Clown, not to be confused with a Bull Fighter who are key components to the safety of the riders out there in the ring) Flint Rasmussen. Flint did a wonderful job keeping the crowd entertained.
Speaking of Bull Fighters, the best around (who's been out due to what I would call significant injury) was introduced before the event, as the first event that he was appearing at after the injury - Rob Smets.
Speaking of injuries, of the riders that we wanted to see, one of them was sitting out due to injury - Adriano Moraes of Brazil (out with a sprained right hip sustained in Detroit, but it sounds more like a stress fracture of the pelvis).
posted at 11:30 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
My own house is trying to kill meCarol has been off work for the last three days. She's been tackling a piece of household work that we've never had the time to try - cleaning up the "Second Bedroom".
Our house is built on a slab - we have no basement. I'll bet you every house like this has one of these rooms. You know, a room that you don't use that you just store old crap in.
Well, she's tackling it with a vengeance and she's done a great job. The only problem is that she's kicked-up so much duet from the last 20 years.
And who is allergic to dust? Yes, moi. The sneezing and runny nose all last night has put my throat on fire. I was fine all day (except my throat) until I walked into my house tonight. Now, it's happening all over again. Maybe if we can air-out the room it would be better.
She really did a bang-up job. We had built two shelves yesterday and they're holding storage bins from the Container Store and everything is organized.
Now, if I could just breathe clearly without the runny nose or cough, I'd be all set.
posted at 09:57 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
1600 CaloriesCarol and I met with a diabetic dietitian today. My doctor seems to be trying to get me into a program at the hospital to support newly diagnosed diabetes patients. She worked with us for well over an hour, trying to get a feel for our lifestyle and then figuring out what I should eat, based on both my diabetes and cholesterol (yes, that's bad, too).
So, she came up with a 1600-calorie per day plan that gives me about 60g of carbs for lunch and dinner. The great news (as far as I was concerned) is that it really seamed that no food was off the table - it's just a matter of portion control and realizing that I may have to sacrifice one food for another to make my 60 carbs. I can't go over, and I can't "save" like you could do in Weight Watchers. you use or lose it.
Then we went to a local Jewel and spent another hour and a half, doing a lot of reading to figure out what had what. We bought some good things and figured out quite a few things, not to mention finding the error of our ways on a few items now that we read the packaging in relationship to the diet.
posted at 06:45 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Happy Tax Day!What?
Monday? The 17th? Oh, the weekend...
Umm... nevermind...
posted at 08:42 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
A Kick in the PancreasDamn it.
I was fearing this.
Official diagnosis: Type 2 Diabetes.
Yeah, the tests are in from last Saturday. A normal fasting glucose level is between 65-99 mg/dL. I was 137. The kicker was the two-hour test. The glucose level should be 65-139.
I was at 327.
Time for regular glucose testing during the day. Have an appointment to see a dietitian. the doctor wants me to go through some education (classes) as well.
I'm scared to death. I feel helpless because I just don't know what to do with myself. I guess it's the fear of the unknown, but, damn, this feels scarier than that.
Life changing. Great.
What kind of life will I have? Maybe that's the unknown that I'm not looking forward to. I don't understand the mechanics of the disease and the treatments and how things all work. When I think hyperglycemia I think "no sugar" at all, but I know there's much more to it than that.
And then I start thinking about all those foods I will never eat again, probably.
And I think about eating out with friends and family and how I'm not going to be able to eat what is prepared. I don't know, it's a bit of paranoia as well I guess.
posted at 12:55 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Monday, April 10, 2006
A Kick in the WalletI came home after work today to find the bill for all of those MRI's from 2 weeks ago.
Patient Services Provided
MRI / Brain - Quantity 1 - $4,146.00
MRI / Spine - Quantity 3 - $12,679.00
Drugs Requiring Det Code - Quantity 1 - $561.00
Total Charges - $17,586.00
Ouch!
I hope insurance will cover this!
On top of this, I'm having an uncomfortable situation with my doctor. When I first went in for the EMG/NCV, he wanted my to see a neurologist. Now that he's seen the MRI's he wants me to see a neurosurgeon.
I feel like we've jumped a step along the way. I feel that we're thinking of surgery and that might not be the only thing wrong to fix my "twitching" legs (Oh, the diagnosis was Cervical Spinal Stenosis and moderately advanced degenerative spuring in my thoracic spine).
I said I still wanted to go to the neouraologist first, so I maid an appointment - for first-time ("new") patients, the earliest I can get was July 26th at 2pm.
Apparently this is too long and now the doctor wants me to see the neurosurgeon.
I've got to get this cleared up.
posted at 05:01 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Home ImprovementCarol & I went Home Improvement shopping this afternoon.
We were looking for a new garage door to replace the one that's falling apart after 21 years. We have a brand new Lowe's in the area and we've never been to one before. Loved it. But, when it came to garage doors, they didn't have any samples to look at, so we went across the street to Home Depot and got what we wanted.
Unfortunately, it'll be 2-3 weeks before we see it. We were hoping to get it in a week, because Carol is taking some time off to do some housework and it would be great because she'd already be home, but no luck.
So, we'll see what kind of stories we'll have to tell in 2-3 weeks.
posted at 02:32 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Two sticksJust got back from the Glucose Test.
Boring.
Had my blood drawn, then had to drink this flavored drink that had 100 grams of dextrose (i think it was dextrose) in it. Then I sat around for two hours. The office was empty (it was 8:10 on a Saturday morning) but there was a young woman that came in about 5 minutes after me - for the same test. I got the last Lemon-Lime drink, she had an Orange.
The magazine selections in the office sucked (I mean, they actually had a magazine I've never seen before -"Cheerleader"). So I watched the fish in the fish tank for a while. I brought my bag from work, so I had my laptop with me, and I used it like a big black iPod and listened to some podcasts. I actually read Green Eggs and Ham cover to cover (actually, I liked it, Sam I am).
Then the two hours were finally over and I got out of there. A few people came and went in the meantime, but overall it was quiet.
And boring.
posted at 10:32 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Friday, April 07, 2006
Friday FastI'm fasting again.
No, it has nothing to do with it being a Friday during Lent.
I have another blood test tomorrow. This is a glucose tolerance test, so I have to stay at the office for two hours with nothing to do. Not looking forward to it.
These fasting things really aren't so bad. I don't have a big snacking "drive" in the evenings - I just have to drink water when I get thirsty and nothing else.
So, yeah, that's my big "secret" from the blood test from before. I guess the normal fasting glucose level is about 100 and I was at 149. And this is the one thing that's scaring me.
I immediately dropped any sugared soda I was drinking and started drinking diet soda. I hate hate hate hate hate hate hate the taste, but what can you do? Hopefully, i can correct this all with diet... I'm hoping...
posted at 08:33 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment | § |
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Not for another hundred years...I had to post this, since I won't have an opportunity for a hundred years...
Know what time and date it is locally (based on how we write the date)?
01:02:03 04/05/06.
Pretty cool?
posted at 01:02 AM | Link | Mundane | § |
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Test Run
The Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago is undergoing some major reconstruction that started last night.
Normally, this would not impact our lives at all. This time, however, it does, because even though this expressway is no where near us on the South Side of Chicago, it's a main artery that we take to get ourselves to White Sox games.
Carol had this great idea that we should drive down to the park and check out how we should get there, coming up with alternates in case the traffic gets really bad, as they are predicting for the summer.
So, we spent the afternoon driving around the park, actually taking the Dan Ryan to get an idea of what's being blocked-off and how traffic is being funneled. I think we're going to be OK for Sunday day games. Forget Saturday games - we'll probably have to take alternates.
Of course, if we drove all the way down there, we had to stop at Grandstand to do some White Sox shopping. I think we were lucky - we got out of there without spending a hell of a lot of money. It could have been so much worse.
posted at 04:55 PM | Link | Mundane | § |
Thursday, March 30, 2006
MRI's #3 & #4OK, today's experience was totally different, and not in a good way.
read more of this entry »
Gowns. I hate gowns. The metal in my zipper was too near the scanning sites, so I had to take my pants off and put on two gowns, one reversed of the other. Over my long-sleeve shirt. And, of course, no pants but my socks & shoes! I look like a dork, and this is going to be warm as hell...
In a nutshell - No Truck. I was in the MRI unit inside the hospital itself. That implies: older machine, older machine = "more used" = maybe not as well maintained or has more "miles" on it = LOUDER.
Holy crap, the machine was loud. I had ear plugs. Didn't help. Better sound quality headphones, less sound absorption from outside noise. Not that I could hear the music while the machine was running. I could only hear pieces of songs in the gaps between scans. And what am I hearing? "King of the Road"? WTF?
OK, so on top of loud, let's add heat. It was 69 degrees outside today, so you know that mechanical plants just can't keep up with a 30 degree swing in outside temperature, so the room was warm. Now, when you're inside a tube in a warm room, and the only means of air circulation is an internal flan blower that's just blowing room air, you know it's not as comfortable.
So lets talk comfort. I learned something about MRI's, and that they use a "coil" in their process to help... with something, I don't know, focusing the impulses... probably something like that. Anyway, the MRI's tonight were for my Thoracic and Lumbar spine sections (last night - Brain and Cervical spine). Last night, I had a whole cage that surrounded my head and sort of "locked" me into the table, It had this nice mirror arrangement so that if I looked straight ahead, instead of seeing the inside of the tube that was just inches from my face, it acted like a "periscope" and I was able to view down the length of my body, toward the door to the room. It made me comfortable and not claustrophobic. Well, tonight, no head "thingy". I had to go into the tube without my little "periscope". Great. So, they gave a bulb device to squeeze to alert them to get me out of the tube if I start to panic. Fortunately, they guy tonight (who was the tech last night that gave me the contrast dye, so we're like buddies now) did the lumbar scans first. That put me the furthest into the tube, which was good because I was almost poking out the back-end, so I could actually see parts of the ceiling behind the machine. That calmed me down, and scan proceeded without a hitch.
Except for the noise.
Then, as the scan progressed, I realized my left leg was spasming (twitching). I tried my best to stop it, but I just couldn't. I'm lucky that it started during the thoracic part, so that any movement isn't being translated to my spine. The scans are good. The tech knows it's happening, so he's checking the scans as we go. I stopped counting after 20 twitches... and it's close to double that. Then the scan were over and it was time for the contrast dye. He used the same vein in my hand and did a great job. I mentioned that I thought the pads under my knees were higher when I was out in the truck, so he built a series of cushions to get my knees higher, and we start the final scans, starting with the thoracic this time. As he's moving me, slightly, further into the tube for the scan, I realize that my knees are hitting the front of the machine!. As the scan completes and he gets on the little intercom to tell me that lumbar scan is next, I frantically try to tell him not to move the bed because all I can envision is getting jammed into the tube. He came out, pulled a few cushions out, and we finished the scans.
Did the additional pads help the twitching? No. Well, barely. It turns out that there was some movement on the scans, but it was "within limits", so the scans weren't garbage. I was soaking wet when I got out of that machine.
I made it. My head was still buzzing from the sound, something I couldn't shake for an hour.
I had to wait in the Men's Gowned area for someone to take me XRay to get the supplemental XRays, which was no issue at all. I went and changed and met Carol out in the Radiology Reception room. The room was empty - except for Carol - and basically dark. They'd shut down! Carol's watching TV alone, waiting for me! Nobody manning the desk - it was dark.
So, that's it. Done with all 4 MRI's. Glad it's over, but all of my nervousness about the process was just not knowing what it was like. That, and the fear that my legs would twitch, ruining a scan and we would have to do it all over again.
Hope I don't need to do this again soon. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 09:35 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
MRI's #1 & #2
I have four MRI's scheduled over two days.
Today is my first day of two scans. And I've never had an MRI. And I'm... nervous.
read more of this entry »
I've heard multiple stories from people who have gone through this experience, all seem to focus on the sound and claustrophobia. I don't know if I'm claustrophobic - I mean, how tight could this thing be? And, as for the sound, how loud could it be?
My worries, in general, all center around the unknown, and my fear that I'll be in a laying in a bad position and my legs will start twitching, ruining the scan and having to rescan or worse, reschedule for another time to do it again and insurance not cover the cost.
I decided to "self-medicate" myself. I've got a cold and my nose is running, so I took some Sudafed and then, since I was a little "anxious" about the whole "tube" experience, I thought if I could relax (and maybe even nap), it would make things easier, so I took a couple of Tylenol PM's. So, Carol came with me just in case I was a little sleepy when it was all over.
We drove to St. Alexius and went to registration. The guy was sharp to realize I was here for the same tests over two days so he basically pre-registered me for tomorrow as well, giving me all the paperwork we needed and then he walked us back to Radiology. They have their own waiting room, behind these dark wood-trimmed windows with fabric hanging from them. Like a small library in the middle of a sterile hospital. Filled out a questionnaire and just waited... all of about 5 minutes.
The elderly lady was the MRI Tech and started walking me to the testing. We kept going down corridors and turning. It was a labyrinth or corridors and doors. Next thing I know, we're going out an external door through a temporary covered walkway (sidewalk, actually). We were going to a leased trailer, parked behind the hospital. There, inside, was a brand new GE MRI unit in the middle of this air conditioned trailer, which had a small "office" in the front that the Tech worked out of - with soundproof door and glass between the two rooms.
I was lucky - because of where the scans covered tonight - Brain and Cervical Spine - I didn't have to change clothes - I just had to make sure I got rid of any excess metal - so I dumped my change, and my belt on a counter and went into the scanning room.
She lowered the scanning table and I hopped on, and then we maneuvered my head into the what felt like a brace of some sort. She put on some headphones that sounded all mid-range and lousy and loud. She was trying to talk to me, but even though she was right next to me I couldn't hear her for the radio in the headphones and this constant "washka-washka-washka-washka" sound that the machine made at all times, even when idle. I hoped that she wasn't telling me anything important.
Then she put this cage-like thing over my head. The cool thing is, that as I lay on my back, I was actually looking into a series of mirrors that worked like a "periscope" and I could look down the length of my body, toward the door to the room. Hey, this wasn't bad! I didn't have to worry how "tight" the tube was, I could actually just look out and everything was great.
I was flat on my back, but had some kind of pad/cushion under my knees that was really comfortable. I could feel right away that I could hold this position for quite a while.
It came time to be "inserted into the tube" and that's when I realized just how tight it really was. I've always had very broad shoulders (some think it was from swimming at the YMCA when I was a kid, but maybe I was just built this way), so I had to pull my arms in and slightly lift them up to get into the tube. Still, not all THAT uncomfortable.
The Tech came on the headphones and let me know that the first scan will take about 4 minutes and don't be alarmed by the noise.
Then came the noise. Yes it was loud, but I could tell that the headphones where blocking a lot because the sounds were slightly muffled. It was still damn loud. I really can't describe the sound. I can't at all. The closest sound is a klaxon, a fire alarm. Not a bell, a horn. Going off. Next to my ears. Either every second, or continuously. For four minutes. The radio cannot be heard at all, just the sound of the machine.
And that was just one part of the scan. The scans were anywhere from 30 seconds to four minutes, and there had to be at least 5-6 of them. That would be for the brain, and then the bed would slide in, reposition, and then next series of scans would commence for the Cervical Spine. I could barely hear the radio in between scans, as I think my head is buzzing from all of the noise.
It was tedious. It was also hard to try and relax and "drift off" because of the machine that's inches from my head. And I was in good spirits because my legs were calm!
Next, the lady comes into the room and slides me out. The radio is turned off. That's when I realized that what she did was pull the plug on the cable to the headphones. But, the cable isn't a cable at all, it's just tubing. The headphones where like what are used on airliners, with the old entertainment systems that just use hollow tubes to get the sound to the earphones from speakers buried someplace else. A cleaver way to not use metal around and inside the machine!
It's now time to be injected with some kind of "contrast" dye. So, she begins the effort on trying to find a vein. In vain, unfortunately as she sticks me twice in the left arm and can't come up with a good vein. She tries my right arm, but at least doesn't stick me, She tries my right hand and fails, so she gives up and goes to find another tech.
A young guy comes in, introduces himself, shakes my hand, and starts to work on my left hand, finds a good vein, does the old alcohol swab and sticks me and feeds whatever this stuff is into my vein. It actually feels cool as if travels up my arm. Other than that nasty pain of the initial stab, I'm good to go. The table is slid back in the tube, about 3 or 4 more scans are taken in total, and I'm sliding out the tube, all finished.
Sitting up was a little rough, but I eventually got my wits around me and I gathered my belongings and walked back into the hospital. I had one more stop to make - XRay. Apparently, they get an xray of the same area that's scanned so that a comparison and reference can be made. That was just as easy as walking into a room, standing sideways against a plate, firing the xray and walking out. Simple. Fast. Of course, not as high tech as my last hour was.
Yes, the scans lasted about an hour, total. They had scheduled 2 hours for me, one for each scan, just in case something happened or a scan had to be redone.
I met carol in the waiting room and we went home. I still felt a little "wired". Those Tylenol PM's had NO effect on me, as I was just too "up" and "alert" for all of this.
This wasn't a bad as I had feared. If it's the same tomorrow, I think I would even consider calling this a "cakewalk".
Let's see what tomorrow holds. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 09:14 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Winners and losers
And so my Curling season comes to a close, with a romping 7-3 victory in 7 Ends. The team finished 4-1 for the tournament, tied for First Place!. But, alas, we did not win the tournament because our only loss... was to the team tied with us. Therefore, they're the "winners".
So, in retrospect, what did I think of Curling?
Other than being resigned to the fact that it's much harder than it looks, other than having no coordination at all is a hindrance, other than being fully incapable of delivering a rock and having to rely on "The Stick" for delivery, other than not being able to master "The Stick" in just 5 short weeks...
... it was very enjoyable.
Would I do it again? Maybe. Talk to me in the fall.
posted at 11:40 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Still fighting something...Got home after work last night and was a mess. I felt drained and then i started getting the chills. Carol thought I had a fever, but we couldn't verify that because we couldn't find our thermometer. Carol made dinner and I got through that and I felt better, but then I was sweating my ass off, so who knows what's going on. I slept pretty well, so, other than an occasional cough this morning, I'm certainly better than I was last night.
Carol, in the meantime, isn't. She's been pretty uncomfortable since the surgery and the pain is just a little too disturbing her normal activity. She called the Day Surgery center and they're recommending for her to take a day off and keep her feet up. So, she's staying home today and following their recommendations.
We're a mess. We'll be fine some day, but right now - we're a mess.
posted at 08:11 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, March 27, 2006
Taking the next step(s)...I mentioned sometime earlier that I'm starting a new adventure in my life - actually visiting a doctor and getting myself "fixed". No, I don't mean neutered, I mean fixing whatever is broken.
I had went for my EMG/NCV tests, now it's time for the next steps - MRI's.
I have never had an MRI before, so I'm not sure what to expect. I'm hearing everything from it's nothing, just noisy to people freaking out because of claustrophobia. I have absolutely no idea if I'm claustrophobic or not, so I'm not sure what to expect.
I called to schedule two MRI's - Brain and Spine (cervical, thoracic, & lumbar). That's what the Doctor's Orders say. What I found out is that it's actually 4 MRI's Brain, Cervical, Thoracic, and Lumbar! And they schedule an hour for each! 4 HOURS TOTAL!
We broke it into two pieces, and I'm going in Wednesday night for the first two and Thursday Night for the next two.
I don't know what to expect - anybody have any real-life experiences that want to share them with me? Enter a comment or send me an email.
I think what's worse is my blood workup that I had done last week. I have to go in for a follow-up blood test because, well, let's just say something is "askew" and I don't like it and neither does my doctor, but it's something I suspected. I just hope I can manage the whole thing with diet... here I am being fatalistic about something I don't even know what I have exactly... Crap... exercise and diet....I mean, c'mon, I haven't seen a doctor in a while and I don't exercise and I'm overweight... is it a shock that I have to exercise and diet? Well, no... I guess...
Still, I knew I would have to do something to get back "in line". It's just I'm so friggin' lazy it's hard to reconcile. I mean, potentially, changing my diet dramatically and forcing myself to carve-out some kind of time for exercise. It's life changing, I guess.
So, it's time to get my act together. Will I blog about it? Probably. Will it become a major focus of this blog? God, I hope not. It's supposed to be part of my life, not my whole life. There better be more to life than diet and exercise!
I don't need to be berated and/or hassled about this. I know I got myself here. I'm not happy about it. I don't need to be reminded of it. When I need it, Carol will take care of the motivation/admonishing/teasing, etc. All I ask is support. Actually, that goes for the entire readership out there (HA! All, what, 6 of you?) - all I ask is for your support.
posted at 02:43 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Yep... I'm coming down with something...
I've slept on and off all day. That's my body telling me something's not right. Actually, something is not the same as my normal operating status.
Yeah, the throat's gone. I've got something that's in my throat that I can't clear, so I'm just coughing all the time.
Went over to my mom's house and saw Diane & Melinda and, of course, Jackson.
I haven't written about a few things, like I haven't written any new letter to Jackson recently. Don't know why. He's changing and, up until today, I've been very paranoid that he just didn't think of me as an OK guy. Every time he looked at me, he had an odd look on his face. It wasn't a frown. He didn't look scared. He just looked confused and he just really didn't know about me - good guy or bad guy? I've seen this look before, I just can't explain it.
Today was the first day that, when Jackson looked at me, he didn't have that "look". In fact, he looked at me like anybody else (well, like Carol or my Mom at least... I mean not like Melinda or Diane). And that was the first time that I felt that he wasn't "rejecting" me... then again, I didn't really want to get too close to him since I wasn't feeling too well.
My Mom was finally feeling better. I haven't written about it here, but she's had bronchitis and pneumonia. She's been week and not eating, but she's storming back. She's taking her medication and she looks and sounds SOOOoooo much better. She hasn't been back to church - yet - to do all of her volunteering, whether it's counting the money from the weekly donations at the masses, or being on the board of the Ladies of St. Anne, or working the parish Fish Fry on Friday nights (My guess is that this is something we're not going to participating this year) She's been getting sick around this time of year for the last few years, and we think it's just because she's doing too much and is getting worn down, which drops her immune system and she just gets sick. Easter and Lent is a big time of year, so she just overextended herself. She's just having a real problem realizing that - even though she feels good "in the head" that her body is aging and it just doesn't do the things she wants it to do anymore.
Jackson started eating rice cereal, so he's starting to "grow-up". It looks like he enjoys eating, he just needs to get the mechanics down, and not unintentionally push the food out of his mouth. Practice, practice, practice.
He still has this WONDERFUL laugh, and me like an idiot, forgot my iRiver to record some of Jackson's meanderings.
He's also, umm, "squawking" a bit, where he obviously wanted to say something, and he says it out loud... dang, if you can tell what the hell it is. He thought it was important.
We all left a little early, since I was "off my feed" and Jackson's bed time was just the right time to [pack him up and get him into the car for the drive home.
posted at 09:12 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Baked Ziti with FriendsWe got a last minute invite, and Carol & I headed into the city tonight to hang with our friends B&B. We enjoy just sitting around and talking and finding out what's new in our lives. They made Baked Ziti, so we can sit around at talk Soprano's for a while - along with other things going on in the world... and in our lives. I think I've said this before, but if we were to classify us, B&B are "Movie people" and Carol & I are "TV People", so when we're over at B&B's, you can bet they've planned a movie for the night, either a rental or a cable On Demand, or, if the stars align correctly, a movie on cable. Tonight, there wasn't much of a pick, and for some reason B&B wanted to watch a movie from one of our favorite production companies - Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. We love Aardman films, and B&B never saw a Wallace and Gromit flick. I think it's safe to say that they enjoyed it.
By the time I got home, though, my throat is burning and sore. I'm coughing a bit. Oh, crap I'm coming down with something...
posted at 11:04 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Not AverageI actually had an opportunity to walk around outside yesterday afternoon, and I did so without a jacket.
It was 49 degrees and the sun was out.
I didn't walk very far, just around a parking lot at Northwest Community Hospital (Long story... Carol was in for an outpatient/day surgery kind-of-thing ...no big deal... and I had to wait around, so that's one of the things I did)
I bring this up because it's Spring. That 49 degrees is also the average for this day.
I've been bitchin' and moanin' that the weather sucks and I'm tired of it.
It's supposed to be in the 30's with snow today and the next couple of days.
See? THAT'S why I want this over with. I just want it to be AVERAGE. It doesn't have to be SPECTACULAR SPECTACULAR, just AVERAGE. That's all I want.
posted at 02:17 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Curling UpdateOur little curling team is now 3-1 in our competition. Going into tonight, I didn't expect that. In fact, the game was back and forth all game, with us pulling into the lead with 3 points in the 7th end. Then - I think - we had another two in the 8th and that was it. It was down to the last rocks, too.
So now we're tied with another team. I don't know what's going to happen next week. All I know is that we can't have a playoff - that would be the week after and that's my first White Sox game! And - in my life - certain things take precedence!
posted at 11:31 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Primary VotingWe've got Primary voting today in Illinois (thank God... I couldn't take the political ads anymore, let alone the autodialiners with recorded messages, leaving them in our voice mail...)
I'm not voting.
I never vote in Primary elections because you have to declare a party and you can only vote for candidates in that party. I don't believe in that. I vote for candidates that I want, regardless of party. And I don't want to be pigeon-holed as a Republican or Democrat.
I know it's my civic duty, but it's more important to me to be free of party politics.
posted at 08:24 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Monday, March 20, 2006
PhysicalI had my physical today - first time in at least 4 years. It was your typical thumped-prodded-poked-and-pricked type of physical, not to mention, um, coughing and bending. I've got orders for two MRI's and a referral to a neurologist. Drawing blood wasn't a big deal today - peeing into a cup was. I had nothing - I guess I didn't drink enough water during my 12+ hours of fasting.How embarrassing. I had to drink as much water as I could, waited around the reception area reading magazines for at least half an hour before... I could leave.
How embarrassing.
posted at 12:45 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Last dayYes! It's finally here!
The last FULL day of Winter!
Going to be in the 30's all week, though. Crap. Winter - astronomically - will be over, and yet it still hangs around. It's been sunny the last couple of days. It's taunting. It's teasing. Sun. Blue Sky. I hear it calling... "Come outside... it's nice... and cold..."
Can you tell I want this over?
posted at 10:55 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Ahhh... alone on a Saturday...Carol decided to take off and go up to Gurnee Mills (after visiting Jiffy Lube) and give me most of the day to myself. I've got some audio recording and editing to do today (hint hint), so this is just a wonderful feeling. And the "Ball Boys" (Chicago White Sox) (as we call them, as opposed to our "Puck Boys" being the Chicago Wolves") are on TV this afternoon.
What a nice day. Thanks, dear!
posted at 10:59 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, March 17, 2006
White, no greenSince everything was covered with a crust of snow, nothing came close to looking green on this St. Patrick's Day. Cardinal George has given general dispensation so we can eat corned beef and cabbage... as long as we do some other penance. It may be easier to lay-off the meat than to figure out a good penance.
It's going to be a cold weekend here. When the hell is spring going to show up?
read more of this entry »
Friday, March 17, 2006: Optional Memorial of SAINT PATRICK: The optional memorial of SAINT PATRICK, March 17, 2006 falls on Friday of the second week of Lent. Because of this, Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I., has given a general dispensation from the norm to abstain from meat on this day. Please note that this dispensation is for Friday, March 17, 2006 only. On this day (Friday, March 17, 2006) Catholics in the Archdiocese of Chicago who choose to make use of this general dispensation are asked to substitute another form of penance for the Lenten Friday abstinence. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 10:28 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Just as I thought - no teethThe snow stopped. Not even an inch outside. Oh, and the only reason I saw the snow blowing sideways is because of the slight wind that was being funneled between two buildings and it looked like hell. When I actually left work, the wind wasn't bad, and the snow was those big flakes. It covered all of the tree and bush branches everywhere, while the streets were wet (thanks to ample salting by the local municipalities) and traffic wasn't really all that bad.
I had a feeling that the weather critters were just pumping-up this storm up for our area and nothing happens. Again.
posted at 08:23 PM | Link | Mundane § |
CoveredOK, the ground is covered now. That was quick. OK, maybe this is not going to be very nice...
posted at 03:24 PM | Link | Mundane § |
SidewaysAll day log - nothing.
I've had my head deep into my work and just looked up and looked out the window at the end of my row of cubes.
The big snowflakes outside are blowing sideways, left to right. I can see the start of accumulation down below in the grass and the dirt around the trees and bushes.
And so it starts...
posted at 03:02 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Where is it? Bring it on!Where's the snow?
Where's all this stuff that's supposed to cause havoc today?
C'mon, bring it on! Let's get it over with!
posted at 06:40 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Still another piece of sky fallsOh, God, here we go again...
Apparently we've a Winter Storm Warning for tonight and tomorrow. Up to 6" of snow north of us, but I'll betcha we get 1"-2".
We have had too many nice days recently that I'm done. I want this over. It's almost "Spring", for cripes sake.
C'mon. Screw the snow. Where's the sun and 50 degree temps?
posted at 02:20 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Up 2-1
We smoked our opponent in curling tonight. They conceded after 7 ends. I think the final was 10-2 We were missing our Vice Skip, Craig. His sub, though, probably could be classified as a "ringer". Yeah he's been curling for 23 years. And he's only 26. Yeah, he started when he was 3 - he's from Canada, what would you expect? I knew something was up when he walked onto the ice and - without warmup, just crouched in the hack and pushed-off - and when halfway down the sheet in perfect form.
After the game, I found out that the bar has a Canadian satellite feed (as well as DirecTV). we watched curling from Canada on TSN for an hour or so. Very entertaining.
I'm starting to fall into the game. things are very slowing starting to work the more I play.
posted at 11:16 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Couldn't study for this test
Was St. Alexius Hospital this morning for my first series of test on my legs to try to figure out why they twitch so much. I was scheduled for a Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) and electromyography (EMG) test.
For the first time since this whole thing started years ago, somebody actually said something that made me feel "better", because at least it was something.
She (the neurologist) was doing a quick physical before we started to prodding. She started manipulating the soles of my feet to measure my reaction when my left leg twitched. She was able to recreate the twitch on command. She stopped, thought a second, and said to me "I'm going to do this test, but this test isn't... it's probably a problem higher up, in the spinal chord". (I asked later about what could it be and she said something like a disk out of line or even a vitamin deficiency, and she recommended a full spine MRI.)
So we started the NCV. I had forgotten how painful/upsetting that test is (yes, I've had them before), because they are applying POWER to the nerve, with increasing voltages. Holy crap, I just LOVE that feeling, plus having your extremity involuntarily flailing all over the table. Though the doctor always apologized for dong it, she kept doing it. The EMG is no fun as they put needle-like sensors into the skin, into the nerve, and you have to move your leg/ankle/toes to measure how well the nerve is firing. To top it off, they also have it amplified on a speaker so you can hear the nerve firing. Great. I was glad it didn't last long and I went back to work quickly.
The report should be at the Doctor's next week, in time for my physical.
posted at 09:29 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, March 13, 2006
Checkin' the Doppler 3000...Let's see... it's Chicago and the weather has been changing just about every friggin' day for the past week.... Today, it's High Wind Warnings with winds up to 50-70 mph (according to a news tease I just saw on television). Saturday, the temps were in the 60's. Last night, huge storms blew through the area. A week ago yesterday was 1-2 inches of snow. Our sinuses are going nuts. Headaches galore. I just want the temperatures above, oh, let's say 47 as an arbitrary number. I'm done with Winter - give me a full-on Spring, as long as it's warm.
posted at 08:06 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Right under our noseI had a very odd thing that happened last night at the Wolves game during the First Intermission.
There's a phenomenon that happens to season ticketholders at sporting events. Over time, you start developing a new "clique" of friends. At first, this new "Sports Family" may be just people that you may not have started talking to, but may be made of people that you recognize game to game, and perhaps you've made nicknames for. Over time, because of your connections as fans of the team you are watching, you start talking about the team. This could take months or even seasons before that start happens. Eventually, depending on the people involved, you may start talking about other things, outside the team and the sport - maybe even personal things. It's usually by now you may learn the person's first name. It's rare to eventually find out their last name, unless your relationship starts to transcend just your sports relationship and they actually become friends.
I had one of those things happen as I was standing around with two other guys, Joe and Bob, part of the "extended family". That's when I found out that all three of us went to Gordon Technical High School - Joe graduated in '73, Bob in '78, and I graduated in '75 - which meant I was in school with both of them.
Do I remember them? Hell, no. The school was too big (the year I started - 1971 - we had 2,770 students).
Too bad my yearbooks are buried in a closet in the 2nd bedroom, impossible to get to. I need to see some pictures!
posted at 02:20 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
SkunkedI went to the Country Club tonight, with hopes of just practicing and just cheering-on the team while my substitute plays for me.
Wrong - no substitute showed up.
I was dieing out there. My stomach acid was really stirring up stuff. I'm getting better on my rock delivery, but I just can't get the weight correct. It's only my 3rd time on the ice, so what can be expected of me? More practice time?
Anyway, we lost big (9-2 maybe, I don't recall), and conceded in the 6th end.
At least that meant I had less rocks to sweep.
You know what, though? Sitting around in the bar area after the match - I actually felt better. Go figure.
posted at 11:03 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Not rightMan, I'm not feeling right today... I feel a little light-headed, a little "disconnected". I even feel a little week. It feels like my blood pressure medication is screwed-up.
How the hell am I going to sweep 48 stones tonight? I'm never gonna make it. I'll fall over or passout. I need a sub.
posted at 07:14 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Let the good times curl!It may be Mardi Gras.
It may be Fat Tuesday.
It may be Shrove Tuesday.
It may be Paczki Day. (or is it?)
For me it's the first night of a 5-week "Spring Fling" in-house Curling Tournament at the North Shore Country Club.
If you read this entry about my last time out on a sheet you never would have believed that I was doing this.
read more of this entry »
Dreams die. Some die harder.
Well, this is no longer a dream of mine. If I can't deliver a stone in the conventional manner and have to use "The Stick", I will never be in the Olympics. With that in mind, now it's more of a curiosity. Now, I'm seeing if this sport can last with me and not a flash-in-the-pan thing... though I've always been interested in the sport.
Everyone has been divided into 6 teams (A through F), so we were on 3 of the 4 sheets. It turns out the the guy that "introduced me" to the stick at the open house is the Vice Skip on my team. And my cousin - who got me into this to begin with - was on the other team we played. The game will be up to 8 Ends (instead of 10 Ends).
OK, one lesson learned: When you're a second, you have to sweep up to 6 of your 8 stones (because the other 2 you're delivering). That's a lot of sweeping. SUCKS. MUCH more physical than I had thought.
On the plus side, I had purchased some grippers to go over my shoes for traction. Never slipped once - worked like a charm. The Stick? Well, i need some work. My issues: Speed, arm position, aiming, and releasing, in that order I think.
The game takes about 2 and a half hours, the other team concedes in the 8th and we win 9-4.
OK, this is something that I need to do for the 5 weeks and see how this progresses. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 11:25 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Twilight Zone at the OasisWe were on our way to the Wolves game from Chelby & Damian's and had to make a pit stop at the Lake Forest Oasis on the Tri-state Tollway. While we were there, we decided it was cheaper to eat at McDonald's than to try to buy food at the Allstate Arena.
Let's just say that the Oasis turned into the Twilight Zone.
First, there were about a half-dozen school busses parked on the northbound side. Looked like High school kids, but it was a weird group - normally dressed kids mingled with kids dressed-up. What's that all about? What kind of event were they at?
Then we saw something that we just couldn't figure out:
2 Amish Families. Eating dinner at McDonald's. At an Oasis.
Think about it. (For those of you that don't get it, here's the question: how did they get there?)
Let's put the cherry on the top - how about Bill Kurtis stopping for Ice Cream, something from Panda Express and a drink from Subway? (He was going southbound, so maybe he was going home from somewhere).
Actually, maybe it wasn't two Amish families, but it was one woman with 4 kids... without a man being around? Or maybe it was just extended family of the first family...
Great people watching while we eat...
posted at 07:01 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Back on the meds...So, I started re-taking my blood pressure medication after yesterday's doctor visit.
The problem is that it's a mild diuretic.
Great. All day at work, it's work-work-work, go to the bathroom, work-work-work, go to the bathroom, work-work-work, go to the bathroom, ... rinse and repeat...
Hope it doesn't last long. I don't remember how long it was when I was finally back to normal last time on these. Also, this is half the dose I used to be on.
posted at 10:36 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
The next step to make things rightI visited another someone today that I haven't seen in a while - my doctor.
I haven't been there in 3 years. This is probably worse than my dentist, though. Why? I have high blood pressure and during this time I haven't been on medication for it.
I've been slowly and slowly feeling worse. I don't exercise. I've gained weight. I don't exactly eat well.
Blood pressure? 144/100 - 144 is better than I'd thought it would be, 100 is worse than I thought it would be
I need to try and fix the things I can before "something" happens from neglect.
So, I'm back on some medication - the same drugs, though in half of the dose I used to take. Things change, I guess.
I'm getting older. I want to... be around longer.
There are places to go, things to see, things to do, things to be.
I've got to turn this around. Back in a month for a physical.
posted at 07:24 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, February 20, 2006
Monday gasA couple of things about our cars and commutes.
We have only one gas card - for Mobil. We both have Speedpasses - the best little piece of consumer payment technology out there. So, needless to say, when we get gas, it's been exclusively Mobil.
there are quite a few Mobil stations in our area, and in what may be some collusion-thing, they all change their pump prices at the same time, always to the same price. When somebody doesn't, we always joke and say "they must not have received the fax".
So every station near our house has the same gas price. Further away, you run into different municipalities that could (though I have never checked this out) tax rates, so the prices may be 1-2 cents off.
Now, another thing to share is that I have only used one grade of gas in the lifespan of my 1997 Infiniti I30 - premium. I started it out that way, it's always run GREAT, so I'm not changing it, even when the damn oil prices were skyrocketing.
Now that I'm working in a different building, my commute takes me a different route, past a different Mobil station.
It took me a few weeks to verify that this was indeed happening - the price changes at this station were different.
It turns out that - for the last 4 weeks, at least - this station would drop their premium pump prices by 4 - 6 cents, while keeping the other grades the same price - each Monday. The next day, the prices would all be back in order.
Needless to say, I've been stopping each Monday on the way home to fill-up, whether I needed to or not, to take advantage of this odd pricing scheme. I really would like to know what the "why?" is behind this. I really don't care, since this fits my needs very well! I'm just curious...
posted at 07:36 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Pain and frustrationOh my God, I'm in pain today. Things that didn't hurt last night hurt today. My right knee really hurts to the touch - because I fell twice on it as I jammed it into the ice last night. It's got a nice bruise on it and it's swollen. My right thigh is killing me. The whole leg feels "odd" since the falls. But, I think I just figured-out why the thigh hurts - I think kit's from my several attempts on pushing-off the hack last night. I'm so out of shape that I hurt myself. Great.
My left thumb tip is a little discolored after I jammed it hard into the ice on the first fall. I thought it was interesting that when one of the people from the club came over to me after the fall, the first thing he asked was "how are your fingers?" which I thought was odd since my knee was killing me. It must be a common injury.
My abdomen hurts, too. It's like a muscle pull. Like I twisted rpidly trying to get my legs underneath me one of the time I fell (or even all the times.. .I'm thinking back and it was at least 3 times)
I slept pretty well, considering. I still have pain around my right eye, exactly opposite where my head hit the ice. Deceleration injury. that's the only thing I could think. I'm not a little "foggy" today, but something isn't the same as 24 hours ago. Nothing feels wrong but something doesn't feel right. But, I keep checking myself and there's nothing major wrong or different. I'm not concerned. Perhaps I should be.
I realize that there's an emotion that's present that explains how I feel about last night.
Publicly humiliated.
That's how I felt about my total lack of ability to do something that everyone else (at least, oh, 60-70 other people - based on ticket numbers to go out onto the sheets to "try it") was somewhat able to do. It didn't matter age, sex... maybe height. It didn't matter - I couldn't do it.
And no one would actually get down on the ice and help me, show me, put me in the proper position. I was left to flounder - in front of everyone, leading to frustration and now what I think is embarrassment.
That's why I feel so awful about last night. I'm depressed and hurt and hurt.
posted at 01:02 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Another dream shattered
It's that time of season. It's the Olympic Winter Games.
Ever since I was a kid, watching Wide World of Sports with Jim McKay on Saturday afternoons, back when the show really presented the wide range of sport, I always watched curling.
I really got sucked-in 4 years ago watching the Olympics in Salt Lake City.
I really felt this was a game I could play. It had simple rules, and simple skills to master. I could really dig playing this game. Maybe I could get somewhere playing it, even. How cool would it be to get good enough at it to play in the Olympics?!
Let me tell you the story of how I could have died tonight, playing a sport that looked so cool and so easy to play.
Yes, I went curling tonight.
read more of this entry »
My cousin joined a country club that has one of the few curling houses in the area, and once I found out that 1) he was curling and that 2) they were having an open house, I think the phrase he used is that I "freaked".
I had to do this. How cool was this going to be?!?!!
So, we show up at the club, and there was got to be almost 100 people there, almost all were new to the sport. It was great! The members were going to take groups of 8 out onto one of the 4 "sheets" they have to learn the fundamentals - how to push off and deliver a rock, and how to sweep.
Part of our 8 were family or friends of ours (theirs) that we knew through the years. This was going to be fun.
We learned how to push off the "hack" - the toe-thing that you push against to get your body moving down the sheet the deliver the rock (stone). We first learned without a stone, just to understand the mechanics - place the right foot onto the hack, just like a starting block for a running race. Stand straight up, and squat straight down. You would hold the rock in your right hand (you wouldn't be picking it up - it's over 40 pounds!) and you'd hold on to a stabilizing brace with your left hand (or a broom - that's how your supposed to do it) and just push-off with your right leg.
Piece of cake.
WRONG.
I'm the only one who can't do it. I can't control it. I can't stay straight. I can't stay level, I start to roll... what the hell is going on? I just can't get stable. And everyone in the group is doing fine. Everyone can do this - except me. I look down the other sheets. Everyone is doing this - except me.
Frustration sets in. My joy has gone away. It's not fun being here any more.
We learn how to sweep. Turns out it's a little awkward - the best way is to face the direction of your movement, but the rapid brushing takes a lot out of you and I feel totally uncoordinated. Some ties the rocks just fly by - it's hard to keep up.
We break up and go back inside where after a Short wait, we're going back out into new groups to play at least one end of a game.
I'm first to throw.
Let's just say that I'm allowed 2 tries since I rolled over on my back and the rock didn't make it past the 1st half of the sheet. The second throw, same thing, but the stone makes it into the house somehow! Still don't feel good about this - how can I compete if i can't control what I do!
Now it's my turn to sweep. You know what's going to happen.
Yep, my legs come out from underneath me, and I slip and fall forward, my right knee hits the ice hard, my arms are flailing and I hit the ice jamming the tip of my left thumb. Hurts like hell. Difficult to stand - the lower half of my right leg feels week. I hobble back to our team's end.
Obviously, my shoes suck. I'm not gripping the pebbled surface of the ice well enough. I'm loosing my balance trying to move with the stone and sweeping at the same time.
We eventually change ends.
Still can't deliver worth a damn. No one really helps me - they don't understand what I'm feeling or what's happening. In fact, everyone thinks this should be a piece of cake and no one offers a clue on how to correct this in a way that makes any sense to me. Nothing seems to fit. I can't get myself into any position that looks like anybody else. Weird.
then I go out to sweep and it happens.
I'm moving down the ice. The stone is a bit quicker than I was ready for. I'm trying to stay with it. I'm feeling like I'm reaching too much...
when my feet slip out from underneath me
This time, I'm flying backwards. Fast.
I hit the ice. Hard. With the back of my head.
I know I stopped, but I swear that the rest of the place stopped. It got quiet and too many people are starting to try to get to me. I hear them yelling to stay down, but I feel intact, and instinctively sit up. I can feel -no, taste - something in my nose, it's a weird sensation. I never lost visual, I never saw stars - just felt like this was a crazily hard whack to the head like I've never experienced before. People got to me and started asking me the same questions that I expected them to, how many fingers, follow the finger, just sit there a while (I really wanted to say "I'm... Batman!! but no one would have understood the inference to the Snickers commercial of a few years ago.. ("Not going anywhere?")). One of the guys that is with me came from down the sheet because of the sound my head made hitting the ice. I could feel something dripping off the back of my head. Fortunately, it was cold and not warm - water from the ice and not my blood. I didn't crack my head open like so many feared.
I got up. I was shook. Everything just added-up. I needed to go back inside, sit down, get something to drink (non-alcoholic!) and try to get back to normal.
i didn't want to play anymore. I couldn't do this. I'm too frustrated. What I thought I could do, I couldn't.
It looked simple, almost easy. I could have cracked my skull open hitting the ice and never had another thought again. It really shook me and scared me.
I must have sat there for over an hour. Dejected. Watching my cousin and his friends and the rest of the party having fun on the four sheets of ice.
When my cousin's game was over he started talking to some people. Before long, Two things happened. First - and importantly, i was introduced to a guy named Craig who introduced me to "The Stick". This little device - allowable in the club and even in some tournaments - allows a person to clip this stick over the handle of the stone, the person then WALKS toward to hog line and delivers the stone from the end of the stick, in a manner not too different from shuffleboard, but with a twist of the wrist at the end.
Now all of a sudden, I'm delivering stones pretty near like everyone else. the stick is typically used when people have back of leg trouble. One problem - I would never be able to be in Olympic Competition - the stick is not allowed.
I think I can live with that.
The second thing that happened was I was able to use my cousin's wife's (oh, hell.... Myrina's) "grippers" or foot coverings. It's a soft rubber crepe shell that you put over the sole of your shoe.
Let's just say the traction was like night and day. I might be able to sweep with these. If someone just would have done this two hours earlier, the night would have been so much different.
And thus, my problems were solved. Except for my extensive pain, my bruised well-being, my shredded ego, my staggering disappointment.
I'm spent and upset. I haven't felt this since... I wasn't able to fly on NASA's KC-135 "Vomit Comet" in Houston decades ago with my friends, to do zero-g experiments for some high school students... but that's another story.
Nonetheless, it was a feeling of another dream shattered.
Something that seemed so simple, wasn't.
I hope I can sleep OK tonight. I hope that nothing got screwed-up in the gray thing inside my skull.
But, I just can't think of the disappointment right now. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 11:32 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, February 16, 2006
The start of making myself rightYou know where I went today? Went to see someone that I haven't seen this millennium?
What's the big deal?
He's my dentist.
Yep, had x-rays, teeth cleaning and a discussion of what to do next. For the first time this decade.
Feels good getting the "sweaters" off my teeth. Yes, there was some discomfort during the cleaning since he had to work a bit to get everything done.
What's next? I have to get all four wisdom teeth pulled. I knew this before.No surprise. No new cavities. That was sort of a surprise. No gum problems. That was a surprise. I just need these teeth out. I'll do it - all at once, if possible.Don't know when... let's see how much my procrastination kicks in.
posted at 07:23 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Feelin' better
Well, I have to admit... I might be bummed about the White Sox tickets, but I just got this Happy Valentine's Day picture from Jack, and how could you not feel good looking at a picture of that little guy!
posted at 02:07 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Monday, February 13, 2006
HD Puppies
It's time for the annual plop down on the couch and watch the 130th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on USA Network.
yes, it's Carol's favorite time of the year.
Except it got even better because we found out that Universal HD is re-broadcasting the USA feed - IN HIGH DEFINITION!
Yes, puppies in Hi Def.
Actually, I'm having trouble with it - the dogs look a bit more, how can I say this, mucous-y? Even their eyes look weird.
Maybe it's just me - Carol is just digging this...
posted at 07:25 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, February 10, 2006
Yo-ooooooo, Mike!The "guys" that I go down to the deli every morning for coffee (or whatever) showed up at my cube. One of them, quietly, fake yells "Yo-ooooooo, Mike!"
And immediately I was taken back to my childhood, when Paul and Albert would come to my house, stand in the gangway between the houses, and yell my name, just the same way. It was a kids-style doorbell, specifically for me. They'd alway come over before we walked over to Steinmetz to play ball on one of the diamonds (or even fast pitch against the stairs at the front of the school)
It was a wonderful, if not brief, trip back in time, to a time of warm sumer days, no school, and baseball for hours with your friends.
posted at 08:57 AM | Link | Work § |
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
BullFor a few years now, Carol & I have been watching Bullriding on TV.
Then we started to watch the PBR and paying attention to some of the riders.
Then we started watching Beyond the Bull on TLC, a reality show about three riders toward the end of the 2005 season.
I think we got pushed over the edge, and started researching the PBR's Built Ford Tough Series in town on April 21,22 - The Jack Daniel`s Invitational (presented by Johnsonville Brats!) We have baseball on Saturday, so we could only go to the first night on Friday the 21st.
Then came the next hurdle: ticket prices. $100/$50/$30/$20 $100 for downstairs! We had to go to the balcony to get $30 tickets! For our first PBR event, we weren't ready to pay $100 a seat!
So, we got our tix and we're looking forward to this. Last time I went to a rodeo, I almost died from my allergies and sudden onslaught of asthma. It wasn't fun.
posted at 10:16 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Super Bo-ringIt's Super Bowl Sunday!
Super Bowl XL!
I am the proud owner of a 55" Sony HDTV!
What am I doing today? Going to my mom's with Carol and Diane, Melinda and Jackson... to watch on her old, out of focus 27" Zenith. The focus is so bad, that a couple of weeks ago, Diane - who doesn't know ESPN's Suzy Kolber doing sideline commentary at a football game - wanted to know why her first name was "Buzy". The "S" had bloomed so much on the screen it looked like a "B". Since then, we just call her "Fuzzy Kolber". The scores and clock is always a problem because you can't really tell the difference between a 3, 6, 8, or 9.
Compare that to HDTV. *sigh*
Why am I not home? Well, we did invite the family over, but 1) Jack's a little young, 2) Melinda has a big presentation first thing tomorrow, so let's chalk it up to "family harmony".
The game was... OK The officiating was THE WORST I HAVE EVER SEEN FOR ANY FOOTBALL GAME. Ridiculous. Oh, yeah, like Roethlisberger actually scored that touchdown. No wonder Holmgren was upset at the half.
Commercials: OK. Some were good, none were absolutely great. Budweiser (specifically, Bud Light) takes the day in general. Pepsi? No, not this year. Best Network Commercial? Robert Palmer and "Addicted to Lost". For some reason, I've been pissed in past years - especially when the game is on Fox - at the amount of commercials the hosting network airs. Somehow, ABC didn't bother me. Maybe it was the shows.
Of course, earlier in the day, we had to watch Puppy Bowl II, this year with the Kitty Half-Time Show. Goofiest idea ever. A three-hour long show, started at 1pm CST, and was repeated 3 times in a row. Pretty damn cute, but... no way in hell I could watch reruns. I thought the half time was a little long.
Speaking of half-time, sorry folks. Rolling Stones didn't do anything for me. I expected them to kick ass. I've never seen them in person. If this was indicative of their live shows... then I guess I don't have to see them in my lifetime... or theirs.
We left early and we were able to see the last 5 minutes at home in HDTV. At least it was 5 minutes.
posted at 09:18 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Blowing SnowWe've had over 40 consecutive days of above average temperatures. The average temperature has been around 10 degrees above the normal average. that's all over. They're using the word "blustery", and it's been snowing for a while.
It's not as bad as Detroit. I mean, they're getting hit with snow. That's gotta screw-up traffic for Super Bowl XL tomorrow.
I've been enjoying the temperatures. Next week, the forecast is showing single digits overnight toward the end of the week. I've always said that Mother Nature always wants balance. I've seen it too often during baseball season as we (usually) freeze in our seats, but just depends what happened over the winter and even the summer before. Everything just seems to average itself out.
posted at 01:35 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, February 03, 2006
Pinewood
A guy at work brought in his "son's" Pinewood Derby car. Finished 3rd, but placed 1st in Creativity.
Yeah, like his son made the car. Still pretty damn cool, though.
posted at 01:37 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Phil says...six more weeks of winter, if you believe the German superstition.
Even though there was no sun (but there's a shadow???), it was supposed to get up to 48 degrees today in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
Now, I wonder how large Phil's "domain" is? Is the prediction just for that region or the nation? If it's not the nation, then why do we have to see the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club's Inner Circle roust this little guy out of his hibernation, lift him into the air for all to see, and basically scare the crap outa him?
Do we need regional groundhogs for more accurate predictions? (Phil's in a rut - according to the Groundhog Club, Phil has now seen his shadow 96 times, hasn't seen it 14 times and there are no records for nine years.) (Holy Christ, he's been doing this since 1886!). Shadow = 6 more weeks of winter, No Shadow = Early Spring.
A bit off-topic, but did you guys know that the movie Groundhog Day was actually filmed in Woodstock, Illinois? (Oh, and Bill Murray's character is named Phil, too)
Update: This just in: Cloudy Groundhog, Brookfield Zoo's resident meteorologist, didn't see her shadow.... Early Spring!
posted at 07:29 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Flooded Kitchen, Take 2those of you who know me, know about the time when I was in my first unemployment run, I had ran some water in the kitchen sink... and never turned it off. I went upstairs and was on the computer for an hour or so, then came downstairs only to find out that the sink was clogged and it overflowed, flooding the kitchen, moving water into the family room and dining room. I had to go buy a shop vac to try to get the water up in the kitchen and try to dry out the carpeting in the other rooms.
Let's jump forward a couple of years now. To last night.
We had bought a Rubbermaid drink jug that holds about 2 gallons of water that we filled-up with filtered water and put into the fridge. It has a plastic spigot on the front to pour out the contents.
I went into the fridge last night to grab a glass of ice cold filtered water. I played with the plastic spigot handle "thingie" and spun it around so the "paddle" faced out, to make it easier to hit when filling up a glass.Big mistake.
I closed the fridge door, set my drink down in the family room, and went into the powder room to... use it.
I came out and then I heard it. Carol had been sitting on the couch but didn't notice.
It sounded like running water - like the faucet in the kitchen sink was dripping. It wasn't.
The sound was coming from the fridge.
I ripped the door open and saw that the shelf on the door had depressed the "paddle" on the spigot of the water jug. Opening the door lets go of the paddle and the stream stops.
It just gushed over a gallon of water all over the inside of the fridge, which really doesn't contain the water all that well, and have released more than half of the gallon onto the floor. Our brand new, Brazilian hardwood floor.
We scrambled. I grabbed a ton of towels that happen to be dry, still sitting in the drier. The bunnies freak and just go home to stay out of the action.
Carol, swearing and upset, takes charge and dries out the floor - all the way under the fridge and in the main part of the kitchen. She empties the fridge, shelf by shelf from underneath the path of the streaming and splashing water.
So, the kitchen didn't flood. The hardwood was saved. And we got rid of a lot of old stuff that we'd never eat... or shouldn't eat. It only took about an hour and Carol is still talking to me. The bunnies came out of the cage and went into the kitchen - together - to check out what had happened.
It sure wasn't as bad as the first time, but it sure came up in conversation a lot.
posted at 09:06 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
I found my answer - Robert FergusonI knew I would find my answer to avoiding tonight's speech in my TiVo. It's just that it took me by surprise. It was, by far, the most moving, remarkable, real moment of television that I probably have ever seen.
It was last night's Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
I've come to really enjoy this show and specifically Craig. He's a wonderful host. I mean it, this guy should be the next host of the Tonight Show, not Conan O'Brien. He's a wonderful interviewer. He really listens to his guests and doesn't work off of cards with scripted questions. He researches the guests and really engages them. It's for these reasons we set a Season Pass on TiVo for him - it's worth it.
And then, this show happens.
Lately, when he comes out, he's been wearing a jacket but no tie. This started happening when he stopped doing a monologue and actually started telling stories, something unique and more effective for his style. Tonight, he's in a black suit and tie. He's not the same. He doesn't even sound the same. His Scottish accent is noticeably thicker.
He warns the audience that tonight's show won't be the same. Tomorrow, everything will be back to normal. But for tonight, he had a special thing he had to do.
read more of this entry »
On Sunday, his father died. The show was in reruns all last week (so were other late night shows, so it wasn't unusual). Craig had gone back to Scotland with this young son, to effectively say goodbye to his dad who had been struggling for a long time with cancer. He was 75 when he died.
The rest of the open was, in effect, a wake for his dad, with Craig telling many stories.
I friggin' cried like a baby throughout the whole friggin' show. I mean, snot oozing from my nose, ugly crying.
Craig - never once shed a tear. He broke once, though - pausing a long time to compose himself - telling a story... "When I was watching television with him, I used to sit in front of him and he would sit behind me and he would put his hand on my head. And I loved that. And he did it last week in the hospital."
Craig picked his guests just for tonight, "friends" he called them, because it's in times like these you just want to sit with friends and talk.
First guest - Dr. Drew Pinsky. The two talked about the grieving process and you learn more about the inside of Craig than any interviewer could have.
His second guest - Amy Yasbeck (you know, the wife of the late John Ritter) - also, perfectly selected to talk about loss, grieving, and how they don't want "closure".
The musical guest - yes there was one - was the Wicked Tinkers, a rockin' Scottish pipe and drum band, that Craig joined in at the end of the show (he plays drums as one of his many talents), playing a tune that I think is called "Highland Laddie."
(See TV Squad for more info about the show.)
If you get a moment and have Real Player, go to the CBS website and watch his tribute. See and experience what I'm talking about.
It's worth it.
Rest In Peace, Big Scrubber « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 07:31 PM | Link | TV § |
Monday, January 30, 2006
When did that happen?I was brushing my teeth this morning when - for some reason - I noticed for the first time that my two front teeth have been wearing-down. The edge isn't straight anymore, like I've been gnawing on a piece of wood for the last few years.
Damn it. Time to go to the dentist. Last time there? 1998. Next time there? Feb 16th.
Crap. I hate needles and pain and... dentists. I mean, our guy is great, but... I still don't want to go.
Time to pay the piper.
posted at 02:06 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Napoleon
I have a certain special event coming up 2 weeks from today and I need to be presentable for it. Really, I need a suit and the ones I have, though they've served my well for the past decade or two, finally... *sigh*... don't fit.
It's bad enough to be short. It's worse to be overweight as well. Leaves your shopping options pretty limited.
So, Carol & I headed off to a special store, just for me - Napoleon's Tailor in the city. It caters to anybody under 5' 8" (yes, I'm only 5'3" on a good day).
Walked in the door, nobody in the store (well, there's not a lot of "us" out there). As soon as we got a salesman, he had me take my coast off, took one look at me, went to a rack, pulled a jacket of of a hanger and held it up so I can get into it.
Fit like a glove. This guy's been in the business for a while - he knows what "we" look like.
The unfortunate thing what just gets to me now, was not that it was a 46 (I have some pretty broad shoulders - always have). It really wasn't the "Extra Short", though the "extra" was a little startling. It was that last word - the word that I have not come to accept. The one that I've rejected for too long, ignored for too long.
Portly.
46. Extra Short. Portly.
Crap.
Made me want to spend lots of money getting pants that fit right (alterations are free here).
posted at 03:24 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Flying with B&BWent over to B&B's house tonight. It's been raining all day, and sometimes pretty heavily. They both worked on a great beef dinner (not to mention slaving-away on... Eli's cheesecake).
They rented a movie to watch - Flightplan. I'm not sure liked it. Don't know why, just feel odd about it. Moved slow. Found some things implausible. Tried to be entertained. Nope. Didn't like it.
If you've noticed, that's something Carol & I don't do - rent. We may - MAY - do a Pay-Per-View on DirecTV, but hardly ever. I also think that's the main difference between B&B and us - They're cinema, we're television. Those are the things we seek for entertainment. They rent movies, watch movies on cable/on demand. They even enjoy the long-form British miniseries (you know the type, 2 hours long, 4 shows to a "series"). Carol and I are just television people. Perhaps due to the skewing of our ages? Don't know.
There's a small bar that we pass driving to their place, on Addison almost under the Ravenswood "L" tracks called Tiny Lounge. We've always wanted to go there because 1) it looked cool and 2) looked intimate 3) looked retro 40's/50's. On the way driving to their house we saw it.
Empty. Sign gone. On the way home, I pulled the car over to take a look in the rain. I piece of paper - stationary from the bar - hung on the door.
"Thanks for your patronage. We look forward to serving you at our new location. Please visit us at www.tinylounge.com"
No indication of where the "new location" is. The stationary is from this location.
Website doesn't help, either.
posted at 11:40 PM | Link | Friends § |
Monday, January 23, 2006
But I don't want to go to school today, Mommy...Nope, can't do it.
Have got this pain, in the middle of my stomach. Sharp, stabbing pain. Spent too much time in the bathroom last night.
No, not going to work. I don't want to suffer there - especially without a badge that won't let me in anywhere. I figure that would be a real bad thing. I could lay around and sleep and recharge for the week.
Hmmm.... this is pretty close to what it felt like back in September, though the pain overnight was pretty bad, it doesn't feel as bad in the daylight.
posted at 07:47 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Computer TimeThe snow came all right. We gt at least 6" overnight. It was really coming down during the "thundersnow" (though we only had lightning and not thunder).
The plows came through the neighborhood and salted behind them. it's so warm out that the streets have no snow or slush on them - they're just wet.
Diane and Melinda bought a new Sony Vaio, so today I drove into the city to get it unboxed, setup, and - wit any luck at all - talking to the old machine. After setting things up and making sure that the machine did function, we drove to a Micro Center in her neighborhood. I've never been to one and I really enjoyed the place - I like the way it was laid-out, like the book section (thought it was pretty big and complete) like all of the D.I.Y stuff (Ditto - thought it was large and complete). I don't know, I just liked the place. We bought a crossover cable, a new LCD monitor (hey, Diane wanted it), a few other things, then drove over to Fat Willy's to pickup barbecue for lunch.
It was great seeing little Jackson in his "native environment". You can tell he's more comfortable and he's more animated and ... well, it's just his "natural setting".
Well, after working the crossover just fine and getting the machines talking to each other, Diane and I had a more detailed conversation and we weren't on the same page. While I was loading some software on the new machine, she went back to Micro Center to pick up a router. I was amazed on how quickly we got both machines up and running with a PPPoE connection with Earthlink over the router. That was the quickest thing that happened all day - too bad we didn't do it earlier.
Anyway, I got them up and running for a while before leaving for home (we have a hockey game tonight). Very nice new machine at a good price - again, from Micro Center.
posted at 05:38 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, January 20, 2006
Temperature Hump DayAccording to the Tribune's Eric Zorn, in his blog, yesterday was the date where the average daily temperatures at O'Hare start to go back up.
Tonight we're supposed to get 3"-7" of snow overnight.
I know that temperatures do not necessarily equate to snow, but it just sucks anyway.
posted at 02:15 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, January 15, 2006
No BearsSlept most of the morning. Carol made a late breakfast that we called brunch and then we slept some more. We're not recovering from this trip at all.
Went to my mom's this afternoon. Got there in time to watch the the beginning of the Bears game. Jackson was on my mom's knee - watching the game. He watched the game all evening. He was glued to the TV. OK, here's not yet 4 months old and I'm sure it was just the colors and moving pictures, but he was watching. In fact, he kept making noise anytime Carolina was on screen. I don't know hoe to interpret it. I got a chance to hold him for a while and talked to him and described what was going on. He watched and seemed interested. Again, remember - not yet 4 months old.
Jackson has grown since the last time we saw him - which was Christmas - he's getting stronger, can hold himself erect, can even support his weight on his legs, he's vocalizing more, drooling more. He's great. He's leaning toward left-handedness as that's the hand/arm he's really moving around. Ooooooo... Left-Handed pitching is always in demand....
We celebrated my birthday since we all weren't together since Christmas. I got my first "Uncle" card from Jackson. It's so damn minor, and I know that it really wasn't from him, but it's still important to me.
Well, the Bears sucked. They just didn't show up to play. No offense. Defense - not complete. Never felt good about our pass coverage this year, and somebody figured that out. So much for football this season.
posted at 09:56 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Home againThis was a long day. We were pretty well packed and ready to go since we were in the room less than 18 hours when the wakeup call came at 6:15am. We didn't want to leave the room - it was the best room we've had - by far - throughout our visits to Las Vegas. The bed was phenomenal as well. I did a video checkout, but the bill never got sent to our fax machine before we left. The sprint to the Hertz drop-off at McCarran was easy and the bus to departures was half empty and prompt. United/Ted check-in wasn't bad either, as was security and the shuttle to the D Gates. Waiting for departure was rough just because my legs twitched and hurt.
We were delayed in leaving by about 20 minutes - and, according to the pilot, it was due to a "medical situation" at the gate. We have no idea what he was talking about. The flight was uneventful as both Carol & I slept on and off all the way in. It was a sunny day and cool and actually a bit refreshing (if not "bracing"). Baggage Claim - no issues. We rode the "peoplemover" to Remote Parking with a guy I knew years ago at a former job - he was the head of HR for a while, then the head of Training for the company. We briefly chatted about people we knew and parted ways at the end of the ride.
Again, nothing unusual at the parking lot or the drive home. We stopped at Pompei to pickup dinner since it was almost 4pm and we hadn't eaten all day. The "kidlettes" (a.k.a. Indy & Chip, the bunnies) seemed to like the fact we were finally home.
The time at home felt... "milky" and just passed in a haze.
We were home. The trip was over. The time had passed. It's over.
posted at 07:04 PM | Link | Las Vegas | 1 comment § |
Friday, January 13, 2006
Jay and the DeliWe got up with the sun and started getting ready to leave. I popped downstairs to the "food court" at the Luxor (and I use the term loosely) to get Egg McMuffins and Krispy Kremes to make it through the morning. We eventually got packed, worked our way downstairs and checked-out. We made our way to the back of the casino and out to the parking garage. It was getting late, so I attempted to get Carol to the Mandalay Convention Center - too bad I never found the entrance. It was getting later and Carol was getting more and more frustrated at my rare inability to find the entrance. I finally gave up, drove into the Mandalay parking garage, and dumped her off at valet parking for the hotel - which used to be the entrance to the "restaurant row" right outside Rumjungle. (I found out later that I was exactly where I thought I was even though the signage had changed)
I drove back up to the Fashion Show Mall, still again. This time, though, I wanted to go across the street to the Wynn. I wanted to see what it was like outside the property and how the entrance looked. First thing I noticed (other than what I saw the other night - the sign moves) was these great waterfalls that you can't see from the street. They were really tall and were just outside of the Esplanade entrance to the property. The Esplanade is not unlike the shopping area the brings you into the Bellagio. Same concept, just outfitted to Wynn specs.
This time around I found more places within the property - like the Buffet (Champagne and Bloody Mary brunch. I was able to get a picture or two of a hole on the golf course by walking through the Country Club Steakhouse. The lake that we saw at night looks different during the day (gee, no lighting effects. Duh.) It's still amazing how all of these things are hidden from the "great unwashed" in the street.
I took a chance and drove to our next hotel to get registered for the evening: The Venetian. OH. MY. GOD. What a room. And it's just like all the others in the hotel - all suites. In fact, the living area is a two-step down from the sleeping area of the suite. We did spend an extra few bucks on getting a view - this meant 31st floor and facing the Strip. Well, it didn't face the central strip - we had a view of the Mirage right across the street (handy for tonight), Treasure Island, the Fashion Show Mall and the Wynn. (Oh, and a big construction space next door that I think is going to be The Palazzo). This wasn't a bad view at all from this height. What a room. We're going to get spoiled. Too bad is a bit expensive.
After taking pictures of the room and the view outside, as well as getting the luggage and things moved into the room, I had to take the car to get "gassed-up" (i.e. replace the gas that was used before returning it to the rental company). Since I only have a Mobil gas card, I tried to find one nearby. Nope. I wound-up at a 76 south of the strip paying cash. oh well.
Got the phone call from Carol and I swung over to Mandalay to pick her up. I took her back to the Venetian and right to the room to show it to her, because I know she would love it (she did). We went back downstairs to the Grand Canal Food Court to grab a late lunch/early dinner knowing that we'd have to find food later tonight.
Afterward, we split up - she went back to the room, I had pictures I wanted to take at Paris and Aladdin before the sun set.
I should have drove over there. It would have been faster.
Instead, I walked out to Las Vegas Boulevard, and went south, passing Casino Royale, to Harrah's, where I walked the entire depth of the casino and out the back to go to the Las Vegas Monorail stop. I took the Monorail to the Paris/Bally's stop. Through the stop is directly behind Paris, I had forgotten that the stop actually services Bally's, and I had to walk through the god-awful Bally's shopping area below the hotel, then up into the casino and then into the shopping area of Paris and then through the entire Paris property to get to Las Vegas Boulevard. And by the time I got there, the sun has already started to sunk behind the buildings and mountains to the west. Crap.
This damn Las Vegas Monorail - though a great idea - is doomed to fail because it only services the backs of the properties. Who the hell wants to walk through an entire property to get to an overpriced monorail (cost me $9 for a round trip ticket) - just to have to do it again at your destination? And they want to expand it to the airport? Could you imagine doing this whole trip with luggage?
I grabbed whatever exterior shots I could of Paris before I lost the sun. I didn't care about the exterior of the Aladdin. I went inside to check it out - it's in a transition this year to become the Planet Hollywood Casino and Hotel. It used to have a large airy feeling with a tall ceiling over the casino. They've managed to kill that by chopping-up the place with full floor to ceiling walls, walling off... what? Can't tell. Looks like hell.
There were workers outside laying Red Carpet on the stairs - tomorrow Mayor Oscar Goodman was doing something with the Miss America contestants (yes, Miss America will not be in Atlantic City this year - it's at the Aladdin. Go figure.)
I had gone down to Paris because I wanted to show how they screwed -up a nice piece of land next to that great fountain they have outside. They've added a new restaurant - Ah Sin - that has outdoor seating that goes up to - and a little bit around - the fountain. I don't like it. I just love the area at the fountain, and they just kind of hosed that.
I retraced my steps back to the Venetian and soaked my now ravaged feet and legs and hell, my body, too, in the tub in the great bathroom. It was a valiant attempt, but I was just too sore and twitching too much - only drugs could knock that down.
Eventually 8 o'clock rolled around and we got dressed and walked across the street to the Mirage.
We have tickets to see Jay Leno, one of the very few performers doing something in town this week. It fit our budget and actually sounded like it could be fun. He was in the Danny Gans theater (who also was not performing - I think he's out for shoulder surgery). We waited in a long line to get some drinks before we went in. Theater was nice and was a nice size - one level, not too big). Jay actually had an opening act - a country music guy Derek Sholl. Good music with funny, cleaver lyrics. He did a little over half an hour, then Jay came out and did an hour and a half (this after flying up from L.A. after taping his Friday night show). He was actually a lot better than we had thought. It was like the Tonight Show, but not. He could talk about things - for a while - that he couldn't really talk about on air. And never swearing once in the act. Refreshing. Good stories, good jokes about a wide range of topics, whether current events (more like what he would do on the show) or things about cars and family. A very good show.
On the way out, we hit the Carnegie Deli and got one corned beef on rye to share (and a piece of cheesecake). We took it back to the Venetian and ate it in our hotel room around midnight - not a great idea if you want to sleep well to travel the next day. DAMN that sandwich was HUGE.. GOOD, but huge.
But, this it it. Our last night in Las Vegas. Tomorrow, it's back home to the grind.
Boy, I wished B&B were here this week. I can only wish that we will all do this together like we used to.
posted at 11:55 PM | Link | Las Vegas § |
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Paris at nightAfter Carol left for the day, I wanted to go just a bit north, so I took the tram to Excalibur. God, I hate this hotel/casino. I hate the theme, I hate the way it looks. I walked across the ped bridge to New York New York and went down to the corner of Tropicana and Las Vegas Boulevard. NYNY has made a permanent memorial area of display cases that hold rotating items that were left right at this spot back in 2001. For some reason, many Americans felt the need to memorialize and remember anyone involved in the events of 9-11 and they picked this spot, at the foot of the Statue of Liberty, to leave notes, letters, drawings, paintings, Fire Department t-shirts and patches back in 2001. NYNY saved all of the material and now displays some of the items in permanent glass cases. It's something that needs to be seen. It's not big, but it somehow feels important.
I went inside and walked around the faux-cityscape floor of the casino. I was getting hungry so I stopped at Jodi Maroni's Sausage Kingdom. Great Polish sausage, but they don't have a friggin' clue on how to make a Chicago Style Hot Dog.
I walked back across the street and took the tram to Mandalay Bay and walked to the convention center, put on my fake persona (Carol had, ummmm, found a badge laying on the ground during booth setup so I was able to get in to the show). I went over to Carol's booth, hung out there for a while and Carol went on break for lunch. We found a table in the snack area of the convention center and carol relaxed as much as she could.
We split up after the break and I drove to one of our favorite casino's: Hard Rock. The place hardly changes year-to-year, and this year is no exception. I just love the look of the place (the use of hard wood everywhere) the music, the vibe... oh, yeah, and the cocktail waitress outfits...
I drove around a while afterward. I drove back to Green Valley Ranch and realized they were building a new parking garage and it screwed-up the current drive to the main hotel entrance. Found an actual rush hour traffic problem on I-215 by Green Valley due to construction.
I figured-out the main traffic problem that we've been hitting daily on the Strip - almost doesn't matter what time of day it is, though it's much worse in the evening. The strip northbound is at a standstill between the M&M's Store and Harmon Avenue. One reason is due to the extreme right lane having to merge into another lane. But the real culprit is at Harmon itself, just about killing the right lane: it's the pedestrian traffic crossing Harmon - it's slow and at times extensive, stopping any traffic try to make a right turn eastbound on Harmon. the whole block or two could delay your travels up to half an hour.
I briefly saw the Las Vegas Premium Outlets and the World Market Center during my tour around town. Anyway, I headed back to the Luxor and waited for Carol.
Carol has been wanting me to have a nice sit-down dinner this week, so tonight we drove over to Paris. We walked up without reservations to Mon Ami Gabi and got a very nice table for two overlooking the the strip and the fountains at Bellagio. The food here is always great and the atmosphere is as well. And - if you're close to the doors or actually sitting under the heaters al fresco on the patio - you have the entertainment of the music and fountains from across the street.
By the time we finished dinner, it was definitely dark, so we did something that Carol has never done - we went upstairs to the top of the Eiffel Tower to see the view of Las Vegas at night. The winds were about 10-12 mph (according to a wind gage I found near the elevator upstairs). this is really the only way to see Las Vegas at night - forget the Stratosphere. It may be taller, but it's too far north of the central strip area. Carol was really tired from the show, so she stayed upstairs to watch one Bellagio fountain show and she went back to the casino to sit down. I stayed upstairs for almost another half hour taking all kinds of pictures from up there. Eventually, I felt I had to get going to get Carol home. I went down and found her sitting at some slots - she couldn't find an open blackjack table (with the correct minimums) for her to play.
We slowly walked to the car and drove back home. The show closes tomorrow and we're staying an extra day - but at a different hotel - which means packing. Tomorrow, not tonight. We're too messed-up to attempt to do this tonight. We'd fall asleep gathering stuff.
posted at 10:06 PM | Link | Las Vegas § |
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Venetian Taxi ServiceI was up and out the door at 6:05 am, still fully dark (the sun doesn't come up for almost an hour here in the valley), As I drove up Las Vegas Boulevard, it looks like there was a crunched-up bicycle and an ambulance (and Metro Police, of course) in front of O'Shea's - no idea what happened.
I drove Sahara and then out to Boulder Highway. I saw three squad cars parked along the side of the road at the Walden Motel, so I parked in their parking lot and joined the handful of very cold people, sipping on the hot coffee's in the dark, just talking and waiting.
I met this woman from Chicago (I'm a target with my White Sox jacket and hat) who claims she was on Jenny Jones as a Karaoke Queen, and that she just moved out here a year or two ago and how great Elvis Night's were at the White Sox games. We actually talked about that for quite a while and how she would dress-up and really get into it (she used to date an impersonator) and picked-up the nickname of Elvisa. We met another woman, a native American by the name of White Dog. There's quite a collection of humanity out here in this small group of people.
Now, what the hell were we doing all together?
Well, if I went to a brand new casino (South Coast) and if I shutdown an old casino (Boardwalk) there's only one more thing to do with a casino.
At 7am, just a few blocks north of us, the Castaways Casino (formerly the Showboat) was being imploded. I've never been to an implosion and didn't know what to expect. The only thing I planned for was to have the sun - when it finally rose - to be behind me (even Channel 8 here got that wrong, so you just see something like a silhouette). Well, they pushed the plunger at 7:5am (5 minutes late) and - though the explosions were startling - that sucker dropped within seconds and was just... gone (except) for the cloud of dust. We shared our goodbye's and I took off for home, getting there at 7:35 hoping to share the video with Carol, but she was already gone for the day. I mean, implosions just need to be shared.
Time to go back out and start my picture taking. I took exteriors at the Luxor and then drove to the Bellagio - my favorite parking place for access to the mid-strip. Had an embarrassing experience - I accidentally set off the car alarm as I was fumbling with my keys just as I entered the Bellagio. Glad I decided to go back to the garage to see if that was my car making the noise (it was). The Bellagio Conservatory was closed and being converted for Chinese New Year coming up. I took shots of some of the restaurant exteriors and then went outside to get shots of the hotel exterior. The sun today is being weird - there's a lot of high-level cirrus clouds that are filtering the sun, so it's not a crisp light. As I walked out front along the "lake", I noticed still another ambulance and police in front of the entrance to Paris - another accident, perhaps one with a cab.
Walked over to Caesars - they were working on the fountains out front, but there appears to be a huge fountain right in front of the building that i don't remember before. I was upset to see that there was no Ice Skating going on out front like last year. Of course, it's warmer this year, so I'm not sure if that's why there's no ice. Inside, there's not much new (I don't remember the registration area looking like that). The Forum Shops are always huge and there's always something a little different as stores move around and come and go. I needed some water after all of this, so I bought a bottle from a kiosk... obviously a problem with the refrigeration unit, because as I was drinking that great, cold water I realized that there was ice in it! Refreshing!
Time to eat. I walked back to Bellagio and drove to In-N-Out Burger. The place was so packed, I ate outside at a table, which was actually the correct choice on a somewhat sunny day. Got a Double-Double and coke and just watched the world go by... until I saw a guy, sitting with a girl a couple of tables away, reach down and - one handed - picked-up a pigeon and held it up to the girl. She wasn't pleased about it so he put the bird down. Six of their friends came out of the "restaurant" (can you really call a fast food place a "restaurant"?) and the girl immediately starts telling them when the guy did. Sure enough, the guy walks up to another pigeon and picks it up and holds it up to his friends. Just a weird little piece of life.
Since I was in the area, I drove over to Rio to see what's new over there. I saw a new game - Rapid Roulette. It's a live, standalone roulette wheel surrounded with sit-down video terminals. People make their own bets on the video screens instead of on a felt layout. Saw my first "bevertainer" - as I was entering the main casino, Shania Twain's "I feel Like a Woman" started-up and a cocktail waitress took a small stage in the middle of some slots and danced along. Nice, but eh?
Had to go back to the Fashion Show mall to go to LensCrafters to get my glasses adjusted - the damn nut on the right lens keeps loosening. I love the way these frames look, I hate the maintenance headache they've become.
went back to the Luxor about mid-afternoon to wait for Carol. After the show today, they are all going to dinner at Delmonico's at The Venetian and I was volunteered for Taxi duty. I didn't mind at all, but the traffic on the strip has been getting a little "hinky" around Harmon. I got them there only a few minutes late. After I dumped them off, I parked the car in the Venetian garage and decided to shoot evening exteriors tonight. I walked across to the Mirage, down to Caesars, across to Flamingo and back to The Venetian, taking up most of the evening. I hung around the Venetian for a while, thinking they would be getting out soon - wrong. I gave up and went back to the Luxor. Just as I was opening the door to our room, the cell for rang. They just got out. Sorry, I'm staying in - the girls took a cab home. We're all exhausted - I could imagine how the girls felt.
posted at 11:54 PM | Link | Las Vegas § |
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
End the day with Jack-In-the-Box TacosCarol had to go register and actually setup the booth for the show, so she was out of the room by 7am. The local morning news shows were showing police activity at the Gold Coast - some guy robbed one of the cashiers and when he went running through the parking lot he shot at a security guy, hitting him in the leg. The robber got away. (They showed videotape later in the day - the guy shot at the security guy 3 times - you can actually see the muzzle-flash on the tape).
I was busy working on a finger problem this morning - for some reason, my left ring finger is a little swollen, discolored and a bit sensitive just to the left of my fingernail. It's almost like the nail is growing into the skin. I'm cutting and digging and I can't see anything (though there was a little puss that came up - *eewwwww*) Carol has me looking for Neosporin and hydrogen peroxide to clean this up.
Since we closed a casino yesterday, I thought I should go to visit the most recently opened one - the South Coast. It's miles down Las Vegas Boulevard. In fact, I think Las Vegas Boulevard further south of the casino goes down to 1 lane in each direction.
The casino is Brand New - it opened on December 22 (after opening ceremony fireworks set the roof on fire! No major damage was done) It's nice and roomy - and even though it's in the middle of nowhere, there were quite a few people there. In fact, the largest line I've seen on this trip so far was at the buffet at this place (I heard a worker pass by saying "what the hell are they still doing here? haven't they figured out that it's crap?") Checked-out the brand-spanking-new 64 lane bowling center (all VERY new Brunswick equipment). Another big highlight that wasn't completed yet - an equestrian center.
I made my way all the way back up Ls Vegas Boulevard to the Mirage to pickup our tickets to Jay Leno this Friday. I was getting thirsty again so I actually went to the Bonanza General Store, up at Sahara and the Strip. It had to be one of the most armed and secured general store I've seen in this town. Not only did I grab a Coke, but i grabbed band-aids and Neosporin! I sat in the car & doctored-up my finger. Now it hurts a hell of a lot more now that I put the damn band-aid on.
I have something planned for tomorrow morning, so I had to drive along Boulder Highway to "scope out" some possible locations to take pictures. As i was passing Boulder Station, there was another huge police action going on. there were cops, ambulances, TV cameras. Found out later that some guy shot a guy he knew at a bus stop - at Boulder Station (something about allegedly molesting his daughter).
I was getting tired and needed to crash, so I went back to the Luxor - only to find the room not made at 2 in the afternoon. So, I walked over to Mandalay Bay and went into their Convention Center to get an idea of how the show that Carol is exhibiting at was laid out. Note to PPAI: your signage SUCKS. Enough of that - I walked back to the room. Now and hour later, the room was done. I nursed my finger some more and took a nap. Carol was exhausted when she came back after the setup, so she soaked in the tub (quite deep and formfitting and very nice, apparently). She didn't want to go out for dinner, so we made this little side bet - who would get their food first. She ordered room service. I jumped into the car and drive down the street to Jack in the Box to get 6 regular tacos (only $3.20!). I stopped in the store on the first floor and got a Michelob Lite (available here in aluminum bottles), and then I ran into Carol's co-worker Teri near the elevators. Well, let's just say by the time I got to the room, room service has already came and carol had finished eating! Well, I still had my tacos and beer to drown my sorrows...
posted at 10:48 PM | Link | Las Vegas § |
Monday, January 09, 2006
WynnCarol had to go to the Mandalay Convention Center to oversee the startup of the booth area for her company at this week's trade show (the real reason we're in Las Vegas - she's here for work, I'm here because it's cheap for us!)
She was there for only a few hours, so we met-up and drove to the Boardwalk casino on the strip. This place is very small and old. There's only one reason to come here today - it's closing forever at noon and will be demolished to make way for MGM-Mirage's master project for the property between Bellagio an Monte Carlo. The parking garage was pretty empty, but people were still walking their luggage to their cars having stayed for the last night at Boardwalk. The pit was open, with only 2 blackjack tables and one craps table operating. The Race & Sports book looked like it closed days before. This place is so small, this is probably the only place on the strip (or many other places) were the they use half-sized craps tables (it's basically half a craps table). Employees came in and signed farewell messages on some of the walls. TV crews were interviewing people, and MGM-Mirage itself was there to document the shutdown. I walked around, took pictures inside and out (Carol wont go outside because of the signature piece outside on the building - a huge, friggin' clown face).
We went back to Fashion Show Mall to grab a quick lunch at the Food Court, bought some cheap binoculars at Sharper Image (hey, I forgot to pack ours and i just gotta watch operations at McCarran!), and bought some cologne at Nordstrom (Armani Mania - I ran out).
I was exhausted and had to go back the Luxor for a nap. Carol went to the free 2pm Hold 'Em Poker lessons here. 2½ hours later, I was up and Carol was back having lost her shirt. She loved the experience, but realized that she pays attention to her cards exclusively to the action happening on and around the table.
Dinner was at Cravings Buffet at the Mirage. There are a lot of changes happening inside at the Mirage. New bar areas around the central "jungle", new restaurants (including a real Carnegie Deli - probably the only one that had a hostess stand in front of it), a newer look to the casino (with new signage), gorgeous new High Limit areas (like we would be able to play in there) and a huge nightclub opening this weekend called Jet ("3 rooms, 3 Sounds").
There's something that's been pissing me off on this vacation - the amount of children here, almost all running out of control - through casinos, through restaurants. They don't belong in this town, let alone actually in the casinos. It's wrong. I bring this up because of a family of 6 at Cravings, where there was one of the girls (2-3 y.o.) was running and screemin through the restaurant, without the parents trying to control her (then there was the time where the mother went to one of the stations to get something to eat, the young girl was doing her run/scream, the toddler is crying her eyes out while being held by dad who was on a cell phone and walking around the table area - this one event cleared-out everyone sitting within 2 tables of them - until dad had to run after the 2 year old who by now was dishing out food for herself at the salad station)
Great dinner at Cravings, though. I highly recommend it (dinner buffet $45 for 2 plus tax) WIDE selections of food.
After the Mirage it was time to visit the new gem of town - the Wynn. (Yes, named after Steve Wynn, the man that built the Mirage, Treasure Island, Bellagio - to name a few).
WOW doesn't sum it up. Can't. It's unbelievable. Better than Bellagio (his last resort). Richer, lusher. And, as we walked around the casino, I stopped to take a picture of one of the restaurants (the Chinese "Red 8"), there came Steve Wynn himself, alone, on a cell oohing, dressed absolutely impeccably. Wow - our Brush With Greatness™
for the trip. This man - for a period of time - shaped the gaming and hotel industry of Las Vegas itself.
Carol was pretty exhausted by then, so we went back to the Luxor and crashed for the evening.
posted at 11:05 PM | Link | Las Vegas § |
Good one!There's one thing that makes or breaks your feelings on your hotel room, whether it's a good room or not:
The shower. Specifically, the shower head, both the coverage/spray pattern and even more importantly - the water pressure.
Yep! We got a good one! Refreshing!
Side note - odd. The mirror in our bathroom refuses to fog. Does it have something to do with desert humidity in a 19th story hotel bathroom?
posted at 09:20 AM | Link | Las Vegas § |
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Trying to be cheapSo the $2 20-oz bottle of Pepsi from the vending machine down the hall pissed us off, so we went to Walgreen's on the Strip and bought our soda for much cheaper ($1.29) and snacks for the week. Actually, we went to a 7-11 first that is also on the strip in a place we've never seen before but they just didn't have the selection we wanted.
Afterward, we went to the MGM Grand. Carol hadn't been there for a few years, so I wanted to show her the new restaurants along the Studio Walk all look wonderful (and ranging from a little pricey to "Oh-My-God!")
But we couldn't find anyplace to eat. We didn't want extravagant and we weren't dressed for some of the places, so we went to the Studio Café where a Reuben (me) and Eggs Benedict (Carol) cost $45. Whoa.
Back to the hotel and crash for the night. Carol's been snoozing for a while and I'm turning-in right now. 'Night!
posted at 11:45 PM | Link | Las Vegas § |
Finding the SunGot up at 4:15 this morning, finished packing, showered, dressed, drove to O'Hare to catch Ted 1485 to Las Vegas. Upgraded the seats to Economy Plus just to get the extra 5 inches of legroom. Worth every penny. Still couldn't open the laptop due to idiot in front of me reclining in my lap. Saw Just Like Heaven as the movie westbound. Got to Vegas on time to be met with 47 degrees and sunny and not a cloud in the sky. FELT GREAT.
I FOUND THE SUN.
Went to Hertz Gold and had a Ford 500 waiting for me (much nicer car than I thought it would be), complete with the Neverlost system. We drove to Green Valley Ranch in Henderson (the subject property of The Travel Channel show American Casino) to have the Feast buffet. More expensive than I thought but really worth the money. Would definitely go back. Walked across the street to walk around The District. Got in the car and drove to the Luxor, where we checked-in and crashed. Crashed hard. Enjoying the downtime - already a long day, with hours yet to go.
posted at 05:44 PM | Link | Las Vegas § |
Friday, January 06, 2006
Skipping townCarol and I are all packed. We're skipping town tomorrow morning.
I always say I'm going to blog from the road. I usually write a post or two, then I get caught up in the vacation, enjoy it, and spend my time away from the computer.
So, for the next week, I'm not guaranteeing any postings. It's a vacation for me, so if I post - good, if I don't - good, I'm enjoying myself.
Oh, and where are we going?
Viva Las Vegas, baby!
posted at 10:14 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Lou Rawls
Man, I loved this man's voice.
Lou Rawls died this morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, where he was hospitalized last month for treatment of lung and brain cancer.
He sang the National Anthem at U.S. Cellular Field for Game 2 of the World Series, just over 2 months ago on October 23, 2005.
I was already anticpating startng a podcast back then and I recorded everything I heard from our seats at the baseball game.
You may hear my MP3 recording of Lou Rawls singing the National Anthem at U.S. Cellular Field for Game 2 of the World Series by clicking here.
posted at 12:19 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, January 05, 2006
GougingSometime around the weekend I remember commenting that gas prices went uo 5 cents.
Tonight, on the way home it went up another 10 ents?
15 cents in a week? What the hell brought that on?
posted at 05:19 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Trying to Breathe Right
Well over a year ago, I started noticing that I'm not really breathing through my nose as much as I should. My sleep has been off for the past year as well. So, I thought I'd try a quick remedy to see if it would help overnight - Breathe Right nasal strips.
The first night, they worked really well. Not great or perfect, but really well. Now, I've developed this weird problem:
Sometime, during the course of the night, I wake myself up as I'm pulling off the Breathe Right strip.
Mind you - I'm fully asleep, and I only wake up because of the pain as I'm ripping the strip off (and oh, BTW, what the hell kind of adhesive IS that? Pretty friggin' powerful, if you ask me!)
It's happening every night at different times - I take of the Breathe Right strip with no knowledge of me doing it - until it comes off.
So what is my sub-conscious telling me about these things? They seem to work - why pull them off early? How does it interact with a dream (which I don't remember)?
Maybe they're too high or too low and my subconscious knows that and is taking them off because they were installed incorrectly...
posted at 07:18 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
4949
Happy Birthday to me.
Yes, I turned 49 today.
It's turning out to be a bit scarier than I thought. Carol gave me a card this morning (well, she didn't give me one, she gave me 5, and she didn't give them to me but rather hid them for me to find like on my desk chair, in my bag I take to work, in the medicine cabinet, on my steering wheel) and in one of them she said that "1 more year and you can join AARP!"
Oh crap... when the hell did this happen!!! I'm a year away from qualifying for Senior Citizens discounts! I'm not even a Senior Citizen! What the hell! I'm still in my 40's!!!
Oh, dear Lord, help me...
posted at 10:31 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
To hell with the darknessI'm getting tired of the darkness.
No, not at night - the daytime darkness.
It's been cloudy and rainy for what seems to be a week. I haven't seen the sun in days. Some mornings we have fog to go along with the dense overcast. It's really screwing with my ability to function. I have an intense desire to... hibernate. Sleep, under a warm blanket. Somewhere. Anywhere..
I need to get my energy up - I mean, I wasted 2 days in a row - now I need to work (oh, yes, the first day back at work is always so wonderful). Caffeine only helps so far. I need sunlight.
Where the hell is it????
posted at 10:24 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, January 02, 2006
Wasting - Day 2Ditto.
Well, watched the Tournament of Roses Parade in HD for the first time (coverage courtesy of KTLA in Los Angeles, broadcast by WGN here in Chicago). REALLY great seeing the detail. REALLY crappy seeing the detail of everything washing of the floats because of the torrential downpour.
Then, some of the Bowl games in HD - gotta love HD for sports!
Anyway, back to wasting the day.
posted at 05:38 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Wasting the New YearYep. Slept all day.
ALL DAY.
I haven't been up for more than an hour all day. Except now. I've been awake for 4 hours and it's time to go to bed. Think I've screwed up a good night's sleep. Maybe I need to "assist" the sleep a little bit.
posted at 10:47 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Ushering in the New Year
Well, we made it home. Carol had to drive the last half - I was getting too tired.
A subdued evening, but still a good time. I love our New Year's get-togethers. I love to see (and taste!) everything that everyone made for the evening. It's always good quality, it's always well thought out (never just slapped together thoughtlessly at the last moment). Good eatin'!
One of the major differences this year is that we never watched a movie - we actually put on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve at 9pm, way before anything was happening.
Of course, we had to wait to see the return of Dick Clark. He had a stroke on December 6, 2004, just weeks before last year's show.
He sat at a desk inside the ABC studios at Times Square. It was a bit startling to see. He looked great, but his voice is impaired and he didn't gesture with his right hand at all. His voice isn't exactly the same and his breathing is forced. But, later in the show, as he relaxed a bit, you can here the quality of his old voice was still there, but his enunciation just wasn't there. As he said "Last year I had a stroke. It left me in bad shape. I had to teach myself how to walk and talk again. It's been a long, hard fight. My speech is not perfect but I'm getting there."
Being on the show tonight was clearly a goal he set for himself and he made it. As he said: "I wouldn't have missed this for the world."
The question is - should he continue on? His speech is nowhere near where it should be for an announcer... and it just felt... "uncomfortable"... to listen to him. At times, he has almost impossible to understand. At others, clear as a bell, just raspy.
And I don't know if anyone else caught this, but I thought that during the countdown he skipped a bunch of numbers, like he couldn't count backwards.
Well, after the East Coast celebrations, we turned to our next annual item: making fun of what people wear on our local coverage. None of the women at Channel 7 looked good. None of the women at any of the events Channel 7 covered looked good - except for all of the women that were at the bars up and down Clark street in Wrigleyville (just blocks away from where we were!)
Buffy got a small birthday cake for me from Dinkel's (oh, Yum!) (yes, my birthday is coming up on the 4th)
I love hangin' out and celebrating the New Year. I'd love to see the new year being better than the last!
posted at 01:23 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Saving my energy for the endAnother easy, snoozy Saturday... have to save-up my energy for the annual party at B&B's. Will blog about it when we get home... tomorrow.
posted at 04:40 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
The look backYou know how you can tell that Christmas is over? Every friggin' broadcast television network has started airing their year-end retrospectives. Other than the White Sox winning the World Series, there's nothing that I want to look back on. The tsunami aftermath. Katina. The war. Political scandals.
I'd rather forget it.
Update: Ooops. My nephew Jackson was born in September. Can't overlook that. Ok, So Jackson, the White Sox, and that's it.
posted at 06:52 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, December 26, 2005
Wasted DayWhat a crappy day. It's kind of dark out all day. No motivation to do anything at all today - just recovering from the last 2 days.
I seem cheated somehow - not about what presents I got for Christmas, it's about time. I mean, you get all set for a weekend, but both days of a weekend are a holiday, so your weekend was actually really active and it was a holiday, so you at least get an extra weekday that you don't have to work, but the one day doesn't offset the two days. Do you get it? Where's my weekend!
I got one trip out to CompUSA today - we almost lost our TiVo today. While I was copying something to DVD, the TiVo all of a sudden shutdown and through a Blue-Screen error saying it shutdown because of a thermal problem. I went out and bought some compressed air (I was out) and blew-out the fan on the TiVo as best as I could and opened the door on that side of the cabinet for the rest of the day. I can't really tell if the fan is turning or not - I DON'T need to fry my TiVo....
posted at 08:27 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Thursday, December 22, 2005
A EULA-tide GreetingI saw this at lotusinthemud. I wish I could find out where the original was. It's a typical End User License Agreement for the holiday season
read more of this entry »
Please accept -- with no obligation, implied or implicit, on behalf of the wisher or wishee -- my best wishes for an environmentally-conscious, socially-responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice, practiced within the traditions and/or religious or secular belief(s) of your choice and with respect for the traditions and/or religious or secular beliefs of others or for their choice to not practice traditions and/or religious or secular beliefs at all; and for a fiscally-successful, personally-fulfilling, medically-uncomplicated recognition of the onset of what is generally accepted as the new Gregorian calendar year, but with due respect for calendars of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make Britain great (which is not to imply that Britain is necessarily greater than any other country, nor that it is the only 'Britain' in the Northern hemisphere), and without regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or choice of computer operating system of the wisher.
DISCLAIMER
By accepting this greeting you are accepting the terms of the greeting and all responsibility associated with it. This greeting is subject to clarification and/or revocation at any time at the discretion of the wisher. This greeting is non-transferable without the express written consent of the wisher. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for him/herself or for others.
This greeting is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one Gregorian calendar year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first. Warranty is limited to replacement of this greeting or issuance of a new greeting at the sole discretion of the wisher, who assumes no responsibility for any unintended emotional stress this greeting may bring to those not caught up in the holiday spirit. Reading of this disclaimer constitutes your acceptance of the greeting. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 03:04 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Winter Solstace!Yes! The days get LONGER from here!!! WOOT!!!
posted at 12:35 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, December 17, 2005
How can Matt Santos win the presidency without Leo McGarry?West Wing's John Spencer died of a heart attack just days before his 59th birthday.
posted at 06:41 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Whipsaw weatherI'm at home, cleaning out the "trays" in Indy & Chip's cage, when Carol calls from work to let me know she's on her way home.
We have to keep the patio door curtain open when the "kidlettes" are out (Indy & Chip) because a certain elder rabbit (Indy) won't stop chewing on the brand new drape. She's chewed-off a strip of fabric about 3 inches long vertically in a pleat. Not visible at night, but sure is visible during the day since it's a solid dark cranberry color.
The weather outside today is a little odd.It feels balmy, even though it just got into the 30's for the first time in what seems weeks. The snow was actually melting.
Anyway, As I got up to answer the phone, my jaw hit the hardwood (floor) when I looked out the patio door. The snow was coming down. Thick. Big flakes. Can barely see out the door. (I would have used other adjectives, but "coming down hard" only applies to rain and not snow). It was bad out there.
So, I told Carol about it and then we started to discuss what we wanted for dinner and if she was willing to pick it up.
By the end of the phone call, Carol asks if it's still snowing.
I look out the door again and... no snow. It stopped.
I hate when Mother Nature messes with you.
posted at 05:37 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Better sleep though medicineHave been having some issue with the quality of my sleep the last few nights. I just can't get the mind to shutdown and relax and get some good rest.
I whole heartedly recommend Tylenol PM. Does the trick and doesn't leave too much crap in your system the next day so you can at least act like a normal human being.
posted at 08:37 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, December 12, 2005
Boxing-upStarting to go through all the drawers/cabinets/overheads in my office and separating, organizing and boxing-up stuff.
A week from today I'll be in a brand spanking-new office with slightly less storage.
But it's a MUCH better facility. I'll even have a VoIP phone and a Unified Messaging center (I can get my voicemails in my email... If I wanted)
Oh! And a great looking deli that I'm hoping will be as great as it looks!
posted at 10:38 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, December 11, 2005
CrampedWhere the hell was my soap!!!!
I rolled over in bed this morning and get a HELLACIOUS cramp in my right calf.
I'm rolling around in bed, yelling and swearing at the top of my lungs. Carol was downstairs and she came upstairs once she heard me swearing. I just couldn't even point my toes to try to stretch the muscle. Carol grabbed my foot and started pivoting it and rubbed my calf, but it had to be at least 5 minutes of excruciating pain before I just decided to stand on it and walk around to warm it up and stretch it.
DAY-AMN that hurt...
Haven't walked the same since...
posted at 09:41 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Silence is... scaryThe last thing I remember as I was sitting on the couch last night was seeing about 5-7 seconds of the Scottie Pippen number retirement during the Bulls Game. Next thing I know, it's 3 in the morning, the TV is still on, and I'm alone sitting on the couch. I had fallen asleep while watching TV, sitting up, resting my head on my right hand, while my right elbow was on the armrest of the couch. I hadn't moved in hours. I sat up, taking my hand away from the side of my head and realized I had a problem.
I couldn't hear anything with my right ear. ANYTHING.
the whole side of my head felt weird as I must have stop proper blood flow to the skin on my scalp, and my earlobe was tingling. And there was this slight ringing in my ear.
But if I put my finger in my left ear, I can't hear a dam thing.
As the house started to wake-up, I could "work" on my ear and if I tug on it a certain way, I can get some partial hearing back. But it would go silent again.
I made it through lunch, thinking maybe eating something will get the jaw movement to move something around somewhere to get my hearing back. I just couldn't clear my ear.
It's not getting any better, so it's time to have it looked at. There's no Immediate Care places around us, so we decide to go to the Emergency Room of our local hospital.
read more of this entry »
The hospital has been in a steady state of construction for a few years now. The new emergency facilities were great. There was hardly anybody there in the waiting room. Just jackets and baby blankets... why do people just leave their stuff there, thinking it will still be there when they eventually leave.
The triage area was nice and the tech there did an efficient job and worried me enough about my high blood pressure to maybe get me back on my medication. The insurance person was efficient as well.
When I finally got called-in - about 90 minutes after first arrival - we went to an ER room with a tech - who had me strip, get in a gown, and promptly hooked me up to a 5 lead EKG. Great. I HATE those friggin' patches because they stick to my fur and hurt like hell when I attempt to get them off of me!
A doctor came in and took a look in the ear and new IMMEDIATELY what was wrong - my ear canal was impacted with wax. The other ear - pristine. He also was a bit concerned about my heart rate (not blood pressure) and wanted to see me after the nurse has her way with me.
The doctor leaves, a nurse comes in and starts to work on irrigating the ear with hopes of flushing out the gunk in the ear. Nada. Nothing happens. Another nurse comes in and is upset the first nurse was already working on me. Seems like the both of them like doing this kind of stuff - getting stuff out of people's orifices. the second nurse leaves as the first nurse really gets into her work. Then she has to go leave to get a different catheter. She comes back, and still another nurse comes in saying that the nurses are fighting over me to get this thing out of my ear. The first nurse if irrigating the hell out of my ear canal and all i can say is two words - wet and pressure. Nothing is changing and nothing is coming out. The nurse sends the third nurse to get some q-tips! We had this nice conversation about how she was a professional and can use q-tips in ears, while us civilians are amateurs and should never put objects in our ear canals.
The q-tips show up and she starts to dig. I feel a pressure change and clear sound as she pulls out this grotesque amalgam of ear wax and God knows what about the size of a very large raisin that was the diameter of my ear canal.
I've never had a wax issue before... and now I'm feeling significantly older, because this is just like what had happened to my dad and even my mom has had wax issues. Hell, hell my sister who is younger than me has had this before... does wax run in the family? « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 03:30 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Weather swingsAlright! it's 15 degrees warmer today than yesterday! Still below freezing, though. So, since it's warmer, let's mix it all up and get some snow, too. A STORM SYSTEM DEVELOPING OVER S. MO WILL STRENGTHEN AS IT MOVES ACROSS S. IL & S. IN TODAY.REACHING NW OH BY LATE THIS EVENING. ON THIS TRACK.THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BRING SNOW TO N. AND CNTL IL & NORTHWESTERN IN TODAY & EARLY TONIGHT.
ILZ006-010>014-020-INZ001-002-081600-/O.EXB.KLOT.SN.Y.0002.051208T1200Z-051209T0600Z/
LAKE IL-LEE-DE KALB-KANE-DUPAGE-COOK-KENDALL-LAKE IN-PORTER-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF.WAUKEGAN.DIXON.DEKALB.AURORA.
CHICAGO.OSWEGO.GARY.VALPARAISO
400 AM CST THU DEC 8 2005
SNOW ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT.
SNOW HAS BEGUN TO DEVELOP & SPREAD NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS CNTL AND NW IL. THE SNOW WILL INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY LATER THIS MORNING.& WILL OVERSPREAD MUCH OF NORTHERN IL & NW IN BY AFTERNOON. SNOW SHOULD REACH THE CHICAGO METRO AREA AFTER 900 AM.MAINLY AFTER THE MORNING COMMUTE. THE PERIOD OF HEAVIEST SNOW WILL BE FROM MID AFTERNOON UNTIL EARLY THIS EVENING.WHEN SNOWFALL RATES MAY REACH 1 INCH PER HOUR. TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES ARE EXPECTED BEFORE THE SNOW TAPERS OFF TO FLURRIES BETWEEN 6 & 8 PM THIS EVENING.
HEAVIEST SNOWFALL IS FORECAST TO OCCUR DURING THE EVENING RUSH HOUR & MOTORISTS SHOULD PLAN FOR EXTENDED COMMUTING TIMES.
A SNOW ADVISORY MEANS THAT SNOW WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS & LIMITED VISIBILITIES. USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.
THE NEXT SCHEDULED UPDATE TO THIS ADVISORY IS AT 1000 AM CST.
$$
MERZLOCK/SEELEY
posted at 09:24 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Living the seasonTonight, on Comcast Sportsnet Chicago, they ran the 2005 White Sox season show that goes on sale tomorrow. It's narrated by Hawk Harrelson and spans 2005 from Opening Day through the parade and rally after the World Series. Well produced, but I'm upset that one particular play wasn't anywhere to be found. It was short, quick and could have been stuck in any montage during the show. It was Paul Konerko and Aaron Rowand turning third and running home and Rowand almost runs past Paulie.
Carol and I both agree that it was great watching the show and it felt like it just lengthened the season just a little bit, like it just ended yesterday. OK, maybe last week. Still feels good, though. It just makes it harder to get behind hockey and the Chicago Wolves with the crappy season they're having.
posted at 09:35 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, December 05, 2005
Coldest DecemberFrom WGN's Weather Blog:
Chicago’s 18.3° Dec. average is more than 15° below the long term average temperature and has moved from 9th to 6th coldest on record since 1871. This week is supposed to be hell, with lows near zero and the highs in the teens. Sucks. This doesn't happen around here until January/February, and it just sucks the life out of you. I'm not ready for this... baseball season is lingering in me and - even though the last game we were at was Game 2 of the World Series when it was raining and in the upper 30's and was really hell, but Damn! It was the World Series! so it didn't matter. Now - it matters.
Maybe that's the reason I've been thinking about Las Vegas lately...
posted at 09:35 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, December 02, 2005
Rash? Hives? Allergic Reaction?Carol broke out this afternoon. She felt itchy last night/overnight and now she's got this red stuff on her skin like a rash or allergic reaction on the inside of her wrists, around her waist, on the inside of her upper arms. She said she changed laundry detergent recently so it might be that. I went out to Walgreen's to get some Benedryl lotion and pills. She's been asleep all evening due to those.
posted at 10:39 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Spouse's ChristmasTonight was Carol's company's Christmas Party. We were trying to figure out why we weren't at last year's party. It turns out that last year's party was sometime during when Indy got sick and we didn't go because we needed to shuttle her around the doctors. This year's party is at the same place as last year's, which we frequented for out friends holiday party - Magnum's in Rolling Meadows. I feel almost uncomfortable going to these things because you really don't know anybody. And then there's the slight apprehension of not knowing exactly what your spouse may have said about you around the office. So, you spend your time socializing but not saying too much (depending on the topic). We had filet's for dinner - unfortunately they killed the meat. I guess - on the average - people don't want their meat red or pink. I think it just ruins the meat and you run into the possibility of the meat going dry - which it did. Damn, they had good food there.
After dinner was a raffle and Carol won a Magnavox DVD/CD player. Great. Another DVD player. Still, it was a nice raffle gift. By the time we got out of there and got home it was too late - somehow, I over-ate and now I'm just really uncomfortable. Hopefully I can sleep on with the bloated stomach...
posted at 10:11 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
MDX
As a follow-up to yesterday's post, I found something that I like better than Red Bull - it's a new product: Mountain Dew MDX Energy Soda. The taste is a lot better than Red Bull, and it's neon green. It's a soda (probably a Mountain Dew base) with ginseng, taurine, guarana, d-robose and maltodextrin... whatever the hell those are.
Yeah, much better.
My fear? It's a test and it's not in full production. In fact, I can't find it anywhere around me except for one Jewel on Roselle Road, and then only in a cooler at the checkout and not in the soda aisle or mixed-in with the other energy drinks. Hard to find. Pretty expensive, too - priced like an energy drink: $1.75 for a 14 oz. bottle.
posted at 12:52 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Back to BullI used to drink coffee in the morning when at work. But then I noticed that the sludge at work wasn't always the greatest, and sometimes I'd get a flavored coffee if there was something left, then I had to put milk or cream in it and I never really counted the sugar packets... all in all, I was doctoring the coffee everyday and it was never the same day to day. I started to think about what I needed. It was just caffeine, so I started drinking Coke in the morning. At least that way, it would always be the same, never changing in content. I drink it over a full tumbler of ice in a Thermos™ tumbler - and the ice that I get at 8 in the morning is still with me at 3 in the afternoon.
For the last month or so, I've been getting these bouts of fatigue, sometimes so severe I almost - just almost - fall asleep at my desk in the middle of doing something. The caffeine wasn't helping.
So, I tried something I used to drink - instead of Coke, I had a couple of cans of Red Bull in my cabinet. Now, it's only a one day trial, but, yeah, that did the trick. I'll try it the rest of the week. Oh, and I'll watch my sleep, too.
I just wish the Red Bull had a better taste... sometimes I think it's just the taste that keeps me alert.
posted at 01:10 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Monday, November 28, 2005
Blown AwayWent out at lunch to grab something to eat since there just isn't any food worth buying in the building any more. We had thunderstorms and heavy rain overnight. The rain eventually ended sometime this morning - without a window near my cube, I couldn't tell you when that happened.
I walked out of the building and didn't realize that, though it was sunny and 60º, the winds were hellacious. They were blowing from directly behind me as I walked toward my car.
For the first time in my life I almost got blown over. Almost. The wind was directly at my back so it pushed me along, but the scary part was when the wind actually blew my legs forward. In fact, the wind blew my leg forward twice. Thank God that I was balanced on my opposite leg as I walked, but it was actually really scary to momentarily lose control of you leg when walking and have it move forward by wind-power. Weird.
posted at 01:34 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Slept the day awayToday was Sleep Day. That's all I did. Carol left to go to work for a few hours before the Bears game. I went downstairs and slept most of the morning, occasionally waking-up to watch TV, but usually falling asleep while I was watching. Fell asleep during the Bears game (something I usually do anyway. I always fall asleep somewhere in the second half). Found myself dosing off the rest of the afternoon and into the evening when Carol and I were watching TV together. All of a sudden, my eyes are closed and I don't remember drifting off. It's like one minute I'm engrossed into the story on TV, and the next moment, I'm waking up, not realizing how much time had passed. OK, so it wasn't a productive day from the standpoint of getting anything done, but my body sure thought it was productive...
posted at 09:12 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, November 25, 2005
Quick Repair
Wonderful day off. Other than going to the Hoffman Estates skating facility this morning, it's been a day of sleep. Also, a day of snow - we got our first accumulation. It's not even an inch, though. I guess there's more up north and toward the lake.
So, I fell asleep on the couch, and may glasses fell off - again - while I was sleeping. I didn't know that when I woke up, and shifted around on the couch - that's when I heard a "ping" and my glasses shot across the room. I picked them up and put them on and they looked intact. I was wrong as within an hour I was getting a pain on the side of my nose - sure enough, I had lost a nose guard.
Damn, that means I have to go to Lenscrafters for a quick repair at the busiest mall in the state - Woodfield Mall - on the worst shopping day of the year - the day after Thanksgiving. Great.
The streets were slick, but there wasn't a lot of traffic going there. The parking lots looked full, but on closer examination you could see holes everywhere - it's late enough in the day that people were going home (I mean, the mall opened at 6am this morning), so I got a spot 4 cars from the door. The mall was full, but nothing more than a really bad Saturday. I really wasn't a bad experience at all. Totally tolerable. Oh, and service was quick at Lenscrafters, so the trip didn't take long at all. Thank God.
posted at 07:07 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, November 24, 2005
RecapWow. Great dinner.
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Something happened to the turkey this year. I didn't really change anything, but it turned-out totally different. More moist (not that it wasn't moist these other years). Oh, and it didn't look like a piece of charcoal itself when it was done - it was nicely browned. Only change to the bird: stuffed an onion in it. Only change to the cooking: decided to make little smoking boxes for the hickory out of aluminum foil instead of throwing wet chips onto the hot coals, perhaps cooling-off or extinguishing some charcoal. Oh - change of venue, too. With Wind Advisories out from the weather service, I moved the grill inside the garage, though I still prepared the chimneys of charcoal on the driveway.
Well, you can tell another stage in Jack's development - his lungs are bigger because his cries are much louder. He was fussy and a bit tired.
Everybody was in good spirits, and everybody actually went home at a responsible time! « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 10:55 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Blog-A-Turkey 2005Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!
It's turkey time here in the house and I'm way behind schedule. I'm not going to blog the doings this year - just too far behind and not enough energy.
Check out the prior years - 2004, 2003, 2002. If you want to see a video on my technique on barbecuing a turkey on a Weber Kettle Grill, be sure to check out the video in 2003.
posted at 12:33 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Why am I still here?Counted cars out the window.
10-story office building.
59 cars in the parking lot.
Nobody is here. Why am I???
posted at 01:05 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Reiterating - I am NOT a hardware guy...I'm not just talking computer hardware either. If you know me, you know that I can't swing a hammer, I can't build anything, I can't install anything.
Exhibit 1: Ceiling Fan. Resolution: Hire an electrician.
We purchased a new curtain rod for our patio door back when we had the house repainted back in the beginning of May as House Project #2 (#1 was new flooring end-of March/beginning-of-April).
I looked at the instructions and I turned numb. It's just a friggin' curtain rod - how come I can't figure this out? I struggled looking at the diagrams and the text and trying to correlate the two and project how this works over our patio door. Nothing. Frustration builds.
Carol sensed the frustration and immediately offered to hire a handyman. She heard of a great organization and she had a coupon. She talked to the organization - they thought it should take about an hour.
The guy came today around lunchtime. Carol left work to meet the guy thinking she'll just take a long lunch.
After 4 hours and after the guy almost burst into tears trying to figure out how to do all of this, the curtain rod is actually finally installed.
If the handyman took 4 hours, imagine what I could have done... and the damage i could have made...
posted at 04:49 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Too little or not enough?When I roll around while I sleep at night, I always check the clock to figure out what time it is.
Something struck me this morning - if you you wake up and you feel that time passed quickly (like it's later than what you expected), does that mean that you had good sleep or not enough sleep?
posted at 09:03 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, November 21, 2005
OK, really, The last one... I promise...A Chicago Reader story about the story - yes, another take on the A Taste of Heaven story.
posted at 02:03 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, November 18, 2005
So much for the thighsCan't... walk... down... stairs... muscles... in... thighs... not.... working... well... need... medicine... NEED... EXERCISE... body... gone... to... hell...
posted at 07:02 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, November 17, 2005
DrillFriggin' Fire Drill.
It's not the drill itself. It's not the damn alarms going off. It's not that it's cold outside.
IT'S THE 10 STORY DESCENT DOWN STAIRS TO STREET LEVEL.
Back upstairs after the drill, my legs ar all wobbly. I look like adrunk when I'm walking down the aisle behind the cubicles.
posted at 03:04 PM | Link | Mundane § |
When's winter?14º this morning. I know it's only been 6 weeks, but in my head I went from sitting in the stands at U.S. Cellular Field watching baseball on a sunny 85º day to this crappy 14º wake-up with nothing in between. (I know that there was an autumn in there somewhere - I just don't remember it). We had a great lengthy summer and such a mild autumn that this transition is a killer.
I hate this time of year.
posted at 06:29 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Where did everybody go?
The evening rush hour was non-existent. It was dark, with very high winds and our first snowfall, though it wasn't accumulating anywhere, just blowing around. What I can't understand is the traffic. There was nobody on the streets all the way home. Did people really freak-out about the snowfall and leave work early? Where did everybody go?
posted at 04:13 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Nope. It won't die.
Tribune columnist Eric Zorn was sent this picture from an unknown local restaurant.
The story that won't die.
posted at 09:19 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Let's close this up...I didn't know that Tribune columnist Eric Zorn has a blog! So, here's a great, all encompassing stab at the "Inside Voice" brouhaha in his blog entry. Great opinions, different views. Check it out. All good. Be sure to read the comments, too, as people just go medieval on some of the parents.
His blog entries about this are here, here and here
posted at 01:59 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, November 14, 2005
Who Is The Moron?
Click on the thumbnail above to view the picture.
It is a pickup truck this afternoon in the parking lot of the Schaumburg CompUSA
Read the large bumper sticker on the vehicle. Read it closely.
Question: Who is the moron and why?
posted at 12:18 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Inside Voice follow-upThat event that I blogged about a few days ago about a café owner on the North Side that asked via a sign on his front door that all children behave and use their "inside voices", has created an awful lot of exposure in print, radio and TV around town.
read more of this entry »
Two Chicago Tribune columnists wrote about the situation and both came down squarely on the side of the café owner.
John Kass compared café owner Dan McCauley to Mr. Belvedere just looking for some level of decency and common courtesy. This just pissed-off a whole bunch of moms to the point of boycott. And they took their rants to the local airwaves. Then the backlash started, with other parents putting the malingering moms in their place.
And A Little Taste Of Heaven's business TRIPLED.
Eric Zorn replies to a quote in the NYTimes article:
"kids scream and there is nothing you can do about it. What are we supposed to do, not enjoy ourselves at a café?"
by basically saying "What you're supposed to do is place proper supervision of your little curtain-climbers above personal enjoyment when you take them to a restaurant, movie theater or any other public accommodation. What you're supposed to do is be mortified when your best efforts at supervision fail. What you're supposed to do is translate this mortification to your children so they learn proper behavior in such settings. What you're supposed to do is pack up and leave immediately if your children don't obey such a simple, obvious, necessary demand as "use your inside voice."
He also included replies from readers, including: "When you have children you lose at least some of the ability to come and go as you please. Your freedoms are largely in the hands of a small, unpredictable person. And because your small person is unpredictable, that means either you have control over their public behavior, or they have control over your ability to go where you wish to go."
And
"There are many other places to eat and shop, so those of you who protest the establishment of behavior norms should pick up your misbehaving kids and take them to a place that will welcome you. The rest of us, who actually parent and try to teach our children how to act in public, will enjoy the relative calm created by your absence."
Then there were the polls:
At the Chicago Tribune website, 88 percent of more than 3,000 respondents to an unscientific click-poll said the complaining parents are off base.
In a WGN-AM click poll, 81 percent said they wished more restaurants and coffee shops would post signs asking parents to keep their kids quiet.
At the Channel 5/Daily Herald site, 97 percent said they thought McCauley was right to post his sign.
Hurray for somebody to stand up against unruly kids and bad parenting! « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 10:02 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Jack's Family DebutToday is the annual birthday event to celebrate Sam's (Samantha's) birthday. But here it is - she's turned 18 and this must be the last family party for her. The big deal today: it's Jack's first family event.
read more of this entry »
What a trooper. He turns 8 weeks tomorrow and barely sleeps in 2 hour segments, but there he was - awake and alert and tolerating the perpetual holding and being handed-off to all of these "strangers" (not to mention the amount of flash photography that far exceeded the amount I was chastised for by 10 to 20 fold). He finally started to get hungry/tired/cranky around 8 or so, but he was just great, really great. And he was just the hit of everyone because of his demeanor and just his damn cuteness.
Good job, Jack. Hope you didn't balance it all out with a Nephew-from-Hell bit with Melinda and Diane on the way home and overnight. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 10:35 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, November 11, 2005
Is this right?
I came home from work tonight and I saw something that Carol told me about that I didn't believe.
Today is November 11th (Veteran's Day). Almost mid-November. One of the Daylillies in front of the garage is blooming and has some additional buds that look like they could open. It was getting dark already so I had to use the strobe on the camera to see the flower.
Is this normal for this time of year? All the others have bloomed and have dead stalks. Why did this happen? And it looks like another on the other side of the garage looks pretty green and has buds, too. What's up?
posted at 06:42 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, November 10, 2005
The uproar over the "inside voice"Big thing in Chicago. Many people, mostly moms are pissed. And, if true, then I'm pissed as well - at the moms.
Here's the deal. Imagine if you will, a bakery and coffee shop (in the Andersonville area called "A Taste of Heaven"). Imagine that one day the owner (of 14 years) puts up a sign on the front door, at kids height:
"Children of all ages
have to BEHAVE
and use their INDOOR VOICES
when they come to
A TASTE OF HEAVEN"
Now, I have no problem with this. He's just asking EVERYONE for some RESPECT for himself and his customers. It's obvious that - after 14 years - something has pushed the owner over the limit and forced him to put the sign up. Sure enough, owner Dan McCauley got pushed.
"We were surprised at how many times we would see children really out of control," McCauley said. "And we actually had people leaving the bakery because the children were so out of control."
"We thought it was just a friendly reminder to people that when they come here, just be considerate of the people around them. We had no idea the kind of controversy that was going to explode out of this," McCauley said.
RESPECT and CONSIDERATION.
Now mothers are boycotting the store, taking offense to the sign. They don't want to be told how to handle their kids. And then, get this quote from some of the mothers: The angry mothers said there are plenty of places in the Andersonville neighborhood where they can take their kids, even if they're acting out.
So, instead of disciplining their kids, they'll just go somewhere else where they don't have to do the work of a parent and let the kids disturb the customers of an establishment to the point where they may leave said establishment, causing a loss of revenue to the owner????
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU IGNORANT PEOPLE?!?!?!? WAKE UP!!! DISCIPLINE!!! OR DON"T TAKE THEM OUT IN PUBLIC WHERE WE HAVE TO PUT UP WITH YOUR INADEQUACY!!!
read more of this entry »
posted at 09:08 AM | Link | Mundane | 3 comments § |
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Too early to dream it.Had a dream last night that I was shoveling snow. It's too early for that, isn't it? Please say it's too early...
posted at 06:59 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, November 07, 2005
My head feels lighterI'm not a guy that schedules when to get a haircut. The other attached action: no beard trim without a haircut. Neither have been done in many many many months. Took care of that tonight.
On Halloween, I wore a red shirt along with my long hair and my long white beard. I mean, the beard was longer than normal, not like long to my knees.
Part of our (OK, actually my Halloween ritual is to allow the kids to take whatever they want from the bowl. No one just grabs and runs - everyone looks through the bowl and chooses whatever they like (it's always a mix of candy, usually chocolate related). Then I tell them they could take another if they want and sometimes they take the same kind and sometimes they'll choose something new.
Anyway, I had a little girl, 2-3 years old and her mom came to the door. The girl was quiet and just slowly picked her candy. But she was also really looking at me and checking me out.
She took her second piece and went running down the sidewalk, looked up at her mom and yelled "SANTA!"
OK, time for the trim...
posted at 09:08 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, November 04, 2005
Itching for a changeI feel the need to change the way this blog looks. But if I change the way the blog looks, then it doesn't match the rest of the site.
So, if things start looking a little "wonky" around here, you'll know what I'm up to.
Now if there's somebody out there that would like to quickly redesign the site with a fresh, clean look that fits the content of this site, please let me know...
posted at 11:40 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, October 31, 2005
Wet Halloween
Left the office a little early to get home and setup for the neighborhood trick-or-Treat'ers. It started out well, but at about 4:45 it started to rain and it went downhill from there. Total for this year: 56 Last year: 61. 2003: 69 2002: 79. I guess its been slowly going down year-by-year. (Yes, we keep tally on a pad of paper near the door.)
read more of this entry »
Oh, one more thing. It's a thing I've been doing for the last couple of years. I let the kids take whatever they want from the bowl. Our kids are just so damn nice, they only take one or two and never grab whole handfuls out of the bowl. They REALLY seam to enjoy being able to pick and chose the ones they want. I don't know, it's all about Customer Satisfaction. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 07:31 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Frosty
The weather is really changing around. The mornings are really crisp, with frost on the grass (before the sun comes up and melts it). The leaves on the trees in the neighborhood are almost all on the ground. It's like I've been into "baseball mode" for so long, that I refused to believe it was fall (it wasn't until last weekend when I bought a World Series pin that said "Fall Classic" on it that I was able to actually say the words "Fall" and "Autumn.". All this time I felt that, as long as my team was still playing, then it was summer. And then it it kept being summer. We were at Game 2 of the World Series in the low 40's and upper 30's in the rain - it was still summer. Now that baseball is over, it's fall. In my head, it was like it went from Summer to Fall in the blink of an eye. It was Summer, and then it wasn't. I look around my neighborhood, and see the leaves on the ground and I feel like I missed something. I actually missed the changing of the leaves, and the appreciation of the beauty of it all. It went from green to brown. But this year, I'll let it go. This year I didn't want to have it any other way.
posted at 08:12 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Damn faucetWoke up and went to the bathroom to get a drink of water. Turned on the faucet, filled my cup... couldn't turn the damn faucet off. We've got an old one-touch faucet with an acrylic handle and the handle feels messed up. But I can't get it off. So, we hit the cut-off for the cold water. That way, we can turn the faucet to cold to turn off the watre, and if we need hot water for washing, just turn it to hot. And, in the morning, for cold water either get the first drips out of the faucet when you turn on the hot - which always wind-up cold for the first few seconds - or use the faucet in the bathtub.
Damn. Will have to call a plumber.
posted at 12:52 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
*squint*
We're at that real dangerous point of the year. The point that the sun - when out - is very low on the horizon during the time of your commute. And I'm lucky to commute on a "diagonal" road that eastbound (or actually, slightly southeastbound) points right into the sun. You need sunglasses. You need a working sun visor. You need a clean windshield. You need to pay attention.
I had an old lady tailgating me all the way to work. I'm convinced she did that because she could actually keep an eye on me. If I got too far ahead, I'd be in the sun and she couldn't figure out what to do. A bit nerve-wracking.
posted at 10:17 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, October 17, 2005
Taking it's tollSleep.
Lack of it.
A little bit (HA!) of excitement about getting to the World Series. I think I'm a little pumped-up but the fatigue is easily taking over. Hard to stay awake at work (very embarrassing... not a good idea).
posted at 04:29 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, October 14, 2005
Irregular postingSorry that I haven't been regularly posting anything around here lately. I've been SWAMPED at work.
On top of that, Carol and I have been wiped from putting in extra hours at work... just so that we can go to the ALDS and ALCS baseball games that we have tickets to (through our White Sox Season Tickets).
On top of that, I couldn't ignore the "call" of a friend who was looking for help when her MovableType blog went absolutely kablooie (ka-bloo-ee? Kablewie?) . It didn't look like anybody was going to help her out and, well, she's a good egg and I just felt I needed to help her. So, I upgraded Erin's site from 2.6x to MovableType 3.2 and got all posts to work again - now she's got comment problems (which may have started this whole mess), so I still have some work to go on her site. But at least she's posting again.
I promise, I'll write something here again soon, and fill in my empty days... sometime.
posted at 09:37 AM | Link | Mundane | 2 comments § |
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Ahhhhhh....CCCCHHHHOOOOOOOOOOORunny nose, sneezing, congestion, watery eyes and itchy throat. All the time.
Guess if I didn't know before, I now have definitive proof:
Chicago is #1 in a list of Fall Allergy Capitals according to The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America The rankings were based on each city's pollen counts, the amount of allergy medicine used per patient, and the number of allergists per patient.
Wonder where we rank in spring. It ain't too pleasant now and I seem to remember a whole mess of unpleasantness back in the spring.
posted at 01:16 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, October 08, 2005
20 bags of cypress mulch20 bags of cypress mulch on that wonderful area that Diane worked on this summer means it's finally done. Carol & I went to Home Depot and bought and transported the mulch home and just went though and covered everything we could the best we could.
We're exhausted.
posted at 12:34 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, October 06, 2005
WipedCarol and I are just both wiped-out from the events of the last two days and the hours we're putting in to be able to get time-off to get to these games. The word "fatigued" doesn't come close. But, ya know, it's a "good" fatigued? I mean, we can barely walk and talk, but I wouldn't have given up a chance to see those games.
posted at 05:19 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, October 03, 2005
Blackout in the darknessDamn - the power went out at quarter after 2. In the friggin' morning .No storms, no rain, no nothin'. Couldn't sleep when that happened so I got up, jumped in Carol's truck and drove to Walgreen's to get some flashlights. The power was back by 3am - the time I got back home.
Screwin' with my sleep...
posted at 03:04 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, October 02, 2005
The heavens openedFreaky little thunderstorm that just caused havoc in the neighborhood with heavy rain high winds, and hail. There's debris all over the neighborhood (we even lost a plactic downspout drain pad - we found it down the driveway almost in hte street).
The storm followed us all the way to my mom's house. We had standing water on Golf Road that I haven't seen in the 20 years we've been out here. Couldn't take the tollway - too backed-up. The traffic on Higgins flowed, at least, though it was a bit dicey going through standing water or when the clouds just opened up and you couldn't see very far in front of you.
Still hot & humid afterward. And summer is over, right?
posted at 04:08 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, September 29, 2005
I have to break down and admit itI have to admit Fall is here.
47 friggin' degrees this morning going to work... I should have worn a jacket... only going to be 62 for a high today...
posted at 07:54 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Autumnal EquinoxThat's it.
The sun has crossed the equator. Fall has begun. though today has the same amount of daylight as night, the nights now get longer than the days.
Summer is over.
posted at 05:23 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Screeching to a haltWHOA!!! What do you mean today is the last full day of summer?
NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooo!!!!!
I'm not ready. Baseball isn't over (yet). I hear the NFL has started already. I can't get my head wrapped around football yet... I haven't changed my body-clock from baseball yet... can't... give... up... baseball... yet...
Pre-season hockey? The Wolves have their first preseason game on Monday, blocks from my house in their new facility... I have to go just because it's the first game over there... but... I'm not ready for it...
The days are soooo much shorter now. We're getting pretty good temperature swings as Mother Nature screws with Chicago again.
I'm not ready for this.
How can I make it stop?
posted at 10:22 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, September 19, 2005
TLAPD!!!!Arrr, me mind's been failing me... been waitin' all year for this day...
And perhaps this feels better, now that I've got a tiny Captain Jack in the family....
Like the song says: T' me,
Yo, Ho, Yo, Ho,
It's "Talk Like A Pirate" Day!
That time in September when sea dogs remember
That grown-ups still know how ta play!
When wenches are curvy and dogs are all scurvy
And a soft-wear patch covers your eye,
Ta hell with our jobs, for one day we're all swabs
And buccaneers all till we die!
posted at 09:39 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, September 17, 2005
D-List Comedy
Went out to Centre East Theatre in Skokie to see Kathy Griffin. She had 2 shows tonight. It was Carol and Diane and Melinda and I.
I've never seen her in person. I've caught her Bravo reality show and a couple of her performances.
Funny. Good laugh riot. Distinct two parts of the show - the first over an hour of just dishing celebrity stuff (though, it started with all the crap we've seen on TV about Katrina, the federal response, and the media coverage - including Larry King and Celine Dion. Here it was - the night before the Emmy's - and she's her back in town doing a show, before she has to fly back to LA early in the morning to do red-carpet coverage for E!. Of course, she went into where she would be doing the coverage from (NOT the red carpet) and Star Jones.
She's straight, to the point, and makes you laugh at everything she talks about - even if it crosses a certain imaginary line. You still wind-up laughing about it.
The last 20 minutes was a story about he going to Pal;m Springs with her dogs to stay at a hotel and do a show in-town. Part of the story is about letting her dogs outside on her hotel room patio to, um, "relive themselves" in the morning. She talks about going on the patio and hearing the door close behind her, standing her outside wearing a big t-shirt and underpants...
...which she decided to demonstrate on stage.
No flash photography allowed? HA! You should have seen the strobes going off! I think it caught her off guard (not that it happened but by how much happened)
Great performance. I'd see her again. It was just a good time.
Had dinner at L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge afterward. Good food there in this great Wisconsin-woods-supper club-lodge setting.
posted at 10:33 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, September 16, 2005
What??? OH NO YOU DON'T!!!!!
I went to Woodfield to walk the mall, looking for something light to eat.
I was walking across one of the ramps and looked over at saw the front of Marshall Field's that faces the Grand Court.
I froze. My blood curdled. I got pissed - pissed enough that I just got the hell out of there.
What's today's date? SEPTEMBER 16.
THE WERE SELLING CHRISTMAS STUFF. TREES. DISPLAYS. CHRISTMAS.
SEPTEMBER 16.
We just barely got past Labor Day (September 5) and Grandparanets Day (September 11).
We still have to get through:
Citizenship Day (September 17)
Columbus Day (Observed - October 10, Traditional - October12)
United Nations Day (October 24)
(Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, 30 October, 2005)
Halloween (October 31)
Election Day (November 8)
Veterans' Day (November 11)
Thanksgiving Day (November 24)
Bill of Rights ( December 15)
before we get to Christamas! WTF?????
Hell, let's throw in some Christian ones, too:
Mass of Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (September 29)
All Saints' Day (November 1)
All Souls' Day (November 2)
Feast of Christ the King (November 20)
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8)
The celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12)
again, all of these before we get to Christamas! WTF?????
posted at 02:31 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Bigger TiVoWe were getting a little "tight" with our DirecTiVo and available space. the programs we were recording were expiring pretty quickly. We were just running out of space.
So today, I took our TiVo and dropped it off in Hisndale and had a hard drive added. It only took one hour and was well worth the drive. My skills are so crappy, that I'm willing to spend money to have people do the skill work for me. And I'm so happy about the service, I'm almost ecstatic.
Instead of about 40 hours of available space on the TiVo, we now have about 160 hours of available space.
Yeah, that should last a while.
posted at 02:11 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Note to self re: AndreWhen attempting to go to sleep early, and successfully accomplishing that, make sure you don't attempt this on a night that Andre Agassi is playing tennis late at night into the early morning, so that when wife decides to go to bed after sitting on couch watching match after match, that she doesn't put on the match on the bedroom TV to watch her boy Andre win in 5 sets. (3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (6) that ended at 1:09 a.m. ET.)
posted at 10:17 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Gas Price ExtremesAfter holding some pretty damn high prices through the Labor Day holiday weekend (cause, you know, a lot of people drive so the oil companies want that extra money), I drove by my gas station yesterday to find that the prices dropped 21 cents overnight.
Can you say "gouging"? No way you just get 20+ cent swings overnight.
Heard something on NPR yesterday - do you know how much a gallon of gas costs in Baghdad? Now, mind you, they've had to ration gas there, too, because of the "emergency" (not sure what the hell they're talking about). Also, to ease the horrendous traffic problems, the ruling government has said that only even-numbered licenses plates can drive on certain days, and odd-numbered plates on the other (This means that people are buying black market plates so they can drive their cars anytime)
So - how much is a gallon of gas in Baghdad? 5 CENTS. It's the cheapest in the region and it's causing a whole slew of black market problems.
5 CENTS.
posted at 10:10 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
It's coming to an end...Summer is almost gone. I know that Labor Day Weekend is sort of a traditional "End Of Summer".
Tonight, Carol and I are in the family room, big screen HDTV glowing in the other half of the room. We turned the lights off after we finished reading our stack of daily newspapers and realized we can't see outside.
It's dark. The sun has set. The days are rapidly getting shorter.
I'm not ready for summer to be over.
Baseball is still around. I won't let it be over... yet.
posted at 08:23 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, September 05, 2005
No LaborEnjoying a day away from laboring at my job...
...and being thankful that it's been about 72 hours since the last increase in gas prices at the local station
posted at 09:45 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, September 02, 2005
HD BlissWow.
US Open Tennis - in HD.
HD - very cool. I'm diggin' the whole HD thing. Sports in HD - the best!
Letterman started broadcasting in HD this past Monday - both Carol and I agree - Dave looks creepy in HD. Actually, he only looks creepy during the monologue. When he sits down at the desk, he looks fine. i think it's the angle that they're shooting him center stage in the monologue that just creeps us out. Paul and the band always look great.
posted at 10:55 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Sunday NapsReally digging staying at home on Sundays - when we don't have anywhere to go - just to "decompress" and take these wonderful, deep-sleeping naps...
...and let the whole day slip on by...
posted at 06:05 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Wait Wait-ing again
Went back to the Bank One Auditorium tonight - this time with B & B - to see another taping of this week's Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!. Unfortunately, the host - Peter Sagal - was on vacation. Taking his place this week was Adam Felber. (I must say - the show was even "looser" tonight than with Peter at the helm!) Of course, Carl Kassel (NPR newsman and the show's Official Judge and Scorekeeper) was there along with panelists Mo Rocca, Paula Poundstone and Charlie Pierce. The show ran a lot longer than last time. There's got to be a lot of editing for this. It sounded like they were even changing the order of the show due to... well, the personalities of the callers. Tonight's special guest: Tim Zagat of the Zagat Survey. (Did you know that no restaurant gets a perfect 30 in Zagat?)
UPDATE: Listen to the show here.
posted at 10:36 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Time is just passing...I just realized that I haven't been writing much here.
It's been a weird few weeks... I feel like nothing is going on. I mean, nothing. I feel myself sitting at home with nothing to do, knowing damn well there are things that can be done. In the middle of all this, nothing happens and I just can't anything to write about. I want to write, but there's nothing that I can somehow mash together for an entry.
read more of this entry »
There are a few things in my life that I could talk about, but I've chosen not to. It's either the time isn't right, or it's getting into areas of my life that I don't feel right talking about right now.
I feel that everyone out here that blogs has their own personal blog "governor" (ooo... lets call that a PBG™) that throttles how much you want to say, or are willing to say. Some people have that PBG™ set a little more open than I do. They'll talk about intimate things about their family, friends, work. Sometimes that PBG™ is wide open, and those are the people that suffer some personal ramifications of being that open to the world. Sometimes that'll get slammed via comments and email about their choices in life - whether it's just a certain political stand, their favorite team, or maybe it's about writing how they feel while trapped in their daily commute. Something innocuous like that, that readers - mostly people that just skim by their site every once in a while - that compel the visitor to comment. And sometimes those visitors have NO FRIGGIN' CLUE who the blogger really is and perhaps misinterprets what the writer says, and just goes off on them in the comments. It usually spins into an argument with anger and venom.
Ah, the life of living publicly on the web.
Or maybe the writer talks candidly about work and coworkers, and *poof* - they get "dooced" and lose their jobs. (Dooced? Yep - look it up in the Urban Dictionary)
I wish my PBG™ was a bit more open than it is. I feel I have responsibility to my family, friends, coworkers and whoever that I come across to determine how much - if anything - should be divulged to the public. I'd never do it without their permission. It's a trust that I hold with them. Unspoken.
Maybe someday I can open up a little bit, but I just can't do it right now.
Which leads to God-awful boring rhetoric about "what I did today" and what thing I'm interested in today. Hell, if you noticed - I don't even really swear or use obscene language here. I don't know who's reading my drivel - why offend them? It's not like I get a lot of visitors here - so why turn anybody away?
Now, those of you that know me also know that, in actuality, I'm not writing for you - the visitor/reader. I'm writing for ME. If you like what I say and stick around - THANK YOU - if you don't, well, "no skin off my nose" as they say. I wasn't writing for you to begin with.
Does that meandering make any sense?
Anyway, no post doesn't mean nothing's happening. It just means I didn't write, for whatever reason. I just didn't write. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 10:51 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Lost weekendThis was the first weekend that we've had in a very long time where we had NOTHING planned. No places to go, no people to see. What did we do?
Nothing.
In fact, I just got up about an hour and a half ago. I got up after 7am, went downstairs, started to watch CBS Sunday Morning, fell asleep, Carol woke me up to yell at me about having a battery from my digital camera in my pants pocket that she just washed and dried, fell asleep, Carol went to get lunch at - of all places - Arby's. Had lunch, fell asleep.
Weird. My body must be telling me something - though it must not be talking very loud, 'cause it's not keeping me awake...
posted at 06:38 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Tweaking the garden
I've paid attention to watering the lawn and garden.
Best looking lawn on the block.
I need to pay attention to one other things, though.
I happened to look over at the hostas that Diane had planted along the garage...
They blended in so well that I hadn't paid attention to them... they were leafy and, well, looked like they belonged...
damn weeds are taller than the plants. Gotta do something about that.
posted at 04:42 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, August 12, 2005
Foreign SoundsIt's been raining on and off for almost a day now. The rain has been really steady and I can't express how badly we've needed this rain in this area. We are many inches away from the average rainfall and this rain, being strong and steady (and not very breezy at all) has been a nice soaker.
Overnight we even had a line of thunderstorms move through. The thunder, coupled with the high rains and a bit of wind (that - in our bedroom - sounds like we're inside a dishwasher as the rain hits the aluminum siding) actually woke us up a little (just for a while - faded back to sleep after a while).
Carol this morning said that the sound of the rain and the thunder was actually "foreign" to her - it wasn't a sound the was easily recognizable - it's been so long since we've heard it.
posted at 08:31 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Oasis
Guess what we did for dinner? I took Carol out to a grand opening!
...of the Des Plaines Oasis over the Northwest Tollway.
We've been waiting for this thing to get rehabbed for years and now it's finally open. So we had dinner at Panda Express.
I know - I really know how to show a girl a good time...
posted at 07:06 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
100,000
Well, there it goes...
On the way home from work tonight, I had to pull over to take a picture of my odometer - my Infiniti turned over 100,000 miles.
posted at 04:45 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Go Karts and the lakefrontI decided to take a drive down to "The Cell" this morning. I'm going to the game tonight, but today the White Sox are holding their First Annual Go Kart Grand Prix and I wanted to see what was going on.
read more of this entry »
They took over Parking Lot B. All of the teams that bought into the event had hospitality tents along Shields Avenue. The pit area was pretty big and the track was the parking lot, with the track outlined in chalk (or lime or something like that) and stacked tires. There were other vendors there, like Route 66 Raceway, Volo Auto Museum, and other companies like that.
I was hoping to that it was going to be cool. It was, but it was totally disappointing. I think it was very poorly attended. It looked like everybody that was there were either participants, sponsors, or family members of either. The weren't any real announcements to keep everybody informed about what was going on. I saw two races - basically one and hour. I never saw a celebrity race that was supposed to happen at 1pm (when I think the final race actually took off).
The last race was pretty good. As the laps ticked off, the drivers were getting a better feel for the karts and the track and they started driving more aggressively. I camped out on Turn One and after the initial laps, there were a lot of guys taking the turn wide, some taking out a series of orange cones, some spinning out, hitting tires, clipping each other. The races ran about 15 minutes - I have no idea how many laps there were. I guess that's part of my disappointment - I had no idea what the hell was going on.
Disappointing.
Well, at about 1:30, I realized that I probably couldn't drive home and then drive all the way back into the city to pickup Barry and go to tonight's game. I decided to drive to the planetarium. I wasn't going to go in, it was just this absolutely gorgeous day and I felt like enjoying it, maybe taking pictures of the skyline.
(NOTE TO ANYONE COMING TO CHICAGO - If you want the ABSOLUTE BEST photograph of the Chicago skyline along the lake front YOU MUST go to the Adler Planetarium and take the shots from there DAY OR NIGHT. THAT is the place to be.)
I was floored at how many bridal parties were showing up with their photographers down by the planetarium, just to get that perfect shot of the bridal party and the skyline. It was a constant stream of limousines and rental shuttle buses dropping off and picking up brides, grooms, bridesmaids, groomsmen... and others, too, that were dressed-up in other ethnic garbs so I couldn't tell what they were celebrating because they didn't necessarily looked like wedding dress.
I actually did go inside the planetarium - into the café to have a snack and drink and watch all of the sailboats on the lake. When I came out, in front of the planetarium was a group of people with bicycle helmets on... and a whole bunch of Segways! It was the City Segways Tours group getting training on how to ride/drive a Segway by the tour leader. I heard about this last year and it's great seeing that they actually are still doing tours! I stood around watching for quite a while. Though - in concept - they are easy to maneuver, it does take time to get used to balancing on the platform and trusting the unit not to throw you off when you lean to make it go.
Eventually, about 3:30, I headed back to the parking lot to get heading north on Lake Shore Drive to go pick up Barry for the game tonight. It took an hour just to get to the Belmont exit. The Fullerton and Belmont exits were backed-up and stopped on the drive, not to mention that the car 2 cars ahead of me in line waiting to get off at Belmont erupts in white smoke and steam as he blows a hose. The other oddity on the trip north was the area on the lake that's just north of the treatment plant and south of the break walls south of Oak Street beach. It looked like it was wall-to-wall boats, that looked like they were parked or even lashed together, and all you can see is flesh - people in bathing suits everywhere,. It looked like one big community party. Really odd.
At any rate, it took a long time to get to Barry's. But - I've got to tell you - it was the best day to be out in that gorgeous weather and just enjoying the sights of this wonderful town. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 04:25 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, August 05, 2005
Alone!Yeah! Carol left this morning to spend a weekend "with the girls" up at Diane's in Michigan...
...leaving me all alone for the weekend! YES!
Well, I've got 3 baseball games this weekend, so that'll keep a big chunk of time occupied, plus I want to go down to Comiskey (I STILL can't call it U. S. Cellular Field...) during the day tomorrow to see the First Annual White Sox Go Kart Grand Prix that's going on from like 10 to 4 in one of the parking lots, and then on Sunday the Sox are unveiling a statue to Carlton Fisk, so I need to get there early for a good spot for pictures, not to mention Elvis Night tonight at the park...
posted at 08:04 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Hacking the elevatorI've been upset at my daily elevator rides lately, but then I stumbled onto this link on Boing Boing that talked about putting an elevator into "Express" mode.
Hmmm... an elevator hack? So, I tried it. It worked. Did it two more times - it worked? Is this a good sample? No. I need to do this as often as possible, since there doesn't seem to be any "feedback" that you're in Express mode - other than the fact the elevator didn't stop on any other floor than your destination.
read more of this entry »
The designers of some elevators include a hidden feature that is very handy if you're in a hurry or it's a busy time in the building (like check-out time in a hotel). While some elevators require a key, others can be put into "Express" mode by pressing the "Door Close" and "Floor" buttons at the same time. This sweeps the car to the floor of your choice and avoids stops at any other floor. This seems to work on Most elevators that I have tried! Most elevators have the option for this to work, but on some of them the option is turned off by whoever runs them. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:05 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, August 01, 2005
Long way homeWell, we're home. The vacation is over. Well, at least mine is - Carol is still on vacation for another week which includes a trip back to Michigan for the weekend (leaving me alone for the weekend! Whooohoooo!)
posted at 05:11 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, July 31, 2005
ExtraYes, we're still here - and not packing to go home. I made my contacts (thanks to my cell phone, Bluetooth DUN and a VPN connection). I didn't like all of the email traffic that I saw, though. My backup had too many messages for backing-me up during a time I should have seen zero activity.
That means something's up. And now, I'm feeling a little guilty.
Still, I'll enjoy this full day away and whatever time we''ll have tomorrow.
posted at 11:34 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, July 30, 2005
The plan hatches...The day way too wonderful. Lots of pool time, great dinner (Barry made a beer can chicken with a great rub).
And we have to leave tomorrow.
Or do we?
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B & B both took Monday off. Carol is off still another week. That leaves me. What could possibly have happened in the course of this past week where I would REALLY be needed on Monday? That's it... I'll contact (email/voicemail) my boss and my backup tomorrow - I'll be back to work Tuesday instead. I need this extra day. Need it. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 10:29 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, July 29, 2005
Long day, but we're where we want to beWoke up at 4am. 4 in the morning. Awake. Went downstairs and tried to sleep on the couch. The morning I could sleep-in, and I'm not. Eventually the morning unfolded, Carol got up, we did our last minute packing slowly. Fed the rabbits so they would survive the weekend - Indy knew what was up as soon as she saw the size of the bowl of carrots.
We hit the road. The caller ID software at home paged me with another call from St. Joseph's. We quickly drove back home, no voice mail light blinking. Found the number to Barry's room and found out that he's been waiting around a few hours, waiting to get discharged. We decided to leave and sure enough, he was home by the time we got there.
read more of this entry »
Vacation officially began! We're off to Michigan. The weather was great, the traffic - other than getting on the Skyway - was good. We stopped in Indiana at a Denny's for lunch (actually was good - was not "Denny's-like").
We've spent out first day at the house (went out to dinner at the Red Arrow Road House so we didn't have to worry about food today).
The pool was cold - it was 82 degrees, but was just way too uncomfortable. I'm not sure how to operate the pool heater, so I kinda faked it, turned not just one but two unmarked knobs, and hopefully it would warm up for tomorrow.
But we're up here. Relaxing. looking forward to... nothing. Just more relaxing. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 10:59 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Caller-IDThe phone rang around dinner time. I looked at the Caller ID and froze. STJOSEPH HOSP. Oh, oh, this isn't going to be good... I only new one or two people that would go to that hospital... and both of them were leaving with us early tomorrow morning to drive to my sister's house in Michigan as a nice weekend getaway...
So, I answered: "I don't like the caller-id on my display." Sure enough, it's Barry. Long story, short - Barry went in for some tests today and they wanted to keep him overnight for observation totally as a precaution.
Well, let's see - that'll cut down or even eliminate pool time tomorrow, and cut down on the vacation decompression time...
... but, damn it it's my bud, so we'll pick-up B&B after Barry gets released in the morning. Not a big deal - at least he's OK and we're going to get away. Now, I'll have to get more info out of him tomorrow...
Hey! we get to sleep-in a bit in the morning!
posted at 06:20 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Allergy HellYes, that's where I am right now. Sinuses full, sneezing 8 or 9 times in a row, lungs filling up with post-nasal drip (oh, yuck...), wheezing, coughing...
Oh, this just sucks...
it started a few days ago when I was locked-in the house during the power fail. Then opening-up the doors yesterday just seems to have stirred up god-knows-what in the air.
I'm miserable.
Kill me now.
posted at 07:47 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Well that wasn't worth it.We still have a cable TV feed into the house. We keep it as a backup to the satellite and it's only Basic Cable - just local channels. I had Comcast come out and install a CableCard into the new TV. It's a PCMCIA card (just like you would use in a laptop computer). It replaces a digital cable box, but you don't get any interactive functions (like On Demand video and a Guide - big deal). I did this so that I could get local HD channels (since DirecTV doesn't have that ready yet).
Well - I'm not impressed. We got 8 more stations on cable - and that doesn't cover all of the local digital transmissions that are available.
I'm not sure it was worth it. I mean, I'm getting the digital signal for Channel 2 which I can't pull in over the air, but... eh... We've got a couple of HD local channels now.
posted at 01:06 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Now we're talking!It's GORGEOUS outside!!! That rain yesterday afternoon was the long awaited cold front! The sun is out, just a slight breeze, hardly a cloud in the sky, and the temperatures this morning are in the 60's!!! We opened up all the doors and windows to get air out the place - it's wonderful!
posted at 07:14 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
It wasn't over!!!So, at around 3:30pm, while I'm on the phone with Carol, THE POWER GOES OUT AGAIN! It starts to rain as well. So the installers (Tom and Erik) went ahead and installed the dish and tested as best as they could with their equipment without any power. They ran an additional cable around the house for the HD receiver (I wanted a clear shot of new RG-6 without any connectors between the receiver and the multiswitch, just to keep the signal intact).
So, they left and left me their phone numbers and offered to actually come back and tweak it some more when the power comes up.
read more of this entry »
I couldn't take it in the airless house, so Carol & I went out to dinner (and took a side-trip to the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin - we haven't been there in ages and wanted to check it out. It hasn't changed).
We were home by 8 o'clock and the power was back on, so it was out about 3 more hours on top of the 17.
Powered up the house and found out that I had **NO** signal from the new dish. Not a bad signal, **NO** signal.
So, I called Tom. He actually came over in about 20 minutes - he seemed shocked that there was **NO** signal, so he went on the roof - in the almost darkness - and got the dish kickstarted as best as he could. We got our old channels and our new HD stations as well. Tome will come back some other time and fine-tune the dish.
So... is it over??? Will we have power???? And it's still raining outside - steady rain. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:49 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, July 25, 2005
17 hours without powerWe had a major storm go through the neighborhood yesterday. High winds, torrential downpour. We had standing water outside our patio door - which is rough to get when the backyard slopes-off almost 5 feet. In fact, my lawn turned into a swamp.
Then around 8 o'clock the power went out.
read more of this entry »
I couldn't take the suspense after about half an hour, so I took Carol's SUV that's parked in the driveway and tooled around the neighborhood. There is debris everywhere - leaves, plants, branches, entire branches broken-off trees, siding missing on a house a block away. This was so much worse than I thought. I drove around to get an idea of how large of area was involved. I head on the radio that an American Airlines hanger at O'Hare lost most of a wall in the wind.
I got home and there was still no power. Around 10:30, we noticed that the people across the street behind us had power. But history told us that our little corner of the world has had bad power problems.
Now, we're still in the middle of the heatwave. It's still in the 90's outside. the air conditioning had been off for a while and you could feel the air stagnate and get warmer. We can't open the doors or windows, because even though it had finally stopped raining (though the lightning still continued for hours) we didn't want to warm-up the house. We attempted to go to bed.
What a lousy night of sleep - or lack of - that was. Woke up this morning. Still no power. Carol got up and showered by flashlight. I went and sat on the couch and let our "kidlettes" (Indy & Chip) out to romp around. Carol went to work. I called ComEd a few times, first to open trouble tickets (because they had NO RECORD of an outage in my area!). AT around 10:30, I called ComEd again, and this time I got a status saying that I should have my power back at 1:15pm today. At around 11am I got an automated call from them saying that I should have power by now, Uh, WRONG! So I had to call to re-open the outage ticket.
I was having a new DirecTV dish installed today so that I can get HD signals for that big screen TV in my family room that has been a ton of fun to watch... too bad it was just sitting there, powerless, and totally un-enjoyable. The installers called earlier saying their morning call had canceled, and wanted to come over now. No, not without power.
Around 1pm I noticed ComEd trucks in the neighborhood, wit guys running around looking at the pedestals in the backyards (our power in underground in our development, like most - if not all - of the more modern developments that have been built in the last 20 years - which just pisses me off even more, because when this happens due to high winds, you know it has nothing to do with the immediate neighborhood - it has to be some place where the feeder lines are above ground - so they can blow down and cause havoc). the installers called - still no power, so we'll have to reschduled... DAMN!!!
Then, around 1:35, the power comes back up! I call the installation company and get them to come over! I liked the guys - a father and son subcontractor team that pointed out everything that was bad with my old setup and explanations why I haven't had good reception that I had expected. We also had discussions on my poor choice of antenna for the new system (fortunately, I had purchased two - don't ask) and had them on my garage roof, deinstalling the old dish and installing the new one in a more solid location).
Now other than a fight with some wasps that were living in a downspout, things are finally progressing. The air conditioning is starting to cool the house back to acceptable levels,the refrigerator is cooling and chilling our food again - nicely insulated from the heat and we're not going to loose anything.
I hate these outages - you feel so helpless and today, I just felt trapped - waiting for power, waiting for installers. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 02:10 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Ahhh...A couple of days off... I LIKE it... No money, but I'm liking it... gonna take it easy and decompress, ending the week with a drive to Michigan with B&B and we'll just bob in the pool, barbecue and just crank-up that decompression to a new level...
posted at 10:06 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Non productiveYesterday's storm only produced .6" of rain, and that was at O'Hare. Again, the rainfall was very specific to certain areas, so the storm was a non-event around here. I didn't help the plants, the grass, or the drought.
What's even worse, is that we've got the local meteorologists crying "the sky is falling! the sky is falling!" about this weekend, specifically about Sunday - again, a day of baseball for us at "The Cell" against Boston.
Sunday it's supposed to be 97 degrees with a heat index of 105. There are all kinds of warnings up to basically, don't go anywhere outside on Sunday. As the days have been passing and we've been getting closer to Sunday, the predicted high temperature has been slowly going up a degree at a time - a few people locally are saying that we can break 100 degrees on Sunday... and possibly break the all time high on the same day it was set - 105 degrees.
This is nuts...
posted at 09:54 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Storm!Yes! FINALLY! We've gots ourselves a cold front!
Nice, heavy thunderstorms moving through the whole Chicagoloand area.
"Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 651 Remains Valid Until 6 Pm Cdt"
But will it be enough? Not a chance! The front is too "thin" - the storms won't be soaking enough.
posted at 01:18 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
My new elevator pet peeveWell, I've been on this job now for over 6 months.
I'm developing a pet peeve that I cannot control. A totally, irrational pet peeve,
read more of this entry »
I work on the 10th floor of the building. The "cafeteria" (or what's left of it) is in the basement.
Going from the 10th floor to basement in an elevator non-stop is damn near impossible. People have the audacity to actually call for an elevator on another floor and ride until still another floor, delaying me in my daily travels. Don't they know I'm hungry? Don't they know that their travels are delaying me in mine?
The ones I hate the most? The ones that take elevator ONE FLOOR. Ever hear of The Stairs???
Oh, I like the new thing that I'm starting to see - groups of people that interrupt your travel by calling your elevator to their floor. And then - because they're gabbing - take their precious little time getting in to the elevator, punch a button for still another floor to again interrupt your journey, continue on in their conversation, and then, when arriving on their destination floor, continue talking - not moving - as the doors open, and start to close again.
I know, I know... I'm being irrational... but when you travel only top-to-bottom or bottom-to-top, any other stops at all delay you. And the stupidest things about it? 1) You have no control about it 2) you're a friggin' nobody, just like any other numnutz in the building and who the hell are you to be so put out because others use your elevator? (yeah, there are 5 elevators that could be used and the rumor has it that there are no engineers in the building that still know how to program the elevators - which is why most of the elevators return - not to the 1st floor, but to the 10th floor where a prior occupant had their executive offices).
Just another pet peeve that I must learn to deal with. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:31 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, July 17, 2005
MesmerizingOK, now we're just sitting around the big screen TV, finding HD feeds to watch and just watching things because they look good and not because they are good.
OK, I'm diggin' the big screen...
posted at 03:30 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, July 16, 2005
WOW and BeefWe had Barry & Buffy meet us at Streets of Woodfield this afternoon so that we could all go to see War of The Worlds at the Loews theaters there. We haven't seen them in a while. We got there almost 45 minutes before the movie started - just to make sure we got seats (not a problem with that much time before the start)
I'm still not sure how I feel about the movie. Effects - SUPERB. Technology is really getting effective. I guess I'm still stumbling around the plot, or story line, or how I feel about it. I guess I have to just look at it as "a day in the life" (or many days in the life) of a divorced dad and his kids... when aliens invade the earth with the intent of wiping out all of humanity and succeeding easily with NO HOPE of being able to fight them off, even just a little, to just save a small town or city, only to slowly realize that perhaps they cannot save the entire human species from genocide. The ending scenes... sucked, I think. I wasn't expecting resolution, but surely you would think that something changed in the family relationships by the end... (and why the hell did those few blocks in Boston look surprisingly untouched?)
So, even though we initially talked about going to Big Bowl for dinner, Buffy mentioned she needed meat. So. we made dinner reservations at Chicago Prime Steakhouse, which we haven't been to in years. Had a WONDERFUL wait-person named Cindy who was one of the better servers that we've had in years (If you go - ask for her - you won't be disappointed). We had wonderful meals - though it was quite a bit pricier that we were prepared for.
Afterward, we went back to our house so that we could show them the landscaping that Diane had done, the new rugs that they haven't seen in the living room/dining room, and of course, to take a short spin in front of the big screen TV for a while.
In just two weeks we're heading up to Diane's house in Michigan for a mini-getaway. We're all looking forward to that.
posted at 09:25 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, July 15, 2005
They're following meAs I'm doing my evening watering of the plants outside, I've started to notice that I am not alone.
I don't know how they know it. I don't know if they know it's me.
Or maybe they just know that a human is walking around outside with a big long fat worm that has water that comes out of a strangely-shaped head.
I now have robins that follow me around while I water. They must know that after I water, the soil is moister and the worms must be on the move and perhaps easier to find. Sometimes it just a single robin, sometimes two. I could never tell if they're the same robins, or just whoever was in the area that sees me sprinkling.
posted at 08:31 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Big Screen TV
Well, it's here! Carol and I now have a 55" HDTV in our family room, sitting on the media cabinet that we got recently.
Here's the thing - I have no good digital signals to view. We're almost 40 miles NW of downtown Chicago, and the antenna is an old 20 year old non-digital one that's actually in the attic and not mounted on the roof. He don't have the new dish up yet for DirecTV HD signals and we don't have digital cable - yet.
So, I'm really disappointed. I'm really disappointed in how bad the DirecTV signal is. It all depends on the station (transponder), but some - including locals - are pretty "blocky" and just don't have the resolution that I thought we should have. Buyer's remorse? I don't think so - I think it's just stuff I need to work on and tinker with as the new pieces are added.
But, I did view my first HD event - The Cubs - Pirates game this afternoon (I don't want to hear it about me watching the Cubs - It's baseball and it was a test). I can't wait to get a better signal so it doesn't break-up as much during motion. The picture quality has the potential of being something awesome.
Carol loves it. We're getting used to the remote and how it fits with all of the other remotes and all of the other equipment we're hooking up. I was up until 1 AM this morning recabling , labeling the cables, and making sure the other equipment (amp, TiVo, DVD, Computer, UPS, etc) all worked before the TV showed-up. All I have outstanding is the optical connection from the TV to the Amp - I've got no audio... which I don't really care about right now beacuse the internal speakers in the TV are the best I've ever experienced. - They're only Left & Right (no Surround), but they're pretty effective.
posted at 12:07 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
It's Christmas Eve!!!I don't think I have felt this way since I was a kid, the day before Christmas, all wound-up and just giddy over the presents that I would getting the next day.
Well, it's here again.
Tomorrow, I'm working from home so I can be there to accept delivery of our new Big Screen TV!!!!!
I can't wait!!! I feeling like bouncing around the room!!! And giggling!!!
I can't wait!!!
posted at 10:12 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
$2,232.86Wow. OK, so not having any service on your car for 8 years can be a little pricey.
But you know, $2,232 over 8 years isn't bad...
posted at 05:12 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, July 11, 2005
8 yearsWell, I'm about 2 weeks away from having my license suspended for not getting an exhaust check on my car. It was die in January, and my "Service Engine Soon" light has been on for a few years now.
It used to be that it you went in to get the checkout and your engine line was on, they would perform the test anyway and I would always pass.
Now, the light cannot be on - the tests are all though the on-board computer and sensors.
So, I went in to get the car serviced - FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE EIGHT YEARS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR.
Yes, I've done oil changes, brakes, new tires. Just not the regular maintenance.
This is gonna cost a fortune.
But, in the meantime, I have a nice silver 2005 Infiniti G35 as my loaner. Who doesn't love driving a new car? The smell, the quiet, the pickup on the accelleration... the new gadgets that aren't on your old car...
posted at 10:54 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, July 08, 2005
Am I going to lose it?I've come to the conclusion tat I'm going to lose my finger nail - the one I smashed in the Stadium Club doors at "The Cell" back on May 1st. I can see the bottom of the nail, and that's not good. Actually, not only do I see the bottom of the nail, but I feel like there's another nail underneath.
I'm a little squeamish about this, havening never lost a nail before, and my right index finger just seems to be used for so many different things... I wonder how it will all fall out? (No pun itended...)
Had to go back to Home Depot today. That fancy timer I bought last month failed. It ran a couple of good cycles and hasn't run since. So, instead of digital, I went to a digital/mechanical version. Hopefully, the lawn will come back.
posted at 07:54 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
The long journey to HDTVThis has been a long journey...
Back on February 19th, Carol & I were at an appliance store in Kenosha, waiting for new tires to be installed on my car (now, that is a long story...) We were tucked away in the corner of the store, watching their HDTV's.
That's when it happened - a guy's dream came true: my wife fell in love with a big screen HDTV!
Now, other than the cost of the TV (which Carol was pretty damn close to actually buying on the spot before we had to leave that day), we're DirecTV customers, so this just isn't something we could do quickly.
First, you need the TV. But, to get the HD signal from the DirecTV satellite, you need an HD Receiver. Now, the DirecTV HD channels are on a different satellite, so we need a new dish that will pick-up signals from multiple satellites simultaneously. To get the signal from the dish to the receiver means that we need a new amplified multiswitch that will take the multiple satellite feeds and pump-out the signal to the receivers in the house.
Fortunately, you can take all of these steps one at a time and gradually rebuild your infrastructure to get HD signals.
Last Thursday, we took the first step - buying the TV.
read more of this entry »
After a lot of research, and even though we were sucked-in to the quality of DLP, we opted for a Sony LCD 55 inch projection system (KDF-55WF655). It's going to be a while before it shows up - it's coming from Los Angeles.
The second step we took today. I purchased and FINALLY received today a Sony SAT-HD300 receiver. I got it off eBay and saved hundreds of dollars (though this particular auction was one of the worst I've ever been involved with). The receiver has not only component outputs, but regular S-Video and composite outputs, so we could hook it up to our existing 27-inch TV. The picture quality seems even better than the original (a Sony SAT-B55).
This receiver not only has satellite inputs, but antenna and cable inputs as well. There are internal tuners to accept off-the-air signals, both analog and digital. So, on a lark, I hooked up the antenna that I installed in our attic 20 years ago.
Before I knew it, I was pulling-in the DT signals from the local TV stations!, Now, I can't see them in HD yet (since we don't have the HDTV yet), but I can see the 4:3 version of the signal! I had no idea that the TV stations in town had these "other" stations! For instance, both Channel 5 (local NBC affiliate) and Channel 7 (Local ABC affiliate) have separate channels for broadcasting local weather info and radar - in HDTV - 24 hours a day! Also, Channel 7 and 11 (the local PBS affiliate) broadcasts their own HD programming on still another channel. This is so damn cool!
Next step: Replace the multi-switch (which I already own). I can do this any time and need to do this soon.
The final step is replace the dish - I'm getting a replacement dish off of eBay, so when that comes in, I will need to find an installer. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 06:57 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, July 04, 2005
HomeWhat a wonderful weekend. I didn't blog at all - didn't have an internet connection, had audblog problems, and frankly - was too "in the moment" relaxing in the pool for three days and enjoying Diane and Melinda's cooking.
Sigh. Need to do this again... in a couple of weeks...
posted at 07:50 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Rain!We finally got a thunderstorm! We haven't had any rain in weeks and we finally got our own little storm - complete with high winds and torrential downpour.
The bad news is that it lasted all of 10 minutes.
10 minutes doesn't make up for weeks of no rain.
Back to square one.
posted at 05:50 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
StrawThe lawn is just about burnt-away. We haven't had rain in weeks, and if we did, it sure isn't a soaking rain.
Time to break down and start watering the lawn. We got a grub treatment for the lawn and it needs to soak in, so since it's not raining, we've got to water. I went out and got a sprinkler that I can move around the yard, but it's going to have to run quite a while to try and soak it as long as possible.
So, I went out and got a fancy digital timer today. I'm sure it'll work - at least once. I just hope I can come up with a schedule that makes sense that the timer will understand and execute faithfully.
Otherwise, all I will have is straw.
posted at 02:12 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Heat, Cold, Gas, and PlantsThis week is shaping-up poorly.
It looks like this whole damn week is going to be a scorcher, hitting the high 90's by the end with high humidity. Oh, and no rain either.
I'm coming down with something. My lungs are filling up, I've lost my voice. Feels like a cold. A summer cold. I don't think it's my allergies this time around. I feel really funky.
On the way to work this morning I passed my neighborhood gas station that I always fill-up at. I filled-up 6 days ago for $2.35/gal (OK, it's the premium stuff). Today it jumped to $2.52/gal! 17 cents in 6 days!
Just as we hear that gas prices are falling! HA! Damn Independence Holiday! The demand is going to go up the next week or so because of the holiday travels and this just feels like price gouging! Damn the oil companies!
Diane stopped by again today to finish-up her planting. She added more hostas and daylillies to some of the empty spots in front of the house and put down mulch on the other planting areas. That should help some of the daylillies in front of the garage - because of the pitch of the soil, some of the dirt would was away down the sidewalk when I watered. This should help retain the dirt and even the water.
The last big step is to lay down a fabric weed barrier in the front before we put down the mulch. Diane is pretty much against this, but it's something I insist on. I've used this stuff before, and it's great to 1) keep the weeds out and 2) keep the decorative "topping" (in this case - cypress mulch) out of the dirt. I've used it with stone in the past and it worked well. It's just hell to install, so I volunteered to do it next week while on furlough.
Just hope a cool front moves through so I won't die laying the fabric next week!
posted at 06:51 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Welcome to SummerSo, they days all run together and they all feel the same, only the season changes. Today is summer - another hot, muggy day that we've been having for a while now.
Seems my allergies must be kicking-in again - it's all settling in my chest. I love having - as they say - a "productive cough". Yech.
Looked out the front window this morning and 2 of the 3 Black-Eyed Susan's look like there's absolutely nothing wrong with them - it's as if someone came and replanted new ones overnight.
The third one? Not so much. Wilted and whithered. Will water again tonight.
Hey, make sure you wander over to say Happy Birthday to Erin when you get a moment.
posted at 08:12 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Monday, June 20, 2005
Damn. I killed 'em.Because of the ballgames over the weekend, my watering schedule got out of whack. I watered early on Saturday and skipped watering yesterday.
Bad move.
The three Black-eyed Susan's that Diane planted are toast. Actually, one of them is really toast - it's all shrivelled up, worse than the other two. It was the only one that had a flower on it when Diane planted it.
God, I feel bad. I didn't think it would make much of a difference to skip that time. Everything else was just fine, just not those Susan's.
I watered them anyway. Anything can happen. I'm still too new to this watering thing.
posted at 07:41 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, June 17, 2005
Wearin' the new onesI know I shouldn't be doing this, but I've been wearing my new RayBan's all day. Even at the computer, I haven't been taking them off and I can see fine. All this time I'm usually in my office without my glasses on because I can see the screen better without them. Today, I can see the screen fine. In general, I can see pretty well today, so I guess the prescription is correct after all.
posted at 04:21 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, June 16, 2005
That explains a few things...Earlier this week, carol get fed-up about not seeing well and made appointments for the two of us at Lenscrafters to get our eyes checked. It's been almost three years, so I guess it was time.
The tests went fine. What happened next I wasn't ready for.
The technician brings me into the exam room and dials up what she thinks is my rough prescription into that wild contraption that you stick your head into... you know the one, I just don't know what they call that thing... ("Now which one is clearer.. one... or two..."). he doctor comes in, and we get to work, first on the right eye. I'm looking at a projected target on the wall behind me through a mirror on the far wall. There's only three letters projected: "L F O". No problem - we go through the whole fine-tuning thing and get that all set for the right eye.
Onto the left eye. Wait a minute... something's not right.
read more of this entry »
I struggle through the first couple of tweaks, as it's difficult to actually see the changes between them. I'm starting to think that the tech dialed-in the wrong starting point. I tell this to the doctor, and as I'm describing what I'm seeing, she says not to worry about it right now, do my best and we'll go in.
The problem was I could see the "L" and the "O" clear as a bell. I really couldn't discern the two horizontal lines of the "F". It never got clear. It never looked as sharp as the the "L" and the "O". Something was wrong and I could just feel something was up.
On top of all this, my left eye is a mess - it has been discharging mucous for the left couple of days. It's read and irritated. On top of that, it also tears a lot and that's been going on for years.
Time for dilating the pupils, take some pictures, and do some close-up study.
Result? The doctor thinks that I may be developing a cataract, right in the center of the lens. It looked a little cloudy, and that's why I couldn't see the "F" like I used to.
Damn. Like father like son. Cataracts. It's just starting though, and who knows how it will progress, so it's going to have to be something to watch going forward.
I also got a prescription for some eyedrops for the left eye. It might be allergy related, so she wanted me to try this for two weeks and see how it goes.
Picking out frames sucks. Now, it's hard to tell what's a Men's frame and Women's frame - in fact, they're going unisex now, so I just can't tell.
I pick out a pair of rimless frames, smaller than I used to have, and another set of RayBans for my sunglasses. The sunglasses will be ready tonight, but my other glasses will take 10 days. (what happened to this "done in an hour" crap?). The sunglasses, when ready, don't feel right. I mean, they feel OK, but the prescription doesn't feel right. I'm told to wear them a while and make sure. I can always come back. Maybe it's these damn dilation eyedrops. I mean, things look s little "wonky", so maybe, even though they're wearing off, it's not back to the way they should be.
Well, we'll have to see how this whole vision thing goes... « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:22 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
GreenMy sister Diane stopped by the house this morning and continued her hard labor at making our plot of clay and construction debris into something that would actually grow green plants, some flowering.
I still don't know how this all started. I think she's just really into gardening and has been doing it both their house in the city and the house up in Michigan. She's befriended the local landscaper up in Michigan, so she must be getting tips and has just really found something she just likes to do.
On top of that, the idea that we have property that has absolutely no plants on it (well, no living plants on it), must have sent her over the edge, I guess.
read more of this entry »
I just can't remember Diane ever saying that she was going to step-in and takeover our sad situation. But she has. And I'm not going to stop her.
I mean, let's face it. Between Carol and I, we don't have any interest at all in gardens. Carol's got that whole bee-phobia thing, so flowing plants were always out, and even though we had a landscape architect start us down a path at least 10 years ago, we never really kept up with it. That, and certain areas in front of the house that must have had issues with the soil, just made anything we planted in certain areas just die.
So, even though I've been talking about this in recent weeks in the first person, Diane's been busting her butt out there trying to get the soil right and trying to come up with ideas that fit our lifestyle (i.e., low or no maintenance). Planting doesn't appear to be too much of a problem - it's trying to prep the soil that sucks. Our soil is REALLY bad, and the closer you get to the house, the more construction debris and rocks you find, embedded in that thick clay. It takes a lot of work getting the crap out of there, replacing the soil with something good, adding peat where needed.
So, she was back out there today (I could tell because I could see her SUV in our driveway through our WeatherCam). I knew when she got there and I knew when she left. And - now that I've worked alongside her - I know that she really doesn't take breaks so she was out there digging planting and transplanting today.
Sure enough, when I got home, I saw what the next phase was - more hostas and daylillies, as well as some Black-Eyed Susan's. She's got all kinds of hostas, one that actually flowers (which I didn't know).Then in the really big effort, she transplanted a pretty sad burning bush from the front of our house to a spot near where the yews sat only yesterday, along the side of the house. That's not where she wanted to go - she had a spot all picked-out next to the garage, but as she started digging there, she just hit a tangle of roots from a nearby ash tree... not to mention being really close to the gas line going to the gas meter on the outside of the garage.
TRANSPLANTING BUSHES SUCKS. I know - I did it when we transplanted the two yews to the side of the house from the front of the house about 10 years ago. (I think it was longer). I don't know how she did it by herself.
She's come up with some great, simple ideas that seem to work... except for those transplanted hostas that aren't dying but aren't exactly flourishing either. I'll keep watering and we'll wait until next year to figure out what their condition really is.
All of this writing is just to make sure that I say Thanks to my kid sister. I sort of don't know why you're taking your precious time to do it, but do you realize how much we appreciate it? The whole front looks a lot better than, well, ever I guess. I like it better than what the landscaper did years ago. It fits our lifestyle better. It make the place a bit more inviting.
You put in an awful lot of labor and I have to honor that work with my Zen Watering to make sure that it lives on. I just have to remember to do that, since I've never really done it before.
Thank you for taking your precious time and driving all the way out to our house to toil in the soil and making our place look better. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:23 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Those are gone...
I mentioned back in April about the two yews on the side of the house.
I have been in denial for too long - the one bush is more than dead and the second one - though it looks healthy - started to turn yellow on some selected branches underneath.
Time to start over.
My 20 year old yews that I originally planted with my dad and transplanted to the side of the house are now gone. Just empty dirt is left, just begging to have something done with it.
posted at 05:45 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, June 12, 2005
BroadcastCaught a broadcast of the Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me! on NPR that we attended of last Thursday.
It was actually edited more than I thought it would. There was an entire game cut out (a Limerick challenge, that Mo Rocca chimed-in with the caller that produced some great laughs).
The editing was great, though. You really couldn't tell the edit points. I was impressed!
posted at 10:06 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Yellow
I was excited to see that something good has become of my watering. I went out tonight to do my daily watering when I saw it - one of the daylilies in front of the garage actually bloomed! It was just a nice yellow flower, standing up tall where nothing has bloomed in years... OK, maybe decades... guess the watering is helping something...
posted at 07:55 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!
I've been a fan of NPR for a few years now. Don't know why I started listening, but on long drives I really enjoy listening. Their news stories are much longer and full of information you just don't get anywhere else. Some of the shows are great, too. One of our favorites that Carol and I listen to every week is produced by Chicago Public Radio and usually airs multiple time over the weekend - it's a "game show" called Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!. This year, they're broadcasting in front of a live audience all summer. So Carol and I along with Diane & Melinda went down to the Bank One Plaza Auditorium to watch the taping.
Now, mind you, this is a radio show, so the stage was sparse (2 podiums, a table, and... a multicolored disco light). It's a nice little auditorium that seats about 500 people. At about 7:30pm, the lights dimmed, the unmistakable sounds of the Allan Parsons Project started up, along with the disco light. Yes, they introduced the cast like the Bulls intros.
Today's show had Carl Kassel (NPR newsman and the show's Official Judge and Scorekeeper) Peter Sagal, the Host, and tonight's panelists Mo Rocca, Paula Poundstone and Richard Roper.
The broadcast is just under an hour but the session lasted about an hour and a half. As Peter told us up front, things will have to be redone, either immediately just because of speaking flubs, or later after the show was complete, to "fix" bad readings of lines or somesuch. We were asked to stay for the "redo's" so that we could absorb sound and match the original content!
The cast was great - Paula was quick-witted in her great, odd style, with great one-liners that probably won't make it to air. Even though she was hot, Mo beat her to the punch in his own way and was drawing huge bursts of laughter throughout the show. I'm sure a lot of his stuff will wind-up on the cutting room floor, but it was great for the show. Richard had a few great lines as well, as one of the running jokes going throughout the show had to do with Anne Bancroft, The Miracle Worker, and not being recognized for her best dramatic role.
There's a segment of the show that's called "Not My Job", where they ask someone well known to answer three questions about a subject they know nothing about. Tonight's call-in guest was S. Epatha Merkerson (Lt. Anita Van Buren of Law & Order fame) and questions had to to with the production of what may be the worst movie of all time - 'Manos' the Hands of Fate. Unfortunately, she went 0-for-3, so the contestant didn't get Carl Kassel's voice on their home answering machine.
We'll have to see if some of the running gags/lines make it into the final edit: Anne Bancroft, Millard Fillmore (and East Aurora and his Noodle Roller), and "it's just us here" - Paula's line after being reprimanded for swearing between segments because there are kids in the audience (which everyone questioned what kid would ask their parents to go to a radio gameshow about current events!)
GREAT TIME, fun time. We want to do it again this summer!
UPDATE: Listen to the show here.
posted at 11:28 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Blooming
Well, my Zen Watering is also helping our Hawthorne tree - it started to bloom.
Cool.
OK, key point to Zen Watering: has to be a bug-free night. Feel like I'm twitching to spray the bugs out of the air too often. Nice and quiet in the neighborhood. Hmm... another important note: - become one with your equipment. Learn it. Embrace it. I couldn't figure out why I wasn't getting enough water pressure out the nozzle. I lost track of how the nozzle worked. There's a thumbscrew type of adjustment on the back that adjusts how the valve opens. It's wasn't tightened, so I didn't have full control of the water flow. Must always have full control for Zen Watering.
Went to Home depot and have replaced all of my hose connections with brass quick-connect fittings. Once I did that, every leaky part of the hose and hose cart stopped leaking. Yes, become one with the equipment...
posted at 07:25 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Watering Zen
Was driving to work this morning when I realized that a house across the street and 2 houses down was TP'd over night. Haven't seen that in a while.
Tonight, while watering the plants that Diane planted, I realized something: 1) I hate gardening, but 2) I love watering.
I have obviously picked-up the watering gene from my dad, who used to love to water the plants and water the grass - by hand at times - just because he could. He'd be out there for hours. I'm starting to see what he saw in it. It's just... peaceful. I don't know, you stand around, hose in hand, and just spray. Oh, and if you get a good nozzle, oh, that's the best. It's not the old brass, straight nozzle. I've got a fancy one that has multiple patterns on it that you just rotate into position to suit your need. Mostly for me, it's "shower" mode - you want a nice gentle shower for these plants and bushes. Some of the plants are doing well, so you don't want to injure them. Then, sometime, you just have to use the "jet" setting to put out a high-pressure stream, not to water but clean up the concrete or decorative landscaping brick. Well, OK, I use it when the hose doesn't reach - I set the nozzle to jet, squeeze the trigger just a bit, and arc the water onto some plants that I just can't reach any other way. But, it's satisfying. Peaceful. Relaxing. If the night is bug free, at sunset, oh... that's just perfect. I'm really digging this...
posted at 08:22 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, June 06, 2005
It better be goodWe went back to Ethan Allen tonight to order the media cabinet we looked at about two weeks ago. I guess we got a little spoiled working with La-Z-Boy and others, because when the lady told us it may take 6-8 weeks we were shocked and appalled. That long for a piece of furniture? I piece of furniture that we NEED to have so that when we buy our big, wide-screen HDTV projection TV, we have something to put it on? How can we watch TV without that? HOW CAN WE WAIT 6-8 weeks to watch HDTV? Then we started rationalizing that we were in a "real" furniture store and things had to be made to fulfill the order and we were just used to companies having warehouses full of stuff to sell...
We felt better when we found out that our piece should be in the local warehouse in two weeks.
I guess our negative feelings about the delay had nothing to do with the furniture, but rather we've been pumped up for weeks about actually going out and getting a big, wide-screen HDTV projection TV, and our feelings were just amped-up after going to my cousin Kathy's over the weekend and seeing their new big, wide-screen HDTV projection TV.
It's all about the HD that I'm missing with my TV...
posted at 08:00 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
I didn't think I looked that bad...
Went to a place near the house to pick up some sandwiches for dinner. Gave the woman behind the counter my order. She punches-up the list into the register. Saw the total amount go down before she said how much it would be. Didn't pay attention to it. Stood in line, waiting for the order to get assembled. Picked-up the order and left.
As I walked across the parking lot to my car, I looked at the receipt.
I got a 10% discount!
I'm only 48 years old - did I look that bad???
posted at 06:24 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, May 30, 2005
Nah, I just don't think they're going to make it
Nope. No change. How long do you wait until you give up?
posted at 08:39 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Day 3 of Hostas Watch
I don't know... the hostas don't appear to be getting any better.
Spent a long time this evening trying to kill a wasp nest inside the cable demark box on the outside of the house. Took a while, and I soaked the mother and every damn wasp I could see.
posted at 08:12 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, May 27, 2005
Furlough - Day 5posted at 08:38 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Furlough - Day 3
Diane's back at the house today. I finished with the border in the front garden, and built another along the garage, where Diane had reworked the soil. More Home Depot shopping where we picked-up and then planted some Day Lillies on either side of the garage door. We got some pea gravel and we worked some areas around the downspouts. Diane also dug-up some large groups of hostas out of her garden, split them up, and replanted them under our hawthorn tree. Um... I don't know - they're not looking so good. I'll water them every day, but... I don't know...
posted at 08:38 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Furniture shopping
So, the phone call that I took at the movies was that Carol wanted to go shopping for her chair. It's a chair for the family room that matches the couch. When we got to La-Z-Boy, they no longer had the couch on display in our color, so it was easier to look at alternatives (Carol didn't like the color of the chair - it matched the couch pillows, and it may look good on pillows but not on an entire chair). We found a chair that she liked and it was significantly cheaper than anything we were looking at before, so we ordered it. We then took a ride to Ethan Allen in Arlington Heights to look at a media cabinet. It's part of a much larger entertainment center, but all we wanted was the low cabinet to replace the base of the TV we have now, and in preparation for acquiring a much larger TV in the near future. We didn't buy the cabinet - I had to measure the shelf areas and make sure all of the equipment fits. It looks like it will.
posted at 07:15 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, May 23, 2005
Furlough - Day 1
It's my first day off in months, and my sister Diane comes over to work on our front landscaping. After a trip to Home Depot (Where I had a bird take a dump on my head, thank you very much) we started working on our tasks. For me - trimming out the area with decorative brick. It's not quite as easy as it looks, but it's looking great. Diane's trying to rework some of the dirt in the corner by our second burning bush. The dirt around the house is absolutely terrible - clay and construction rubbish, loaded with rocks. We had another trip to Home Depot and called it a day. It's starting to look real good.
posted at 03:55 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Chinese Birthdays
It's that time of year again when we get together and celebrate Carol's & Debbie's birthdays'. This year, Carol came up with the idea of just going to Chinatown, walk around, shop, and just find a restaurant to have dinner at. So that's what we did. I drove everyone down to Chinatown, parked, and walked down Wentworth. We stopped in a few stores to look around. We walked a few blocks, and finally settled on a restaurant at the end of the street, with the un-Chinese name of Evergreen. We went inside and it was more than half empty, with many tables of 10 just sitting there idle. Our hostess struggled to find us a table, as it sounded like they were going to be busy tonight. The cobbled together a table for 5 in a corner of the room( Which actually blocked-off serving traffic to some of the tables). We ordered a Deluxe Dinner for Five with an additional order of roast duck. We COULD NOT BELIEVE the amount of food that showed-up at the table! No, really! The table was covered in serving dishes and we barely had room to maneuver anything around. LOTS of food came home with us? Oh, and those empty tables? FILLED! A Bus pulled-up outside and people poured-in. They all had ID's from the National Restaurant Show! Guess we picked a good place... the food was wonderful... all of it.
We "waddled" back up Wentworth, stopped in more stores, and drove back to Barry & Buffy's for desert - a birthday cake from Dinkel's which was great as well. A nice, fun evening.
posted at 10:48 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, May 20, 2005
New Rugs
We've seen a new rug store open up in the area. I'm always leery about these places. Then we got a flyer in the mail and it looked like it had promise. Tonight, we went shopping at the store - Capel Rugs - and we were really surprised. The store was huge, the selection was huge, and the prices were damn affordable. We wound-up coming home with not one but two rugs, identical except for size, for the dining room and living room. (How the hell we got the big rug home in my car was a damn miracle - my car has a small pass-through hatch from the trunk into the back seat and the rug was tightly wound enough to fit through the hole, with the rug resting just 6 inches short of the stick!)
posted at 06:57 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, May 16, 2005
We'll be poppin' soon...
Carol and I went out and got a new microwave tonight. What's wrong with the old one? Nothing, really. It's just 20 years old, has a manual wind-up turntable, and it's huge and doesn't have the cool settings that the newer ones have (you know, like throw in a bag of popcorn and just press the "Popcorn" button - it's times it out correctly with its internal sensors). Also, you can make the beeper quieter - great for the real late night snacks where you're trying not to wake up your spouse...
posted at 08:16 PM | Link | Mundane | 2 comments § |
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Oh, oh... Sick Chip?Back to long sleeves and coats.
Figures that we have White Sox games this weekend - we're back into what appears to be annual cycle of "if the White Sox are in town and are playing on a weekend, the weekend is going to be crumby".
Since the Chicago Wolves lost the other night, they have to play Game 5 of this round tomorrow night. Big deal, right? It is when it's your wife's birthday. So we went out to dinner tonight (nothing fancy - she had a craving for meat, so we went to Outback).
We seem to have a problem - our youngest bunny Chip is not acting right. He was fine this morning, running, jumping and zipping around the family room. Tonight - he's not moving much, if at all. He looks uncomfortable. When we pet him, he "vibrates". Based on our history of rabbits, that's a strong indication of pain or discomfort. He's looking for a place to be by himself. We're going to have to watch him.
posted at 06:44 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Always get the latest weatherIt's been in the 70's for days now. This morning, we've got a major thunderstorm coming through (cool!) which is already forcing the temperatures downward. It's supposed to be in the 40's by the time I leave to go home...
and me, dressed in short sleeves and no jacket...
posted at 10:07 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Didn't even last a week!
We have barely had the fresh paint on the walls for, what, 5 days?
There, on the stairs, I can see where a certain older female bunny has satisfied her urge to chew by chewing on the fresh paint on the outside corner of the wall! I guess we setup the gates a bit too late.
Time to break out some touch-up paint!!!
posted at 05:52 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, May 09, 2005
Moving day?Carol took today off to try to start putting the house back together from our pre-paint pre-flooring days.
Today - in what I consider a smart move - she hired some movers to move furniture from the garage into the house. Took less than 30 minutes and saved us pain and agony of a few days, not to mention a drastic reduction in yelling and arguing on how a certain piece of furniture fits/does not fit through certain doorways.
posted at 05:07 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, May 08, 2005
Underpass MaryI know I'm going to somehow wind up complaining about this, but it's actually hot outside! It's humid and almost in the 80's, sunny, not much of a breeze.
We drove into the city to pickup my Mom to bring her over to Diane & Melinda's so we can go out to dinner. Diane told Mom to have me get off the Kennedy Expressway at Fullerton just to see "Underpass Mary" or "Our Lady Of The Underpass". Well, we did, but we didn't know that the image is actually on the north side of the underpass and we were going southbound. We couldn't see it at all - all we could see is a crowd of about 50 standing around where the image would be. Odd - very odd. Yet, somehow, I feel compelled to see this before it gets defaced again or changes due to rainfall or whatever.
We went out to dinner at Tufano's Vernon Park Tap, which is pretty decent Italian food - nothing fancy at all, but good. We went back to the house and did the present thing. There was a fire truck and ambulance down the block at the nursing/retirement home. They're there so frequently, that they don't even use sirens anymore - just lights. Sad.
We didn't stop on the way home. Still have a need to see this... icon?
posted at 10:18 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, May 06, 2005
House Project #2 - Day Four - COMPLETE
That's it - John and his crew have completed and are we happy about the quality of his work (You need a painter in the Chicago area and we'd be more than happy to give you a recommendation). It's hard to get the feel of the place - it's way different and looks great, but it's different, too, compared to the last 20-some years. It takes getting used to.
Went to Expo Design Center tonight and looked at area rugs. Fell in love with one that's on sale. I mean, it called out to me from across the room. Alas, we don't have the money - even at 50% off - to buy it tonight. Who knows how long it will be there.
Followed that up with dinner at Fuddruckers and a trip to Home Depot for new paint-able switch and outlet plates, a piece of Plexiglas for the rabbit cage (long story - let's just say it's about neatness and protection), and some knew door pulls for the foyer closet bi-fold doors.
posted at 08:12 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, May 05, 2005
House Project #2 - Day Three
The walls are done and most of the trim. It's really great walking in for the first time and seeing the color - everything is just warmer than before. Our accent color is not what I expected. The swatches made it look as if the colors were further apart than what they're looking like on the walls. Looks like it's an optical illusion, though. It depends on lighting and the angle that you look at the wall. The third accent color is even better than I thought, turning out slightly lighter and redder than the swatches (actually, all of the colors are slightly redder, but that could just be lighting). That color as an accent is like the best move yet with the painting. It's a small wall, but it just punches it up so well, we're both pretty psyched about it.
And it's just damn paint.
posted at 05:12 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Cinco de Mayo Symmetry!Happy 05/05/05! Kinda cool in a very geeky sort of way. We've only got one opportunity each year for the next seven so we might as well celebrate Symmetry Day...
What am I doing up?... Long story, other than Carol being up, the TV is on, I have 2 cooped-up rabbits running around my bedroom, and they've blocked-off Michigan Avenue downtown because of the Bombing outside the British Embassy in New York... (that's why the TV was on because Carol heard the police calls on the scanner...)
posted at 05:05 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
House Project #2 - Day Two
The guys were gone by the time I got home. There isn't a lot of visible things going on - it's obvious that the day has been spent with more nail pops and patches and filling and sanding. But, you can tell that they ended the day by putting some color on the walls in the living room (it's still really wet when I got home).
I need to see an accent wall to see if we're on the right track, but I have to tell you that I like the base color a lot.
posted at 04:37 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
House Project #2 - Day One
Well, we are officially into our second house project - painting the first floor. Well, actually, hiring someone to paint the first floor.
The guys are doing good - they've applied primer on the God-awful baseboards and have actually painted all of the ceilings. We had a lot of nail pops in the big wall in the living room/dining room. The guys took the time and felt the wall, and installed over 100 screws and patched over them.
I like these guys.
The "Kidlettes" - Indy & Chip - are back in our bedroom, just as they were during House Project #1 - new Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors.
We're not going to be as "put out" living in our house this time. In fact, other than the rabbits being upstairs, it's business as usual.
Actually... this is kind of exciting! The guys said we'll start seeing colors tomorrow.
posted at 05:17 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, May 02, 2005
It all even's out...Mother Nature is striving for balance as she's making-up for the wonderful weather we've had over the past few weeks. There are freeze warnings up for tonight as we did into the 20's. It's dark, cold, and windy outside.
And, of course, it's May. Hopefully by the end of the week it's going to warm-up again.
I'm struggling to type as my right index finger is just a bit sensitive right now, and I'm limping around the office building because of that damn hole in back of my right heel that got ripped-open because of the stupid shoes I wore Friday night. I'm in pain and I can't get it to stop. At least I have a desk job so I don't walk all that much, but damn, I'm uncomfortable.
posted at 12:03 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Crowded sky
I was asleep, but something kept infiltrating my dreams. A familiar noise. It's the sound of a helicopter... not just one - but a few... and they're hovering... News helicopters... 2 blocks away...
Time to get the TV on and find some local news...
Father returned home last night at 9:30 and found his two kids - a 3 year-old girl & a 9 year-old boy - stabbed to death, his wife is being treated for lacerations.
We didn't hear a damn thing in the neighborhood last night...
UPDATE: Getting out of the neighborhood to get to work was impossible. I counted at least 7 television trucks and a dozen SUV's from radio and newspaper outlets. The police, fortunately, were just lifting barricades that block a lot of the street, so some of the traffic would get going. It's amazing how much a person slows down to see the scene as they drive by. I saw a little old lady slow to under 5mph to cross the intersection, while the rest of us just want to get to where we need to be.
After work I drove by again. A little less trucks, hardly any other media, but now the TV people were setting-up to do stand-ups right in front of the house.
Strange story. I know this is going to sound odd and even bad, but why do I feel a little more at ease knowing that this could be a domestic case instead of a home invasion kind of attack?
UPDATE:
read more of this entry »
Maternal filicide.
Nine-year-old Christian and 3-year-old Gracie fought back in vain Wednesday night as their mother stabbed them over and over, more than 200 times each, in a struggle lasting less than an hour in their Hoffman Estates home.
She told police she wanted to “save” the children from abuse she believed they faced at a new Evangelical church founded by her husband, a minister, according to law enforcement officials.
« hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 06:40 AM | Link | Mundane | 2 comments § |
Monday, April 25, 2005
Studs
I looked at the big wall in the living room/dining room tonight and saw something that shocked me. The wall hadn't been painted in 20 years - thank God the whole first floor gets professionally painted next Tuesday - but I look at the wall and I can see every friggin' stud in the wall? I don't know if it's the lighting, I don't know if it's shadows, or for some reason something has bled through, but they're there. I can see wher ethe hooks for the paintings are right on center with the studs. What the hell?
posted at 06:21 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Dinner with BridgetWent to B&B's for dinner tonight. Something hit me today - I really think they enjoy cooking for us. The plan the menu out with diligence and they execute it very well. And I have to say that we enjoy eating what they cook, 'cause they do a damn fine job.
After dinner we watched Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. Considering we never saw Bridget Jones's Diary, it was an OK movie. It was the first time I saw a movie on Comcast On Demand. Wow. This whole idea of a video farm and having the video streamed to you - and be able to fast-forward, rewind and pause - is a pretty good feat. Still wouldn't drag me back to cable, though.
posted at 10:55 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, April 22, 2005
Spring RainToday is one of those great spring rain days. The ones that you like.
I guess not everybody like them, but I actually like a good spring rain. The ones where it's not really too cold, not really windy. Not that crappy, pesky mist, but a good steady rain. I love walking in it - of course with proper protection.
There's that spring rain - washing things away metaphor that I like too. Cleanliness, new starts. I don't know - it actually changes my attitude - for the better.
Now, the whole spring rain thing changes dramatically when the rain continues for days and days and days... biblical references of 40 days and 40 nights come to mind and the attitude quickly sours, accompanied with a longing for sun, warmth... and dryness.
posted at 12:09 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, April 14, 2005
The bad and the good
Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it!!!
I have 2 yews alongside the house, next to the chimney. We had a snowfall a couple of months ago that was pretty deep, but was also very heavy with water content. We noticed as the snow started to melt that one of the bushes - the one directly out the window from where the couch is located so we see it all the time, was starting to turn brown right underneath the snow.
Today, it's pretty plain to see that there's something really wrong with the bush. The one next to it is perfectly fine. We've had them both for almost 20 years - they were the first ones we planted in front of the house and they survived being transplanted about 5 or 10 years ago. I can't replace it without it looking stupid.
Of course I'm in denial right now - I'm still thinking it's alive and will spring back as it gets more sun.
Sure it will.
At least our ash tree is budding up a storm. The weather has been great over the past week or so and everything is starting to wake up.
Well, except one thing. Wake up, damn it!
posted at 05:19 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Quick ReturnWow. I received emails saying that both my Federal and State returns were accepted. Gotta love electronic filing.
It's been raining all day. Was in the lower 70's yesterday, now it's in the 50's. It's Spring. It's Chicago. I know this is normal, but it still grates on ya.
posted at 07:15 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, April 11, 2005
TurboTax, don't fail me now!God, I hate this time of year... we've got a few twists to our tax filing this year, so I'm uncomfortable going through pieces of the EasyStep process that I've never been through this year... then the software didn't know it had the state software installed... so I reinstalled the software and then had to apply updates... and then some of the prompts didn't have the tax year in them (they were blank)... everything was OK in the federal, but the state - one second, I owed over $2000 and had a penalty to figure out, until I checked a box that said let the state calculate the penalty and then I'm getting a refund of $123. This is the first year that I'm not feeling good about the way TurboTax was acting... but, I'm going ahead with it, filing electronically, and let the cards fall where they may... I hate this time of year...
posted at 10:51 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Days pass with little to write aboutWow! I can't believe that I haven't written anything in the blog for a while. I guess what's more shocking to me is that I haven't written anything and I didn't realize that I wasn't writing. It was like the blog wasn't part of my life for a couple of days... and you know, that's not a bad thing. But it's just odd that I didn't even recognize that I was doing this. Maybe it's because I'm busy at work, maybe it's because the house is a mess, maybe it's because we've had painters in every day for quotes on painting the first floor. I don't know - I guess a jumbled-up life jumbles-up your priorities and perceptions.
read more of this entry »
Our bunnies - Indy & Chip - still have not returned to "normal" (however that can be defined). They're slowly spending more time in the family room with us, occasionally checking-out the living room/dining room. This new floor has just rocked their little bunny world and their not coping well. They spend more time in the cage with the door open then they spend out and about the house.
Like I said, we're getting quotes from painters to do the first floor. Might as well since we haven't put hardly any furniture back in the house (we have the new couch in the family room, and I setup the TV, TiVo, and amp with just the front set of speakers and the sub-woofer to keep us entertained, along with three barstools along the counter - and that's it).
On Saturday we had B & B over to go out to dinner. We didn't tell them about the floor so they were really surprised on how the house looked. We went out for Italian - Buffy & I had some pretty bad Ravioli, while Barry and Carol had some pretty good food. I don't know, it was a toss-up if we'd go back to the place.
We came back to our house and couldn't find anything to watch on the movie channels or PPV, so we watched Grey's Anatomy on ABC. That really wasn't a bad show and we my start to watch it.
The weather's been absolutely fabulous. With absolutely no coverings on any of the first floor windows, it's been really difficult to manage the temperature of both floors of the house. For a few days, when we'd wake-up in the morning the temperature inside the house was 60.
I've been having trouble sleeping lately. I mean, I sleep fine but I feel like I'm not getting enough, or it's not a deep enough sleep or something. I just feel like I'm tired and I'm not "catching up".
I hate that feeling. It's bothering me.
Let's see... Pope's funeral - interesting and sad... Charles & Camila's wedding - strange, soap opera-ish.
What else went on... can't recall.
(Oh! A one-person tribe on Survivor Palau?!?!?! Hate to say it, but this has been a good season, just because of these little twists. Speaking of good season - Amazing Race - look folks, an awful lot of people out there are hating Amber & Rob, but I've got to tell you, even though people think they're changing the show forever in a bad way, let's not forget that it took a lot of people 7 seasons of the show to figure out that taking a penalty can work for you. It really showed - more than Survivor did - how far ahead Rob is thinking. Still the best Realty show on television, by far. Not stopping for when the brothers rolled their SUV - that was a little bit over the line of not caring about the other teams. They could have "feigned" interest and that would have saved their standings with the other teams - maybe) « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 10:18 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Scratched already?
La-Z-Boy delivered our new sofa this afternoon - and promptly scratched the brand new Brazilian Cherry floor in the family room. Carol went ballistic, but was able to use some oil after they left and the scratch appeared to vanish. The couch seems to fit just fine on the wall, though it's deeper than the old one
posted at 01:29 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, April 04, 2005
Bang?Nobody told me that the floor was going to adjust itself. In the middle of the night. With a series of pops and BANGS! It's a little sartling - we had to go downstairs a few times to make sure no one was breaking in...
Thank God we're playing hooky today so we can some sleep!
posted at 07:02 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, April 03, 2005
The Winner is: La-Z-Boy
We bought the couch - after all of the looking we did, it was the first couch we say at La-Z-Boy. It's being delivered Tuesday.
Screw DST... my body clock is a mess... it needs a nap NOW...
posted at 09:05 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Spring Back, Fall Forward?Yes! We made it! Longer daylight! In the evenings!
Welcome all-powerful Daylight Saving (not SavingS) Time!
Lost an hour of sleep to pay for it...
posted at 07:50 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Done - Day 6
Carol and I had been out looking at sofa's all damn day (sorry... furniture shopping is a grueling sport, what with all of the looking and deciding and the test driving, all coupled with the thrill of avoiding the sharks at every twist and turn in the showroom). When we got home - Ziggy's van was still in the driveway - BUT he was just finishing up cleaning. Ziggy just left 5 minutes ago. The floor Right now is a high gloss, with the last finishing coat just applied before he left. We can't walk on it today, so God knows what the kitchen looks like - we can't get there.
Great work, though. It's really unbelievable to see.
posted at 02:37 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Beginning of Day 6
Saturday.
7:45am.
Ziggy is downstairs working. Yes, he's working on Saturday to get everything done today.
posted at 08:04 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, April 01, 2005
End of Day 5
Raining. Pouring. Spring is definitely here. Got home and the crew was gone - but they're not done. The the floor finish looks like it's done. The trim is going up - I'm very disappointed - the color doesn't match. It's a totally different wood, so we're going to have to paint it. Was hoping the match would be closer, but this isn't close.
Stopped at Bay Furniture before I went home, just to look around. I like the variety better than at La-Z-Boy. Carol and I were going out to more places tonight to look at more couches, but the weather really is crappy. We'll go tomorrow.
posted at 05:36 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Beginning of Day 5
Friday morning. Sunny. The flooring looks remarkable - I had to take a picture of it while the sun was out. What do you think?
posted at 07:33 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, March 31, 2005
End of Day 4
*cough* Can't... talk... *hack* ... Guys are STILL HERE... *cough* *cough* ... they're all done laying, and sanding... *wheeze* ... can't breathe... ***COUGH*** ... guys are putting the finish sealer on... *holy crap* ... They started before 8am... *cough* ... more later...
Update: Well, it's over an hour later and you can barely smell anything. The floor is friggin' gorgeous. The kitchen was obviously done last and it's all done! All of the appliances are back - the dishwasher, however, has lots of screws missing and Carol's pissed. I guess they come back tomorrow and do one more sanding and one more coat and then the trim goes up. Does that mean they're done tomorrow?
posted at 06:50 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
End of Day 3
Came home tonight to find... no one. All of the workers had cleared out. The floor is completely laid in the family room and the living room/dining room. Th underlayment is done in the kitchen. The doors that were removed yesterday are now planed and re-hung. There's a heavy gage extension cord hard-wired into the electrical box in the garage, and there's a sander parked in the corner of the family room.
Things are getting closer.
All hell broke loose outside. It's 73 degrees, winds up to 40 mph, rain, thunderstorm warnings, tornado warnings, hail. It didn't last long right in our neighborhood, but it sure was bad while it lasted. All of this with our cars parked outside, since the garage was full of our first floor possessions.
We went out to get something to eat, the sun broke out and produced this wonderful rainbow, the best I have seen in years. The sky was black, but the colors were vibrant. Even saw a faint double arc.
posted at 05:54 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
There goes the couch!
Just happened to look at the webcam that looks out in front of our house (the WeatherCam on the sidebar), and - low-and-behold - there was the garbage truck in front of our house with the couch from the family room sticking out of the top of it.
YES! IT'S GONE!
On the next refresh of the camera - and all of the carpeting and padding was gone. Now I feel like a normal citizen again instead of a white trash trailer park kind of a guy.
posted at 11:10 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Beginning of Day 3
When we got home after work yesterday, we had mixed emotions about what we found inside our house. On the upside, the floors are really coming along nicely. What I like is how much variation there is from board to board with color and clarity.
Now, the downside. Our brand new dishwasher, just installed last week, is partially ripped-out, with Ziggy wanting the whole thing removed. (We called Ted later and he'll be in this morning and tell them what to do to get around this.) The bottom few shelves of the pantry are now on a kitchen counter - no one told us to empty the pantry, so we didn't. The stove is in the middle of the family room, the refrigerator is in the middle of the kitchen. The powder room door is off its hinges, as well as the utility room, not to mention the pantry door as well.
We had a painter come over last night and give us a quote - way the hell above what I had wanted to hear, but I really like the guy and his approach and what he's going to do. We'll have to see how this goes. I'd like to use him, but things are a bit tight right now after the flooring.
Indy & Chip are getting a little better, but Indy is starting to flip out a bit, insisting on, um, "dominating" poor Chip.
It's still weird living out of the bedroom.
Oh, forgot one thing... we went to La-Z-Boy last night looking for couches. Found one we like - that's of course more expensive than I had wanted it to be.
posted at 07:01 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Beginning of Day 2Well, it was another quiet night in the half-empty house. Living out of the bedroom is like a little mini-vacation (no, that's not right. There's nothing restful about this. Maybe a mini-adventure). The "kids" (or "kidlettes" as I call them - our bunnies Indy & Chip) are handling the whole affair in different ways. Chip doesn't seem to care too much - he's young, adventurous and inquisitive. Indy is the old lady and she doesn't like change. She wants to go "home" and even though her cage is in the bedroom with us, "home" to her is downstairs where the cage used to be.
Everything is just feeling a little too cozy. Actually it's feeling a little too tight as we're just on top of each other upstairs. Hopefully this will last just the week.
The "kidlettes" were not as quiet as the night before - I think they were just in a state of shock the first night. When the sky started to loose its darkness, they started getting a bit more active and I can hear them eating.
What a gorgeous day today - it was in the 40's but felt warm. It's supposed to get to 70 today - the first time this year.
Too bad it's a week early for opening day. I hope it stays warm enough next week. I hate to start our season at Comiskey (oh, crap... I mean U.S. Cellular Field) in the cold like we usually do.
posted at 09:19 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, March 28, 2005
Plywood
I pulled up in front of the house. later than normal, to see a pile of carpeting and padding at the curb (next to the sleeper sofa we dragged out there yesterday), the front door of the house wide open, a table saw on the front lawn and van in the driveway. Obviously the workers were still working. I found out that workers was actually worker. Ziggy was packing up. I went in the house - the plywood underlayment was down in the family room, partially down in the living room, and the flooring was still piled-up on the last remnant of carpeting in the dining room. All of the baseboard was pulled-up. In the family room there was a black covering over the underlayment and some boards were actually dry-fit in an area (I have no idea why). Ziggy & Carol picked-up the marble fireplace hearth and put it in the utility room. It may have had adhesive on the back, but it looked like it dried-up long ago. Ziggy thought that trying to put some kind of angled-cut around the hearth would look bad, so he wanted to take-up the hearth to build up the underlayment. We'll see how this all goes.
It took a while for Ziggy to clean-up and put everything in its place. When he left, we dragged a few things around the garage and got an extension ladder out to put up plastic to seal-off the second floor from the first.
posted at 06:09 PM | Link | Mundane § |
First NightEaster was fun at Jane's house, but Carol & I are just really tired and left early. Our life has turned into living in our bedroom as if it was a hotel room. Yesterday for lunch we had Subway and we just sat on the bed and ate it.
Overnight, the bunnies were quiet - save the ruckus when we turned the lights off. I never heard them move around or eat. I think they were just confused with their surroundings.
We let them out this morning to run around the bedroom for a little while to get some exercise. We'll do the same tonight.
We have to figure out where to go for dinner, since we don't have a first floor to cook and clean in.
Sometime around 9am my broadband connection went down - I'll have to check it out when I get home.
posted at 10:21 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Empty!
Happy Easter everybody! Well, "The Kids" (Indy & Chip - our bunnies) are not so happily upstairs in our bedroom. The entire first floor is empty of furniture, window coverings, paintings and pictures. We've been in the house over 20 years and it's never been this empty since before we moved-in. It's a very odd feeling walking around and seeing... nothing. The place is dirty, though. It's amazing what the walls look like behind the couches. Speaking of couches, we drug a sleeper sofa to the curb - never to darken our house again. Somebody just came and took the mattress (we had taken it off the couch and it was still wrapped in plastic like the first day we bought it). We're buying a new couch for the family room to replace it.
All of our belongings are in the garage. I hooked-up the TiVo again, so it'll do what it needs to do for the next week or so.
Later today, we're celebrating Easter at my cousin Jane's - as long as I can find the directions to her house!
posted at 11:36 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Getting emptierWell, I successfully swung the cable modem into the garage and got the wireless router up and running, so I'll be able to keep my Internet connectivity throughout all of the action inside the house. We started breaking down some of the family room. Indy & Chip's BunnyCam is officially DOWN. I feel bad about that - tomorrow is easter and the live BunnyCam won't be active. Sorry, folks.
My allergies are just terrible as the bunny fur is flying all over the family room as I'm tearing apart th support computers and electronics for the room. I just can't get it all done today.
Tomorrow will be our last stretch before Monday's big start.
posted at 09:18 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, March 25, 2005
We got wood!
Our wood for the flooring was delivered this afternoon, all piled-up in bundles in the dining room. We've been letting Indy & Chip run all over the first floor now that there's nothing they can get into trouble with. The living room & dining room are empty except for the flooring. All we have left is the room we really live in - the family room. That's what we'll tackle over the weekend.
posted at 08:05 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Good Friday
During most of my career, I have been off work on Good Friday because of a company holiday. This year - I am back at work. I always thought that - as a company - getting Good Friday off was odd. It's a Christian religious holiday, and while I happen to be Catholic, the idea of getting off work for a religious holiday not because I'm Christian and "entitled" to it, I feel that in the real world out there where we show tolerance for all religions (and even those people that don't have any religious beliefs), that this just isn't right. I believe it should be taken as a "personal" day off or one of those additional days that you can take each year.
Anyway...
It's snowing like hell outside. The commute was easy - nobody is on the roads because they have the day off.
The living room at home is empty. The wood will be delivered this morning and stacked-up there to get acclimated. All we have to clean out is the family room, and other than all of the electronics (including the BunnyCam host machine which will have to go down - on Easter, no less), it should be smooth.
The big issue for me is internet connectivity - I may try to move the cable modem someplace else, but I'm not sure if it'll work from that location. If it doesn't, then I'm S.O.L for internet access until the entire project is completed.
posted at 09:23 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Time passingOK, what the hell is going on with the space/time continuum in my immediate area?
I've been busy and working diligently in my cube. Normally, if I'm busy and productive, time flies.
I'm busy. I'm productive.
The hands on the clock are barely moving. There are hours left in my working day and it feels like its never ending. It's actually a little disorienting - I'm used to time flying and this slow progression of time just doesn't make sense.
Or is it the meds?
posted at 01:45 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Still getting worseWoke up with a gross brownish sludge in moth, coating my tongue and teeth. GROSS. Despite some bad coughing jags last evening, I made it through the night quite quietly. Still feel like crap, though.
posted at 08:37 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
NoisyAs this cold or whatever it is (allergies from all the crap we've kicked-up in the house?) is starting to take hold with a vengeance. Eyes - dry, lungs - moist. I wheeze sometimes when I breathe. I swear my eyelids are making scraping noises when I blink, my eyes are so dry. Didn't make it through the day - I cut out of work early and hit the Walgreen's on the way home for some meds. Got home, took said meds and took a nap on the couch before Carol got home.
Unfortunately, we had one piece of furniture to move on our schedule for today - the buffet. Heavy as hell. It was pick-it-up-move-five-steps-put-it-down. It took forever, but it's in the garage.
posted at 06:39 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Things to do, and you're sickWhile surfing I checked-in at my own website and saw in the thumbnails on the side that the delivery truck from Abt was in the driveway in full view of my WeatherCam. Carol took the afternoon off to accept the delivery. I called and sure enough, we now possess a nice Maytag dishwasher and our old 20-year old... something... was no where to be seen. Carol vacuumed the living room while she was waiting - we've almost cleaned out the room, but we're going to finish up tomorrow. I really feel like I'm coming down with something - really achy, tired, eyes and nose are burning. Everything that's left is heavy and big and takes a bit of work and attentiveness so nothing gets broke/marred.
We got the "official" notification tonight - the floor starts getting laid Monday morning, and Ted is going to deliver the wood on Friday (again, Carol is off work - I'm not - so she'll be home to help him).
posted at 06:09 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, March 21, 2005
Hacking up a lungThe dust and god-knows-what that has been kicked-up in our house since we've started emptying it has been terrible. It's not effecting anyone except me. The sneezing isn't too bad, it's the sinuses that are filling and closing that I don't dig. Add to that my lungs filling up. Nothing upsets me more than to have crap in my lungs, just sitting in there, making that moist, wheezing sound when I breathe. We're nowhere near finished - and then comes all of the airborne sawdust once the floor starts to get laid... and then the finishes afterward... I feel like I should move out, but that's too damn expensive.
posted at 06:22 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, March 20, 2005
What's going on there?
Saw this on our way to my mom's house tonight.
One block on Narragansett. 4 bungalows. All For Sale, all represented by the same Realtor.
Normally, I would think that something else would be going in the place of the homes, but not if each house is actually up for sale separately.
Wonder what's going on?
posted at 09:32 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Spring CleaningSpring has finally arrived - so we're cleaning. Not because of that, because of the new floors that will be coming sometime soon. We're moving the cars out of the garage for the next couple of weeks as we move the entire contents of our first floor into the garage. Today, we started with the living room.
There is nothing worse than two short, overweight, unfit people trying to get a sleeper-sofa through the front door of the house - while the "sleeper" part of the sofa decides to open-up. Crap, that was hard to maneuver. Wound up twisting a knee and ankle trying to put a curio cabinet on top of other furniture in the garage when I really couldn't reach it.
The living room, now empty, looks gross. It's dirtier than I had expected, with cobwebs on the wall behind where the couch was, not to mention the hundred or so dead bodies of insects that are strewn along a wall. They're those little... I don't know what you call them. They're like little armadillo's that roll up into a ball. But they're insects. And they're dead. And there's lots of them. *blech*
Yet to do - the dinning room side of the room - the table, the TV, and God help us - the buffet. We took everything out of it and can barely move it away from the wall. This is going to be fun.
Long way to go yet, though. The family room will be last, as we're still living in there. There's the "kids" (our bunnies "Indy" and "Chip") who will move upstairs and live in our bedroom for a while. Then there's all the damn electronics that I have to disconnect (and reconnect in the garage - specifically our TiVo! We've got to make sure things get recorded!).
And we still don't know when the whole thing is going to start...
posted at 02:49 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Abt
We're getting closer and closer to the day - whenever that is - that we'll be getting our brand new hardwood floors installed. Since the kitchen is involved, this is going to be our last opportunity to get rid of our dishwasher. It's original to the house, so it's just over 20 years old and the thing is so loud you can't have a normal conversation or listed to the TV at normal levels. If the floor went in while the dishwasher was still inside the cabinetry, it would be hell to try and get it out.
We drove out to Abt to look at their selection, bought one on sale, and it'll be there on Tuesday, installed, with the old one hauled away. I love that place. We had to wander around a while, just seeing what was new (I never really looked through their new location).
posted at 02:24 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Elevator Peeves
I have a pretty extensive list of My Pet Peeves when it comes to driving.
I've been working at a new position since December, and it's the first time in a long time where I had to take an elevator to get to the floor that I work on. In this case, I'm on the 10th floor which - for all intents and purposes - is the top floor of the building.
So every morning, it's in at the ground floor, out at the top floor. If I want my morning ice for my Thermos products (thanks to my lovin' wife, Carol), it's in a the top floor, out in the basement where the "cafeteria" is located (I use the term loosely).
read more of this entry »
So, basically, my elevator travels are bottom-to-top or top-to-bottom. That's it.
Well, now that I've been riding elevators more frequently, there are a few things that I find annoying.
The first thing is - there's just no way in hell I can figure out which elevator car is going to go up first from the lobby. Oh, sure, there's lights indicating that. You would think they would mean something. I've heard the "ding" of the bell, I've seen a light go on, I've seen people step in to the indicated elevator, and the damn thing just sits there. Other cars open, other people step in and they go up. I don't get it.
The other thing that grates me - that I can't do a damn thing about - are those people who stop my wonderful non-stop commute by getting on at an intermediate floor and get off a few floors later. Jeez, I want a "Special Request" button for Express Service only to keep these carpetbaggers off my car. How dare they interrupt my commute! Don't they know I need my morning donut!!! Bastards!
Oh! Oh! OH! OH! What's worse? Someone that gets on and goes down one floor and gets off! You lazy bastard! Take the friggin' stairs!
There...
...I can breathe now.
Carry on. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 02:33 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
I'm your vehicle, babe. I'll take you anywhere you want to go...Soothsayer Caesar!
CAESAR Ha! who calls?
CASCA Bid every noise be still: peace yet again!
CAESAR Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music,
Cry 'Caesar!' Speak; Caesar is turn'd to hear.
Soothsayer Beware the ides of March.
CAESAR What man is that?
BRUTUS A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
CAESAR Set him before me; let me see his face.
CASSIUS Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.
CAESAR What say'st thou to me now? speak once again.
Soothsayer Beware the ides of March.
CAESAR He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.
Julius Caesar Act I Scene II
posted at 08:13 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, March 14, 2005
WoodHad somebody at the house tonight giving us an estimate on hardwood floors. Actually, it's kind of odd, but he's done my sister Diane's place. And he was back there today starting their next job - Diane's second floor. So, after he pulled-up the carpet there, he drove out to meet Carol and I to talk about hardwood flooring for the family room (YEA!) and the kitchen and the living room/dining room. This is going to be a huge project... it should be interesting...
posted at 06:55 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Eight cents overnight!?!
WHAT THE HELL????? GAS PRICES BY MY GAS STATION WENT UP 8 CENTS OVERNIGHT!!!!!
posted at 11:54 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, March 11, 2005
Fishy Elvisposted at 07:53 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, March 10, 2005
10 days until spring?
I just got out of my cubicle and caught a glimpse of the outside world through a window in an outside office - what outside world? It's a white-out outside, ands it's supposed to continue to snow all day. Oh, and wind, too. Lots. And it's supposed to pick-up during the day. Great. It's times like this that I feel blessed having a commute that's only 4.8 miles!
posted at 10:03 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Stressed to the limitThings are pretty stressful at work. First time since I've been here. It's a lot of nose to the grindstone heavy spreadsheet building & analysis that is of a critical nature.
That's the reason why there's been a lack of any posts with any substance.
I'm swamped. I'm sick. I'm fatigued.
I'll be back some day...
posted at 03:16 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, February 14, 2005
Carol downMy cold has spread.
Carol's down now with a sinus infection and an ear infection - sort of an annual occurrence with her. So, she's got her meds and is taking time off.
Me - well, other than the cough, I'm s-l-o-w-l-y coming out of this.
posted at 06:15 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, February 13, 2005
At homeNormally, Carol & I go to my mom's for dinner on Sundays.
Well, not today. Mom's been in the E.R. overnight. She's in a lot of pain and the doctors believe it's kidney stones. She's just beside herself with the pain - having never had kidney stones before, I guess I've never experienced the pain. I guess it can get pretty bad. Mom doesn't handle stuff like that very well. Nor does she handle taking medications well - she just doesn't want and doesn't like to take pills. Period. Even if they'll help with pain.
Hopefully she'll get through this just fine.
In the meantime, Carol and I aren't doing anything other than trying to catch-up on sleep and recover from our colds.
posted at 03:15 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, February 10, 2005
GravellyNot, gravely, but gravel-ly. My voice. You know it's bad when people throw cough drops at you and people in teleconferences question your health. My throat is on fire and I'm stuffed-up.
Another fun day.
posted at 12:19 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
SpreadingCame home tonight only to find Carol upset at me, claiming that I want to share too much with her.
She claims I gave her my cold. She looks and sounds like I did yesterday. As to MY cold, it's progressing well, thank you very much. I sound worse and my sinuses love to go through fill-and-drain cycles.
Looks like we're going down together...
posted at 05:21 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, February 06, 2005
XXXIXOK, not a bad game. Not too boring, but not REAL exciting, and, in the end, closer than I thought it would be.
Didn't want the Pats, though. Being from Chicago, I think I have issues regarding teams and "dynasties", since - other than the Bulls for 6 seasons - we have never experienced that in our sports teams.
Commercials:
read more of this entry »
First off, the NFL Network was supposed to run all of the commercials back-to-back right after the game, and let's just say they really screwed that up. I'll have to get my TiVo to catch that tomorrow.
Anheuser-Busch still takes the cake for best commercials (hell, they buy enough of them). Liked the skydiving one and even liked the animals coming to audition for the Clydesdales. Thought the troops coming home was nice but a little heavy handed (notice the uniforms had no identification on them at all, not even fake names?)
Really liked the Brad Pitt Heineken one. Liked the Ameriquest robbery one (oh and the cat and the spaghetti sauce one, too). Like the CareerBuilder monkey ads. There are times in my career that I've felt like that.
I use GoDaddy.com and I'm not sure I liked the ad (although it's the only one that poked fun at the "dumbing-down" of the advertising this year due to wardrobe malfunctions).
I'm not getting the whole Lincoln Fry McDonald's campaign. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 10:28 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Puppy BowlOh.
My,
God.
Animal Planet is running their "counter programming" this afternoon - The Puppy Bowl.
Imagine 3 hours of puppies in a pen that's shaped like a stadium. That's it. No commentary, just music. Just puppies.
(If you really, really, really want to see what I'm talking about, here's a nice segment that I captured for you in DIVX AVI. It's 52Mb, but it's 640x480)
Oh dear Lord, they have "fouls", too. (VIDEO)
posted at 02:10 PM | Link | Mundane | 2 comments § |
Saturday, February 05, 2005
Away Team - minus 1It was time for The Away Team to get together and have lunch.
Only... one of us was missing.
John went into the Hospital on Wednesday and is in critical but stable condition. They thought it was congestive heart failure as his lungs filled-up, but now they know his heart is fine but he may be having a reaction to one of his numerous and strange infections. He's on a respirator and he's kind of fighting it.
This guy has had a hard life, including polio as a child. And if I remember correctly, he has a birthday this week. And if memory serves me correctly, something always happens on his birthday (he's had two heart attacks on his birthday) or something happens around it. here's another year to chalk up.
Hopefully he'll get better - people sounded reservedly optimistic, but jeez. How much can this guy bear? He was supposed to retire in 2004. He was going to be our here when he did that. Instead, he was at work, working out in the exercise room we had, and something triggered a breathing problem. Thank God someone was there with him who called 911 - they still had to bag him when the paramedics got there because his breathing went hell in a handbasket.
posted at 01:28 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Sucky AirIt's warming up but for the first time in the winter we've got ourselves an Air Quality Alert due to soot pollution.
Hmmmm... a toss-up... warm temperatures or trouble breathing? Hmmm...
posted at 11:04 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Snow Sculptures
Carol saw this on the way to and from work yesterday, so I popped out at lunch for a few minutes to see what she was talking about.
Over at the old 3com building in Rolling Meadows (I guess it's called the Atrium Conference Center now. We just know it by the crazy architecture) by Golf Road (Ill. 58) and 53 (Ill. 53), a company called Snow Visions, Inc. is presenting the First Annual Chicago Snow Sculpting Competition. Not ice, snow. People use big 6' x 6' x 10' blocks of snow to carve/sculpt things. The competition is supposed to be over the weekend, but I guess it does take time to do these things. Some of the teams were working today. We'll have to stop-by this weekend and see what the finished product looks like.
posted at 01:46 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Betcha don't got one of these...
I've been looking for a watch for almost 3 years. I heard about it in 2002 and had to have one. The company kept delaying and delaying and delaying. Three years. then, when walking through Desert Passage at the Aladdin about two weeks ago I saw it. In the flesh, so to speak. My long three year journey had come to an end.
I bought a Fossil Wrist PDA FX2008. HUH? Yeah, it's a watch... but it also runs Palm OS® 4.1!
I've always liked the idea of having my contacts and schedule with me, but I just didn't like the idea of having to need a Palm or Pocket Windows PDA to do it. This was the perfect marriage of what I needed. It's got the normal apps that a Palm would have. Hell, it's even got Jot built-in so I can take notes right on the face of the watch. It's got a USB adapter for HotSync-ing and an Infrared port for beaming.
Downside? You better have damn good eyesight. The display is only 160 x 160 pixels, and the didn't rescale the type fonts for the form factor. Everything in the apps are there, it's just... it could be a bit "difficult to read" at times.
But you've got all your contact and schedule info with you on your wrist.
Between my watch and my Bluetooth phone with Bluetooth headset, I'm feelin' really geeky right now...
posted at 01:36 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
"...it'll change!"Growing up, I became very familiar with a saying that you hear around Chicago:
"If you don't like the weather in Chicago, just wait a minute - it'll change!"
We've had wonderful 30°-40° days over this past week. I got out of my cubicle for a while and looked out a window - sure enough, it's snowing again. It's supposed to drop to at least 11° overnight.
posted at 03:35 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Worse than a whistler...I've written before about one of the things that just sticks in my craw and just gets under my skin is people that whistle. I can't explain it, it just bothers the hell out of me.
Today I found a whistling variant that hits me even worse: someone that whistles through their teeth.
Now, about this guy that I originally wrote about that whistled: that guy - even though the whistling just pissed me off - was good. It was a good whistle: rich with correct tone, tempo and warble. If I HAD to listen to whistling, this guy was really pretty good. I only say this now only because of my awareness of this other... "style".
Somebody that whistles through their teeth has no sense of style. It sounds like hell, it doesn't carry any sense of nuance that a lip-whistler has. I'm expecting formerly-wedged food particles to be vibrated out into the horrendous sounding airstream.
It sounds like hissing, like a animal, with no sense of class. I would spit on his sound. It's crass. It's lower working class. It's like the guy is missing teeth, so he's taking advantage of the situation to make him look better (oh, like THAT would help a guy's looks and not draw attention to his missing teeth). Oh, and you're doing this... why? TO ENTERTAIN ME? Puh-lease.
It's just CRAP. STFU... Get the hell away from me...
posted at 11:58 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Oscar NomsThe Oscar nominations are out. Not any surprises, (at least to me). In fact, on the Today show, they had a guy on from Entertainment Weekly who picked 24 out of the 25 nominations. My favorite category has only been around a few years, and really brought around by the successes of Disney and Pixar: Best Animated Feature. Hard category this year: The Incredibles, Shark Tales, and Shrek 2.
posted at 07:49 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Wait, still more?
I just looked out the window - the snowfall is getting worse. We have 30mph wind gusts and the flakes are huge. You can't tell that the sidewalk was shoveled and the driveway plowed.
It's getting worse - it should make for an interesting evening and morning.
UPDATE: an hour later, the snow stopped and the sun came out just before setting. And hour after that, the village called-out the heavy equipment - we've got a front-loader cleaning-up our street.
posted at 03:49 PM | Link | Mundane § |
10"
Barry & Buffy just called - they spent the night at their daughter's house, and it took them an hour and a half to get home, only to get stuck in their "virgin" alley - th Honda just couldn't get though the unplowed alley that no one had gone through before them.
It's not worth the hassle, not to mention possible dangers of trying to drive out here and do the dinner and a movie thing.
Went outside with a yardstick and checked the middle of the front yard - the snow is 10 inches deep out there and it's still coming down.
posted at 10:26 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, January 21, 2005
Rush HoursThis morning, the drive to work was fine until within a few blocks of the building. The was a traffic accident sometime overnight and there was a fatality (I don't have any specifics), so the police were routing traffic away from the area as they continued their investigation. It really screwed-up the morning rush hour traffic.
Just in time for the evening rush hour, we're under a Winter Storm Warning. It's supposed to start to snow and the current warnings are for 9"-16" of snowfall. We're supposed to do a dinner and a movie with B&B tomorrow and that's looking like that might be jeopardy.
posted at 08:11 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Balmy snowWe got another 1"-2" of snow overnight. Wind was blowing hard again, so my DirecTV dish was moving a little (I HATE that).
But with the snow comes warmer temperatures - it's 34° outside and I'm loving it.
posted at 07:39 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Big mother planeAirbus rolled-out their brand new A380 today.
What the hell?
It's a monster: it has two full decks of seating and is designed to carry a minimum of 550 passengers, with room for expansion to nearly 900.
All I hear around the U.S. is Airline bankruptcies. All you see is the downsizing of aircraft to make them more fuel efficient and cheaper, allowing the airlines to go to more "regional" airports. But you are also seeing airlines pulling out of airports because of financial problems, and bankruptcy. Fuel costs are going up - could you imagine what it will cost to fly this thing? Is the passenger/mile calculation based on 550 passengers or 900?
It still has problems before it takes its first flight sometime in March: it's 5 tons over its spec of 560 tons maximum takeoff weight. 1.45 euros over budget , putting it at 12 billion euros.
Its 262-foot wingspan and 239-foot-long fuselage means it can't land just anywhere - airports have to spend millions of dollars to modify the taxiways just to allow the airplane to move around, let alone spacing at gate areas.
Seems like companies that are buying the planes won't operate them at that high-capacity figure, so what are they going to put into all of that space? Virgin Atlantic will offer a beauty therapist area, a gym, a casino and double beds.
Oh, puh-lease.
How long is that going to last? Does anybody remember the Piano Bars in the back of American Airlines DC-10's? They didn't last long. Airlines soon wanted the space to add more passengers. It's been tried before (not on this kind of scale) and people just won't pay for it.
posted at 08:58 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Damaged?Maybe the second day of work after a vacation is worse than the first. I think on the first day back you just reach down inside and try to get caught up and try to get through the day. The second day, you're caught up and now you're just still exhausted and perhaps a little less motivated.
Well, it's not 4 degrees outside, it's 10. Whoopee.
I'm starting to think that all of the walking I did last week in Las Vegas, though good for me, screwed up my left foot. My heel is killing me this week, but I don't remember any pain there last week. My toes on the left foot don't hurt as much, and that hip pain I had in my right hip just sort of disapperaed (Carol thinks it had something to do with sitting in the airplane - I'm thinking "no").
posted at 07:42 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, January 16, 2005
Freezing in my own houseIt may be 68 degrees in the house, but it sure feels colder than that. It's pretty damn dry, too. Carol threw a pot of water on the stove to boil just to get some humidity into the air. The bunnies keep zapping each other and all of our humidifiers are dead.
Still recovering from a bit of sleep depravation from the flight home and some of the other late nights.
Crap, I'm gettin' old...
posted at 10:41 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Thank God for two alarmsFortunately, both Carol and I have our own alarm clocks.
When we REALLY have to be up and going somewhere, we both set our alarms, just to make sure we get up on time.
Thank God for that because, while I set my alarm to go off at 3:30, I never turned the alarm on.
And then - fortunately - Carol actually set hers correctly. Hers went off at 3:30. And it kept going and going and going - Carol slept through it!
Anyway, we're up and getting ready.
Viva Las Vegas! *yawn*
posted at 03:35 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, January 08, 2005
How early?Running around doing last minute things today - shopping, laundry, cleaning the house and packing...
Let's see, the flight tomorrow morning is at 7am... they say to be at the airport 2 hours before the flight - that's 5am... the drive to O'Hare at that time of morning is under half an hour, so leave the house no later than 4:30am... that means we have to wake up at...
3:30am.
Oh, Christ...
posted at 04:49 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, January 07, 2005
Snow in the wrong placesWell, if you saw my audio entry, Carol and I will be in Las Vegas all next week.
Warm, sunny Vegas, right?
GUESS WHERE IT SNOWED TODAY? Las Vegas.
I've never been there at this time of year, but, damn, it better get better than that.
posted at 08:04 PM | Link | Mundane § |
70?Hard to believe that Elvis would have turned 70 today (and I guess who's to say that he's not?)
Harder to believe that it's Katie Couric's Birthday, too (though I'm guessin' she ain't 70...)
posted at 08:10 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, January 06, 2005
First big snowSo, I just got to work.
My driveway has not been plowed yet, but I didn't have any significant problems getting out. My 4.8 mile commute took 35 minutes and I saw 2 spinouts on the way. Traffic moved at a snail's pace, but no one was being an idiot.
The parking lot at the office sucks - I'm not sure they really plowed. We're in the middle of another band of snow that can give us up to another 2 inches. I think we're in the 6"-8" range right now. The sun's supposed to come out later and it's going to be in the high 20's.
Looks really cool out there, though!
posted at 08:14 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
WhiteIt's been snowing since last evening, and there's a Winter Storm Warning out until AM tomorrow. Driving is crap (although I don't know this firsthand, as I'm still at work and I think things are going downhill as the day progresses - I can tell you that driving to work this morning wasn't fun). It's also blowing and drifting out there.
Looks like hell.
UPDATE: Looking at my Back Yard Cam (That's over in sidebar with the thumbnails of all of my webcams) and the snow is now drifting on the window, covering most of the camera's viewing angle. *yech*
read more of this entry »
A BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE FROM AR TO S. IN THIS AFTERNOON WILL INTENSIFY & MOVE NE TO CNTL OH BY THURSDAY MORNING. N. IL WILL RECEIVE SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL. AREAS IN NW IN & LOCATIONS SO. OF INTERSTATE 80 IN IL WILL RECEIVE A MIXTURE OF SNOW.SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN.
ILZ003>006-008-010>014-060300-
BOONE-COOK-DE KALB-DUPAGE-KANE-LAKE-LEE-MCHENRY-OGLE-WINNEBAGO-
316 PM CST WED JAN 5 2005
HEAVY SNOW WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST THURSDAY.
A STORM TOTAL OF 8 TO 12 INCHES IS EXPECTED ALONG & NO. OF A LINE
FROM AROUND DIXON TO DEKALB TO ST CHARLES TO EVANSTON. 6 TO 8 INCHES IS EXPECTED ACROSS DUPAGE & COOK COUNTIES.
PERIODS OF LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW WILL OCCUR OFF & ON THROUGH EARLY EVENING WITH A PERIOD OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW FROM ABOUT 800 PM TO 200 AM. SNOW WILL TAPER OFF TO LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS AFTER 200 AM.
NORTHEAST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WILL CAUSE SOME BLOWING & DRIFTING SNOW.
ANY TRAVEL IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.
$$
ILZ019>023-032-033-039-INZ001-002-010-011-019-060300-
BENTON-FORD-GRUNDY-IROQUOIS-JASPER-KANKAKEE-KENDALL-LA SALLE-LAKE-
LIVINGSTON-NEWTON-PORTER-WILL-
316 PM CST WED JAN 5 2005
WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST (7 AM EST) THURSDAY.
ALONG & NO. OF INTERSTATE 80.FROM MENDOTA TO YORKVILLE TO JOLIET TO GARY.PERIODS OF LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW WILL CONTINUE OFF AND ON INTO EARLY EVENING. A PERIOD OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL OCCUR FROM AROUND 800 PM UNTIL 200 AM. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE 4 TO 7 INCHES.
FROM INTERSTATE 80.SOUTH TO A LINE FROM PONTIAC TO THE KANKAKEE RIVER.A MIXTURE OF SNOW.SLEET.& FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED TO BECOME ALL SNOW BY MIDNIGHT. TOTAL SNOWFALL WILL BE 2 TO 4 INCHES ON TOP OF UP TO ONE QUARTER OF AN INCH OF ICE.
SOUTH OF A LINE FROM PONTIAC TO THE KANKAKEE RIVER.INCLUDING GIBSON CITY.WATSEKA & RENSSELAER.PERIODS OF FREEZING RAIN & SLEET WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MIDNIGHT. SIGNIFICANT ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE HALF INCH MAY CAUSE TREE LIMBS & POWER LINES TO COME DOWN.AS WELL AS CAUSE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS TRAVEL. PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE TO SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT & ACCUMULATE AN INCH OR 2 BEFORE ENDING.
SNOW SHOULD TAPER OFF TO LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS FOR ALL OF NORTHERN IL & NW IN AFTER 200 AM.
HEAVY ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW & ICE WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY & CAUSE ROADS & WALKWAYS TO BECOME HAZARDOUS. AVOID TRAVEL.
$$
ALLSOPP
« hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 12:36 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
4848
OK, it's my Birthday - I just turned 48. I can tell you that I don't feel it. In my head, I'm at least 10 years younger. My body tells me otherwise.
But something tells me that I might feel a bit different on the next two birthdays...
posted at 06:33 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Monday, January 03, 2005
Roomba R.I.P.
Our Roomba Discovery has stopped moving about very well. OK, it's really barely moving. The brushes aren't turning and we had heard a plastic grinding noise. So - WHILE I WAS OFF TODAY - I called IRobot Technical Support and I'm getting a brand new Roomba under warranty - all I have to do is send them the cage that holds the brushes in place. So, no automated vacuuming for a while.
posted at 10:05 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, January 02, 2005
84?
Went over to Mom's house for dinner. They celebrated my birthday early (Since we'll be out of town starting next week... did I mention that?)
Well, mom got some kind of fruit-topped cheesecake from Eli's and - somehow - managed to put the candles on the cake WRONG.
I'm turning 48 on Tuesday.
The candles spelled "84".
I knew I felt older, but...
posted at 10:19 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Bluetooth
I didn't like my plan that I was on with Sprint and I'm tired of my phone, so I went to the Sprint Store on Barrington Road and got me a new phone and new plan. It's an LG PM325, one of the ONLY phones that Sprint offers that has Bluetooth. I need to start looking at that to see how crippled it is. Anyway, the display is so much easier to read compared to my old monochrome, poorly backlit screen. And then there's that whole camera in the phone thing (even though I carry my Canon camera with me EVERYWHERE I go).
posted at 02:09 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, January 01, 2005
2005HAPPY NEW YEAR!
and " Rabbit, Rabbit!"
So, last night we drove into the city to our annual celebration at Barry & Buffy's house with Debbie and Kenny & Pat. The drive was great - except you had to be alert for all of the idiots speeding, tailgating, and slaloming down the tollways and expressways. It took me half an hour to find a parking spot in their Wrigleyville neighborhood. Let's just say the area was jumpin'. I wound up getting a parking place 2 doors down from B&B. Go figure.
*sigh* We're getting old.
I think everyone fell asleep at one point or another during the evening - and this was before 11:30! Poor Debbie is just absolutely wiped-out from working overnights at Fields from Thanksgiving to Christmas. We ate like fools again. This year it was all appetizers and desserts and there was a lot to go around. For some strange reason, though I had every intent to do it, I didn't take any pictures this year. Did we stay long? I think we were on our way by 12:30.
Yes, we're all getting old.
*sigh*
P.S. I got an early birthday gift from Barry and Buffy (they always try to do something for me since my birthday is just in a few days - the 4th - and Buffy just had her birthday on the 30th).
Anyway, it's a really cool little radio controlled Mini Cooper. Wonder if Erin would be jealous? (even though it's a little plastic RC car and not the convertible Mini Copper that she wants...)
posted at 08:01 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, December 31, 2004
A wonderful day to end the yearWent to work this morning in sunny, 55 degree weather. Big deal? Hey, this is Chicago, babe, and it's New Year's Eve.
I feel great with this change in weather. I guess I'm truly not a Winter person.
Of course, in the first sentence, I've tipped you off to something else - it's New Year's Eve and I'm working. It's not a company holiday, but everyone is taking it as one of their multiple floater holidays that they get each year. The parking lot is emptier than the day before Christmas Eve last week. This day is going to last forever...
posted at 08:27 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Even warmerYes, I'm delighted (and bored enough) to write about the weather. Yes it's warmer. It's almost 40° outside, and it's supposed to be in the 50's tomorrow and 40's the rest of the week and weekend.
Nice way to start 2005.
posted at 02:52 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Balmy?After another day of dragging at work (I need some "big picture" views of what I'm supposed to be doing and there's no one around to help), I walked out of the building at it was warm. OK, not warm, but sure not the cold that we've been having. It's in the low 30's and it feels good.
It could stay this way for another 3 months and I'll be happy.
posted at 04:46 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, December 27, 2004
TsunamiWow.
I've always heard about tsunamis. I remember going to Hawaii back in 1975 and there was information on what to do in case of a tsunami in the phone book.
This earthquake (now listed as 9.0!) really let go a pretty good tsunami. I guess if you were on the beach, you would know that something really bad was about to take place when the ocean recedes 200 yards away from you. The death toll just keeps climbing - I've heard 24,000 33,000 46,000 80,000 116,000
The big deal in Chicago is that Oprah's great designer - Nate Berkus - was actually sleeping in beachfront cottage at Arugam Bay on Sri Lanka's eastern coast (earlier he was handing out backpacks to needy children) along with a friend (photographer Fernando Bengoechea) when the tsunami hit and they were swept out to sea. Bengoechea is still missing - Nate somehow survived after being dragged out into deep water with cars, refrigerators and bodies. They tried to cling to a telephone pole, but a second wave tore them loose. Berkus said he saved himself by clambering onto the roof of a home. He doesn't have anything left with him - he lost is passport and all his personal stuff, though he had a cell phone which has since died. Nate had said that he spent the night with about 50 other survivors in a field. "I'm sitting here with nothing — no passport, no money, no anything, in shorts that somebody gave me." There are reports that no one has heard from Nate in quite a while.
The earthquake was so massive that it actually caused the planet to wobble ever so slightly. There are unconfirmed reports that the earth is now spinning 1/10,000 of a second faster per year because of this one earthquake. Richard Gross, a geophysicist with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, theorized that a shift of mass toward the Earth's center during the quake Sunday caused the planet to spin 3 microseconds, or one millionth of a second, faster a day and to tilt about an inch on its axis.
read more of this entry »
A quick "celebrity" update: Sounds like there were quite a few "famous", almost-famous, and infamous people that were affected by the tsunami, other than Nate Berkus. Czech supermodel Petra Nemcova (of 2003 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover fame) was carried away with her boyfriend, fashion photographer Simon Atlee at a Phuket resort, but was able to hang onto a tree for 8 hours with broken bones and possibly a broken pelvis. Her boyfriend is still misisng. Former German chancellor Helmut Kohl was on holiday in Sri Lanka's south, but apparently wasn't affected (Mr Kohl and his entourage were evacuated from a hotel by the Sri Lankan air force on Monday). Ingemar Stenmark, who won two gold medals at the 1980 Olympics for Sweden, was with friends in Khok Kloi, about 50km from Phuket and was not injured. Several Italian soccer players were in the Maldives but were unhurt. The Thai-American grandson of thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Bhumi Jensen, 21, was reportedly jet-skiing when the tidal wave struck Phuket. His body was found later. On Thailand's Phi Phi island, where The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, was filmed, 200 bungalows at two resorts were swept out to sea. Hollywood actor-director Richard Attenborough's granddaughter Lucy, 14, perished and his daughter, Jane, and her mother-in-law were missing in Phuket. Another granddaughter, Alice, 17, was being treated in a hospital. Jet Li and his daughter were vacationing in a resort in the Maldives when a wall of water surged into their hotel. Li was dinged by a piece of floating furniture and sustained an foot injury « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:17 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, December 26, 2004
Hawk
I was out-and-about going to Best Buy looking for a 14" TV for my "computer room/den". I was driving through the neighborhood when I saw something on a neighbor's lawn. I thought I was seeing things, so I pulled over and got out of my car and walked over. This probably wasn't very smart, but I walked over to A HAWK that was standing on this guys lawn. He wasn't moving - he was obviously standing on something he caught. There were feathers everywhere. And you know that these digital cameras have crappy zooms on them, so I had to get closer for a better shot... Hell, I was about 4 feet away when I took that shot above. I've got this feeling that moving that close wasn't too smart, but the bird never moved a bit (other than blink his eye), and I wanted the shot...
posted at 02:05 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, December 25, 2004
Christmas
read more of this entry »
Made it to Mom's house in record time. There was just nobody out on the roads today.
Had a very nice "traditional" breakfast (that we always have). The presents were great (as always). Diane & Melinda took off for southern Illinois to celebrate Christmas with Melinda's family, so it was just Carol, Mom and me for the rest of the day (oh, and the dogs, too Diane & Melinda left them behind).
The breakfast just added to my "uncomfortableness" from eating so much last night. Then came our "traditional" dinner and yep, that forced me to rest a bit and then leave. I felt like a sausage in a too-tight sausage casing.
On the way home, we took a detour. When traveling on Addison, there's this one house that is just over the top with their decorations. Some of them are on the house all year 'round (specifically, the stuff on the roof). We call it the "Feliz Navidad House" because, along the side of the house in lights it says, well, "Feliz Navidad". Last night, when driving Mom home from Diane's house, I wanted to stop and take a picture - but the place was dark! Tonight, it was burning as bright as always.
Sort of like another tradition. Holiday's are all about tradition, aren't they? And isn't that comforting? « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:04 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Merry Christmas!Very groggy... need more sleep but can't.... got to go to mom's house...
Anyway, Merry Christmas to all who visit my humble little web site!
posted at 07:24 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Friday, December 24, 2004
Christmas Eve
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Crap... I ate too much...
I knew it when I was doing it, but it doesn't matter. I'm going to pay for this for days...
I can't help it. My sister Diane has been hosting Christmas Eve for a few years now. She always puts together an evolved version of what has always been our Christmas Eve dinner buffet. It's all heavy, starchy and wonderful. And I had to have a bit of everything - the ham (oven roasted and wonderful - had to have large pieces), the polish sausage (smoked/garlic, none of that prissy "fresh"), fresh shrimp (and homemade cocktail sauce), pierogis (3 different types - potato, meat and sauerkraut - no cheese (too sweet)), green beans (new this year, but had to have 'em), fried egg noodles (my favorite with caramelized onions), sliced cucumbers in sour cream (another one of my favorites!). Oh, then there's the banana cream pie that Al made, and all the cookies...
Anyway, just another Christmas Eve with family. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 11:39 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Cold start
Woke up to -1° temperatures. At least the wind is pretty calm, but the house is trying to keep warm.
Both of our rabbits - Indy and Chip - are out running around - together. Well, not exactly together, but they are out at the same time and they're learning to be out together. Right now, they're both demanding attention from me, forcing me to pet them both at the same time. This is something new for all of us to learn.
Chip seems to be hanging out in Indy's cage while she's out. There was a time this morning when Chip was in Indy's cage and Indy was in Chip's cage, both eating the other's breakfast.
Not a bad start to Christmas Eve.
posted at 09:19 AM | Link | Bunnies § |
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
WinterWell, it's here - astronomical Winter. The Winter Solstace. Things will be cold for months ahead.
BUT...
the days are getting longer as of tomorrow!!!! Whooo Hoooo!!!!
posted at 06:42 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Lights
I keep seeing this house every week when we drive to my mom's house on Sunday nights. (It's on Nagle, on the west side of the street, I think it's between Foster & Gunnison).
Every year it looks like this. All the houses around it look the same - a typical one story Chicago bungalow. Of course, this house is the exception as almost the entire block is devoid of any Christmas decorations. I think they're trying to make up for all of the blank houses, trying to keep the mean average lights-or-statue-per-house at high enough levels. I finally had to stop and take pictures of the place.
Oh, and this is, of course, just the Christmas decorations. I'll have to remember to get pictures of Easter and Halloween.
posted at 10:15 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, December 05, 2004
Nice and snoozyMan I just slept around the house all day. We went to my mom's for dinner tonight and slept around there, too.
Boy did it feel good. On the ride home, I felt great. Like I had actually started catching up my lost sleep.
Speaking of lost sleep, I have a new bar of soap update:
read more of this entry »
I just can't explain it, but my legs have stopped twitching while I'm sleeping. At 4 o'clock this morning, though, It started again.
But then I realized that I had one leg out from underneath my covers.
So, both legs have to be exposed to the soap?
I took a nap this morning with both legs under the covers. No twitching.
I took a nap this afternoon, on my bed but not under my covers. Twitching.
More experimentation is going to be needed... « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 09:57 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, December 03, 2004
PeevesWHen I started this site years ago, I added an area that I called My Pet Peeves. At the time I was commuting a lot and there were things that I was seeing on the roads that were just pissing me off, hence the title My Pet Peeves.
Now, just double checking, I looked up the definition of Pet Peeve:
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary pet peeve Function: noun : a frequent subject of complaint
I preface my rants on that page with: We all have pet peeves. We all have things that set us off. Mine seem to all do with commuting - driving, mostly. I've decided to start a collection of them.
That being said, the whole concept of a Pet Peeve is that it's something that pisses you off. It's something that gets under your skin. It's not something positive.
Are we in agreement here? And, these are MY Pet Peeves. Yes, I realize people won't necessarily agree. Then again, if you have your own set of Pet Peeves, you may agree with a few of mine.
What I DON'T understand, is the series of comments I'm getting over there...
read more of this entry »
Wow man you really need to mellow out a little bit.. ...i wanna see some positive things on your site. jackass...
I'm sure you all do things to piss other people off, all fo your whining about the pet peeves on this site is making me sick. Oh, but maybe it's not, maybe I should take another look and see the good, wait, someone already did that, so I'll find the bad and stick to that, good idea.
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS ALL ABOUT??? OF COURSE THINGS ARE NEGATIVE THERE - THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF LISTING THE THINGS THAT PISS ME OFF!!!
Just goes to show you that there are all types of people that cruise the web, and after you try hard to increase traffic to your site you just can't pick the people that actually show up and read your stuff, let alone have people comment on your material in this way.
*sigh*
« hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 07:58 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Thursday, December 02, 2004
No meltSO the Weather Criiters were a bit wrong about yesterday - the sun was out all day, but it never got warm enough to melt anything. Another day of slop on the grass, though the roads seem to have dried up nicely.
So, my last day on this contract will be next Thursday - the 9th. The contract was for 200 hours of work and that's when it gets used up.
However, I may be here again. Very soon. In a totally different role.
If you were in an industry for... let's say... 25 years.
You have been unemployed for quite a while, and have been working some pretty short-term contracts that have been weeks to months in between.
You have an opportunity for a 1 Year contract, but you'd be stepping backwards 15 years in your career.
Would you take it?
posted at 08:21 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
4 inchesThe weather critters were correct in their forecasting - we got about 4" of slush. The temperatures are in the high 20's and it's going to be sunny almost all day. We'll probably get into the 40's today and this stuff will just all melt. You can tell it was sleet coming down - it's coating the sides of houses and completely coating cars in driveways. It's still treacherous out there, though - black ice everywhere.
posted at 07:58 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Second Snow
It's snowing again. All of the other snow had melted, and now we're getting hit again.
The weather critters are forecasting 1"-5" (depending on where you live around the city)
Great.
posted at 07:13 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, November 29, 2004
Soap?Many of you out there that actually know me, know that I've been battling these weird leg twitches, usually when I'm sitting down or laying down. In rare circumstances, they even twitch when I'm standing or walking. It's not a little twitch either. If I'm standing, they're pretty... um... "violent". I mean, it almost looks like I'm kicking somebody.
So, last week, Carol is reading some health column in a local paper (Daily Herald), that said: If you suffer from Restless Leg Syndrome (Which I don't think I have), try this to stop your twitching at night -
Put a bar of soap under your sheet. Does not work with Dial or Dove.
HUH? WHa...?
So, we grabbed a bar of Coast and threw it under my sheet last Friday.
HAVEN'T TWITCHED AT NIGHT SINCE
What the hell does a bar of soap have to do with this???????
read more of this entry »
Soap therapy cleans up leg cramps By DR. PETER H. GOTT
DEAR DR. GOTT: I don't know how the soap-under-the-sheet technique works for leg cramps, but it does.
I have been diagnosed with restless legs syndrome and, since using the soap therapy, have had no symptoms.
I now can sleep through the night for the first time in many years. Thank you for the tip.
DEAR READER: Since I first published this remedy for nocturnal leg cramps, I have received dozens of letters from readers who endorsed this novel approach.
Recently, I also received mail from patients with restless legs syndrome, a serious and uncomfortable disorder of unknown cause. These RLS patients have had success with the soap.
Although it would be irresponsible of me to endorse this as a cure for RLS, the initial responses have been overwhelming. I'll update you in a future column as I receive more feedback from readers.
To review the technique briefly for people who may have missed previous columns, here is what to do: Take a bar of soap (large or small, new or used, but no Dial or Dove) and place it under the bottom sheet of the bed in the area of the feet and legs. Go to sleep and see what happens. If you sleep, undisturbed by leg cramps or RLS for a full night, let me know. Of course, write me if the technique is ineffective. I'm looking for honest and objective analyses.
Dr. Peter Gott: Scientist says soap does indeed cure leg cramps
Dear Dr. Gott: You asked to hear from readers experienced with the soap cure for leg cramps.
Let me begin my answer by saying that I am a college graduate and a professional scientist who is naturally skeptical of unproven treatments and cures.
However, I do have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and check in periodically with the related Web sites (such as www.copd-international.com) to check on recent updates. For decades, I have been troubled by leg cramps that disrupt my sleep five to 10 times a night. All the standard therapies, including quinine pills and massage, have been ineffective. Several people on the Internet have touted the soap cure: a bar of soap placed under the mattress cover near my legs.
Did this sound ridiculous? You bet. But I gave it a try. Did it work? Yes, indeed. I haven't had a cramp since.
The proper technique is simple. Unwrap a fresh bar of soap (don't use Dove) and discard the wrapper. It doesn't need to be a huge, bath-size bar; even the small bars common in hotels work for most people. Then place the unwrapped bar directly under the bottom sheet or on the bed where the legs are usually located. That's it.
Some people may need to rub the legs with an extra bar of soap, but, in most instances, this is not necessary. The cramps are gone. Why? I haven't a clue.
Dear Reader: Nor have I. But I am publishing your letter - which is one of dozens I have received since mentioning the soap cure for leg cramps - because the therapy is, apparently, an effective preventive for a common human malady. In such circumstances, we probably don't need an explanation of how the technique works, but it does. Thanks to you, and other readers, for writing.
« hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 09:16 AM | Link | Odd | 15 comments § |
Sunday, November 28, 2004
BP
I haven't been feeling well for months. It's all my fault - I haven't seen a doctor in over a year. I have high blood pressure and I haven't been taking my medications. Since July, I've been having these fleeting feeling of wanting to go to sleep NOW. What really bothers me is when it happens when I'm driving. I'm also developing this thing where I can fall asleep in a chair or just sitting on the couch.
So, I went out and got a a Blood Pressure cuff that I can just put on my wrist. It self-inflates, so I can take it quick and maybe understand what I'm feeling and interpret it to how high my blood pressure is.
I woke up really early this morning, went downstairs and watched a bit of TV and - of course - fell asleep sitting up.
When I woke up, I slapped on the BP cuff - 160 over 110. OK, THAT'S BAD...
I have to get a handle on this...
posted at 09:17 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Saturday, November 27, 2004
Boboli & FriendsWe had Barry & Buffy over tonight, just to hang around. For dinner, we made our own little pizzas with Boboli and our own ingredients. It's a great little fun thing to do with friends. Then, we spent the evening making a game out of the list of 400 Quotes that American Film Institute has submitted to it's membership to come up with the 100 Best Quotes of All Time (which will be next year's - AFI'S 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes, a three-hour TV special in June 2005). The quotes are great, but what makes one quote better than another?
posted at 09:54 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, November 25, 2004
Turkey Drunk
Ahhhhhhhh... the turkey was fine.... Everything else that Carol made was excellent.
I'm Turkey Drunk. I loves me the tryptophan...
I've got a bad problem - I'm on the last hole on my belt. When did that happen?
I am thankfull that our guests left early, and I can get some sleep before working tomorrow!!! Whooo Hooo!!!!
I am also thankful on this day that this is not my family: Man accused of stabbing relatives over holiday table manners
posted at 10:17 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Blog-A-Turkey 2004
It's Thanksgiving and time to make this year's turkey.
I've decided not to do a Blog-A-Turkey this year. I just didn't feel like it. (Here's last year's Blog-A-Turkey 2003 video on how I brabecue my Thanksgiving Turkey. (WMV file Running time: 12:27 Size: 51.1Mb)).
So far, things aren't going as well as I had hoped. The weather is cold - one of the coldest I can remember in recent history. We have all that snow from yesterday. But, it's been sunny. The snow plow company came out and did the driveway. I'm having trouble concentrating on the charcoal management, and it's gotten way out of control. I can't get any of the burned out coals to get pushed down below bottom grate, so there's charcoal everywhere on top o fthe grill. Not the way I normally do it, but the bird came off quickly. We'll see later when we carve it up.
posted at 03:47 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
OK, that was BAAAAAAADI didn't have a hat or gloves with me as I left the building. The wind was screaming, the snow/sleet mix pelted me in the face. I actually got one of those "brain freezes" as I walked to the car.
The car was coated with the snow/sleet. I was happy to find that I had left my gloves and earmuffs in the car! Yea! But then I realized I didn't have a brush to clean the car. I remembered a license plate frame that I haven't put on the front of the car. I used that to scrape the windows clean.
Finally on the road I found out that there were no plows, no salt trucks. I had trouble trying to make a left turn onto Higgins because the eastbound traffic kept blocking the intersection. Had to waith throuhg 5 lights.
Overall, from the time I walked out of the building until the time I walked into my house, it was almost one hour.
Can't wait to see what Winter is going to look like.
posted at 06:40 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Maybe I was a bit hasty...... in doling out criticisms of our local weather critters. I just got back from looking out our 11th floor window (there are no windows in the lab that I am working in). The view is... well, there is no view. All I see is snow blowing right to left. I can see the parking lot below, and it's only wet, but there is snow accumulating on the few cars left in the lot. There's snow accumulating on the grass below. The traffic on 53/I-355 is moving as if it were just raining. I just checked out my home Weathercam and it's the same, though it doesn't look like it's blowing like it is here (but then, home is only 4 miles away). I can watch the melted snow drip down my window pane on the camera, watch the school buses go through the neighborhood.
The power is fluctuating - I can hear the sound of AC buzzing through the floors in the lab. Great. I didn't expect power problems...
posted at 02:06 PM | Link | Mundane § |
The ugliness of manThis has to be the most brutal thing I have read recently. I know Columbia is famous for abductions, but this is over the top:
Colombia police report abduction by C-section
posted at 11:34 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Ah, the end is coming...... the end of the Good Weather, that is. Local meteorologists are doing the the full-on hardcore "The Sky Is Falling!" routines, saying that computer models are saying snow tomorrow - some places getting in excess of 8" (Which, of course, sucks).
All I know is that when I stepped out the building after work today, the air had a nice clean smell, the was barely a breeze, and the temperature felt just right.
All hell should be breaking loose in 18 hours..
posted at 04:36 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, November 22, 2004
Favorite ThingsThe lab I work in is very quiet except for the deafening noise of the air handlers. Makes for a very boring environment to work on building servers, especially when you are waiting for a long Ghosting process to complete. I've been bringing a small radio to work that fits in my shirt pocket - I use it all the time at White Sox and Wolves games. The reception in the lab is a bit "iffy" in some areas, mostly from all of the RF that the computers are generating, but there's also some Spanish language radio station pretty close to here that bleeds over everything.
The cool thing about the radio is that it also has a TV band, so I listen to some programs in the morning.
Today, I had to listen to Oprah because it was her annual Oprah's Favorite Things 2004 show. It seem sto get bigger and bigger every year. The twist this year, though, was everyone in the audience was a teacher and there was somebody there from all 50 states. Let's face it - teachers hardly earn anything and many times spend their own money on supplies for class. It made all the sense to invite teachers to this show.
posted at 09:24 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, November 21, 2004
Mom's 75th
Went to Diane's to celebrate mom's birthday (which is actually Tuesday). I must have still been hungry from last night, because I ate everything in sight tonight (It doesn't hurt that Diane and Melinda cook so well... and they know our tatses).
posted at 10:24 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, November 20, 2004
On Patrol...
Just got home from my Goddaughter Sam's birthday party - her 17th. Lets just say time is passing pretty quickly... For the first time in I don't know how long, I didn't enjoy the food at the party. I left still feeling hungry. I didn't get seconds, as I didn't enjoy the "firsts". It's odd being with family - it just seems the group is getting smaller and smaller - some were ill, some are no longer with us... it's an odd feeling of life continuing on without some of the "parts".
When we drove home, we saw three police cars on the street near our house (on the "circle" that goes around us), so we had to go check it out. It looks like someone was throwing a party (judging by the amount of parked cars) that may have gotten out of hand. By the time we got home and got inside, a car driving through the neighborhood, was stopped by a squad car, which was joined by a second squad, only to have a third squad stiop by to check out what was going on. This is the most ecitement we've seen in YEARS...
posted at 09:57 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
*gack*Wow...
... nothing can wake you up like the smell of a snootful of air downwind of a sewage treatment plant as you pull into your parking lot, ready for work.
I feel ill...
posted at 07:21 AM | Link | Work § |
Monday, November 15, 2004
Vegas, babyCarol came home tonight and told me to book a flight to Las Vegas in January. She's going to a trade show there again this year (just like back in January), but this year I can finally go with.
I haven't been to Las Vegas since I started writing this blog. Carol and I have gone once or twice a year every year from 1994 until a week after 9/11. Once I started having employment issues with the I.T. market in Chicago, we had to curtail our vacations. I miss that town.
The trade show itself is at Manadalay Bay, but since her company is paying for the lodging, they're staying next door at Luxor (we've stayed there a couple of times before).
I found a great airfare on Ted (my first time flying with them).
Finally, something to look forward too...
posted at 07:10 PM | Link | Las Vegas § |
Thursday, November 11, 2004
Lunch with a friendBarry drove out to the 'burbs today and we had lunch at Stir Crazy in Woodfield. We used to have lunch somewhat irregulary while we were both out of work, but this is the first time we did it (I think) this year. Talked about all kinds of wierd things. Enjoyable.
posted at 02:05 PM | Link | Friends § |
Monday, November 08, 2004
So dryThe lab that I'm working in feels so dry that I think my eyeballs are going to bleed. I am so damn exhausted, that I can't keep my eyes open. In fact, they're cross-eyed right now. The just want to be covered... so they... can... rest... ahhhhhhh... WHOA! No good! No sleeping on the job! Even my Red Bull isn't helping me this morning. I really thought I'd be in better shape today.
Hmmm... the sound of the air handlers changes picth and intensity as I close my eyes and drift a bit. I can tell I'm drifting because when I "awake" the air handlers sound totally different. Weird.
posted at 08:40 AM | Link | Work § |
Sunday, November 07, 2004
Football?The Bears are playing in about half an hour and I just don't give a damn. I don't feel anything for them this year. They suck and they continue to suck and probably will suck for the rest of this year. Can't expect much more from a new head coach.
posted at 02:44 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, November 06, 2004
To lick our wounds and gnaw our teeth over dinnerWe finally had all of our schedules aligned so we drove into the city to have dinner with B & B and Debbie. Again, a wonderful evening. Most of the time, however, when comisserating over the election results. I think that was the most we've talked politics ever (for one period of time). It was nice to "comisserate" with friends.
I had a moment to talk to Barry & Buffy about a plan I have up my sleve - to celebrate our 25th anniversaries together (ours was just this past September, their's is in September of 2006). It will give us enough time to save up for my idea: a Mediteranean Cruise. I think it's safe to say they were intrigued about the prospect.
posted at 11:49 PM | Link | Friends § |
Sunday, October 31, 2004
Family Frights
Today was a nice, bright, windless, but chilly day. Our total count of Trick-or-Treaters: 61. Last Year was 69. The year before: 79. Had the family over for dinner, thinking that we'd be busier than we were. The only problem was trying to handle the dogs (Chelsea and Gracie) when the doorbell rang. It was hard to keep them gated in the family room because Carol was trying to get dinner set up.
posted at 09:26 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Very nice morning
I love walking out of the house in the morning to take out the garbage and being overwhelmed with how nice a day it is going to be. The air is calm, the sun is up but there's a good amount of haze. The leaves are just about all off the trees, littering the lawns, sidewalks and streets. It's not exactly warm - the high 50's - but that lack of wind makes the difference. I actually just stood on my driveway and just surveyed the neighborhood. It was quiet - all of the school buses had completed their pickups and there wasn't a sound in the neighborhood except for the traffic on Golf Road at the edge of our development.
I live for these days and for that little time on the driveway.
The ladybugs have invaded again (well, not the real ladybugs, but the "faux ladybugs" beetles). It's amazing how many get into the house and I just don't know how they do it. I think I saw Chip eat one of the patio door screen.
Speaking of Chip, his sneezing is not better at all, so it's off to the vet on Monday.
posted at 11:23 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, October 25, 2004
FuzzyOh, oh... I'm having problems staying awake. Each day is compunding the problem, Today, I can't stay awake, ALL DAY LONG. I'm falling asleep in front on the TV, in front of the computer. Yje hours are spinning right by today and I don't have a clue how to grab onto the passing time and ride it and wake up. It's a pretty damn weird feeling.
posted at 04:25 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Garage Sale Part DeuxLooks likes the Garage Sale was a moderate success. I guess attendance was way down today compared to yesterday, so some "big ticket" items (you know, $30 is "big ticket" for garage sales...) went unsold.
posted at 10:39 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, October 18, 2004
Palindrome miles
I looked down at my odometer today and had to take a shot.
Symmetry - catch it.
posted at 04:54 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, October 10, 2004
ExhaustionTrying... to.. shake.. off.. sleep...
Not working...
Succumbing to slumber...
posted at 02:03 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, October 09, 2004
Dread Pirate Rupert
I drove out to Algonquin this afternoon to go to the Grand Opening of a new Galyans. Now, we've got a Galyans in Schaumburg that we go to often, and the Schaumburg one is a lot bigger than this new one in Algonquin, but I drove out here not to shop but to see someone. I went to see America's Favorite "Pirate" - Rupert Boneham.
The line to meet him was enormous and really net letting up, so there was no way I was going to meet him personally. I sort of camped-out by his table, taking pictures, which allowed me to listen to him interact with everyone and get a good idea of his character.
When I watched Survivor Pearl Islands and Survivor All Stars as well as the America's Tribal Council, that I liked Rupert. He seemed real. He seamed to care, he seemed "honest", and he truly seemed to enjoy his time in the show.
I was wrong.
He is double and maybe even triple what I thought.
He was engaging. He took time with every single person going through that line. He made sure he shook their hands. He made direct eye contact. He talked to them by name. He thanked every single person for coming out. When he talked about his time in the game, it was as if he just got off the island yesterday, speaking about details that you know he feels in his heart. He speaks well of some people (Like Sandra, the Pearl Islands winner, and Rudy) and he still talks about issues he had with a certain Mr. Fairplay.
The way he treats kids is wonderful and magic, working hard to win their hearts if they weren't already won before stepping forward to the show's only legitimate Pirate.
I watched a handler briefly talk to him, talking about that people may have been upset about the amount of time he was spending with people in line. It's obvious that those weren't the people at the front of the line who were meeting him, for each and every one of them just soaked-up his energy and everyone walked away with a smile.
I can't say anything bad about the guy. He is real.
posted at 02:18 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, October 08, 2004
Rainy dayWhat a crappy day - the temperature is barely in the 50's and it's been raining since well before dawn. Can't complain, though. It hasn't rained around here in weeks. And you know, it's really not that obnoxious. It's that fall rain - light but steady. It's not really windy at all, so there's no additional leaf loss. I'm starting to feel like there's no real "Color Change" happening in the neighborhood - we're losing leaves to wind and dryness, not rain or color change.
Second day on the job and this 7am thing - though it could work for leaving earlier, really sucks when you're not used to getting up early (and when you've realized you're not a "morning guy"). Went out to handle some tickets by myself this afternoon and wound-up working right through lunch. This place is so damn big, I'm having trouble getting oriented and understanding which way I'm supposed to walk to find somebody's cubicle. It'll all work out - someday.
posted at 05:49 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Yard Work
My sister Diane picked up our Mom and drove out to my house this morning to, well, "attack" the bushes in front of our house. The ground cover we had is just shot and needed removing as well as some other plants and bushes that just haven't done well over the years (not to mention the weeds that were out of control). Then diane decided to trime our Hawthorne tree - a great decisiion because now it looks more like a tree (if you know what I mean). They wound-up staying about an hour longer than they thought because it was just taking time trying to put the branches into those big brown paper lawn garbage bags. It really looks different out front and it sounds like Diane is coming back next week to try to "rework" our "dirt" which is just crappy clay and rock.
posted at 03:49 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, October 02, 2004
Our First Robot
Last night, Carol & I went out to purchase something we've wanted for quite a while.
We now have 2 bunnies, and... well, if you've ever had bunnies, you know that even though you can potty train them, they still, um... leave "bunny beans" all over the place.
read more of this entry »
We saved up money and we went out and bought a Roomba Discovery. (Of course, a 20% Off coupon from Bed, Bath and Beyond didn't hurt!)
I pulled it out of the box and charged it up overnight. This morning I tried starting it up and it threw an error code, which forced me to call Customer Support. There was a problem with the Cliff Sensors. I was able to get it going after about 5-10 minutes and it went on it's merry way, vacuuming the family room. Like Oprah said, this thing is not only amazing but it's mesmerizing to watch.
Chip only freaked-out once when the Roomba went right for him. Other than that, he was just inquisitive. Same with Indy. The Roomba did a wonderful job. I put it back into it's recharging station. It's not a fast charge, and it took at least 3-4 hours to charge. But I had to see it again, so I ran it again on the max cleaning setting. Toward the end of the session, I had the trouble with the sensors again, forcing me to call again, and got some valuable information on cleaning them. Not only was the rest of the session a success, the Roomba found it's docking station when it was running low on juice. It just, docked, turned itself off, and started recharging itself. This time - i my mind - it seemed to work even better, maneuvering around the furniture and up and down different layers of carpeting and rugs. I was surprised how much bunny fur the thing sucked-up (not to mention hay and, well, the aforementioned "beans").
I think everyone should get one of these little guys! « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 02:33 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, September 25, 2004
Warm weather overThere seems to be so many things that have come to an end over the past week. Today, it's the warm weather. The temperatures have been in the 80's for the past week or so, which is 10 degrees above the average. Well, Mother Nature likes to average things out, so it's 61° right now. The high is going to be 70° today.
Figures. We've got our last Sox games today and tomorrow.
posted at 07:39 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Hmmm... that doesn't look good
About a year and a half ago, the village came by and "trimmed" our maple tree. Well, judging by that shape the bark is in as well as the obvious changing of colors on half of the tree, I'm thinking the tree is in trouble and we're never going to get a decent tree in front of our house. This is the second maple tree in the 20 years we've been here.
posted at 12:35 PM | Link | Mundane § |
NOOOO!!!! Don't take my Twinkies away from me!!!!!
No! NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! Interstate Baking is Filing Chapter 11!!!! That's Hostess!!!! That's Twinkies! That's Ho-Ho's! Even my favorite cupcakes and little chocolate donettes!
I had to go to Dominick's to pay my last respects! They better come out of bankruptcy and keep making these sweets!
posted at 08:37 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
What do you mean it's over?
How could summer be "over" already? It's the first day of autumn?
You can tell, though. The school buses are buzzing around the neighborhood. The nights are so much cooler and obviously longer. I went outside this morning to take out the garbage and recyclables, The sun was low on the horizon - the time of year when it's a bitch driving into the sun on the way to work... if you were employed. I noticed, too, that the air smells different. It's not spring, it's not summer... it's the smell of leaves on the ground, so that must be the smell of fall.
posted at 08:32 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Sunday, September 19, 2004
Polish Drinking Sausage Water
I pass by this Polish delicatessen at Addison and Laramie a few times a month, and every time I see that sign in the window I just can't seem to read it correctly. I know what it's supposed to say, but the two signs seem too close together, so, to me, the signs say "Polish Drinking Sausage Water".
posted at 05:52 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
90,000
While screaming down the Northwest Tollway on the way to the Sox game today, my Infiniti turned-over 90,000 miles.The car's remarkable. It's wearing well, too so it sounds good and looks good.
posted at 11:47 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, September 06, 2004
Labor DayNo laboring today. Just another day for me, but Carol is off today and there's no way she should be doing anything today.
Just watching TV (catching-up on TiVo) and playing with the bunnies.
posted at 03:09 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, September 03, 2004
KobeOn Friday nights, Carol and I usually go out for dinner.
Nothing fancy at all. mind you. It's just a once-a-week thing to get out of the house and not have Carol feel like she needs to cook. The idea is just to grab something that will cost less than $20 for the two of us. We have our regular haunts, all of which are not flashy at all - the local China Buffet, Gulliver's Barnaby's (for a Pub Burger, not a pizza), Steak n Shake, or Rosati's (for the buffet).
Tonight we went to another standby - Fuddruckers. I was floored by the sign that I saw at the entrance:
KOBE BEEF BURGER
Fuddruckers has Kobe beef? WTF? It's a half pound American-Style Kobe Beef Burger for $9.99
I've always wanted to try Kobe beef... but not as a burger at Fuddruckers...
posted at 06:15 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, September 02, 2004
'SkeetersThe village just went through the neighborhood with the Mosquito Abatement Trucks, throwing chemicals into the air trying to kill mosquito larvae. Illinois had their first fatality from the West Nile Virus today.
posted at 10:50 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Sibling rivalryEven though they're in separate cages, both Indy and Chip are very aware of each other. Tonight, while Indy was out and Chip was in his cage, Indy walked (hopped) over to Chip's cage. Chip had been eating kale, something Indy didn't seem to like. Well, there was a stalk of kale laying up against the bars of the cage and Indy just stuck her nose inside the cage and pulled the stalk of kale out and started eating it. We're not sure what it means - whether it was just a little show of power, to show Chip who's the boss, or maybe after 7 years she's developed a taste for kale. In any case, it took us by surprise and we laughed our asses off at them.
In the meantime, my sister Diane and Melinda took off this afternoon for Europe. They're flying to Barcelona and hanging out there for a while, and then driving to Nice and finally Milan before coming back a week from now. Diane always goes away for her birthday, never staying home. And I'm jealous because she's the world traveler, going to great places... while Carol and I have had to cut way back because of my prolonged unemployment... we don't leave the midwest... perhaps we'll get back to this again someday...
posted at 08:45 PM | Link | Bunnies § |
Sunday, August 29, 2004
*whew* It's over...
The latest version of the Olympics are officially over, the games are closed, the flame is out.
NBC's coverage of the closing ceremonies was mas muy sucko. Between too many commercial breaks and Champion flashbacks, there was no way in hell to understand what was being presented on the field. I'm sure there was a story to tell but hell if I could figure it out.
Anyway, 4 years to Beijing. I'm sure they'll be ready.
Oh, and BTW, what the hell was that idiot doing on the Marathon route?
posted at 09:29 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, August 28, 2004
20 Years
It was 20 years ago today that Carol and I signed the closing papers on our house.
20 Years.
It's the longest either of us have lived in one place in our whole lives. It's kind of a weird feeling when I think about it. 20 years in one place. The thing is, we love our house and have never considered moving. It was a brand new house in a new development. Not exactly new anymore! There's only one thing we would have done differently - payed the extra $10,000 (at that time) for a basement! There's just no place in this small house to store stuff. A basement would have been great!
Oh, well. It's HOME.
posted at 07:42 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
That's gotta hurt...Was flipping through the channels and saw something I've never seen.
It was cycling at the Velodrome at the Olympics. I don't know what event it was (I found out it was the second heat in the Men's Keirin, whatever the hell that is). There was a collision and two cyclists went down. There was a shot of one of them being tended to. He was in a lot of pain. When he fell onto the wood track and slid, going probably around 50-60 kph, the track burned away his uniform and burned him.
Lets face it - they're not wearing any real padding or protection and it's not like those suits are made of Nomex or other material that will protect the wearer from burns and abrasions.
Boy that's gotta hurt...
read more of this entry »
ATHENS, 25 August - A spectacular crash before the finishing line in the Men's Keirin second heat had Theo BOS (NED), the 2004 Olympic Men's Sprint silver medallist jeered off the track after he bumped local rider Labros VASILOPOULOS (GRE), causing both rider's exit from the competition.
Shane KELLY (AUS) won the second heat after taking the lead in the back straight with Men's Sprint bronze medallist Rene WOLFF (GER) second and Mickael BORGAIN (FRA) third. KELLY will join compatriot Ryan BAYLEY (AUS) who, in winning the first heat, showed the speed that won him the Men's Sprint gold medal on Tuesday.
BAYLEY turned the power on in the back straight to win with Josiah NG (MAS) sitting on his wheel to come second and Jose ESCUREDO (ESP) third to claim a place in the final later tonight.
Jamie STAFF (GBR) crossed third in the first heat but the 2004 world champion was relegated for moving down towards the inside of the track when a rival was already there, thus ending his chance of being dual Olympic and world champion.
ONS ed/pjg
« hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 11:00 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, August 23, 2004
One RunJust watched the U.S. Women's Softball Team give up their first run in the Olympic Games. It was in the 6th against Australia. The runner got a double because the first baseman and right fielder didn't call who had a popup. The next batter had a double as the run scored.
It was the only run they gave up throughout the games. Damn straight they deserved the Gold Medal! I think their total scores for all of the games was 51-1.
Remarkable.
posted at 11:12 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, August 19, 2004
Olympic thoughtsOK, the Olympics have been on for less than a week, and I have even said a peep about them.
Opening Ceremonies: The Olympics meet Cirque du Soleil. I really enjoyed it. I thought the cauldron looked like a huge Bic lighter that tilted to be lit. Cool.
Greece itself: Beautiful. Gorgeous. Would like to go, but never will. When looking at the cities, towns, villages it's just beautiful. When you look at the venues - they're stark, without any landscaping (ran out of time?) and look hot and uninviting.
Swimming events: best use of electronic effect technology showing the flag of the swimmer at the bottom of each lane, and the use of the World Record line when it looks like the lead swimmer is close.
Fencing: I was lucky to go to a high school that had a fencing team and was fascinated with it back then and fascinated now. Glad to see that the electronics have advanced so the fencers don't have to be hard-wired to the scoring equipment. Love this event.
Women's Weightlifting: These women are small and not what I expected to see. One woman was introduced at being 5' 5" - "one of the tallest in the games"
Cheerleaders/dancers and Beach Volleyball? Why? This is the Olympics - how do they add to the athlete's performance? Then again, I'm just writing-off Beach Volleyball as the Snowboarding of the Summer Games - just another viewer-grab and the Gen X-er/extreme games people.
Doubles Table Tennis: First, these tables look a hell of a lot smaller than what I'm used to seeing in people's basements and rec rooms. Then seeing 2 huge guys on each side of one of these little tables just looks... odd.
Badminton: The Curling of the Summer Games - a game that looks like anyone can participate in.
Field Hockey: Somehow, I don't remember the sticks resembling a hook than a hockey stick. But, it's just so... cool... seeing all the pretty girls in their skirts...
Womens Softball: Wow wow o woweewow... I never would have imaged that the US Women have gotten this far without giving up a single run! These women are remarkable. Saw a piece on a doctor here in Chicago that worked with the team to increase the speed of their eye movement. He did this by shooting tennis balls at them that have colored numbers on them at 120 mph while they stood in the batters box. The object was to call out the color and number of each ball and try to put the bat on the ball. The result is that that the batters can see a softball rotation and movement quicker and easier. I know some Major League Baseball teams that could use this guy's help...
Canoeing: When did Kayaking change names to Canoeing?
Gymnastics: Are we really that good?
Basketball: We suck. What an embarassment. I blame the whole "punk" influance of the current NBA "stars".
Synchronized Diving: Way cooler than it sounds. Oh, and that "drop camera" that they use to shoot diving is one of the best views of any of the sports I've seen.
Water Polo: looks like hell to play
posted at 10:39 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Monday, August 16, 2004
Hooky
Carol and I are both exhausted. In fact, Carol called-in to take the day off. We're sleeping at every possible moment. I think the wedding last night just wiped us out.
Back to Bunny Duty, keeping an eye on each of them and only letting one of them out at a time. Chip's toenails are still razor sharp and I have to watch how I handle him. We can tell that he's growing already.
posted at 01:39 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, August 15, 2004
A wedding to rememberWe had a a wonderful, unique experience tonight.
Our buddy Victor (whom some of you know as The Diz evenings on WGCI, and may have seen him in a few pictures around this blog) who sits right next to us at our White Sox games got married tonight.
The ceremony was something to see. First off all, the wedding was at 5pm. On a Sunday Night.
Now Michelle, Victor's lovely wife, had won a special "thing" at a Bridal Fair - she was selected to become a "Buff Bride". She (and Victor) got personal trainers, dietitians, etc to get them in shape for the wedding. Oh, and this whole process was shot by a crew for NBC's Dateline (and it's supposed to air sometime in September). So, let's add in a Dateline crew, plus a crew to videotape the wedding for Victor & Michelle, the official wedding photographer(s) and the place gets a bit crowded.
Now, another aspect of the wedding is that it's actually a Black and White Ball - everyone was to wear black and/or white and Black Tie was invited (which I did - yes, I got a tux for the wedding). This whole thing just upscales the wedding dramatically. And speaking of dramatics, it just begins.
read more of this entry »
We saw Victor just before the wedding and realized that everyone that was standing up had boutonnières that had gold masks of comedy and tragedy. Odd? The lights in the room went down dramatically and the ceremony started. The groomsmen walked in, all in tuxes, taking One. Step. At. A. Time. The lines the aisle, Then Victor walked in the same way. When he reaches the front, the Groomsmen bow to each other and cross to the right side of the aisle. The bridesmaids enter the same way, each carrying a masquerade mask on a stick. The women are also dressed in black. They all enter, turn to their partner across the aisle. Then men bow, the women curtsy. The walk hand in hand to the front of the room. We then have the regular Ring Bearer, Broom Bearer and flower girls. Then Michelle enters. Holy Cow. If this is a Black and White Ball, the Bride and Groom must different, right? Well, victor had a black tux, red vest, black shirt, red tie. Michelle's dress was all read. And flowing. And long. And gorgeous.
(Now, I have to admit, that for a split second, in the dark, with all of the candles, seeing all the guys in tuxes, all the girls in black dresses with masks, the bride in red... I had this flash that I was at the secret party in the middle of "Eyes Wide Shut"...)
The Ceremony was wonderful, the ministers fantastic. Toward the end of the ceremony, was another piece - they christened their daughter Chloe (who, just like Victor, you would have seen in pictures in this blog from the White Sox games). A bridesmaid took a header and we didn't know it until the minister asked for someone to call 911 (as far as we know, she was OK, even though the Arlington Heights Fire Department came out to make sure).
The ceremony started at 5:45 and was over by 6:30. Time for cocktails and appetizers. The room was on the second floor, but now we had to go to the basement, to a Jazz Club called The Boiler Room. We had free drinks and I never did see the actual appetizers - for an hour and a half. We were finally invited upstairs to dinner at 8pm. The room looked great. The Bridal Party was introduced, and when Victor and Michelle were introduced and entered the room, the first thing that went on in the front was cutting the cake. Again, this looked like a media circus. Then we had the toasts, not only by the best man, but by Victor, his radio on-air partner, and their boss. Eventually we started eating. The soup arrived at 9pm and the entrée somewhere around 9:50.
So we're eating dinner at a wedding reception at 10 o'clock on a Sunday night.
The thing is, the food was great, the room was great. Masks were given out to all of the women in the room (they had little "Michelle and Victor" ribbons on them). Eventually, there was a first dance and as I had thought would happen, Chloe had to join in, and they looked great as a family.
Being radio people, the DJ was great and what people were left were finally dancing at around 11pm)
Well, we had to finally go. This was late for us! We found Victor and Michelle outside on a balcony getting some air. They looked great and just so damned happy! « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 11:49 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, August 14, 2004
Dinner with friendsWent to Barry & Buffy's tonight to have a quick barbecue and yack with friends. Debbie was able to squeeze in some time and come and join us. We sat out in their backyard while Barry grilled some chicken and ribs. The sun was actually hot and there wasn't much of a breeze either. The neighborhood was quiet, which was odd since they're just blocks from Wrigley and the game had only been over for an hour or so.
After the great dinner, we watched whatever was on the Olympics, making snide comments about the male divers' outfits, as well as the build of a lot of the swimmers. I'm telling you, watching the Olympics with friends gives you another perspective of the games!
Again, I know I say this a lot about them, but we enjoy the company of the three of them and miss them terribly.
posted at 11:11 PM | Link | Friends § |
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Keeping an eye on the new kid
I've spent the day making sure that Indy and Roscoe have had their turns out exercising, but not together.
Indy is still pissed and wants to really get at the little guy, but she's slowly mellowing. I think as time passes she's realizing that we not treating her any differently. I'm feeling more positive that in a few days we'll be able for our first play date.
In the mean time, it's been interesting learning a new bunny. He's pre-wired better than Max or Travis was and he's acting a lot like Indy. He's been slowly exploring the area that he's allowed to roam with me chasing after him and telling him firmly "No" and moving him out of the problem areas.
I've forgotten about one other baby bunny problem - toenails. They're sharp as hell. The nice side to Roscoe is that he allow us to pick him up, hold him, and even flip him over - all things that Indy doesn't allow.
Roscoe has been running around the family room at high speed today, doing that bunny thing where they run so fast that their butts kind of fishtail out.
I'm finding out that he's a little vocal, too, if it's quiet and you listen carefully. It's a few quiet whimpers and a kind of quiet squeak. It's really cool and I hope he doesn't lose it. He's been laying on my shoulder for the past half hour as I've been sitting on the couch typing this.
I REALLY want Roscoe and Indy to get along.
posted at 04:04 PM | Link | Bunnies § |
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Swimming pigs, cream puffs and bunniesCarol took the day off and we drove up to Milwaukee to go to the Wisconsin State Fair.
We love going to this thing. I would rather go to the Illinois State Fair, but Milwaukee is much closer than Springfield. Our family has been going up there for years. The draw for us has been the animals, the absolutely crappy merchandise being sold in the pavilions and the food food FOOD!!!
The weather isn't the best - cloudy, breezy and temps in the high 60's.
We try to go on a day when the rabbits are being judged so we can see all the breeds. It's always a highlight for us.
We started walking around to get an idea of food choices. Every year there's more and more and more food stands, which of course make the choice even harder. I thought I read somewhere that there are 172 stands here. We got a few ideas and then it was post time for the pig races. Carol hadn't seem them before, and this year they added a swimming pool. Yes, the last race was also a water race as the pigs swam the length of the pool. No, seriously!
So, after the races, we picked-up some Reuben Rolls (like eggrolls, but filled with corned beef, sauerkraut... everything to make a reuben sandwich), potato pancakes, brats, and pierogi's.
Well, we needed to walk that off, so we walked all the way down to the exhibit halls to look at the real bad merchandise for sale. Now, yes, there are a few good products, but how many juicers, mops and pieces of fudge do you really need?
The Milwaukee Admirals had the AHL Calder Cup at their booth. Boy, is it in bad shape!
Well, we got what we were looking for - a pet carrier - and started heading back across the park, stopping for a World Famous creme puff along the way.
Creme puff.... augggllllll.....
Anyway, it was getting darker out and it was getting later into the afternoon, so it was time to go pick-up our purchase and take him home.
read more of this entry »
What? What am I talking about?
Well, yes, I sort of didn't tell you about what took up most of our day.
Well, when we went to go see the rabbits, there was this little house with a pen just outside the entrance. There was at least 50 baby bunnies hopping around and there was a girl that was allowing people to hold the bunnies. These were all rabbits from breeders at the fair. The bunnies were not "show quality", but still cute as all hell.
So we stopped by, and got a baby bunny to hold. Carol had him first and he was really sweet, allowing her to hold him with no problem (not like our Indy who doesn't like being held AT ALL). The Carol gave him to me to hold and he was just really sweet. He didn't struggle at all. He had a number 53 written inside his ear.
That's when we found out that they were selling them for $25. I looked at Carol and she just looked at me and loudly said "Oh, no we're NOT!" I didn't say anything and just held him and petted him some more. We must have been out there for half an hour.
We must have been back 3 more times to find out how to get him home. Carol actually paid for him. We thought we would have to take him home on Sunday, but found out it could be today, and that's when I thought we'd be able to find a pet carrier in the exhibit hall.
So we picked-up our little boy at the end of the day. He was in the carrier on Carol's lap all the way home. He was awake the whole time, but flopped on his side and relaxed as much as possible. When we got home, Carol went to the pet store and got a small temporary cage for him and we put him up right next to Indy.
Indy went from inquisitive to agitated. She went nose to nose with him and bit him. You could tell by the way he was rubbing his nose and upper lip that she really hurt him.
Indy is pissed. It's going to be a lot of work to get these two to live together in harmony.
But the new guy is sooooo cute and sweet.
This will be interesting bunny times in the house...
« hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:07 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, August 09, 2004
Still not getting there...... the motivation, that is.
I know I've got stuff to say and write, I'm just not interested in doing so. Must be just another manifestation of this funk I've been going through over the past few days/weeks/months/years.
posted at 08:45 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Friday, August 06, 2004
Dear Loyal ReaderI've got a confession to make.
read more of this entry »
I can't get myself to write anything here. My life is just so crappy, that I can't think of anything worthwhile to share.
I'm lacking any motivation at all. Every day is the same. When I worked, I had interaction. I drove to work, I saw things I heard things. I had coworkers. I would talk to them. I would share stories and get ideas.
Now, I'm not doing a damn thing and nothing sparks me.
PLEASE be tolerant of me - I need to work this out.
Somehow. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 06:09 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, August 02, 2004
Chicago = GothamThe big deal in town (now that Millennium Park is open) is that Batman Begins is filming here. There are new tax incentives in place to try to persuade production companies to film here. I guess director Christopher Nolan liked Lower Wacker Drive, so they've built the entrance to the Batcave down there. Also, I've been seeing tape of some of the news reports and they've shown the new Batmobile - still another different look, more military meets mad Max (you can see it at the official website).
Here's the story from tonight's NBC5 Chicago News... (5Mb AVI)
posted at 10:29 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, July 30, 2004
Peeling
My upper arms are in such bad shape. I'm a snake - I'm shedding skin - actually my bad sunburn from last week is making my skin peel. The arms are white from the skin dying. Actually, it is a little hard to see case, well, I'm a furry guy. The patches itch and burn and hurt.... it's like it's been all week, but now you get the lovely itch and dead skin flying everywhere.
It's amazing when you try to pull the skin off, how thin a layer of human skin actually is. Anyway, the arms still hurt and are sensitive to the touch.
Oh, and look like hell.
posted at 08:32 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, July 29, 2004
No, it was the saladThe evening was miserable, as well as a part of the overnight. Yep, it must have been the salad yesterday, because my stomach... and lower parts... were in riot mode. I slept-in a little this morning and that seems to let things "work themselves out".
posted at 10:17 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
The downward spiral...Went out to a local produce store to pick up some tomatoes. I don't know why, but every summer I get these "needs" to have certain foods - today is cold, fresh, sliced tomatoes lightly salted and peppered.
Picked-up a salad for lunch, too. Unfortunately, half-way through the salad, the stomach did a roll-over and now I feel like crap. Could be because I'm watching the White Sox game, though...
posted at 03:13 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
The man in the mirror
(Aaaaarrrrrggggghhhhh!!!! No!!! I didn't mean to refer to a friggin' Michael Jackson song!!! Aaaarrrrgggggghhhhh!!!!!)
You know, sometimes that first look in the mirror in the morning can be a little startling, especially if you don't feel good and then you see that you look like you feel. Sometimes you look in the mirror and you see things that yo u don't feel.
This morning I looked in the mirror and saw the part of my genes that I got from my dad - my right eyebrow has produced a white hair that is just twisting all over the place. Actually, my whole eyebrow is just a mess... I need a trim...
posted at 10:18 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, July 26, 2004
Sleep x 4OK, now I'm starting to wonder if there's something going on with me... I've fallen asleep 4 times today. OK, once was planned, but the others I was just watching something on TiVo and the next thing I know the show is over. This seems to be a regular occurrence. I need to start fighting this somehow...
posted at 04:03 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, July 24, 2004
ExhaustionCarol and I are exhausted. We're zombies. We're barely communicating as we shuffle around the house. Indy, on the other hand, is happy that we're home. We slept hard and deep with weird-ass dreams... and I'll bet we'll fall asleep once or twice before we go to the baseball game tonight....
I thought that a Vacation was supposed to rejuvenate, reinvigorate? Well, I guess it did, but what the hell happened to make us feel like this?
posted at 10:49 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, July 18, 2004
AWAYI am sitting on the deck of my sister's house in Michigan. It's not completely dark yet, so I'm taking what little time I have just to sit back and enjoy the semi-quiet.
read more of this entry »
This morning, Carol & I picked-up our friends Barry & Buffy to enjoy a quick (read "cheap") getaway for the week - staying at my sister's house. The drive was totally uneventful. As soon as we got up here and unloaded the car, we went to Joe Jackson's Fruit Stand in New Buffalo to get some particular things we needed for the week. Then it was off to Martin's to do the major grocery shopping, and then finally to Falatic's for all the meat shopping. It was back to Diane's and then out to lunch at the Red Arrow Road House. On the way back to the house, we stopped at at a jewelry store that, well, we were told we had to see. It was Abigail Heche. This was some seriously gorgeous jewelry in this place. Yes, pricey, but damn the quality is there... (Oh, and yes, that's Ann's sister... we met Abigail and her mom and she was showing us a gorgeous necklace...). It was back to the house and we're all zombies.
Diane & Melinda must have left sometime after 4 I think. I just grilled some hotdogs and hour ago, just so we could eat something tonight.
We really have no schedule to meet, no times to keep. We're away from the city and just enjoying the time.
Of course, there's a ton of mosquitoes buzzing around me right now as the sun sets. I have a Black & Decker Halo™ Mosquito Inhibitor System sitting next to me and not being very effective.
It would be a perfect evening other than that... oh, yes, and the "hooligans" (as we call them) that are next store. They're just outside and being noisy. Hopefully that won't be S.O.P. for the week.
Just nice being out here... Have I mentioned that yet? « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:11 PM | Link | Travel § |
Friday, July 16, 2004
Nosey NeighborI've been intrigued the last few days, watching construction people across the street at a neighbor's house. Yesterday was removing and installing new roofing. Today, it's new gutters. Of course, the guy is out there yelling at the workers, as they take a tour around the house looking at the gutters. I've got no idea what's going on,but I'm trying to not be seen. There's always something going on over there, usually something happening inside so you really don't have a clue what's happening - you just see some large deliveries and guys going in in the morning and guys leaving in the evening.
Of course, I've got the issue where the guy refuses to park his car in his garage on in his driveway and has to park across the street in front of my house - just because there's one fugly looking couch sitting in the garage taking up space.
posted at 10:44 AM | Link | Mundane | 2 comments § |
Thursday, July 15, 2004
Mmmffrrggy esccshhhhuuuuzzzzyyyyI woke up and went downstairs and started watching the Today show. The audio sucked. Like it was over modulated. No clarity. Fuzzy. So, I changed the station. All my local stations sounded like that. Went to the movie channels - same thing. OK, let me try my TiVo. Ditto. After a few more tests, I realize 1) it's not my ears (whew!) 2) it's not the TV, so 3) it's my 15 year old Sony receiver/amp. We had the thing fixed twice, both times because the right channel went out. It's time to throw in the towel.
I drove up to the Sony Outlet Store up at the mall in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, where I not only got a referb unit with warranty, but I got 6 new speakers for just $20. It's my first foray into Surround Sound with a sub-woofer.
My whole TV viewing experience has now been changed and everything I'm watching sounds foreign to me. I guess I got to get used to the wonderful sound...
posted at 03:12 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
zzzzzzzz *snort*So, I was sitting on the couch watching something on TiVo when all of a sudden... it was an hour later.
I don't remember falling asleep, I sure the heck don't remember what I was watching.
I just don't know what happened.
posted at 01:20 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, July 12, 2004
Disco DemolitionExactly 25 years ago right now, The Chicago White Sox had to forfeit a game at old Comiskey Park
Local WLUP "shock jock" Steve Dahl along with partner Garry Meier had a promotion at old Comiskey Park: Show up for a Double Header with the Detroit Tigers and bring a Disco record and get in for $1. The record would be put into a pile and blown up in between games to signify the end of disco.
All hell broke lose after the event - fans rushed the field, tore up turf, even set fires in the upper deck.
Detroit manager Sparky Anderson protested field conditions and game was called-off and later forfeited by
WTTW is broadcasting a one-hour special commemorating the event right now. I guess you can get a DVD of the show by going here.
posted at 08:21 PM | Link | Baseball § |
Friday, July 09, 2004
OK, I guess that really WAS shortOK, so it was under an hour and a half of work this morning and that project is over. All in all, a very easy project that I wouldn't mind doing again - I just wish I had more hours. (Total hours on the project - 6 3/4.)
Got home and Unemployment was calling. They had questions regarding my employment over the past year because there was a challenge filed saying I didn't work 30 days for my company... well, yeah, that was last month, but what about this past year? That should get corrected.
Time to relax and watch a little Bond on the telly.
posted at 11:16 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, July 05, 2004
Sleep driving
The day was starting out a bit lazy. Decided to hang in the pool and try to work-out the cramp in my left calf and just work my left leg in general. Let's just say I was in long enough to get real pruney. The leg felt great as long as I didn't stand-up on it. I could move it around and kick and it was fine. If I stood - forget it, I was back to pain.
Diane & Melinda put together another great lunch and I sat down in the TV room afterward and just fell asleep.
He left pretty early because I had no feeling for how bad the traffic would be. I knew that if the traffic was bad, we'd have to stop quite a few time so that I could walk around for a while before getting back in the car. Well, it only took us about 1:40 to get Mom home and it took us about another 40 minutes. There was NO traffic to speak of. The only problem was me - I kept fighting this need to fall asleep.
The fact is - I actually did fall asleep for a second or two and it scared the hell out me. It was on the Kennedy in the express lanes. I zoned out as the road curved, causing me to make an unintended lane change. Carol slapped my arm and I was startled enough to complete the lane change as if I intended it. Thank God there wasn't a car in the lane. I was fine the rest of the way home. Go figure.
Love being up at Diane's house.
posted at 06:14 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, July 04, 2004
Lazy painSo, at 2:30 this morning, my left leg which has become numb, decides to throw me a cramp in my left calf. The ol' Charlie Horse at 2:30 in the morning. Carol get up and tries to get the cramp to stop while I'm trying not to scream. It felt like I didn't sleep all night long.
Well, here it s the fourth and we've got nothing really going on. The girls go out shopping while I stay home trying to sleep/recuperate. I feel like crap. I sleep on the couch while watching Ground Force America. Diane & Melinda spin-up another great meal and the day just passes on.
There's no "local amateur" fireworks in the neighborhood. The night is quiet...
posted at 10:12 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, July 03, 2004
Let's celebrateWell, as I was getting dressed, I realize that my entire left leg from above my butt to my toes is slightly numb. No tingly sensation, no pain, just everything feels simultaneously cold and hot and muted. Crap, I'm screwed-up.
There was NO traffic all the way to Diane's house. It only took us about 1:45 to get there.
read more of this entry »
Our first stop of the day was to go to a craft fair in Lakeside, just down the road. It actually was a small but nice fair. I had a hell of a time there, though. Walking in the gravel, dirt, and uneven grass I was just all over the place. Every step was unsteady, hard to keep my balance. This sucked. After shopping it was off for burgers at Redamaks.
The afternoon was hanging around the house, playing in the pool. I brought with one of our DirecTV receivers. I wanted to plug into Diane's dish and see if her house in southwest Michigan is still within the spot-beam of the Chicago local stations, and it is. Carol & I are bring B&B up here to spend the week in about two weeks, so this is perfect - we'll be able to get all of our movie channels, sports, and local channels.
Diane & Melinda worked-up a pork roast (actually multiple with different marinades) for dinner. The food up there just tastes better. Go figure.
The fireworks were in Three Oaks tonight at 11pm local time (10pm Chicago time - up here you have to say Michigan Time for everything because a lot of the people are actually from Chicago, so they stay on Chicago time, like we do). Well, the Blues Fest was going on and it started to rain. People started to leave because the show just wasn't starting (also, because Blues Fest was still going and not stopping). Eventually, we had 20 minutes of good fireworks. Let's just say we were all taken aback by the display. I mean, we've seen it before, but this was different as they set up hundreds of feet closer to us than in the past, so we really felt that we were in the fireworks. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 11:10 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Up and *twitch* outI'm up a lot earlier than I wanted to be.
I sat down at the computer to check my email and RSS feeds and my legs are twitching.
This doesn't bode well for our little trip today.
posted at 05:10 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, July 02, 2004
The need to get awayMy family is going up to my sister's house in Michigan for the holiday weekend. I always look forward to that - just to be able to do nothing (even though I've been doing a lot of that being unemployed). We were supposed to go up there tonight, but I've opted out of doing that for two reasons that are related. First (and primary) is that my leg twitching gets worse as the day progresses. Couple that with Friday night traffic that has the Holiday getaway factor added to it means we would be in traffic a God-awful time, and it would cause just way the hell too much discomfort. So we're going up tomorrow morning and hoping that traffic is lighter.
Now, the other issue is that my Mom refuses to do nothing when we're up there, so we're always on the move, whether it's shopping or just going some place to visit.
Hopefully, we'll have a nice balance of activity and down-time.
posted at 06:56 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, June 28, 2004
Asphalt
We were all oiled up last Wednesday and today was the final step - our street got a nice new layer of asphalt. The noisiest part of the whole thing were the steamrollers. The house actually vibrated with a low-pitched hum when they went by.
All in all, the village's intrusion onto our little, quiet cul du sac was very uneventful and easy to endure.
posted at 04:24 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Friday, June 25, 2004
NationMasterWas over at Boing Boing (and noticing what happened to Erin), when I read about this reall cool site: NationMaster. It's a statistical database on... well, everything in the world. Want to know the richest nation in the world? (It's not the U.S.) The most muderous? (The U.S. is 24th) Maybe you want Mortality Rates? Like Contact with powered lawnmower (per capita)? (U.S. is 7th).
posted at 01:48 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Thursday, June 24, 2004
WardrivingEvery once in a while, I'll see an additional wireless network available in the house that's definitely not my equipment. So, just on a lark, I decided to see how many wireless networks are actually in my neighborhood. So I loaded-up the car, fired up Network Stumbler and drove at 10 mph down to the cul du sac and back. That netted me 5 additional networks just on my block, and all but 1 are open. By going around the block and around another, I netted 13 networks, 5 of which have WEP turned on, and 3 whose SSID's are still LINKSYS - straight out of the box, probably.
posted at 03:54 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Where happy little bluebirds fly...
We had an interesting series of storms go through. When you look at the radar image, it looked like a pearl necklace - small round storms along a front. Sure enough, when they went through they dumped a bunch of rain, but the sun was still out. And you know: rain + sun = rainbow, so I had to run out in the rain and get the Rainbow At The End Of The Cul du Sac shot.
posted at 06:58 PM | Link | Mundane § |
A good oiling
Well, the next phase in our street repair has commenced - oiling the street before the asphalt is laid. The question is - how long are we going to be oiled before the asphalt is laid?
posted at 03:54 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, June 20, 2004
SummerThere's something wonderful about coming home at 9:30 at night at still having the sky slightly lit by the setting sun. Summer rolled in just a few hours ago and tomorrow is the longest day of the year. Such a nice day outside all day, too. First full-day of summer is tomorrow, but this is a nice start.
posted at 09:44 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, June 18, 2004
Dangerous Intersections
Everybody has got one (or more) of these in their community - an intersection that seems to generate more accidents than others. We've got two in opposite directions from our house. Carol and I were out grocery shopping at Dominick's. When we came out, we noticed a whole bunch of people at the far end of the parking lot, many walking back to the building. From what we could gather, there was another big accident at Golf & Barrington. So, just like everybody else, we put out groceries in the car and walked over to see what happened. Looked like a 2-car accident, with one of the vehicles - a small SUV - had flipped over. Lots of fire department equipment and police (include a Forest Preserve police car?) There were a lot of ambulances going by, too. Not for the accident, they were transporting patients to St. Alexius which is just up Barrington. Evening traffic at this intersection is always bad and there's always something happening here. Hard to tell if anyone was injured or not.
posted at 07:33 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Street munching
Well, we've had the warnings for weeks... at 8:30 this morning the crew came by to remove the asphalt on my street in anticipation of repaving sometime in the future. Cool equipment. It took them no time at all to do the street, but of course you have to take a few breaks now and then!
(13Mb 30 second video)
posted at 09:40 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Thermos 100
Carol's company had their 100th anniversary recently, so they held a party tonight for employees and spouses to celebrate. The really big deal was the opening of an exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History of lunch boxes. Yes, lunch boxes - that unusual piece of Americana that reflects, well, us. They played a videotape of many celebrities talking about how they felt being on a lunch box, and what it feels like having that lunch box in an exhibit at the Smithsonian. Then there was another videotape showing a dinner at the Smithsonian (set under the Pentagon 9/11 flag) and curators talking about the "National Lunchbox Collection" which just felt a little... weird. I just never thought about how significant the lunchbox is in American history. They catered dinner for us and the employees also got gifts (t-shirts, desk sets). Oh, and of course, cake.
posted at 07:46 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, June 10, 2004
Mesmerized...posted at 10:03 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Weather whipsawFrom 90° to 59° as I left this morning. It's pouring outside. There's a small river going down the street outside my house. The base was soaked as well, again with all the streets turning into small streams. I was on the RTC side of the base and had to wait about 45 minutes for the machines I was deploying to be delivered, so I just waited outside under a large canopy and just watched the rain. It was great watching the divisions of recruits march by in a torrential downpour.
Unfortunately, we don't have much work to do, so it was only a half day today, and we're off tomorrow for the National Day of Mourning. It's supposed to continue to rain until Monday.
Figures. We have more White Sox games this weekend...
posted at 12:23 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Hard to ignore...posted at 05:12 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
Hot as Venus90° today. Actually, 91° at work and we're on the damn lake where it's always "cooler by the". Guess not today.
On top of this, something weird is happening on the base. It's hot out, right? You want something cold to drink... every friggin' soda machine in every building is empty. I've got this bad feeling that Coke lost a vending contract somewhere and they're not refilling the machines so they could haul them out and replace everything with Pepsi products.
In the mean time, no relief...
posted at 06:09 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, June 07, 2004
Heating up...It figures that now that I'm (temporarily) working that the weather is warming up. Went to my car after sitting in an asphalt parking lot all sunny day and was stunned by the heat coming out of the inside. I guess I've forgotten what it feels like - hot leather seats, the stifling waves of what should be air that seem to take your breath away. I had an unopened can of Red Bull in my cup holder that I didn't have time to drink on the way to work this morning - I couldn't touch it because it was so hot. I think the cold weekends at the ballpark have been skewing my views of the outside world...
Oh, the other thing about the warm weather - the traffic gets worse. It took me an hour and 45 minutes to get home...
posted at 07:06 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, June 05, 2004
Lazy, sleepy day8 o'clock at night. Doing nothing all day. Watching Trading Spaces now, still in my robe. Didn't sleep all that well last night, but passed-out on the couch this afternoon and slept hard - hardest, deepest sleep in quite a while. No idea why.
Turning into an odd day - no Ronald Reagan, no Smarty Jones. D-Day is 60 years on. White Sox lose (but have the 4th best record in all of baseball). Magglio Ordonez goes under the knife.
Thinking about getting some ice cream...
posted at 08:06 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, June 04, 2004
Segway Tour of Chicago!I really have to do this...
According to today's Chicago Sun-Times, a company called City Segway Tours is going to start running tours in Chicago. The way it works is an individual pays $65 for a three-hour, seven-mile tour of the city's most popular lakefront sites, including Millennium Park, Buckingham Fountain and the museum campus. Every rider gets an instructional class on how to operate the Segway and a helmet -- just in case.
Already operate in Paris, Nice, with Chicago, Washington, DC and New Orleans coming this year.
Check out their website at www.citysegwaytours.com
posted at 08:51 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
When backed into a corner, call a hardware guy
20 Minutes.
$85.
The ceiling fan is alive and well thanks to Roselle Electric, who also doesn't know exactly why there wasn't any power in the bedrrom.
Sounds like something I would say when I would "fix" a user's computer...
posted at 02:10 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, May 31, 2004
I am not a hardware guy... PART II
Goddamn Y%#@@^ (($**^$%*%I )(&^%@(@()^
I've worked on that friggin' fan all day...
As I type this, I can no longer get any - and I mean ANY power at all in the bedroom. The breaker isn't tripping, but there's just NO EFFIN' POWER to ANY outlet in the bedroom or closet.
I've installed the fan not once but TWICE today. Why? Because I was so friggin' concerned about making sure the damn mounting plate was secured to the friggin' ceiling, that I cranked-down on the screws a bit too hard and pushed 4 rubber "feet" straight into the ceiling, so I turned the plate 45 degrees and mounted the damn thing again.
I CAN'T DO THIS CRAP... I've been telling my family this for years and NO ONE seems to understand that I just don't even have these simple friggin' skills! "Oh, you can do it!" "Oh, it's not that hard..."
BULL! I TELLS YA... BULL!!!!
I CAN'T DO IT.
Now It's time to call an electrician and God knows what the hell's going to happen...
In the mean time, I am at a frustration level that I haven't been to in years... "See family? See? I can't really do this!"
I am also embarrassed as all hell because I'm just coming off as an absolute idiot...
posted at 06:38 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, May 28, 2004
I am not a hardware guy...
I can't tell you how many times I have said "I am not a hardware guy". Applies to my career as well as home.
I have a ceiling fan in our bedroom that burned-out. We bought a new one. I have to install it.
I just have to figure out how to 1) get the old one down, and 2) get the new one up.
I am soooo screwed...
posted at 03:40 PM | Link | Mundane | 2 comments § |
Thursday, May 27, 2004
What do you call it - Pop? Soda? Coke?The great controversy: What do you call a carbonated soft drink?
Here's a map by county that shows the answer
posted at 08:45 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Ice cream run!
Don't ask me why, but I had to go on an ice cream run over to Oberweis Dairy.
Don't know why... just had to.
posted at 04:02 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, May 23, 2004
Will it / Won't itThe weather today looks like it can go either way - just like any other day for the past two weeks.
Looks like all hell is breaking loose up north. The Des Plaines river is over it's banks, and is almost 3 feet over flood stage. And it's not supposed to crest until Tuesday...
posted at 02:19 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, May 22, 2004
Friends!
Woo Hoo!! We finally got a chance to have dinner with B&B at their house with Debbie to celebrate the May birthdays (Carol & Debbie).
Damn. it's been so long since we've seen these guys. And they're our bestr friends. Our schedules just haven't worked out at all.
We missed these people - it's like part of our very lives had just gone misisng.
We watched the oddest little movie tonight... The Triplets of Belleville. Odd, strange, funny.
posted at 11:23 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, May 21, 2004
Dish down!
Today, this bad ass weather just turned it up a notch...
This morning, I noticed it was getting dark. I mean dark. Then it started raining. So far this is how it's been every single friggin' day for weeks )at least it seems that way...)
Then came the wind. Hard. It was a sound I had never heard before in the house. This was really strong and it seemed very focused. I'm starting to believe that this could have been whatever would be smaller than a microburst.
Anyway, the TV's in the house go silent again. I've been used to that the last week or so. That's the downside of DirecTV. If you have severe weather, it's going to block the signal to the antenna.
But after a while, I noticed that it was getting lighter outside, the wind had subsided and the rain was now lighter and vertical (as opposed to horizontal during that wind gust).
Still no satellite signal. I looked out the window and my dish had been pushed over by the wind.
We get some really high wind gusts around here and that dish has never moved.
Today it did.
Well, I have no idea how to point the dish or where to point the dish, but after the rain (and lightning) stopped, I went out and got on a ladder and just swung the arm from horizontal to vertical. Well, I just didn't swing it... I had to loosen-up the bolts that were still snug to get the dish back to where it was. The wind gust was so strung, I could see where the paint got stripped by the nut as the arm swung.
At least I got my signal back - it's pretty close to where it was... the signal strength may only be off by about 3%.
UPDATE: We lost the signal two more times this evening. The dish never moved, but the rain tonight was really severe. We took a power hit for a few minutes, too. This was a really bad weather day - our worst so far.
posted at 10:07 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Streetless?
Oh, oh... I'm going to be streetless a lot sooner than I thought
They're starting Monday!
posted at 03:08 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Construction season
Wow, that came up faster than I had thought...
We had read something earlier this year in some village announcement that the village is going to resurface our street. We're on a cul de sac and the street's not very long (and we're on a corner, so we're only a couple of feet on the street) so this shouldn't be a big deal.
Except we thought it would be later in the summer.
posted at 03:09 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Ridiculous springYeah, I know it's spring.
Yeah, I know it's Chicago.
But I'm getting tired of temps fluctuating from 47 to 82 and every single day seeing severe thunderstorm warnings as well as flash flood warnings.
The rain, when it happens, is bad. The wind, when it happens, is bad. The lightning, when it happens is bad.
It's just getting old.
posted at 03:29 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, May 13, 2004
HB Carol!
Well, today is the day my wife becomes "old" again - it's her birthday and now we're both the same age for a while.
How are we celebrating? Why, by going to a baseball game!
posted at 08:02 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, May 09, 2004
HAIL!
We were unpacking at home, and had ABC's broadcast of Harry Potter on.
All of sudden, we lose the satellite signal. The house went silent. Then we hear this *PING* on a window. And it's loud. Then, another *PING*. Pretty soon, all hell is breaking lose as marble-sized hail is pelting the house with really high winds.
Yes, I know this is spring and the weather is just all over the place in extremes, but this was the first time that I really thought we were going to lose a window due to hail strike.
Here's a quick 30-second video out the patio door of the hail hitting the grass outside.
posted at 06:47 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Mother's Day and home
Well, we went to church this morning in this wonderful small church in Sawyer. Great sermon from a priest that was visiting - my guess is that he teaches medical ethics at Notre Dame.
When to the butcher and bought tons of meat (that Carol vacusealed immediately). We just sort of hung around the house, took naps, and basically just got ourselves ready for the long drivve home. The Sunday traffic wasn't too bad, but it still took us about 3 hours.
I just love being up there...
posted at 06:15 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, May 08, 2004
Tulip Time in Holland MichiganToday we took about an hour's drive up to Holland Michigan for the 75th Diamond Anniversary of the Tulip Time festival.
read more of this entry »
It's cloudy, cool, and a little "rainy". We pulled into town and I realized that this was pretty big judging by the people trying to park in an empty lot.
The first thing we did is head for 8th Street because all up and down the street - for a few blocks - were Klompen Dancers that danced for about 15-20 minutes. We were all waiting for some major medical emergency due to flying wooden shoes. Alas, no shoes flew. (Here's a quick 30 sec video of the start of the dancing.)
We noticed as we walked up and down 8th Street that everyone had come by much earlier and "staked-out" spots along the sidewalks and curbs with chairs and blankets.
We decided to grab some lunch at the New Holland Brewing Company. I wanted to take some pictures of the outside of the place and when I went outside, I realized I heard marching bands. Well, I guess, they were having the major festival parade in a bit and they were showcasing a few of the bands.
Well, I guess that explains why people were staking-out their territory. The grand finale of the festival, the Muziekparade, features nearly 50 marching bands from across the state as well as floats, giant helium balloons, horses, more Klompen Dancers and other typical small-town parade stuff.
Quite honestly, the parade was a blast. We saw just under half of it - we need to do this again and camp-out to actually get a good seat. It was actually fun.
We got back in the car and drove just a little but further north to the Veldheer Tulip Farm. Holy crap - seven acres of tulips. They have hundreds of different bulbs here on display, and you can actually order any one you want. Hell, I never knew there were that many available.
We found something very odd when we were there - us. We were actually in the minority of whites that were there - the vast majority of people there were Indian. I have no idea why - heavy population in the area or something with a tie to tulips. Everyone were taking extensive time trying to take pictures of themselves with the tulips. I don't get it. Anyway, took pictures, too - just to fit in.
After a quick stop at the garden shops and gift shops, it was a bit of a drive home and another great dinner cooked-up by Diane and Melinda. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 06:11 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, May 07, 2004
Getaway to Michigan
Carol got off work a little early and we packed up the car and drove to my sister's house in Michigan. I love going up here... just to get away. Diane picked-up mom and Melinda and got there about 5 minutes after us. Tonight we had dinner at the Red Arrow Road House. (Had a long wait - well over an hour just standing in one place, waiting for a table the seats 5 people to come open). I had the House-Made Blue Cheese Potato Chips
Hot, seasoned potato chips with melted Maytag blue cheese, sour cream & chives followed by the Stir-Fried Beef Fillet Mignon with Shiitake Mushrooms Shredded carrots, red onion, zucchini, tri-colored sweet peppers, garlic & ginger tossed in an Oriental hoisin sauce…steamed white rice. Pretty good for a "Road House"!
posted at 10:26 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Multiswitch
We had bought a new TiVo unit sometime last year. It's a Hughes DirecTV unit, so it has two tuners in it (a big plus). Well, getting both tuners online forced us to get a powered multiswitch for all of our cabling. I cheaped-out, got something cheap off eBay, and have been regretting it every day since. My crystal clear, stable signal now gets interrupted at least once an hour for no reason, or now gets affected if we turn off the lights in the bathrooms. This just sucked. Then the signal to the TiVo unit just would go tell hell in a handbasket, completely losing the signal about every 12 seconds for a hour at a time, making it impossible to record things.
I learned my lesson, and went back to eBay to find the switch that I wanted. I went there first because I didn't want to spent the $300 list price for the dam thing. Well, we got one for a fifth of the price and I installed it and have been in DirecTV heaven ever since.
Can't go wrong using the right equipment.
posted at 02:59 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
I hate paint chips
Confession: In my life, I have never painted a single wall, let alone a room.
I mentioned back in December that I got bitten by that damn Trading Spaces bug. It made me - a guy that's never picked-up a paintbrush - wanting to repaint a few rooms in the house. Now that I'm unemployed, I finally have the time to start thinking about it.
Somehow, along the way, nobody told me that choosing the color of the paint was going to be this difficult... why the hell are there so many colors???
posted at 05:10 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Monday, May 03, 2004
Happy Polish Constitution Day!Not much to talk about today. It's a really nice sunny day today. Went to Subaru to pickup Carol's Suzuki and had dinner at Steak 'n Shake. Not a big day. Been trying to plow through working on recovering my data...
posted at 06:39 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, April 30, 2004
Another nest
Back at the beginning of March, I talked about finding a nest on my engine. Last month, I was going to mention something else, but that's when my website went "Bandwidth Exceeded" and I couldn't blog, and I sort of forgot about it.
You see, on March 27, Carol had went to Jiffy Lube for an Oil Change. Her truck (one of those Suzuki Grand Vitara's) had been running fine except, in the middle of some bad weather, her windshield wipers had stopped working. When the guys started doing their little procedures under the hood, they all kind of stopped and one of them went into the waiting room. "Um, has your truck been running OK?" he asked Carol. She told him about the windshield wipers. "That's it?" "Yeah, why?" "I think we found the problem," he says.
read more of this entry »
It turns out that Carol had a huge nest under her hood. Why we didn't check her truck after I found a nest under my hood, I really don't know. Carol was in the waiting room watching the guys hauling all kinds of stuff out from underneath the hood. Whatever was making the nest had chewed on a cable. The guys patched it up and the windshield washers worked again.
Fast forward to today. It's been lightly raining today. Carol went out for lunch. Guess what? Yep, the windshield wipers stopped working. Carol pulled into the parking lot at work. She had a thought. She popped the hood on her truck.
There it was - a huge nest, built with fresh leaves and twigs and sticks. No critter, though. She called me at home and had me check my car - nothing. No nest. Judging by the material, it sounds like stuff that was around the parking lot at work. She called the dealer to get scheduled for the repair, but she came home first. Why? Because she wanted me to take pictures of the thing (since she never saw her first one and I was able to get pictures of mine).
Well, when she popped the hood in the driveway, she was a little excited - the nest had an indentation in it where the critter would have been hunkered-down trying to keep warm. That indentation wasn't there when she checked at lunch - meaning the critter had come back and settled into the nest to warm up for the afternoon.
We dismantled the nest and the material filled a 5 gallon bucket. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 04:33 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, April 26, 2004
You think you know people... but it turns out you don't...I have been obsessing about something since the ballgame. I learned something upsetting yesterday, and I can't put it into words and it's bothering the hell out of me.
We all have people that have come into our lives: Family, close friends, co-workers, acquaintances, friends-of-friends.
The further down the "line of succession" you go, it's more probable that you will know less and less about these people.
read more of this entry »
When you have season tickets to a sporting event, inevitably you will start to get to know some of the "regulars" that sit around you. Some people climb up the chain a little bit and you actually see them outside of the sporting venue and you become a bit "closer" and you may know them better than others that sit in your section. If you're lucky, you see each other regularly and maybe even travel with them... OK, it may be to another game in another town so you can share your interest in the sport, but it's still up the chain a bit.
Other people you don't even know by name. You know them by seat location, or maybe you've given them a nickname because of what they do during the game, what the wear, what they look like. You may or may not even talk to these people, but you are part of a weird little family that roots for the same team so there's some sort of "connection".
There are other people that are somewhere in between. You know their name, you know some pretty major things about them and their families, but you don't see them outside the venue. Christmas cards, Email maybe.
Now, I'm not going to mention names here, but we had a situation that happened that just rocked our world.
There has been a family that we have known that have had seats near us for as long as we have had our White Sox season tickets. We know the members of the family by their first names. Great family.
A few years ago there was a woman that had joined their group. One of the family members eventually married this woman. They seemed very happy. They had a son and the three of them seemed very happy.
They kid was a hoot. He was still young last year, and we didn't see too much of him. He was great. In fact, I think I posted a few pictures of him in the blog somewhere along the way.
The first weekend games came around this past weekend. The family was back. Minus a few people, but we could understand that - I mean the weather was so damn crappy...
We found out later that there was a reason why the wife and son weren't there.
The husband was out of town around the holidays. When he came home, the wife and child were gone. Packed up and left.
And he has no idea where they are.
What can you say? What can you do? You don't know the "Why?" and you barely know the people, but it still takes everything you know about relationships and flips them over. Suddenly, when everything feels right with the world and everybody is in their seats around you for another year, it's just not the same. It doesn't feel right. There's an emptiness, almost like someone has died - but they haven't. They're just gone. And it's just not the parent, it's the cute kid as well.
And you don't know why. And you sort of can't ask. And you see the pain and hurt and suffering... and yet, you're there for the game.
Everything goes on... but it doesn't feel the same... and it's uncomfortable. You expect things to continue. You expect everyone to be together for the team. And then you have something happen that has nothing to do with sports, but everything to do with life. And you miss those that aren't there and you have this void where you only thought you knew them... and now they're not even there. And the questions come... what makes a person do this? and you have no one to ask... « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 05:16 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
ChillyWoke up this morning and it was 61° in the house.
We've got one of those situations that's impossible to handle at this time of year. Our upstairs gets very hot in the winter (duh, warm air from the furnace rises), so we close the vents in all the rooms upstairs. That allows us to heat the first floor (where the thermostat is located) to a comfortable level and any excess heat eventually finds its way upstairs. It never gets hot up there - in fact, it's always a bit cool which is fine for sleeping.
In the summer, it's the exact opposite. Turn on the air conditioning, open the vents upstairs, and cool air falls to eventually cool the first floor, still leaving it nice and cool upstairs for sleeping.
Then comes this time of year, where we turned on the air and opened the vents over the weekend and now it's getting down into the 30's at night and we no longer have that perfect mix of warm/cool in the house. Turn on the furnace? We'll be sweating in the bedroom... Don't do anything? Freeze on the first floor...
posted at 08:32 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, April 19, 2004
SnoozySo, since the weather wasn't the greatest, I was tired and my allergies are still a problem, Indy & I took a few naps today.
Yes, it was a lazy day. Yes I feel lazy. I don't want to touch my computer carcass until the replacement arrives, so I'm, just staying offline and catching-up on some TV viewing.
Ah, laziness...
posted at 05:56 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, April 18, 2004
86°, windy, and having withdrawlsIt's actually hot outside. Went out to get some hot dogs for lunch and almost got blown off the road - there's high wind advisories and it's just causing havoc with my DirecTV system (the dish is moving ever so slightly in the wind gusts).
What's bugging me more than the wonderful, though breezy, weather is my dead computer. I have no friggin' idea how much data I may have lost (like how many of the 17,000 digital photos that I had only just started backing-up a week ago). I'm sick about it. I'm not going to touch the box until I start building the new machine - whenever I get it.
posted at 03:35 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, April 17, 2004
Thunderstorm and a crashHad a great spring thunderstorm sweep over the house at 3am. Love the lightning, though there was very little thunder if at all. And the wind and heavy rain hitting the siding made it feel like we were sleeping inside a dishwasher.
When I woke up and sat down at my computer this morning, it looked like it was in the middle of a reboot - and there it was on the screen. Hard disk drive error. Oh, crap, there goes my life... I've been working on it for a couple of hours - I'm not sure what has happened... Trying to run a CHKDSK...
Update: Now getting Floppy drive not found. What the hell happened? I think I smell ozone...
Update: I get the XP logo and it sits there and works for a bit... then it almost looks like it blue screens and then reboots.
Update: Yep, the machine definitely has an odor when it powers up. That's it - the machine is toast. Hell, it's almost 4 years old... maybe only 3... anyway, time for a refurbed Dell Optiplex... I can only pray that I didn't lose too much data...
posted at 09:58 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, April 16, 2004
Sunny and 82°YES!!!!! THIS is the kind of weather I've been waiting for!!! I had to actually turn on the air conditioning! So what did I do today?
Nothing.
Took a nap. I'm still not feeling right - it's some kind of upper-respiratory thingy. My first guess is just allergies. Gotta shake this crappy thing...
posted at 05:23 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, April 15, 2004
1040?I totally forgot today was tax day, and it was wonderful. This has got to be the first year that we did our taxes early (we desperately needed the tax refund money). Since it was long ago forgotten, I was shocked to see news stories this morning about extended hours at post office locations. I have to admit that this is a pretty good feeling knowing that the whole tax "thing" was taken care of.
posted at 09:11 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
DVD!Know what I did today? I burned my first DVD. I went out and bought a Sony DRU-530A and some blank DVD-R's and I burned my first video DVD. Very happy with the result, but now I feel the need to look at other authoring software. Anybody have any recommendations?
posted at 08:23 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, April 12, 2004
SickThat's me. Sick.
It started about 1 yesterday afternoon. My throat started burning. By evening, my eyes were burning. I took some Tylenol Cold stuff when I went to bed ... and didn't fall asleep until after 3am when the medication wore off. I'm cold. I'm cranky.
In case you haven't figured it out by now - I don't do "sick" very well. My first day off in a while and I'm sure the hell not enjoying it.
posted at 11:14 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, April 11, 2004
Happy Easter!
Happy Easter everyone.
Indy is busy trying to keep her BunnyCam online and answering a few emails. She always gets quite a few hits on Easter Sunday.
I had no idea what this noise was that I heard coming from my bedroom. Turns out, it was a signal I've never heard before - I got my first honest-to-God text message on my cell phone this morning. Juliet sent me a "Happy bunny day!" message! I guess I'm going to eventually have to learn how to do SMS messaging...
posted at 11:05 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, April 03, 2004
Crap, that was fun...
Well, I'm just getting up from a very hard sleep. I went out right after work yesterday to actually hang out with some coworkers and party until midnight. (Hey, midnight was my cutoff time... who knows how long everyone else lasted...) Played a drinking-game version of the card game... um, let's call it "President" as the other name of the game, if spoken on radio or TV may get the FCC upset. I've never played a combo card game/drinking game before, especially one that requires you to changing the seating arrangements around the table with the conclusion of each game. That loosened-up everybody. Then we decided to go to Bumpers to shoot pool and drink even more. So we played pool for at least 3 hours. They had a band there (a local - Khaos Theory) that started up sometime around 10. The place is a bit small for a band - it's hard to talk in the pool hall when you have to actually yell in the person's ear. God I suck at pool. I'm not as good as Juliet or Jonathan, but I think I held me own against everybody else... I think.
So, let's see, what's the tally for the evening... 3 Vodka & Tonics, a Mike's Hard Lemonade, a Washington Apple shot, a shot of Jägermeister, and the one that finally did me in - a shot of Sauza Tequila, I was fine up until then. That's when I got really tired and needed a Coke to start waking me up for the drive home. I hope everyone got home OK.
Damn, that was fun...
posted at 09:29 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, March 22, 2004
No dinnerI'm not having dinner tonight.
Can't. Too stuffed.
We went to the galley for breakfast this morning and stuffed ourselves for $1.70... and then spent $3.30 for lunch....
All-you-can-eat Navy food.
I told Juliet my story last week that I wasn't feeling too good. I wound up eating a quart of Oberweiss Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream. Her comment? "You eat because you're unhappy, and you're unhappy because you eat."
Great. I gotta stop stuffing myself. Maybe skipping dinner will send me in the right direction...
posted at 07:22 PM | Link | Work § |
Sunday, March 21, 2004
Frozen spring?Here I go again, bitchin' about the weather... it's the first full day of Spring and it's only going to be 32°. That's the average low for today (the low tonight is supposed to be 14°F). We're supposed to be in the 50's by the end of the week. I hate this crap...
On top of all this, my weather software isn't working, so my Weather Page is going to look a little odd...
posted at 02:26 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, March 18, 2004
Exhaustion?Something is wrong... I'm absolutely exhausted. I mean, pass out right here and now exhausted. I've been a little out of breath today, like I'm really out of shape (yeah, no surprise there...). I just want to sleep...
posted at 07:17 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
More half days...Still not much to do. We were supposed to have enough work for all of us to work a full day, but yesterday was a half day and today was not only a half-day, it was an optional day of work. If you didn't want to come in, you didn't have to. Sucks from a pocketbook perspective.
Speaking of which, we've got something in the works that I may talk about in the coming weeks...
posted at 03:55 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, March 15, 2004
What the... ?It snowing outside.
I am soooo over with this. I'm tired with the Chicago weather. Winter is crap. Where the hell is Spring?
posted at 09:02 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Ides of MarchSoothsayer Caesar!
CAESAR Ha! who calls?
CASCA Bid every noise be still: peace yet again!
CAESAR Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music,
Cry 'Caesar!' Speak; Caesar is turn'd to hear.
Soothsayer Beware the ides of March.
CAESAR What man is that?
BRUTUS A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
CAESAR Set him before me; let me see his face.
CASSIUS Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.
CAESAR What say'st thou to me now? speak once again.
Soothsayer Beware the ides of March.
CAESAR He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.
Julius Caesar Act I Scene II
posted at 07:33 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, March 12, 2004
Hey! Where's Spring?
I know that it's not Spring yet. It's supposed to be meteorologic spring - you know, when it's supposed to start feeling like Spring. Average temperature for today is supposed to be 47°.
It's 16° outside right now. What the hell? Oh, sure - the sun's out, but 16°?????
I hope this is long gone by the time baseball season starts - it would be hell sitting out in this kind of weather on opening day!
posted at 07:58 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, March 11, 2004
*creak*I really don't mind being at home. But there are days when I wish that when we had the house built in 1984 that we used brick. Too expensive back then (it was our first house and we could barely afford it as it was).
It's still another day of high winds in the area. Our house creaks and pops when the wind really starts hitting it with certain speeds from certain directions. The windows rattle and make a weird humming sound (sort of like if you took an empty box of Good N Plenty and hummed into it, like a kazoo).
It's just a little unsettling.
posted at 01:36 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, March 08, 2004
10 techs and nothing to doWell, not 10... 8 techs and 2 leads. Nothing to do. Talked a lot about sports. Oh, and shot some pool, too. (Don't ask.) Had lunch on base at RTC inside the Navy's largest galley - $3.30 all you can eat. Yes, it's Navy food (for Recruits, no less), but it's not bad.
I think I would rather be a tad bit busier.
posted at 05:52 PM | Link | Work | 1 comment § |
Sunday, March 07, 2004
Whitecaps in H.E.Another windy day with extreme wind gusts. On our way to my Mom's house, we passed an oofice building right at Roselle and the Tollway. They have a small rentention pond just north of the building that's usually mobbed with geese or ducks. Today, the wind was so strong, it was producing wave - not ripples - that were high enough to actually have whitecaps!
posted at 09:49 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, March 05, 2004
Friday Night Fish Fryposted at 09:57 PM | Link | Mundane | 2 comments § |
Captain! She's a-pulsing!The rain is gone, there's flash flooding warnings everywhere, the park across the street is flooded, and now, overnight, the wind has come to town.
You know, the really severely gusty winds that make the water in your toilet boil pulsate. There was a wind gust at the Gary airport that was reported at 69mph. Here, it's like 45mph at O'Hare and 54mph at Midway. I'm watching somebody's Malibu outdoor lighting blow around the neighborhood (did I mention I was home today?)
I went out briefly (long story - had to get a InfoGlobe Caller ID Display so we can see the Caller ID info in the dark) and I've never felt the car shake and roll like that. It's supposed to diminish during the day.
posted at 11:27 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, March 04, 2004
Ah, rain...What feels like a cold spring rain has moved in over the area. Earlier today while I was on base, it felt like this biting cold front had moved in. Biting cold, the cold that really does feel like in penetrates skin and muscle. With rain, comes traffic delays. Everything just slows down in Chicago. It never really stops, it just sssllloooooowwwsss. Took me forever to get home.
We released 3 guys from our team today. Another is scheduled for tomorrow. I can't do it. I can't fire people. I'm a wuss. I'm a chicken sh*t. These are good guys doing a good job in the crappiest job market I've seen. Though, with the significant lack of work lately, some people are almost better off on unemployment than working a few days a week with us.
Better off on unemployment. What an odd term. What an odd situation.
posted at 06:42 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, March 03, 2004
Somebody was building a home...
I noticed over the last week that my engine has been a little noisier, especially when starting out in the morning. Sure enough, I'm a little low on oil. I'm way overdue for an oil change, but can't afford the time or money right now. So, I pull over at the Des Plaines Oasis to add a quart. I grabbed a quart of oil (that I had under the front seat), popped the hood and added the quart. As I'm standing there, looking at the engine compartment, I saw it...
Now, let me first say that I am not a hardware guy. That applies not only to computers, but to anything mechanical as well. Even through that, even I knew that what I was seeing didn't belong there...
So a critter - fortunately long gone - had made a nest on top of the engine. The material was totally unfamiliar to me, which is actually a good thing - that means the critter hasn't been living in the garage. Since it's been a while since I've been under there, I have no idea when this happened. At least the critter is no longer living there...
posted at 09:44 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, February 28, 2004
Another day downtown
Well, I spent another Saturday downtown, trying to help Gary get his machine back in order. It kept shutting down on some RPC error, only when he was online. Well, I gave up, bought a new modem for him and put it in the machine. Though the modem functioned a hell of a lot better than his old one, still no dice. So I installed a NIC and got his DSL up and running - in 25 minutes. We still had problems, so it was time to get all the Windows Updates applied. That was the trick.
It's a bright sunny day. Temperatures in the 50's. I would have really wanted to do something else today, but I'm helping out a friend, so that's OK. I spent some time out on their balcony, taking in the view and the "warm" weather. I still need to go back and get his account working on XP - he's using the Admin account. At least I got antivirus software on it, so he shouldn't screw it up too badly.
posted at 03:38 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Ashless WednesdayWell, I'm back in the old staging area again. Was here all day yesterday and will be here today. We sent half the staff home at noon yesterday because there's just no work to do. We gave them all off today as well - same reason. It's nice being back here. I guess it's my "comfort zone" for this job.
I heard on the radio this morning that the word Lent comes from Lengthen, which is supposed to refer to the lengthening of the days (daylight). Doesn't sound right to me.
posted at 08:13 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Happy Mardi Gras?Well, here we are at that time of year again... end of Carnivale/Mardi Gras, the beginning of Lent... I've always had this weird feeling that I want to see what Mardi Gras is like in New Orleans and then another part of me eventually kicks in and says "Are you friggin' nuts?!?!?!????"
So, now I need to figure out what to give up for Lent. I'm going to do what I've been doing the last few years - giving up candy. It kills me every year, but I guess that's what it's all about. I even give up chocolate chip cookies because there's chocolate chips in them (OK, it's a stretch for candy, but it made sense to me at the time... hey, I set the rules and I live by them... for 40 lousy days...)
posted at 09:57 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, February 21, 2004
I hate XP (I Think)I have spent all day at Janie & Gary's trying to recover Gary's severely crashed machine. It was my first time at their condo downtown (lovely, with a great view) and I had to drive all the way back to Hoffman Estates to get a hard drive to install a new operating system onto without losing Gary's old data that I couldn't get off the machine if my life depended on it (Windows ME sucks). Unfortunately, even the new XP install isn't stable either and the system keeps crashing with a blown RPC call. I hate Microsoft with every fiber of my being...
posted at 05:51 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, February 17, 2004
Earworm AlertDamn it! I've got an Earworm! I can't get Fountains of Wayne's Stacey's Mom out of my head right now...
posted at 12:37 PM | Link | Mundane § |
QuietIt's really quiet in the old staging room. Really quiet. There's 7 of us in here and we are all busy. No talking, no music - just the muffled sounds of keyboards clattering away. The air handlers even seem to be a little quiet. The room used to be humming with over 20 people and up to 60 machines being staged. Now, the end of the project has kicked-in and it's just too damned quiet...
posted at 10:21 AM | Link | Work § |
Sunday, February 15, 2004
Faster?Well, I'm still working on getting the blog up and running. XML feeds by category aren't working - don't know why yet (doesn't help that I don't remember how I did it in the first place...). MySQL seems faster than the Berkeley DB (yea!), but I can't tell if the performance boost is due to MySQL or the new host (the problem with changing too many things at once).
posted at 09:46 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, February 14, 2004
Whale RiderB&B came over this evening for dinner. They were hardly in the door when we started talking poilitics. The rest of the evening was talk talk talk - which I love. I love the fact that we can talk about a whole range of subjects, and have a spirited diiscussion and not feel bad if anyone has an opposing stance or position. After Carol's pork tenderloin dinner, we watched the movie that they got for the evening - Whale Rider. OK, yes I agree with the Oscar nom for Keisha Castle-Hughes, and the movie is actually quite touching and moving and, yes, makes you want to go to New Zealand.
posted at 10:55 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Oh, yeah, I almost forgot...
Have a Happy Valentines Day out there everyone!
posted at 04:47 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, February 13, 2004
Cat's Away
We took a late lunch and drove all the way to Vernon Hills just to go to Portillo's for lunch. That wasn't too bad, but then we went to Hawthorn because Chrystal needed to get a J. Crew Gift Certificate for a friend's birhtday. Actually, that wasn't bad either. Juliet, on the other hand, wanted to go to Barnes & Noble and get a book. That took forever. When we got back, no one missed us because, well, no one was there to miss us. Saw a very sad sight at the mall - a empty, closed-down Fannie May. *Sigh* The new company better not screw around with my Meltaways!
posted at 02:52 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Triscadecaphobia
Oh crap! It's Friday the 13th again! Heard on the radio this morning that a study in Sweden showed that women have more traffic fatalities on Friday the 13th than men. Go figure. I was alone at work for a few hours this morning, so I started tearing-down the staging area (boxing-up the monitors, breaking-down the tables). Kinda sad tearing it all down. Another piece of strangeness? A Red Bull pickup on the tollway - complete with over-sized can in the back and twin coolers.
posted at 09:55 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, February 11, 2004
KFCI had a brief whiff of fried chicken from some restaurant on the way home tonight, which "forced" me to "recommend" that we have KFC for dinner. Look, it's not the greatest, but sometimes when you get a taste for something, you have to have it! It was wonderful tonight, probably the best KFC we've ever had. No idea why. I mean, it's KFC, you know...
posted at 07:34 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Still more snowThis morning was the worst drive yet. The snow started around 4am and we're in the middle of a possible 2"-4" accumulation, and it's messed up traffic big time. "They" are reporting triple the normal rush hour travel times, and O'Hare & Midway have already had 300 flights canceled. Had to pickup Juliet again, but this time I got a free breakfast buffet at her hotel before we took off. At least today is going slightly better than yesterday. At the end of the day, Juliet (who was outside taking a smoke break) called me and told me there was a beautiful sunset outside. No one believed her after the morning rush hour we had. Sure enough - there wasn't a cloud in the sky and there was a really nice, colorful sunset. Made a better end to the day than the beginning.
posted at 06:59 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, January 26, 2004
More snowWow, the snow this morning was rough. I had to pickup Juliet at her hotel to get her to work, but the snow has really messed-up the side streets and even slowed the tollway. I am totally out of it today. I'm screwing up everything and I'm not retaining anything - like the tape is moving but nothing's recording. It almost feels like my brain is buzzing. Literally. Brought Juliet back to the hotel after work and took the not too unusually long drive home. Turns out Carol's not feeling well - getting a sore throat.
posted at 06:57 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, January 23, 2004
First Major SnowYes, the snow hit, and hit with a vengeance. Getting to the Tollway was a lot longer than I had anticipated - Buckley wasn't plowed. At all. Took me almost 25 minutes just to get to the Tollway. Once I got on the Tollway, everything was moving. That's what I had anticipated - the one positive thing that I've always felt about the Tollway Authority is they always kept the plows out and keeps the roads passable, if not clean. By the Time I got to Lake Cook, traffic had stopped. I sat there for a good 15 minutes, which is the worst I've experienced in this commute. Traffic started to move - slowly - after I crept up to Willow. Knowing that the side roads were going to be hell, I stayed on the Tollway. Total commute time by the time I got home: 2 hours 40 minutes.
So what do I do when I get home? Why go back out in the snow to go to dinner! (In case you hadn't figured this out by now... we go out to dinner on Friday nights. Doesn't matter where, just someplace cheap). You what today is? Why, it's National Pie Day, so it's off to Bakers Square. (At least Carol drove, so I could recover from the commute!)
posted at 08:21 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Slow traffic to no trafficSo, this morning's commute was one of the fastest I've had - hardly any traffic at all compared to last night. I think everyone is just traveling at different times or actually using public transportation because we're supposed to get hit with snow later.
posted at 08:57 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, January 22, 2004
Why is it so slow?Traffic home tonight was terrible - the worst traffic day in quite some time, and there wasn't a weather problem to cause it. No accidents either, just a lot of really slow moving traffic. I hate commutes like that.
posted at 06:55 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Cold morning and drunk elephantsAnother cold, winter morning - it's 3 degrees outside with a -17 wind chill. Traffic was terrible on the Tri-State Tollway this morning - all because of an earlier accident that was on the left shoulder at Willow that everyone had to slow down and look at before we could finally go on. Then again it was semi, 2 SUVs and a couple of cars, so there was a large group of vehicles to look at.
I'm in the car in the morning at the right time to be able to hear a certain legendary Chicago Radio shtick. Uncle Lar' (Larry Lujack) and Li'l Tommy (Tommy Edwards) are doing Animal Stories every morning around 7:47am on the Real Oldies station 1690 AM. If you grew-up in Chicago in the 70's and 80's and used to listed to WLS (back when it was rock and not talk), you know about Animal Stories (hey - did you know that there are 3 CD's available of Animal Stories bits?) Anyway, Uncle Lar' and Li'l Tommy had a old story this morning about elephants getting drunk on rice beer in India and killing 6 people. The story was little old, but it's still one of those odd little stories that fits exactly into the Animal Stories format. The station is pretty low power and if you can't get it (or are a former Chicagoan that would like to hear the show), the station's website has streaming audio available.
posted at 08:50 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, January 21, 2004
Staging!We're struggling to get machines to stage at work. Data from the user community is just not coming through. We're struggling to get 20 machines to stage. Lunch today was... interesting. For some strange reason, the team members that are from DC want to go to White Castle for lunch. It's been years since I've had a Slider, so I went along. I knew we were in trouble when I went to get into the back seat of their rental car and found McDonald's French Fries all over the back seat - like an entire large order of fries all over the seat. *blech* So, off to White Castle where two team members buy a Crave Case of 30 burgers to eat now and save for later (the advantages of staying at a Suites hotel). Never saw a crave Case before - the burgers are in little cardboard boxes (the way they normally come) and the 30 little boxes interlock and fit together within the larger attaché-like cardboard box. Ingenious. The only bad part about the trip is being a non-smoker with three smokers in the car. Oh, that was such a joyful trip back to work... When we get back to our building, we are greeted with new staging data! But it's only for 12 seats... but then another segment comes in of 129 seats! Yes, life is good as we finally will have work to do.
posted at 02:31 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Party?Tonight was the annual Chicago Wolves Season Ticketholder Party, but instead of holding it at the Allstate Arena like the usually do, it was held at Gameworks in Schaumburg (we were happy - Gameworks is much closer to home!). The problem with Gameworks, though, is that it's a much smaller venue. Every machine and game in the house was busy (it was all free while we were there), but it was hard to maneuver around - the lines for the buffet upstairs were huge, not to mention the lines for player autographs were much worse and much slower). We found out there was a second buffet in - of all places - the restaurant and hardly anybody was in there. It was an OK time, but it was quite a bit different and I'm not sure if it was "better" or not. I could tell by our friends John and Carol that it might not appeal to the "older demographic" - crowded, noisy, multiple floors...
read more of this entry »
posted at 10:19 PM | Link | Mundane § |
*yawn*Work is sloooooowwww today. There's just nothing to do, with only promises of busy-ness coming later in the week. Gives you more time to surf the net, check up on job postings, update the resume... you know, important things...
posted at 11:38 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, January 19, 2004
Moving it back and forthSpent most of the day just moving data back and forth between the old host and the new host. I was on Stand Down for the day due to the holiday, though Carol still had to work. Not a lot of fun FTP-ing stuff around, but it keeps you busy.
I'm still worrying about finances, as it's getting more and more dire. My contract should be up within 6 weeks, so I need to line-up a job ASAP as well.
It's all too scary.
posted at 08:35 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, January 17, 2004
Is it too late for dinner?Well, I picked-up Carol from the airport. It's Black Ice out there in the northwest suburbs, so travel was a little slower. We're both starving so we're having dinner - at 1:30 am. She's exhausted. Hopefully she'll be able to catch up later today...
posted at 01:48 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, January 15, 2004
Too many photos...I've spent hours working on tagging didgital photos inside Adobe® Photoshop® Album 2.0 to classify them into certain categories. I still have hours to go and the fatigue of looking at all of these photos is amazing... or maybe I'm just not getting enough sleep...
posted at 11:31 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Oops... I forgot to eat...Well, my first night without Carol was uneventful... I went to Best Buy to use a Gift Card I got from B&B for my birthday and picked-up Adobe® Photoshop® Album 2.0. While I was in the store, Carol called my cell phone to check-in (something she didn't have to do, but was nice). Then I went home and spent the evening starting to organize my didgital photos. I'm getting close to the 20,000 mark so let's just say it's going to take some time. Of course, I took some time to feed and be with Indy (she's such a demanding bunny). Carol called again later in the evening to let me know that the local news in LV is reporting that the lights have been turned on at Binion's (they've been dark since they shut down a few days ago). There's also a runmor that Harrah's is seriously thinking about buying them (only for the Horshoe name and then sell it) and the World Series of Poker will happen, but they don't know when/where.
When I woke-up this morning, I realized I was ravenous - because I had forgotten to eat dinner (not like I'm going to wither away if I don't eat - my winter layers of fat help out in that regard). It was a little odd waking-up and doing the normal morning stuff in the empty house. It was garbage day so I had to take care of that, refill all of the humidifiers in the house, feed & pet Indy(that demanding thing again, only this time she let me know she was neglected by grunting at me when I stopped petting her).
I'm going to a Chicago Wolves game tonight and I forgot my jersey that I usually wear. I think it's sitting on a chair downstairs, right where I put it... so that I wouldn't forget it. Nuts.
It's supposed to snow today. Great. It'll be in the 60's in Las Vegas. Great.
posted at 08:04 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
Temporarily wife-less
Well, I dropped-off carol at O'Hare. She's flying to Las Vegas this morning to work a trade show this week. Am I jealous? Hell, yes! But, there's no way we could have afforded having me go as well. Nuts. So, I'm home alone this week. Should be interesting...
posted at 08:04 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, January 11, 2004
Sunny
The sun has been out all day and it's actually 36° - almost downright balmy.
It's occurred to me that when we had cable (*blech*), we actually tuned-in to The Weather Channel pretty regularly. Now that we have DirecTV, we never turn to that channel. I guess one main reason is that the satellite feed doesn't have any customized data for the local area - just generic info for the region.
I also realized that I regularly don't have a clue about the extended forecast for the week. I'm starting to wonder if I really care about winter weather. I mean, it's cold, windy, and occasionally snowy. In a nutshell - miserable. I guess I don't really care until baseball season when it directly effects me.
posted at 01:57 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, January 09, 2004
Sleepless
I'm not sleeping well - our financial problems have gotten to my psyche and it's messing with my head, and, in turn, my sleep. Got up early and went to work an hour early today. The flip side of this is that I got quite a few things done today and feel good about my accomplishments.
Being right on the lake means you get those lake effect snows every once in a while. It's been snowing all day today. It's that huge, fluffy flakes that just dust everything. It accumulates, but not really - it's just a thick coating of nothing, it's so fluffy.
Had to get gas at the Oasis on the way home tonight - the price of gas has gone up 13 cents a gallon in one day, and the Lake Forest Oasis is now the cheepest place to buy on my route to and from work. 13 cents a gallon - what the hell is going on?
posted at 05:45 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, January 08, 2004
The ShizzolatorOK, I'm not really up on things, but I was sent this link to The Shizzolator and tried it out on CNN.com and then my own blog. Holy crap, I can't tell you how long I laughed at seeing a website translated to Snoop Dog-ese...
posted at 09:21 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, January 07, 2004
Sunshiney
Well, yesterday it was -3° but today it's all the way up to 7°. It's almost balmy, or at leat it feels that way, since the winds seemed to have died down a bit.
I'm into that weird driving time again where the sun, as it's rising, is hitting me square in the eyes just over the horizon in the tollway. Makes for interesting braking! At least no one seems to be tailgating.
The other thing that I've just experienced for the first time this season are the semi's with a foot of snow on top of the trailers that are being whipped off the top, leaving a plume of white-out behind them. That's always fun trying to follow them.
posted at 08:30 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
Frozen
-3° this morning when I woke up. Wind chill: -35°
OK, this is way uncomfortable. I should have filled-up my gas tank on the way home last night, though I have to admit that doing it this morning wasn't as bad as I've experienced in the past.
This is the weather that I hate about Chicago. I just can't stand the severe cold.
At least the car works.
posted at 09:17 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Monday, January 05, 2004
Sadly, it's not "What is Electricity?"
Well, my buddy Joe returned as 1 Day Champion on Jeopardy today after his $14,800 win on Friday.
He was in second place throughout the game, and just couldn't pull it out in Final Jeopardy, so he reign as Champion only lasted a day.
Anyway, good job, Joe! It's still pretty damn cool even being selected to be on the show, let alone winning!
posted at 07:10 PM | Link | Friends § |
Back to workWell, it's finally back to work time. I - just sort of - was looking forward to it. Unfortunately, it was another day of no data, which means no machines to stage, which means that the crew that we normally have to do the staging won't be in again, and that just sucks.
The weather is still sliding downhill, with the temperatures dropping through the day and overnight. I'm not looking forward to this.
Oh, and to top the day off, while I was driving to the tollway after work, while the car was still warming up, a flock of geese flew overhead. Big deal - happens all the time, right? Well, I've never been under a flock of geese and have one of them - from altitude - crap on my car! What's worse? I find out that it's cold enough that my windshield washers are frozen, so all that happens is my windshield wipers just spread the poop over the windshield. Oh, great, what a drive home this will be. Fortunately, close to home, I was able to get the washers working.
Yech.
Welcome to 2004. Is this an omen?
posted at 06:29 PM | Link | Work § |
Sunday, January 04, 2004
Snowy birthdayposted at 09:18 PM | Link | Mundane § |
47How did I get so old?
I found a birthday card jammed into my keyboard this morning. It was from Carol.
The front said: "Sometimes I'll hear you doing something in another part of the house and it will remind me that we share a life together, and I smile."
Awwww. Then I open it. Inside it says: "Then I hear a thud, a crash, and cursing. Not quite as nice, but I still smile. Happy Birthday."
Yep, that's our life!
posted at 09:41 AM | Link | Mundane | 2 comments § |
Where's the damn snow?
We were supposed to have 2" of snow by morning. Well, it just started snowing now, and they're saying maybe 7" by tonight. Great.
posted at 08:18 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Friday, January 02, 2004
Weather hell?Carol & I went out tonight to grab a burger for dinner (nothing fancy).
It's 61 degrees outside!!! (normal is supposed to be 30). This is Chicago - it's not supposed to be like this!!!!
Tomorrow starts the slide - Cloudy Rain/Snow colder - 39 degrees, then on Sunday the weather-critters are saying 30 degrees and MAYBE 3 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW
Then, by the time I finally go back to work on Monday, the high is supposed to be 16 degrees...
posted at 06:17 PM | Link | Mundane § |
What is Playing Banjo?
Back in October, when I was up in Wisconsin with "The Away Team", My buddy/former co-worker/former boss Joe told us he was going out to Culver City, California back in October.
So what, you may ask?
Well, he was going to compete on Jeopardy!
The show aired today - and he won! Took him to Final Jeopardy to do it, but he did it! Next week I think is Kid's Week, so he won't be back for another week. Of course, in accordance with his agreement, Joe can't talk about it. But, how cool is that?
Here's a link to his "Hello to Chicago" video from the Jeopardy website.
Here's an MPEG video (6Mb) of Alex Trebec and Joe talking during the intoduction segment.
posted at 04:08 PM | Link | Friends § |
SI quotesReading the Sports Illustrated Year In Sports issue and found a quote that put me on the floor... WASN'T THAT A LINE FROM THE KAZ TADANO FILM?
After people wearing hot dog costumes collided during a footrace at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Brewers manager Ned Yost said, "I just looked over and saw our wieners in a wad."
posted at 11:31 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Morning fogginess
A bit foggy in the neighborhood this morning. A little foggy in my head, too. I think I'm catching-up on lost sleep from yesterday. I'm just trying to figure out why I'm awake right now ... I'm missing good sleep time!
posted at 07:05 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, January 01, 2004
Happy New Year
Well, Happy New Year, everybody! I'm trying to figure out when I'm going to stop saying "Good riddance to (insert last year here)" every New Year's Eve. Seems like just when you think you've turned a corner and you have hope for the coming year, when you look back on it you just can't say it's been a good year (on so many levels). *sigh*
We spent the evening at B&B's for the annual New Year's get together. This year, the food was all appetizers (which we did for years in the past) instead of an actual meal like last year (steak and lobster! A little pricey!). We watched After the Thin Man on TCM. I had never seen any of the Thin Man movies, and this was a hoot! Then we started watching the New Year's coverage and spent the entire time slamming all of the revelers' choice of clothing. We couldn't find anybody who was dressed well - it was all a bunch of people under-dressing or... dressing in things that they shouldn't be caught dead in because of either 1) poor taste, or 2) body shape. Yech. Did our annual toasts at midnight and we left at about 1:15 this morning.
The drive home was uneventful. First off, we have never ever seen so many cabs in the Wrigleyville area compared to all of the years in the past. May have been because of the very mild weather just brought out a hell of a lot more people. The expressways and tollways were good - only one maniac driver that almost wiped out us, a van, and another car on the Northwest Tollway just west of 53. Bastard.
This morning, I'm a significantly groggy and in significant back pain (no idea why - could be because of the way I slept? or didn't sleep?). Stomach is all acidy. I'm just kicking back and watching the Tournament of Roses Parade without commercial interruption on HGTV. (Oh, jeez... I just saw Trista and Ryan go by on the FTD float - "Love Songs"...)
posted at 10:20 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Wednesday, December 31, 2003
Did hell freeze over?Did you see what happened in my favorite town - Las Vegas - yesterday?
It snowed.
OK, it snows there every once in a while. Not a big deal. It rarely accumulates.
This time it was 1 to 3 inches of snow. It was supposed to rain instead, but the temperature was just right. But, alas, it didn't last. I mean, this is the desert. Still... it makes you wonder what the hell is going on with the weather...
posted at 09:07 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, December 30, 2003
Better and worse and better...Well, I finally have a machine that's up and running. I'm now in the middle of software installs. It looks like XP is all up to date as well as Office XP, though I'm having issues with my legacy Outlook 2000 PST file. At least I'm happy that my software is actually installing and seeing data. Yea!
On another personal note, we are in money hell, wondering if a Debt Management Program is going to work or if bankruptcy is our only option. I'm fighting this tooth and nail and hopefully things will work out. Pray for us, people. Or at least send some good vibes, OK? Thanks. Carol & I appreciate it.
On a lighter note, I started seeing referrals from Gapers Block. Turns out Andrew Huff from the site stumbled onto my Gigglesnort Hotel memories and pictures from back in the late 70's when I was a television puppeteer in Chicago, and he wrote a small paragraph linking here. Thanks Andrew and welcome to everyone who stops by here from Gapers Block! Leave some comments with the pictures if you remember anything! Share your memories!
posted at 09:13 PM | Link | Computing § |
Miss YouDamn.
I actually called out for him today when I was a little, um, "in need". It was one year ago today that I lost my dad. Yes, life hasn't been the same. Yes, we're all doing fine and moving on.
It's just... not the same, you know? I miss him.
I miss you, Dad.
posted at 05:58 PM | Link | Family § |
Monday, December 29, 2003
Visitor
I've been working on my computer for so long that Indy decided to come upstairs to see what I was up to. I think she's looking for some attention...
posted at 07:49 PM | Link | Bunnies § |
Friday, December 26, 2003
I've got an itch...Damn it... something has got a hold of me and I don't know where it came from... I'm getting the urge to do something that I've never done. Most people do it pretty regularly, and most of them do it pretty well. Me? Never did it.
I blame Trading Spaces.
I blame that damned perky Paige Davis, or that nymphette Genevieve Gorder. Certainly that wack-job Hilda Santo-Tomas - she of the feather walls, flower walls and corogated cardboard walls. Yes, I could do better. Kia Steave-Dickerson? Oh, yes. Vern Yip? Ummm... errrr... well... OK, probably not.
What the hell am I talking about?
read more of this entry »
Paint. I have the urge to paint. I don't know why. I've lived in my house almost 20 years. Never painted. Now - it's in my blood. I've got to do it.
I didn't have anything to do this afternoon, since I was on Stand Down. The next thing I knew, I was at Home Depot looking at paint chips.
Ooooo...
And they had not only the paint chip thingy's, they had some booklets that show how certain palletes look in sample rooms...
Ooooo...
And then... and then... and then I found myself wandering down the aisle of mouldings... ooooo... crown mouldings... oooooo... dentil cornice... oh, that would look sweet.... ooooo...
OH, CRAP... WHAT THE HELL HAS HAPPENED TO ME?!?!?!?!?! « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 04:15 PM | Link | Mundane | 2 comments § |
Thursday, December 25, 2003
Christmas
*whew*
Just spent the whole day at Mom's house. Got some very surprising presents (I'm going to have to update my Amazon Wishlist to pull a few things off!)
We had brunch, presents, and dinner and the day absolutely flew by.
Melinda's birthday was yesterday, but we celebrated today in a more "intimate" setting than last night. Guess the day was more draining than what we expected - Melinda couldn't blow-out the candles on her cake!
This Christmas turned-out better than I had thought, and better than I had hoped. Sometimes family quietly makes things better...
posted at 09:20 PM | Link | Family | 1 comment § |
Wednesday, December 24, 2003
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve.
Diane's house.
Family.
Food. Presents. Grab bag.
Good.
posted at 11:51 PM | Link | Family | 1 comment § |
Tuesday, December 23, 2003
Stand Down
Well, we got an unexpected piece of news today at work: "... a mandatory holiday deployment stand down throughout the NE region effective COB 12/23. ... All NE region Dell staging, deployment and sweep activity will stop from COB 12/23 until after the first of the year."
Crap. We had a lot of work planned for next week. What's worse (from my perspective) is the typical contractor's lament: no work = no pay - a <sarcasm>wonderful place to be during the holiday season</sarcasm>. So, I am on Stand Down until January 5th, the day after my birthday.
The flip-side to all of this negativity is that we've hired a new Admin who'll sit next to me. It was bad enough last time when we had a new tech join us (she's been great to work with), but this time it's going to cause more problems - younger, taller, and gorgeous. There's too many geek guys around for her not to get hit on...
I bid adieu to my colleagues and walked out to the car where I noticed it started snowing. The traffic home made the drive miserable. The Tri-State was a mess. It's not normal to actually come to a stop on the tollway, so I got off on Golf Road to take that all the way home. Well, that was fine until I was within a mile or so of Woodfield Mall. We were stopped again. This time, I realized that right at the mall, the traffic lights were out. Not good, especially right at Christmas around one of the biggest/busiest malls in America. Then I saw what the problem was - a white panel van slid off the road... and ran right over the top of the traffic control electronics box. That's going to be down for a while.
Stopped at White Hen to get a few tickets for tonight's Mega Millions game (the pot is up to $100 Million tonight). After I slid into my parking place, I had to wait for one of those "Lottery women" that have all of their multiple tickets all filled out, leaning over the counter with the worker, just chatting up a storm, and moving pretty damn slow. Then she starts singing Christmas music... not what was playing over the Muzak in the store. And she's terrible. And in a syrupy-voice she says (to no one in particular) "Oh! How beautiful the snow is!" and she starts dancing a little in place. I just want my effin' tickets - get the hell outa my way!
So, there's snow on the ground, traffic sucks, I'm not working for almost two weeks, and - worse yet - Carol & I are broke. So, needless to say, I'm a bit down in the dumps.
But then, I see a box from Amazon.com on the counter.
I can't tell you how much of a surprise and how much it meant to get something from your Amazon.com Wishlist from someone out there in the Blogosphere.
In this case, it was the Eddie Izzard DVD of Circle from Erin (we saw Eddie in Circle here in Chicago back in March of 2000). Erin, it made my day! Thank you! Make sure you visit her blog! She's a good egg!
posted at 07:40 PM | Link | Work | 1 comment § |
Monday, December 22, 2003
This is winter?Went out to lunch and was shocked to experience the weather.
When I drove in to work, there was a thick layer of overcast clouds, making the drive seem really dark for the time of day.
At lunch, it was all blue sky and warm sun with hardly any breeze. The temps are in the 40's, but it seemed a damned bit better than that.
And today is the first full day of Winter. Of course, it's supposed to rain and snow in the next couple of hours...
posted at 12:56 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Traffic blissAh, the holiday season is upon us, which means people are taking vacation days and aren't on the roads during Rush Hour. Ahhhhh....
Well, so far, it looks like "Code Orange" doesn't mean anything different where I'm working. But then again, I work in a building that's not actually on the base. I don't have a need to go on base today. I'm not in any hurry to see if there's anything different. I'm going about my daily business like a good American...
posted at 09:27 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, December 21, 2003
Damn good food...We went to B&B's last night with Debbie for our Holiday Dinner. Normally we would celebrate at a nice restaurant like we have for the last couple of years, but we can't afford it and Barry has been out of work for months as well, not to mention Debbie had to go to work at 10 pm. Barry made a great beef tenderloin that we were fortunate enough to bring the leftovers home with us. I really enjoy getting together with these guys - something we just don't do as often as we'd like.
Sleeping last night was another thing entirely. I didn't, basically. I may have overeaten just a little bit and my stomach told me that all night long. I'm a wreck this morning. But the sun is out and it's in the 40's, so how bad can it be.
posted at 08:30 AM | Link | Friends § |
Friday, December 19, 2003
SportslessWithout any baseball around, I realized that I haven't been watching ESPN at all. In fact, even though we have 36 sports channels on DirecTV, I just skip over them all. I just don't have any interest at all.
It may have something to do with being in a town where your football team sucks, your basketball team sucks, and your hockey team sucks...
I can't wait for pitchers and catchers to report!
posted at 07:05 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, December 18, 2003
*urp*Note to self:
The next time Carol gets home late on a Thursday night, it is important to finish eating dinner before watching CSI.
Watching CSI during dinner is not... safe...
Thank you so much Jerry Bruckheimer for those wonderful autopsy scenes...
posted at 08:38 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, December 16, 2003
Party Timeposted at 09:31 PM | Link | Mundane § |
WindyWeather-wise, we've been lucky this morning and yesterday. Temperatures have been in the 40's. Yesterday, there was hardly any wind. Today - well, we're making up for it. Had to hold onto my fedora as I walked across the parking lot this morning to keep it on my head. It was drizzling when I left the house, but there must be a cold front coming through - we're supposed to get snow this afternoon and the temps just take a nosedive.
I don't mind snow, it's the cold I can't stand. If there was a way to have snow and still have moderate temperatures - I'm there.
posted at 08:37 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, December 15, 2003
Accidents and a-holesEver since I started driving 40 miles to work on the tollway system, I have been astonished on how well (generally) the drivers have been. No real idiots, everyone doing about 80 mph (when we can) and everyone is behaving.
Until this morning.
We had accidents (a 3-car one that had to be someone not paying attention). I had a pickup truck in front of me who's right taillight didn't have it's red lens, so everytime he tapped his brakes, I've got a bright light in my eyes. Then - at the same time - I had a Jeep Grand Cherokee behind me that has his right headlight pointed upwards - right into my rear-view mirror. The truck infront of me taps his brakes one more time while we're in the left lane going about 70... and then cuts sharply across 3 lanes of traffic to get off at an exit. Moron. Lots of people going under the limit and not yielding to merging traffic, too. Weird.
Then I get on Buckley, on my way to the base when a stretch limo screams out of a hotel parking lot to make an attempt to get across 3 lanes of traffic so he can make a left. I think he forgot how long the damn limo is, as he didn't exactly clear my lane (the left lane). Bastard.
I think the holdiday humbugs are finally out.
posted at 08:44 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, December 14, 2003
Not much of a snow update
Well, there wasn't much snow overnight at all. The neighborhood looks like it was diusted and that's it. I think there's supposed to be about 2" up by work, but I'll have to see tomorrow.
posted at 09:13 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, December 13, 2003
Slick
Driving down rural roads is a real trip when there's fresh, slick snow on the ground without any salt trucks in the area. Fortunately, it's just a very thin coating - even though it's been cold and the snow is accumulating, there's not enough there to really screw up traffic. It's just really slick out there, and the local towns and villages as well as the county and state haven't really handled the salting duties very well, and certainly not consistently from town to town.
posted at 09:04 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Chelby @ 31
Our friends Chelby & Damian moved up to Wisconsin back in... oh... April? We haven't seen them since. We went up to see them (they're barely in Wisconsin, between Genoa City and Pell Lake) for Chelby's 31st birthday (which is today). The house is, well, a bit of a mess right now as they're still in the middle of painting/decorating, and considering the Chelby is 6 months pregnant, they're running out of time to get a nursery ready - I hope they make it!
Today was billed as a "Stitch-N-Bitch", where people come over (sort of Open House style) with sewing projects and everyone just sits around and sews and yacks and sews and drinks and sews and eats. Actually, it was a great time - even though Carol & I didn't bring anything to sew. (Hey, I did my part - installing some software on their computer).
Carol & I were the only "hockey friends" there - everybody else was from the Renn Faire circle of friends. It's always interesting going to a party of any sort where there are multiple circles of friends that are centered around a couple. The union of the two sets is interesting - they're swell people and there are so many similarities and it's just all comfortable.
It was a good time and I miss those guys. I'm surprised my allergy medicine lasted without incident!
posted at 07:25 PM | Link | Friends § |
Thursday, December 11, 2003
Damn whistler...Look... we all have Pet Peeves. I have a whole list of ones just about driving.
But there are a few things that pop up every once in a while that, well, just piss you off.
I work in a raised-floor room with 15 guys that stage about 35 machines at a time. It's quiet in here - not a lot of chit-chat.
One of the damn techs is sitting here friggin' whistling. Now, I'll give the guy props on the quality of his whistling, but, damn it, STOP THE FRIGGIN' WHISTLING! I want to wring this guy's neck... I Mean he's a nice guy and all, but when he puckers-up, I just want to smack the guy...
It's just one of those things that get on my nerves.
Add it to the list of:
- Cracking knucles
- Popping gum
- Chewing with your mouth open
posted at 10:42 AM | Link | Work § |
Weather report: nothing to report
Well, the snow that was supposed to be blanketing the area never happened - just a little accumulation on grassy areas. Big deal. It's now just cold.
posted at 07:05 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
Still the sameOK, I'm still feeling crappy. Now, Carol is in the race for who is feeling worse. She puts in a ton of overtime this time of year. Works Saturday and even on Sundays. Stress level - high. Sleep - not so much. Last night, she had a ton of trouble sleeping, mostly because her stomach wasn't feeling great.
The weather is starting to change, however. Yesterday's fog and rain was just heavy rain this morning. The rain ended, the temperature started to plummet. Tonight when I left work, we're now onto the sleet phase of the latest storm. On the way home I think I saw a thin coating of snow on the cars at one of the many car dealerships in the neighborhood. High in the 20's tomorrow, and the next few days.
More things to torment me.
Oh, and we're broke. I mean broke. And it's Christmas time. I'm just so friggin' happy...
posted at 06:44 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, December 09, 2003
Wet, slow, and foggy
Working close to the lake has interesting weather aspects. It's been really foggy all day at work, and it's been raining. The rain got harder as I tried to drive home during the evening rush. Although it took me an hour and a half, I didn't mind it - I like rain and fog and it just kept me... interested.
posted at 06:59 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, December 08, 2003
I can't stop this feelin'......deep inside of me...
oops, sorry. I'm still feeling a bit "punky". I'm really bloated, I'm having problems fitting in my clothes.... I feel like Violet Beauregarde in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory when she got to the dessert of the three course meal gum... ("It happens every time, they all become blueberries!")... I can't fight this weird-ass feeling. I thought the weekend would help. In many ways, it seems worse... Is this what's going around?
I really don't do "sick" very well at all. I knew I wasn't feeling right the other day when I started talking to myself. When I don't feel well, I find myself talking through everything I do out loud, as if to help me focus on what the hell I'm supposed to be doing. Weird, eh?
Man... I shouldn't have brought up Willy Wonka...
read more of this entry »
"There's no earthly way of knowing
Which direction we are going
There's no knowing where we're rowing
Or which way the river's flowing
Is it raining?
Is it snowing?
Is a hurricane a-blowing?
Not a speck of light is showing
So the danger must be growing
Are the fires of hell a-glowing?
Is the grisly reaper mowing?
Yes, the danger must be growing
'Cause the rowers keep on rowing
And they're certainly not showing
Any signs that they are slowing! " « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 06:08 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, December 06, 2003
I ain't doin' nuthin' today...I'm feeling somewhere between a cold and a flu today. I'm not dong anything today, just laying around, watching TV.
Nothing to see here... move along... move along...
posted at 03:16 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, December 05, 2003
Where the hell is the snow?I usually get to work about 30 minutes early. I don't mean to, it's just since I drive 40 miles one-way, almost all on the limited-access tollway system, you just don't know how traffic is going to go minute by minute.
Last night, I asked Carol (who gets up way before me in the morning) that if there was snow on the ground then wake me up because I'll need the extra time for the traffic problems.
5 o'clock this morning Carol wakes me up to tell me there's no snow, but it's still raining and there may be ice out there and the travel times were going up.
Fine. So, I decide I'll leave a half hour early and that way I have a one hour cushion for my drive time.
I got to work one hour early. There's no snow. There's no ice. There's no traffic. By lunchtime, there wasn't a cloud in the sky!
Crap. On top of that, there was nothing to do. We didn't get any data to get machines into the staging area to get the staging crew to work, so we sent home almost everyone.
Sucks when you're a contractor and you get paid by the hour. Sucks, I tells ya.
posted at 09:00 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Thursday, December 04, 2003
75,000
A little bit of everything today...
First, my car turned over 75,000 miles today on the way to work.
The drive to work was light - the drive home was horrendous. The weather critters are saying to expect 1-3 inches of snow tonight (it used to be 3-6 inches, but they've backed-off of that) and it's been raining for a few hours now. Now, normally, rain doesn't slow down traffic all that much, but I think that people have it set in their minds that "Oh my God! It's going to snow! Oh no! What is this rain? It's got to be turning to ice! I've got to slow down!!!" So the evening commute turned into an almost 2 hour mess - and not a lick of snow or ice to be seen.
Can't wait to see what the morning rush hour brings...
Carol got a voicemail at work yesterday and because she is so busy with orders for her company, she couldn't get through her voicemails and she had to have some co-workers to pull the messages and return the calls (it was way over 60 messages...). She missed her brush with greatness.
She missed a voicemail from Peter Jennings. Yes, that Peter Jennings.
Also, a quick props to my girl Erin for leaving the 200th comment to my crappy little blog (her's is soooo much better). I knew I didn't have a lot of readers here, but I appreciate each and every one that stops buy and says hi every once in a while, and, a she herself would say, Erin is a "good egg".
A good measure on how popular a blog may be is to look and the number of posts and number of comments. If the comments far outnumber the posts, you've got a popular blog that many read and participate in.
My blog? Well, how about 1,593 entries and 200 comments in almost two years. I'm OK with that. No, really I am. I'm doing this for me. If anybody else stops by and reads this regularly, that is just so much cooler and really means a lot to me. To those of you that are regulars, whether by visiting the site or catching up through RSS feeds - Thank You.
posted at 06:43 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
Ouch
OK, I'm feeling slightly better today. Another "good busy" day at work. I have, however, injured myself and it's really hurting.
For those of you that know me, you know that people kid me because they think I have 9½ fingers (well, 7½ fingers at 2 thumbs). That's because I have a finger that only partially moves. I have a captured tendon in my left index finger that doesn't allow the finger to go straight. In fact, it only opens halfway. There's no pain, it's just that it doesn't fully extend. (The common term is "Trigger Finger" or Stenosing tenosynovitis.)
I did have surgery on it back in the 80's but it's happened again. (Did you know that for a local anesthetic they inject you in the webbing between your index finger and middle finger? Do you have any idea how much that hurts?) Actually it's been this way for a while. Like, oh, a decade. Muscles have atrophied and all I want to do is just streeeeeeetch this finger out... but I can't. You have any idea how much of a pain this is? I can't get my hand into my back pocket to get my wallet out. It's an extreme struggle put on gloves, and I can't put on a baseball glove at all (and that pisses me off). I can't use that finger at all for typing - and considering I've been in the IT industry for 25 years, I can tell you that it bothers me every day.
Now, remember, this also means the I can't lay my hand down flat. Now, imagine something I do every day in this job - moving up to 20 boxes of Dell Optiplex machines on a palette for transport and delivery. Sometimes 4 palettes at once. Oh, and I'm a bit short - I'm only as tall as 4 boxes on a palette - and the palettes get stacked 5 boxes high.
Do you have any idea how painful it is to get my finger smashed between a couple of boxes? Since the finger doesn't move, the pain is excruciating. And it doesn't go away, since you injure muscle and joint tissue.
Oh, I want this fixed... but I can't.
No money. We can't afford any (and I mean ANY) unusual expenses at all (lots of financial hurt for us right now). I just don't know how much longer I can take this. I know people keep saying "Well, you lived with this for so long, you can wait longer". I'm tellin' ya, I can't take it any more. I want my finger to unlock and move!
I even have the doctor picked out - it's Carol's surgeon that did her breast reconstruction surgery after her double mastectomy - believe it or not, he specializes in hand surgery.
All I want for Christmas is a new finger... a new finger... a new finger...
posted at 06:12 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Tuesday, December 02, 2003
Oh, oh... I don't feel so good...
I feel terrible. Nothing specific, but I feel bad. Yesterday, I was exhausted. So much so that I don't remember how I got to work. I'm walking to the Staging area in the morning and I realize that I can't remember a thing about the drive. On the way home, I almost fell asleep in stopped traffic on the tollway. I'm exhausted and to me that's a signal that I'm getting sick. I'm not tired from doing anything - I'm tired because my body feels like it's fighting something. Fighting what? Don't have a clue. I'm not sneezing, I'm not coughing, my throat feels fine, no headaches. OK, there's a little G.I. problem, but it's not significant. I was really busy at work today (a good busy, if there is such a thing), so it kept my mind focused and off my weird feelings. I even worked overtime tonight. Now, I feel that I need to eat and then watch a little Celebrity Poker Showdown and go to sleep.
posted at 07:20 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, November 28, 2003
Gotta love a day off!Carol & I were lumps today. We did nothing. (OK, I went out to Chipotle for some Burrito Bols for dinner, but that was it).
We're still recovering from yesterday... and work. Actually, I'm working on an inventory spreadsheet for work so that I know what machines we have staged and sitting in the warehouse for deploy.
Still nothing happening, just crash time... Oh, and it's friggin' snowing outside... the salt trucks have gone through the neighborhood, but nothing is sticking to the ground...
posted at 09:45 PM | Link | Mundane § |
My first video "project"The best laid plans...
I had the intention of getting my video together for my little Blog-A-Turkey "thing" while I was actually barbecuing and then after dinner sometime. Well, that didn't happen. Somehow, the time wasn't there (let's just say that things got a little out of hand and the party didn't end until almost 11pm - way longer than Carol & I wanted).
Oh, the turkey really turned out good this year - juicy as always but everyone was raving about the taste... and I didn't do anything different!!!
I'm having problems with the MJPEG codecs in Adobe Premiere, so it wouldn't decode the AVI files that my Canon S230 PowerShot produced. I decided to try Windows Movie Maker that comes with XP. For a cheapo product, I was really pleased with how easy it worked.
I was disappointed with two things, however - The first is audio. The Canon camera records the audio and a weird-ass frequency rate that's not standard at all. Movie Maker doesn't handle the conversion well, and I sound like I have a lisp!
Secondly, file size. The project was rendered into a 36Mb file for 12:27 running time, at 320x240. When I added titles to some scenes, the file size jumped to over 51Mb!
Oh, I guess there's a third complaint - it's rendered in Windows Media Video format - WMV.
I need to fix Adobe Premiere.
So, here it is - the final video of Blog-A-Turkey 2003!
posted at 02:23 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, November 27, 2003
Blog-A-Turkey 2003Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Well, last year's Thanksgiving Blog-A-Turkey showed, in detail, how I barbecue my turkey. This year, well, here's a little video tease for you! (Sorry, it's only in Windows Video format). Hope you enjoy!
Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!
Update: Here's the full video on how I brabecue my Thanksgiving Turkey. Running time: 12:27 Size: 51.1Mb!
posted at 02:27 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Short day!It's always a great day when you get out of work at 1:30 as an early start to the Thankgiving weekend and get paid for a full 8 hours! Wooo Hooo!
posted at 02:33 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Tuesday, November 25, 2003
Light trafficTraffic has been light this week - obviously due to the short work week. We're having some oddities happen at work - we've run out of data to stage machines for users. I guess this doesn't normally happen at other bases, so we're hoping that something will come along to keep all of these people busy. Fortunately, data came through for another 120 machines just before 2 o'clock, so at least we have something to work on.
posted at 06:28 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, November 24, 2003
Having a cold oneWell, it's not supposed to be here for another month, but today is the first Day of Winter in my book. It was 21 degrees with snow flurries when I got up. The wind howled all night and the wind chill was 13 below. The snow wasn't sticking but it was blowing around, collecting in tiny piles against walls and other objects. Driving north on the tollway, it was actually getting difficult to see with all of the blowing snow. It was cold enough that I actually had to get out my winter jacket, which I have been putting off for a while. I mean, the weather has been so erratic and unseasonably mild... until today.
posted at 06:04 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, November 23, 2003
HB Mom!
The sleeping situation hasn't gotten any better. I'm not getting any, and Carol isn't either, though we may have gotten a tad bit more last night than the night before.
Today's weather, though 61 degrees, is miserable due to rain. Today is my mother's 74th birthday, so Carol & I went to her house and picked her up to go to... the cemetery. It was time to lay Christmas wreaths on the family graves, so I piled 6 wreaths into the trunk and we went for a quick loop around the cemetery, pausing briefly to get out in the pouring rain, run through the grass dodging goose poop, plant the wreath and get back in the car.
read more of this entry »
Then it was off to Diane's house. We're going to go out for dinner, but Diane's ulterior motive was to get me to look at her Sony Vaio PC and figure out what's going on with her CD burner, as well as some virus scanning issues (she doesn't seem to have any, though every once in a while she claims she does get a message saying she does) and disk space issues (had to move over 6 Gb of MP3's over to a different drive so she won't get that nagging XP out/low disk space messages). I had the other issues done and was still troubleshooting the CD burn issue when it was late enough to go to dinner.
We went to a restaurant not far from her house called Settimana Café. Pretty empty and quiet when we got there and no where near that by the time we left. There was a point during dinner that we were almost yelling across the table to each other to be able to be heard over the music and other conversations. (Oh, other than that, the dinner and wine were very good - I'd recommend the place).
I mentioned earlier that it was 61 degrees. When we got into Diane's car after dinner, the temperature was 48 degrees and it was raining harder. Back at her house I verified that the CD burner really doesn't work (oh, did I mention that it doesn't play any audio CD's either?). Diane had purchased a replacement burner that I was going to install. Well, after I finally got the case opened, there was no way I could figure out how to expose the drive bay that the CD drive was in. There were no screws, a couple of latches that didn't seem to do anything to the cage that was covering the drive bays. I can get to two of the screws holding the drive into the bay, but I couldn't get to the other side of the drive, and even then I didn't know if the IDE and power cables were long enough to stretch out the front of the machine. I didn't want to, but I had to give up.
Mom opened her presents. Diane got her a VCR/DVD combo unit so she can finally rent movies again... though I just can't wait to see her try to deal with a DVD for the first time...
By the time we left, the temperature was down to 38 degrees. by the time we dropped off Mom at her house, the rain stopped.
I can't wait to see the weather tomorrow... « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 09:46 PM | Link | Family § |
Blog Your TurkeyOK, here's my little contribution to the Blogosphere.
Last year, just for the hell of it, I decided to blog about my Thanksgiving Day Turkey preparation. It's boring, but it shows you how I barbecue my turkey. I do this every year and it always turns out really nice.
Now, yes, I realize that my blog gets virtually no traffic. Yes, there's nothing really here to draw you to visit on a regular basis. But to those out there that read this blog and have a blog yourself, how about telling us - OR EVEN BETTER, SHOW US - how your prepare your turkey - or whatever your main meal is - for Thanksgiving Day.
Call it a "Blog-A-Turkey" and - if you want - put a link in the comments to this post to show what you're doing.
Not only is Thanksgiving a time for giving thanks, it's also a time for sharing. Reach out and share your turkey with the blogosphere!
Pass the word!
posted at 11:33 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, November 22, 2003
A smile changes your day
So both Carol and I had a bad night trying to sleep. Don't know why, we just didn't sleep. Carol went to work this morning (it's her busy season). I got up and just hit Blogshares for a while. I had errands to run today and I was putting it off for a little bit. My internet connection has been a little "iffy" the last couple of days - I think there's a router inside the Comcast infrastructure that's a little flaky, causing some connectivity issues every 5-10 minutes (at least that's what it looks like on a tracert). So, manipulating my Blogshares account takes a hell of a lot longer than I wanted. I caught up on my TiVo viewing while hitting refresh in my browser for a few hours.
When I went out, it was foggy & misty. I had to go to Home Depot to get lightbulbs (the lights on the front of the house are out) and find some hickory chips for this week's turkey adventures (I barbecue a turkey every year - you can see it all happen in last year's blog entries).
I pulled into the parking lot and saw that the PETsMART next door to Home Depot had a dog rescue group running an adoption day. I git what I needed at Home Depot and then went over to check out the dogs - all mutts, but all look just "sweet". Inside there was a dog training session going on with all puppies. Not real young puppies, but older puppies (definitely not older dogs). Everyone was just sitting in their chairs, not saying a word and not moving, and the puppies are all interacting and chasing each other and just having a grand time.
Since Carol was working, I grabbed a soup and sandwich at Panera. That's when I realized that no matter how gloomy a day it was outside (it was dark along with that fog and mist), the people here were genuinely nice. Not that forced-customer-satisfaction-nice, this felt real. There was this young female worker that walked by me while I was waiting for my order. She was getting some water at the fountain area and she asked me how I was doing today. She had this great smile on her face and it took me by surprise and made me smile and I realized that I all of a sudden felt better about my day. I was tired as all hell, but emotionally I felt better. Sounds weird, but I'm glad I went to Panera for lunch!
posted at 02:49 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, November 21, 2003
RutsCarol & I and B & B have had on ongoing "joke" that came up while we in Las Vegas last time (which now seems such a long time ago...). We like going to the same hotels/casinos and sometimes the same restaurants. We always kidded my Mom for doing the same thing - saying that she was in a rut. When we do it, it's not a rut - it's "tradition"! I guess it's just the way you look at it...
I guess that even expands into your everyday life as well. Carol and I go to a Chinese buffet every once in a while. I always get the same stuff from the buffet? Why? A rut? Maybe. Maybe we go there because we know what's there and we know what we want.
So tonight, when they threw some curves at us at some of the buffet stations with different food, I felt "Hey! Where's my stuff!" But I tried the new stuff and liked it a lot, even changing my choices and not getting things that I normally do. It was different, almost "new" in a way. Maybe you just need just a little change every once in a while to make things feel new again, even if it's just food choices...
posted at 07:52 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, November 20, 2003
Gorgeous
65 degrees. One of those days you had to go out for lunch, just to be in the sun and warmth, because you just know this isn't going to last.
And to top-off the nice day, when I was driving home tonight, all 6 lanes of Golf Road are open. All that's left is landscaping, lighting, and some road markings (oh, and permanent traffic lights). Looks like our 3-year nightmare of major road construction in the neighborhood is over.
posted at 06:26 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
Idiots in the rain
It's been raining hard since midnight. There's flood warnings everywhere around us. the upside is that it's 61 degrees and hardly any wind. The drive to work was just a little slow, so it wasn't all that bad. Had a guy cut in front of me when I was in the left-hand lane on the Northwest Tollway. The traffic was creeping, but at least it was still moving. The guy in front of me takes both hands off the wheel to brush/comb his hair. The car then veers to the left, going over the yellow line, as the guy drops his hands, jerks the wheel over and goes back to using both hands to do his hair. I haven't seen women do this on the road (I've seen makeup and maybe one-handed hair, but never two-handed hair), and this guy is just grooming away. It's brush-brush-brush - *jerk* - comb-comb-comb - *jerk* - brush-brush-brush - *jerk* - comb-comb-comb as he sways back and forth outside his lane. In the rain. Idiot. He stops that and then he starts playing with stuff on his passenger seat, not paying attention to traffic ahead of him. I couldn't tell what the heck he was doing after that since I saw him over the yellow line a couple of dozen times but he seemed to be looking forward. All I know is that I got the hell away from him and got on the Tri-State Tollway northbound...
On the way home tonight, I was punching buttons on the radio trying to find something to listen to. Now, again, here it is November 18 - a week before Thanksgiving - and I find a station playing all Christmas music. This is way too early for this. So I keep punching buttons, and I find another station playing all Christmas music!
What the hell is going on???!!!???!!!
posted at 06:19 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, November 17, 2003
Foggy
The whole Chicagoland area was socked-in with dense fog this morning. Visibility is just a few hundred feet in some areas. Midway can't get any arrivals, and O'Hare had 1 hour delays. I love driving in fog, especially during the daytime. I found it interesting that even though it was that foggy, the drive time to work wasn't really any different, though there were patches of bad fog and patches of no fog. Fun.
posted at 05:44 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, November 16, 2003
It's too earlyOK, we're coming home from dinner at Mom's this evening. We listen to NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me during the drive and Carol scopes out the houses as we pass by while we're still within the city. On a Sunday night, many people are home with their lights on, making it easy to become a Drive-By Peeping Tom.
That's when she saw it.
It's Sunday November 16.
Someone had their Christmas tree up. And it was lit.
It's not even Thanksgiving yet.
This is ridiculous.
posted at 09:45 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, November 15, 2003
B & B & the movies
Barry and Buffy came over this afternoon. We caught the 3:30 showing of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World at the AMC South Barrington 30. The theater was packed - I should have realized that it had great buzz and it had just opened yesterday. thank God for MovieTickets.com!. For once, I almost felt like complaining over the amount of Trailers before the movie (now, don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Trailers, but there were more Trailers before this movie than there are in E!'s Coming Attractions show!) Everyone raved about this movie. It was spectacular on the big screen (I would consider this a MUST SEE on the big screen), but I'd give it 3 stars, not 4. It ran 139 minutes and - to me - it felt it. Now, don't get me wrong, this is a wonderful movie to see, but I just wasn't "sucked-in". Don't know why. Wonderful to watch, though. The ships, the sea, the storms, the battles, the details. Wow.
We went back to our house afterward. Caught a showing of Dinner for Five on IFC. B&B have never seen the show before and this was a good one to catch. They seemed to enjoy it (we always do, though sometimes there are people on that are not our favorites) and hopefully they'll catch it on a regular basis. Carol made a dinner of orzo and shrimp with a salad and garlic bread. We talked about everything as we always do. Then we tried to find something to watch on TV for the night and it was slim pickings. We wound up watching Don't Say a Word, which Carol & I have never seen before. A much better movie than the advertising pitched.
It's great having friends over for dinner and movies...
posted at 10:14 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, November 14, 2003
6 lanes!Huzzah! Hoo-ray! Woooo Hoooo! and whatever else you say. The construction along Golf Road by our house is finally completed, and is now 6 lanes wide (instead of 4 lanes). Now, if the excitement over the opening of 6 lanes of traffic is a plus, the negative side is that the left turn lane from Golf Road onto Gannon has a turn arrow (as before) but it's now a left turn on a green arrow ONLY. Bummer. I hate having to wait for a left hand turn when there is no oncoming traffic for most of a traffic light cycle.
posted at 06:57 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Stuck in Friday night trafficposted at 05:40 PM | Link | Audblog § |
Wednesday, November 12, 2003
Pulsing bowlYou know it's windy outside when the water in your toilet bowl is either pulsing or gone. The wind gusts right now are 43mph and the Weather Service says to expect frequent gusts over 65mph. Yow! Had a nice experience on the way to work - the Lake Forest Oasis had free coffee and Krispy Kremes! Wooo hooo!!!! Then the parking lot at work is official half done, as they were asphalting the piece that they didn't do a week or so ago. I walked across it and it was still snapping and crackling from the heat of the steamroller (whose driver waved me into a parking place). Well, even though we lost our recycling bins to the wind (though we found two others and claimed them), I'm hoping the house will stay intact during the winds tonight.
posted at 06:46 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th monthThe base was closed for Veteran's Day today, but the Staging team was still working, so I came in as well, Got a spot in the parking lot! Of course, there really wasn't anybody there - I could have had an entire row. In the morning, on request of one of the techs, we all paused for a moment of silence at 11am to remember all those that have left us defending the country. This is my first experience at a military installation and that moment of silence seemed important. One of the techs is a Marine reservist - he may get the call to duty this week. Since he's a Marine, you know he'll be going to Iraq and not in just some little support role. I've only been there about four weeks, but I like the guys and the job. It's been odd hearing that one may have to leave to serve his country.
posted at 05:22 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, November 10, 2003
Snow and Hooligans
Pulled into the parking lot at work today (well, not exactly the parking lot but a small parking area next to the mess of parking lot construction) only to see small piles of snow everywhere. Crap. Snow. I saw something today that I never want to see again during the length of my contract: This afternoon, one of the warehouse guys was taking a palette of 20 Dell Optiplex desktops that the team had completed staging back to the warehouse. He was trying to pull the palette through the dock door with a palette jack. They guys didn't have any shrinkwrap with them to wrap all of the CPU boxes, so the boxes were all loose. Sure enough, he pulled and the entire palette of 20 machines crashed to the floor. I hope to God they work when we plug them in at the users' desks. Other than that, not too much unusual happened today... until this evening...
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Carol and I are watching TV when we hear the sound of metal against concrete, almost like a pickaxe. Carol checks out a window and says that some teenagers across the street to the side of us are doing something in their driveway. After a while, I'm still hearing things so I get up to look, to see them destroying a chair at the end of their driveway. What the hell? They're using baseball bats, shovels, broom handles... what the hell are they doing? I see one of them throw something down the street. It's not the first time that something a little odd has gone on over there... nothing bad, just odd... So we ignore them for a while, but then I realize they're next to our house, on our property, hitting things and throwing things. When I hear something hit the streetlight post outside I start trying to figure out what they're doing. They're just being teenagers - hooligan teenagers. They're throwing some objects around - something that's about 4"-5" square. I can't tell what it is. I watch them using a broomstick as a bat and they're hitting stuff. They're all over our lawn... Time for a call to 911... I nice woman tries to get as much info as possible, but I'm not doing well trying to describe the kids (a bit too dark). She'll send a car. I say something like "I'm really sorry, I just can't tell what these teenagers are doing" and she says with a chuckle "That's OK, you usually can't tell what teenagers do these days!" There's more throwing, so I grab my digital camera and go outside to see what's up. There's pumpkin all over the driveway - OK, so that's what they're doing. A police car rolls-up. two instinctively run but stop and all four of them walk over to the squad car. I stay behind by the house and try to listen from a distance. I can't hear them, but the cop asks them where they live and he has them walk to their house. That's when I walk over, let him know that I called and mentioned that they stuck what I though was a shovel into the lawn. The officer turned on the spotlight to light up... something that looks like a broomstick with a piece of pumpkin on top of it. After a quick discussion, he promised me he'll get the kids to clean up and I walked back into the house. Sure enough, the kids start going up and down the street, picking-up pumpkin pieces. I see them go home, get a flashlight, and continue their pickup. WOW. It's like they were just teenagers trying to have fun and just got a bit carried away and didn't shirk their responsibilities to pick everything up. Now, the paranoid in me hopes that there's no retaliation for me calling the cops... « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:35 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, November 08, 2003
Dinner and a DVDWent over to B&B's tonight. We haven't seen them in over a month and we just needed to get together! We talked for hours, had drinks, snacks, dinner (steaks!) and they picked-up the DVD of Bend It Like Beckham . Not only a good movie, especially for such a "small" movie, but I've fallen madly in lust with Parminder Nagra! That face, those eyes, that hair... (why oh why did she cut it for ER????) We discussed her at length about how gorgeous she looked. Anyway, a much better movie than I had expected. Oh, and then... tiramisu for dessert!!!
posted at 11:34 PM | Link | Friends § |
Friday, November 07, 2003
Cold & SneezyEveryone at work is start to sneeze and sniffle. Not good. Even though the room that we're in is pretty big, people can pass stuff pretty quick in that environment.
It was 28 degrees this morning, going to be 20 overnight. Damn. I hate this time of year.
posted at 07:00 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, November 06, 2003
Clear
A cold, but crystal-clear day. This morning was one of those days when you're sleeping and the alarm goes off, but you're really comfortable in a really good position in bed and you just had a pleasant dream and all you want to do is get back there again... but you have to get up and get to work.
Still no change in the parking lot situation at work. I think they haven't done a damn thing in a few days because of the rain. It'll be weeks before this is finished. What will be done first - the parking lot of my contract?
Remember the blonde brunette that started last week? Well, I just felt more hair fall out, the others turn grayer, and arthritis settling into my joints. I'm feeling old because I just found out that her mom is 42...
I left tonight after sunset, but the sky was still clear and te colors so vivid that i was compelled to try to take a picture of it from a moving car... which is never a good thing. Not that I couldn't handle the car, it's just that you can never be still long enough to get a good shot without blurring the image.
posted at 06:52 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, November 05, 2003
One Thousand Pound WeightYesterday's rain was the precursor to a cold front coming through. this morning it was 39 degrees. Looks like we turned a corner and it's downhill from here. No more Indian Summers - fall and winter are here.
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Spent most of the day trying to understand why we're constantly looking for CD-RW for the Dell Latitude laptops that we're staging. Turns out that one of the laptops going out today was supposed to have one installed according to the box contents from Dell, but didn't ship with it. We need to handle this differently next time we find this situation.
Saw a sign on an elevator in my building today - Elevator Out of Service for Testing. Wonder what they were testing? I passed by later, and saw 2 500-pound weights and a 1000 pound weight outside the elevator and a bunch more still inside the elevator car. So, were they trying to certify how much weight the thing can actually carry? I don't know if this is supposed to make me feel better or not... « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 06:39 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
Warm downpours
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It's 70 degrees outside, but the trip to work turned really interesting, getting caught in a downpour. On the tollway, I could barely see the traffic around me. I pulled into the parking lot at the base exchange and realize I don't have an umbrella. Great. But, I do have a yellow rain slicker in the back seat - thank God I kept it in the car.
Today was the first day when I actually spent all morning actually in a building on the base, managing/assisting some recruits in boxing-up legacy workstations in preparation for pickup. The building was so much nicer than the one I work in, that it was refreshing to see that perhaps the base isn't as run-down as what I experience daily. I dodged the rain to and from the building, but it was pouring by the time I left for the day.
The drive home was really slow due to the rain, but wasn't as bad as I had expected. the neighborhood was a mess, with traffic signals out and a lot of local flooding. It was warm enough that the worms got flooded out of the ground and found them all over my driveway. Trying to get the mail in the rain in the dark trying to dodge worms is a real trip. I went inside only to find out that Carol left the bedroom window open this morning. Mop-up wasn't as bad as it could have been, but the rug was pretty soaked right at the window. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 06:37 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, November 03, 2003
No ParkingOver the past couple of weeks, the parking lot at work is undergoing renovation. They tore-up half of the lot, removing the asphalt and digging up the dirt, putting in a better base of gravel and then resurfacing. The lot is barely large enough to fit the cars for everyone that works in the building. Having half the lot gone means we have to park in the base exchange next door and walk over. Well, the started asphalting over the weekend - but it's only half done. The other half of the asphalt is blocked-off, and the old part of the lot is now being chewed-up, so the lot is about a quarter of the size it used to be. It's a mess. It's a bit of a walk from next door and, even though the weather has been OK, it's going to make for a lousy walk if the weather changes (which it should over the course of the week).
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The life of a contractor on a military base (well, at least on this military base) isn't like your normal corporate life. We're working on a raised-floor datacenter area, but no one is cleaning it. I spent almost an hour this morning sweeping the floor, and then actually washing a few tiles where people have left some mud behind when they came in. No one empties the garbage cans - we have to do it. The hallway outside our staging room is dark - one light illuminates the hall, they others are dark. This is where we hang-out to drink or munch on a snack since that's not allowed in the room.
We ordered-out Chinese food from a local place that, well, wasn't the best food I've ever had. All you could say about it was that it was filling. I was full and bloated and uncomfortable for the rest of the day, so much so that i'm skipping dinner tonight. *urp* Just too much... « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 06:17 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, November 02, 2003
Fall Birthdays
We had a nice family get-together at Kathy & Al's to celebrate some fall Birthdays in the extended family. The party started at 2 and we had a Wolves game that started at 4, so we stayed as long as we could, but people were still coming over and I felt really awkward leaving. I mean, it's family and we just don't see everyone as often as we probably should. So, we went to the game, watch the team lose, and then I decided we should go back. We arrived in time for cake and lots more conversation (even though we only saw 2 periods of the game, it still felt that the pace of the game was quick and we were out of there in no time). Everyone seemed pleased we came back, and I felt better, too. So we had some lasagna and great cakes, all made by Myrina. Missed all of the opening of presents, though.
posted at 09:15 PM | Link | Family § |
Friday, October 31, 2003
Sail Away?Note to self: When you walk into work and Enya is on the boombox, it's not going to be a good day.
It's still warm outside, but windy. It was also starting to drizzle by the time I hit the parking lot. Traffic was light both ways today.
This is the first time in 3 years that I'm not unemployed and at home to answer the door for Halloween. I guess we do have a tradition after all - we actually count every kid that shows up at the door. Our normal average is right around 100. Last year it was 79. This year was 69. And it was a Friday. I don't get it.
posted at 05:59 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Thursday, October 30, 2003
Get off the road!
This morning, I did something I've never done before. I was on the Tri-State Tollway, when this truck cuts in front of me. We were only going 35, but it still pissed me off that he just had to get into my lane. I can see him in his side view mirror - he's fiddling with a cell phone. Now, I will give it to him, he always stayed at whatever speed the back was moving - 35mph, 45, mph... 80 mph. The problem was this guys was drifting all over the place. He was slowwwly drifting right then slowwwly drifting left, moving from one set of lane markers to the other. I can see him again - he's off the phone and now he's eating something. Still drifting back and forth. I watch this guy go over the yellow line onto the shoulder. And then, he decides to change lanes and the lane change is a sudden jerk on the wheel.
Well, I had enough. The truck had the phone number of his company - so I called and reported the guy. I was polite and brief and I just wanted the company to know that they've got a driver out here that was dangerous. Now, coincidentally, as soon as I hung up the phone, he stopped swerving and got off at the next exit. Hmmmm....
What a gorgeous day today - sunny and in the 70's! Wonderful!
Test drove a Thermos bottle for coffee today. OK, the wife's company turns out a great product that I highly recommend. 16 ounces of coffee stayed hot for over 8 hours!!!! Gotta like that...
No music in the room today. That's OK, was busy and had to concentrate a bit. This was a day when I got nothing accomplished at work. it's not that I didn't do anything - quite the opposite. I worked my butt off, but we wound up not delivering anything we had scheduled. Very unfulfilling.
The drive home tonight was another Twilight Zone event. It may have been a warm, wonderful day but everyone wa driving 5-10 mph under the limit, and it didn't matter what road I was on.
Found out tonight that Carol's going to Las Vegas on business in January! Can you say "Jealous?" There's no way we're going to be able to afford to have me go with. I miss that damn town so much...
posted at 06:57 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, October 29, 2003
*gasp*! A woman!Today - something different for my stop at the oasis to get something to snack on for the morning. I get a nice tall cup of coffee - a French Vanilla one, too. Flavorful. Wonderful. Now I need a Thermos bottle to keep it warm. Hopefully, Carol can scare one up for me.
There was a great ripple in the force today - I work with a whole room full of tech guys whose job is build brand new Dell desktops for specific customers with specific software for their needs. Today Shock! Sitting next to me is a young blond from the east coast. She'll be here leading pre-deployment tasks for a while. There's nothing that puts more interest in a bunch of geek guys than a young geek girl. This is just so entertaining... There's a lot of interesting "playing" going on...
Found out that one of the gentlemen here has auditioned for the NY Philharmonic and plays trombone (did that for 20 years before becoming a network engineer), mostly for stage shows. His wife is currently playing french horn for the Lion King here in Chicago. Wonder if that's why we have such an interesting selection of music on the boombox? Today it's Sinatra, James Taylor, Billy Joel and Aerosmith.
posted at 06:22 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, October 28, 2003
Soggy
Rainy and windy and cold this morning. Got out the car in the parking lot at work and the cell phone pops-off the holder on my waist (which it does with ease), bounces under the car and opens up... just so the car can drip dirty road water onto it. Oh, this is going to be a good day... Carol told me something interesting last night - she said that I'm sleeping better and snoring less. Must be because I'm actually working so I have less on my mind. That, and the fact I'm usually exhausted. I'm feeling slightly better, too except for a really bad headache that stayed with me all day.
On the boombox at work today: Sinatra, James Taylor, John Mayer, Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp.
posted at 06:59 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Monday, October 27, 2003
Damn host...We have no money to speak of, so switching hosting companies is the furthest from my mind... I haven't been able to get to my website for a couple of days now. I never get informed on any outages and that just pisses me off. If you don't see me post for a while around here, it's usually because I can't get to the site. When I get a few extra bucks, I'm outa here...
I've been feeling bad the last couple of days. Weird-ass pains around my body, even the chest (NO - NOT THOSE KINDS OF PAINS). A lot of joint pain, my right foot feels like most of the bones are just slightly out of place. Some of the pain I think is just absolutely horrific posture that I just have to keep correcting whenever I can. That, and being overweight.
I'm exhausted and will be in bed by 9:30 tonight. When I get this tired, I get this weird feeling like something in my brain is yelling "STOP! SLEEP NOW! EYES! CLOSE! GET YOUR ASS DOWN BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, I"M TAKING YOU DOWN!" and the associated sinking feeling and the need to collapse. Cool, eh? I think I'm just not used to actually working and driving about 2-3 hours a day.
Work was quiet - one of those "cat's away" days, but I kept busy. A bit quiet in the staging room. Listened to a little Harry James and Miles Davis.
posted at 07:38 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, October 26, 2003
Fall forwardGain an hour back? Forget it. I don't feel the change at all. Why? Stayed up too late and got up too early. Crap. I feel like I waisted it.
posted at 09:31 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, October 24, 2003
Into the sun
What a lousy night... I had a sandwich from Panera last night and, um, it didn't sit right with me. Was in the bathroom every two hours overnight. I was a wreck. Tried to get on the Tollway as quick as possible but just couldn't get my ass going. I needed to get on the Tollway because as soon as the sun comes up, the traffic gets a little funky as we all squint and try to see the guy in front of us as we head directly for the rising sun (shouldn't be a problem after we change the clocks over the weekend). Stopped at the Oasis to get a Gatorade, hoping that would help the body (it did). Unfortunately, when I finished pumping gas at the Mobil, I slammed my gas cap door shut - a sheered-off a piece of the plastic door release. Now the door won't close. Crap. I am soooo pissed over a stupid little piece of plastic... All I can think of is someone walking between cars in a parking lot getting their coat caught on the open door and ripping the friggin' door off the car, and that's going to look just great... It's going to cost a fortune to replace this little piece of plastic. I looked all over for the piece, hoping I could Super Glue it or something, but I couldn't find it on the ground. Morning was a little rough, but I started feeling better by lunch - when some of the guys went out and brought back Chinese. Real food.
I got my first paycheck yesterday for last week - a whole 4 hours. I opened it up and I was shocked at how small the check was. That's when I realized what had happened. I worked for this consulting company two years ago. Back then, I was making 3 times what I'm making at this job. Because of the difference in tax rates between Carol's salary and mine, I took out additional withholding to help out at the end of the year. Well, when I started with the company again, they didn't look at the W-4's that I had filled out and just re-activated the employee ID, having additional money taken out of my check. Now, my first check wound-up being only $13.61. Ouch.
posted at 06:47 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, October 23, 2003
Too many
I pass these cell towers everyday on the Tri-State Tollway. I'm always wondering - are they really needed. How many cell phone companies out there? There're no dupe's in this group are there? What makes this spot so special?
An eclectic morning on the boombox - Gloria Estefan's Mi Tierra on the followed by a little Steely Dan and some <shudder> Yani </shudder>. Dropped 3 pounds this week because I'm not eating at work... I need to fix this...
posted at 05:40 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Fixing a HoleYesterday was 9:30-6, today was 8:30-5. I think we're settling on this set of hours.
This morning was Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on the boombox. Love the selections of CD's I saw near the machine.
Went from 85° to 54° today. More seasonal, I guess. Don't like it, but it's what's here.
Been eating doughnuts in the car during my long (40.5 miles one way) rush hour trip. Yesterday I stopped at the Oasis and got a couple of Krispy Kremes for the drive (not HOT fresh from a real store, but it'll do in a pinch) and I got one of those gold Sacagawea coins for change. I didn't even know they were still in circulation! Tons of machines at work I could use that coin in... except they don't except the coin (not surprised).
Have to start thinking about eating something in the morning. Then I have to think about actually eating lunch - something I haven't done yet this week.
posted at 06:44 PM | Link | Work § |
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Swingin'So, there's about 15-20 people in the room that I work in, all of them concentrating on burning the requested images onto the machines that I've had delivered to the staging area. These are people from many different age groups - 20's to 50's (at least). And yet, we found quite a few people across the group that like Frank Sinatra. A CD goes into the boombox and we're swingin' with The Chairman for most of the morning. Then, over lunch, someone went out and bought Live & Swingin' - The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection. Now, we're swingin' with not only Frank, but Dino and Sammy as well! What a great little pickup to the day!
posted at 06:56 PM | Link | Work § |
Monday, October 20, 2003
BadgedWell, I got my Department of Defense Contractor photo ID today. I still have to get a vehicle pass for the base.
I still don't know exactly what I'm doing but the picture is getting clearer... sort of.
Originally, I thought I was working 4:30 to Midnight. Friday I worked 12-8:30, but only put in half a day (nothing to do for the rest of the day). Today was 10-6:30, tomorrow will be 9:30-6. Wonder when it will settle on a time?
Anyway, I'm feeling OK about the job. Let's see how far it goes and how well I can perform...
85° today - the average is supposed to be 60°. It's supposed be be colder that that tomorrow. Really windy today, too.
posted at 09:47 PM | Link | Work | 1 comment § |
Friday, October 17, 2003
Note from Carol
I love getting notes from the wife... makes me feel good...
posted at 10:31 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
Construction at Blackhawk
It was just approved Monday night, but they already started working on that Chicago Wolves facility in my neighborhood as part of the Blackhawk Community Center.
posted at 01:06 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Bare ash
Well, the leaves dropped off our ash tree. The neighborhood is pretty bare. Looks like the peak color season is over.
posted at 11:45 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Priceless
Sorry. This showed-up in my morning emails. I know I'll regret putting it up, but after last night, what's a disgruntled White Sox fan to do...
Now, everyone out there, leave poor Steve Bartman alone. He "did not even see Moises Alou".
posted at 08:22 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Getting bare
It's rained most of the day. We've had some pretty good wind the last few days, too. All the great fall colors are dropping from the trees, blanketing the lawns, sidewalks, and streets in the neighborhood. This morning was dark - one of those days when it was great to stay in bed. The rain was light, so I couldn't hear it on the roof (or even against the aluminum siding), but it was the darkness that was just so inviting.
The unemployment depression is alive and well...
posted at 04:32 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, October 13, 2003
Another postcard with chimpanzees...So, Carol told me about this Barenaked Ladies song that she heard and can't get out of her head about monkeys. Not much to go on, so I wandered the web and went to their website (hey, did you know they have a their own blog?). So, I found the song and now I can't get the frickin' thing out of my head! It's called "Another Postcard". Apparently it's also known as "Chimps". It's on their new CD that gets released next week "Everything to Everyone". (Here are Official Links to Quicktime and Windows Media Hi and Lo for "Another Postcard".)
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You can't imagine so many monkeys in the daily mail
All of them coming anonymously so they leave no trail
I never thought I'd have an admirer from overseas
But someone is sending me stationary filled with chimpanzees.
Some chimps in swimsuits, some chimps are swinging from a vine
Some chimps in jackboots, some chimps that wish they could be mine.
Starsky and Hutch chimps, a chimp who's sitting on the can
A pair of Dutch chimps who send their love from Amsterdam.
Another postcard with chimpanzees
And every one is addressed to me.
If I had to guess, I'd say the monkey-sender thinks it's great
He's sending me, maybe she's sending me just to see me get irate
I'm losing sleep - and it's gonna be keeping me up all night
I thought it was funny, but now I've got money on a monkey fight.
Some chimps in hard hats, chimps a-working on a chain gang
Some chimps who love cats, burning rubber in a Mustang
A birthday-wishing chimp, a chimp in black like a goth
A goin' fishin' chimp, a British chimp in the bath.
Another postcard with chimpanzees
And every one is addressed to me.
Somehow they followed me even though I packed and moved my home
No matter what, they come and they come they won't leave me alone
Another monkey in the mail could make me lose my mind
But look at me shuffling through the stack until I finally find
Some chimps in swimsuits
Some chimps in Jackboots
Some chimps in hard hats
Some chimps who love cats
I've got some shaved chimps; that's chimps devoid of any hair
I've got depraved chimps dressed up in women's underwear.
Another postcard with chimpanzees
And every one is addressed to me.
Every one is every one is every one is addressed to me.
Another postcard with chimpanzees
And every one is addressed to me. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:25 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, October 11, 2003
Ladybugs and freshly cut wood
OK, so we mix this week's invasion of ladybugs and this morning's trimming of the ash tree, and we have a feast for the neighborhood ladybugs (actually a few ladybugs and a lot of Japanese beetles - they're the browner ones compared to the red ones and they seem a lot more, um, "active").
posted at 01:34 PM | Link | Mundane § |
She's a lumberjack and she's OK...posted at 11:09 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, October 10, 2003
Colors in the Neighborhoodposted at 11:48 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, October 09, 2003
Colorsposted at 03:11 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, October 08, 2003
That's not a ladybug!I was catching-up on my TiVo viewing this afternoon when I saw another bug fly up out of the fireplace - only it wasn't another ladybug, it was a wasp! Cripes, I had to destroy that damn thing before Carol got home, otherwise she would probably just sleep in the car and never go into the house!
posted at 01:16 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, October 07, 2003
Invasion!It's getting crowded in my family room - there's 4 ladybugs in there already and many more on the patio door screen waiting to get in. It looks like it's time for the annual invasion again. We've been really getting bombarded with these things at this time of year. It's seems to be when the temperatures really change at sunset in the fall. they seem to find any means possible to get in, even coming through the siding itself. Weird stuff.
posted at 09:09 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, September 30, 2003
AF1
Dubya was in town today, so since I had some errands to run I thought I'd swing by O'Hare and see if I can get a glimpse of the most kickass, coolest plane on the planet. It was parked near the old military side of the field, but there's no way in hell you could get close to it (just as it should be). Still, I had to see it, even from a distance (Remote Parking G was the best vantage point). The C-5 advance plane was there as well (big-ass plane!).
posted at 01:39 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Monday, September 29, 2003
Nuts
We've lived in our house for 19 years. The neighborhood still looks "relatively" new because we just don't have a lot of large trees. The developer and village did a pretty crappy job of acquiring and planting the trees in very poor soil. We've gone through two trees in the front of our house alone due to the bad soil. At least we have this great Ash we got from my cousin and a hawthorne that has grown quite well since we had some landscaping done over a decade ago.
Over the past few years we realized that the trees must be getting larger - we finally have squirrels in the neighborhood. With the weather turning so cold (50's during the day, 30's at night), the squirrels have been very active.
I went out to get the mail today and there he was - a squirrel was in the middle of our lawn with a nut tucked under his left arm. Cutest and silliest damn thing I've seen in a while.
posted at 03:41 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, September 28, 2003
WHAT THE... !!!!???!!!
Carol & I were sitting on the couch this morning. She was running a load of laundry in the washer. She got up to go out to the garage (long story - she was going outside to see if the Sunday Chicago Tribune ever got delivered) when she found out that the utility room was flooded with water and this black junk all over. We killed the washer and then tried to clean-up. We didn't hear a single thing that could have pointed us to what could have happened. The black stuff looks like... lint. It's like the washer burped and coughed-up a hairball or something. Nothing is blocked, nothing is loose. Carol ran the washer without a load to see if it would happen again. It didn't. Then she ran a couple of loads. Nothing happened.
We don't get it. All we know is that it was pretty damn gross.
posted at 10:42 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, September 27, 2003
Dinner with our bestest budsBarry & Buffy drove out to our house tonight for dinner and just talk. We haven't seen them in quite a while. They just got back from Las Vegas and we had to year about the trip and what's new in our favorite city. I, of course, had to tell them that if they'd looked up in the sky at about 8:20 in the morning on Thursday, they would have seen me on my way to Los Angeles. We talked all evening. We missed them a lot. We'll see them again on Thursday when we go to see Eddie Izzard, and Barry & I will be together this weekend as we go up to Wisconsin for a guys weekend.
I did, however, have to endure ever so politely watching the Cubs clinch the National League Central Division Championship. My boys are out of it and here was my arch enemy making it into the post season. Well, good job boys. I've got this really weird feeling that they could actually get through the NLDS. I'm not sure if I can handle this. Die Hard Cub Fans have a tendency to be a bit mean and pompous when it comes to their team's superiority. It's going to be a long off-season...
posted at 10:08 PM | Link | Friends § |
LAX-ORDTerminal 7 at LAX. The Hertz shuttle bus driver was nice for so frickin' early in the morning.
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Airport Security wasn't bad at all. Not as good as O'Hare, but there's hardly anybody in line, so it's a cake walk. I'm through the line at 5:45am for my 7am flight (United 102). That's a long time to kill. I decide to try and find a bottle of Coke for the trip. Nobody that's open are selling soda. Just water. And it's not cold either. Water is better than nothing. Eventually, after a lot of people watching, it's time to go.
My seat is 31B. Great, a center seat... except no one takes the window! Whoo Hoo! Sweet. It's foggy outside again. Hard to see anything while taxiing. We take off from 25R and we can't see a thing. We pop out on top of the fog/clouds and I never see Los Angeles again. As we head west, the clouds dissipate. We fly right over Las Vegas and you can see and identify everything. We get served a egg-ham-cheese croissant and get The Italian Job as a film (edited, of course). I'm am so friggin' exhausted, but I can't sleep a wink. I instead listen to the movie and Air Traffic Control on Audio Channel 9. We take the Bradford 3 into Chicago and land on 22R at 12:48pm, flying right over the Allstate Arena. Carol was waiting for me in baggage claim, even though I didn't check any bags. (Hey, we needed a place to meet.) Well, I'm back home again. I am happy to be home, but happy to have made the trip. I'm happy to see old family ties and I'm happy to have been able to take a few hours for myself.
I'd do this again in a heartbeat. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 01:47 PM | Link | Travel § |
Oh, that was a short night...Ooooooh, craaaaap...
I went to bed around 1am. I just got up at 4:45am...
Well, at least the sleep was solid and deep. It's still black outside. Time to get dressed, checkout, and turn in the car at the airport...
posted at 05:04 AM | Link | Travel § |
Oh, this is a long day...I left Universal and got on the 101 West. That's when I saw the sign for Highland and decided that I needed to get off and see what Hollywood and Highland looked like.
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I get off the Hollywood Freeway and pass the Hollywood Bowl. There's a show tonight, and it looks like it getting out. A sign says James Brown and Macy Gray, but it's hard to tell by the people leaving. The area doesn't look the same as it was the last time I saw it about 16 years ago. I come up toward Hollywood Boulevard and see the entrance to the new parking garage. My family and Carol & I have stayed at the hotel here, but that was decades ago. The whole corner is just so different now. In fact, I'm lost in a maze of stores and restaurants and levels and plazas. I finally got outside and went across the street to take some pictures of the facility. The area on a Friday night is still not the greatest place to be. I was hoping that it would have gotten, um, "cleaned up" a bit. Still, the amount of people walking down Highland from the Bowl and the amount of people outside make the place hopping.
I grab my pictures and get back in the car. I zig-zag down Highland, Santa Monica and La Cienega to I-10 to get to the Airport. The clubs in West Hollywood look like they were jumpin'.
Anyway, I get to the parking garage at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza at the airport at 12:12 in the morning. The room is really quite nice and again, I'd stay here again. They have high speed internet access through an RJ-45 cable... but it's been too long of a day and I'm really exhausted.
I really pushed it today. I wish I had at least another day. But, I'm not out here for a vacation - I'm out here for my family... I just happened to have taken a few hours here and there for me. I'm finally eating my honey baked ham sandwhich. Yum. It hits the spot...
I've got to get to sleep... I'm going home in a few hours... « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 12:37 AM | Link | Travel § |
Friday, September 26, 2003
"A Foreign Affair" THEME
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I left Montclair/Chino and tried my damnedest to get to Burbank by 5:30. But that's over 25 miles away, and it's a Friday rush hour in Los Angeles. The traffic is horrendous and I decided to override "Wendy" (That's what I called my Hertz Neverlost GPS Navigation system) and found a route that had no traffic. I programmed the wrong end point, though. I'm heading to Universal Studios, but I didn't want the main gate. I needed to go in the back way, and enter at Barnham Blvd. and Lakeside Plaza Drive.
I made it at 6pm and park in a special lot after I clear the security at the gate. I have to walk through a metal detector in the middle of the parking lot. I'm at a studio again, and again I can't take any photos. I hate that. I get to stand around and wait. I don't mind. Really. It's a gorgeous evening. The sun is setting, there's a slight breeze and it feels good just to stand around. I'm still in my suit from the funeral today. I had hoped I had enough time to check into the hotel and change before I came here, but there was no way in hell that was going to work out that way. The girls in front of me in line are eating dinner from In-n-Out Burger. That's when I realize that I didn't eat my honey baked ham sandwich during the drive.
There's a bunch of yellow signs everywhere that say "Paramount" and "Enterprise". I wonder if there's something shooting here today?
Two white shuttle buses pull up that have the Paramount Pictures logos on them. We board the buses and head over to Stage 42 at Universal.
I'm here to be in the audience for NBC's new show Coupling. It's a direct rip-off of the BBC version of Coupling (that's shown here on BBC America), which is actually a rip-off of Friends.
Tonight's episode is called "A Foreign Affair" (but the BBC version was called "The Girl with Two Breasts"... I wonder if they're using the same scripts???)
Allan Murray is the warm-up, and for the first time in my life, I actually get picked on a few times, interviewed by Allan, get a t-shirt, get tickets to the Laugh Factory (where he's performing tomorrow night) and I even get some quiet kudos for doing a good job laughing and reacting. Cool.
We get to watch the pilot episode of the show, since it was just on last night and we may not have seen it (I was eating Jack in the Box watching CSI - sorry). The cast is introduced and we start shooting.
Now, this is were it starts to get difficult.
Each scene is shot. The audience is good, the actors are OK, and the script just feels like it needs work. There's a large huddle that happens in front of me after each scene is shot, where there is hardly any major changes made. The scene is then reshot. Almost every scene that we see during the course of the evening is shot three times. It's really difficult as an audience to even try to laugh naturally after seeing the same thing three times in a row. I feel bad for the cast. It almost feels like the life is being sucked-out of the show. The cast is really pretty good. The show is getting scathing reviews, but it's more about the reheated "translated" scripts that seem to almost not work on American television. The original BBC series is a scream and somehow doesn't "translate" well to American prime-time audiences.
The curtain calls come at around 10:15pm and I'm back at my car by 10:25. It's time to get some sleep. It's been a long day. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 10:25 PM | Link | Travel § |
Good Bye, Uncle Babe
I'm dressed and on the road at 7:27am, out amidst the fog again. I drive to Montclair. What a lovely little town. Clean, nice. The church, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, is this nice, small mission-style church. Children were going to school as I pulled into the parking lot.
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I quietly make my way into the church. I'm trying to be as nondescript as possible, but slowly people are starting to recognize me, even though I may not have seen them in quite a while. I meet my cousin Karen who looks exactly the same as I remember her from my childhood. She's the only person that - in my mind's eye - never changed. Weird. Then my cousin Mark the kid I traveled to California with back in the 60's. He doesn't look the same, but I see the boy in the face of the man in front of me. He finally introduces me to his sister Laurie, who I haven't seen in decades. She too doesn't look the same but I see the kid in the lady in front of me. She looks at me and has no recollection of me at all until Mark whispers a few words to her: "Beam me up". The electric smile comes to her face and she gives me a big hug. Laurie had wheeled in Aunt Mary. She's in a wheelchair now, and I can hardly recognize her.
The family slowly gathers. There's a bulletin board full of photos of Uncle Frank and Aunt Mary's life (or, as we all call them here , Babe and May). I notice a box on the table in the vestibule, next to the picture.
That's when I realize that it's Uncle Babe. In the box. The label says he was cremated on th 12th. Uncle Babe is gathered up, along with a US Flag for his military service and we go inside.
Mark has a eulogy prepared, and it's long and complete and I learn more about the uncle that I thought I knew. Then we had a full Catholic funeral mass.
After mass, we gathered all out front again. We all drove a mile or two into Chino to a Marie Callender's that opened early just for us. It was the site of their 50th anniversary not so long ago.
After lunch, we went over to Mary's brother's condo, to socialize, drink, eat, and watch old 8mm film transfered to videotape. Uncle Babe was never without his camera. Laurie had the film transfered, and it now fills two 2-hour videotapes. It was a wonderful, sweet trip down memory lane.
I didn't know there was going to be a dinner to end the day. I had made plans to be in Burbank (again) by 5:30-6:00 tonight. I had over 30 miles to get there in Friday afternoon rush hour traffic.
I didn't want to leave. I wish I didn't set this up, but my time out here is very limited. Laurie made me a sandwich to eat on the way, along with some cookies.
I slowly say my goodbyes. It's been years since I've seen some of these people, and I don't know if I will ever see any of them again. I hope that's not the case, but life takes odd twists and turns. Most of these people live out here and it's not like I visit California very often at all.
It's hard leaving family, even if it's extended family. I have done what I've been sent out here to do.
It's 4:20 and I slowly walk to my car. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 04:22 PM | Link | Family § |
Thursday, September 25, 2003
PlacentiaWell, I'm finally at my hotel in Placentia - a Holiday Inn Express. Since I'm trying to do this trip "on the cheap" for my mom, I needed a cheap place to stay. My sister Diane said she'd recommend the Holiday Inn Express and I have to concur. This is a very nice facility, complete wit a continental breakfast in the morning. It's clean and looks pretty new. If this is what the chain is like, I'd highly recommend them.
So, now I have to find some place to eat and settle down for the evening. Placentia doesn't seem to have that big of a choice for food. In fact, all I saw was a Jack In The Box, which I wouldn't mind going to so that I can get my Jack In The Box taco fix.
I'm still going to have at least a 17 mile drive in the morning to get to Montclair. I may have found something closer, but may not have been cheaper or cleaner.
I need a taco... Survivor is coming on in a little while...
posted at 06:40 PM | Link | Travel § |
Warner Brothers StudiosIt's 9:30am and I pull off of Olive into the parking structure that's also gate 3 for Warner Brothers Studios.
I'm here to do what Carol & I did the last time we were out here - take the Warner Brothers Studios VIP Tour. But, this time, instead of a tour that takes about 2-2½ hours, I'm going to do the Warner Brothers Studios Deluxe VIP Tour and take about double the time. I am soooo excited about this. My sister Diane and Melinda were just here a few weeks ago taking the regular VIP tour, and when I found out they had this Deluxe tour, I had to sign up for that.
Look,if you enjoy movies and/or television, and want to see what a real working studio is like (no trams, no fake or staged productions), you must do this tour.
There's a nice waiting area on the first floor of the parking structure. At about 10:00am, a gentlemen comes around to walk us across the street to go into the main gate - Gate 2. We had to go through a metal detector, and then get on an extended golf cart for the trip across the lot to the tour offices.
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The tour office is not anything like it was back in the 80's, when they only had two tours a day out of a dark, dingy office. Now there's a huge waiting room with costumes and props from ER, Drew Carey, West Wing, Smallville and Gilmore Girls. There's also a little store (but this being Warner Brothers, it looks like stuff that was in the old Warner Brothers Studio Stores).
At 10:30, we are called into a small theater to watch a quick video about the studios and listen to the rules and regulations about the tour. Then one of the tour guides -
Dean Ricca - calls out three names. It's me and 2 ladies from Atlanta. The three of us are going to be on the Deluxe tour! Cool! The small, intimate group should allow us to do some pretty neat things!
One of the major rules - photography is extremely restricted. Movie people are possessive about copyrighted material. Our stuff will be locked-up in our golf cart and we'll only be able to bring them out at specific places. Nuts.
All of the tour groups get into stretched gold carts. Dean has a little gift for us - our own bottle of water for the day. Our first stop is at the Warner Brothers Museum. Its a really nice small museum that has a lot of costumes and props in it. - Like an entire George Clooney area (with costumes from Ocean's Eleven like George's tuxedo, Julia Roberts' gold gown and Brad Pitt's ugly shirt and jacket, his Batman cowl, his costume from The Perfect Storm... hey, did you know they're making Ocean's Twelve?), the Time Machine from The Time Machine (apparently, the thing was pretty dangerous when it was in operation with all of the spinning panels on it. They had to make a 15 foot safety area around it and no one was allowed inside that area otherwise they could get severely injured), the laptops from You've Got Mail, costumes from The Matrix and Christopher Reeve's Superman, a fake Haley Joel Osment and a "David" box from Artificial Intelligence: AI, and the crucifix from The Exorcist (creepy).
The 2nd floor of the museum is all from Harry Potter, like Hagrid's outfit with sling for baby Harry when he delivered him to the Dursley's, boxes and boxes of wands, Dobby the house elf, the set of Harry's room under the stairs, a petrified Hermione when she was in the hospital (spooky!), and Quidditch costumes and the carrying case for the balls and snitch. They had a "working" Sorting Hat that a security guy would place on your head to sort you into the different houses.
We left the golf cart at the museum and the rest of the regular tour people and walked down a street (are these things called "streets"?) to the Eastwood Scoring Stage. This is where scoring is done for productions. (yes, it's named after that Eastwood). It's a gorgeous, wooden stage. Acoustically, it was dead in there - not a single echo or reflection from anything. They were setting up for a recording session. Dean thought it could have been for Matrix Revolutions, even though it's going to be out in just weeks. Did you know that the musicians that play on these soundtracks don't get the sheet music until they sit down to record the piece?
We walked next door to Dubbing rooms 3 & 4. Because it's a working studio, Warner Brothers rents out facilities to anyone. Today, people from Disney were in house to do sound editing on the Saturday morning cartoon The Adventures of Lilo & Stitch. Since we were such a small group, the engineers sat around and talked with us for a while. Then, one of them took us to the "back room" (since the group was small), to show us the equipment used for editing. They're finally starting to edit all digitally, using swappable hard drives. But they still have to keep old analog equipment (including old film audio equipment) because the booming international markets are having studios re-edit existing productions for dubbed versions. They also had an "ISDN Room" which, from a technology perspective isn't that impressive, but from a production value perspective sure is. In the other dubbing room, techs were editing an episode of Third Watch. The ISDN Room allows the editing to be done in Los Angeles while the cast and crew are filming in New York. They use it to view the edits as well as doing ADR work with the actors (ADR is Additional Dialog Recording, or "looping").
We walk back to our golf cart and Dean takes us around the studio property. We can see a lot of construction going on inside a few of the stages. We pass by the ER stage. It's all buttoned-up, but I see a few women walking around in scrubs outside. All of the active stages have tons of trailers outside of them for the actors. They're all from the same company: Star Waggons. Why is it spelled that way? Why, it's because the owner is Lyle Waggoner from the old Carol Burnett Show.
We pull up to Stage 17. Dean has a master key to all of the stages and we go in. It's dark and it takes time to adjust to the light. We walk up some stairs and we're sitting in an audience area for The Drew Carey Show. They're not in production today, but it gives us a chance to sit and talk about a typical weekly sitcom production. The sets are all lined up in a row in front of the audience, with (from right to left) the backyard, Drew's kitchen Drew's living room, Winfred-Louder, and The Warsaw.
We walk next door to Stage 14. Now we're in a hour drama (actually "dramedy") Gilmore Girls. This stage only has all of the new sets that for Yale. Normally, sets are made with paint that looks like wood, or paint that looks like wood flooring, linoleum, or paving. In these sets, it's all real. That's because they want to make sure the look is correct (so that Yale approves!). These are gorgeous sets - hallways, classrooms, dorm rooms, cafeteria (with real pads of butter that seem to be melting...). We get to see how "wild" walls work - the ability to fly a wall out of the way to allow cameras behind to get a different perspective of a set.
Back to the cart and we visit Stage 16 - the largest movie soundstage in the US. We're outside because the doors are open and set construction is going on inside for a new movie with Keanu Reeves called Constantine. The stage is over 75' tall and it has a 25' deep tank in the floor (The Perfect Storm was shot inside here). The stage wasn't always this high. It was a normal studio, but years ago (for reasons I cannot remember exactly) they decided to make it bigger. They had people with hand jacks at every major load-bearing point around the periphery. They had 4 drummers, one in each corner of the building. They started a slow drum beat, and on each beat each person ratcheted their hand jack. When the entire structure moved up 6 inches, they threw in a railroad tie. The kept doing this until it was over 25' off the ground. Then new load bearing walls were built underneath. There was still an inch or two difference between the new walls and the base of the old stage walls, so they brought in huge slabs of ice to put between the two and removed the jacks. As the ice melted, the stage settled on to the new walls!
Back into the cart and we ride all the way across the property. Dean is giddy as he tells us we're going to Transportation since he knows the people there. We walk into a building that is a very large garage and auto/truck repair place for the studio. We walk through a chain link gate and there in front of us is a large group of cars. Dean goes over to one and throws the cover off of it. It's the General Lee from The Dukes of Hazzard. It's an original and it's in working order. There's another one next to it, but it's being used for parts - the last one available for parts. Next to them are two limos under tarps. The taps have the Presidential Seal on them - yes, they're limos for The West Wing. There's a DC Police car and escort motorcycles as well. Then there's a vehicle under canvas that looks pretty damn big. It's a bit wider than normal but it must be close to 30 feet long. It seems to go up in the back, like wings. Dean pulls the cover off - it's the friggin' Batmobile!!!! This is the last one (from Batman & Robin). It's huge. The tires are custom - the tread is the bat logo. Unfortunately, it's not street legal.
We walk over to the prop department and look at tons of furniture in a 4 story building. Set designers were walking through looking for items and tagging them to use for their own productions. Every once in a while you pass a piece of furniture that is so unique and it seems so familiar and yet you can't figure out what it's from. There's a pair of lamps that were listed as "Tiffany-style" that were used in one of the Batman movies. After they were hung, one of the art people took a good look at them and actually find a real Tiffany mark on them, They're no longer available for rental.
It's already 1pm and it's time for lunch. We jump in the cart and ride over to the Studio Commissary. We have passes for a complimentary lunch, so we head inside. The facility has only been open for 3 weeks. It's a gorgeous facility (as commissaries go), with many "stations" inside. The most popular one is "Paquito Mas" which is a mexican food chain, which is not included in our complimentary lunch. We all go to the Pasta bar and I get some Penne with a Tomato & Garlic sauce. Damn, that was good. I'm impressed. As we're sitting at a table having lunch,
Sherry Stringfield came through the line. She looked great, and looked shorter and thinner in real life than on TV (could be the white coat she always has to wear). After lunch we saw Jon Cryer walking into the Commissary.
Dean has been working the radio. He's trying to get permission from a production company to gain access to a set. We start driving around the lot when the radio crackles to life. We are given clearance. We head across the lot to Stage 23. It looks like just another soundstage... until we turn the corner on the back side. The exterior of the stage is... the side portico to the White House. We're going to see the set for THE WEST WING! Outside are the Star Waggons for the stars. There are 2 Jamaican flags flying over Dulé Hill's trailer, and a flamingo wind whirligig thing over Allison Janney's trailer (remember - her character's Secret Service code name is "Flamingo"). There's also a basketball hoop and a huge deck with chairs and tables for R&R time.
We walk into the "White House". The set is dark. The cast and crew are at another facility shooting scenes inside the Air Force One set. This side entrance is alongside C.J. Cregg's office.. We step into CJ's office. There's no goldfish on the desk, but everything else is there, including briefing notes on the desk as well as "while you were out" phone messages from Josh. Dean points out something we saw at the Gilmore Girls set. All of the windows on the set can pivot. This allows the crew to tilt the windows ever so slightly to make sure the reflections doesn't show a crew or anything off-set. Take a look next time you watch the show - you'll see windows just slightly out of "flush".
We walk into Josh's office. Dean tells us a story of a congressman who visited the set and actually saw his name on the blackboard in Josh's office as voting "Nay" against some bill going through the house. In a twisted piece of reality, the congressman actually erased his name and put it on the "Yea" side, Then he proceeded to write a message on a yellow legal pad to the character Josh telling him why he changed his vote.
We walk through the bullpen, past Donna's office. The entire set all fits together so that you can have those long "pedaconferences" done in all one shot. Wow. We go into the Roosevelt Room. Apparently the real Roosevelt Room doesn't have all these french-style door in it. When real White House staff people visit, they always ask why there's all those people walking around outside the doors. I guess either they never see them or they just don't have the people walking around in the real place. The Mural Room is across the hall. This room doesn't exist in the real White House, but was built for The American President. (Did you know that these are the same sets?) We see how the sets are lit using what look like spheres like paper lanterns. It diffuses the light for effect. Also, the set tops actually have a ceiling of muslin or canvas on top of them - something we haven't seen on any other set.
We go through another entrance and there is Charlie's and Deborah Fiderer's desks. There's a painting on the wall of an American flag done in kids hand prints. Apparently there have been a lot of letters asking where someone could get a copy of it. Turns out it's just something that one of the art people put together with their kids.
So, if we're here, that must mean that if we walk through this door we're in... The Oval Office. Oh, this is friggin' cool. Then the three of us just had to do it.
We each took turns sitting in President Josiah 'Jed' Bartlet's chair. Sitting on the desk in front of the chair was that small book of the US Constitution. Not a great chair but what an interesting view!
We briefly walk through the door "outside" which is where that long outside corridor outside the White House is, usually where President Bartlet goes outside for a cigarette. The backdrop is actually a photo of the exact views from the same places in the White House. The Clinton administration allowed the crew to come and photograph it. In fact, underneath one of the bushes on the backdrop, you can see Socks the cat!
A guard comes over, saying he has to lock up the set. We quickly walk through the rest of the set. We brush by Leo's office door and we look in toward Toby and Will's office but it's pitch dark - it's the only set with a real acoustical tile ceiling. If you look, you always see the ceiling in the shots around those offices. We pass by that "Visitor's Entrance" lobby, with its marble floors (actually paint) and columns (which are movable) nd the Presidential seal in the floor.
Then, it's back out the portico entrance and we leave the set.
Wow.
We drive off to "The Mill" Here's is were, under one roof, everything is built. Lumber shops, metal shops, plaster molding. It's all here in huge shops. Unfortunately, it's getting later in the day and the shops are pretty empty. The Scenic Art department is here, painting backdrops. It's a huge room that has a 35' drop on either side of the room. This allows the backdrops to be raised or lowered to paint - the painters never have to work on a ladder. We go into the basement to the Large Format Digital Printing shop. Here' instead of painting backdrops, here a large format digital printer prints backdrops and signage. this allows the use of digital images such as accurate photographs to be used. The printer looks like it's at least 10'-12' wide. When the piece is larger than that, a special microwave seamer is used to put multiple pieces together. Today, the printer is spitting out large advertising posters for Elf.
Our next stop is actually an appointment. Somebody wanted to meet us. We go to Costuming and meet Costuming Manager Elaine Maser. She's been doing costuming on productions for quite a while. We go into one of the large "Star" fitting rooms. We sit down and talk for at least 30-45 minutes about costuming and color palettes of productions. She even brought some wacky costumes for us to try on and "play dress-up with". I wound up getting into some Camelot thing (that looked more Moroccan than Camelot). Talk about feeling special, this was it. the head of costuming for Warner Brothers wanted to talk to us. This was so special, two other tour guides joined us so they could get the info as well. Wow.
We went downstairs. Here was the costuming "lockers" for all of the shows in production. We peeked into a few of them. They're about the size of a semi trailer, full of costumes, each group clearly listed for each actor. West Wing has three lockers, one of which is just uniforms. I looked into another locker and saw Mathew Perry's wardrobe - could he be coming back to the West Wing? There's laundry areas down her, too.
We then went into the costume rental area. Each aisle is the length of a football field, 3 racks high with ladders. Everything is sorted into categories. If you need ball gowns, suits, maternity wear, men's fedoras - they're all here, all cataloged and inventoried. Rentals are either single week (this allows music video shoots just to rent for about a week of production) or 12-weeks. (They don't rent to employees for Halloween - Dean asked - though that would be wickedly cool). The end wall that we were standing in front of was all womens shoes, sorted by color, then size. The whole wall. This was a really cool stop. I didn't think I'd enjoy it but I really did. Elaine made us feel "special"
It's off to the back lot now. We have our cameras and everything looks like we can shoot what we want. The main town square area is all dressed-up for what looks like a Fall Festival of some sort for the Gilmore Girls. I think the place is called Stars Hallow (sorry, I don't watch the show). I remember the town square from O Brother, Where Art Thou?. Dean knows I'm from chicago, so he's excited as we go to the next exterior set - it's the exterior of County General Hospital for ER. Specifically, the ambulance bay. But we can't get into the actual ambulance bay area - there is a crew in there working on pyrotechnics for a hoot (hmmm... another explosion in the ER?) Good old Doc Magoo's is gone (it burned down last season), replaced by a convenience store. We go around the back side to a street area that is being set for an episode of The Practice (no pictures here). Next to the street exterior is a studio parking lot. If you look closely, there is a box painted across quite a few parking spaces. Looking at the backside of the sets, It turns out that this parking lot gets re-dressed and it's the helipad on top of County General. (Yes, this is where Romano lost his arm.)
It's time to go back to the tour office. Time? 4:45! It's the longest Deluxe tour they've ever run at 6 hours and 15 minutes. We say our goodbye's to Dean and catch another golf cart back to Gate 2.
OK people, listen up. If you are in the Los Angeles area and can carve out about 5 hours of time and can spend about $95, DO THIS TOUR. You will not be sorry.
Now I'm off to my hotel. I've got at least a 30 mile ride ahead of me... « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 04:46 PM | Link | Travel § |
LA Rush Hour
My flight gets in a little early. I find the men's room for a pit stop and then look for a gift shop to grab something to eat. A large 3 Musketeers bar is exactly what I needed. It's been at least 16 years since I've been here. I'm in Terminal 6 and it looks really run down compared to it's hay day. It's off to Hertz to get a car - I need to get to Burbank.
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I can't tell you how much of a pleasure it is to have Hertz Number One Gold service, to just jump on a shuttle bus and have a car waiting for you. I love that. I always get a car with the Hertz NeverLost GPS Navigation system (by Magellan). The last trip, we decided to call it "Wendy" (As in NeverLand... gotta be close to NeverLost, right?) Anyway, I always listen to Wendy as she tells me where to go.
I jump on the 405 North at 8:40. It's 22 miles to my destination in Burbank and I am not moving. At all. I'm starting to believe that 22 miles in under 2 hours could be a problem in morning rush hour in LA. As I'm sitting in traffic, I witness a California law that scares the hell out of me. In Illinois, a motorcycle must stay within the lane markers, taking up a space. Out here, motorcycles ride the lane markers in between the lanes. Scared the hell out of me when tow of them passed me when I was standing still.
After a few miles of crawl, I see that there's a car broken down in the left lane of this 5-lane freeway. As soon as I pass, I'm doing over 70mph. Burbank isn't all that far.
I decided to get a 6am flight and get out here just after 8am so that I could have a day to myself. I have an appointment that should take up most of the day and I can't wait to get there. Carol & I were there 16 years ago and I can't wait to see it again. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:46 AM | Link | Travel § |
Uncle Frank
Well, here I am. I've been up for more than 3 hours now. I am sitting in seat 21F on an Airbus A320 which is United Flight 101 from Chicago to Los Angeles, a 4 hour and 14 minute flight for 1,750 miles. I've got to tell you, I never thought I'd be doing this, but I'm feeling good about this. Why am I here? It's because of my Uncle Frank.
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He died over a week ago. He and his wife Mary moved away from Chicago years ago, first to Brownsville, Texas and then out to California to be near my aunt's family.He's the last of my mom's sibling's to go. My mom has been a bit down about this, as she is now "all alone". I'm not doing anything lately (being unemployed) and my mom - who didn't feel like flying - asked if I would "represent us" at the memorial service. I love traveling, I love flying. So, mom's paying for the trip and here I am somewhere over the midwest eating a Michael Angelo's Egg, Ham & Cheese Panini and watching Bruce Almighty.
Uncle Frank and Aunt Mary (or Babe and May as others call them) hold an unusual spot in my heart. Back in 1967, Aunt Mary took me and her nephew Mark to Los Angeles on a train trip. What a great thing to do, showing a kid America from a Santa Fe El Capitan train. I don't remember why Uncle Frank wasn't with us, but he was with us when we flew to LA in 1969. I only have one picture of him in my old photos - it's him on the pier in Santa Monica.
He was a great guy with kids. A tall man with a deep, booming voice that always drank Pepsi out of a bottle. And here, years later, I find a few more odd parallels with my life - he and Mary never had kids, like Carol & I. He proposed to Mary the first week he met her. So did I with Carol.
You see, I had to go to Los Angeles. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 06:46 AM | Link | Family § |
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
It's official. Summer is over.Well, it's Fall. Officially. The weather in Chicago had turned cooler a few days ago. Though it's sunny, the high's have only been near 70. Thursday, the high is supposed to be 59 degrees (though I won't care, since I won't be around! I'll tell you where I am some other time).
So, now I'm expecting to see the leaves start to turn... damn, it's over...
posted at 05:47 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, September 20, 2003
$34.27It's a really crappy feeling when you're unemployed and you see $34.27 is all that's left in your checking account.
posted at 09:41 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, September 17, 2003
Dog medical transport
Diane's dog Chelsea has been a major pert of our extended family for years. Chelsea had a pretty fast-growing tumor pop up on her chest over the past few weeks and it was time to get it surgically removed. The biopsies (yes, plural) were inconclusive so it was time to go in surgically and remove it. This required Chelsea to be taken to an animal surgical center (no quick trip to the vet).
Chelsea's surgery went well, with the doctor saying he was able to get a "good margin" around the tumor. We're all hoping for the best - pathology results won't be back until next week.
It was time to bring Chelsea home and Diane (correctly) thought she probably shouldn't do this alone, so she asked me to help her. How could I turn down Chelsea??? (oops... I mean... "How could I turn down my darling sister?" Yeah that's it...)
So, I drove into the city so we could drive together to the doctor in the northern suburbs.
I am SOOOOOOO glad there was two of us.
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When Chelsea came out from "the back" at the surgical place, she was fine, but I don't think we were ready for the shock of seeing her. The big black sutures against her shaved pink skin were shocking. The incision was in the shape of a "Y", extending from "shoulder to shoulder" and down her chest. We knew that the incision would be large, but this was way beyond our expectations. The real sutures versus the disolvable sutures probably made it look much worse.
She has a shaved patch on the right side of her torso so that has a morphine patch stuck to it. Oh, man... I haven't seen the use of pain patches on a dog before... she must really be in pain...
And sure enough, as Chelsea came out she was quiet. As soon as she saw us, each breath she took had a "squeak" in her voice. She's not comfortable at all. Diane got the instructions on how to treat Chelsea over the next couple of days (no stairs, no playing, warm compresses on the incision, no change in diet, back in 10-14 days to get the sutures out).
We went outside. Diane put Chelsea on the ground so she could have a, um, walk. She walked and peed just fine, but she just looks a little out of it. She's still squeaking. We get back to Diane's SUV. Diane picks-up Chelsea and puts her in the back seat and climbs in. I take the front to drive them home.
Now, dogs - compared to humans - breathe rapidly. She still squeaked with every breath.
For the entire 45 minute trip home.
She really squeaked once when she tried moving around. She also let out the most terrible, sorrowful moan I'd ever heard coming from a dog.
It was a hard drive home.
But, she did make it home. She laid in her bed the entire them I was there. (Diane was kind enough to grill up a burger for each of us and we kicked back and watched some TiVo for a while.) She tried to sleep, but she never fidgeted. She just seemed exhausted. But at least she was quiet. She's probably more comfortable being home.
Hopefully, she'll be just fine. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 01:47 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, September 16, 2003
Now we're in big troubleSo, the answer to the question is no.
I don't know what to do.
posted at 11:35 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Monday, September 15, 2003
Drunky dinner
Carol and I had our anniversary dinner tonight at Wildfire in Schaumburg. It's our first time there (we've been to the one downtown a few times and love the place). Well, we found something that looked great and was. The problem was that we both ordered it and we were looped before the appetizers arrived. We each had a Flight of Martinis - a wonderful way to taste their signature drinks. There was a Cosmopolitan (Absolut Citron, Cointreau, cranberry, lime), Green Apple Martini (Vox Vodka, De Kuyper Sour Apple Pucker, Lemonade, Sprite), Wild Raspberry Cosmopolitan (Stoli Raspberry, Triple Sec, cranberry, raspberry syrup), and Lemon Drop (Ketle One Citroen, sour mix, Sprite, sugared rim). Wonderful. Got through appetizers, salad, and barely got through the entrée and had to stop and skip dessert. Too full and too, um, mellow. Great night.
posted at 08:14 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, September 13, 2003
Will work for no closing costsWould a financial institution let a guy who is currently unemployed refinance his mortgage to get his payments substantially lower?
I guess it's time to find out...
posted at 06:02 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, September 10, 2003
Shine On, Shine On Harvest MoonTonight is a Full Moon, which, since it's the fool moon closest to the start of Fall, make it the Harvest Moon.
posted at 11:45 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, September 08, 2003
Where'd it go????I'm tired. Drained. Don't know why. I'd sit down for 20 minutes and an hour and a half passes. Hours are minutes, minutes are seconds... I can't seem to focus. The brain just seems... fuzzy. You know, lint-filled-like. Like it's been hanging around underneath the bed or something. I know I'm watching TV, but nothing registers - like a microcassette recorder you bring to a meeting to record the procedings so that you don't miss anything, only to find out that it's been sitting there playing because you never held down the record button...
posted at 04:34 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, September 05, 2003
Noisy quiet neighborhood
The neighborhood has been pretty quiet that last few days. there's hardly any traffic flying through the neighborhood because a street is closed at Golf Road. They are finally starting to lay concrete for the eastbound lanes by my house, so nobody can get onto Golf from this side street in the neighborhood. No more late night cruising with the friggin' radio booming or squealing tires as they take the turns too quickly. Of course, every once in a while there's construction noises from Golf Road. It was pretty noisy when they were breaking up the old concrete but it's pretty quiet now. It's actually quite nice. A quiet, suburban neighborhood.
posted at 10:42 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, September 04, 2003
Lunching by the pool in West HollywoodJust got off the phone with my sister who is lunching by the pool at Asia de Cuba at the Mondrian Hotel on Sunset in West Hollywood. Sounds like she's having a great time. I miss California. I haven't been there in almost 20 years.
posted at 04:28 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunning Bunny
I couldn't find Indy again this afternoon. I found her upstairs in the bedroom again. This time she was laying all stretched out in the sun with her nose in the air sniffing the breeze coming in the open window. It was pretty cute and something she's never done. But then again, she's been doing some really odd things lately.
posted at 03:11 PM | Link | Bunnies § |
BirthdaysHappy Birtday wishes go out to my buddy Barry (who took the day off work to do something he loves) and to my sister, who is out in California, driving Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to L.A. doing a ton of sightseeing along the way. She's always going somewhere on her birthday (which is great for her but weird for family and friends who would like to celebrate with her). Anyway, hope you guys have a good day!
posted at 10:32 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, September 03, 2003
Stealth Bunny
You can hear a dog walking around a house.
You may not hear a cat walking around the house unless they meow or purr loudly.
You just can't hear a rabbit roaming around a house.
Indy was just upstairs with me, checking out if I was still here and if there was anything new in the bedroom. There wasn't, but the window was open so there was a nice breeze so she had to stop and stand in the sun, smelling the outside air.
I can't tell you how special a house rabbit is. Let's face it - they're not as smart as dogs or cats. They rarely listen to their humans, and if they don't know you, they may not interact much. But they're sweet and loving and Carol and I have loved our bunnies. Indy is great to have around.
I don't have anything to really say here. It's just that she came upstairs for a visit and she looked too damn cute, so I had to write about it.
posted at 04:25 PM | Link | Bunnies § |
MIKAEL, ÖRTAGÅRD, MÖRKEDAL, FLÄRKE, KRISTER, SIGNUMYou know, I've been wondering for a long time: are all those product names at IKEA real? I mean, to me, they just seem fake. Well, I'm wrong. It turns out that there's actually a scheme to the names! I think I feel a little bit better!
posted at 04:24 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, September 02, 2003
Birds at the Doctor's
I was back in the city today to take my mom to the doctor. Not a big deal I guess, except you see - mom hasn't had a doctor for at least a decade or so. Today was her first visit with what we are hoping to be her new physician. The office was... a little odd. Lots of clown paintings, even clowns as doctors... clown stained glass... a big aquarium (yes, it had a clown fish and a puffer fish...). There was a really cool aviary with a bunch of finches, diamond doves, and a canary. It wasn't a cage - it was more like an aviary. Very cool to watch. Oh, mom's fine. A little high blood pressure and high cholesterol, but she's fine.
posted at 03:47 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, August 31, 2003
Day offNothing to say today. It's a "holiday" weekend. I'm laying low, staying quiet. Maybe another day.
posted at 08:53 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, August 30, 2003
3-Day weekend?When you're unemployed, weekends aren't as special as they used to be. When you work, you almost live for the weekend. When you're not working, it's close to being like any other day. The fact that it's a 3-day weekend doesn't necessarily change it. It's special for Carol - she's looking forward to relaxing without having to go to a baseball game. Normally, we'd relax at my sister's house in Michigan, but she has a little thing that she's ben doing the last couple of years. She takes a trip for her birthday. I'm not sure why she always does that, but she does. Last year was a driving trip out west. This year, it's fly to San Francisco and do Pacific Coast Highway to L.A.
The problem with it this year is the dogs (Chelsea & Gracie) are at our Mom's. We could go to house anyway, but then it would be the three of us and the 2 dogs in the car for the drive, and it's not something that I think I could tolerate if there's heavy traffic. So, nothing special planned for the weekend.
There's the emotional side of the weekend, though. Labor Day weekend signals the "end of Summer", and that's pretty hard to handle. Where did the year gop? What do you mean summer is over - I didn't do anything! Crap.
posted at 10:43 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, August 26, 2003
Soaked up the sun?I sort of don't get this...
I've been outside when I go to the White Sox games. I've been to Florida for a week, walking around Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.
I haven't put on any sunscreen during this time and I'm not getting sunburned. I'm not even getting red. I'm barely turning a darker shade of my normal skin color. I wonder what happened to my body chemistry that made this happen?
posted at 09:22 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, August 16, 2003
Ribs & Sausage
Drove into the city to hang out with Barry & Buffy tonight, as well as Debbie who stopped by. We don't see each other as often as we would like. In fact, we haven't been together since Orlando in mid-June. On the way in on the Kennedy as well as Addison we could see the Thunderbirds performing over the lake for the Chicago Air & Water show. I love the military jet teams. It's just hard to watch them and drive on an expressway or on city streets at the same time. We love B&B (well, and Deb, too. A "good egg" as some would say). But B&B always goes out and "entertains" us with food when we're over. Lots of snacks, drinks (fresh mojitos (YUM!)) and then Barry grilled-up some ribs and some italian sausages for dinner, along with some corn on the cob and salad and a fruit torte for dessert. Love the food. Love them. Neither B nor B are Reality TV fans, but I think we got them hooked on "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy". Bravo ran a bunch of them back to back tonight, so we were able to get them to sit down and watch the episode with Andrew, a cameraman for the show. After that, we watched "Sweet Home Alabama" on Starz and then it was time to venture home.
I miss the three of them.
posted at 10:38 PM | Link | Friends | 1 comment § |
Wednesday, August 13, 2003
*bang* *bang* *bang* *bang
7am and I'm awake from trying to catchup on my sleep. 7am. I'm hearing something that sounds like pounding. It's coming from the house behind us. They're having their roof replaced.
At 7am in the morning.
Crap.
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This is happening all over the neighborhood. A siding/roofing company came through a month or so ago to do "free inspections" on everyone's roof and siding to check for hail damage from one of the storms that came through about 2 months ago. The came and inspected our stuff, said there was damage, and had us call our insurance company to have a claim inspector come out and confirm the damage so this company could do the repairs. Guess what? Our insurance company told us that our roof is in exceptionally good shape and didn't need any work (of course pissing off the roofing company). It's obvious that this roofing company was able to get a lot of business from this cold calling judging by the amount of new roofs and new siding I'm seeing in the neighborhood. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 07:53 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, August 12, 2003
To sleep, perchance to dream- ay, there's the rub.That's it. It started. The sleeplessness. I've only been unemployed a few weeks and it just started to kick-in. I sprang awake at 4 this morning. Went downstairs and watched TV until Carol got up to take her morning walk. Went back to bed and was awakened at 8 by the thumping of a bass line coming from the TV downstairs that Carol had left on with the volume up a bit too high. My mind is starting to get to me. The stress is starting to get to me. The fear is starting to get to me.
It's going to be a fun ride...
posted at 08:36 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, August 11, 2003
To do my duty, to God and my country...I drove into the city tonight to pickup my Mom. We went to a wake tonight, a wake that I felt I needed to go to.
My scoutmaster had died. His wife was my Den Mother in Cub Scouts. He was the scoutmaster of my Troop. Scouting was a big thing for me growing up. It carried into my teens and later. His family has been deeply involved in scouting ever since. I just needed to go - both the support my mom who is friends with the wife, but for me as well.
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Two vignettes during the evening stand out.
The first was meeting some of my scout mates. These are people I haven't seen for 25-30 years. It was the first time in my life where I am standing in front of a man and I can barely see the boy I knew and camped with 30 years ago. The years reel and you try to figure out how a pudgy kid you once knew is now a successful, thin, dentist.
The second was meeting the parents of a guy that I played with for years when I was in grade school. I played every day. During the summer, it was baseball, baseball, baseball. We played everything - full fledged games over at Steinmetz, maybe a game of fast pitch in front of our houses, maybe running bases in the alley.
I haven't seen these people in 30 years. Yet, the experience was almost as if I was back 30 years ago. It's one thing to see a kid all grown-up. It's another to see the parents of the kid. The parents, to you back then, were older and didn't change. And here they are in front of you. Sure they're both a bit grayer, and may not move as fast, but it's the same faces, the same voices, the same smiles, the same glint in their eyes.
And that one meeting tonight is what I bring home with me. That quick connection to the past. The realization that the parents were pretty damn cool then and they're cool now. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 11:14 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, August 09, 2003
Phone callsYesterday the house was exceptionally quiet. How quiet? For the first time since I can remember, from Thursday night at 07:13pm until this morning at 08:26am, the phone never rang. No damn telemarketers for a day. (OK, I have Caller ID software on one of my machines at the house so I know exactly when the phone rang.)
Now, the phone call this morning wasn't a telemarketer - it was my Mom, who woke me up from my sleep. She wasn't feeling well and wanted to go see a doctor. Since my sister who's normally closer, wasn't (she was at her house in Michigan), I got the call. I got dressed, drove into the city, and to her to an immediate care center since she doesn't have her own physician (which, of course, is another story).
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Since my sister lives closer to her wasn't available (she was at her house in Michigan), I got the call. I got dressed, drove into the city, and to her to an immediate care center since she doesn't have her own physician (which, of course, is another story). The doctor was nice and after a very thorough checkup, can't find anything wrong. Her BP is high (170/86!). Oh, and she has a little bit of hearing loss (HA! If you only knew! Diane and I knew that for a while now!). But he can't figure out what is going on. So, after a a quick blood draw and then a quick trip to the Jewel, I brought home. She'll be OK. She feels better knowing it's not something significant. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 01:06 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, August 06, 2003
This has to end sometime, right?
I'm watching the White Sox game (they have a day game here in town) and it's looks like a great day to be at the park. The place is full, it's warm, and the sun is out. In the meantime, all of a sudden there's thunder outside. Then high winds. Sure enough, here comes the rain again. We had two great dry days and here we go again. This time, the wind is really whipping the rain against the house. No hail this time, though. Does that make it any better? Trees are bending from the winds. This is going to end sometime, right???
posted at 03:26 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Targeted?
Does it make you wonder when you find a spent bottle rocket on your lawn if your property was targeted? Or is it the constant news stories on possible terrorism targets that seems to bring it up in your mind?
posted at 12:20 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, August 05, 2003
Recycling under cover of darkness
I keep missing the recycling truck every Wednesday morning for the last couple of weeks. It just seems to show up before I get out of bed. I guess the object is to do it the night before. Anyway, what a gorgeous night outside! It's been great since we shook all of that damn rain. Now, there's just a very slight breeze out there. The neighborhood is quiet. It just made me want to go take a walk.
Update: Crap... Wednesday morning the garbage truck came first instead of the recycling truck and I missed taking out the garbage!!!
posted at 09:03 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Another part of my childhood gone
I'm all for new technologies being used in day-to-day things, but this is just upsetting. Carol bought some Hershey bars. I went into the fridge to grab one (yes, I keep them refrigerated - they don't melt and have a nice "snap" to them when you crack them along the correct lines), when I noticed they changed the packaging. They messed with a classic. Gone are the paper sleeve over the foil/paper wrap. It's been replaced with that vacuum mylar crap. I feel it's just another part of my childhood ripped away.
posted at 06:53 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, August 04, 2003
Bald Hawk
White Sox TV broadcaster Ken "Hawk" Harrelson made a bet - if the Sox won 10 straight, he's shave his head. The Sox never made it. Then he made another bet - if the Sox swept Kansas City, he'd shave his head. Well, that one he won. The Sox swept Kansas City and for one brief day last week, we were tied for first - the first time since last year. Pitcher Mark Buehrle shaved Hawk's head. Now, Hawk has been hiding the head... until the 7th inning stretch in tonight's game.
Oh, Sox 9 KC 13 tonight, and are now 3 games behind KC.
posted at 09:50 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Dangerous Intersections
Every town has at least one of these - a dangerous intersection that has had an awful lot of accidents, some of which you may have been a part of, or, if you're lucky, you were almost a part of.
There's a Walgreen's less than a mile west of us on Golf Road. Though I didn't see it, as I was leaving Dominick's this afternoon I noticed another bad accident right at the light. There' something weird about that particular intersection, where people - for some reason - don't see the traffic light. Today's accident was between a car and one of those mini shuttle busses from a retirement home. They were pulling people out of the bus and car and putting them in ambulances.
I always wonder when the municipalities will do something about these kind of problems, especially since it's just not a one-time event.
posted at 04:11 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Unclean
OK, I have to come clean on something... I've had a problem for almost two weeks now. It's embarrassing. It's gross looking.
I have to hide my hands. Why? Because the skin on my fingers is pealing. All 8 fingers and 2 thumbs. It started at the tip of each finger, and now it's just spreading. The skin is drying-out, getting hard, and just sloughing off. Like I'm shedding my skin in some terrible B-Movie. This happens every once in a while, maybe about once a year. I don't know if I touched something and it did this, or it's an allergic reaction, or God knows what. It's gross.
posted at 10:42 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, August 03, 2003
Ark Building for Dummiesposted at 02:33 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, August 02, 2003
Nothing
Nothing much to say about today. We did nothing today. Didn't go anywhere, didn't do anything around the house. Nothing. No sports events, no movies. Nothing. Tonight, weather was moving through again, mostly north of us. It's just really cool when weather moves through right at sunset. The setting sun illuminates the clouds from below and you get some really great colors. Fortunately, the rain lasted just a few minutes and everything was back to normal again. A whole lot of nothing...
posted at 08:07 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, August 01, 2003
Really wet...
These weird, intense thunderstorms have been rolling through all day. You go from sun, to darkness, to downpour, then add wind & hail, only to stop again and the cycle repeats. Some areas have gotten over 4 inches of rain so far. There was one thunderclap this afternoon that scared the hell out of me. There was no lightning, no rain, just this huge thunderous explosion - I though a plane had crashed nearby or that Woodfield Mall exploded or something. Eventually more thunder and lightning came through and then I realized that there wasn't a major catastrophe in the suburbs.
posted at 03:15 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, July 31, 2003
He was in my dreamI had one of those weird dreams last night. I lost my dad back in December, but he popped-up in a dream lst night and, somehow, it bothered me.
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I'm not sure where I was, but it was after work. I don't have a clue where I was working. I was going through some paperwork and it had post-it notes on it, all of the notes where error messages on different system crashes. Some of them weren't Windows based, but were MVS error messages (don't know why, but one of them was an IEA034I message and I have no recollection on what the hell that message means, since I haven't been an MVS System Programmer in about 15-20 years). My dad came over, sat down at the table, and wanted to learn about the errors. In detail. He talked to me and really wanted to know (He hadn't spoke in well over a year, due to the laryngectomy... the last time I saw him). I was frustrated. I mean, this man never touched a computer in his life and he wanted details on why the crashes happened. I couldn't do it, and flat out turned him down. He was mad. He was yelling and swearing and walked off.
I turned down time to spend time with my dad... in my dream. I don't know what it means, but it bothered the hell out of me... « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:29 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, July 30, 2003
*snork*My eyes, when they're open, are itchy. The whole right side of my face is puffy. I can't breathe. Did my allergies finally kick-in? Maybe that's why I just want to sleep.
posted at 09:35 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Monday, July 21, 2003
Ah... alone and quiet...My first weekday home. Alone.
Not much to say, except it was a great day. I know I've spent a lot of time here during my past unemployment periods, but it's still foreign to me. I still find myself thinking about things at work, but I have to keep telling myself to forget about it and them.
I don't want to feel too comfortable at home. I want to get back out there... after a short break. The White Sox have an afternoon game tomorrow... I feel the need to go to a day game...
posted at 04:42 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, July 16, 2003
Wow... I'm tired...Holy crap, I'm tired... between work and excessive baseball, it's been a grind these last few days... a grind that I don't think I would have traded for anything!!!
Yes, I feel like hell. I know the brain is not firing on all cylinders right now. Problem determination skills are low.
Blogging? What's that? Oh... As an aside, I tried Audio Blogging from "The Cell" (aka "The Joan" aka TPFKAC) during the festivities, but was never able to get a signal that would stay up long enough. Would have been cool.
posted at 08:26 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, July 09, 2003
Shocking and sadCarol has a friend that's been a coworker of her's ever since she started at her company. They sit across from each other. They go to WeightWatchers together.
For a while now, the coworker has been having some very odd neurological problems. Her doctors recognize that there is something wrong, but were stumped about what it could be.
Her problems have gotten increasingly severe.
Finally, one night, her husband rushes her to a hospital - they can't stand it any longer. They happen to hit the ER during a time when a neurologist is there on rotation. He was concerned and brought in a number of other neuro-specialists and they convinced her that they will work with her until they could identify what was going on.
The coworker had been doing her own research and she was worried that it could be MS - Multiple Sclerosis, though she didn't have some of the symptoms.
The doctors ruled it out. But they did finally come up with the diagnosis:ALS, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (often called Lou Gehrig's disease).
She's married and in her 30's. And now she has ALS.
Let's just say it was not a good day in the office when the staff found out.
What do you say? What do you do? What can you do?
posted at 01:21 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Everyone's backIt was soooooo nice to see everyone back on the road from their 4th of July vacations. (Of course, I'm being facetious). Monday was fine, yesterday wasn't bad, today we have a nice sunny morning (for a change) and everyone is out and moving slow. Great.
posted at 08:04 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Tuesday, July 08, 2003
Bloody ouch!
Ok, short story - I was moving a computer from one cube to a common area. It was being placed underneath a folding table. I was working at plugging-in some of the equipment when I leaned in and... OUCH!!! CRAP!!!! I hit one of the cross-supports with the top of my head. And I start bleeding. Great. It doesn't stop and it hurts.
So, for the first Workman's Comp case of my career, I get driven to a local clinic to make sure it was OK. I couldn't view the wound directly, but I could tell I know had a flap of skin.
So, after getting the wound cleaned and some steri-strips applied to close the wound (a typical flap scalp lac) and getting a tetanus shot, I was back at the office with a huge friggin' bandage on my head.
posted at 02:37 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Sunday, July 06, 2003
Getting homeThis turned out to be a long day for no good reason.
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The day started with breakfast at the Blue Plate Cafe. Very uneven and actually a bit disappointing. Service was fair to poor and the food was... OK.
We spent the day back at the house resting or bobbing in the pool. I actually, for the first time in my life, sat down with a game console all by myself. I played harry Potter on Diane's PlayStation 2. It was my first experience just playing a game for that platform. It was interesting and kept me entertained for hours. Diane and Melinda whipped up a lunch for us as well - mostly Sloppy Joe's that my mom made and they reheated, as well as leftovers from yesterday.
We decided to leave about 4 o'clock to try and beat some of the traffic back into the city. The radio kept telling us about the severe weather in the Chicago area and you can hear the crackle of lightning over the AM reception. The traffic on 94 started getting bad. Then it started to crawl. We stopped in Portage Indiana to get gas and pick up Powerball tickets ($240 million!!!). It was still crawling and actually getting worse on I-94. I decided to take US 12 into the city. I just couldn't take the "not moving" part of this and at this rate, it felt like it would be hours before we got home.
US 12 took us through, um, "interesting" areas of Gary, Whiting, and Hammond. When driving to Diane's on Friday, I had noticed that the Skyway had two lanes open going eastbound but only one lane open going westbound. I really wanted to avoid that at all costs. We did, however, get up to a Skyway entrance ramp and saw that the traffic was actually moving pretty well. I decide to get on - and found out that instead of a single lane, they had flipped the configuration over the weekend and we had 2 lanes going westbound. The weather started moving-in as soon as we got to that stupid $2 Toll Plaza. It started to rain. Hard. Winds shook the car. Traffic was crawling again, but we were closer to town now. Once we got to the Dan Ryan, things started to clear-up - both in traffic and weather, though the standing water was pretty bad in many places.
We got to my mom's house after 7pm. I just happen to go inside to, um, "use the facilities" when I noticed that the power was out. Sort of. Most of the circuits were out, but the air conditioning was on, the refrigerator was on, and a few lights worked. The rest of the house was dark. One of the neighbors came over to try to help us figure out what was going on.
That's when we found out the scary part. We found out from a next door neighbor that there were "flames" coming from where the electrical wire entered the house! Thank God it's a brick house! Sure enough, you can see where the insulation was gone on the wires going into the pipe that goes to the electric meter which feeds the house. Calling Commonwealth Edison was a trip - because of the tens of thousands of people without power due to all the storms over the past days, the automated attendant now just tells you to call again later and hangs up! We got mom settled and she felt OK about staying there overnight.
We finally got home after 9pm. We're exhausted. Indy is pissed (she didn't like being left alone for all that time).
Not a great finish to the 4th of July weekend, but we had some good times. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 09:21 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, July 05, 2003
Milly's (mostly music) Hootenanny IIIt was a late start this morning... everyone is taking time waking up and getting ready for the day.
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Diane & Melinda whipped up a breakfast of pancakes and bacon. Mom swept the deck to try to get the rain and debris off of it. I skimmed the pool, which was a mess due to all of the huge trees surrounding their back yard.
We're starting to find out about the sirens yesterday - 7 people drowned in Lake Michigan (one at the beach at the end of the road). Apparently the storms were really bad and caused huge waves with a hellacious undertow. They haven't found all of the bodies...
Carol & I stayed "home" while the rest of the crew went to Michigan City to the Lighthouse Outlet Mall. Around 2pm, we all met at Redamak's for a lunch of greasy burgers with fries and onion rings. Then it was back to the house to get ready for our full evening of events.
We're off to Dewey Cannon Park in Three Oaks, not too far from the house. Tonight is "Milly's (mostly music) Hootenanny II". Milly is Milly May Smithy, the alter-ego of Chicago-based performance artist (and also former alto saxophonist of Poi Dog Pondering) Brigid Murphy. She's been putting on these revues since 1987 with "Milly's Orchid Show", comprising mostly of friends that's she's met along her way (tonight it's Robbie & Donna Fulks, Anna Fermin's Trigger Gospel, The Rip Tones, Jane's Kountry Kin and The Village Square Dancers, for starter).
What really got me tonight, other than Milly's entrance on the back of a huge chicken in the back of a pickup, was the overwhelming sense of community at this event. It's a small park, next to some high-speed Amtrak tracks that cut through town. It takes place in the gazebo in he center of this small park. Milly's entrance was preceded by a parade of kids in dress-up clothes (that they got to keep). There also was a Bake Sale and Barbecue for the Little league.
The show was over two hours, was a bit uneven with some of the acts, but was just an absolute wonderful time that I could not imagine missing.
After the show, we headed over to the 6th Annual Harbor Country Blues Festival at Watkins Park in Three Oaks. Well, actually, we didn't go in. Watkins Park is where the fireworks were scheduled to go off at 11:00. Diane and I scoured the area to find a good spot outside of Blues Fest, and find a spot over the centerfield wall at the ball fields there. We were basically alone and just waited for darkness, and then waited for the fireworks. Blues Fest didn't sound all that great - we were able to hear it from out location. I'm glad we saved the money. Anyway, the fireworks were pretty cool - there's no music, no other sound since there was no one else around us. Just the sound of the motor igniting and the fireworks igniting. Weird. Quiet. Eerie, in a way. They lasted almost 20 minutes and then we went back home and crashed. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 11:55 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Stormin'Been up for a few hours now, off and on. A pretty bad thunderstorm system has been moving through since 4am. Lots of lightning, thunder, rain and wind. Pretty dark outside during all of this, but it looks like it's moving on.
posted at 09:17 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, July 04, 2003
Happy 4th!What a great, relaxing day. Carol & I picked-up my mom just before 9 o'clock and drove up to Diane's house in Michigan. Traffic was almost non-existent. We hung around, had lunch, and went into the pool.
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Yes, I actually put on a bathing suit and got into the pool. It's been over a decade since I've done that. Was in the water for a few hours, tossing these floating balls back and forth down the length of the pool. For some reason, the dogs (well, Chelsea more than Gracie) just love to chase the balls. Chelsea even tries to get them out of the pool. She got a bit excited and actually fell in and I had to scoop her up and push her out of the pool.
Even though Harbert, Michigan is a very very quiet little town, we've been hearing sirens that seem to be going up and down Read Arrow Highway. Then there have been an ambulance and a (cool looking) Rescue Hummer that went screaming down the road out front, coming from the beach. Something is up.
After a few hours of thrashing around, I got real nauseous and got this huge headache, so I crawled out of the pool, got dressed, and laid down and the couch and passed-out for a few hours. I have no idea what that was about.
Dinner tonight, again cooked by Diane and Melinda, was steak and lobster tails, corn and baked potatoes, all done on the grill. I was still not feeling the greatest, and I felt bad for not eating everything, but it was all very good. That was the first time I had grilled lobster tail and I could definitely do that again!
So, we watched what little TV we could up here (no cable, no satellite) - watched coverage of 4th of July festivities from Washington, Boston, and New York. There weren't any fireworks up here today - we're doing that tomorrow night (fireworks at 11pm just sounds late to me...)
Off to bed - can barely stay awake... « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 10:35 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Wednesday, July 02, 2003
Slow going on empty roadsThe traffic this week is light - it's obvious many people are using the "short week" to extend their vacations. However, because the commuter traffic is down, the ratio of truck traffic to commuter traffic is way up, and it's causing horrendous delays, especially when you have three loaded semi's side-by-side, three lanes across, who accelerate slowly due to their loads. No one is on the street, but you're only going 20 mph because the trucks are in the way.
Frustrating.
posted at 08:14 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, June 21, 2003
American Trans Air 536Well, here I am, stuck in seat 26A on ATA Flight 536. We're somewhere in the air - have no idea where - on or way to Orlando.
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This has been an experience this morning. I didn't expect that getting to to a small airport like Midway 2½ hours in advance of your flight was unreasonable. We got on the plane 20 minutes after it started boarding. The check-in lines for ATA were horrendous. Note to self - always get an e-ticket. The new buildings at Midway, though nice, can't handle the new security procedures. I'm used to just going up to a ticket counter and checking your bag. Those days are gone now. First you have the extremely long line to get up to the counter. We hit the counter an hour before the flight. We were lucky that the rep was good and processed people quickly, unlike others who where lallygagging (Yes, I actually used that word). From there, it was over to the baggage scanner to make sure the luggage clears - and they did without a problem. Then it was the long walk to the security checkpoint - I didn't make it through. My damn Rockports have metal shanks in them for the arch support! I'll remember that for the return flight. Then it was the mad sprint for the door. Of course, the plane pushed-back late, so the rushing was a bit moot.
So here we are in the air. As you would expect, there are kids on the flight. Not a lot, but quite a few. I think I have heard every single one of them during the flight. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 11:22 AM | Link | Travel § |
VA-CA-TION!!!!!I'm up early to go pick up Barry & Buffy - We're on our way to a week in Orlando!!!! I am off for a WEEK!!!! Hopefully I will fill you in during the week - if not, you'll know where I am.
See ya!
posted at 05:04 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, June 20, 2003
She's baaaa-aaaack!!!
I was driving to work this morning, minding my own business, when I looked into the rear view mirror and... there she was! It's the lady from yesterday! Today, however, there's no makeup in her hands (it's already applied), just a cigarette. Oh, and she's paying attention to the road today. Amazing what you can do when you're not distracted.
posted at 08:02 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, June 19, 2003
They're still out there
I've been working here for about six months now. Prior to that, since I hadn't worked often in the prior year and a half, I hadn't been driving during the morning rush hour.
This morning, I finally saw and experienced something I haven't seen in a while.
A woman, applying makeup, while driving in the left lane of a 3 lane road (Higgins - 6-lanes divided), going under the speed limit and causing all kinds of traffic disruption. Not only was she was applying mascara while driving (and I'm not sure if she actually had both hands on the wheel during this), but she was also smoking.
She was an accident waiting to happen. When she finally pulled-up behind me at a light (after I had to blow her away after being behind her), she had to finish the eyes, move on to lipstick application, and oh, get rid of the cigarette.
When she finally was finished, she passed me, so she had no idea about how slow she was going. Oh, and not to be mean or anything (but I will anyway) - the makeup didn't help the look.
I get so pissed off at any driver that is just not aware of the traffic around them or that their actions are causing problems for other drivers. Just another one of my Pet Peeves...
posted at 07:58 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, June 18, 2003
Nuts. That hurts.I found some old Rocksport sneakers in my closet the other day and I started wearing them at the office. Bad idea. They don't have any arch support at all. The arch of my right foot is absolutely killing me. So, it was back to Rockport tonight and I got a pair of shoes identical to what I bought over a week ago, but in white leather. Feels better already. Well, not really. But it will feel better...
posted at 08:22 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, June 15, 2003
Father-less DayHere it was - my first Father's Day without my father. It sounds weird, but I was exactly where I wanted to be today - at a ballgame. I've said this here before that it was my dad that really turned me on to this game - and I don't think he ever had a clue how profound of a thing that was. To me, this is exactly what I wanted and needed.
I spent the evening with family tonight. We never talked about this being Fathers Day, and that was OK, too. Though dad did come up in conversation, we didn't dwell on anything. We're moving on, but not forgetting.
posted at 10:57 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, June 13, 2003
HP5 HypeWell, here we are a week from the release of the Next Harry Potter book - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and the hype is now in full gear. I keep forgetting that not only does the book come out in print, but there's also the audio book on cassette or CD. Problem? Since the book is over 800 pages, that means the audio book comes on 17 cassettes or 23 CDs, lasting 26 hours, 30 minutes. If you go to the Amazon page for the CD Audio Book, they have put up a 105-second excerpt to listen to before the book gets released.
posted at 11:35 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday the 13th?I'm trying to figure out how that date just snuck-up on me. I wonder what great things it will bring me today?
Oh, and Happy 33rd Birthday to Kate!
posted at 08:36 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, June 11, 2003
Air Force OneOn the way into work this morning I saw a huge C-5 transport on the ground at O'Hare. It's not something that you normally see at O'Hare, even at the USAF Ramp area in the northeast corner of the field. I had to run an errand at lunch today, and looked over to the military area on the field, and there it was Air Force One. George the 43rd was in town, and his plane was on the tarmac at O'Hare. I love that plane. Not only does it look good, but it really is the symbol of America when The President travels, almost like an ambassidor itself. By the time I had come back from my errand, Air Force One was gone, but the C-5 was still there with its nose swung open for cargo loading. I wonder if the C-5 is like an advance plane, carrying limos/cars and other support "items" for The President when he travels?
posted at 01:10 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, June 10, 2003
I'm cleanMy car has been significantly overdue for it's Vehicle Emmision Test. Somehow, even though I pass the sign every day coming home from work, I have forgotten that there was a testing station on the way home. I stopped-in tonight. I've been putting it off because, well, that "Service Engine Soon" light (or MIL for Multifunction Indicator Lamp, which I will learn later) has been on my dash for quite some time. I thnk it was lit the last time I was there two years ago.
But now they've changed the testing. Since my vehicle is "new enough" (1997 Infiniti), it now just gets plugged-in to their compuiter for an On-Board Diagnostic test. If you pass the ODB, then that's it - you get you certificate and show up again in two years.
The tester leans in my window as I pull into the bay, see the light, and says I'm going to have to sign a waiver. OK, not a problem. I am escorted to a waiting area (a long, glass tunnel next to the testing area) and he hooks up the computer. OBD TEST RESULT - FAIL
P0440 - EVAP Control System
P0136 - O2 Sensor Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1 Sensor 2)
P0446 - EVAP Control System Vent Control Circuit
Great. Wonderful. Now they actually have to put the car on the rollers and do an exhaust test. The car passes the test and I'm certified that my car is clean. I've dodged the bullet for another 2 years. I should get the car serviced by then. I mean, most of the past 2 years was eaten-up by my unemployment time and I didn't want to spend the money. I hope I can spend some on the car in the next two years.
posted at 06:33 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, June 09, 2003
That's not right...
I was late getting to work this morning. I don't like that on a Monday morning - people are usually calling because there's always something that broke over the weekend.
So, I'm on Golf Road by my house, right in the middle of the construction, when I noticed that the traffic just isn't moving. At all. It's hard to see, as we're heading east into the morning sun, but as I look ahead, I can see something that looks like a crane and it appears to be over the road ahead. As we all inch forward I realize that it's not a crane.
The crews had put up telephone poles along the road months ago to run ether power or some signaling cables (there's not a lot of cables and they're pretty thin). We've been having some pretty good rain over the past week. Off and on, but when it rains, it rains. My guess is that it made the soil on the side of the hill by the parking lot to a strip mall a little soft. Why would I say that? because what I thought was a crane is actually a telephone pole leaning over the road, snapped cables and all. Carol had passed through here within the last 15-20 minutes and all was fine. Traffic was fine after that.
Gorgeous morning, though. Maybe we've turned the corner from the cold,wet Spring.
posted at 08:26 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, June 08, 2003
Wireless SundayWell, we tried watching the Tony Awards when we were at my mom's house, but I hate that show. I may enjoy the theater, but since I am never in New York, I just don't give a damn about the awards or the show. Tried to watch the ESPN Sunday Night game - but it was the Cubs and Yankees - and since I was in such an anti-New York funk at the time, I couldn't stomach that either.
The only cool thing of the day happened earlier. I was at CompUSA and I noticed that they had the Linksys WET11 Wireless Gateways on the shelf. I've needed one of these for years, as I've been using a 75' CAT5 cable to cascade my 12-port hub upstairs with my Linksys Router downstairs. Now, I can finally do it wirelessly. It is, however, a tad bit slower.
posted at 10:04 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, June 07, 2003
I gots me some new shoes
Well, we're leaving on vacation two weeks from today (Hey - I haven't talked about that yet, have I?) We're going to be doing a lot of walking, so I wanted to get some walking shoes. Oh, and I prefer that they not be white. So, we went to Woodfield to scour the shoe stores. I hated everything I saw. They were white, or Moc-like or trail boot-like. So, we wound up at Rockport. All of the shoes I own (except my more formal Florsheim's) are Rockports. Well, they had what I wanted but not in my width (8½ D). I wound up getting casual shoes instead that were real comfy. I'd rather have the walking shoe, but these will have to do. Then we had dinner at Stir Crazy. Yummm...
posted at 08:21 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Breakfast with The Away TeamI had breakfast this morning with my old buddies John & joe, as well as Barry (who I see regularly at work). We ate at Egg Harbor Café in Glenview (or Northbrook - it's right next door). It's nice being able to get together with old friends every once in a while and just talk and catch-up on things. I think we overstayed our welcome, though - the waiter was getting a little snippy wit hus toward the end. We need to do this again.
posted at 12:31 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, June 04, 2003
*ouch!* What the... *ew*So I get out of the shower, dry my hair, and start coming it when I notice that those fine hairs that are still struggling for survival on the top of my head are all knotted up. Then I look a little closer, and it looks like there's something in my hair. Then I look even closer and realize that my scalp is peeling from my sunburn from last week.
Great. What a wonderful look.
posted at 07:17 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, June 03, 2003
It really is closed...
I was wiped yesterday. My body just doesn't like getting up in the morning. I'm just not a morning person.
So, in my morning stupor, I was driving to work like normal. For the last two weeks, as I'm driving on Higgins Road in Elk Grove Village, I cross over some train tracks. I think they're just single tracks, normal bells/lights/gates crossing. There's been am orange construction sign that says "Road Construction Begins 05-31-03" near the tracks, and then right at the tracks there's another orange sign that said "This road will be closed 7 days". Higgins Road at that point is 6-lanes wide, and with it being such a heavy track traffic route, I'm thinking there's going to be significant lane closures so that they could do whatever they have to do to the tracks.
I didn't trust that sign. I should have.
Sure enough, Higgins Road is closed, and the detour is to use Oakton. Oakton is 4 lanes, tight, and just cannot support the additional traffic. The commute is now absolute hell. I need a new route. I'll check it out on the way home and see how bad it is going west.
Right now, eastbound sucks.
posted at 08:32 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, June 01, 2003
Mesmerized...So, I'm driving home from my mom's house tonight, and I'm trying to get onto the Kennedy at Nagle, but I can't. I am mesmerized. In front of me is a black Cadillac Escalade that has what appears to be a gorgeous LCD monitor that's at least 14"-15", in clear, bright, vibrant color, playing what I'm assuming is a DVD of Rolie Polie Olie. I can't get my eyes off of it. I'm not watching the car, I'm not watching the stop light, I'm not watching traffic around me - I'm watching friggin' Rolie Polie Olie as clear as if I was sitting at home! I can't get my eyes off the thing! Something that big, bright, and clear should be outlawed for night-time driving! Or be required to put up a shield on the back window!
posted at 10:23 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Damn cable company...Though I am a very happy DirecTV customer, I still use Comcast for my broadband internet connection... which is now down. If a few graphics don't show up correctly on this website, you'll know why.
posted at 09:06 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, May 31, 2003
Saturday Night at the Movies
Well, it's been a while since we've gone to the movies, and with it being Summer Movie Season and all, Carol & I decided to start catching up. We went to the AMC South Barrington 30 to catch the 7:10 showing of X2: X-Men United. The flick was OK - if I was allowed to enjoy it!!! This is the first time that I've been to the movies on a Saturday night with many 3 year olds! Either these people couldn't get baby-sitters or they were too friggin'' ignorant of their fellow movie goers to give a damn! 3-year-olds at an X-Men movie???? And you're expecting them to behave????? Oh - and then I had my first experience with a cell phone ringing and the guy answering and having a friggin' conversation at a normal speaking volume!!! WTF????? All of these years, and I've been lucky to never had experienced that... until now. So, I guess the movie was OK...
posted at 09:29 PM | Link | Movies § |
Quiet doorWoo hoo! Brand new garage door opener installed! (Finally - we bought it 10 days ago). Really quiet, too. And it moves at double speed when opening. Sweet.
posted at 10:50 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, May 30, 2003
"Chick"-in' Tonight audblog audio post
Update: Well, tonight Carol & I drove into the city to go to the United Center to go to... a Dixie Chicks concert!
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OK, first of all, please understand that though I may have liked a few of their songs, I can't say I'm a fan. I don't follow the country music scene at all, even though I know they're definitely not "mainstream". So, let's say the "tipping point" for going to the show was that Buffy's company has a suite, and the tickets were available (as no one in the company wanted to go). The suite is a "Penthouse" suite - which is at the top of the stadium. Ever go to a Bulls or Hawks game and have to sit all the way upstairs? This is above that. The suite is on the south side, right in the middle of the stadium (like, at the center line if you were at a hockey game). The opening act was Joan Osborne (of One of Us fame). The audience was respectful and polite even though they weren't there for her. The stage is really unusual - it's built in the center of the stadium, and there's a large center section of the stage, but there's also a "snaky" walkway that wraps all around the main stage, taking up most of the main floor. When Joan was done, the lights came up and they reset the stage.
By now, many of you knew about the little "uproar" over Natalie Maines' statements about being embarrassed to be from Texas, the same state as George Bush, that caused a furor throughout the country music community and actually throughout the U.S. (mostly by those that just understand 1) The First Amendment and what freedom really means, and 2) that "being embarrassed" about your President does not mean you don't support troops that are deployed). Anyway, the songs that were played during the set change were really interesting, and actually comment on the "situation":
While the music was playing, two things happened. the first was the entrance of lots of fans being escorted into the stage area, filing-in the area between the main stage and the snaky walkway. I have no idea how they got those tickets. It occurred to us that, with the stage in the center of the main floor, how were the Dixie Chicks going to get to the stage securely and safely? Why, Boxes o' Chicks! During Born in the U.S.A, stage hands came out of a tunnel, each pushing one of three large "Star" cases - you know the ones - the crates that are usually used to move and ship equipment. Well, these boxes were like 2' x 2' and at least 5' tall. They pushed them down the side aisle and into the stage area, under the stage. Within a minute, the stage hands pushed the boxes back, a little more quickly as you can now tell that the boxes were now empty. Weird, eh?
They open the show with Goodbye Earl, which gets the crowd going. (I love that song - it's just twisted). The thing that really got me (being the geek that I am and I still have an entertainment streak in me, not to mention a stage crew streak as well) was that snaky walkway. It turns out that it's made out of bright LED displays that accept video feeds! By using colors, animation, and video, it added a ton to each song. I was really impressed. The 8pm show, with Joan and the Chicks, ended at 11pm. Carol & I stuck around and watched the crew strike the set (since we didn't have to vacate the suite for an hour after the show, though we eventually wandered out and on our way home.
The show was good and entertaining. Two complaints: 1) being in a Penthouse suite really takes you away from the crowd and you feel a little "disconnected" instead of being part of the experience. 2) being in a Penthouse suite also means there are no speakers pointed your way, so you get a lot of reflection and echoes.
OK, now here's a little something extra and I'm praying I don't get into trouble...
I brought my Canon PowerShot S230 Digital Elph to the concert (they weren't allowing "pro" (SLR) cameras, and for some reason, when security "wanded" me, it never picked-up the camera in the pocket). Anyway, it's only got a 2x zoom, trying to get a tight shot on any of the performers was impossible. Now, I've "experimented" with a poor-man's telephoto lens that "sort-of" works under the correct circumstances. A low light situation like a concert is not one of those.
What I do is take the camera, zoom in all the way, and place a pair of binoculars in front of the lens. There's a lot of issues with this. First of all, alignment is critical - being off a fraction of a degree and the image drops off, both in sharpness and brightness, not to mention actually being off-line enough and lose the image either partially or completely. Trying to keep the alignment - holding the binoculars in one hand and the camera in the other is damn near impossible. In low light situations, you'll only get blurred images due to the decrease in light hitting the lens (going through the additional optics) as well as the "jiggling" between both devices by hand.
Now, the other thing that the S230 does is video. I can get 320x240 pixel image at 15 frames per second, with (poor) audio. The camera only shoots for 3 minutes in that setting ( I have no idea why). The resulting AVI files are over 20Mb for the 3 minutes.
So here's where me getting into trouble probably comes in... To show you an example of the positives/negatives that the binoculars have... I have two video samples for you!
Joan Osborne - One of Us - 3 minutes - 320x240 - 15fps - 22.9 Megabytes
Dixie Chicks - Goodbye Earl - 3 minutes - 320x240 - 15fps - 25.31 Megabytes
Now be quiet and don't get me in trouble! « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 10:13 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, May 29, 2003
BanausicAs a sit here in my freezing cubicle (which has been this way for weeks) thinking about how I don't exactly enjoy what I'm doing, trying to wake up with some Starbucks House Blend that I had to make this morning to try to stay up after tossing and turning most of the night thinking about this blasted job, I surfed over to Merriam-Webster's, and here's today's Word of the Day:
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banausic • \buh-NAW-sik\ • adjective
: relating to or concerned with earning a living -- used pejoratively; also : utilitarian, practical
Example sentence:
Each summer, countless college students set aside their books and turn to more banausic tasks, such as waiting tables, to earn tuition and spending money for the coming year.
Did you know?
The ancient Greeks held intellectual pursuits in the highest esteem, and they considered ideal a leisurely life of contemplation. A large population of slaves enabled many Greek citizens to adopt that preferred lifestyle. Those who had others to do the heavy lifting for them tended to regard professional labor with contempt. Their prejudice against the need to toil to earn a living is reflected in the Greek adjective "banausikos" (the root of "banausic"), which not only means "of an artisan" and "nonintellectual," but also "vulgar."
« hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:32 AM | Link | Work § |
Tuesday, May 27, 2003
Why does that hurt?Did you ever step into the shower in the morning and realize that the water hitting your head actually hurts? I guess I was out in the sun a little too long yesterday when we were shopping and the very frew, scrawny, thin hairs that I still have at the top of my head can no longer fight-off the nasty UV waves from the sun. The whole top of my head is a bit red and, yes, it hurts.
posted at 08:20 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, May 26, 2003
Back home
Well, from the parking lot at "The Joan" to my sister's driveway was only about an hour 10 minutes. Traffic was non-existent. The dogs went nuts when they saw us (of course). THe weather was about the same - high 60's and not a cloud in the sky. We hung around the house for a little while and then headed out fort dinner at Schulers Restaurant in Stevensville. Odd thing about the food - it was warm, not hot. Good, but warm. Odd. We were stuffed and passed on dessert and just headed back to the house to just veg-out for a while, and then off to bed.
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The next morning was sunny, clear, and chilly. After reading and morning coffee, Diane & Melinda worked on breakfast (complete with bacon from Falatic's Meat Market). THen we all got dressed to go shopping at Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets mall in Michigan City. Everybody had a sidewalk sale going (well, everyone except Bose), so there was a lot of shopping - and a lot of sitting on benches in the sun, waiting for people to come out of stores or waiting for people to join-up the group again. Then - back to the house for lunch. Diane grilled-up some burgers, dogs, and brats (all from Falatic's) and some corn on the cob. We ate and sat and talked more. Eventually, we started on our way back home (after stopping at a truck stop looking for Dentyne for Carol) and A&W (to take 2 half-gallons of root beer home). The drive was much better than I had expected - it only took 2 hours to drive back into the city, drop of my Mom and drive out to the suburbs to get home. We enjoyed our time up there - it was too short and Caro and I were regretting having to go to work tomorrow. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 07:20 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, May 23, 2003
Spring?The drive in this morning was quick - light traffic probably for those people starting early on "getaway day" for the long holiday weekend. When I got out of the car at the office, I noticed that the parking lot was damp, as if it just rained. I inhaled and sure enough, it must have rained because the air had that wonderful smell of rain. You know that smell, don't you? It's very distinctive. Moist. Clean. I really love and appreciate that smell. It put a totally different spin on my morning, just smelling that rain in the air as i walked into the building.
posted at 08:07 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, May 22, 2003
Where's Mom?Carol and I are in the middle of dinner when the phone rings. It's my sister. After her normal opening line of "Whatcha doing?" and my reply, she asks an odd question:
"When was the last time you talked to mom?"
Oh, oh. Where is this going. We both talked to her on Tuesday, and Diane has been trying to call her all day and there's been no answer. Our mother is a major creature of habit. She does things on certain days of the week and she never varies from it. Ever. No matter the reason. It's not like her to be "gone" all day. Diane was on her way up to Michigan for the long weekend and wanted to touch base before she left. Now we're both a little unsettled, and Diane says she's going to try to call her again.
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So, I tell this all to Carol, and now the three of us are a little concerned. Diane calls back - she's on her way over to the house. We finish up dinner, watch some things on TiVo when Diane calls again. She's in front of the house - she's not there. She went through the house ands it looks like she may have gone somewhere. So I ask her if the mail has been picked up and if there's a newspaper and she says she didn't look, so she goes back inside. Sure enough, there's a newspaper from today and the mail's been taken in. That's when Diane remembers that she may have talked to her yesterday. Well, Diane starts writing a note to let mom know what's going on and we'll just see what happens.
About 10 minutes pass when the phone rings - this time it's my mom. She went shopping downtown all morning and went out with some ladies to dinner to celebrate a birthday, so Diane's phone calls were during the times she wasn't there.
So, it's a long story about what turns out to be not a big deal. Our imaginations took us to dark little corners of our minds for no particular reason and we'll all be together on the weekend. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:28 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Well, they're better...Snuck out of work a few minutes early to go pickup Carol and get my car back from Midas before they closed at 6. Carol & I had to stop for a moment on the way out of her parking lot to look at a family of geese, parked alongside the road - 2 adults and 9 goslings. Had to move along, though, as we were blocking traffic of people trying to leave the building.
I'm not used to the brakes now. I've been driving so long with brakes that grab and grind, and now these feel... softer? I guess I'm going to have to get used to applying more pressure earlier, as it feels like the car sails past where I want it to stop.
posted at 06:26 PM | Link | Mundane § |
GrgrgrgrgrgrgrrrrrOK, I can't take this anymore. I need brakes. I need them NOW. They sound terrible. We're way past chirping and squeaking. We're way past the start of that terrible audible grinding noise, and now we're into the bad-grinding-noise-with-ineffectual-braking. Off to Midas to get the work done on the Infiniti. I drove Carol to work in her Suzuki Grand Vitara. I'm not used to driving an SUV - the whole drive to work felt different just because I was higher than I normally am (wait... that's not to say I was high... I was just further off the pavement).
Update: $320 was much less than I expected. They only need to do the front - the rear is fine
posted at 08:35 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, May 21, 2003
$360 lighterA quick trip to our local Home Depot netted us a nice Genie Excelerator Garage Door Opener. Since I'm not a "hardware guy" as many people know, we also purchased installation as well. Hopefully we can get someone out pretty quick to do this.
posted at 07:26 PM | Link | Mundane § |
RrrrrWWWrrrrr.... RrrrrWWWrrrrr.... RrrrrWWWrrrrr....When I was pulling out of the driveway this morning, I was just lucky that something caught my eye as I was pulling away - the garage door was going back up. I pulled back onto the driveway and tried the garage door again. It goes down halfway, stops, and goes back up. Damn. Sure enough, our old track drive garage door opener is binding. After a few more tries, it's barely moving in either direction. Crap. Maybe the 18+ year old garage door opener should get replaced?
posted at 08:20 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, May 19, 2003
Not much better...Well, I'm toughing-it-out at work. I don't feel much better today, and the office is an icebox again. I just can't get warm. The pains are enough that, at times, it's not comfortable to stand-up straight. I'm going to go home and crawl into bed, turn on my electric blanket and sleep for a while. I don't need to be here right now. There's no major crisis here - and besides, I need to let the guys know what it's like to not have a helpdesk for a while. I need to shake this - I don't like feeling sick...
posted at 11:26 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, May 18, 2003
I feel awfull...Oh, oh... I'm not feeling so good... I don't think it had anything to do with dinner last night, but my whole abdomen is a little "touchy" right now. Like I'm bloated and crampy... The pain seems to come and go in waves. I just don't feel that good... no, definitely not from last night... food was too good...
posted at 02:25 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, May 17, 2003
Birthday DinnersToday, we went over to B&B's for a little "birthday celebration" for our friend Debbie as well as Carol - both had birthdays over the past week or so. We watched the Preakness (great race - didn't think Funny Cide would take this race, especially so handily), drank champagne, opened presents. Then it was off to Lincoln Park to have dinner at Mon Ami Gabi. Our table was at a window, and overlooked the Lincoln Park Conservatory. We hadn't been to this restaurant before - we've been to the one inside Paris Las Vegas a few times and always thoroughly enjoyed the meal. Well, tonight was no exception. I had issues tonight - I wanted two appetizers and soup and salad and an entrée and probably a dessert... and there was no way I was going to be able to do that. The place never disappoints. The wine was great, the service was great the food was great. After two bottles of wine and dinner, much discussion about West Wing and politics (and cherry flavored Vick's cough drops - don't ask), we had an absolutely fabulous time. We drove around the park afterward and went back to B&B's to watch a little tele and talk some more. What a great dinner. I can't rave about it enough.
posted at 10:53 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, May 16, 2003
Yes! The motto of my life!
Tonight, Carol & I were at Galyan's shopping for walking shoes. We passed through the department of baseball clothing and it just jumped right out at me! I saw it on the rack and it called to me. Too bad it was a kids size, but there it was - a t-shirt with a basball on it and writing around it. After 46 years of my life, I finally found the shirt that said what I've been saying here about my love of baseball and my "clock".
Life begins when the season starts
posted at 09:46 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, May 13, 2003
*buuuurrrp*
Carol, with today being her birthday and all, picked the place where she wanted to have dinner tonight. Me, being the idiot that I am, went with Barry to a Chinese buffet for lunch. I realized my problem sometime mid-afternoon when I realized I wasn't hungry.
Dinner was at Pappadeaux in Arlington Heights. Carol got a crawfish Bisque and Mahi Mahi. Me... well, I was looking for something light. That was until Joseph our server pitched the special tonight - 2 pounds of crab legs for the price of 1. So I had 2 pounds of crab legs that were sweet and meaty for $15.95. What a deal! I plowed through the crab legs, the dirty rice, the cajun corn-on-the-cob... it was wonderful. Oh, and Carol had a nice birthday dinner, too. Right now, I'm full. I feel the need to lie down...
posted at 07:14 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
HB, dear!"The Spousal Unit", also known as my wife Carol, is now as old as I am - she turned 46 today. Happy Birthday, dear!
You see, when I turn x years old in January, she starts calling me an "Old Man", because I'm "one year older" - until today when she "catches up" and becomes the same age as me.
Oh, and I know my place. I would NEVER call her an "Old Lady" today...
posted at 06:51 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, May 12, 2003
American StoriesI was looking for something to watch while I was on the computer tonight, trying to clean-up some email. Usually on a Monday night I'd probably watch Crossing Jordan, but just couldn't get myself to watch that Three's company movie on NBC. I switched over to Channel 11 (our local PBS affiliate), and saw that Ken Burns American Stories was on. They were broadcasting "Inning 6" of his Baseball series. I hadn't seen this series in years (it was originally broadcast in 1994). I love looking back at baseball. I just love baseball, I can't help it. Watching this just makes me feel good. Baseball showed everything that was right with America... at least as it was up to about 30-40 years ago. It makes me feel whole. I can't explain it. (Was I a ball player in a prior life? Why do I feel good at a ball park? Why am I drawn to this game?)
posted at 10:07 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Sunday, May 11, 2003
The measurement of a windy dayA sure sign of a windy day is the sight of pulsing of the water in your toilet bowl. Or even worse, no water in your toilet boil. Man, it's windy out there today...
posted at 11:55 AM | Link | Mundane § |
*creak*The wind hs been howling and gusting all morning. I hate being woke up early on a day when I can legitimately sleep. The wind gusts are rattling the windows on either side of the bed. Every once in a while, the house creaks just a little bit. It's only around 50 degrees outside - when I finally got to bed last night after the tornado sirens, it was 72. It's cold, it's gloomy - the perfect day for sleep. But, no, the wind wakes me up and keeps me there.
posted at 08:58 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, May 10, 2003
Tornado SirensHoly crap holy crap holy crap... I've lived in Hoffman Estates almost 19 years and I've never heard the tornado sirens go off in the township. Oh crap. This is a bit scary...
Update: Well, the rain came - hard. Then nothing. There was a funnel cloud sighted 7 miles southwest of Bartlett moving northeast. I'm sure that's what triggered the sirens here. Then, during the calm, we heard sirens again, but it was the Hoffman Estates siren (which is under 1000' feet from my house). It must have been other surrounding suburbs. Well, we made it through that one.
posted at 11:16 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Live from Baseball As America audblog audio post
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This morning, after all of the rain, Carol and I head into the city to pickup Barry & Buffy to go to the Field Museum to see a special exhibit - Baseball As America. It's a traveling exhibit from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum that's there from February 8 to July 20, sort of to coincide with the All-Star Game. It's the first time that some of the artifacts have left the Hall of Fame for a tour. This was a wonderful exhibit. A must see for any baseball fan. It'll be touring the country for another 2 years, so see if it's coming anywhere near you (If you're in NY or LA, you're out of luck - you missed it). People spent a long time at each exhibit piece looking, reading, talking. They just soaked it in. I can't tell you how many men I saw there that, at one time or other in the exhibit, were wiping their moist eyes (myself included). It really showed how baseball mirrors life in America. I just can't say enough about the exhibit.
We didn't stay too long at the museum. The sun had finally come out and we took a walk around the Museum Campus. Though the sun was out, the breeze off the lake made it feel a little chilly.
We then drove to Stanley's Kitchen & Tap on Lincoln for dinner. We're talking "comfort food" here - fried chicken, pot roast, meat loaf. A great bar, too. (A very large whiskey selection).
Then it was back to B&B's to discuss our Florida Trip. We'll be in Orlando for a week starting June 21. We wanted to make some dinner reservations for some specific places (like Emeril's Tchoup Chop). Then we were off to get home and collapse. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 01:48 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, May 09, 2003
Hail!
We heard it on the police scanner first - calls from the local suburbs alerting their patrols of the Severe Thunderstorm Warning with up to golfball size hail. We could hear the thunder in the distance. And then it started - the hail started first. Not the rain, not the wind - the hail. It was like the leading edge of whatever was moving in. It started slow, but the noise was distinctive - it wasn't the small, pea-sized hail. this was much larger, and the sound on the aluminum siding was loud, but not as jarring as the "pinging" against the glass windows. It wasn't golfball sized, but it was the size of somewhere around a penny or nickel. Thank God it didn't last long at all. The wind and rain that followed was pretty significant, but it, too didn't last.
posted at 11:49 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Dinner at OCB
After work tonight, I picked-up Carol at her office to go out to dinner. Carol brought me up to her offices to take a look around before we left. Let's just say I'm a little jealous of the office space. It's really a nice environment compared to where I'm working right now. Anyway, we went down the street to OCB. Yes, that's Old Country Buffet. Yeah, I know - big Friday night out and you take your wife to Old Country Buffet. Carol loves the place, so we went. Ever notice the people at OCB? You just don't see "professionals" there. It's more of the people that have no aspirations of being upper-middle class. And I just so love it when they let their kids run around at a friggin' buffet. I can't tell you how many people I saw that almost got taken out by a kid out of control. I just don't think 4 year old can help themselves at the buffet without food going everywhere. Just my opinion... as we left, I heard on the radio that it was 87 degrees at the lakefront! Cripes, I was freezing my ass off at a baseball game less than a week ago! Well, it's going to rain most of the weekend, so that should screw up a few things.
posted at 07:11 PM | Link | Mundane § |
My first audblog audio post audblog audio post
So, here it is - My first audblog audio post on this website. It was a little bumpy getting things setup (the entry got posted 10 times, so I guess there's some kinks that need to be worked out). Hopefully, this will just be another way for me to enter stuff here when I'm not around a machine. I was a bit too quiet, though. It's hard when you're in a cube at work and you just don't want others to know what you're doing!
posted at 10:42 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Thursday, May 08, 2003
Sleep: what can you do?I went to bed "early" last night - about 20 after 10. I was still awake at 3am. I blame Carol. Well, I mean I'm blaming my lack of sleep during that period to all of the noises she was making - snoring, gurgling, and you know, that incessant breathing. She's had it rough for the last week or so. Her company converted from an AS/400 custom app to Oracle based financials. The conversion wasn't smooth, and she has to manually enter 1,500 orders and another 750 came in this week. She's exhausted. So, if she's sleeping, this is a good thing and I can't be selfish and wake her up and get her to stop facing me and snoring and, well, that breathing thing... you know how it is. In the dead of night, every little sound gets amplified. After 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, and hour... things just kind of "add up" and it becomes an insurmountable problem. Oh well, she got some sleep. I, in the meantime, am a wreck. The only thing that's going to save me this morning is coffee. And that's how my day begins.
posted at 08:01 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, May 07, 2003
The wall?I seem to be trying to find more time to sleep, a few minutes in the morning, earlier times getting to bed. I'm not on the computer as much at home in the evenings. I'm with Carol, watching TV, or playing with Indy. There's not too much to write here. Every day seems to be about the same - same day at work, same day at home. A rut? Quite possibly. I'm just finding it hard to write here. Did I hit a wall? If I did, I hope it's temporary because my writing here, well, sucks.
I'm feeling reluctant to talk about work. You know, I can't name names or say anything disparaging about my employer - I sort of need my job, so no reason to risk that.
But I've got to tell you, there's two things that maybe I should think about sharing.
The first is my daily commute. Some days, there is absolutely nothing to talk about. Other days (like yesterday) you just run into the most unruly drivers. It kind of goes along with my Pet Peeves that I need to expand a bit. It's has become so bad, that I'm actually driving with my digital camera in my hand so I can say "If you see this idiot on the road - stay away from him!".
The second really does have to do with my job. I'm currently riding a Help Desk. If you are an IT professional and if you've ever had to take calls from the user community, you know that some of them are just doozies. Maybe I could talk about some of those. When the phone rings, that is, and that's not happening too much lately. Peaks and valleys - never know what kind of day it's going to be.
Anyway, that's why it's been boring here. I just need to get motivated to write again, and find a way to make mundane into something to write about.
posted at 09:05 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, May 05, 2003
Another groggy morningAnother morning where... I... just... can't... seem... to... get... going... Lots of rain again overnight, nasty wind and lightning (and, of course, thunder). Looks like the other states around us got hit hard. I feel like I'm still cold from Saturday night - I just can't seem to get warm. The shower didn't help at all. Maybe if I can get through some coffee, I'll be better. I hate that feeling, where your extremities just feel cold. Well, that, and add in the fatigue factor... maybe I'm coming down with something... great - now my hypochondria is kicking in...
posted at 09:46 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, May 04, 2003
Glad I didn't goWell, the weather really turned sour tonight - wind, cold, thunderstorms. Glad I decided not to go to the game. Oh, the Sox lost again in a rain shortened game. I just couldn't tolerate another day like yesterday.
What the hell is going on with the weather?!?!?!? This is MAY!!!!
posted at 09:18 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, May 02, 2003
Gracie leavesOn the way home, as we're getting off the Northwest Tollway at Roselle Road, I get a cell phone call. It's my sister Diane - they just landed and wanted to know if they could pickup Gracie. So, about 45 minutes later, they all show up at the house. They all seemed a little tired, but they seemed to have enjoyed their week at The Venetian in Las Vegas. Gracie was excited to see everyone and looked a little confused when she was leaving. She was a good dog this week. Hope she had a good time, too.
posted at 11:48 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
It's green
Well, with the lights out in the office space, you really know when the weather moves in outside the windows. It's actually green outside. There's a Severe Thunderstorm Warning in effect. It's getting darker. Still raining, of course.
posted at 02:58 PM | Link | Mundane § |
So, I've been walking around like that?I happened to look down at the sleeve of the polo shirt I'm wearing and I see something white sticking out of the sleeve. What the hell is that? Turns out I've been walking around the office this morning with a fabric softener sheet hanging out of my sleeve... what a great look...
posted at 12:15 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Finally wet
It started raining on the way home last night and it rained overnight. Woke up this morning and it was dark. Man I love waking up to darkness and rain. Not storming, mind you. Just rain. The sounds of rain on the roof. Love it. The drive to work was slow because of the rain, but it still moved along - except for those people that seemed mesmerized by the raindrops on their windshield, driving 5-10 mph under the limit, actually causing more traffic problems. Usually all of them also had another issue - driving in the rain without their headlights on. (Illinois state law requires you to turn on your headlights if you have to use your windshield wipers. Weird, eh?) The office is nice and dark. I don't have the overhead lights on, just task lighting in the cubes. I love this weather.
posted at 08:08 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, April 29, 2003
Same side of the road
Well, they've switched the westbound lanes of Golf Road onto the pavement on the south side of the road. Guess that means that they're going to tear-up the north side first. It was starting to rain on my way home, so I can already see one problem - lane markings. In the rain, in the dark, these lane markings get pretty difficult to see. Hopefully there won't be any major accidents while this is going on. It should all be finished in 5-7 months from now...
posted at 05:58 PM | Link | Mundane § |
*snork*Holy crap, my allergies have really kicked in. This is the worst in years. Must be the drought plus dogsitting. I'm miserable. I hate feeling like this.
posted at 08:38 AM | Link | Mundane § |
The May Day Project
Hmmm... this seems right up my alley... snap a photo every hour or so showing what you were doing at that point of the day on Saturday May 10.
posted at 08:22 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, April 28, 2003
Gracie - Day 1So far, so good. Gracie made some really odd noises last night when we were trying to fall asleep. Sort of like she was blowing her nose or expelling air through her nose to get rid of something, and it seems totally involuntary. Weird. Carol took her with her on her morning walk, and she came home at lunchtime to let her out again. Poor Gracie just seems a little confused. Me - I've got sinus problems, most likely my dog allergy. I've got a headache, too. Oh, I got my hair cut on the way home tonight. No big deal, it's just that I don't do it as often as I should.
posted at 09:36 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, April 27, 2003
Gracie
After the game, we went to my mom's for dinner. The main reason for going over there was to pickup Gracie. Mom, Diane, and Melinda are spending this next week at the Venetian in Las Vegas, and Gracie needs a baby sitter. So, she'll be spending the week with us until Saturday, when we will pass her off again. She looked really confused during the drive out to our house. Hopefully, everything will work out all right this week.
posted at 10:10 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, April 26, 2003
I hope he found his way homeOn the way to the Sox game tonight, we stopped at the Des Plaines Oasis to grab something to drink for the ride. On the way out, an older gentleman approached me, and very tentatively, spoke "Excuse me, could you give me some directions?" He had white hair and a white goatee. I of course said yes, and asked "where to?". He again, tentatively said "Carol Stream."
He was heading east and Carol Stream was at least 20 miles west. I started, in general, telling him that he would have to get back on the tollway, but get off and get back on again to head west. He started fumbling with a shirt pocket, producing a few index cards, and continued searched for something to write with.
read more of this entry »
Carol handed me a pen from the front seat and I handed it to him. He had a look about him of being a little rattled, and after telling him, in generalities, how he needed to get turned around, it was getting obvious that he need more detail than that. The feeling I got was that he didn't know the area that well. So, slowly, I gave him the directions to get back on the Northwest Tollway going west. Then we worked out the Carol Stream directions. When I mentioned he should get off on 53 South, he perked up. He knew 53. And then I had him get off at North Avenue and her perked up again. He seemed to know North Avenue just fine.
The two of us went through the directions again, and then he read them back to me. It sounded like he got it. He asked, more than once, how to get out of the Oasis parking lot.
Then, just on a lark, I asked "Where are you going?"
That's when he said it.
"I'm going home. Main and Geneva. I just got a little lost."
Oh, my God. My heart sunk. "A little lost." Oh Christ... is he OK? He's old enough that, heaven forbid, he could be starting to "lose it" and maybe not be able to find his way home.
I bid him Good Luck. He didn't know how to respond to that. He then looked like he was looking for where he parked.
He was parked right next to us. We waited in our car, drinking the water and soda we just bought, and watched him pull out and onto the tollway. Carol felt the need to write down his plate number and description of the car.
We left the oasis, and eventually pass the gentleman, in the right hand lane, heading toward the O'Hare exit, just like I told him.
God, I feel terrible and helpless. I hope to God he was able to make it home alright. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 09:55 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, April 25, 2003
New lanes open
The drive home wasn't as bad as last night, but still not normal. One of the things I noticed, though, was closer to home. During the day today, they opened new temporary lanes on eastbound Golf Road. It looks like the construction is ready to start, now screwing-up my morning commute as well.
posted at 05:41 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, April 24, 2003
Do you HAVE to do that now?
My drive home at night has gone from 30 minutes to an hour, thanks to road construction in Schaumburg. Meacham is now only one lane (instead of three), and the idiots that are driving north are blocking Higgins (thinking that they're actually going to get all the way across when the light is changing). This is causing traffic on Higgins to back up through the Forest Preserve. Traffic is tight - stop and go. Then I see one of my Pet Peeves (though I haven't written this one up yet): the lady behind me is reading a book. While she's "driving". What the hell is she reading that's so intriguing that she she is willing to risk bodily injury to herself and those around her that she can't put the book down to drive???
posted at 06:25 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
*sniff*
I've been sneezing all day, my eyes are tearing, and with it being a quiet day on the phone, I've been falling asleep all afternoon. I think I just figured it out - I think my spring allergies are kicking in. How did I figure it out? The sighting of my first dandelion - which happens to be right outside my patio door.
posted at 05:30 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, April 22, 2003
I am a zealous proselytizer
What an odd location for this article - the Fashion and Style section of the Sunday New York Times. It's an article about the "cult" of TiVo evangelists with a great comparison: (there are) as many TiVo-praise Web sites out there as there are hairs on Robin Williams but has an odd comparison that I don't like: Mr. Hawkins said that among his friends, there is a rift between those who get it — in his view, TiVo owners — and those who don't. "It's like the abortion issue," he said. Ouch. TiVo should not be associated with that discussion.
posted at 11:48 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Can you catch up?I've been exhausted lately. Part of it is actually being outside and going to ballgames (fresh air = good). Part of it is just spring allergies that kick-in and get my sinuses screwed up, causing me to drag a bit. Then it feels like I'm just not getting enough sleep. I can't get myself to sleep a couple of extra hours on the weekends. I don't even take naps (though every once in a while I try). Know what time I went to bed last night? 9pm! OK, so my legs were twitching so bad I had to get up for a while, but I was back in bed by 10:30. So, I'm starting to wonder - can you ever really catch-up on your sleep? And then I hear about this sleep study that was done that says: Chronic restriction of sleep periods to 4 h or 6 h per night over 14 consecutive days resulted in significant cumulative, dose-dependent deficits in cognitive performance on all tasks. Hmmm... the kicker is the conclusion: chronic restriction of sleep to 6 h or less per night produced cognitive performance deficits equivalent to up to 2 nights of total sleep deprivation, it appears that even relatively moderate sleep restriction can seriously impair waking neurobehavioral functions in healthy adults. This suggests that sleep debt is perhaps best understood as resulting in additional wakefulness that has a neurobiological “cost” which accumulates over time.
posted at 08:56 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, April 21, 2003
Better TrafficOdd - the traffic today was so much lighter than Good Friday. The parking lot is emptier, too. It's either: too many people ate too much on Easter and they're just getting a late start this morning, or people are on a vacation (spring break/Easter week). In any case, great traveling times. It's a pretty gloomy day, though and my office is absolutely freezing.
posted at 07:55 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, April 18, 2003
Working on Good FridayIt's been a long time since I worked on Good Friday. During my 20 years in corporate life, I always had it off. It just feels a little odd going to work - but then again it doesn't. Though I keep hearing how the expressways are flowing and that everything is "traffic-free", my commute was no different this morning that any other day. When I pulled into the parking lot, it was just as filled as a regular working day. My guess is that this Christian holiday has been pushed-off the books for many businesses, for whatever reason. It just feels weird. Carol is off today. She let Indy out before I woke up, and Indy promptly ran upstairs and started digging at a pillow that was under my nightstand. What a way to wake up - now, don't get me wrong here. Being awakened by a bunny is actually quite nice and sweet, but she's not normally allowed upstairs, so it was just something I didn't expect this morning.
Update: Whoo Hoo! We're out at 3pm! Hey, ay least it's something...
posted at 08:05 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, April 17, 2003
QuietThis has got to be the quietest day on this job. The phone just isn't ringing today. I'm doing some laptop configurations while I have a moment. It's even quiet in the office - the CFO was here this morning and a few people are out today. It's also very dark and gloomy outside, so it just adds the perceived isolation. I like this... I haven't even had a chance to play pinball today... (did I mention that our department has a pinball machine? I'll have to talk about that sometime...)
posted at 04:44 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, April 15, 2003
Two days of blissOK, maybe bliss is the wrong word, but, damn it's nice outside! I just couldn't stay inside at lunch so I went out to grab am italian beef sandwich. I just don't know what to think with two days in a row having temperatures in the 80's. OK, so it's a little windy today, but after the crappy weather we are prone to have, this was like paradise! Well, OK, not paradise... I mean, this is Chicago after all, and it's April and the temperatures are supposed to drop like a rock into the 40's, just in time to go back to Comiskey for another series this weekend...
posted at 12:42 PM | Link | Mundane § |
5 years on...I know today may be Tax Day, but this day holds another connotation for me. I worked for a company 7 months shy of 20 years when I was let go. That was 5 years ago today. Being with a single company for almost 20 years (especially when you're in the IT industry) isn't heard of very often anymore. Nonetheless, I was one of the few. I'm finding it hard to believe it's already been five years. You get used to a company, an industry, your coworkers, that it just seems part of you, even though it's already been five years on...
posted at 10:10 AM | Link | Work § |
Monday, April 14, 2003
84 DEGREES!!!???!!!OK, we were freezing our asses off at Comiskey... oops... US Cellular Field just over a week ago, and now I'm melting... I got home to find a house that's almost 80 degrees inside. Mother Nature is soooo screwing with us... It's going to be impossible to sleep in this heat.... I just can't get myself to turn on the air conditioning, knowing it's going to drop back into the 40's on Thursday... I'm sitting around in a t-shirt and shorts, and it's not a pretty sight...
posted at 06:21 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, April 12, 2003
Finch GirlWhen we pulled-up to my Mom's house, I saw a baby bird flopping in the street. I thought I was going to run over him when I was parking. Carol thought that it was too early for baby birds to be out. Well, I parked and looked out the window. There he was. It was beige with an orange beak. Just looking at me. I opened the door and he hopped over to me. Carol came over and scooped him up. It was a finch. He was just a little confused. He seemed in one piece. We put him in the bushes in front of Mom's house (after, of course, we pet him and talked to him and reassured him). I checked on him 5 minutes later and I couldn't find him. He must have been fine, gathered himself together and took off.
Figures that I didn't have my digital camera with me today...
posted at 10:33 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Tax ManNothing like waiting until the last minute to start your taxes. Got them done and filed in a few hours, thanks to TurboTax. Refund from the feds but owe the state. Must be the unemployment, capital gains, or maybe Elvis Night.
posted at 12:06 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, April 11, 2003
*ho hum*I don't know what's up. I started blogging a bit about the war, as I got wrapped-up in the start of it. I didn't lose interest, I just got busier. Busier at work, meaning I couldn't sneak in surfing for a while and posting an item or two. then, you know, when you're busier at work, you don't get home as early as you used to, so you have a nice dinner with your wife whenever you get home. Then there's this damn crazy bunny that "loves her dad" that demands some of my time (albeit, not all that much as she loses interest and wants to go play or chew on something). And all of a sudden, the day is gone, you need sleep to be able to "handle" the users that call all day asking for help. And then you realize that you just burn your time, and you don't have the opportunity to write in the blog. I used to write more here, now it's just turning into a journal.
I apologize to those people that surf in, see what's here, and then just pass on into the darkness, without leaving a comment to speak of. Look, my life is dull and boring. I'm not sure if it always was, but it just feels like it's been that way for a while. Does it bother me? Well, I guess... but you know what it's like when you have a robe that just feels right when you wear it? It's comfortable. It fits. You know in advance what it feels like. You know what it looks like, what texture it has, even what it smells like (OK, we won't go there...) Is this a bad thing? Not really, at least I don't think so. Comfortable is good. So if you don't like what's here, my apologies. It's just my life. You can go ahead and move along. If something here interests you, please come back and visit again, maybe leave a comment or two, sign the GuestMap. (Hey - got a blog? Wanna buy some shares???)
It's just my life...
posted at 09:48 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, April 10, 2003
Downtown
I work out in Des Plaines, but today I was going on a road trip of sorts. I had some laptops I had to swap at the "corporate" office downtown. I've never been there. In fact, I have never even met anyone from downtown. I grab the laptops and hit the road. What a gorgeous day - not a cloud in the sky. The drive downtown was great - until I got to the Ohio ramp, which was backed-up. I followed everybody's directions and pulled into the parking garage. that's when I realized that the address of the building didn't mean too much - the building was called One Magnificent Mile. I knew this building! There's a lot of retail in here and a few good restaurants. I head for the elevator, get my guest pass and go upstairs. I walked into the office area and introduced myself and everyone seemed delighted to see me! This, of course, made me very suspicious. I swap one laptop, and the person brought me around and introduced me to everyone and, of course, everyone was nice. I've talked to all of these people on the phone before, so now we were both placing names and voices with faces. I had one more laptop to go - the CFO's, so we went up to that floor, played the same introductions again and was received the same way again. All it all it was a great little trip. It was good meeting everyone, and even a little valuable having a few minutes to talk with the CFO about a small incident that happened last week (that I don't think I talked about here). When I was driving back to my office, I had thought back on my impressions of the "corporate" office itself. Not the people, the office. For where it was located, and for being a "corporate" office, quite frankly - it sucks. Visually, it does absolutely nothing to enhance the image of the company, and I think it actually detracts. Plain walls, no trim, crappy brass nameplates. No color. Very nondescript. Not great office furniture. A lot of clutter. The design is a rat's nest of narrow corridors that wander everywhere. It feels cramped. I'd rather work in Des Plaines than in the office. I hadn't realized that in all of the companies that I've worked at, they all had a certain look at "corporate" that established the feeling of the company. Let's just say - I don't like the feeling of that office. Someone needs to spend money on this place to change this "austere" look - and it's not a "good" austere either. Yuck. But still, great day outside. The CEO's admin's window overlooks Oak Street beach. Very cool. I really didn't want to leave the downtown area, but I had to get back - after all, no one was answering the phones at the Help Desk...
posted at 06:21 PM | Link | Work § |
Wednesday, April 09, 2003
Dodgin' iceIt's another bright, sunny morning for a change. The drive into work was way interesting. Seems that all of the overhead power lines have ice collected on them from the snow and drizzle we've had. The sun was warming them just a little, so entire pieces of ice "rods" were falling from any wire going across any street, some pieces over 10 feet long. Then there was this idiot in a old Cadillac that didn't clean off his car since the snow fall. It, too, froze up, so entire sheets of snow/ice were blowing off his car, hitting others. Great. I just want it to warm up a bit...
posted at 11:09 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, April 08, 2003
*yawn*Not much to talk about today. I'm in a fog - I think the weekend caught up to me. I'm exhausted and just want to veg-out. Got some brand new laptops at work that I need to configure - wickedly fast Dell Latitude Pentium 4 2 GHz. They're so fast that during POST it's almost damn near impossible to hit the F2 key quick enough to get into setup before it boots the OS. Watched the 100th episode of Changing Rooms on BBC America. Designers Linda Barker and Laurence Llewelyn Bowen traded their own houses. It was good to see the designers freek-out over getting their own places done by someone else. Now they know what it's like to have a designer let loose in their own homes!
posted at 09:56 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, April 07, 2003
What the... ?
I'm double checking the calendar... yep, it's April 7 all right... there's 3 inches of snow outside. (So much for that North Side home opener). Sometimes it just feels like God is messing with you...
posted at 08:47 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, April 05, 2003
Back onlineWell, the cable guy left - I have a brand new RCA cable modem, and I'm back online. Too tired to write with so many games in such a small amount of time, not to mention FTP'ing my images someplace else and changes hundreds of webpages. Oh, well, it'll get done some day...
posted at 08:54 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, April 04, 2003
This is not going to be fun...I'm at home, on a Toshiba Libretto that I have that's hooked up to my cellphone for internet connectivity, just so that I can say: It's 40 degrees outside. Raining. Thunder. White Sox home opener at 3:05pm. Seats in the outfield (meaning - no cover from the rain), and the team opened the season 0-3. It's going to be in the 30's on Sunday - I hope they call the game. Anyway, don't know how often I'm going to post. We'll see.
posted at 11:02 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, April 03, 2003
Forget what I said, I'm still not getting service...So, the service rep on the phone last night gave me the address of the local Comcast office to go swap my modem. I took off at lunch, drove almost all the way back home to swap the modem, when I was very curtly told that they don't do hardware swaps and that the person on the phone gave me wrong information, and that I can only get the modem swapped during a service call. Bastards. I now have a service call 8am on Saturday, and the windows closes at 10am. The had damn well better have a modem with them that works and have me up and running by 10:01am Saturday. Bastards.
posted at 02:52 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, April 02, 2003
Better serviceI had a much better conversation with a Comcast person tonight. Turns out - it's the cable modem itself. Motorola is recalling a bunch of them for a wrong chip and my serial number is one of the lot. So, I need to get the modem swapped, so I'll be down for days. In other words, I'll be sparse here (along with no graphics and images here) until I can my broadband connection up and running again.
posted at 07:32 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Fuming...I'm still at the office, waiting on a callback about a circuit that's down when Carol calls me. She got home to find a voicemail from Comcast from 8:30 this morning saying the tech was here - where were we? This after we (Comcast Keith and I) explicitly agreed upon that the tech will only come after 5pm. Damn utility bastards, they're all the same. So Carol calls Comcast and, well, "rips them a new one" so to speak. While she's on the phone - the line goes active, just like when I made the first call. She's waiting for the tech to call back now. Then while on the phone to me, the line goes down again.
You know what the sad thing is? This is not unusual in the industry. How many times have you heard a story like this or have been a victim yourself of poor service?
posted at 04:40 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Down again...And so, my crappy Comcast Broadband goes down again at 07:11am this morning... bastards...
posted at 08:36 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, April 01, 2003
Still crappy broadband connection...Ok, so yesterday, after the apparently useless phone call to Comcast, when, after my broadband connection went down at 08:46am and mysteriously came back at 06:26pm (just after hanging up the phone) I wake up to find that the connection is still there. Great. I go to work, do my normal work duties, try to access some things at home and... no connection. WTF. Sure enough, the connection went down at 10:09am. Well, it was down until 10:06pm tonight, when it just magically started back up again. Great. I love DirecTV. I hate cable. Broadband cable connectivity is starting to piss me off after all these years. Bastards. Anyway, I have a "tech" coming out tomorrow to see what the hell is going on.
posted at 10:21 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, March 31, 2003
Damn cable modem...Can you see any photos or graphics on this site??? No??? Didn't think so. Thank you cable company. Now I'm going to have to move my images someplace else that's "real" instead of hosting them from home. An awful lot of work, but in the long run, probably a better thing to do. I shouldn't have tried to secure them and serve them from home. Oh, well... I'm still pissed at the company, though. If I can't get to my home net, then the connectivity must be down still again. Well, at least I'm blogging from work... ooops! I don't think I should have said that...
Update: Down @ 08:46 Up @ 18:26 after a lousy phone call where all they could do is "dispatch a tech" on Wednesday... and the link magically comes up 3 minutes after I hang up the damn phone...
posted at 10:27 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, March 30, 2003
Can you hear that? It's my clock! It's ticking again!Well, at 7:16 PM CST, all became alright in my little, twisted world. Why? Because at 5:16 PM PST, John Lackey pitched a ball to Doug Glanville, and the 2003 Season of Major League Baseball is underway. Aaahhhhhh... baseball...
Update: Final - Texas 6 Anaheim 3
posted at 09:57 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Penny Stock
I had to jump in and get myself registered. Have a blog? want to "buy" some cheap stock? Check out BlogShares. It's not fully in production yet, but it's a place to "buy" and "sell" shares in your blog. Think blogging meets HSX. Could be fun.
Update: Out of Beta, into production. And I'm under a buck! ($ 0.96 with a P/E of 1.03 - and not a single investor!)
posted at 04:00 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Comcast not much betterI got a replacement cable modem from AT&T Broadband. THey wanted me to swap out my existing modem. No big deal, but one thing that I know from my experience with the cable company - no matter who they may be - is that I'm skeptical about their actions. I swapped the modem yesterday and was satisfied with the performance. Today - different story. The modem has lost connectivity at least twice and the DNS servers keep bouncing. Net result: sucky internet connectivity. Damn cable companies...
posted at 01:29 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, March 28, 2003
Fishposted at 08:35 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, March 27, 2003
Flash of lightI was sitting on the couch last night before midnight, surfing the channels, when I saw this flash of light outside. It didn't strike me as too odd - it had been raining earlier, and I just thought it was lightning. There wasn't any sound of thunder afterward, which isn't too unusual, so I didn't pay too much attention to it. That is, until this morning when I heard on the news that I wasn't the only one that saw it - people from Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and (allegedly) Ohio saw it, too. This was in today's Chicago Tribune: In a suburb south of Chicago several homes were struck by what appear to be chunks of meteorite. The falling objects pierced the roofs of two homes and the Park Forest fire station, but no one was injured, said Park Forest Police Capt. Francis DioGuardi.
Weird.
posted at 06:44 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, March 26, 2003
I forgot TiVo did that...
This is the first time I've actually seen this information published. I had forgotten that TiVo acquired data and sent it back to TiVo Central Command, or whatever it's called wherever it is... TiVo reported on what its subscribers did during last Sunday's Oscar telecast. The single most paused or freeze-framed event of the live show was the stage entrance of presenter Julia Roberts. ... the speeches by Mr. Moore, best documentary winner, and Mr. Brody, best actor winner, were the most rewound and replayed segments of the program. The measurement of audience behavior was based on a review of 10,000 of TiVo anonymous subscribers' viewing patterns during the broadcast.
For those of you that don't know, TiVo actually records every remote control button press along with content information of what was being watched - that's how they were able to come up with this info.
posted at 11:17 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Limbs on the Lawnposted at 08:10 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
OK, so she flies...
So, Celine flies... she's pretty damn high in the air, too. Hope they check the cables very regularly. I found the segments from the stage show on the CBS Special tonight entertaining, but I still don't think I'd spend the $200 for a ticket..
posted at 09:36 PM | Link | Mundane § |
A New Day???I had TiVo'd Oprah yesterday to see her show about Celine Dion's new show at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas called A New Day... that opens today. Since we love Vegas, and the show was produced by Franco Dragone, the producer of the Cirque du Soleil show at Bellagio, "O", and it's in the brand new Colosseum at Caesars, we wanted to see what this was all about. The show looks really good. The stage is friggin' huge - 120 feet wide - even if she had all 58 performers onstage. No seat in the theater is further than 120 feet from the stage. Now, on the downside - First, Oprah was fawning way the hell too much. I've never really seen Celine at home and, in my opinion, she may be a great performer, but I think she's a bit on the loony side. The main downside to the show? Cost of the ticket. 2nd Mezzanine is $87.50, 1st Mezzanine is $127.50, Orchestra is $150, and VIP/Orchestra is $200! Don't you think that's a little outrageous? (The highest ticket for "O" is $110) They only showed two numbers from the show and they were OK. The stage has the world's largest LED background used on stage - and it's used well. We'll have to see if this is just all hype or if she can sustain 4,000 people a night in that theater. Oh, and that's at 200 shows per year of her three year contract. CBS is airing a special tonight about opening night. Wonder if they'll show more.
posted at 11:41 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Flag on the lawn
Another true sign of spring - as I was leaving for work this morning I noticed the plastic flag on the lawn. Trugreen had come for the first lawn treatment of the year. Can't wait to get rid of the brown, crunchy grass.
posted at 07:56 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, March 24, 2003
DraggedThe day just dragged - I'm just too tired after staying up for the Oscars and eating too much at B&B's. The drive home, though, was wonderful. It was truly a spring day. The temps were in the low 70's and it was warm. It just felt so good, I can't explain it. The weather for the rest of the week goes downhill again, but today... today was great.
posted at 07:02 PM | Link | Mundane § |
GroggyWhoa! I'm not awake. I don't remember much of the ride to work. I didn't sleep well last night at all - I kept thinking I was hearing noises in the house. When the alarm went off, I could barely get my arm flopped over to turn the blasted thing off. In the process of making a super-strong pot-o-coffee hoping that will actually get my brain to twitch correctly. Sleep. Mmmm... sleeeeeeep...
posted at 08:11 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, March 23, 2003
Oscar NightWe went to Barry & Buffy's (B&B's) for our annual Oscar Party. We got there at our usual time, but this year without a Red Carpet, there was nothing to really watch. And I mean that - Joan Rivers was lost doing her thing on E! and the director and camera people just couldn't handle shooting the stars arriving in their limos. We could see a damn thing. We wound up yelling at the TV much more than we normally would. I thought the Oscar telecast was great. Steve Martin did a fabulous job (though, at times, it felt like he was a bit too "mean" and it sure looked like Salma Hayek was pretty pissed off at him), the show had a great pace and never seemed to lull. Other than Michael Moore's statements, everyone else, when referencing the war, always had what we thought was a "good perspective" as what to say - pro-peace, pro-support for the troops. Going back to Salma, I though she looked great. Actually, I didn't think there were any bad looks this year... although Carmen Diaz needed some work on the hair, and maybe Geena Davis, too (didn't like the dark, stringy hair), and I hate to say it but Jennifer Garner bodice was just a wee-bit too tight. The show ended at 3 1/2 hours, so you gotta love that. Upsets? How about Eminem for Best Song? Best actor Adrien Brody and best actress Nicole Kidman seemed to be surprises, but both deserving.
posted at 11:51 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, March 20, 2003
Fog of war?
The drive into work was interesting - some of the best fog we've had in a while. It's ben foggy in the morning for almost a week because of all the weird weather coming through. Today, though, was good - visibility in the hundreds of feet in some places. Everybody "played well together" in traffic. But why the hell is it that a single traffic light that's flashing red (or, as in the case this morning, not working at all) can screw up traffic so terribly?
posted at 07:59 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, March 17, 2003
Tradition
67 degrees. Sunny. Wind: 3 mph. St. Patrick's Day. What to do for lunch? has to be quick, so... McDonald's for a Shamrock Shake!!! Haven't had one of these in a while. What a great day outside. What a quiet day inside. Getting warm in here. It always seems that building automation systems can't handle a quick warm-up outside.
posted at 12:31 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, March 16, 2003
*achooooo*
Went to Mom's. What a wonderful weather day. Mom is watching Gracie and Chelsea, as Diane and Melinda are vacationing in the Turks & Caicos in the British West Indies. Between the dust that I inhaled from that server this afternoon and the dogs today, my allergies are kicking-in big time. I'm miserable.
posted at 09:51 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Gorgeous!!!!66 degrees and sunny!!!! Gorgeous for Chicago in March!!! Went to CompUSA just to get out of the house. Bought a copy of Adobe Photoshop Album to help sort out my digital image problem. Had a server crash on me this morning. It was sitting near Indy's cage, so it was just full of dust and bunny fur inside. Looks like I lost the drive controller. It sounded like I lost the hard drive. No backup. Need to do that quickly. Looks like I can limp along, because if I unplug the CD-ROM data and power, I can get to the hard drive.
posted at 02:42 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, March 15, 2003
Spring????
Sunny. Upper 50's. Got the patio door open, letting that great fresh air into the house. Laying on the couch, watching the White Sox play the Brewers in Arizona. Ahhhhhhh. I'm diggin' this. Spring is a week away. We're going to Comiskey... oh, crap, I mean <gag>U.S. Cellular Field</gag> next Saturday for a Season Ticket Holder Open House. Rob Gallas, (Sr. Vice President, Marketing and Broadcasting) was on the TV with Hawk and DJ talking about the park improvements - a new jumbotron from Mitsubishi that's twice the size of the old one (I think it was a Sony) (also explains the big hole in the scoreboard that I saw when I was at the Garage Sale), new LED boards running 300 feet down each line on the upperdeck showing stats and information, and a new Fan Deck above the Batter's Eye in centerfield. Ahhhhh... baseball...
posted at 04:21 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Ides of MarchSoothsayer Caesar!
CAESAR Ha! who calls?
CASCA Bid every noise be still: peace yet again!
CAESAR Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music,
Cry 'Caesar!' Speak; Caesar is turn'd to hear.
Soothsayer Beware the ides of March.
CAESAR What man is that?
BRUTUS A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
CAESAR Set him before me; let me see his face.
CASSIUS Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.
CAESAR What say'st thou to me now? speak once again.
Soothsayer Beware the ides of March.
CAESAR He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.
Julius Caesar Act I Scene II
posted at 07:33 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, March 14, 2003
Crabs
Had a hankerin' for some crabs, so Carol and I met at Joe's Crab Shack in Schaumburg. What a great drive home - sunny and 54 degrees. Place was packed, so lots of people were outside waiting, just like a nice spring night.
posted at 06:57 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, March 13, 2003
*ugh*... need sleep...I've been dragging all day, feeling tired and a little "loopy". Had to go see the doctor today to re-up my prescriptions and check my blood pressure. Well, my weight is up (no surprise there), but my BP disturbed me a bit 124/92. Don't like that 92 at all. Need to lose weight, need to exercise. Too tired right now. Need to veg on couch to watch Survivor and CSI... after Carol's delicious meat loaf...
posted at 05:50 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, March 12, 2003
Mmmmm...Dairy Queen...
It must be getting closer to spring... the boys went out to the local Dairy Queen that just opened for the season and brought me back a nice chocolate shake... mmmmmm.....
posted at 03:18 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Warmer!Yes! It's feeling better outside! The sun's out, 32 degrees. Supposed to be around 40 today, and around 60 by Saturday! this is great for Chicago weather! I need to go out more at lunch to enjoy this!
posted at 08:39 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, March 10, 2003
Record low... in my life? No, just a record low temperature for today: 2 degrees. Going to be in the 50's by Friday, though. Damn, it's cold outside... bright sun though. Fun driving into the sun on the way to work. At least no accidents.
posted at 07:55 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, March 09, 2003
ChickensHad Mom and Diane and Melinda and the dogs over for dinner today. It's cold outside, so taking the dogs for a walk was a real character builder. Supposed to get even colder tonight. For the second day in a row, Carol cooked-up another fine meal, this time a couple of roasted chickens that I love - and apparently are easy to cook. Sat around and watched the SAG awards in the evening. Not exactly an eventful day.
posted at 09:09 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, March 08, 2003
Friends and movies
Barry & Buffy came over this afternoon and we finally got out to see a movie. We went over to the AMC South Barrington 30 and caught the 4:30 showing of Daredevil. Good movie. I don't know why I can't call it a great movie - I think it has to do with the Daredevil vs Kingpin scene. I'm not satisfied on how that played-out. Good action, though. The temperature outside must have dropped at least 20 degrees. The driveway was slick from the rain turning into ice, so getting into and out of the car was a bit daunting. Back at the house, Carol cooked-up a great dinner of beef tenderloin with tarragon butter, the scallops that she made for me last month, new potatoes in olive oil, garlic and onions, and a nice salad. To top it off, she actually baked a gingerbread cake. (She's more of a ersatz chef, not a baker, but this turned out pretty well.) After dinner, we did a DirecTV Pay-Per-View of a movie that we hadn't seen - Signs. OK, now that was a great movie. The surprising thing to us was the use of humor in telling the story. I think I would have liked to have seen it in the theaters. Anyway, it was nice having B&B out to the house.
posted at 10:31 PM | Link | Friends § |
Friday, March 07, 2003
Katie
I don't know if you remember, but over a year ago, while in the midst of my unemployment, I dog sat our friend Chelby's dog Katie during the day. She had just lost an eye to glaucoma, so she had to be watched, and since Chelby & Damian both worked and "Uncle Michael" didn't have anything to do during the day, she was with me for two weeks. She's was really sweet while she was here, she would just howl a bit in the mornings when Chelby dropped her off - a separation anxiety thing.
So, Damian called me this afternoon to let "Uncle Michael" know that they had lost Katie. She was out in front of the house with Chelby's mom Carolyn when she decided to chase a UPS truck that was passing by. At least there's consolation that she didn't suffer at all. She was always really friendly and sweet when we were over at their house. I'll miss her.
posted at 04:50 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, March 06, 2003
Even TiVo won't save you now...
I've said it before - I love my TiVo, I love my TiVo, I love my TiVo..., but even TiVo won't save recording Survivor when George the 43rd decides earlier in the day to hold a national press conference on Iraq, delaying the start of Survivor by 53 minutes. If there was only some way for the networks to tell TiVo (or another service) what they were up to, they could figure out a way of contacting the DVR's and adjusting schedules... yeah, in a perfect world...
posted at 07:59 PM | Link | Mundane § |
LostMe. I'm lost. At least I feel that way lately. No time to do the things I used to do when unemployed. No searching the web looking for cool stuff. No time to even try to put something witty or meaningful here (yeah, like there was something here before that was witty or meaningful. Riiiiight.) I feel like I'm getting whiplash from being pulled in too many directions at work. When that happens, I'm usually doomed for failure (at least my "past lives" have shown that this is not a good situation for me to be in). That's putting excess stress on me and I'm not happy about it, thus some of the "happy camper" statements I've made recently. At least it's a job, and at least cash is dribbling in from it. I need to turn this around somehow. Don't know how, but I've got to make it work.
posted at 03:13 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, March 05, 2003
... but it's looking better
Six inches of snow. The plowing service did our driveway before we left this morning, so everything was good with that. The roads were very good. All-in-all, a non-event.
posted at 08:06 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, March 04, 2003
Pizza steakThere was a saving grace to today. Carol made Pizza Steak for dinner. It's my mom's recipe and I love it. Carol hasn't made it in a least a year. She usually doesn't make it because, well, I love it so much that I wind up eating way too much. There was once a few years ago when I actually had to undo the belt on my pants and just lay on the couch and moan for quite a while because I gorged myself on the stuff. Tonight, I tried to take it in moderation, but I'm still stuffed. Maybe it's my subconscious celebration of Fat Tuesday...
posted at 07:14 PM | Link | Mundane § |
... this is turning out worse...
I don't like major issues before my first cup of coffee at work. I'm not a morning person. This day just went downhill and I didn't think it could get worse after yesterday. A major snow storm starts-up this evening, so I bail out of work a little early - about 30 minutes. It was still way after everyone else. I'm just not a happy camper. At least I beat the heavy snowfall - it was more like blowing snow pellets for the drive home.
posted at 05:40 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, March 03, 2003
If you think this is bad...
Well, the crappy day at work (more last minute notebook building) was just topped off with a whipped cream and maraschino cherry of a drive home - snow and a little bit of ice. Had to stop for gas on the way home because no matter how uneventful this snowfall will be, tomorrow will be much worse. The Weather Critters are predicting the largest snow of the season (which, fortunately for us, is no where near the snow that the east coast got a few weeks ago). Did I mention how much I don't love my job?
posted at 06:28 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Trey Day!03-03-03!!!! Wooooo Hoooo! Symmetry! Catch it!
posted at 08:19 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Sunday, March 02, 2003
Nosedive
Well, it's actually been "nice" the past few days - temps in the 30's, hardly any wind at all. Pleasant for this time of year. Today - snow, plunging temperatures already in the teens. One thing's for sure: it's not Spring yet.
posted at 03:01 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, February 21, 2003
Monarchs reboundingIt was a little over a year ago that I had heard about this terrible cold snap in Mexico that killed 75%-80% of the Monarch butterflies in North America (an estimate is near 500 million butterflies) . Now, there is an estimate of 200 million to 500 million Monarchs hanging around in clusters in a 20-acre area of forest back in Mexico. Cool.
posted at 11:04 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, February 20, 2003
Ah... spring is here... for now.I went out for lunch to find bright sun, clear sky, and 50 degrees. Of course, I only saw the clear sky when I was outside of my car because the coating of salt over the windows (not to mention the rest of the car) makes it a bit hard to actually see the sky. (I need to take care of that.) It's been wonderful outside the past day or so. Add to that the stories from Arizona that tell me my boys are back in camp, preparing for another season of baseball. I know I've talked about this in the past, that I, for some reason, feel a biological synchronization with baseball. I measure the passage of time by baseball seasons and not years (the months without baseball just don't exist in my passage of time). I don't get very excited about the prospects of post-season play (after all, this is Chicago), but it actually changes my view on life know that baseball is around the corner.
By Monday, it's supposed to be 18 degrees. But out in the high desert, there's a group of guys getting ready to play.
posted at 12:45 PM | Link | Mundane § |
You want me to sit here through that?Boy, I've got to you, "I'm so down wit dis"... When we go to the movies, we always get there early to ensure we get a good seat and make sure we get any of our favorite concessions. Of course, seeing trailers for movies that are "Coming Soon" is a big plus. What I have a problem with is the damn advertising, the actual porting of television commercials to film. If I'm at home, I can chose to change the channel or zip through them with my TiVo. I don't have a choice at the theater. So, in a nutshell, I've had to pay money to view commercials that I don't want to see. Apparently, I'm not the only one getting upset over this - there was a class-action lawsuit filed against Loews Cineplex Entertainment Group for doing just that. The charges are Statutory Fraud Claim By Misrepresentation ("by communicating to potential audience members that movies would begin at a particular time, in full knowledge that the movies would be delayed with a barrage of advertisements and product placements, thereby deceiving and misrepresenting to Plaintiff and class members that the movie would in fact be shown at the appointed time"), Alternate Statutory Fraud Claim By Omission ("omitting the fact that they do not show movies at the times scheduled or advertised in the newspaper, because they are instead taking advantage of a captive audience to show advertisements and promotions"), and Breach of Contract Claim ("The contract clearly show that the movies are supposed to begin at a particular time" and - I just love the phrasing of this - "The ticket stub attached as Exhibit 1 memorializes the binding contract between Plaintiff and each of the Defendants"). They're seeking damages "in no event to exceed $75.00 per class member". I think they'll settle for accurate published times. What I'm trying to figure out (and we also agree with this) is that there's a feeling that: Movie Trailer = OK, commercial = bad. I know that a trailer is nothing but a commercial for a movie, but somehow I expect to see them and I'm anxious to see them, and I don't lump them in with those "other" obvious commercials. I have no idea how this suit is going to play out, but I sure do understand where they're coming from. More info at NoMovieAds.com and The Captive Motion Picture Audience of America.
posted at 09:00 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, February 18, 2003
EarlierHey! The days are getting longer! This was the first day that I noticed that it was finally lighter outside at this time compared to a week or two ago. Finally.
posted at 06:35 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, February 15, 2003
Saturday at Mom's
Went to Mom's house for dinner tonight. It's been a lousy, cold day here. Even though it's in the 20's, the wind chill is just terrible. Mom asked us to pick up a few things at the store for her, which, of course, we're happy to do. You see, my mom doesn't drive. She's had a license since the 50's which she renews regularly. She just doesn't drive, so now that dad is gone, shopping is a bit more of a chore for her. We passed the Steak 'n Shake in Hoffman Estates and had to swing around to go back and get a picture of their sign - it just wasn't something we expected to see! We had our nice pasta dinner at mom's sans Diane and the dogs (who were up in Michigan for the extended weekend). For some reason, we were just talking and talking and didn't realize we're still sitting at the dining room table at 20 to 8! In general, mom seems to be doing OK. We talked about dad and getting rid of some of his things (which she has been doing), so it's be a bit therapeutic for her. I'm starting to sense the very beginnings of a slight loneliness. It could be that the weather has been bad so she hasn't been able to get out much (at least, that's what I'm hoping). She talked about that she REALLY wanted to go to Las Vegas, but I think she wants to go with somebody - but they don't have to be at the same hotel or anything. It's like she's OK if she's there by herself, but she just wants to have a couple of meals with somebody while she's there. I'm trying to figure out if she's trying to tell us something. Found out my sister is taking another trip to the Caribbean next month. Don't know where - mom didn't seem to recall. She said the name wasn't familiar.
posted at 10:53 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Not for everybodySomething I wanted to share with you - yesterday was Valentine's Day. Now, for Carol & me, it's just a Hallmark Holiday, and we don't really celebrate it. We don't celebrate Sweetest Day either. Why? I'm not really sure - I mean we've been married over 23 years, Do we really need a specific day to tell each other we love them? Why? I guess to us, it's a bit ludicrous to have this saccharine day.
But I wanted to share one other thing. You see, to some people, their Valentine's Day may have been ruined and would never become a day of celebration. Carol is one of these people. You see, Carol lost her dad 8 years ago on Valentine's Day. It was sudden and perhaps accidental. Without going into too much detail, lets just say a paramedic who was treating him for what was thought to have been a heart attack, sort of misdiagnosed, mis-treated, and mis-medicated him, and an extended delay in getting a Life Flight helicopter to where he was for transport when transporting him via ambulance would have been faster - all contributed to his death. It was hard to handle and the day is just doesn't hold the same "frivolity" as it perhaps once did.
Then there's Robyn and Todd. I asked you to keep them in your thoughts. They, too, will no longer celebrate Valentine's Day. They still need our thoughts, prayers, and support and not some mean, hurtful comments.
So the next time someone says they don't celebrate Valentine's Day - don't you dare jump all over them for not doing it. There may just be a seriously valid reason for not participating.t
posted at 01:19 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Friday, February 14, 2003
Happy Valentine's Day
Have a Happy Valentines Day out there everyone!
posted at 06:30 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, February 13, 2003
Scallops!I got out of work a little late (it was around 6, which to a lot of people, isn't late). I called home in case there was an issue with dinner, and there was but it was a good issue! Carol had, for some unknown reason, went out and bought me one of my favorites - scallops. She saw a recipe on 30 Minute Meals on the Food Network. Well, it was great! Actually, we were sitting in the dining room and I was eating a bit too slowly for her (I wanted to savor to the great scallops - nice size, too). She kept looking at me. I then realized that Survivor was coming on shortly, so I have to finish up before the Jeff Probst shows up!
posted at 06:51 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, February 12, 2003
BrightThe sun in the morning over the last two days has been intensely bright as you drive east. Not a cloud in the sky, no haze, so it's just glaring in your face. For two days in a row, I have witnessed an accident happen in front of me in my lane of traffic. None of the drivers were wearing sunglasses, and I don't think they were using their sun visors either. How in the world were they expecting to be able to see brake lights in that sunlight? Not only that, but it's 6 degrees outside today (another morning of 6 degrees... weird coincidence) and we had a nasty, fast moving storm last night that dropped the temps during a period of high wind and snow. I thought I had heard that there were 55 accidents overnight in the Chicagoland area.
posted at 08:07 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, February 11, 2003
OK, people... just move along... move along...I was trying to do a few things on my website today when I noticed it was a little sluggish. I checked my stats and found out that visitation is up the last two days 755%! Why? I'm getting swamped with searches on Joe Millionaire's Zora Andrich and The Bachelorette's Trista Rehn.
Now look people - though I like the increase in traffic, I've got nothing here. I commented on them once and that's it. No inside scoop. No pictures. No information if either of them are pregnant. You'll have to find that info some place else - it's not here. Thank you for visiting. Look around and kick the tires if you're interested in what's here, but if not - THEN PLEASE, MOVE ON.
Thanks. I never thought I'd get inundated like this. Somehow, this crazy, little website must be high-up on some search engines, or people just have a more voracious appetite for Reality TV than I had thought.
posted at 03:12 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, February 10, 2003
Dogs dogs dogs dogs
Carol, my sister Diane, and my mom are all in their respective homes glued to the television watching the 127th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on USA Network. Every year Carol is just glued to the TV to watch this. She can tell you any breed of dog, to the amazement of friends and family - she's even better than her sister-in-law Cathy, who raises and judges dogs. Diane went to Westminster a few years ago when she was in New York on business, something we've all talked about doing. It's a highlight of ours at this time of year. Glued, I tell ya. Glued.
posted at 07:18 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, February 09, 2003
Planes over AllstateI think I may have mentioned before that the Allstate Arena is directly under the approach to runway 22R at O'Hare. Just so you see how low the traffic is, here's a short movie I took with my Canon S230 digital camera out in the parking lot before today's Chicago Wolves game. Think it's a little nerve-wracking knowing that the planes are just a few hundred feet above the stadium?
posted at 06:37 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Three little tugs...I'm sound asleep when I feel three gentle little tugs on my comforter. I rolled over, didn't see anybody in the bedroom, but I looked over the edge of the bed - there was Indy looking up at me! She had been out and about this morning while Carol was downstairs doing laundry. Indy obviously came upstairs to play and didn't expect to see me in bed. It was a very cute moment and a nice way to wake up.
posted at 08:13 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, February 08, 2003
Tears and foodMy cousin's wife's mother had died last week (did ya follow that?), so there was a visitation/memorial service that we went to the afternoon. Packed house. There was a lot of people there, all milling around and talking. It was the only service at the funeral home and it took up all of the available rooms. There were lots of photos and mementos of Jean around the rooms - mostly photos, but something I had never seen before - a Patent certificate for the design of a compact dishwasher that apparently Jean had designed at one time. It was an emotional service, and everyone went to what is now the husband's house for a celebration of Jean's life. There were an awful lot of people at the service, and most of them came to the house. It was packed and loud. The food was catered by David's Bistro and damn it was great. I'm going to have to try it out. It was nice seeing and talking to the members of our dwindling family.
posted at 07:40 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, February 06, 2003
Busy for a changeHave been pretty busy at the office today. We're in the process of "un-winding" or spinning-off some practices, and making the company even smaller - an event that will be going on with regularity over the next few months. It's odd being with a company that is growing smaller and smaller. I've always been associated with companies that grew by market expansion, growth and M&A activities. It's not a warm and fuzzy feeling.
posted at 03:56 PM | Link | Work § |
Wednesday, February 05, 2003
I got a Journal...
Now remember - I love the show's concept, I just hate the current implementation. I went and bought an authentic (complete with Certificate of Authenticity) Mole journal from ABC Auctions. It was just something I wanted because I still believe in the show and am a big fan of the first two seasons and I really would have liked to tryout for the next series (but I believe that was already cast). It's a cool journal, complete with embossed fingerprint on the cover.
posted at 09:44 AM | Link | Mundane § |
RecyclingI hate Wednesday mornings. It's Garbage Day in Hoffman Estates. Now, I really don't mind taking out the garbage. Not really. What I do mind is taking out the recycling bins. I don't mind doing the recycling during the week - it's no big deal, and actually much easier to do than what I had thought when we started this years ago. But dragging the bins out to the curb, especially the ones with the bundled newspapers is just a chore. The can & bottle & cardboard recycling? Not a problem. Newspapers? Problem. We get three newspapers a day during the week (Chicago Tribune, USA Today, and the Daily Herald) so we're piling up newsprint at a good rate. And it's just so damn heavy. *sigh*
posted at 08:29 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, February 03, 2003
Reverse Midas EffectI'm having one of those days where everything I touch turns to crap. Everything. Started-off by getting to work and realizing I don't have my security card. I drove all the way home because I would be in and out of the datacenter most of the day doing tape copies for offsite storage. On the way home, I realize that even if I had my card, I didn't have my keys to get into my desk and overheads. Luckily I went home. The tape copies are screwed because I didn't pay too close attention to the pre-labeled output tapes, so I have to redo a few of the copies. I should have checked the help desk voicemail over the weekend and I forgot - bad move because people were trying to do the year-end close and had problems, so things got escalated around me, so I'm in more crap for that. Didn't have my coffee - no time trying to pickup the pieces of the problems around me.
And he could see (no reasons)
'Cause there are (no reasons)
What reason do you need to be shown
(Tell me why) I don't like Mondays
(Tell me why) I don't like Mondays
(Tell me why) I don't like Mondays
I want to shoot the whole day down
posted at 01:55 PM | Link | Mundane § |
SilenceI've gone silent since the Columbia accident - hope you don't mind. Those of you that know me personally know that I have been a space enthusiast since age 5. Tragedies in the space program such as this hit a little hard. I can't listen to the radio or watch TV, mostly because I know that this incident is going to take a long time to figure out and anything coming out now is either pure speculation, or just timeline facts as recorded by the downlinks in Houston. The same things are rehashed over and over with no reason other than filling the airwaves and keeping the story in the focus of America (which, of course, moves focus away from the Iraq conflict). Grieve, morn, and move on.
posted at 10:19 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, February 01, 2003
Front Page!
There it was - right there. The Chicago Tribune. Not even the Sports section. FRONT PAGE. Above the fold. Comiskey Park benched by Sox By Jim Kirk, Tribune staff reporter. Tribune staff reporters Teddy Greenstein and Gary Washburn contributed to this story. My quote, right there on the front page! "I don't like naming rights," said Northwest Side native Michael Lans, 46. "I don't like the idea. It will always be Comiskey to me. But the revenue is good. It would be nice to see some tweaks." Almost word for word. I mean, Teddy started with me and he was scribbling with his own shorthand on his memo pad, but basically, though I said more, that was what I said last night at SoxFest. I've never seen myself quoted on a front page before. It's a really weird feeling.
posted at 07:39 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, January 29, 2003
Sorry, didn't watchWARNING: HEAVY PERSONAL OPINION BELOW. REMEMBER, IT IS OPINION
read more of this entry »
I didn't watch the State of the Union speech last night. I just couldn't do it. I'm a bit upset and angry at our President right now. His posturing makes it look like "we're going to war, damn it, I don't care what you say or find!" and I think that's just not a healthy thing to do. (I can't shake this feeling that this is all about "his daddy.") I don't like that the focus has moved away from the terrorism threat to focus on Iraq (which may be helping out al Qaeda, but isn't the focus of the war). What about alienating the Arab world (and perhaps the whole world) by doing this unilaterally? It just scares the hell out of me about what could happen on our soil if this happens. Let the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission team keep going. Period. Don't impede them or rush them. Wait for them to finish. Whatever happened to the hunt for al Qaeda? What about the elimination of terrorism in general? That seems, to me, to be a better stance and would help out the world community is a more productive manner. And what about North Korea? Which reminds me - I don't want to hear about the use on nuclear weapons in the war against Iraq. We're going to suffer dearly if that happens.
I don't even want to know what he said about domestic issues. Unemployment sucks - I know, I was there for almost 20 months and at the rate everything is going I'll probably be there again in my career. Jobs aren't there. Tax cuts don't help when all I see in my pocket is measured in 2 or 3 digits of cash. That doesn't help me to live, that doesn't help the economy, it just makes you look better now that you're giving money back. It doesn't fix what's happening. No jobs - no money - no consumer spending.
I think that I'm suffering from creeping fogyism. I'm sounding like an old fogy, and I don't think I'm that old. I'm just upset, I guess. « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 08:32 AM | Link | Mundane | 2 comments § |
Tuesday, January 28, 2003
Well, that wasn't much fun...
OK, it was snowing a bit more than I had expected. Since it was coming down quicker, the salt on the streets really doesn't work, so, yes, it's accumulating on the streets. It was slow-going on the way home. Wasn't too bad, but it was a bit slick, and the traffic was moving a bit slower than normal, so the travel time to get home was a little longer than normal.
posted at 06:00 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Getting whiterWell, it's been snowing for the last few hours here. Starting to accumulate off the roads - the roads, just like I had thought, were so salty that they're just wet. Originally I heard 1"-3", but I think that could now be up to 3"-5". Can't wait for that commute.
read more of this entry »
BOONE IL-COOK IL-DE KALB IL-DUPAGE IL-GRUNDY IL-KANE IL-KENDALL IL-LA SALLE IL-LAKE IN-LAKE IL-LEE IL-MCHENRY IL-OGLE IL-PORTER IN-WILL IL-WINNEBAGO IL-
330 PM CST TUE JAN 28 2003
...SNOW ADVISORY FOR THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING...
A THREE TO FIVE INCH SNOW ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA...WITH HEAVIER AMOUNTS EXPECTED ALONG THE INTERSTATE 88 AND 80 CORRIDOR. THIS WILL MAKE FOR DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS ACROSS UNTREATED ROADWAYS DURING AND AFTER RUSH HOUR TODAY.
MAKE PLANS TO LEAVE EARLY FOR YOUR DESTINATION THIS EVENING...SO YOU ARRIVE SAFELY AND ON TIME.
STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES.
$$
ROGOWSKI/CMS « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 03:43 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Much better... maybe notIt's 25° outside - much better than yesterday, except that later today the weather critters are calling for freezing rain, sleet, and snow between 1" to 3". Should be great traveling. They said that the rain should be freezing on the pavement when it hits - I don't think so. There's just way too much salt on the streets around here to freeze-up the roads.
posted at 06:37 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, January 27, 2003
Negative-2° this morning. Sunny, no clouds, and no wind so the wind chill is not worse than the temperature. the good news? After today it's supposed to be in the 30's.
posted at 08:13 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, January 25, 2003
A light dusting
So, it went from nice and sunny to windy and snowing. It's not much snow, it's just a light dusting to cover everything. the salt trucks are out and I don't understand why. There is so much salt on our streets in the area that, in the morning, it looks like fog in the air, but it's salt clouds stirred-up by the traffic.
posted at 08:04 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Friday, January 24, 2003
MMMmmm... cake....
So, starting this month at the office, they're doing a little birthday celebration for those people that have birthdays in the month. Total for January? One - ME! So, we had a great cake from Jarosch's (Yellow and German Chocolate with strawberries and buttercream frosting) (actually, for the size of the group that works here, it was quite a bit too big). So, everyone sang Happy Birthday to me, and I got cake cutting duties, eventually getting a piece myself. Yumm...
posted at 02:46 PM | Link | Mundane | 2 comments § |
Thursday, January 23, 2003
RRRrrrr... rrrrrr... rrrrrr...OK, the sun went down, the car got cold, and definitely needed time to warm up. Zero to 4 below tonight. I'm tired of this. Please let it warm up...
posted at 06:08 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Mmmmm...Have I ever mentioned how much I love tomatoes? Some just rolled off my Subway sandwich onto my desk, so I ate them... and they were wonderful. Reminded me of summer, getting a fresh tomato off the vine and just slicing it up and eating it with just a little salt and pepper... Now it just reminded me of that - it's the middle of winter, pretty damn cold outside, and the tomatoes aren't that great right now, but, damn that tasted good...
posted at 12:55 PM | Link | Mundane | 2 comments § |
Hmmm... not bad...Decided that if it's going to be so cold today, I'll force myself to go out and grab something to eat just so that I can start my car. It's 9 degrees outside and the wind chill is about -17. However, the sun is out - not a cloud in the sky. The car started without a problem and didn't labor at all. Must be getting some solar heat. Drove to Subway (12" Italian B.M.T® on Hearty Italian bread) and came back. Got out of the car at the office and my Indiana Jones hat got blown off and rolled through the parking lot picking up salt. It looks like hell. Crap.
posted at 12:03 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
OK, we're freezing...2 degrees below zero, Wind Chill 22 below. High today 9. Going to be a great day.
posted at 06:39 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, January 22, 2003
How cold is it?Another morning of 6 degree weather. (What is it with 6 degrees every morning? It's either coincidence or somebody's equipment may need calibrating...) 17 deaths in the Chicago area related to the cold. The weather-critters are using the term "dangerously cold" when talking about the wind chills. Looks like we may be in the 20's at the weekend. That's if you trust those weather-critters. Why is it that there's hardly a weatherman in your local town that you trust? Must of the TV guys are just goofy or even possibly inept. There's some that should have retired decades ago, others that can't form complete sentences, let alone come up with witty banter with the other news people. I just want it to warm-up a bit, and the winds to die down.
posted at 08:09 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, January 21, 2003
A new Michael!
Oh! I forgot! My former coworker Peggy had a baby! (You remember Peg - I've got some pictures of her and the family at Comiskey Park last year on Elvis night and the year before.) She and Rob and daughter Madison welcomed little Michael Jacob on the 12th. Congrats, Peg! Great name!!!
posted at 08:52 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Damn, it's coldYou know, there's one specific aspect of Chicago weather that I hate. Cold. And in Chicago, cold is COLD and it's usually "raised up a couple of notches" (as Emeril would say) (actually it would be "lowered") by the damn wind. It was 6 degrees again this morning, 17 degrees now, and this is the way it's going to be all week. I just want to see it get up into the high 20's to low 30's every once in a while. It eases the pain of the suffering. Now, on the plus-side this year, we haven't got much snow (knock on wood). I don't mind snow if it's on the warm-side of the temperature range around here. In fact, I really liked last year, when about seems like three different times, we would get dumped-on to the tune of about a foot of snow and within days the temperatures were in the 40's and it would melt. That I like. Also, we're in the weird time of year when it seems to stay light longer in the day, but the sun doesn't seem to be rising any earlier in the morning. Sunlight = good.
posted at 04:48 PM | Link | Mundane § |
I'm getting that itch...Last week on the Travel Channel was another Vegas Week. The Travel Channel goes to Las Vegas every couple of months to shoot things there, and I swear that what they're doing is just shooting items for the network and not for any specific show. the only reason I say this is because I keep seeing the same footage in different shows, so either it's the same producer or they're sharing the footage. At any rate, I miss going there. Because of the unemployment situation, we haven't been to Las Vegas since 2001 and for us, that's the longest we've been away from that town since the two of us started going in 1994. I just miss the travel. I miss the excitement of that town. I don't have to gamble there - I could always just go to a riverboat around here if I just wanted to gamble. I just like the town, I can't help it. Sometimes I feel like it's calling me back (sort of like the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor's Authority commercials, with the guy that sounds like Don Rickles on the phone.. "Vegas calling...").
posted at 03:12 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, January 20, 2003
Pain in the neckYes, it's still there. That weird pain I have in my neck is still there. It has been slowly going away all week, but now it's been hurting almost all day. There's no lump there that I can feel, but the pain feels like a swollen gland or something, about an inch to the right of my windpipe. Like I said, it's been slowly going away all week. By the weekend, I had totally forgotten about it. Now, since I talk a bit in my job, it's bother me. it bother me when I drink. It bothers me when I chew. It bother me when I swallow. It bothers me when I don't appear to be doing anything. Now, I feel like I'm coming down with a cold - my sinuses are filling up a bit and my throat is dry and scratchy, so I'm not sure if that's what's causing the increase in the occurrence of the pain. I need to talk to somebody about benefits, since my physician isn't in my "plan" and this would be all out of network.
posted at 01:43 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, January 19, 2003
OK, you've had enough time...Today is Sunday, January 19th. Come on people, get off your arses and take down the friggin' Christmas decorations!!! Get the damn wire reindeer that light up off the lawn, take down the helical Christmas trees, get the lights off the railings on your front stairs... Too cold? OK, how about taking down the friggin' Christmas tree that I see in your front window, eh???? No? Then the least you could do is turn off the friggin' Christmas lights!!!!
posted at 04:51 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, January 15, 2003
No CoffeeI blew up the coffee machine. I didn't mean to. I just ground the beans, put the grounds in the filter, popped the filter basket into the machine and hit the brew button. The next thing I know, I have cold coffee running all over the floor. The machine shorted out, a tripped the GFI-breaker in the outlet. The bad thing? The damn water valve fails open, fills the pot, and empties the rest of the water all over the counter and floor. I can't get the outlet to reset - it sort of arcs when I hit the reset button, so things are not good... I need my morning cafeine...
posted at 08:25 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Six degrees of...It's cold outside. Six degrees. Zero down south in Aurora. Thankfully, Carol will start my car on her way out so after I'm done showering, I can jump in to a toasty car... after I remember to tag and take out the garbage... At least the house feels toasty as well, and it looks like the sun is coming up, so it's another trip to work squinting all the way as I drive toward the sun...
posted at 07:06 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, January 14, 2003
3.2 MegapixelsThanks to the generosity of some friends, I had received a ton of Best Buy Gift Cards over the holidays and my birthday. I've wanted to replace my old Canon PowerShot A50 camera for some time. It's a bit too big to cary around effectively, and I've been burning a lot of money buying batteries for the thing. It was time to cut down on that battery expense and upgrade. I bought a Canon PowerShot S230 Digital Elph. Well, I'm still learning. I used it last night at the party, but it was a bit dark and I didn't get the quality I wanted. But moving from 2 to 3.2 megapixels - holy crap! - WHAT a difference! Of course, my old camera's images were at 1280 x 960 - this one is 2048 x 1536, so they take up a bit more room. I'm going to need a new CompactFlash card. The other cool thing? Movies! I tried it out last night on Indy. The camera produces an AVI file, 15 fps, at 320 x 240 with audio. It was very good (though the cage was a bit dark, and I'm still learning when to use the macro focus effectively), and I was pleased with the result. (Would you like to see it? Watch out - it's 11.95Mb!) (The camera could also do 160 x 120, as well as 640 x 480, but the files are probably going to get big at that point.) Perhaps some quick movies may be in the works for the website???
posted at 10:29 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Half inch and coldThere was a dusting of about half an inch of snow overnight (it was snowing when I drove home from the Allstate Arena). It's 14 degrees and tonight they're claiming will be the coldest night of the year (3 degrees. Big deal, it's not even an negative number). Guess I'll have to make sure I don't go outside (which shouldn't be a problem).
posted at 06:37 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, January 13, 2003
Effing™ Health Care BenefitsI worried about healthcare for a long time after I started my unemployment. I mean, it took 12 months to get cleared to get on Carol's plans from her job. Now that I have a job and have to use this company's healthcare insurance, I'm no better off. As usual, probably like millions of other Americans, my doctor is not in their PPO plan. Damn it, I'm not changing doctors! I'm going to have to do it out of network and maybe have Carol's plan as secondary and maybe between the two of them they can hash this out. If figures, now that I'm scared about this damn nerve in my neck that this would happen. Effing™ insurance companies! How are you supposed to keep healthy when you are expected to change doctors as often (or sometimes more often) as you change jobs? What good is that to the consumer? Screw them... of course, I will wind up paying more just to keep my doctor... <grumble><grumble><grumble>...
(The use of "Effing" is trademarked by Erin at Gigglechick.com! Well, not really... but at least I gave her props for the use!)
posted at 01:45 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, January 12, 2003
PainI'm not really sure, but this nerve problem is escalating. I'm thinking that there just might be something else going on because this nerve is firing at weird times, not always with the position of the neck. I think I yawned once and it fired. The pain is terrible - I usually wind up grabbing my neck and try to massage the area to get it to calm down. Damn it, I just may have to go to the doctor...
posted at 09:41 PM | Link | Mundane | 2 comments § |
Nerves and BBC AmericaWell, last night's sleep was interrupted much more frequently than the night before with excruciating pain up and down my neck by this nerve thing. Perhaps it's just my pillow. So, I rolled over when the sun came up and popped-on BBC America to watch Charlie's Garden Army (which I've never seen before) and Bargain Hunt, whose presenter David Dickinson reminds us of Richard Dawson for some reason. And What Not to Wear is just intriguing for how much these stylists are demanding and getting away with. (Just an FYI - TLC is running a preview of their American version of the series What Not To Wear next Saturday night, the 18th, at 10pm EST/9pm CST, in the time slot that While You Were Out normally occupies).
Well, time to get up... we're going to my Mom's house for lunch and then off to a Wolves afternoon game...
posted at 08:39 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, January 11, 2003
*ow* effing™ *ow*Got a few hours extra sleep, but it wasn't "good quality" sleep. The damn pinched nerve in my neck is actually scaring me a bit. The nerve fires if I've got my head in the wrong position when I sleep, sending what seems like a bazillion volts of current from the right side of my lower jaw, down the right side of my neck, usually causing me to actually vocalize my pain through a grunt or squeal like a little school girl. Not pleasant. Then, on some occasions, it fires for a few seconds, causing the muscles to pulsate. Ew. Ow.
Ok, let's add on a GERD issue at 3:30 in the morning, and then waking up and finding out it's 11 degrees outside... I don't want to be up... I just want to sleep some more... OW!
posted at 09:33 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, January 10, 2003
*yawn*I'm tired. No, I'm tired. I feel like I'm not recovering over the stress of last week. Like a Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome thing. I'm exhausted. I'm getting a good night's sleep. I just don't get it.... Even the fresh ground coffee at work doesn't help. (Did I ever mention that I've got a grinder here at work? It's nice being able to pick your beans, grind them and brew them for your morning fix.)
posted at 08:33 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, January 09, 2003
Downhill from hereA very nice day yesterday - sunny, temps in the 50's. By the weekend, the lows will be in the single digits. At least this morning the sun was out - bright, night a cloud in the sky. Of course, it's a bit difficult when you're driving to work, the sun is low on the horizon, and you are driving into it... The wind is supposed to pick up and the temps drop this afternoon.
Saw something that my little warped mind thought was interesting. In the morning, while I'm taking Higgins all the way to the office, where it does that little jog around Oakton and Busse, just as you make that turn from Oakton onto Higgins, if you look straight down Higgins, you can see the tower at O'Hare at what looks to be the end of the road. In fact, you can see the old tower as well (the one by the airport Hilton). As you get closer, you lose sight of them. And there's some sort of forced-perspective thing going on because the towers look big and close. It's probably the same effect that makes the moon look big when it's on the horizon, when in reality, if you measure it, it really didn't change size at all.
I know, big deal. I thought it was cool.
posted at 08:34 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, January 07, 2003
I guess he's in town...I love working near O'Hare. I can watch some of the air traffic and I'm close enough to get good signal on my portable radio scanner, so I can listen to O'Hare Approach, Tower, and Ground at my desk (OK, so it's a little weird). It's also very cool to see the Marine helicopters fly by the window to take Dubya off to his speech to unveil his alleged Economic Incentive plans... (I didn't hear him come in or see him, but the Ground controllers were moving some ground traffic away from him.)
posted at 11:32 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Flashing Red LightsThere is nothing that screws up traffic more than flashing red lights at an intersection. If there was an accident, traffic would still get through the intersection faster than trying to get through an intersection whose traffic signals are blinking red. Cripes. Not like I really wanted to get to work early or anything...
posted at 07:49 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, January 06, 2003
Wow! My first one!After a too long day at work (a tape-copy operation that took way too long), I came home to find... a box from Amazon.com. Not a big deal as I had pre-ordered Cory Doctorow's "Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom" and it should be shipping around now. But then I opened the box to find... a wrapped present! Well, that was a new one to me! It had a card on the gift: "happy birthday (it might be a couple days past, but who says it can't be a birthday week or month!??!!) cheers!! hope all is swell!!!!" There's another envelope in the box, the front reads: "DON'T RUIN YOUR SURPRISE Open your gift before this envelope".
read more of this entry »
So, naturally, I tore into the wrapping to find... the Special Edition DVD of Monty Python and the Holy Grail!!! Cool! OK, now who sent this??? So I opened the envelope and... it's just the packing slip. Wait... up on the Billing Address... it's my Blogmom Erin!!! This is my first gift that I've got from my Amazon Wishlist that wasn't from my family... and it came from my blogging family! This is so cool! Erin, thank you so very much! (So this is how it looks when you send an Amazon gift! Thanks!) « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 07:06 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Busy-nessBack at work after what feels like a very long time. Relatively busy. I mean riding a Help Desk has it's moments of non-stop phone calls and what could be sheer boredom. Fortunately, I have "other duties as assigned" in my job description, so I'm doing some weekly tape copies for off-site storage and building a notebook for a user in Kansas City. Keeping busy. Busy = good. Of course, I wouldn't mind some downtime to read some blogs...
posted at 04:21 PM | Link | Work § |
Sunday, January 05, 2003
Great dinner
Salad, beef roast with a little horseradish sauce on the side, green beans with garlic, egg noddles in olive oil and herbs, rolls, tiramisu for dessert. That's what Carol cooked for us as my family came over to sort of celebrate my birthday, but more of getting Mom out of the house and just being together. Job well done. Yes, it was a birthday party of sorts, but it was better just sitting around and talking about the events of the past week. I really think that we are just fine.
posted at 09:27 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, January 04, 2003
Harry at the movies...
It's a good time to start catching-up on our movie viewing, so it's off to the AMC South Barrington 30 to catch Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Well, 3:50 on a Saturday afternoon is still a bad time to see the movie, as a) it was a full house, and b) people are still bringing toddlers to see the film. This film, though good, is still much darker than the first, and there's just no friggin' way a kid that age is going to sit through a movie that's 161 minutes long. Toddlers just don't understand "movie theater etiquette". Use some judgment, people. Oh, and we went out afterward for my birthday dinner at... umm... Steak n Shake (Hey, it was my choice) and came home and watched Hildi go nuts again on Trading Spaces.
posted at 07:15 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Happy Birthday to MEWell, it's here! Another birthday - Number 46. Hopefully it'll be a good way to end such a crappy week! I have nothing planned (as I mentioned in the Friday Five), though the sister and Mom are coming over tomorrow. Nothing big. Hey, why not pop a comment or sign my GuestMap and let me know you're out there somewhere!
posted at 09:36 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, January 03, 2003
Thank youTo those who left comments here, I sincerely Thank You.
To those who sent private EMails, I sincerely Thank You.
To those who took the time and effort to actually come to the visitation and/or funeral, my family and I humbly Thank You.
To any one else that stopped by here and did neither, but had a little tug on your "heart strings" seeing the prior post, Thank You.
I needed time away from the Bloggerverse to spend on and with my family. The days have been absolutely exhausting. I'm back and will startup again.
Oh, and Happy New Year!
There's a Wolves game tonight, and I felt I needed to go and decompress watching a hockey game. But this afternoon, I knew that in a weird way, I had to go.
After the funeral, after the cemetery, we were having the usual post-cemetery lunch at the White Eagle in Niles. That's just where you go after being at St. Adelbert's Cemetery which is right across the street. The place is well known for its Polish grub and the place is huge and busy with the dozens of funerals having their luncheons here. The place just churns funerals during the day.
Anyway, we're in one of the many banquet rooms. As usual, there must have been three or four other funeral luncheons in that particular room. During lunch, I happened to look up and saw, across the room, the back of a Chicago Police Officer. There's something about the gestures and the bald spot on the back of his head that looks really familiar. I grab Carol and we walk over, and it's Bob, one our our buddies that sits 4 rows down from us at the Wolves Games. He's there because his Mom died, on Monday, six hours after my Dad.
Weird.
Bob and Chris didn't know if he really wanted to go to the game tonight, but after seeing us, they've decided to go.
We've also decided to hoist a beer for our parents at the game tonight. In a twisted sort of way, it just seemed like the right thing to do.
posted at 04:17 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, December 29, 2002
MeatCarol and I wanted meat. Barry & Buffy wanted meat. It was time to do something about it.
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We drove into the city to pickup B&B. First stop - breakfast at the Salt & Pepper Diner on Clark Street, in the shadow of Wrigley Field. Filled up with omelettes, bacon and coffee, and then it was time to hit the road. We drove all the way from Chicago through Indiana to Sawyer, Michigan to hit our favorite place for meat - Falatic's Meat Market. We've been there before - it's not far from my sister Diane's house in Sawyer. We think this is a quality place. For us, it may be an hour and a half ride, but it's worth it. It really all started because we needed filets for the New Year's Eve party at B&B's, and, well, we all just wanted meat. So, combined, we must have been there for half an hour and spent just shy of $400 on beef, veal, chicken, lamb, and sausages. The owner (Ron) is just really a nice guy. They even helped us out to the car (it was a lot of meat). Then after a quick stop at the Truck Stop in Sawyer for a potty break, we drive all the way back to the city, but to Costco over by Damen and Clybourn. We've stopped for lobster tails (about 9-10 oz) to go with the filets for the dinner. Of course, there were a few other things to pickup for B&B (like brie for the party and other things). Then it's off to Binny´s Ivanhoe Castle on Clark for wine (the champagne has already been taken care of) and some paté. Finally, it's back to B&B's. But we're not finished. We brought with our FoodSaver, so now it's time to vaccu-seal all of the meat we bought today. B&B's freezer is now full of meat. Carol didn't bring enough of the plastic material to make enough bags for everything that was bought, so we brought home our chicken to seal it at home. Long day, but damn it - we got our meat! « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 06:46 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Saturday, December 28, 2002
This is Hospice care?My dad is under hospice care for his cancer. He's at home, and my mom's been doing a good job taking care of him. Today, while doing normal daily maintenance on his stoma, some mucous (ew) dislodged a bit a went down his airway. Well, he was coughing and you could hear it. Mom freaked a little, and called Loyola Hospice Care because , though dad was OK, she's just like to have someone come out and maybe suction out the mucous. Not a big deal, not a big request. After four friggin' hours of telephone calls, and finally a nurse coming out, he's declared fine and they won't do anything. There's so much more to this story, a story about quality of life versus what appears to be a corporate inaction and even indifference, using that old "well, you know, he is going to die" line that we're starting to get real tired of. I'm pissed. My mom's pissed, a little freaked out, and quite a bit overwhelmed. We'll get through it. We have to.
posted at 03:32 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Friday, December 27, 2002
Minus 35When I came home tonight, Carol was just smiling from ear-to-ear and almost bounding around the house. It's Weight Watchers day, and she's down 2.2 pounds, making an even 35 pounds total. That's not bad, considering it's the holidays! She out of the house tonight, going to a bachelorette party (complete with p*nis-shaped pasta - had to clean that up a bit, I don't want Google searches here for damn p*nis-shaped pasta!). I'm proud of her weight loss - she's doing a great job and has these little goals for herself (all clothing related, with certain pieces of clothing that are still in the closet). Somehow, I need to get on the bandwagon...
posted at 06:28 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, December 26, 2002
Nuts... I couldn't Call-In "Rich"Well, as they say, "you've got to play to win." So we did (play). And we didn't (win). You know how you call-in to your boss to let him/her know that you're not going to be in? Normally, you call-in "sick" or some such thing.
Barry and I have always wanted to be able to "Call-in 'Rich'" instead. ("I'm sorry, I'm not going to be able to come into work today. I'm rich.") I've also heard it called something else: if someone gets the big prize, the people at work would refer to them as being "Lottery Terminated." (Wow... I would have been able to buy 376,254 TiVo's. Or 225,450 Handspring Treo's. Or 22,727 Segways. Or 6,849 Cooper Mini's. Oh! Even better! 5 trips as a tourist to The International Space Station!)
posted at 03:24 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Doctor, Doctor, It hurts when I do this...Hmmm... OK, so the little fall that I took on Christmas Eve is starting to show itself in the form of pain in my back where I hit the pavement. Fortunately it's just muscle pain, and it seems to only effect me when I stand up after sitting in my chair. I guess it could have been worse, so I can just tough this out.
posted at 11:43 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, December 25, 2002
Merry ChristmasSpent the day at my parents house. Breakfast. Gifts. Naps. Dinner. Trading Spaces marathon on the TV. In a nutshell, that was our day. Dad is miserable. He's got an appetite. He really wants to eat. He's just so friggin' frustrated at having his food come up and out his nose. He's embarrassed. It upsets him. He wants to eat like normal people and he should be able to. It's just so damn difficult to see him go through this on Christmas. It's killing me. At any rate, we enjoyed our Christmas together. It's a long day, though. We needed to just get home so that we can hit the sheets for work tomorrow.
posted at 09:20 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, December 24, 2002
Christmas Eve
Tonight, it's take the parents to my sister Diane's for a family Christmas Eve with our cousins and Uncle Jim. The weather is starting to turn nasty - very windy and snowing. At least the snow isn't of the big-flake variety, it's more of the real tiny not-necessarily-flake-but-maybe-pellet variety. We all show up at Diane's house at the exact same moment, causing chaos and pandemonium amongst the dogs and, well, everyone involved. The evening went well. Dad seemed a bit crabby, though. I think it's just hard on him to travel, and I just don't think he wanted to socialize with our extended family. Well, while cleaning the snow off my car, I fell in the street. Yep. My right foot started to slide out from under me. I remember thinking to myself "This is going to hurt" as I didi the splits. The splits didn't hurt, as I was able to twist my legs so I didn't actually do the splits. Hitting the asphalt hurt. I slipped again when walking my parents to the car.The ride home was bad. The Kennedy hadn't been plowed or salted. Addison was the same, so travel was just slow. After dropping off my parents, I slipped again going to the car. By now, the sudden flailing of my body is screwing up most of the muscles in my back, and now I have a headache like you would get in a whiplash accident. Ouch. The drive home was made worse only by the number of idiots on the street who just don't know how to drive in this weather. Actually, it has nothing to do with the weather - they're just driving like idiots. Like the guy in the SUV that didn't even stop to look that traffic was coming at a busy intersection (without a traffic light) and just pulls out and turns. (Of course, there was traffic coming, and this little event caused a van to swerve to miss the idiot, cross the center line and come right at us, only to swerve again, this time to avoid us. Nice, eh? Merry Christmas!) Or the people that just pull too far into an intersection, causing you to swerve around them. That has nothing to do with snow, and everything to do with idiotic driving. I feel more Pet Peeves coming on here... (The bad thing, is that all of the idiots looked Eastern European... pattern?) The tollway was clear and wet, as well as most of the neighborhood. At least we're home safely.
posted at 10:12 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, December 23, 2002
To the friggin' idiot on I-294...To the absolute moron in the black Ford Explorer that just had to be in the left-hand lane on the Tri-State Tollway after 1pm, tailgating, crossing the yellow line, then getting off the Tollway at Dempster going East, still not paying attention to traffic: DO YOU HAVE TO READ A FRIGGIN' FORBES MAGAZINE WHILE GOING 80 MPH?????
posted at 01:55 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, December 20, 2002
Those "other" people
Part of the interesting thing of being employed again, is that I get to work in an office building that supports many companies - something that I haven't been in for quite some time. So, like the walker I had mentioned the other day (who I now see everyday), there are "other" people in the building that I feel free to talk about! Like today, in the men's restroom on our floor. A gentleman walked in to brush his teeth. At 10 in the morning. Now, for some reason, I feel free to discuss him because you just don't see people brushing their teeth at work. And then, after watching this, you starting to wonder - "Why?" Can't stand his breath after some coffee? (one hopes that it wasn't because he was eating onions or garlic at 10 in the morning). Was he being considerate to a fellow coworker, perhaps a young lady that he works with very closely? Or perhaps it's medical, having to keep his mouth and teeth as clean as possible because of dental or gum issues. Or maybe it's just OCD? (I had never seen him before, but today is only Day 8 on the job). Just one of those observations that make you wonder...
posted at 10:08 AM | Link | Work § |
Thursday, December 19, 2002
Healthy BunnyWell, Carol is home with Indy. Indy bounded out of her carrier, made a beeline for her condo - which she found locked - and then spent quite a while in her clubhouse of boxes. She's fine. The vet can't find a thing wrong with her, though the blood work is still pending. She got x-rayed, got her teeth checked, and nothing looks wrong. Great. To me, that means that, somehow, right around Thanksgiving, she went crazy. At least she's home, and I feel better.
posted at 08:08 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Empty HouseIt's one thing when you come home from work and your wife's not home. You can accept that - she's working late, she's out shopping. Whatever it is, it's fine. You can handle that. No problem. Why is it then, when you come home and your pet is not there either, the house just seems REALLY empty?
posted at 05:57 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Ah, the depths of sleep...Well, so far, I've found another benefit of finally being employed - sleep. I've been getting great nights of sleep. It's not that the job is tiring - I'm fine when I get home. It's just that when I sleep now, it's a deep, sound sleep. The kind of sleep that you actually enjoy. The kind of sleep that, when you wake up, you don't want to end. The kind of sleep that, when you do wake up, you realize that you haven't moved much through the night. Ahhhhhhh...
posted at 08:11 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, December 18, 2002
Hay!
So, I get home from work tonight, Carol is making dinner, and Indy is out running around. "Our bunners" is just having a grand time running around, shaking her head, and jumping up in the air. What she doesn't know, yet, is that she's going to the vet tomorrow. She's still not eating everything she should be, and she's just too "wired". It's best to just get her put up on the rack, rotate the tires, check the fluids, and make sure she's OK anyway. One of the things we noticed is that she stopped eating her hay, which isn't a good thing. I look down at her on the floor, and there she is, parked next to her basket of hay that we leave out for her, just having a nice chew on some fresh hay. Great. She'll eat hay when she's outside her Bunny Condo, but not when she's "home". We'll have to see what happens tomorrow.
posted at 06:05 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, December 17, 2002
"And we're walking... we're walking..."The building that I work in is not very big. Each floor is a series of office suites connected by a main corridor. On my particular floor, a few suites are empty due to companies going out of business. So, in general, it's quiet ot there. There's a guy that walks the main corridor, from end to end, reading a book. Just walking back and forth. He's got walking/running shoes on, and he's walking and reading from one of the floor to the other. I guess it's one way of taking a break and getting some exercise.
posted at 11:20 AM | Link | Work § |
Monday, December 16, 2002
Skinny Bunny
Indy is still not herself. She's lost weight - which, in the grand scheme of things, is not necessarily bad, as she was just a little bit pudgy. Ever since Thanksgiving, she's been... "different". She's been chewing everything in sight, but she's not eating. She's franticly wanting "lovin's" from her Dad (me). She wants to be petted, but then she wants to lick. A lot. She's just starting to eat her lettuce, and today she started eating her "chow" (It's not really "chow", but Kaytee Exact Rainbow for Rabbits). She's not eating any hay, though, and that's not good. She's still got energy, though, and this past week she's been "flopping" on the floor, a signal that she's content. We may have to get her to the vet pretty quick.
Update: Appointment with the vet Wednesday at 4:00pm Thursday at 6:00pm.
posted at 07:41 PM | Link | Bunnies | 1 comment § |
Sunday, December 15, 2002
Sunday DinnerCarol & I go over to my parents' house just about every weekend. It's a nice way to keep in touch - Diane is almost always over as well. We don't feel too guilty for having our own lives and having to skip a weekend because of other commitments. This week, though, is different. We're getting into the Christmas season with heavy hearts and skirting a real big issue. This will be Dad's last Christmas. I really felt it this week. This was the first dinner we've had where Dad wasn't at the dinner table with us - he took his dinner in the back room, in front of the TV. He's having this really odd problem that I've talked about before - he can't keep some of the food he eats "down". It seems to come up (and for you squeamish people out there - jump to the next sentence) out his nose. The hospice nurse (and I think doctor as well) believe that the massive infection/abscess that he had in his neck a few months ago may have formed a "pouch" that's collecting some of the food he's swallowing, so this thing he's experiencing isn't acid reflux. The major downside to this is that, though he's hungry and wants to eat, this condition is making eating extremely difficult. He's losing weight. Fast. I really noticed it this week. He's so much thinner. It's putting a strain on my Mom and I can't imagine what Christmas is going to be like. It's scary and disturbing and we just don't really talk about it. In our family, if you don't talk about it then you don't have to face it. At least you don't face it in "public". But you sure do face it when you are alone...
posted at 09:48 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, December 13, 2002
TriscadecaphobiaStarting to feel the whiplash of not working for such a long period of time - I'm groggy a lot of the time. Just not used to this, though it's getting better day-by-day. Driving to work is not bad at all - I'm doing it in about 35 minutes, and I can take Higgins Road the entire way (I love direct routes). The surprise this morning was that the road construction eastbound on Higgins is finally over (didn't look like westbound was finished, though). There were unmarked police cars on the shoulders just waiting for the people to speed along the newly-opened lanes.
posted at 09:20 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, December 11, 2002
mrphlmlll.....Not used to working... falling asleep... need to get my act together
posted at 04:47 PM | Link | Work § |
First Dayposted at 01:19 PM | Link | Work § |
Tuesday, December 10, 2002
The long nightmare is overEMPLOYED!
I start work tomorrow at 8:30am. It's really a temp job, as it's a position that will be going away, but they are going to sign me on as a full-time employee - with benefits! That will be the first full-time job I've had in 20 months!. Excited? Yes. Sort of, though. It's not what I normally do. It's actually a Help Desk job - something I've never done before (lately, I've been doing 3rd Level support, not 1st Level). And it's tens-of-thousands less that what I used to earn, but it's a full-time paying job and I get to stay within the industry (which I think is a plus!) There's another little thing, too - my buddy Barry got me the job - it's at his company! So, I'm indebted to him for saving our broke asses! Thanks, Bar. I need to do something for you!
posted at 01:45 PM | Link | Unemployment | 2 comments § |
Monday, December 09, 2002
Another year of this?
Since Fall was the Fall that wasn't - more like a long preface of Winter - the damn geese are back in the neighborhood again, crapping all over the place. And it's not just a pair of geese. No, whole flocks are walking the cul-de-sac. Great. Another season of this. Why couldn't the West Nile virus get these guys instead of the blackbirds?
posted at 01:30 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Another one
My favorite airline filed for Chapter 11 this morning at 6:19am. I've always tried to fly United. I've enjoyed their service and aircraft. I've loved the company, too. Since I was a kid, I have wanted to work for the company. After all, it is "Chicago's Hometown Airline". THe headquarters is just a suburb or two over from ours. Now, it's in Chapter 11. I'm hoping, like a lot of other people, that they can fix it and not destroy it. Our other airline favorite - National - our favorite airline to Las Vegas, didn't make it and folded. Both airlines were rejected by the Air Transportation Stabilization Board for a guaranteed loan.
posted at 09:41 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, December 08, 2002
Getting old is a bitchI love waking up in the morning and realizing that you slept so soundly that, to the best of your fleeting recollection, you never moved during the night. The downside of that is if you had worked yourself into a comfortable position, you have stayed in that position for a very long time. If some body part, though comfortable, wasn't exactly in the right position, you pay for it the next day. That's where I am right now. I woke up with my right wrist in terrible pain. I feels out of position. The little finger and ring finger are tingling a little, which means there's a nerve out of place, too. All I'm trying to do is watch Michael Vick get his hat handed to him by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. ("Where do you keep your buccaneers?" "Under your buckkin' hat!") He sure doesn't look like the quarterback everyone's been raving about. I'm continuously shaking my hand in the air, straightening my elbow and shaking my hand toward the ground, trying to get whatever is out of whack into correct alignment. Not happening. Pain. Sucks.
posted at 02:36 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, December 06, 2002
F2FFace-to-face interview on Tuesday morning for a temporary job on a help desk. There's more detail, but, again, I don't want to reveal it yet - there's potential jinxing involved and someone else is involved. It's been 14 months since my last contract (that only lasted 9 days), and 20 months since I had a permanent position.
posted at 12:27 PM | Link | Unemployment § |
Thursday, December 05, 2002
Rescued?It looks like I just might be earning some money starting next week... it won't be what I used to earn, but it would be something... More info to follow - don't want to jinx anything.
posted at 11:44 AM | Link | Job Search | 2 comments § |
Wednesday, December 04, 2002
Maggiano's
Just got back from Carol's company Christmas Party at Maggiano's Little Italy in Schaumburg. We were in a nice, private, dark banquet room upstairs. We had a great time. Her coworkers are great (some loud and boisterous!) and though every once in a while conversation turned toward work, people really tried to steer clear of it. Carol has been overwhelmed, swamped, frustrated, overworked over at least the last month. Yes, it's her busiest time of year and she has days where she comes home (like yesterday) an emotional puddle of goo. But it was interesting to hear how some of her coworkers are trying to help her out and everyone - to the letter - said that they had no idea how busy she really was and how impossible it is to keep up with the constant orders and phone calls. Too long of a night, too much drinking - I have no idea how these people are going to function tomorrow.
posted at 10:25 PM | Link | Mundane § |
But I've never worked retail...I'm panicking. We're panicking. I went to the local CompUSA to see if they're hiring - they are but the didn't have any applications! I left my resume with a Customer Service person. I have never worked retail in my life. Sales there is base-plus-commission. Yuck. I don't know if I can do this... someone out there please HELP!!!! I don't want to abandon my 20+ year career! Help! At least they were hiring - I stopped by Best Buy and they're not. Help!
posted at 03:46 PM | Link | Mundane | 2 comments § |
Tuesday, December 03, 2002
Duplo the bunnyThat's it... Indy is nuts. Ever since Thanksgiving, it's like she's in her Terrible Two's. To save out walls, I went to Toys-R-Us and bought a couple of buckets of Duplo blocks and built some small walls to block her off from the real walls. I didn't buy enough buckets, but I think this will work...
posted at 05:40 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Me Groggy, Indy FuzzyI woke up at 10:00, trying to figure out why I was still sleeping. Ever have one of those? Checked on Indy and she seems no worse for the wear. She's not eating much. She's laying around in her meatloaf pose, so she seems content. She's not asking to come out of her cage, so I'm wondering if she feels OK. It's snowing again outside - lake effect. (It's cool - The flakes are really big and you can see it on my live WeatherCam.) Going to be cold tonight - single digit temperatures.
posted at 12:00 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, December 02, 2002
Mixed-up BunnyIndy is driving us nuts. Ever since Thanksgiving, she's been acting different. She's been trying to eat the walls. We've been chasing her around, trying to get her to stop, and we just can't get her to stop, let alone associate our yelling and screaming with her chewing on the walls.
Well, tonight we all got scared. I chased her around still again after catching her chewing. When she got into her bunny condo, that's when I saw it - blood. Blood all over the lambskin we have on her second floor of her condo. Something ripped up her right rear foot. She's not in pain at all. In fact, she's totally oblivious to it. I grabbed her and Carol and I worked on her foot to clean it up and try to stop the bleeding, which we did. She's going to confined to her cage for a while. Damn bunny.
posted at 09:05 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Blue sky?
I think the guys at the National Weather Service may want to yank their heads of their Doppler radar screens and look at the window. I'm seeing pieces of blue sky. It sure doesn't look ominous.
posted at 03:38 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Second WaveILZ006-014-030255-
COOK IL-LAKE IL-
256 PM CST MON DEC 2 2002
..SNOW ADVISORY CONTINUES THROUGH TONIGHT...
A COLD FRONT PASSED THROUGH THE AREA FROM THE NORTH & PROVIDED A
BROAD AREA OF ONE TO TWO INCHES OF SNOW THIS AFTERNOON. RADAR &
SATELLITE TRENDS CONTINUE TO SHOW LAKE EFFECT SNOW IS SETTING UP FOR
THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. AN ADDITIONAL TWO TO FOUR INCHES CAN BE
EXPECTED WHERE THE LAKE EFFECT SNOW BANDS SET UP. THIS WILL MAKE
DRIVING DIFFICULT IN SOME LOCATIONS DURING THE EVENING & OVERNIGHT
HOURS.
posted at 03:37 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Snow Advisory
ILZ006-013-014-022-022200-
COOK IL-DUPAGE IL-LAKE IL-WILL IL-
945 AM CST MON DEC 2 2002
..SNOW ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...
SNOWFALL OF 3 TO 7 INCHES IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA BY TUES
MORNING WITH LOCALIZED HIGHER AMOUNTS NEAR LAKE MICHIGAN. 2 TO 4
INCHES IS EXPECTED BY THIS EVENING, WITH AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 3 INCHES
OVERNIGHT.
posted at 09:51 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, December 01, 2002
Thanksgiving #2We just got back from our second Thanksgiving dinner - this time at our friends Chelby & Damian. Chelby's parents are in Mexico a this time of year - until May, so she's without family and needs to extend a tradition to her important second family, which we are blessed to be part of. It was a nice dinner again (Carol made the stuffing, which seems to be in high demand - Me, well, I'm official turkey carver!) We tried watching the Bears-Packers game on TV, but it was just too painful.
posted at 08:04 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, November 29, 2002
StiffI'm having a bad day. Physically. I'm really stiff. The right side of my back is in a knot. My neck is stiffening up and I think it's making noise when I turn my head. Didn't do anything all day. Didn't even put the grill away from yesterday. I feel terrible. I want to sleep. In fact, I haven't even gotten dressed today - I'm lounging in my bathrobe. I was going to listen to the Wolves game over the internet tonight from San Antonio, but - the game is canceled due to a mechanical problem in the ice refrigeration system inside the new SBC Center. I'm cranky and depressed, too.
posted at 09:10 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, November 28, 2002
Long dayMy entire body is hurting and I feel like I'm asleep on my feet. My family left after 9, while Carol's brother and wife stayed way too long until 11:30. It was a great evening. I still don't know what happened, but the turkey got rave reviews for taste and being so moist. Go figure.
I am a bit melancholy, however. My dad, though he really looks pretty good, has been having difficulty eating with something that is almost like acid reflux but isn't. It's making him miserable and he's not eating very much. In fact, because of the reflux or whatever it is, he doesn't eat with the rest of us because he's embarrassed by the food coming up, so he ate in the family room.
The saddest thing of all, however, is knowing that this was the last time my father will be in my house. Soon, he won't be able to travel as the cancer continues to wreak havoc on his body.
What I am thankful for today is that I was able to have my father over for Thanksgiving, and share the turkey that I have cooked, even with something we both enjoy - the skin. I hope he had a good time. I will always remember it.
posted at 11:45 PM | Link | Mundane § |
BLOG-A-TURKEY - Carve the turkey, enjoy the meal - 4:35 pmposted at 04:54 PM | Link | Mundane § |
BLOG-A-TURKEY - Take the bird off the grill - 3:35 pm
Another check of the temperature shows no change - so that's it. I take the turkey off the grill and bring it inside to my utility room which doubles today as turkey carving central. The washer & dryer is all setup with utensils and platters to help with the carving. The problem is - the turkey is done WAY too early. I grab aluminum foil and basically wrap the bird to keep the heat in. Normally, the turkey would sit about 20-30 minutes to complete cooking before we carve. Now, it's going to sit for about an hour. Hopefully everything will work out.
So, let's see: On the grill at 1:10, off the grill at 3:35, that's 145 minutes for a 16½ pound turkey, or 8 minutes 47 seconds a pound.
posted at 03:36 PM | Link | Mundane § |
BLOG-A-TURKEY - Check the temperature - 3:10 pm
OH, CRAP! NOOOOOOOOOO!!! I went out and took the bird's temperature. I'm shooting for 180 degrees in the thigh and 170 degrees in the breast. Check one thigh - it's over 200 degrees!!! I pull the turkey off the grill to get it away from the heat and try it again. It's in the 190's. the other thigh in in the upper 170's, so the heat is uneven. I flip the bird around and leave it in just for a few more minutes, because I'm just not believing the temperature. I can't believe that a 16½ pound turkey would have been done that quickly. It doesn't feel right, but since this was a brand new chimney that holds much more coal, there's a possibility that there was much more heat and it just got done quicker. We'll see.
posted at 03:10 PM | Link | Mundane § |
BLOG-A-TURKEY - Check on the turkey, start another chimney - 2:45 pm
Check the turkey, just to make sure everything is OK - and it is. Add another chimney of charcoal and more hickory. The bird is getting much darker and you can see that the skin seems to be drier and more "taut". This may cause the bird to "tear" the skin in some places (most likely near the wings, as these are going to get real crispy by the time we're done). Hold off on starting the next chimney of charcoal. We're in the home stretch now, and it's possible that this turkey is going to be done soon.
posted at 02:47 PM | Link | Mundane § |
BLOG-A-TURKEY - Check on the turkey, start another chimney - 1:50 pmposted at 01:53 PM | Link | Mundane § |
BLOG-A-TURKEY - Transfer the charcoal, add the hickory, put the turkey on, start another chimney - 1:10 pmposted at 01:10 PM | Link | Mundane § |
BLOG-A-TURKEY - Transfer the charcoal, start another chimney - 12:30pmposted at 12:32 PM | Link | Mundane § |
BLOG-A-TURKEY - Prepare the hickory - 12:05 pmposted at 12:07 PM | Link | Mundane § |
BLOG-A-TURKEY - Start the first chimney of charcoal - 11:41 amposted at 11:44 AM | Link | Mundane § |
BLOG-A-TURKEY - The StartEvery Thanksgiving since we've moved out to Hoffman Estates we've held the family Thanksgiving dinner. At each of those YOUR'S TRULY has cooked the turkey. Actually, barbecued the turkey. On my Weber. Since this is the first year of my Blog, I'm going to Blog my way through the barbecuing!
Here's the subject of today's Thanksgiving dinner:
It's a 16½ pound fresh Butterball. Carol will be preparing everything else for tonight's dinner. This turkey is mine.
I went out to Walgreen's to pick up a pair of 'Ove" Gloves - made of Nomex and Kevlar. I need something to handle the hot stuff around the barbecue and my old gloves are shot. The only other things I need are charcoal, hickory (for smoking) and a charcoal chimney to get the coals going quickly and efficiently.
posted at 09:35 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Wednesday, November 27, 2002
OK, what happened to Fall?It was 16 degreees this morning!!! What the heck is going on? It is bright sunshine, though, reflecting off the new snow from yesterday so it's a bit blinding to look outside. I just want it in the 40's. Is that so much to ask?
posted at 10:15 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, November 26, 2002
Plowed
It snowed enough today that Ali Pozo called to see if he'll be plowing our driveway again this year. I said yes - he was already on his way over and was plowing the driveway within 10 minutes. Wow. I like this guy.
posted at 06:45 PM | Link | Mundane § |
It's snowing again
I just noticed that it was getting brighter outside. No, not sun. Snow. Lake effect snow, all the way out in the northwest suburbs.
posted at 11:37 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, November 25, 2002
Sick dayI know it wasn't Diane's cooking, but I'm not feeling well today. The weird thing is that most of my problems (other than some odd gastric issues) seem to be all nerve-related. I've been having trouble waking up in the morning the past few days. There's a nerve that's getting pinched in my neck that's causing this particular nerve to just "Zing!" from the right side of my jaw down the front of my neck. The pinch is really severe and it is like getting an electrical shock. It's scary to wake up that way. Then I've been have some really bad leg twitches for about a week. So in other words - I'm a mess and don't feel like writing today.
posted at 10:54 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, November 24, 2002
Sunday at Diane's
We drove into the city to pick up my parents and went to my sister Diane's for dinner. (First, though, when we went to my parents' house, we had to go in to watch the Bears beat the Lions in overtime!) Dad was in surprisingly good shape for the ride and visit. It must have been one of his better days. Diane cooked a great dinner (a pork roast) and we annihilated the entire dinner. We must have been hungry or something, but there was only three pieces of pork left and absolutely nothing else. We had the dinner because we celebrated Mom's birthday (which was yesterday). There was one embarrassing moment, however. After all of these years, somehow Diane & I bought the same birthday card for mom. It started snowing while we were at Diane's, but the traffic wasn't bad going home. In fact, it was almost like people were off the roads, afraid of the snow.
posted at 10:38 PM | Link | Family § |
Clock is ticking...Bills are paid through December 5th. After that, we're screwed. What am I going to do???
posted at 12:00 PM | Link | Unemployment § |
Saturday, November 23, 2002
A Prairie Home Companion
Tonight's A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor is in Chicago, broadcasting from the Auditorium Theater. The guests include saxophonist Franz Jackson, Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones, The Sones de Mexico Ensemble.
posted at 05:04 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, November 22, 2002
Stadium Seating illegalJust a few hours after coming home from the AMC South Barrington 30, I was watching the Channel 5 news and saw a story that said a federal court in Los Angeles ruled that AMC "violated the Americans With Disabilities Act by offering patrons who use wheelchairs and their companions only inferior seating in the front rows of its new stadium-style movie theaters." The wheelchair accessible seats were in use during the movie, and though they were on the main floor, they're still almost a dozen rows from the screen, but this was one of the larger theaters. I can't imagine how they're going to redesign the theaters to comply.
posted at 10:15 PM | Link | Odd § |
Bond, Ja... aw hell, you know the name...
Just got back from the AMC South Barrington 30 and Die Another Day. It's been over two months since we saw a movie. (First off, before the movie, we saw a trailer for a movie whose title was so unique that it just sticks with you: Bulletproof Monk. Also saw a trailer for Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and the place almost booed and threw things at the screen. It sure didn't look like something I'd run out to see.) Well, after 40 years, it's still a good ride. The movie has the same trademark opening chase/disaster/escape (this time - GASP! - no escape!), the trademark opening credits (and Madonna's theme song isn't that bad). Halle Berry was great (and looks great). John Cleese picks up the mantle of Q perfectly (from Desmond Llewelyn, who died in an accident December 19, 1999. Did you know that in The World Is Not Enough, Desmond Llewelyn was Q but John Cleese was R? And Why "Q"? Because he's the Quartermaster.) Even Moneypenny (Samantha Bond, of all names) has a cute scene at the end. Best scene - a fencing match that gets way out of hand. Things are stretching a little bit, though. A plane stays in the air - intact - for way too long during a critical segment of the movie. Also, I was dissapointed that the director has stooped to using slo mo shots of fight scenes and other optical effects just to try to reach the level of some of the other movies that we have been accustomed to seeing. This Bond, for cripes sake. He doesn't require these effects. 40 years, 20 movies, 5 Bonds (6 really) - he still has it.
posted at 08:10 PM | Link | Movies | 1 comment § |
Errandsposted at 02:52 PM | Link | Mundane § |
JFK +39I was in grammar school. I remember listening to the radio broadcast over the P.A. system (which, looking back on it, was a bit of a technological feat). I remember watching the funeral procession a few days later on our TV. I know a lot of you out there weren't even around when this happened, but this event really changed America. Considering how much the human race has become more violent in these 39 years since his assassination, I think it's absolutely remarkable that the U.S. Secret Service has been able to step up and handle Presidential security.
posted at 12:57 PM | Link | Current Events § |
Thursday, November 21, 2002
I gotta get out of this place...posted at 01:20 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, November 18, 2002
I love my TiVo, Part II
The Chicago Tribune published another article on TiVo called Revolution, interrupted. I LOVE MY TIVO. It really has changed the way we view television at home. I'm looking forward to the new Series 2 for DirecTV to really help us out. I don't know what to say - this device is wonderful. I was able to get one at a very reasonable price well over a year ago and paid the lifetime fee, which has now paid for itself versus the monthly fee. This is a technology that really does work and no one seems to be getting it. As in - not purchasing it and not getting how it works and what it does. I guess the TiVo Evangelists aren't doing a good job of selling the concept. I guess I'm not doing a good job, either in this weak, rambling rant. I love the box. It really works. It gives us great enjoyment. God, that's lame... I just don't want it to go down the BetaMax path...
posted at 10:37 AM | Link | Technology § |
Sunday, November 17, 2002
First Snow
I guess it was a bit cold all day yesterday. When I woke up this morning, all of those "snow flurries" decided to accumulate on the lawns in the neighborhood! It's actually the first snowfall of the season.
Update: It all melted four hours later.
posted at 06:41 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, November 16, 2002
Happy 15th Birthday, SamToday we went to my cousin Kathy's to celebrate a couple of family birthdays. Now, with Dad feeling the way he is, we knew he wasn't gong to go. He always had a low tolerance for kids, and that just advanced with his age. Now, with the Cancer, there's just no reason to put him through that. But what was surprising is that Dad said Mom should go. So Carol & I drove into the city to pick up Mom and drove out to Hawthorn Woods.
read more of this entry »
posted at 09:36 PM | Link | Family § |
Down the drain...My entries have been sparse. I feel like I'm in a downward spiral... I've got nothing to say because I've got nothing going on in my life. No job, so I don't commute regularly and see things to comment on, no coworkers to comment on their behavior. It's only Carol and me at Home (and, well, Indy too), so I can't comment too much on siblings or children, and, though I love Indy very much, she doesn't do too many things out of the ordinary. I comment about the Reality TV shows that I watch, so so much for television. That leaves the odd things around the internet (which are more scary than I expected) or comment about current events which is even scarier. I mean, you get your ambiguous terrorist threats to hospitals in Chicago (where the hell did that come from???) or how about the new "spectacular attacks"? I need to get busy. I need a job. I need to get out in the world.
posted at 11:00 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, November 14, 2002
I'm what?Carol and I were watching West Wing last night on NBC. There was a commercial for tonight's Good Morning, Miami. One of the characters (Penny) says (to Jake): "Yeah, I'm so into this whole pint-sized dork thing you got going on."
"It's like God carved you out of a block of pure geek and then protected his creation with a thick coat of fur. Yum." Carol turns to me and says "She just described you!"
I'm not sure how to take that!
posted at 10:14 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, November 13, 2002
I'm Goin' to MarsMy name (along with Carol's) is going to included on a DVD that's being flown to Mars next year on one of the Rover Missions! Each rover will photograph and return to Earth a picture of each DVD disk of names as they rest on the Martian surface. Cool!
posted at 11:16 PM | Link | Space | 1 comment § |
Burning bush
Looking out my front door this morning I noticed our crimson is gone. Our Burning Bush dropped it's leaves. There were three fat, fuzzy sparrows in the bush, slowly plucking the remaining leaves. I love the color of the bush and now it's gone for the season.
posted at 03:27 PM | Link | Mundane § |
24 years and holdingI started my first job in Corporate America 24 years ago this morning, reporting to work at Brunswick Corporation's World Headquarters in Skokie, IL as a programmer trainee. The odd thing is that I took the next day off to fly to Detroit to shoot an HR film for the Budd Company. Somehow, I stayed at Brunswick for 7 months short of 20 years. That's a long time to be at one company, especially in an IT position. I loved my time there, and I'm fortunate to still have a few friends from there.
Now, I wouldn't mind starting another long stretch at another company... if I could just find a job...
posted at 09:18 AM | Link | Unemployment § |
Tuesday, November 12, 2002
Northwest Side CatholicI went over to my parent's house today. I had printed-up some tickets for a Christmas party for my mom, and she had some errands to run so I drove her around for a while.
Growing up Catholic on the Northwest side of Chicago was actually part of my mundane life. It had nothing unusual. I was an Altar Boy, I was in Scouts. I sang in the Folk Choir. I even temporarily directed the choir until a permanent director could be found. I had a normal childhood.
I remember saying out loud recently that I thought it was interesting that I never had experienced or even heard of any instances of impropriety by the priests in out parish. None of my friends had ever said anything and I never saw anything.
There was one priest that, when I was younger, I really liked. He was a nice guy. He was always supporting the scouts, he ran the Altar Boys. He was just a fun nice guy.
Typical to the Archdiocese, he was moved to another parish over time, just like every other priest that I liked that had come to the parish.
My mom told my today that he has been withdrawn from all pastoral duties by an Archdiocese of Chicago review board investigating charges of sexual misconduct with a pre-teen boy.
It allegedly happened 15 years ago, decades after he left my parish.
I pray this didn't happen. I prefer to remember Father Thomas the way I remember him from my youth - a good guy, a good priest.
posted at 06:26 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, November 11, 2002
A dog in the nightWe got to John's house at around 9 o'clock on Friday. I had never been up there before. John had to scurry around the house to get it up and running - heat, water, etc. He called me out to the back deck.
It was dark and cold. But once my eyes corrected, I saw the sky was full of stars. THere was no light pollution - we were a long way from any large city or town. It was perfectly quiet, except for a dog barking somewhere in the darkness, across the lake. There wasn't a single other sound to be heard. The amount of low magnitude stars was so amazing, it was almost confusing. You get used to seeing constellations out in the suburbs - you see the primary stars in the constellation an nothing else. Out here, there's so many stars, it's hard to really see the constellations.
We're on the deck for 10 minutes. The dog, in the meantime, has been continually barking. I turn to John:
Me: "Isn't there anybody over there to shut the dog up?"
*BANG*
Silence.
John: "They shot the dog!"
It got quiet across the lake. We're laughing because we can't believe what we thought we heard.
We never heard the dog the rest of the weekend. We have no idea what happened.
posted at 08:00 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, November 10, 2002
The Away Team
I had a nice time this weekend. I was part of The Away Team - the group of coworkers that go up to John's house in La Valle Wisconsin to spend the weekend. They've been doing this since we worked together, about five years ago. It's been an annual trip, and, even though I had been invited, I've never gone (scheduling conflicts). Well, this year, we worked around the schedule. In fact, we had to reschedule for November, just to make sure we all got up there together. It was worth it. We were about 230 miles away, 4 miles outside of a town with a population of only 446. I lost cell phone connectivity 15 minutes before we hit town. It was a typical guys weekend - sat around, ate beef jerky, drank beer, watched TV, smoked cigars, talked about fishing (it was too late in the year and instead of being out on the lake in boats, we were putting away boats for the season). Fortunately, the weather was around 60° so it was enjoyable to be out on the deck, day or night. We didn't cook - we ate at the local establishments which were... interesting. Had some great prime rib on Saturday night. All in all, a good time. I miss these guys and it was so weird being together again. I can't wait for the next visit. Really. I want to sit out in a boat and fish. I want to sit on that back deck and drink and just watch the birds at the many bird feeders that John has. I want to sit around and just talk - about the old days, about what's going on in the world. I just want to be one of the guys. Like it used to be.
posted at 06:54 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Friday, November 08, 2002
Skipping town
I'm going on a little trip this weekend. I'm going up to a little town in Wisconsin called La Valle, which is at least 3 hours from here. I'm going a bit out of my way first, though. I'm picking up my buddy Barry at the Rosemont stop on the CTA Blue Line and then driving up to Lake Forest to park in the parking lot of our former employer, to meet another friend (Joe, who is also a former coworker) and pick up another former coworker John who still works at where we all used to work together (is that evasive enough?). The four of us are spending the weekend at John's place in LaValle. The other guys have been up there quite a few times before - this is my first trip. It's actually the first time in my life (that I can remember) that I'm "going out with the guys". This is the first time in 18 months that Carol will be alone at home and she's pretty excited about it. She left a nice little note for me, but she still had to be a little "wifey" about it!!! At least she didn't require me to fill out the Application For A Night Out With The Boys. Don't know if I'll blog from up there, but we'll see.
posted at 11:29 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Lethargy, anxiety, “difficulty getting along with co-workers,” and a “reluctance to go out to work”posted at 09:08 AM | Link | Odd § |
Thursday, November 07, 2002
School bus
I live on a cul de sac. Actually, I live on a corner of a cul de sac. The corner is a school bus pickup/dropoff point for kids on out street. Since the cul de sac isn't that big, then why to parents have to not only drive their kids to the bus, but have to park in my driveway and in front of my house blocking traffic while waiting for the bus? Why? I'm not appreciative of having oil dripping from their minivans on my driveway.
posted at 08:24 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Wednesday, November 06, 2002
*click* *click* *click*I had to dig up my old ankle brace from when I hurt myself a year and a half ago. It still hurts and it's been clicking and popping all day. I wonder what I did... Is this what it's like to get old???
posted at 04:28 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Why am I awake?I've been up for the last half hour and I don't have a clue why. Was it the elections weighing heavy on my mind? Well, maybe a little - I don't like the idea of the House and Senate being under control of the same party - the same party as the President. (According to CNN this morning, the Senate is 51 Rep, 46 Dem and 2 undecided, and the House is 226 Rep, 203 Dem and 5 undecided.) If the President decides to do something (cut taxes, go to war) that you don't exactly agree with, there's no one to stop him (so to speak). Saw an interesting exit poll question yesterday on one of the local channels - 38% of the people polled said that corruption was the major reason why they voted the way they did.
I think the other reason I woke up is that my right ankle is killing me. I sort of tore it up almost two years ago getting off a train. I misstepped and must have bruised and tore up ligaments because it got all black and blue. It hasn't been the same since.
I'm not a morning person. I like sleep.
I wonder what's going on downstairs? I keep hearing Carol quietly yelling at Indy. Sounds like she's being bad, and Carol is trying not to be loud so she doesn't wake me up.
posted at 05:35 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, November 05, 2002
Vote early, vote often...
Just got back from doing my civil, patriotic duty - I went to vote. I remember the days when you would get accosted from pollsters and "workers" to see what you were going to do, or get you to change your mind. The streets were empty. Our pooling place is a grade school, so it's always weird going in there - seeing the classrooms with the little desks. Didn't see any students or teachers, though. This time, everything wasn't setup in the gym - it was setup in a single back hallway, so between the tables, the booths, and the people, it was a bit hard to maneuver. It didn't help matters that there were NO signs to help you with where you should start (because, you know, that one person can't do the whole job - it must be done by a series of people. The voting booth was a little flimsy - definitely something you can't really lean on. I'm still upset that we're still using the punchcard voting system. After Florida 2000, I think this system should be banned. I had found a website (VoterInfoNet) that, once you key-in your address, it produces a list of items on your particular ballot. I always try to do something ahead of time to make sure I know how I'm going to vote before I get there. Not only that, it helps me as a cheat-sheet to remember which judges I want to retain or not (a long, tedious process). Then it was just a matter of poking holes, taking the ballot to a checking machine to make sure everything is OK, and I was on my way.
posted at 01:49 PM | Link | Current Events § |
Sunday, November 03, 2002
Yuck.Carol and I went out to our Chinese Buffet place on Friday night and I've been feeling terrible ever since. I just want to sleep. In the meantime, I'm supposed to do some ticket layouts for my Mom for her parish's St. Anne Society Christmas Party, not to mention trying to force MovableType into this existing website. It's taking way too much time, but I'm positive it's because I'm trying to force it into my structure. Hopefully, I will win... Maybe the website will be back to normal on Monday...
posted at 11:15 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, November 01, 2002
Fall
Went out to grab a bite to eat for lunch, and there they were throughout the entire neighborhood.
Leaves.
It got cold last night - 27°, Wind Chill 8°. All (well, almost all) of the trees in the neighborhood had this huge drop of leaves. They're everywhere - streets, lawns, sidewalks. So I guess this it it. It's fall. It's cold, too. There wasn't much of a transition here, it literally just "snapped" and the temperature dropped. There's no relief in sight either.
Sigh.
posted at 01:21 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Unemployment Tote BoardOk, it's the first of the month - time to make an assessment of how long I've been out of work.
Permanent Full-Time: 17 months
Contract: 13 months
*sigh*
posted at 11:59 AM | Link | Unemployment § |
Thursday, October 31, 2002
Halloween
Halloween was actually a bit more quiet than usual this year. perhaps the cold temperatures kept kids away. Only a few cool costumes this year. The thing that struck me this year was that many of the kids were very polite and even said "Happy Halloween" when leaving. The tote board for today: 79 kids. We usually have over 100 (and yes, we actually count every kid).
posted at 06:54 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, October 30, 2002
They're changin'
Looks like the leaves are starting to finally turn in the neighborhood (I can see it starting while looking at my WeatherCam). Chelby should be here any minute - We're going over some things that we need for her website.
posted at 11:00 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Glad that's over...Just finished going back over my blogging entries to add titles and categories to over 730 entries. Too tedious, but I really wanted to do it. Now I just have to think about some Moveable Type designs for the blog.
posted at 10:34 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Monday, October 28, 2002
Nigerian 419 FraudThere's an interesting article at The Slate - The Nigerian Nightmare - on the subject of an EMail I received this morning: Fraud. In fact, this Nigerian Scam is, according to published reports, the Third to Fifth largest industry in Nigeria. There is info about this at the U.S. Secret Service Financial Crimes Division website, and at the 419 Coalition Website.
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From: "BARRISTER ALI KOLOMA"
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2002 15:02:55
Subject: PRIVATE ASSISTANCE
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From: BARRISTER ALI KOLOMA [mailto:koloma@hknetmail.com]
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2002 3:03 PM
Subject: PRIVATE ASSISTANCE
ATTN:PRESIDENT/CEO
Sir,
VERY CONFIDENTIAL
first I must solicit your strictest confidence in this transaction. This is by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential and top secret. I came to know of you in my private search for a reliable and reputable person to handle this confidential transaction, which involves the transfer of a huge sum of money. I am the Attorney to Mohammed Abacha whose father Lt.Gen. Sani Abacha died sometime in 1998 in mysterious circumstance as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. My client who is still in detention for fraudulent activities, which he committed during his father s reign desperately, needs a foreign partner into whose account he will transfer the sum of $32m USD (Thirty-two million united states dollars). This money is safely deposited in a security company here in Lagos before his detention. My client whose family properties have been seized and bank accounts frozen by the present Civilian Government cannot afford to loose this money, which he ho! pes to! start a new life whenever he is released from detention. We have agreed to offer you 30% of the whole money, 60% for us and 10%for any eventual expenses.There is no risk involved in this transaction. Every arrangement has been concluded with the security company that as soon as you give me your positive response to this request, the money will be moved out of the country within 3-5 days.
please reply through e-mail or call on my private line 234-802-3049565
I waiting to hear from you.
BARRISTER ALI KOLOMA
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posted at 04:00 PM | Link | Nigerian 419 Fraud § |
Sunday, October 27, 2002
SquanderedOK, let's see a show of hands... everybody who didn't use the time change to get an extra hour of sleep, raise your hand... (raises hand...)
posted at 07:31 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Fall Back!!!Whooo Hoooo! A 25-hour day! I love today for that reason. I hate today because it gets dark so damn early.
posted at 02:00 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, October 26, 2002
Another Lazy SaturdayA nice lazy Saturday - exactly what Carol needs. We spent the day watching the Breeders Cup from Arlington Park. It was great hearing so many people say how great the facility is. Too bad it was cloudy and cold - the place looks beautiful in the sun. A new event record was set for All Sources Handle for the Breeders' Cup - $115,523,156. $13,568,233 was handled just at Arlington. There were 6 winners of the Breeders' Cup Ultra Pick 6, all purchased at Catskill OTB in upstate New York, with a payout of $428,392. Wow.
Just as the Breeders' Cup Classic was getting underway, paramedics pulled up at the house behind us. We never see fire department equipment in the neighborhood. Never. Looks like they took the homeowner away on a backboard with his head braced. I have no idea what happened.
Watched pieces of the World Series, Trading Spaces, and the Chicago Wolves hockey game on CLTV tonight, all at the same time (I love my remote). Wolves lost in overtime. Angels came-back and forced a Game 7. The jury is still out on Hilda Santo-Tomas (I think it was 1-1 tonight with Hildi - the huge dot portrait and the tall coffee table in Philadelphia: East Avenue just didn't work for me, but the kid's bedroom with the climbing wall and tent in Virginia: Gentle Heights Court was way cool)
posted at 10:35 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, October 20, 2002
Lightning Fill-In the BlankAt my parent's house for dinner tonight. Dad looked so much better. The nurse says he won't regain the weight he lost, but he's eating up a storm! Listened to Wait Wait -- Don't Tell Me! on NPR on the way home (on WBEZ). I love that show, as well as Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know? and I still have a soft spot for A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor.
posted at 11:03 PM | Link | Mundane § |
The "E" wordposted at 09:32 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Saturday, October 19, 2002
Lazy SaturdayCarol and I did nothing today. We watched TV, caught up on our TiVo viewing, took naps. It was wonderful. It was another sunny, clear day outside, only in the 40's.
posted at 10:19 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Yuck.Woke up this morning and the house still smells. I open up all the doors downstairs - the furnace is on, a breeze is blowing in the front door. The smell is still there.
posted at 09:21 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Smoldering OrvilleI was hungry, and decided to go downstairs and just make a bag of microwave popcorn. No big deal, right? Wrong! I put the popcorn in for the normal length of time and when I opened the microwave, clouds of smoke rushed out. I had significantly burned the popcorn, so much so, that I'm afraid it's actually going to combust. I make sure I know where the fire extinguisher is just in case. The kitchen and family room fill with that acrid smoke. I open the front door and try to air out the house, but nothing works. Crap. We'll never get that smell out...
posted at 01:20 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, October 17, 2002
Wet mower
Sure enough, it started to rain pretty good - and the lawn service shows up to cut and trim the lawn. Figures.
posted at 04:39 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Coolposted at 03:33 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, October 15, 2002
I'm a loserI just did something that I didn't want to have to do. I had just hoped it wouldn't come to this. Being unemployed 16 months is pushing me over the edge and I have no choice.
I sold all my stock in one of my old companies just so that we can survive. I didn't want to do that. It's really screwed-up any hope of emergency funds.
Crap, I'm a loser. I can't provide for my family. Self esteem? Don't got it. Self assured? Gone long ago. A 24-year career in IT? I'm watching it fade and I'm scared... Ageism in the IT industry? IT EXISTS. I'm not feeling too good anymore...
posted at 11:10 AM | Link | Unemployment | 2 comments § |
Monday, October 14, 2002
FrostyCold in Chicago overnight. We finally got our first freeze - 32° early this morning. This afternoon, mid 50's and sunny. It's no wonder Carol has had a cold all week - so much temperature variation. But then again, that's Chicago.
posted at 09:52 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Sunday, October 13, 2002
The swelling is downWent to my parents tonight. My sister and I both agree - Dad looks so much better. He's got more energy, a bit more of an appetite, and he's motoring around with purpose.
posted at 09:52 PM | Link | Family § |
Friday, October 11, 2002
Sunny day
It was too nice outside today (clear skies, light breeze, 72°) to waste it - I went walking around Oakbrook Center today. Didn't buy anything, just enjoyed the weather and people watched (a good day for that). Tonight, back at home I saw the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile going west down Golf Road! I wanted to follow it to find out where it was going!
posted at 05:55 PM | Link | Mundane § |
30.4!Carol just got home from work (early - she's got a cold and is miserable), but she went to Weight Watchers today - she's down 2.6 and she's now lost 30.4 pounds! Way to go, dear!
posted at 01:50 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Wednesday, October 09, 2002
Electric manWhat a nice day - sunny, clear, low 60's. I didn't have any time to reprimand Indy (even though I don't know how to reprimand a bunny, so I just chased her back into her Bunny Condo, where she stayed for the rest of the day while her parents fumed).
I spent the day doing some electrical work at my parents' house, a nice brick bungalow of Chicago's northwest side. My family's house - I spent 16 years there. My dad, who's 88 and in failing health, is always cold. So, on this glorious day, I walk into a sealed house, where my dad, in his sweater, has the furnace on, set to 75°. It was stifling in there - I had to open the doors and get some air.. At least by the end of my stay, dad had taken off his sweater. I hope he starts eating soon (he stopped a day or so ago - it's a side effect of the pain patches he was wearing) - he needs his energy to fight the infection and the cancer.
I was soaked in sweat - I had to turn on the air conditioning in the car on the way home to cool off. Nice ride home in the sun, though. Very enjoyable. Went home and opened the doors and just had a nice fall breeze blow through the house...
posted at 03:47 PM | Link | Mundane § |
BAD, INDY! BAD!
BAD, INDY! BAD!
We've loved every bunny we have ever had. They make great pets, and great companions - once you realize that rabbits are not like dogs, not like cats... rabbits are like rabbits. They are not easy to communicate with. In fact, there's an entire website setup just to try to understand what they are saying through their body language.
But, what do you do when, out of the blue, your lovely pet rabbit decides that she doesn't like your carpeting and decides to tear it apart, hoping that her parents will get new carpeting?
I mean, look, after 18 years we need new carpeting. But, after being unemployed for so long, I've got no chance of replacing it. So, when we have guests over, I guess I'll have to cover the hole somehow...
posted at 09:26 AM | Link | Bunnies § |
Tuesday, October 08, 2002
Illinois 2003 Quarterposted at 06:07 PM | Link | Current Events § |
Monday, October 07, 2002
Blue skiesAnother crisp, clear day. Yep, fall is here. It got down to 41° last night, and it's supposed to only get into the mid-50's this afternoon. The trees are starting to change. I have a love-hate relationship with this time of year - the fall colors are great, but you start to see everything starting to die, the leaves starting to fall. Summer is over. Cold and dark will be around the corner.
posted at 10:18 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, October 06, 2002
Mmmm... Plastic...Ever get a brand new liner for your shower curtain? I love that weird plastic smell... it reminds me of being a kid, and blowing up a floatie to use in your pool, or even blowing up one of those inflatable kiddie pools...
posted at 03:34 PM | Link | Mundane | 2 comments § |
Friday, October 04, 2002
My old team...
I miss my old team mates... I've actually got up enough nerve up to IM two of them (the other doesn't have IM access because of a company firewall issue). We talked for a while and commisserated. I still miss that team, though...
posted at 09:23 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, October 03, 2002
Envelope from RHLPWent out to get the mail... we received our Season Tickets from the Chicago Wolves, so I guess we're ready for hockey season. I'm still stuck on baseball, even though we went to that preseason game last night. Carol and I were commenting as we were freezing in the bleachers that it was hard shifting gears and watching hockey. The team didn't help - there was no flow to the game, it was just back and forth, lose the puck, screen the goalie, etc. Didn't help that you're looking at a bunch of new guys, and the teams don't have their names on their backs yet. Well, the Wolves got rid of 12 players earlier today, a few of the guys that were dressed from last night. The exciting thing, however, is that the Atlanta Thrashers (the parent team of the Wolves) just sent 5 guys down to the Wolves, all of them great players that were on the team last year. That should help, I guess. We'll see a week from Saturday.
posted at 04:49 PM | Link | Wolves § |
Wednesday, October 02, 2002
Back homeOK, I'm back home. Dad's not going to the doctor - he doesn't want to. Admittedly, he's only had a little over 2 days of antibiotics to treat this thing, so it isn't changing much. He's got better color, better energy. I finally looked at the thing on his neck when the nurse was changing the dressing. Oh, Christ... I can't talk about it. It was something I've never seen before, and I just don't feel the need to discuss the gory details of what it's doing. Blech. Anyway, I think they were happy that I was there while the nurse was there - I guess it was just added support for them. Dad's still in pain, though. We'll see what's happening after a few more days.
I got home and went to get the mail, when I noticed something round and white in the middle of the front lawn. It looked like somebody had lost a ball. I went to take a look at it and it was a big, white mushroom! Had to take a picture of it - I thought it looked cool.
posted at 02:23 PM | Link | Family § |
Dad dutyWell, my mom called. My dad is actually worse than when I saw him on Sunday. The hospice nurse is coming at noon and mom wants me to be there. We may have to take him to Loyola to figure out what's going on. What is happening to him? What the heck is this thing on his neck that's growing and is so painful? Sigh.
posted at 09:40 AM | Link | Family § |
Monday, September 30, 2002
Season over
That's it - the White Sox lost yesterday. The season is over. Yes, there's playoff games and the World Series, but when your team ends its season without post-season play - it's over. (Oh, but if your team gets into the Post-season - that's a whole other matter - the joy, the excitement, the constant following of everything your team does, as well as those in your league, and even dare to think it - those teams in the other league just in case...)
I get all melancholy at this time of year. I measure my life by the seasons - baseball seasons that is. Yes, hockey is just around the corner (my minor league favorite - The AHL's Chicago Wolves - lost their first preseason game Saturday night 6-3), but I don't feel my body clock pacing hockey. It ticks to baseball. When the season is over, I count the days until pitchers and catchers report to camp, the days until the first Cactus League opener, the days until the first pitch of the new season, the first pitch of the home opener... I love baseball... I love being at the park and watching the games, watching how it progresses, the ebb and flow, the grass, the sounds, the tastes, the passing of time... how hard it was to leave Comiskey Park this week...
I am always reminded of my favorite quote from a fictitious Terence Mann, talking to a fictitious Ray Kinsella:
"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again. Oh people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come." Oh, to be in my seat again...
posted at 08:32 AM | Link | Baseball § |
A nail
I can barely hear the phone ringing. I'm asleep and I hear the last ring before voicemail picks it up. I look at the clock - 7:22am. OK, that's not a damn telemarketer - who was it? I flip out of bed and look at my computer screen to see the last Caller ID message that was sent to the computers in my home network. It was Carol. OK, that means she's not home downstairs. The phone rings again and it's her. She has a flat tire and wants me to come help. So a throw clothes on, get in the car, meander through rush hour traffic to a gas station that has no air for her to use. We change the tire - first time on her Suzuki Grand Vitara, so we had to learn where all of the pieces are (jack, tire iron) and how to get the damn spare off the back of the SUV (including finding out that she has a key lock for the spare, which we didn't know about). As I'm jacking up the truck, you could see the problem clear as a bell - nail head. The entire nail is embedded in the tire. Anyway, change the tire, get her to work, get me home to collapse. Ugh. What a way to wake up...
posted at 08:19 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, September 29, 2002
Antibiotics for DadWent to my parents house this afternoon. Stopped at a Walgreens to pick up a prescription that the hospice nurse called-in for my dad - it was clindamycin, an antibiotic in a heavy dosage. The nurse was waiting for us to get there. One of the cancerous tumors in the neck lymph nodes is casing some kind of infection, causing the lymph system to go nuts. Dad's face is all puffy - the right side of his neck is like a football, and (though I didn't see it) this infected "lump" is indeed oozing. The antibiotics should help kill this problem and get the swelling down, and maybe get swelling in the face down. I felt better talking to the nurse (who was just the "weekend nurse" and not Dad's normal hospice nurse). She says that they probably couldn't diagnose this correctly back on Thursday, and with the way things have changed over the past few days, it became clear that it really was an infection of some sort. I hope this all works - Dad was in better spirits later in the day, but he's much weaker. He needs to eat more. We'll see how this goes.
posted at 09:48 PM | Link | Family § |
Dad is oozingMy sister called this morning - apparently Dad is worse. The "thing" is bigger, it's "oozing" more (how the hell is a thing on the neck oozing? Is it open?) Mom's waiting for the nurse to call. I had to call Mom to see how she was doing - she sounded pretty good on the phone - considering. The thing is "larger" (not in diameter but in "height"), oozing more (I don't get this...) and Dad's in more pain and isn't eating as much. We'll see him in a few hours and maybe I could understand what he's going through. I'm just not understanding...
posted at 01:26 PM | Link | Family § |
Saturday, September 28, 2002
Arg... where's that screw...An emergency trip to LensCrafters at Woodfield - one of my nose-piece thingies fell off, complete with screw which I somehow found. I'm going to need to get some eyeglass screwdrivers or something... I could have done this myself if a) I had the tools and b) I could actually see what the hell I'm doing - after all, it's my glasses that I needed to fix...
posted at 07:29 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Dad has an alien?Talked to my mom on the phone - sounds like dad's neck-thing is getting worse. I can't get a good description out of her or from my sister (an "alien growing out of his neck" is not exactly a definitive description of what's happening). I'm bothered by the fact that only a nurse has actually seen him, and that was a few days ago.
posted at 05:21 PM | Link | Family § |
Turning colors?Looked out the window this afternoon - and it looks like it started. The trees. They're not exactly green anymore, though they haven't turned the yellow/orange/red of fall. But it's started.
posted at 01:20 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, September 27, 2002
Keeping tabs on DadI got a call from my sister this afternoon. She's going out of town for the weekend, and she wants me to keep in touch with our parents this weekend. Dad's not feeling well - he's got some kind of growth on his neck that Diane is describing as "an alien" that's growing there, and it's starting to ooze. It's supposed to be large and painful. The hospice nurse has seen him and has contacted the doctor (presumably the oncologist Dr. Clark) who is saying that this is probably the cancer that doing this. But this thing has just "sprouted" since Tuesday. The nurse will call tomorrow and she may get a hospice doctor to visit. This is weird. Can his cancer all of a sudden grow like this? I'll have to keep tabs on this.
posted at 05:07 PM | Link | Family § |
Tuesday, September 24, 2002
Tires
Well, $521.34 later, NTB installed 4 brand new Dunlop tires, balanced them and gave the car an alignment. The car rides a bit differently now - it rides better. Who woulda thunk...
posted at 04:16 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, September 23, 2002
*yawn*Not much to talk about today... just a lazy day. A nice, cool, clear FALL day outside. Having a major motivational problem today. Some days, that just happens. Oh, well. Got to get new tires tomorrow...
posted at 10:18 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, September 22, 2002
Autumnal EquinoxIT'S OVER... Summer passes into Autumn...
posted at 11:55 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Birthday cake and ESPN Sunday Night Baseball
Went to my parents house for lunch. My sister Diane was over with Melinda so we could celebrate her birthday (remember, she was out of town on her birthday, though Carol and I already got her a present). Carol is driving this weekend since my car has that damn space-saver spare on it. I'll be getting new tires (yep, a full set) later this week. I think she's upset that she's driving, even though I've been driving to my parents and the ballpark all summer. She's pretty tired and stressed out right now. I didn't see too much of Dad. He didn't talk much, seemed tired and not as energetic as he has been. Hopefully, that was just today. His hospice nurse quit, and he has a new one - hopefully he wasn't the cause!
Hardly anybody in the parking lot when we pulled into Comiskey Park tonight, our last game of the season. The game time was moved to 7:05 just a few weeks ago, so ESPN can broadcast the game. They really bring out the equipment for the broadcast - they added 3 cameras around the plate, all remote control (one on the backstop, one at each dugout), one in straight away center, above the batter's eye for that special Strike Zone analysis shot. Plus three cameras in the regular center field position, a roving camera on the outfield concourse... Parabolic Mics everywhere in the outfield and camera wells - on guy in the camera well next to the White Sox dugout got hit with a ball - it went through the parabolic mic dish! I was looking around the park and noticed that they started test painting the concrete on the upper deck. There's four different colors, all gray. That's part of the off-season rehab. Nothing major - there's not enough money to really fix the upper deck. Did you know it would cost $4 million to replace the blue seats with green ones? It was Fan Appreciation Night - the team gave out gifts to some of the fans. We weren't one of them. The Sox SWEEP the Twins 8-2. It doesn't mean anything, as the Twins already clinched the division, but it was a show of PRIDE. Mark Buehrle got his 19th win (19-11), Frank Thomas, D'Angelo Jimenez, and Magglio Ordonez each had a home run. Afterwards, fireworks and saying goodbye to all of our Season Ticket buddies hoping to see them sitting somewhere around us next year. It was our last season ticket game this year, but I think I'll go to the Thursday afternoon game against the Red Sox, since that is the last home game. I just can't seem to let go of baseball this year...
posted at 11:25 PM | Link | White Sox § |
Friday, September 20, 2002
Museums, Fish, Pearls, FishWell, the big vacation really isn't over. We drove back into the city to pick up Barry & Buffy to go to the Museum Campus. First stop - Shedd Aquarium. We hadn't been there since the Ocenarium opened. We caught one of the Dolphin Shows. Had lunch at the Bubble Net Food Court (which was actually good food for a food court). Watched the feeding at the Caribbean Coral Reef (where the rays really cool because they didn't have any tails - "some (unnamed) fish ate them off!!!" Then it was a walk over to the Field Museum to take in the special exhibits of Chocolate and Pearls. Alas, the girls couldn't get through the Pearls exhibit without buying some! The museum was closing-up, so it was off to dinner. We were going up on Lake Shore drive, when my passenger-side front tire blew out. We made it over to an emergency area and the pit crew changed the tire in about 7 minutes. Then it was off to Clark Street and Atlantique for dinner. THIS PLACE HAS MY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION! GO. NOW. EAT. ENJOY. Service was impeccable. The food and presentation were phenomenal. Pricey - $200 for the four of us with appetizers, wine, and dessert. Worth every penny.
posted at 08:49 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, September 19, 2002
Sleepy drive homeLast day in Michigan. Woke up and packed to get on the road early (do you belive Carol has to go to work today?). Drove to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. and then drove home - got to our house around 11:15am. Carol went to work and I crashed hard on the couch, with Indy wanting to lay next to me (she missed us!).
posted at 02:29 PM | Link | Travel § |
Saturday, September 14, 2002
A & W
I know this is pretty mundane (hell, that's why my Blog is named what it is), but this was just so enjoyable. Carol, late this afternoon, decides she needs to go shopping for a few things for the trip, and she invited me along (I was shocked!). Anyway, we went to Target and didn't find what she wanted, so I suggested Woodfield. So, we shopped around there and got what she wanted at, of all places, Brookstone. It was getting near dinner-time. Somehow we went over to the A&W All American Food place. We couldn't decide on the food (we had Mickey D's for lunch), so decided on just getting a mug of root beer. I WAS IN HEAVEN. I had forgotten what fresh A&W tasted like. They give you a chilled mug, and you just go over to a tapper (that's mounted on one of their old barrels) and draw your own. Wow. I remember how we used to drive just to get a gallon of Root Beer to bring home. I haven't done it since the 80's. By then, the closest A&W was up in Racine, Wisconsin. We drove up and brought back a few gallon for us. Now it looks like they have a deal at this store to get 64oz. of root beer. It's not a gallon, but damn it's a much quicker ride! I just had to sit around a bit and sip and enjoy. Just had to share that.
posted at 06:14 PM | Link | Mundane § |
*THUMP*
I got woken up by a large sound that seems to be coming from underneath the bed. When I abruptly sat up, Indy popped out from under the bed. It was after 8am, and Carol was downstairs cleaning Indy's cage. She must have lost track of Indy, because she decided to venture out into "BunnyLand" and came upstairs for a visit. I didn't sleep all that well - the skunk's odor didn't dissipate until after 2am.
Well, I got the car washed at Turtle Wax in anticipation of our little trip. Every year, since 1994, we've gone to Las Vegas either at this time of year, or in Spring, or sometime both. This year, with my unemployment situation being as bad as it is, there's no way we could go. Instead, we're doing a driving trip. We're going with Barry & Buffy up to my sister's house in Michigan, then driving over to Dearborn, Michigan to visit Greenfield Village on Monday and the Henry Ford Museum on Tuesday, then driving back to my sisters' and spending at least a day there, before driving home. Much much cheaper. We had to do Greenfield Village on Monday, since it is closing until June of 2003 for some underground restoration project.
Don't know how often I'll be able to Blog from the road - we'll have to see how this works out. We all need to get away for a while, though.
posted at 09:37 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, September 13, 2002
Eet eez love, ma cherieHe came back. It's been a long time since he was here, and we didn't miss him. We open-up the windows at night - the weather has been great, and the nighttime temperatures have been in the 50's-60's. Great sleeping weather. Well, our "friend" just came back to the neighborhood.
A skunk.
I'm in my den, and I can smell him from here. The bedroom, with its windows open, is rank with his smell. Last year, he showed up every couple of weeks. This year, he hasn't been around since - believe it or not - winter. He's so "potent" that we had problems with him during the winter when the house was sealed-up. But with the windows open, ewwwwww. It's going to be hard falling asleep - his "presence" will be known for at least the next 2 hours...
posted at 10:40 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
TriskaidekaphobiaYow! How did Friday the 13th sneak up on me?
posted at 07:53 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, September 12, 2002
Bulbs and mosquitoes
I really didn't want to write anything yesterday. It was just hard to be home and avoid the coverage. It was, however, a gorgeous day outside - low 70's, not a cloud in the sky. I needed to escape, but I waited for Carol to get home and we went out to Chevy's. I paid for it when I was trying to sleep last night, though. Urp... Today, another gorgeous day, but a little more clouds. Went to Home Depot to buy some lightbulbs for the outside lights. I only had 100 watt bulbs and that was over the rating for the fixtures. There are too many damn lightbulbs to chose from at Home Depot. Tonight, about 9 o'clock, the mosquito abatement truck was going through the neighborhood again. This time we didn't hear it (the generator on the back of the truck was noisy) - we saw the flashing yellow Mars light as he went by. Let's see how that West Nile Virus Tote Board stacks up - great, 314 cases, 13 deaths - both are highest in the nation. Why here?
posted at 10:30 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, September 10, 2002
Getting oiled up
Since we're taking a trip next week (hey... I haven't told you about that yet, have I? I'll tell you later in the week...) I brought the car in for an oil change, change the wipers, fix a busted turn signal, top off everything, etc. at the local Jiffy Lube. Glad I did - I was a bit overdue (by about 7,000 miles)
posted at 04:17 PM | Link | Mundane § |
WiredJust got a call from Damian - Chelby's husband. She made it through 6 hours of surgery, but the bones didn't break they way they wanted to, so Chelby now has a titanium plate in her jaw - permanently. She was going to have her jaw wired shut for over a week and then some kind of rubber-band contraption for 3-4 weeks afterward. Now, with the plate - she's going to be wired-shut for six weeks. Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch...
posted at 02:14 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Break itWell, our friend Chelby is in for surgery this morning at the hospital that I've known a bit too well over the past year - Loyola. She is having her jaw broken and reset into a different position. She's been wearing braces for about a year now, and this is just another step to re-align her teeth and jaw. She's going to be wired-shut for a while. I don't know how I'd be able to tolerate that. Hopefully she'll get through the surgery fine and this whole process works for her. Ouch.
posted at 09:20 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, September 09, 2002
Not crunchy
Well, my lawn is no longer brown and "crunchy" as Carol would say. The rain that we seem to get once a week has turned the lawn nice and green and lush. Of course, that's helped by regular treatments from TruGreen - who happen to be outside right now applying... something. We were under contract for the year, so they come out regularly and do things to the lawn - fertilize, grub treatments, etc. Hopefully we can afford another year of that.
posted at 11:23 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, September 06, 2002
Confused dog
Trying to watch the White Sox game tonight. Gracie and Indy are checking each other out - both of them really want to play with each other, not realizing how bad of an idea that really is. Gracie actually has been a good dog this week. Indy has only been out about 2 hours this week, so she's a little frantic. Tomorrow, Carol and I drop off Gracie at my parents' house on the way to the White Sox - Indians game. Diane will finally be back from her road trip out west on Monday, and she'll pick up Chelsea and Gracie when back in town. (Diane should be at Jackson Lake Lodge in the Grand Teton National Park tonight, if she's still on schedule.)
posted at 09:24 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday 5 - Pet peeves
Time for another Friday Five...
1. What is your biggest pet peeve? Why? Drivers who have no clue of what's happening around them, or having a "Me First" attitude. I wrote an entire list of things that just piss me off. These people are dangerous.
2. What irritating habits do you have? I don't clean-up after myself - put the dishes in the dishwasher, put my empty soda cans in the recycling bin, throw out the junk mail after you (may) have read it, etc
3. Have you tried to change the irritating habits or just let them be? I've tried, but I just keep forgetting. I'm a mess.
4. What grosses you out more than anything else? Why? I'm assuming that this is along the lines of irritating habits... chewing tobacco. It's the inevitable spitting that is just gross.
5. What one thing can you never see yourself doing that other people do? Again, assuming that this is along the lines of irritating habits... the chewing tobacco thing. It's just not my style and I just don't undertsand it at all.
posted at 09:26 AM | Link | Friday Five § |
Thursday, September 05, 2002
Oh, oh...
I want to go to sleep. I can't. Gracie has decided to fall asleep on my side of the bed. On top of that, Carol has fallen asleep, remote still in hand, with her arm sprawled over my side of the bed as well. At least the TV is on TLC... there have been times when she's fallen asleep, and her thumb would twitch a bit and God knows what station would be on when I do to bed...
*sigh*
posted at 10:14 PM | Link | Mundane | 2 comments § |
Dog daysposted at 10:11 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, September 04, 2002
A Happy Birthday troutMy sister Diane called from Montana, mostly to check up on Gracie (Gracie is fine). Diane says the trip has been great. She really did go fly fishing today and got one Rainbow Trout (Melinda got two). Diane, however, did slip and fall and went down the river a bit! She said her waders filled up and she felt like the Michellin Man. Sounds like the trip is going great.
posted at 07:24 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Birthday wishesHappy Birthday to my buddy, Barry, and to my sister Diane - who is going fly fishing today in Big Sky, Montana!
posted at 08:21 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, September 03, 2002
It's gone.Summer is gone.
I know, astronomically speaking it's not over yet, but yesterday was Labor Day. The beaches have closed. Kids are back in school. The days have actually started to feel shorter. Baseball is wrapping-up. Football - and hockey - are on the horizon. I didn't go anywhere. I didn't do anything.
What the hell happened? Where did the time go? How could I have been unemployed for 15 months already?
posted at 12:51 PM | Link | Mundane § |
*twitch*Carol and I had a bad night's sleep. My legs were twitching all night and I couldn't get comfortable. Plus Gracie has been walking all over the house all night. Should be an interesting week.
posted at 08:33 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, September 02, 2002
The Gracie Experimentposted at 05:09 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, September 01, 2002
Bah-buh-cueposted at 10:38 PM | Link | Friends § |
Saturday, August 31, 2002
Jealous of TravelMy sister left this morning on a driving trip out west that partially follows one of the family driving trips we did when we were much younger. The trip is actually to Yellowstone National Park, but along the way she's stopping to see things like The Corn Palace (I wonder if they're going to The Corn Palace Festival?), The Badlands, Wall Drug (you can't miss Wall Drug), Mt. Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial, Devil's Tower, then going into Montana to the Rainbow Ranch Lodge for fly fishing! She's even got reservations at Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone! Then it's a quick trip to the Grand Tetons and the Jackson Lake Lodge and then a straight shot back home. Hope she takes lots of pictures - it's a trip I wouldn't mind re-taking. Someday.
posted at 07:46 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Season Ticket Partyposted at 04:49 PM | Link | White Sox § |
Friday, August 30, 2002
Where are my feet...
I've been walking around the house with my new sunglasses on, trying to get used to this bifocal thing. I hate it. I never knew how much I've looked around without moving my head. Now I have to move my head constantly to keep things in focus. It sucks. I need to take these out on the road to see what driving is like. Think I'll go get something to eat...
Update... Well, I didn't hit anything, but these things are going to take some time to get used to. I'm just not used to having things in my field of view that are out of focus until I physically turn my head and line up the correct perscription for the distance to the object.
posted at 11:55 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, August 29, 2002
Eye yi yi
It's been four years, and I've been having trouble reading - time to get new glasses. I went to LensCrafters at Woodfield to get my eyes checked and get some new glasses. I have never had my eyes dilated, so that was also in the cards tonight. That, and the god awful retinal photography that really does blind you for a while. Turns out my distance vision hasn't changed at all - it's just that closeup reading part. Think the amount of time I've spent in front of a computer all these years has taken its toll? The exams and doctor visit went well. the doctor put the drops in my eyes to dilate them and I went out to the front of the store to pick out my frames. I really didn't want to change my regular glasses too much, so I picked out a similar frame. For sunglasses, though, I wanted a change. I picked out some RayBan frames and made sure that I could get the lenses with the bifocal no-line thingy and they could, so I got my order in. I could get the sunglasses tonight (cool!) but my regular glasses would take at least 10 business days (bummer!) due to the coating I wanted on them. I went back to the doctor so he can scope of the back of my eyes while they're dilated. Then it was off to Stir Crazy Cafe for dinner while the sunglasses where finished.
On the way to Stir Crazy, we were passing a Gingiss Formalware place when I noticed this really familiar face staring at me from a poster. It took a while to figure it out, but it was Marcellas from Big Brother 3! After dinner, back to pickup my sunglasses and have Carol drive us home - having your pupils dilated is a trip and I don't think I could have handled the headlights in the dark on the way home.
posted at 08:32 PM | Link | Mundane § |
100 Things
So, you wanted to know more about me? Are you sure? Like it or not, here is my entry to 100 Things - 100 Bloggers - 100 Days:
1. I was born in Chicago, Illinois at St. Mary's of Nazareth Hospital
2. I am a Capricorn
3. I never knew my grandfathers
4. I still remember the apartment that we lived in for my first 6 years of life
5. I have only one sibling, my younger sister Diane
6. My sister hit me in the head with a frying pan when she was 4
7. I played Little League baseball, but only one year
8. I went to the Illinois State Science Fair when I was in 7th grade
9. I played football in 8th grade and loved it
10. I went to a Catholic grammar school - St. Ferdinand
11. Yes, I was an altar boy
12. I was in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Explorers
13. I still remember to this day going to my first White Sox baseball game with my dad
14. I also remember going to Kodak Photo Night and taking pictures of the players on the field
15. I remember my first twilight double header, Sox vs the Kansas City Athletics who wore those yellow jerseys one game and green jerseys the next
16. I had an allergy test when I was a kid and found out I was allergic to grass, trees, dust, dogs, cats and vermouth
17. I had a pet parakeet though my mom was afraid of birds
18. I had some pet mice though my mom was deathly afraid of them (she still can't look at mice/rats on TV)
19. The only fight that I've ever been in was in grade school when I head-butted a kid in class in 4th grade
20. I went to a Catholic all-boys High School - Gordon Tech
21. I worked in the high school TV studio, and did the morning news for two years
22. The high school TV studio bugged the principal's office but had to remove the mic when the Secret Service came for a sweep before a Walter Mondale visit
23. I got drunk for the first time at a Stage Crew New Year's Eve party on Sloe Gin Fizzes
24. I used to call Bingo for my High School twice a week
25. When I was calling Bingo, a patron offered me a job as a jockey for his race horses
26. My first used car was a green Ford Maverick and I didn't get it until I was in college
27. My first new car was an beige AMC Concorde
28. I used to be a serious John Denver, Neil Diamond and Barry Manilow fan
29. Though I know I attended my prom, it was unmemorable
30. The worst job I had was working for a catering company
31. I never left town to go to college - I went to Northeastern Illinois University
32. I never graduated from college, but got three years of education
33. I auditioned to be a puppeteer on a children's TV show in Chicago without having puppeteered before - and got the job
34. The TV show that I worked on won to local Emmy Awards for Children's Program and an IRIS Award for Excellence in Children's Programming from the NATPE
35. The TV Station in Chicago (WLS, the ABC affiliate) took us all out to the Pump Room to celebrate the IRIS award and take publicity photos - I thought this was so cool
36. I was actually mentioned by name in the acceptance speech for one of the Emmy awards. Way cool.
37. There was a girl that was at the auditions that was on the crew that I just couldn't forget
38. I married that girl 4 years later
39. My first day as a puppeteer I had to don a full size gorilla suit and ride a bucking six-foot banana
40. I have absolutely no pictures of me puppeteering on any of the shows and it upsets me greatly
41. I puppeteered in a pilot of a potential series and worked with Broderick Crawford
42. Because of the pilot, I am now three degrees away from Kevin Bacon (I worked with Broderick Crawford in this pilot, Broderick Crawford was in A Little Romance (1979) with Diane Lane, Diane Lane was in My Dog Skip (2000) with Kevin Bacon)
43. I was a Medium Sized Soft Drink in a McDonald's Happy Meal commercial
44. Puppeteering was the best job I have ever had still to this day
45. I have been in the IT industry since 1978
46. I've always felt that my IT skills were in my head, but my puppetry skills were in my heart
47. I went to a friend's prom as her date while I was engaged (with my future wife's permission, of course)
48. After I got married, I lost my hair, gained weight and needed glasses. Go figure.
49. I started taking flying lessons in a Piper Cherokee 140, but stopped after my instructor had me fly into clouds to understand the sensation (with less than 8 hours of time under my belt)
50. The clincher to leaving my instructor was sitting in the backseat during another student's cross country trial, only to have the plane run out of fuel because the instructor wanted to go to a different airport
51. I used to go on ski trips to the Michigan Upper Peninsula, renting a chalet with a large group of people, but haven't done that in decades
52. 5 days before my wedding, a girl I worked with that sat across from me in the office was killed in a car accident, sending that week into turmoil
53. I was in the first pilot program for an adult session at US Space Camp, and have returned several times since
54. Carol & I moved out to Hoffman Estates in 1984 and have been living here ever since
55. We had the house built on a large corner lot because a kid had moved around pins on the development map in the sales office, allowing us to put down a down payment on a lot that already was sold to a couple that was actually in the office at the time. It was a way for the developer to make amends for forcing us out of the lot we chose
56. This is the longest Carol and I have lived in one place for all of our lives
57. I have lived in only 4 places my entire life
58. Carol & I used to feed bunnies outside our patio door when we first moved into the neighborhood
59. Carol and I have had 3 pet bunnies over 20 years
60. I love watching airplanes, being at an airport, and flying and would love to work for a major airline
61. Other than a short cruise to the Bahamas, I have never been outside of the country
62. I do not have a passport
63. I have never been arrested
64. I've watched baseball games at Comiskey (old and new), Wrigley, Dodger Stadium, Camden Yards, Miller Park (and old County Stadium), and Comerica Park
65. I bought a Nissan 300ZX with a 5-speed manual transmission without knowing how to drive a stick, and had to be driven home in the car by the dealer
66. I Drove to Florida to watch the launch of STS-26 (the first shuttle launch since the Challenger disaster) from special viewing area inside the Kennedy Space Center, went to Space Camp 7 days later, then flew to Houston to go to the Johnson Space Center to see the crew from the shuttle flight
67. I worked with a group of students in Norfolk, VA to flight-test an experiment on NASA's KC-135 prior to it being launched on the shuttle
68. I was supposed to be on the KC-135 with the experiment, but even though I passed my Physiologic Training at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, I failed the Air Force physical for being 3 pounds overweight. I never got to experience Zero-G, though my friends did.
69. I played co-ed 14" "Mush Ball" in a league
70. To my knowledge, I've never broke a bone (I may have broke my little toe last year, but I never got X-Rays taken since you can't do anything about it)
71. The only stitches I've ever had was because of hand surgery to release a captured tendon in my left index finger (which I need to have done again)
72. I've never stayed overnight in a hospital (the hand surgery was outpatient)
73. I have partial season tickets to the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Wolves (AHL). I have no idea how I started to like hockey
74. I'm sorry, I know this is contrary to too many people in town, but I hate the Chicago Cubs, but love Wrigley Field
75. I have no tolerance for people that drive like idiots. No wonder there is road rage...
76. I don't like the way I look
77. I have been unemployed since June 1, 2001, though I have had two very short-term consulting gigs since then
78. I have no tolerance for people who believe that New York City is the absolute center of the universe and no other place on earth is any good. The world does not revolve around you!
79. I LOVE BEEF and my motto is "I didn't claw my way up the food chain to eat vegetables" Beef. It's what's for dinner. As often as possible.
80. I love Las Vegas and wouldn't mind living there
81. I love photography (as you can see from the photographs with my blog entries) and videography
82. I love my TiVo and think it has changed the way I've viewed television. Oh, and add to that our DirecTV systems. Ooooooooo...
83. I am one of the many that have been unemployed due to the Dot Com Crash and I miss my Dot Com times
84. I love taking long walks, though I don't do it
85. I don't understand why I enjoy Reality TV as much as I do. I would love to be on The Mole, Amazing Race, and maybe Big Brother
86. I don't smoke and I have no tolerance for people that smoke around me without regard to me be effected by their smoke
87. Carol and I don't have any kids and I'm starting to regret that
88. I've been amazed at my wife's strength when she went through her double mastectomy 2 years ago
89. I've been amazed by the determination that Carol has shown recently to lose weight and feel inadequate to do so myself
90. I procrastinate every chance I get
91. I get a certain exhilaration when I gamble, mostly at craps, and blackjack, and I'm no good at sports bets
92. I am not what people would call a "drinker", though I do have a drink every now and then
93. I can't remember the last time I drank a glass of milk
94. If money were no object, I'd travel the globe for the rest of my life
95. I am getting increasingly concerned that when I die, no one will remember me. I will have left no footprints of my life behind.
96. I dream of building a "time machine" that allows the recording of events that have happened in the past, to help with producing a truthful history of the world, not to mention a means of showing the truth for legal trials. It would be run by the UN so that the world could become a better place. Yeah, like that's going to happen...
97. I don't cook, but think I could do a good job if I had the chance
98. I never felt an earthquake
99. I love gadgets
100. I have let many of my friends slip away from me over the years through my inaction, and have deeply missed them all. I just wish I can get everyone back into my life
You know... 100 things, though hard to put together, may not be enough. I may have to add to it when I remember other things...
101. I am extremely shy, and that is often misinterpreted by others
102. I (somehow) never get hugged. And yet it's an awkward situation when I don't know when to hug someone (I don't come from a family of huggers)
103. I carry a grudge
104. I can't dance worth a damn
105. No one has seen my legs in public - I never wear shorts.
106. For the last twenty years, I've had a police scanner radio next to my bed that is on overnight while we sleep, listening to police, fire, EMS, calls for Chicago and surrounding areas.
107. I haven't been in a pool in over a decade
108. In general, if it's green, I don't eat it (lettuce, green beans, green onions, green peppers are the exception)
109. Nothing is better than cold, fresh, off the vine tomatoes, in the summer - sliced, with salt and pepper
110. My only phobia is that I'm afraid to cross drawbridges. I can feel the hair stand up on the back of my neck when I get to the center. As soon as I step over the "seam" in the center, I'm fine
111. I have no interest in college football - even less (if that's possible) in college basketball
112. I don't vote in primary elections because it requires me to declare a party - which I refuse to do. I want to vote for who I believe is the best candidate, regardless of party
113. In my head, I feel 10 years younger, but my body feels 10 years older
114. I despise Microsoft with every fiber of my being
115. I believe there is no excuse for parents ignoring misbehaving kids in public
116. Underwear of choice - Jockey tightie-whities (wow, I don't believe I actually put that one out here in public...)
117. I don't play any musical instrument - I have no rhythm (see #104)
118. I have directed the Folk Choir at my parish for a few months while waiting for them to hire a permanent replacement (remarkable, considering #117)
119. Favorite music: Pop and classic rock
120. For some reason, I have no interest in reading books
121. I think they would be doing us a service if the Federal government would just abolish pennies
122. I guess I do have another phobia - I'm a little nervous about heights
123. I have no flowers, let alone a garden - too many allergies (not to mention Carol being deathly afraid of bees)
124. I took a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® test about 5 years ago, and I was classified as INFP
125. We use Caller ID heavily. If we don't get a valid phone number that we know, we don't answer the phone. Screw you, telemarketers!
126. I hate needles. I dread blood tests and hate having to take ENG/NCV tests
127. I am very self conscious about the fact that I'm a bit "furry"
128. At 5' 3", I am the tallest member of my immediate family
129. I had braces in grade school, and still to this day have the permanent retainer on my bottom teeth
130. My carbonated beverage of choice is Caffeine-free Coca-Cola
131. I've never flown First Class
132. Secrets? Yep, got 'em. Nope. Not sharin'
133. I like finding and knowing the big picture of things
134. I feel nekkid if I'm not wearing my cell phone
135. If I would shave off my beard, I would look like a seal. (This has happened once.) It ain't coming off.
136. I just don't like fruit. Don't know why.
137. I'm not good at wearing clothes. I don't buy them myself, and rely on others to find stuff that looks right on me.
138. I enjoy a good cup of coffee in the morning, usually first thing when I get to the office. Since I've been unemployed 15 months, I haven't had much coffee this past year.
139. If at all possible, I'd rather pay someone to do something inside my house that try to do it myself.
140. I've always said "I'm not a hardware guy" during my IT career. It applies to my domestic life as well (see #139).
141. Re: #139, #140, for some reason I love This Old House, Changing Rooms, Ground Force, and Trading Spaces
142. I have been told that I am not corrupt, but that I am corrupting.
143. I don't have a tattoo and don't understand the fascination with them.
144. My guilty obsession is tacos from Jack In The Box. There are no Jack In The Boxes anywhere near Chicago. I have been known to take Ziplock bags with me when I travel out west so that I could go to a Jack In The Box and buy a dozen or so tacos, put them in ziplock bags, and bring them back home with me. The new 99 cent tacos at Burger King just might hold me over until I can get out west again.
145. Favorite comedian - Eddie Izzard
146. My last name is not the same as my father's original last name - the entire family had changed their names - all differently - decades before I was born
147. I am not a "morning person"
148. I have actually been at a private party at the Playboy Mansion in Chicago (back in the 70's) for - of all groups - Women in Broadcasting. (The grotto pool was very cool indeed)
posted at 01:17 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, August 28, 2002
White Sox 8 - Blue Jays 0
What an absolutely gorgeous day for a baseball game. I am so happy that I decided to go. Of course, I look like a lobster right now. At least the sunburn isn't hurting - yet. Not much of a crowd - 12,972. Saw something I have never seen before, but it's probably because I don't normally sit behind the plate - there was a bunch of scouts with radar guns watching Jon Garland and the Toronto relief pitcher Brian Bowles. I know that one of them had a Cubs logo on his polo shirt. Carlos Lee had a home run, and Magglio Ordonez had two home runs. I think I saw former Negro League's pitcher/catcher Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe sitting at the top of my section. I saw him throw out the first pitch on his 100th birthday last month, and I've seen him on TV, sitting in the same location. Anyway, Sox win 8-0. Jon Garland pitched a complete game shutout.
After the game, people didn't leave. They just slowly left, lingering in the seats, lingering on the concourse. These were the people that just didn't belive that this could possibly be the last game of the year if the players strike on Friday. The customer service reps weren't chasing anybody out either. It's as if they understood as well. I just hung out for a while and watch them shut things down. Then I slowly walked down the ramps to my car. I hope the idiots that are negotiating understand what a strike will do to the game. I'm worried.
And like I've said before, it's screwing up my clock.
posted at 05:04 PM | Link | White Sox § |
Blog to goWell, I'm at Comiskey, posting via WAP from my phone. I was able to get a seat behind the plate. Looks like a small crowd, but it's still a half an hour before game time. Will this be the last home game?
posted at 12:29 PM | Link | Blogging § |
Tuesday, August 27, 2002
Fie...I don't know why, but I went stumbling over to my old boss Bill Jackson's website at DirtyDragon.com. He has a great story about contract negotiations with WLS over the last year of Gigglesnort Hotel. Both Carol and I remember this event, though we never saw it. I mean, how many people would bring a gypsy violinist with them for the negotiation? Bill would. And did.
I really miss that time in my life. I think with my Dad's terminal illness, and the impending baseball strike Friday (I, for some unknown reason, measure the passage of time in my life along the passage of baseball seasons, and the players are screwing up my clock), I'm in a melancholy mood.
I spent the afternoon slapping some pages together and gathering pictures and materials of my short-lived puppeteering career. I have a series of slides that are the only things I really have of my time on Gigglesnort that I have to find a way to get them into a digital format so that I can use them here. Look for the new pages in the next week or so - there's a lot of other pictures I have to scan yet.
I think, though, I'm going to take tomorrow "off" and go to the ballgame. There aren't a lot of day games during the week at Comiskey, and there aren't many days left (potentially) to the baseball season.
posted at 08:58 PM | Link | Puppeteering | 1 comment § |
LinkSys is good...Well, that new LinkSys router is so much better than the old one. I had no idea how bad the old one was until I had gone through 24 hours of the new one. No drops, no DNS issues, and what feels like a speedier connection - which I know isn't true, but it feels faster.
posted at 03:41 PM | Link | Computing § |
Monday, August 26, 2002
No connectionInternet connectivity out all day. Turns out my LinkSys router actually was dying and I didn't know it. I was resetting it and resetting it and resetting it... and then it didn't reset ant more. Crap. A quick trip to CompUSA solved that. The new one seems faster - I have no idea why.
posted at 02:59 PM | Link | Computing § |
Saturday, August 24, 2002
Bobbing in the pool
A long day, but a good day. We left at 10am to drive into the city. We picked-up our buds Barry & Buffy, and then it was off to Michigan to my sister Diane's house. It looked pretty crummy when the day started, but by the time we got up there the sun was out and was gorgeous. Melinda ran to the butcher and picked up some fresh hot dogs and chicken brats for lunch. Wow. We're going up to Michigan next month for a couple of days and we're going to be bringing coolers and our vacu-sealer and hit the butcher before we leave so we can smuggle some quality meat back to Illinois. Diane's birthday is coming up next week, but she and Melinda will be driving out to Yellowstone and back for a cool road trip, so we brought out birthday gift over early - a Remote Control Shark for the pool! Lots of batteries, though - 4 AA's, a 9 volt for the receiver in the shark, and a 9 volt for the tranmitter (which floats!). And the AA's don't last too long. But the shark was way cool. We played with it all afternoon. For dinner, we drove down Red Arrow Highway into Union Pier to go to Miller's Country House. Very good food - in fact, way better than I had expected. There's something that does defy description, though... the room we were in had large windows that overlooked a garden and woods. During dinner, we looked up, and there was a tree moving in the garden. I mean, moving - like walking across the lawn. Sort of like a performance art piece. Odd. Strange. Weird. After dinner, back to Diane's to pick up our things and then the long drive home, which was traffic-free but with patches of fog. I love going up there.
posted at 11:05 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, August 23, 2002
*grumble*Ugh. I haven't shook this bug, or whatever it is that I have. I still have this weird knot in my stomach. I'm not as weak as I was, but I'm still not at 100%. And tonight is Elvis night!
posted at 09:04 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, August 22, 2002
WetLightning. Thunder. Rain. Flash Flood Warnings. God, I love Chicago weather... since 1 o'clock this morning, our neighborhood got 3.97" of rain!
posted at 08:50 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, August 21, 2002
They're doing OKTalked to my Mom today. They're doing fine. In fact, they went out to dinner yesterday to have prime rib. So, I guess they're taking yesterday's events in stride. Mom's just having trouble reconciling the fact that dad feels absolutely fine.
posted at 01:11 PM | Link | Family § |
Tuesday, August 20, 2002
Schaumburg FlyersWent to that Schaumburg Flyers game tonight with Carol's company. After this afternoon, I didn't expect to have a good time, but I did. My absolute best memories of when I was a kid was going to White Sox games with my dad. So sitting in a ballpark tonight was way more therapeutic than I thought.
posted at 08:55 PM | Link | Flyers § |
My DadDamn damn damn damn damn....
As a kid there are a few things you don't want to hear about your parents.
A year ago I heard one of them. "Cancer." My dad had a laryngectomy. He no longer speaks and has a hole in his throat to breathe. He's just starting to use an electrolarynx to try to communicate.
Today I heard more words that you don't want to hear.
"Hospice Care" and "Six months".
Crap. The end is coming and I just can't put anything into words. I knew this day would come. I thought there was more time - time that can't be made up.
At least both of my parents handled all of this very well. Dad didn't want chemotherapy, so he knew the consequences. The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes around his neck. Chemo would just slow it down or maybe halt its growth. Is it worth it to be violently sick for month to extend your life by, what, maybe and additional 6 months? Delay the inevitable and be miserable? He has no pain, he hasn't lost weight, he doesn't have any breathing problems. He's just old - 88. There's no doubt about it in my eyes - he knows. He really liked the idea of hospice care, and he actually smiled when there was discussion of being at home "when the time comes". Mom just liked the concept of having people come to the house regularly and not having to go to Loyola on a regular basis.
Me - I'm numb. Everything inside my brain says this is right. I understand everything. It all makes sense. This is expected. This isn't a surprise.
Then why does my heart hurt?
posted at 03:40 PM | Link | Family | 3 comments § |
UghDamn. I'm not up to 100% for sure. I'm starting to belive that I'm not at 75% either. Ugh. I've got to drive into the city to take my dad to the oncologist. Ugh.
posted at 12:09 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Am I better?Well, I feel better, not 100% though. Still have a weird knot in my stomach. Slept much better, too. And it looks like it's going to be a nice day outside today. Carol & I have a baseball game tonight (we're going to the Schaumburg Flyers game as her company outing). Sounds weird, but I want to get home early to watch the Sheryl Crow "concert" in the Big Brother house on the internet. Well, I'm not going to rush, and Carol does want to get home early, so it's not a big deal.
posted at 10:19 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, August 19, 2002
Shiver me timbers...ugh. I feel terrible. I've had 11 hours of sleep. I was buried under an electric blanket all night. I shivered any time I was exposed to the night air, which was every 30 minutes to an hour when I was getting up to go "take a leak". I don't have a fever, but it sure feels like I do. I felt like I was sleeping in a pool of sweat all night under that electric blanket. Yech. Need to do nothing today.
posted at 09:46 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, August 18, 2002
Chihuly in the Park
Hmmm... Had a nice day, but feeling a bit funky right now... Carol and I drove into the city today to go see our buds Barry & Buffy. Why was it a mess? Well, they do live in the Wrigleyville area and it was less than an hour until gametime, and on top of that was the Chicago Air & Water show. When we were still on the Northwest Tollway, a C5-a Galaxy took off from O'Hare to go and fly in the show. It's the largest military aircraft that we have. Cool. Then, when going down Addison, we saw the F-117 Stealth Fighter. Even cooler. So, when we finally finished our struggle to get to B&B's house, we picked them up and headed to the Garfield Park Conservatory to see the Chihuly in the Park: A Garden of Glass exhibit by Dale Chihuly. I had gone to see it back in June with my Mom & sister, and I thought that Carol and B&B would enjoy it. It was a glorious day outside, and we had a great time at the exhibit. We got there at the right time, though (about 1:30) - when we came out about and hour and a half later, the line to get in wrapped around the building!
We drove back to B&B's house - fortunately I was able to use their garage for parking, as the game was still going on and there wasn't a parking spot to be had anywhere near their house. My sister Diane called while we were there watching baseball on TV. She was driving back from Michigan and was passing the Gary airport when the Blue Angels took off from the airport and buzzed her car! Sure enough, within 10-15 minutes, we can hear them in the show at the lakefront. We went out on the front porch for a while and talked, and watched the planes buzz the neighborhood. Even cooler yet.
The four of us left and walked up Southport to go to dinner at Tango Sur - an Argentinean steak house. Debbie met us for dinner. It was another great time at dinner (there's no doubt about it - the 5 of us really enjoy food).
We were on the road back home at around 7 o'clock. That's when I was starting to feel funky. I need to go to bed...
posted at 08:55 PM | Link | Friends § |
Wednesday, August 14, 2002
Carol - A survivor
Two years ago today, Carol's life changed, and, in turn, changed my life. We were one month short of our 21st anniversary (!). We've known each other for 25 years. During that entire time, we were never really sick. Never was in a hospital (well, I had surgery on my hand in the mid-80's, but that was just a day surgery thing).
Two years ago today, Carol had a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery.
It was just LCIS - Lobular Carcinoma In Situ. Like the word "just" makes it insignificant. It was good that it was small, and in situ. The doctors kept saying it was "100 percent treatable".
100 percent.
The next sentence contained the words "mastectomy". It was not exactly what you want to hear, and I really fault the doctors for phrasing the entire conversation as "100 percent treatable" and getting your hopes up, when the treatment is a mastectomy. The cancer was in one breast, and LCIS is considered to be Stage Zero. It didn't spread - it was in one specific area.
Of course, we had another option - do nothing. but Carol's mom had died of breast cancer - a cancer that wound up being recurring and going undiagnosed until it was too late. Carol's had that hanging over her head her entire adult life. Doing nothing was not an option for her, she felt. She wanted the fear that she had been carrying to go away. For good. Doing one side made no sense in that regard. It had to be a double.
So, two years ago this morning, we were at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. Carol sat on the gurney in the Surgical Pre-op Area, her eyes were big like a deer in the headlights. She knew what was going to happen, she accepted it, and she was still a bit freaked out.
I had been in the surgical waiting room with Carol's brother and his wife, my bud Barry and my sister Diane during the surgeries. The surgeon came in to talk to us and reassure us that everything went very well, and very quick (just over an hour) and that the plastic surgeon was now doing his thing. We waited around a bit and sure enough, about two hours later, the plastic surgeon showed up and we talked briefly. She should be out of recovery and on her way to her room. I just had to find her.
I walked into the room alone (after I had found it). She was out but she knew I was there. She said "hi", and just kept sleeping. Well, resting with her eyes closed. She barely moved. It was good to be there and see her. Alone. It makes you realize where you are, where the two of you are. Makes you realize how lucky you both are.
The next few days were amazing to a lot of family and friends. Carol was fine. Better than fine - great. Everyone was shocked on how well she was doing. Everyone. So much so, that Carol's brother and wife were convinced she was in denial. They just couldn't accept how strong she was.
But I could. It was real.
So, life goes on. Here we are, two years later. Carol has had most of the breast reconstruction completed (the rest is "cosmetic"). We're both alive and thriving.
And I'm stronger for seeing how strong my wife has been throughout all of this.
I hope she finds the flower I left for her on the front seat of her car before she sits on it. I hope she knows how much I love her and how much I actually look up to her.
posted at 09:09 AM | Link | Family | 1 comment § |
Blue
Last weekend they started selling Pepsi Blue at Comiskey. Had my first one and loved it, though I think it's best to drink it as cold as possible. Carol bought me a couple to have at home. Cold berry cola fusion. Thinking about having one now. Did you know it's caffeinated, the same as Pepsi? (37 milligrams per 12 ounces). Hey - someone has a blog about everything Pepsi Blue...
posted at 08:50 AM | Link | Odd § |
Tuesday, August 13, 2002
Rainy chauffeurWell, I'm back in the middle of chauffeuring my parents to Loyola. Dad has a CT Scan scheduled for today, some blood work, and an appointment with the speech therapist.
Right now, I'm in the CT waiting area being tortured. in the corner of the small room is a TV set, blaring Jenny Jones. It's one of those shows with teens out of control - this one is about girls whose bodies have developed too soon and are just crazy for sex. Great. All I hear are teens screaming at the booing audience to shutup and bleeping. I don't know how long I can take this.
It was pouring outside. lot's of lightning. It just started in one big downpour as soon as I pulled into the parking garage here. I couldn't see outside of the garage, and the rain was blowing in sideways. It's like it's foreign - I feel like I haven't seen rain in quite a while. Our lawn at home is brown and, as Carol calls it, "crunchy". It's been a hot, dry summer. Today it's dark, windy, and pretty wet.
Thankfully, someone changes the station to a soothing "Ask Martha" instead of the screaming "Jenny Jones". Dad's CT scan is over, and we head over to Rachael, where we go through a whole therapy session on trying to get the best usage of his electrolarynx. They also work on paperwork for getting dad his own electrolarynx. Then it was a quick jaunt over to the lab to get some blood drawn.
The drive home was miserable. It had been pouring the entire time we were inside. Standing water everywhere. From the time we left Loyola to the time I got home after dropping them off was 2 hours and twenty minutes. During that period of time, O'Hare got 1.82" of rain. Oh, another little oddity: My car turned over 55,555 miles.
Symmetry. Catch it.
posted at 06:20 PM | Link | Family § |
Saturday, August 10, 2002
White Sox 3 - Mariners 7
Back at Comiskey again. I hate Fox games - they start earlier and the breaks in between innings for commercials just makes for a long day. The Ichiro bandwagon rolled into town, and the place with crowded, mostly with his fans, not only Japanese-American but Japanese-Japanese! He has a very large and loyal following, and it's very interesting to watch. I've bitched and moaned about other team's fans coming to the park and being arrogant. these fans are nothing like that. Polite but boisterous. You can't help but be respectful of that. It's always something to see. Last year was the first time we witnessed this - and it was just so interesting. It was amazing how many people had come to the park with bento boxes and coolers, eating sushi (which is just something you don't see around Comiskey). It was a night game last year and there were many more Japanese-lettered signed than this year.
Anyway, the game was great... for 6 innings. Jon Garland was fine, with a 3-0 lead in the seventh and then he was left in just a little too long. We wound up losing 7-3. Frank Thomas, as usual, did nothing for us, going 0-4. He can't do anything in a clutch. I'm not happy with him.
After the game, we went over to Janie & Gary's for the annual "Chicken Burn" - the title refers to what Gary does to the food on the grill. It's usually the group of people that sit around us at the game, but due to conflicts, it was just the four of us. Gary didn't burn the chicken, and it was a very nice night, just sitting around and talking.
posted at 10:16 PM | Link | White Sox § |
Wednesday, August 07, 2002
Mmmm... cream puffs...posted at 07:22 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, August 06, 2002
Time fliesThe Air Raid sirens are going off outside - an indication that this must be the first Tuesday of the month. It's a weird sense of nostalgia that comes over me. It takes me back to a time of being in grade school, at St. Ferdinand. Every time we heard that siren, we stopped what we were doing and said a prayer. I think back then it was every Tuesday of the month, not just the first. I remember seeing the yellow and black signs designating the basement as a Fallout Shelter - never really knowing what fallout truly meant. I remember seeing large drums of what I think were drinking water underneath the stairs. Now, I only hear it because I am home, and only if I was home on the first Tuesday. Now, the sirens don't harken the beginning of Doomsday, but are supposed to warn the community of severe weather. I have never heard the sirens other than First Tuesday, and we've been here 18 years this month. 18 years this month?!?!??!? Wow. This is the longest Carol or I have lived in one place for all of our lives so far. This is our home. Now, I've got to find a job so we can keep it...
posted at 10:01 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, August 05, 2002
No doubleI woke up this morning and my right eye is fine. Go figure. And Carol actually said she missed me during her little trip. Aw.
posted at 08:22 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Sunday, August 04, 2002
Temp Bach Day 3Well, day three of my "temp-bach" (Temporary Bachelor) life has passed, and Carol returns later today on day four. Have I enjoyed it? YES! Don't ask me why, but I really am enjoying it. Actually, Indy and I are both enjoying it, as I'm letting her run around the whole house. She's spending a lot of time in "Bunnyland" - that's the area of the house that she's usually blocked-off from. She's spending a lot of time with me upstairs. She's just having a grand ol' time. Hopefully Carol had a good time being away. She needed a little bit of a vacation away from me. I mean, being unemployed for 14 months and being home every time she comes home takes a toll on her. I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't miss me... this time.
posted at 12:13 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Double in oneEver wake up in the morning and can't see? No, not like blackness or actual blindness, but your eyesight is screwed up? That's me this morning. Having trouble focusing my right eye. It's weird. My glasses don't help a bit. It's almost like I'm seeing double in one eye - is that possible? Weird.
posted at 08:50 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Saturday, August 03, 2002
Arlington Parkposted at 05:09 PM | Link | Horse Racing § |
Temp Bach Day 2Well, day two of my "temp-bach" (Temporary Bachelor) life has passed. Have I done anything special? No. Well, that changes right now. I'm going to the race track. I haven't been there in a while, and I got a promotion thing in the mail for today, so I might as well go. Arlington Park, here I come!
posted at 10:41 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, August 02, 2002
Temp Bach Day 1Well, day one of my "temp-bach" (Temporary Bachelor) life has passed. Have I enjoyed it? Yes. Have I done anything special? No. I need to correct this.
My old bud Joe called me today, and told me that he talked to someone from one of my old companies recently and they want me to call them re: possible position. (Yes, I'm intentionally being very vague about this). I'm worried about this - it's a small, high-end consulting company, and I'm just scared of my skill set. The executives at the company are all former employees of this prior company. It's weird. I sent an Email right away to "this person" with my resume. I'll call "this person" next week. Hopefully "they" will remember me.
posted at 01:58 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Thursday, August 01, 2002
Whooo Hoooo!!! I'm alone!!!Well, Carol just left for work. She's going to my sister Diane's house in Michigan after work for a party on Saturday. I won't see her until Sunday. I'll be alone. Gee, I've got to do something while she's away...
posted at 07:33 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, July 31, 2002
DryAnother nail in the coffin: I called today to file my bi-weekly unemployment claim. The automated system didn't tell me when my next call date is - a sure sign that the benefits have run out for the last time. Crap.
posted at 01:36 PM | Link | Unemployment § |
What am I going to do?Well, I think Carol and I finally hit the wall. I've been unemployed 14 months tomorrow. Finances have now gotten "dire", and I don't have a clue on what to do. I'm starting to work with some resume writing companies to try and re-work this monster and get a bit noticed. My online job searching hasn't changed - there's still a lack of opportunities out there in my field. I know the stress of all this has gotten to Carol - she has no idea how bad it's been for me. So, what now? Change careers? To what??? Try a menial temporary job just to keep afloat? I hate this economy and what it's done to my industry - significant cutbacks and bankruptcies have flooded the market with people for a handful of jobs. This sucks, and I'm getting scared.
posted at 09:32 AM | Link | Unemployment | 3 comments § |
Saturday, July 27, 2002
Carol's 70th (not that Carol)
This morning, we went to a 70th birthday party of our "Penalty Box Police" buddy, Carol. It was held at a banquet hall in Des Plaines, and the bar opened at 11 am. We didn't know what to expect, but we hooked-up with some of our other Chicago Wolves buddies and we had a great time. Carol asked that, in lieu of presents, to bring donations for Toys for Tots. By the time everybody showed-up, there was a mound of toys, including 2 bikes. The lunch was good, and afterward, Carol's son entertained with music and singing. Actually, it was weird because he was singing a bunch of songs from the 60's and 70's and I knew the lyrics to every single song. It's amazing that the human brain can store that crap for such a long period of time only to be able to spew it out accurately decades later. After the entrainment, Carol & I had to make tracks out of there to go home, change, and get on the road to Comiskey.
posted at 11:37 PM | Link | Friends § |
Friday, July 26, 2002
Meatloafing
Indy was looking cute again this afternoon. I had to post another pic. She's being a brat, though, and will be spending a bit more time in her condo tonight.
posted at 05:50 PM | Link | Bunnies § |
Fresh concreteposted at 01:48 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, July 25, 2002
Temp Bach planning
Had lunch with Barry again today at the Chinese buffet place near his office. Carol is going up to my sister Diane's house up in Michigan next week, and I'll be a bachelor Thursday-Friday-Saturday nights, and Barry & I need to figure out if there's something we can do during that time. Got a good fortune in my fortune cookie, though!
posted at 01:27 PM | Link | Friends | 1 comment § |
Wednesday, July 24, 2002
Telemarketing scumI don't know if having software that monitors my Caller ID is a good thing... I had 21 phone calls today at my house - only 1 had a valid Caller ID and that was a call from my mom. I despise telemarketers. Now I need a way to stop these bastards from calling in the first place...
posted at 10:40 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, July 22, 2002
Cute bunnyposted at 07:56 PM | Link | Bunnies | 1 comment § |
The need for speedThree military fighter jets just flew over my house, one at a time (not in formation), heading south. Hmmmm...
posted at 02:06 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, July 21, 2002
Hot dogsHot today. 97° - Heat Index 108°. Terrible. Bad. Right now, at 9 o'clock at night, the Heat Index at Meigs Field on the lake is 102°. Thank God we didn't have a game at Comiskey today.
When we were at my parents for dinner tonight, my sister Diane told us about this website that breeds hybrid puppies. Of course, we all thought "gee, wouldn't that be a mutt?". Of course, these are kennel-born. (They also have pure-bred puppies). You have to go to The Barking Lot to see pictures of some of the "hybrid" puppies that they currently have for sale, such as: Peke-a-chons (Pekingese & Bichon Frise), Chi-Chi-Poos (Chihuahua & Poodle) and Puggles (Pug & Beagle).
posted at 09:36 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, July 20, 2002
Huzzah!posted at 08:01 PM | Link | Friends | 1 comment § |
Friday, July 19, 2002
Carol -20
So, I was out and about this afternoon, looking for a few things. I noticed that the road construction is changing things around next week. That should screw-up traffic for a few days, at least.
Went to the White Hen in the neighborhood and was ecstatic that I found Green River in the cooler!!! I love this stuff - it caffeine-free (good for late-night drinking, when you don't have to be awake). You just don't find this stuff everywhere.
Carol just got home - her streak is broken. For the past 13 weeks, Carol has lost weight at each of her Weight Watchers weigh-ins. She's now lost 20.4 pounds! (She's upset that she was weighed-in on a different set of scales today that showed her up .2 pounds, breaking her streak). The woman that runs her meetings has this bead-thing, where you get a bead for each pound you lose. Carol strung together 20 of them and they're on the refrigerator as a reminder. (I guess the leader got a kick out of what one of Carol's co-workers did - when she gained a pound she put a bead back! Apparently, nobody had done this before.) Her whole group from her office has lost 157 pounds between 7 people as of this past week). Way to go Carol! I'm proud of ya!
posted at 04:21 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, July 15, 2002
Project Management from Above
So, after spending a long day traveling and watching baseball, I had to roll out of bed early (not as early as yesterday) and pretend I was a commuter again. I hopped on Metra and to the train downtown. My buddy Joe let me sit in on a Project Management class he was teaching for his company. I felt like I was exercising mental muscles that I haven't used in a very long time. It was an all day lecture (he even made me do the classroom team exercises!), with lunch. It was a great class. Reminded me of the times we worked together back at Brunswick. It was a bit weird being a "guest" in a class of 18 people, the rest being actual employees of the company. Project Management has always been my weakest skill. This helped me a bit.
After hanging around in Joe's office for a bit (with a very nice view of Millennium Park), I decided to start my journey back. I walked to Union Station because I wanted to stop by Millennium park to see the Earth from Above exhibit that everyone has been raving about (especially Dawn at a.lifeuncommon.org). Wow. This was really something to see. It's not just the individual pictures, which are from around the globe and very interesting to see, but it's the entire collection of the images that was so interesting. I must have spent an hour over there just looking around. Well, that and buying some postcards in the gift shop. Then, the long walk to Union Station, and the long ride home (that was lengthened by "switch problems). Feels long a long two days. I'm not used to this!
posted at 07:37 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, July 14, 2002
ROAD TRIP!
Carol and I get up early, drive to Riverside to pickup Janie & Gary, and then it's off to Midway Airport, where we meet Jeff and we're on our way to Detroit. I've never flown on Southwest before, and getting an "A" boarding pass, I'm told, is good, but it doesn't matter - plane is empty. The flight is really short - just barely enough time for the complimentary juice & coffee service. The Detroit airport (DTW) is... well, let's just say, now that Midway has started it's remodeling, this airport is the pits. We get on the Hertz shuttle to get our Crown Vic and drive into the city.
Finding Comerica Park was actually a bit difficult - you can't see it from a distance. Heck, you can't see it a block or two away. It's tucked into a small area downtown. We got to the park pretty early - somehow we lost sight of the fact that the game started at 2:05 (we thought 1:05). So, we slowly walked around the outside of the park to see what it looked like.
We went in as soon as the gates opened, and proceeded to walk around the park. The food selection was a bit pitiful. It wasn't until later did I find the better food at "Big Cat Court", and that made things better, but within the normal stands it was a bit plain & boring (though I had a Kielbasa that was very tasty).
Our seats were 28 rows behind the plate - great view, but in the sun all through the game. This caused a major problem for Carol, who got what seems to be minor heatstroke even before the game started. She had to sit in a different area in the shade and we had to help her out with wet towels, lots of water, and some ice cream to help her cool down. She was better by about the 4th inning, but we kept in the shade for the whole game.
The game itself was OK. It looked like the Sox were going to lose again, but Carlos Lee had two homeruns, and then Jose Valentin hit a triple in the eighth that scored two and then scored himself when the throw to third went wild (sort of an in-the-park homerun, but not really). Sox win 6-4.
After the game, we walked (!) over to Greektown to have dinner at Pegasus. Well, I wasn't hungry after being out there all day, so Jeff and I took a walk through the Greektown Casino while the others ate dinner. It was weird being in Detroit and being in a land-based casino. It was a nice place, two floors - larger than I thought it would be. Sunday afternoon, almost every single table game we saw were $10 tables. I think we saw one $15 table.
Back to the restaurant, the group finished up, and then it was off to the airport. This time we all got "B" boarding passes - not a good omen. Sure enough, the flight home was packed. We got in 10 minutes early, and had to wait 20 minutes for a gate. Then we drove Jeff home, drove Janie & Gary home, and finally drove home ourselves. A very long day. Would we do it again? You bet!
posted at 10:06 PM | Link | White Sox § |
Saturday, July 13, 2002
Gorgeous day for some bulls
GORGEOUS day outside. Did nothing all day (watched Big Brother feeds for a while and posted some transcripts). Drove to my parents for dinner. The Northwest Tollway is getting lanes reconfigured again during reconstruction. Good thing - construction is half over! Bad thing - construction is only half over. The new lane configurations typically throw off traffic for days. We'll see how it goes.
Back home, I'm watching the Running of the Bulls from Pamplona on ESPN2. Strange event, but it's a car wreck (or in this case, bull wreck) - you can't help but to watch!
Tomorrow is going to be interesting - Carol and I along with our White Sox Season Ticket Buds Janie, Gary, and Jeff are flying to Detroit to go to Comerica Park to see the White Sox play the Tigers. Sox have lost three in a row to the last place Tigers, and I'm not looking forward to the game itself, but we're going to see the park (We love seeing new ballparks. Janie & Gary have seen almost all of the new ones). We fly up there in the morning and fly back at night. Can't wait to see how the day turns out!!!
posted at 09:43 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, July 12, 2002
Bull!I know a lot of blogs are pointing to this photo, but it's so damn cool seeing a bull coming at you in Pamplona
posted at 01:54 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, July 09, 2002
Welcome backA big shout-out to my cousin Jane who is back from her honeymoon (wedding pictures here), who actually stumbled onto this weblog from our other family website. (I've moved all of my stuff here from there - just wanted a place I can call my own, I guess.)
posted at 10:33 PM | Link | Family § |
It's about timeI should have waited for the EMail to show up! PayPal contacted me to let me know the investigation is over and I should be receiving a new password (VIA SNAIL MAIL!) in 5 to 7 days. No indication on what the investiagtion found. Wonder how much of a hit this jackass took from my accounts.
posted at 11:48 AM | Link | Mundane § |
What's going on?So, I gave up and called PayPal this morning. They couldn't tell me anything, as the account is still under investigation. I had to leave voicemail for an investigator to call me. It's been way over 10 business days... what's going on over there?
posted at 10:39 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Floating1.08" of rain out in Hoffman Estates between 1 and 2 this morning (2.08" at O'Hare). It's the only rain this month. Shorted-out the GFI outlets in the house again. Ever since the cable guy borrowed a ground from the outlet on the back of the house, the circuit is blowing when we get a real heavy rain. I need to get this fixed.
posted at 07:52 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, July 08, 2002
Well, it's low for meI've been feeling a bit funky the last day or so. I thought it was fatigue from driving too much the last couple of days, or sitting in the sun a bit too long at Comiskey. Fortunately, I had a doctors appointment scheduled for today. It's my blood pressure - it's down, down to 104/84. They didn't seem to be alarmed at how low it was. But I feel funky. I guess the medication is working OK. Now, I need the weight to get down. After that, cholesterol (263).
posted at 09:25 PM | Link | Mundane § |
eBay PayPal? PayPal eBay?Hmmm... the New York Times says EBay to Buy PayPal in $1.5 Billion Stock Deal. Maybe I'll finally get my hijacked PayPal account back (I still haven't heard from PayPal).
posted at 11:41 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, July 06, 2002
Thor working overtimeLots of thunder outside. Wonder what the weather is going to be today?
posted at 05:31 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, July 05, 2002
A family vacationposted at 06:08 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, July 04, 2002
Independance Day
God Bless America! It's the Fourth of July! Happy Independence Day!
Carol & I are picking up my parents in a few hours and are driving up to my sister Diane's house in Michigan until tomorrow sometime. It should be interesting - it will be dad's first time spending the night someplace else since his surgery last year.
posted at 08:35 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, July 03, 2002
And so you're back, from outer space...
Just got back from Men in Black II. The film was OK. There were some nice, funny moments, but I came away feeling like something was missing. Something like heart, depth... something. Most of the reviews I've seen gave the movie two stars. That's just about right. Frank the pug got quite a few laughs from the crowd, which reminds me - it's been a while since I've been at a movie on opening day. I like seeing a movie with a crowd on an opening day. It's a totally different feeling to viewing the movie, usually a positive one as everyone reacts - for the first time - to what's happening on screen. Used MovieTickets.com's Automated Box Office machines - ATM's for tickets. This was way too easy to use. I need to start using this more often instead of waiting in lines or getting there earlier in the day to get tickets.
posted at 08:03 PM | Link | Movies § |
Ground Force New York
This is so cool! My favorite show on BBC America is Ground Force. I just saw on the Today Show that they were in New York City doing a garden for The New York Restoration Project, surprising Bette Midler! Wonder how long it's going to take to broadcast it on BBC America. Probably two years. Wait... No! Ground Force: New York premieres Tuesday, August 20 at 8 pm/et, 5 pm/pt. !
posted at 08:29 AM | Link | TV § |
Tuesday, July 02, 2002
ABO
Hmmm... looks like we're going to see Men in Black II tomorrow night. I just went on MovieFone.com and ordered the tickets through MovieTickets.com. Guess I'll see if those Automated Box Offices actually work. Can't wait to see the movie!
posted at 10:49 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, July 01, 2002
Speech Therapy Chauffeurposted at 05:25 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, June 28, 2002
Great FlashWhy do I feel that Odd Todd knows my life?
posted at 01:45 PM | Link | Mundane § |
No more runningDerek the gentleman Irish plumber just left and now I don't have to worry about that damn toilet running and running and running...
posted at 10:24 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, June 27, 2002
Let's go to the zoo, Mom!
Time for another family outing. I picked-up my Mom, drove to my sister Diane's house again, and this time we went to the Lincoln Park Zoo. I haven't ben there in at least 20 years. It's a "quaint" zoo. It's really not as big as people think. We had lunch first at Café Brauer and watched the paddleboats on the lagoon. There were a lot of kids in the zoo, mostly from day camps and other organized summer programs. It seemed that anywhere we went, either we couldn't find any of the "larger" animals. They were either all sleeping, or they were just "somewhere else" (they weren't inside a building or outside a building). We went to see the seals - I think there were two. I somehow remember a lot more seals. What's the deal? Now, to be fair, half of the Great Apes were shipped out to do a staged rehab of their enclosures, and all of the elephants, rhinos, and giraffes are gone because they are rehabbing/building a new Regenstein African Journey, and the Farm-in-the-Zoo is all torn up and being rebuilt, so I guess there wasn't a lot to see. While outside the tiger exhibit, I saw some kids playing around one of those 25-cent telescope things that you can use to get close-up views of the big cats. Well, I thought I'd try it and sure enough - it worked! You can use those telescopes with your digital camera! Just Put the camera up to the telescope and zoom in (optical zoom, not digital zoom) and shoot! Cool. I'll have to remember this.
The most entertaining part of the day was watching the polar bears. There was an underwater observations area with a bunch of windows so you can watch the bears swim. There was one bear that was always swimming around the glass. Diane and I were watching him, because he was very active, constantly swimming around. We noticed that he was really looking at some of the people. Then we realized that he was really looking at the children and just passing by the adults. He would even stop and size-up the kids. I even saw him lick the glass by one girl's leg! That's when we realized he thought the kids were seal pups! He was sizing them up as prey! It was, um, entertaining. It was a nice day and we were at the zoo for hours. It was nice being out and walking in the sunshine and looking at the animals. A nice day.
posted at 06:06 PM | Link | Family § |
That infernal noise...I got woke up by Carol an hour and a half ago. The water in the toilet won't shutoff, it just keeps running. I was sound asleep. I had no idea what time it was. Those of you that know me know that I am not a "hardware guy" - whether it's computers or otherwise. No matter what I do, I can't get the float valve to actually close in the toilet. It's maddening. An hour into the ordeal, I give up. In the past, repeated flushings would eventually get the valve to close. Not tonight. We just let the water run. And then, I couldn't take the sound of the running water anymore! So, back into the tank to attempt to move things around a bit, check some seals. Nothing. Flush, flush, flush... still running... the water seems to be entering the tank at the base of the valve as well as through the filler hose... I just want it to end... I give up still again. I'm getting that weird feeling when you've been up way too long, the burning eyes, the weird "sour stomach"... I need to go downstairs and watch some TV and maybe I'll get fatigued enough to pass out and go to sleep. I get downstairs, sit on the couch, turn on the TV... and the water stops. By itself. The picture tube never warmed-up for a picture. Damn - good sleep time ripped away from me in the middle of the night...
posted at 02:13 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, June 26, 2002
Parasols
I've been spending my spare time making parasols. No really. Parasols. Well, not the whole parasol, just the frames. You see, our friends Chelby & Damian have decided to make parasols, mostly for the Renaissance Faire circuit. The have a shop that opens this weekend at the Bristol Renaissance Faire in Wisconsin, which runs weekends until August 25. They've started the business, Piccadilly Parasol Shoppe, with hopes of traveling around the country next year selling their wares. Well, I'm one of a few people trying to help them out by getting the parasol frames, or carcasses, or whatever you call them, assembled so that the fabrics and accessories can be sewn on them. Hey, they need the help. They want 1,000 made, and I'm only cranking out one every 20-30 minutes... when I don't make a mistake.
posted at 09:47 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Tuesday, June 25, 2002
Destructive bunnies, cool chimneys and road construction
I came downstairs this morning to an odd little "surprise". Our bunny Indy has been hanging around Carol's slippers lately. Well, apparently Indy has taken to a real liking of the slippers - she's chewed passed the terrycloth covering into the foam rubber. I'm sure carol is not too happy about this. Indy has been acting up lately. It's weird. Actually, she's weird. She's been very demanding of my time lately. She wants her "lovin's" - which is just a very long session of petting. Maybe all of her Live BunnyCam time is too much pressure for her.
Drove back to Galyan's at Streets of Woodfield this afternoon. We're going over to Barry & Buffy's on Saturday after the Sox-Cubs game for a little grilled... something (don't know what yet). Barry needs a new charcoal chimney and I saw them at Galyan's last week, so I picked up one for him and one for me, too. At $10.99 I thought they were a good buy.
The Higgins Road reconstruction is progressing. Last Tuesday they laid new concrete. I guess they're letting it cure before they do anything else. The thing that's bothering me is the installation of temporary traffic signals along Golf Road. According to the Hoffman Estates website, a PDF brochure about the construction says the Gold Road construction isn't until 2003. If that's the case, I'm not understanding the traffic lights.
posted at 03:09 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, June 24, 2002
$1,824.00Oh, I forgot to mention - remember my PayPal account that got hijacked? So far, the unauthorized charges are up to $1,824.00
posted at 08:51 PM | Link | Mundane | 2 comments § |
*urp*Had a bad night's sleep due to some GERD problems... damn popcorn chicken!!!
posted at 08:20 AM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Sunday, June 23, 2002
Loews
Went back to Streets of Woodfield to go to the Loews theater there. It's not normally a place we go, but we have gift certificates, so this is perfect for being on a budget. We went to see Minority Report. Another great Spielberg picture. What did I like? Everything, but specifically for a film to be set 52 years into the future, the day-to-day technology used was (I think) very plausible (ignoring the existence of "pre-cogs" and the technology to "read" what they "see"). Well, except when I see Ed Witwer (Colin Farrell) sit down at John Anderton's (Tom Cruise) desk/cubicle... and realize that's the last cube/desk I had at marchFIRST!!! I'm not sure about retina scanning from the distances that were shown (like for the custom advertising, which I totally believe will come some day. I even thought the cereal box was pretty cool, too.) So, what do you do for a cheap meal after the movie? Why, popcorn chicken from KFC, of course!
posted at 05:02 PM | Link | Movies § |
Friday, June 21, 2002
Summer in the villageAh, summer... went to Joe's Crab Shack for dinner - had a Dungeness Crab and Shrimp Scampi that was great with a Crab and Lobster Martini appetizer that was amazing. Then we went over to Streets of Woodfield to go to Galyan's to look at some shorts for Carol. What a gorgeous night. It was great to walk around - though there wasn't a single place to park at Streets of Woodfield. It also appears that Streets of Woodfield is where the teens go to cruise, walk, and hang-out. All well behaved, but they were out. It was a bit hard to just "stroll" I felt like we were going to get run over all the time. But it was such a gorgeous night, everyone wanted to welcome summer. Very warm. Very slight breeze. Ahhh.....
posted at 08:42 PM | Link | Mundane § |
HB, EB!Oh, before I forget, be sure to wish Erin a Happy 32nd Birthday today before she heads down to the Jersey Shore for the weekend...
posted at 12:51 PM | Link | Mundane | 1 comment § |
Summer SolsticeWooo Hooo!!! SUMMER IS HERE!!! Yes, summer. Warm to hot Chicago days. Ahhhhhh... Summer Solstace - The Longest Day of the Year... need to find a way to enjoy this somehow...
posted at 12:49 PM | Link | Mundane § |
BANGI am awake. Why? Because there are kids walking through the neighborhood tossing firecrackers, that's why. Damn kids. Police are on their way. No, they're here - just drove past the house. We could still hear little "pops" in the distance, so the kids are still out there somewhere.
posted at 04:39 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, June 20, 2002
The incredible edible egg
Carol doesn't let me go grocery shopping with her. Since I don't do it often, when I do have the opportunity to actually stroll up and down the aisles at a store, I'm always lagging behind her with a" Hey! look at that..." or a "Ooooo... that looks gooood....". We were going through a dairy section recently when I saw something that for some reason just made me confused. Eggs. Vegetarian eggs. Ok, some vegans don't eat eggs, right? So maybe that's why I feel "jarred" reading the carton. Vegetarian eggs? Then this week's Time Magazine (June 24, 2002) has one of their great graphics (page 75) demystifying - eggs! Sure enough, Vegetarian eggs are produced by hens whose feed has no animal by-products. OK. Apparently, there's also Natural, Cage Free, Free Range, Organic, and Nutritionally Enhanced eggs as well, making up a total of 5% of all eggs consumed in the U.S. Who knew?
posted at 09:54 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, June 18, 2002
Thank you very muchThirty-five minutes and out the door - that was my recruiter face-to-face interview. Actually, it was a good thing to do - it was the first one I've had since October. It's always good to go through the interview process. I just wish there was an opening...
posted at 04:02 PM | Link | Mundane § |
How many did you get cut?Just got back from getting my hair cut. I think I haven't written about it before, which makes me wonder when did I do this last? I mean, it was long - way too long to look presentable. Wonder when that was...?
posted at 12:21 PM | Link | Mundane § |
F2FI have a face-to-face interview with a recruiter this afternoon. I hate these things. It's a total waste of time for the "candidate". I mean, they don't have any open positions, so what's the purpose? It's all for the recruiter - they want to see what you actually look like - to make sure you are not a Quasimodo that would make the customer uncomfortable, or that you do have some grasp of the English language. I even think they even smell you to see that you are "presentable". Great. Carol took my suits to the cleaners yesterday (in anticipation of my cousin Jane's wedding this Saturday) before either of us knew about the interview, so I have to improvise.
posted at 09:47 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, June 17, 2002
Server ChangeWARNING - DNS CHANGE IN PROGRESS - EVERYTHING SHOULD RESOLVE WITHIN 48 (maybe 72) HOURS FROM NOW
What the heck is going on NOW??? My site is changing servers again, this time I didn't know about it. All of a sudden this afternoon I can't get to the website. A couple of hours later, I got a notice that my server was taken down, the accounts are being rebuilt on a new server and it's going to to require a DNS nameserver change. Great. So, I guess I'm down. You're not going to be able to find me for a few days, or until I get a new server and the DNS changes propagate around. Sigh.
posted at 07:41 PM | Link | Blogging § |
Ladies and gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking...We've all been on flights where the captain addresses the passengers from the cockpit before takeoff. But how about this United Airlines pilot that stepped out of the cockpit to make his announcement? Way cool.
posted at 10:02 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, June 16, 2002
Fathers DayHappy Fathers Day! We went to my parents tonight for dinner, and just had a quiet evening watching Tiger win the U.S. Open in the dark. The weather has been pretty good the past few days. Hope it stays this way for a while. There is one nagging little thing that's bothering me that will stay with me for a while. I have a father with cancer. I can now feel those questions in the back of my head that you don't want to hear, the ones you keep pushing to that dark, back corner, the ones you dare not utter - was this his last Father's Day?
posted at 09:55 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, June 15, 2002
The Young and the DeadDid nothing today. Nothing. And it felt good. Caught up on some TiVo viewing. Watched an HBO America Undercover piece called "The Young and the Dead" about the Hollywood Forever Cemetery (check out the Forever Network), and how a young guy named Tyler Cassity has saved the place and is really "breaking ground" (so to speak) when it comes to technology and "innovative cemeteries, funeral homes and LifeStory production studios". Since Carol just watched all two seasons of Six Feet Under this past week, it was a nice "fit". Was a great documentary.
posted at 09:29 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, June 14, 2002
Grand Vic
Carol had a great idea that actually crossed my mind two days ago - let's go to the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin to eat at the buffet. We haven't been there in a long time, and it'll feel good to be near a casino again, now that we're not going to Las Vegas this year. So, we had the buffet - and had to endure this one member of the wait staff that stood around, chewing gum and popping bubble wrap. The entire time. I wanted to go over to the bastard a just give him a quick knee to the groin. Don't know why (other than the utter annoyance of the noise), but he just looked like the kind of guy that needed a knee to the groin. Go figure.
We took a quick lap around the casino to see what changes they had made since the last time we were there (there actually were quite a few). We didn't play a quarter - just one lap and out. Though I felt a strong breeze in there, like the air handling was changed, I just couldn't handle the smoke. And there was a lot of it.
I miss the place.
posted at 07:22 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, June 13, 2002
The "Family Outing"
Today was "Family Outing" day. I drove into the city and picked-up my mom, and then drove to my sister Diane's house in Bucktown. We are spending the day together. The first stop - lunch. We went a few blocks over to a corner bar called the Lincoln Tavern. Typical corner bar. We walk in and go to the back of the bar. There's a few tables there. But Diane doesn't stop - she makes a right after the bar, goes through this little vestibule area and we wind up on the first floor of the three-flat next door! There are tables, a fireplace, and it's decorated like a kitschy hunting lodge. We order lunch. I get a steak sandwich (which was surprisingly good!). When you order a Coke, you get a can and this little glass filled with ice - so little, you can fill it three times before you empty the can!
After lunch, we drive to the Garfield Park Conservatory. There is an exhibit there - Chihuly in the Park: A Garden of Glass by Dale Chihuly. Who is Dale Chihuly? If you have ever been there, he is a artist that designed the ceiling sculpture (called FIORE DI COMO) for the lobby of the Bellagio in Las Vegas. He is an artist that works in glass. I've never been to the conservatory, so I was an interesting walk. But it was really cool (almost like a Easter Egg Hunt) to walk through the whole place to find all of the Chihuly glass sculptures! Some are just out in the open, others hidden behind plants, some floating in water. Some pieces were actually designed for the specific plant and are almost integrated into them. Very cool! The exhibit runs through September 8. If you're in Chicago, this is a unique exhibit that you must see before it leaves.
posted at 05:44 PM | Link | Family § |
Wednesday, June 12, 2002
HijackedI am pissed-off... some idiot out there has hijacked my PayPal account. Now I'm affraid this jackass has access to my credit cards and checking account. Great, that's all I need right now...
posted at 11:06 PM | Link | Mundane § |
All the sameWell, phone calls are up to four right now. Unfortunately, three of them are for the same contracting gig. I haven't heard back from the fourth - bet you it's also the same. It's obvious that I match this one pretty well, and everybody must have jumped at it. I would have wished they were four different jobs. Figures.
posted at 07:10 PM | Link | Mundane § |
The difference between "thermos" and "Thermos™"So, Carol is upset at reading the news this morning. She works at Thermos. They make some great container products that I love. Well, she's surfing the net, reading some news when she sees this article at CBS News. The INS has ordered that all Yemeni nationals be searched before entering or leaving the United States. However, the memo says: "under no circumstances will an inspecting officer open a thermos bottle." Great. "Law enforcement officers discovered dozens of thermos bottles, some rigged with batteries; wire was also found. Authorities say these components could have been used in manufacturing bombs." This is just going to be great for her business...
posted at 02:35 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Chinese lunch fortune?
I had lunch with Barry today, back at the Chinese buffet near his office. It was actually a cheering-up lunch for me. Carol & I had come to the conclusion that we just can go on our annual pilgrimage to Las Vegas this year with Barry and Buffy. There is just no way, even if I got a job right now, to be able to do this. I'm bummed. No, really bummed about this. First, I love the town. Second, I love travelling together with B&B. Third, I just feel the need to getaway. Fourth, and most importantly, I feel like it's all my fault. We could go if I was working. But, after a year, it's not looking too good. Finances are bad. It's just not feasible. I feel like I let everyone down. Barry took me out to help make me feel better. And, to a certain extent, I do. We talked a bit about the job market. First, I haven't seen many job postings in my field this past year. Secondly, with the amount of people out there, recruiters are getting inundated with resumes, and I'm just getting lost in the pile. I don't have a chance, and I'm getting really depressed about this. So, it's a Chinese buffet, right? Out come the fortune cookies (with the bill, of course). I crack mine open and say "Good one. That's coming home with me."
It read "New and rewarding opportunities will soon develop for you."
I get home, and there are three (count them, three) voice mail messages from recruiters. I think I'm finally getting down through that stacks of resumes, and somebody is noticing. Well, it's a start. I am extremely pessimistic, so let's see how this all pans out.
posted at 01:05 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, June 11, 2002
Wobbly Carol
Off to Woodfield tonight. Carol has an eye doctor appointment at LensCrafters and she's going to be buying glasses afterward. I along for the trip for supervision. She's getting her eyes dilated for the first time tonight, so I thought I had better accompany her. I mean, she could get into trouble wandering the mall by herself. I was apprehensive about doing this tonight. My unemployment situation has started causing a big money situation, and paying for glasses right now doesn't feel right. I just seems that it could be deferred for a while, though the both of us are struggling reading and doing up-close work. We've got coupons and there's $99 sale signs everywhere. Carol does the doctor and dilation thing and comes out a struggles to pick out frames she likes - one regular, one sunglass. The whole thing, appointment, lenses, frames, etc with discounts and coupons comes out to a whopping $788.34!!!!! We walk the mall for the regulation "glasses in an hour" timeframe. I'm stunned and a bit worried. Carol doesn't appear to be too worried. I'm thinking that my turn for glasses should really get deferred for a while.
While we're walking around, Carol still saying "cool" every once in a while when her dilated eyes catch some lights is a display case, when I hear somebody say, "hey! what's going on over there?" I turn to look and it's Victoria's Secret. A sign outside says there's a $9.99 bra sale going on. I've never seen so many women handling so much lingerie before. The place is mobbed. I can't divert my eyes. I'm entranced. Carol pulls me away saying her glasses are ready. Back to LensCrafters, pickup the glasses, get them adjusted, and we leave to go home and watch The Mole.
posted at 07:39 PM | Link | Mundane § |
MaytagThunderstorms. What an interesting way to wake up in the morning - to the sound of thunder. That, and that sound of rain being thrown against aluminum siding by high winds, making it sound in-between claps of the rolling thunder like your laying in a soft, warm, dish washer.
posted at 07:41 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, June 10, 2002
al Qaeda in the hoodSo, yesterday, as we were sitting around gabbing on Joe's patio, Carol turns to me and says, "Oh! You don't know about this!" and proceeds to tell me a story she heard from my mom at Saturday's bridal shower. I guess the FBI has been in their neighborhood. Why? Well, in the middle of the block, was an Arab family... that moved out suddenly on September 10. I guess the FBI is going back over their data (about damn time) and is checking out the neighborhood. Mom said there had been a lot of arguments between a man and a woman at the house (she really didn't know them), even with an incident where he woman was across the street talking to someone, there was yelling back-and-forth between her and her husband who was in front of their house, leading to the man coming across the street, dragging the woman back into their own house and beating the crap out of her. Nice neighbors. Makes you wonder about whether or not September 10 was just a coincidence or not.
Now, this morning, the big breaking news on TV is about a suspected al Qaeda operative that was arrested on May 8th. At O'Hare. A former Chicago gang member. Hmmm... it's getting closer to home. And this time, this guy - Abdullah Al Mujahir -- a U.S. citizen who was born Jose Padilla and converted to Islam - was involved in a plot to build and explode a radioactive "dirty bomb", probably in Washington D.C.
Great. I'm feeling really safe, right now. The only solace in this is that they caught the guy before anything happened. I feel good about that.
posted at 10:54 AM | Link | Current Events § |
Sunday, June 09, 2002
Party at Joe'sposted at 09:18 PM | Link | Friends § |
I'm a baaaad boy...I'm in the doghouse. I did a bad thing. I was insensitive, and now I must grovel and pay for it. Yesterday, Carol went home after the bridal shower, to have an evening alone. She wanted it. She needed it. After a year of unemployment, there are times she resents me breathing in the house. She just wants to be alone. I understand totally.
So, what did I do? Well, last night during the game, we were all trying to figure out why Paul Konerko wasn't playing - was he hurt, was he just sitting out. So, I called Carol. Big mistake. I could hear her anger on the phone, though she tried hard to hide it. I blew it. I invaded her "alone time." I'm screwed. I need to find a way to make it up to her. Sigh. Update: Oh, cripes... it's PMS Weekend... I don't have a chance...
posted at 12:10 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, June 08, 2002
Me on the tollwayMy first Mirror Project submission - it's just something from back in March that I put up here in my blog.
posted at 09:50 AM | Link | Memes § |
Friday, June 07, 2002
Stir Crazy
Carol came home from work without any dinner plans. I had a hankerin' for some stir fry, so we went to my most favorite place near us - Stir Crazy at Woodfield Mall. I love going there (I love Flat Top Grill, too, but there aren't any out by us - actually I think I like it better, specifically the way they charge for the dishes, except when I was there they were missing one specific ingredient that I must have - water chestnuts). I love being able to pick out exactly what you want in the stir fry. And I always believe in one thing - if you don't like it, it's your fault since you put it together. Had some chicken pot stickers as an appetizer. Carol had garlic chicken, and I had a stir fry with steak and lo-mein noodles plus whatever I can scrounge at the vegetable bar (heavy on the water chestnuts, with a walk through some snow peas, red peppers, green onions and whatever hit me. Yum. We walked around the mall a bit for exercise afterward. That, and Carol had to go Payless Shoes for three pairs of shoes. Sigh.
posted at 07:08 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, June 06, 2002
It's not my faultMy sister (Diane) called this evening to talk to Carol. We talked for a bit as well. She was laid-off yesterday and joins me in the ranks of the unemployed.
But, after careful thought, she now blames me for being unemployed. You see, in April 1998 I was let go from Brunswick Corporation - 7 months shy of 20 years of service. I took time off (a very nice severance package, thank you). One year later, in April 1999, Diane was let go from her job. Flash forward. marchFIRST takes a dive, my services are bought by divine, and my last day was June 1, 2001. Sure enough, one year later, Diane gets laid off again. Coincidence?
posted at 06:01 PM | Link | Unemployment § |
Hiya, Peg!
I received an EMail recently that just made me feel warm inside. A former coworker of mine has been reading my blog quite regularly. It was something I hadn't thought about, but she said "I feel like we are still working together and seeing each other everyday." I hadn't thought of a blog giving that kind of connection to people that you used to work with. Even though it's a bit one-way (even though there are options on each post to make a comment for feedback), it feels good to know that there's a connection. On top of it, since Barry is mentioned a bit in my blogging, she's vicariously keeping in touch with him as well. I really enjoyed my time working with Peggy. She's a great woman and a great worker. I've missed her dearly since my time at Brunswick. One of the last times I saw her was at Comiskey Park almost two years ago for Elvis Night. She had her daughter with her, so I snapped some pics. These are for you, Peg! Hope you keep reading.
posted at 01:03 AM | Link | Friends § |
Wednesday, June 05, 2002
No 802.11The storm and subsequent power outage has taken out my wireless access point, so the wireless portion of my home network is ka-blewie.. At least the rest of the machines are all hard connected, so I still have access to them and the internet. I've been struggling to try to talk to the access point all day and it's just driving me nuts. I hate hardware. I don't do hardware. There's something nice about Cat 5 cable - it's tactile, you can touch it. It's real. A wireless access point may be connected to a Cat 5 cable, but it's that wireless part that's so - ethereal. It just works. Except, when it doesn't (I'm sounding like Yogi Bera).
posted at 04:23 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, June 04, 2002
150/96 or 140/90
It was a year ago this past Saturday that I worked my last day at full-time position. I've now been unemployed for over a year. One of the (many) bad off-shoots of this is lack of complete health insurance coverage. We haven't been able to have it straightened out until last week, so it was off to the doctor this morning to get checked-out and get back on my blood pressure meds. One thing's for sure - I need them: 150/96 left side, 140/90 right side. Meds, exercise, diet... should all help. Just have to do something about the those last two things...
posted at 11:09 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Beep... Beep... Beep...Thunderstorms are ripping through the neighborhood. The power went out, so the UPS's for the computers are beeping. I swear as I'm laying in bed that I can hear the thunder directly above me, through the roof. I don't remember that sensation before. My cell phone is going off with Emergency Weather alert messages for thunderstorms and flash floods. There was one crack of thunder after a blinding flash of light that must have been pretty damn close. Should be an interesting day.
posted at 03:10 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, June 02, 2002
Family birhtdaysposted at 06:38 PM | Link | Family § |
Saturday, June 01, 2002
Jasmine and clones
We decided to spend the day with our buds, Barry & Buffy (or B&B as we sometimes to refer to them), taking in a movie and having some dinner. We dove into the city, into Wrigleyville to go and pick them up. When we called them from the car (we were just going to wait outside and have them come out), Buffy said to double park the car and come in. B&B's brand new granddaughter, Jasmine, was over for a visit. We had to go in and see her! She was beautiful - all sacked out taking a nap on B&B's bed. Of course, mom Kim was there, too, so we had to chat a bit. And, well, I had to take some pictures because she was just so damn cute! What a gorgeous little baby. Well, we had to get going, so Jasmine got "packed-up" and all six of us left - well, only four of us drove back up to the Evanston Century 12 again, this time to catch a matinee of Star Wars Episode II - Attack of the Clones. I'm starting to like the theaters - good concessions, good seating (gotta love that Stadium Seating), and free parking (with validation). The movie was great. There's something about seeing those famous little words at the beginning of the movie, those same words that we saw 25 years ago. I think that you couldn't tell that the film was shot using digital video instead of film. The special effects were very good, and even though there were a ton on digital sets, they were well done. There seemed to be a lot of pieces that reminded me of other movies, like Blade Runner for the city/planet Coruscant, a little bit of Gladiator, and I thought that I saw a little Mr. Miyagi in Yoda at least once... There was a large group of pre-teen girls that were sitting in the row behind us, usually chatting throughout the movie. Fortunately, they were pretty quiet, but every once in a while you can hear what they were say. For instance, when Anakin would show a bit too much anger for a young padawan, I could hear one of the girls say "What is his problem?" And then there was the scene with Anakin and Padmé - wearing that black corseted dress - that was dimly lit in front of a fire. As soon as the scene started it was really quiet in the theater and then I heard from behind me this quiet "oh oh". Carol and I struggled from laughing out loud. After the movie we went to Sam's Club, so B&B can do some shopping. Then back to Wrigleyville (which was a bit of a mess since there was a 3:05 Cubs game), and then a brief walk down Southport to go to Red Tomato for dinner. On the way there, we passed a toy store with these cute ladybugs in the window. We had to stop, as Buff wanted to but one for Jasmine (it wound up having a chime ball inside of it - pretty cool). Dinner at Red Tomato was great. We all had to get the carpaccio for the appetizer - we had been thinking about it all day. Had a good meal - I had something that was actually called a "stir fry" which was beef and potatoes - it was very good. We walked back to B&B's and watched most of Jurassic Park III on cable, had some apple pie (from Sam's) and finally left about 9 o'clock. I don't know what it is, but I love having friends that we could just spend the day with and have a good time the whole time.
posted at 09:53 PM | Link | Friends § |
Thursday, May 30, 2002
I gots me insuranceIt's now just days from my one year anniversary of being unemployed. We got a letter today from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois finally saying that I am now covered under Carol's health insurance. You have no idea what it's like to have high blood pressure, knowing that you're not covered under any health insurance policy. What a load off my shoulders. And you know what? I actually feel better. Weird. Now I need to make a doctors appointment and get some tests run and get myself back on the road to good health. Whew. Update: Tuesday at 10am. Cool.
posted at 03:34 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, May 29, 2002
SatellitesCan't sleep - don't know why. Was rolling around in bed, turned on the TV. Saw that DirecTV added a channel just to hawk XM Radio. I see the connection, but a channel devoted to just that?
posted at 05:04 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, May 25, 2002
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manposted at 10:34 PM | Link | Movies § |
Unofficial Start of SummerYech, what an ugly Saturday morning - rain and dark. Yesterday, the sun was out - and Wind Chill's in the 30's. It's Memorial Day weekend and we're measuring Wind Chill? Crappy weather. I'm getting tired of this. Isn't this supposed to be the "unofficial start of summer"?
posted at 09:19 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, May 22, 2002
Good luck, Rosie
Well, Rosie's last show was today. Look, I know a lot of people don't like her. I'm on the other side - I thought she was great, and I don't think I've seen a celebrity over the past six years do what she's done for kids and adoption. No one could touch her. I'm just hoping that she'll be able to keep up her philanthropic endeavors when she doesn't have a daily public outlet like her talk show. Good luck, Rosie. I'm going to miss seeing you every day.
posted at 03:06 PM | Link | TV § |
Lunch and planes
I went out to lunch with my bud, Barry. We went to a Chinese buffet and just sat around and talked for a while. Actually, we mostly talked about Barry doing a financial system upgrade at where he works. It was weird - I really enjoyed talking about it. It's the first time in almost a year where it felt good talking about typical corporate IT things. I know, it's petty, but it felt good! We'll be going over to their place on Saturday, hopefully to sit outside and barbecue something.
After lunch, since I had passed it to and from the buffet, I ducked into the Allstate Arena parking lot to watch some airplanes land at O'Hare. It's something I haven't done in a long, long time, and it's just one of those things that I enjoy. I wish I had my scanner with me.
First thing I noticed was the banner that's still on the building for the Chicago Wolves. It's a banner advertising that "The Playoffs Are Here". Well, they've been using the banner for a few years, and that's when I realized that, well, things have changed. The Wolves are now in the AHL, not the defunct IHL. The banner depicts the IHL Turner Cup, not the AHL Calder Cup. I guess they didn't want to spend the money, and/or they didn't think they'd be in the finals. I watched a couple of arrivals. I wanted to get a picture or two to show you how close the aircraft come over the top of the building.
I drove around the airport some more, watching the air traffic. I just love watching the planes. I don't know why. I've done it since I was a kid. O'Hare has a great diversity of aircraft and airlines, so it's always interesting watching the traffic. Then I remembered this store that's in the O'Hare Hilton that I love and haven't been to in a few years. I was looking for a model airplane to add to my collection - a National 757-200 - Our Favorite Airline to Las Vegas™. So I went to the airport, parked in the garage, and took the elevator down to the underground terminal level. The ORD Chicago Store is on this level, underneath the Hilton, near Elevator Center 4. I browsed around a bit, looking at all the aircraft. The last time I was here, National wasn't flying to O'Hare and they didn't have the model. Now they did, so I paid for it, walked around a bit more, and went back to the car and went home, where I promptly put it together and added it to my collection.
This was a weird afternoon. I was doing stuff as if I was decades younger, and I felt good.
posted at 02:00 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, May 21, 2002
BoringDamn. I've always thought my life is boring, being unemployed and all. It's bad enough that I say it, but now I've got another blogger saying that I'm more boring than him. Great. My life is whole. Gee.
posted at 07:23 PM | Link | Blogging § |
Summer of the SharkSo apparently, last summer's "Summer of the Shark" was just a media frenzy. Here's a great stat for you: In a typical year, 10 people are killed by sharks worldwide. During the same year, 150 people are killed by falling coconuts. I don't seem to recall seeing the "Summer of the Coconut" media coverage...
posted at 06:11 PM | Link | Current Events § |
CT Results
Today was the day that I took my parents back to Loyola to see Dr. Emami about the results of Dad's CT Scan that he had last week, to see how the radiation treatments went. The 3:00 appointment slowly turned into the 4:00 appointment. Dad, who at the ripe old age of 88, doesn't like waiting at all and it was aggravating him. When we finally got in, we found out his blood pressure was 160/92 - not good. He worked himself up pretty well. He says that the reason why it's so late is because there is bad news. I try to settle him a bit and say we don't know that. And you know what? We don't We have no idea if the radiation did anything.
Dr Emami comes in and looks at the report. He says the major tumor in the throat has been reduced by amount one half, and that all of the others have been reduced as well. Not only that, but there's no new growths in the radiation area, and that the tumors can actually reduce in size a bit more over the coming weeks or remain stable. This is good - the radiation treatments have achieved about 70-80% of what we were hoping for. OK, now for the bad news - "there are several new growths in the right upper lobe and right middle lobe" of his lung. Dad needs to see Dr. Clark for a consultation to see what can be done, if anything. Dr. Clark is both an Oncologist and internist and he should be able to figure out how to proceed. Makes sense - we're past radiation treatments (the growths are too scattered and radiation can't be done - it would probably "knock out the lung before knocking out the tumors").
All in all, a mixed bag. I feel good about the radiation treatments. I guess it's a matter about those other pesky growths. We'll find out a little more next month when we see Dr. Clark. On the drive home, we feel a little better. I know Dad can't handle chemo - that would be really hard on him at 88. I know he won't agree to it. But we need to find out options and figure out what's happening. Hopefully, we won't think about it until next month. In the meantime, Dad & Mom seem to feel better, and though it may be a bit misguided, I feel good that they feel good. It'll help them through the next month.
The drive home is a mess. I haven't driven in rush hour traffic in a year and I don't miss it a bit. I made a mistake on the way home. I took the Northwest Tollway. That wasn't the mistake. I took this new temporary express lane that has no exits until 53 in Schaumburg. It's a single lane with no shoulders. As I was standing still in the express lane looking over at the free-flowing traffic in the "local" lanes, I'm wondering why I did this. I won't do that again. It's nice having multiple lanes just in case some LAC (Law Abiding Citizen) is just moving a bit too slow. Sheesh.
posted at 05:39 PM | Link | Family § |
A little coolThe weather today and yesterday has looked terrific. The operative word there is looked. The skies are blue, the sun bright and strong, the wind - not bad at all. The problem - it's too damn cold! Average temperature this time of year is supposed to be in the low 70's. It hasn't been there since last week. In fact, it was a record low 31° this morning. I can't take this. We go to Comiskey on the weekend again, and it's supposed to be cold again. I'm tired of this. Why can't we have normal temps??? That's all, just normal. This is May!
posted at 11:49 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, May 20, 2002
New AIBO'sOooo... Sony has new AIBO's coming out, including a cheaper version (even cheaper than the Latte and Macaron versions).
posted at 01:36 PM | Link | Geek § |
Friday, May 17, 2002
12.4Carol just got home, and she's all excited - she lost another 2.6 pounds at Weight Watchers this week, for a total of 12.4. Now, of course, she wants to go out and eat...
posted at 04:55 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday 5 - Hair Care
Time for the return of The Friday Five...
1. What shampoo do you use? Oh, no... this is a bad group of questions. OK, look, before I go on, there's something you have to know - I'm going bald. In fact, I'm well on my way, and the finish line is right around the corner. OK? So having said that, questions about hair & hair products are a bit of a "sensitive" issue... Alright, my answer is Head and Shoulders Intensive Treatment. Crap, it's bad enough to lose your hair, but to have dandruff on top of it, sheesh...
2. Do you use conditioner? What kind? Umm, no. No conditioner.
3. When was the last time you got your hair cut? I don't get it cut very often, maybe about four to six times a year. The last one was about a month ago... I think
4. What styling products do you use? Styling products? Who are you kidding????
5. What's your worst hair-related experience? Oh, you mean other than losing it??? I think that has to be the worst experience - watching the hair - follicle by follicle - turn kind of stiff a crooked and then just falling away. Yeah, that's it.
And to think I was looking forward for the return of the Friday Five!!!
posted at 12:01 AM | Link | Friday Five § |
Thursday, May 16, 2002
CT Scan Chauffeur™ dutyWell, it wasn't Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ duty, but it was CT Scan Chauffeur™ duty instead. Dad had to go back to Loyola for a CT Scan, now that it's been about 5-6 weeks after his last radiation treatment. They have an appointment next week to meet with the doctors to discuss how the treatment went. It was interesting just driving back to Loyola again because everything is green now. Before, it was snowing, even though it was April. Dad seems to be doing OK. I mean, he's 88 and every day he's still around is a blessing, so your view on how well he's doing seems to be colored by age. That and the fact that he has cancer. By the time we had got back from the hospital, it started raining again. It's been raining hard for a while now - the trip back home on the construction-laden Northwest Tollway in heavy rain was a chore, but at least traffic was moving at (over) the limit.
posted at 11:46 AM | Link | Family § |
Monday, May 13, 2002
Crabs, pretzels, pens and tears
Birthday Dinner tonight was just at Joe's Crab Shack. Carol felt that seafood would be good for points for her diet, so Joe's it was. Food was OK. Then it was one of those things that you've got a stop to make on the way home, and the next thing you know it's three stops. First - IKEA, looking for halogen bulbs for some under counter lighting we had bought there a few years ago. No dice - they didn't have any 10 watt bulbs that we needed (20 & 50 watt, no 10 watt). Then off to Costco, since it was near there for some pretzels (long story, but little boxes of Bachman Pretzel Stix are a childhood favorite) and Pepcid AC - no dice with the Pepcid. Then I noticed Carol is looking at the business supplies for some pens. She's very fussy about her pens, even buying them herself to take to work. Well, they didn't have anything to her satisfaction, so I offered that we should go to OfficeMax. Off to OfficeMax for pen shopping, then, finally, back home. I had bought Carol a couple of DVD's for her birthday and some cards, all of which I had snuck down to the garage last night and placed on the driver's seat of her Grand Vitara. Turns out, I made her cry, so I guess I did OK. Happy Birthday, Carol!
posted at 07:09 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Happy Birthday, Carol!Happy Birthday, Carol! Now she can't call me old - we're the same age again! Not sure where she wants to go for dinner - she mentioned Mexican or seafood. We'll have to see what kind of mood she's in.
posted at 09:37 AM | Link | Family § |
Sunday, May 12, 2002
Mothers Day
We spent the day at my sister's (Diane) to celebrate Mother's Day. She lives in Bucktown and I just love her house. Since it's been raining this whole damn weekend, Diane couldn't grill-up anything on the barbecue outside, so we ordered Italian from Club Lucky, just a few blocks away. Again, more good food - just a bit too much of it. Had another good time just sitting around talking.
posted at 10:08 PM | Link | Family § |
Saturday, May 11, 2002
Steak and Friendsposted at 09:34 PM | Link | Friends § |
Friday, May 10, 2002
9.8There's something I've been meaning to share... My wife (Carol) started Weight Watchers back on April 10. This is a big deal. She did this on her own, and it has become something that she feels she can do. This whole Point System thing makes her feel in control of eating. So, as of weigh-in today she's lost 9.8 pounds (she wanted 10, but she'll take the 9.8 - it shows steady progress for her). I'm proud of her.
posted at 11:56 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, May 09, 2002
My Driving Pet PeevesI couldn't help myself. I just get so pissed off at some other drivers as I'm driving, that I've decided to start a blog of My Driving Pet Peeves. Things just piss me off and I feel like I have to write about them. There're idiots out there - you've seen them (I hope you're not one of them!).
posted at 11:51 AM | Link | Blogging § |
Wednesday, May 08, 2002
TEUCOn Friday, I got a letter from IDES (the Illinois Department of (Un)Employment Security) that I had a feeling was coming: YOU HAVE EXHAUSTED YOUR BENEFITS UNDER YOUR PRESENT UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM. I got a letter on Saturday that says I am automatically enrolled in the Federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program. I called in today to get my benefits for the prior two weeks. At least I have a temporary reprieve from lack of benefit income. I'd rather have a full-time job...
posted at 11:22 AM | Link | Unemployment § |
Tuesday, May 07, 2002
Walking and walking and walkingSpent the afternoon walking around Woodfield. I need to get some kind of exercise and get off my ass. I can feel my blood pressure is up. I've been getting these wicked, instant headaches that go away in a few seconds. It's hell being unemployed with no health insurance. After that, took a tour of some garden shops, trying to find something to kill these damn gnats in out house. They're annoying and I can't stand things buzzing around me when I'm trying to eat dinner...
posted at 04:26 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, May 06, 2002
Runs and gnats and dripsCrappy day. Spent the afternoon getting parts for the toilet upstairs. It's running and doesn't stop - there's something about the valve inside the tank. And then I can't get the water shutoff outside the tank to work to even start the process. Crap. Now, Carol and I are Gnat-hunting. We've been gnat hunting for a few weeks. They always are around plants. This last go-around, we found them in Roses that Carol had bought. It's impossible to get these little bastards... Now the shutoff valve for the toilet is dripping...
posted at 09:24 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, May 02, 2002
"Things My Girlfriend and I Have Argued About"For those of you who me (or actually, know us), you know that I've been married since 1979. That's right - over 22 years. You have no freaking idea how funny this page is when you look at it with 22 years of married life under your belt!
posted at 01:15 PM | Link | Odd § |
No nose wiggleNuts. I forgot to say "rabbit, rabbit" yesterday. Heck, I forgot to say "tibbar, tibbar", too. I guess no good luck for May. And you would think that in this house, this would be so easy to say... I need an EMail reminder...
posted at 11:11 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, May 01, 2002
Blogging, Barry, and BucksGot to bed late after franticly switching the blog away from Blog*Spot on onto my own website. I was on a roll, and had the adrenaline pumpin' and just couldn't let it go, so I just went through it and got it up and running here. To those of you just finding me again, welcome! And, oh BTW, I didn't plan to be part of the May 1st Reboot, but it looks like did (but let's be honest - I ain't no designer, and the site is just a personal website, so no biggie, right?)
Been trying to find out out my buddy Barry. He called me yesterday morning to let me know he was going into the hospital for "intravenous antibiotic therapy". Huh? Well, it turns out that his right hand has swollen-up (really bad) from what is being speculated as a spider bite. He had it lanced and packed (Ew and OOUUCCHH!!!!) and his hand is more swollen now, so off to attack the infection. We haven't heard back from him or his wife (Buffy), so we're a bit concerned. Left voicemail - hopefully we'll hear what's going on.
Made my bi-weekly call to IDES (the Illinois Department of (Un)Employment Security) and the automated guy didn't tell me when my next call date is. This probably means that my unemployment benefits have officially run out.
Crud.
posted at 03:07 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, April 29, 2002
Laughlin searchesI am getting friggin' inundated with hits from Google searches looking for Laughlin, Hell's Angels and Mongols, just because I blooged about Harrah's Laughlin on Saturday (not to mention people looking for photos of Lisa Lopes dead). Weird. People, I just commented on these events - there's nothing to see here - move along, move along...
posted at 11:50 AM | Link | Blogging § |
Sunday, April 28, 2002
Alan, Tommy, Charlie, Carol, Andy...
We spent most of the afternoon watching BBC America. Why? We are totally addicted to two particular shows. The first is Ground Force. This is basically a gardening show hosted by a great guy (and gardener) Alan Titchmarsh. The premise: people write in to have Alan and his team (of Tommy Walsh and Charlie Dimmock) transform their garden while their spouse/partner is away for two days with a budget of about £1,000. The cast is great and the transformations are wonderful to watch. The second show is Changing Rooms. This is the show that TLC's Trading Spaces is based on. Instead of Paige Davis, the host (or "presenter" as they call them on the BBC) is Carol Smillie, an ex-model from Glasgow. Now, I know that Trading Spaces has a pretty big following, but I think Changing Rooms is the better program (or is it programme?). Why? Because it's only 30 minutes long instead of 60 minutes. It makes for a faster pace and it just seems to hold your attention better. Today, there was a special Changing Rooms Marathon called Laurence Let Loose. Laurence is Laurence Llewelyn Bowen, a flamboyant designer who, at times, comes up with room treatments that actually bring the owners to tears. Well worth the watch for a laugh (Linda Barker and Anna Ryder Richardson are my favorites, and it turns out that they have a new show called House Invaders). I also like their carpenter, "Handy" Andy Kane better than Ty Pennington. (However, I also like Vern Yip.) Well, as part of the marathon, there was a hour-long episode titled "When Changing Rooms Met Ground Force" which was a hoot to watch since it was a melding of both of the shows. Alan hosted and had Tommy & Charlie remodel a bedroom of a couple. But when the wife was being interviewed by the Ground Force team ahead of time, she looked absolutely dejected that Alan and his team weren't going to do their garden. So, to make a cross-over episode, Alan had Laurence Llewelyn Bowen and "Handy" Andy Kane redo the garden, so both spouses wound up getting a surprise at the end of the show. A wonderful episode. I really want Alan, Tommy and Charlie to come to the US and do my yard...
posted at 05:26 PM | Link | TV § |
Saturday, April 27, 2002
Trouble in Laughlin
A little digression... last September Carol & I along with our Friends Barry & Buffy were in Las Vegas for our annual (or last year - our semi-annual) trip. After spending 4 days at the Rio, we were off driving about 80 miles to a little town called Laughlin (population 8,000) on the Colorado River, next to Bullhead City Arizona. It's a very small gambling town. We stayed at Harrah's, right on the river, where we had tickets to see Patricia Yearwood at the amphitheater. Well, it was hot. Our room faced an asphalt parking lot. We found the rooms small, almost motel-like. The air conditioning just couldn't keep up with the heat. Then we find out that the amphitheater is outside and it was 105°. Well, after being really spoiled in a Rio suite for 4 nights, we decide that we're not going to stay in Laughlin the second night and we make reservations back at Rio. We also return our Yearwood tickets (the concert was oversold, so they were happy to get them back). We just didn't enjoy being in Laughlin - I guess it wasn't our "style". We're out of there at 8:30 in the morning and are back in our rooms at the Rio by 10:30.
Flash forward to today.
At 2:15 am this morning, 3 people were killed and 13 others injured when members of Hell's Angels and The Mongols started fighting in the Harrah's Laughlin casino, escalating into gunfire. The gangs were in town for the 20th annual "River Run," an event which annually draws 50,000 to 80,000 motorcycle enthusiasts. Police, who said it was the worst shooting incident in the history of Nevada casinos, actually locked-down the town while they searched for possible combatants. Las Vegas SWAT even went room-to-room in the hotel itself.
Weird.
posted at 03:43 PM | Link | Current Events § |
Friday, April 26, 2002
WAPOh my God, I had to try this... Posting to my blog from my brand new Samsung Sprint PCS phone!
posted at 10:12 PM | Link | Blogging § |
Sad...Oh, God, this is sad... Robert Cringely of InfoWorld and PBS-TV miniseries "Triumph of the Nerds" fame writes this article about his son Chase Cringely, who only lived 74 days. The article is worth reading - maybe we can help.
posted at 03:35 PM | Link | Mundane § |
No more TLCAnother celebrity death... I didn't follow her career, and I liked a few of her hits, but Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes (of TLC) was killed in a car accident Thursday in Honduras. I hate when famous (or semi-famous) people die.
posted at 08:15 AM | Link | Current Events § |
Sunday, April 21, 2002
White Sox 11 - Tigers 8
Such a cold, windy, rainy day... let's go to a baseball game! 43°. Thank God we made reservations for a window seat up in the Stadium Club bar at Comiskey. It felt good knowing that we could go to the park and not worry about how to dress for the weather. We got there early and got a good seat. Had a great lunch (the food is always good - the facility is handled by Levy Restaurants).
The game was "iffy" again. Oh, sure, we scored 8 runs in the first inning (Jose Valentin had a home run, and Tigers starter Jose Lima only lasted 2/3 of an inning), but that doesn't mean anything anymore when you have a questionable starting pitcher. Today it was Jon Rauch (who is now officially the tallest player to ever play in the majors at 6' 11"). Well, those 8 runs weren't very secure as Rauch gave up 8 runs in 4 innings. I still don't know how a pitcher can feel the ball and control it in weather situations like this. Finally, in the 7th, Ray Durham came up to pinch hit with the bases loaded (he was out of the lineup with a chest cold - yesterday he had an ingrown toenail dug out. Ew.) and hit a single (which was misplayed by Tigers LF Bobby Higginson) that scored 3 runs and gave us the game. Whew. Watching the game from behind the glass sure made the game more enjoyable.
Went to my parents' house for dinner. I jealous again - my sister is going to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival next weekend. She always goes to great destinations for these great little getaways.
Watched the Wolves on cable TV and they won against Grand Rapids and advance to the Calder Cup Western Conference Semifinals! We never thought they would go further in the playoffs! They now play the Syracuse Crunch (the number 1 seed) in a best-of-7, but we don't know when.
posted at 09:18 PM | Link | White Sox § |
Friday, April 19, 2002
All kinds of weirdnessThe world seems upside-down.
It's the 7th anniversary of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing - the first terror attack on the US from within. Tomorrow is the 3rd anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting. We wind up accidentally bombing Canadians in Afghanistan. Thank you, Illinois Air National Guard. A single-engine private plane crashed into Pireli Tower in Milan, Italy. An Amtrak train derails in Florida.
The Seattle Times is reporting that the White House has said they are considering the use of "The Evil Empire's" (Microsoft's) Passport technology to identify citizens online - Sort of a Virtual National ID Card. Somebody is actually recording George the 43rd's (aka George W.) misspeaks at DubyaSpeak.com, where they do their best "to keep up with the gravy train of strained English."
Then in something that did not surprise me at all, Robert Blake arrested for murdering his wife.
posted at 08:04 AM | Link | Current Events § |
Wednesday, April 17, 2002
Sorry. Not a winner.
7 10 25 26 27 +23... OK, time to look... since I have a bunch of old tickets, I went to the local White Hen and used their scanner (they have a scanner that scans the bar code on the ticket and looks up the numbers for you. Nuts. No winners. Not even a buck or two. The Big Game is being replaced by Mega Millions, with tickets going on sale May 15 and the first drawing on May 17. Hmmm... Mega Millions? Let's see... In Big Game you choose five numbers from 1 to 50 and select one Big Money Ball number from 1 to 3. Odds of winning: 1 in 76,275,360. In Mega Millions you choose five numbers from 1 to 52 and select one Gold Mega Ball number from 1 to 52. Odds of winning: 1 in 135,145,920. So, you have larger jackpots because they are harder to win so they rollover more often!
posted at 08:26 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, April 16, 2002
Warm and webbyTwo days of 88° weather. It got a little breezy today, though - but still, ain't this great for April? Of course it'll be down in the 50's for the weekend when we go back to Comiskey Park.
Spent most of the day working on my new website - (yes, this Blog will be moving within the next week or so to my own domain). Hey - anybody that knows PHP & MySQL got a few minutes to crank out a quick app for me for displaying images (my photo collection)?
posted at 08:22 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Dan TannaNuts. I hate hearing about celebrities passing on, especially if you enjoyed their work. Robert Urich died this morning of synovial cell sarcoma. He had his own website, too.
posted at 06:15 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, April 15, 2002
Googlematic and SegwayWow, cool stuff... Googlematic searches Google via an Instant Messaging product (AOL or MSN). And someone actually rode one of those Segway things for a few hours and wrote about it.
posted at 10:28 PM | Link | Geek § |
Scorched
Do you remember our hot water heater replacement last month? Well, when that full hot water heater hit the lawn, the hot water and god-knows-what sediment poured out onto the lawn. I think I can now say that the lawn is officially dead. I don't know how I'll get it back since I'm not sure what caused it - the heat or the crud.
posted at 02:06 PM | Link | Mundane § |
How I remember Tax DayHere it is tax day. Four years ago today I was released from Brunswick just months shy of 20 years of service. After a few consulting gigs, and one wonderful ride (while it lasted) at Whittman-Hart/marchFIRST, I'm still looking for a job. I hate this. It almost feels like the world is revolving without me, like I'm not plugged-in to the industry anymore. The job market is really bad, but at least a job posting or two pops up every couple of weeks. I can't imagine how many resumes these recruiters get for a single opening. Carol & I need to get me back in the stream of things. I feel like a cast-off.
posted at 11:00 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, April 13, 2002
The Great Chicago FloodToday is the 10th Anniversary of what was called "The Great Chicago Flood". Remember that? That's when a construction crew on the Chicago River was sinking pilings into what they thought was riverbed, but turned out to be part of the vast underground tunnel system that used to be part of of a system that serviced many buildings downtown. Well, guess what? Yep, the tunnels flooded with 250 million gallons of river water (you could actually see a whirlpool in the river where the water was "escaping") - and many people and institutions didn't know about the tunnel system. Before you know it, buildings started to flood all over the downtown area, causing millions of dollars of damage.
posted at 08:32 AM | Link | Current Events § |
Thursday, April 11, 2002
75° in AprilIt's sunny, a bit breezy and it's 75° outside! This is a big deal! I had to go out for a while, just to be able to walk around in a short-sleeve shirt in the sun. I missed this. It really rejuvenates you. We need more days like this. Unfortunately, when I'm going to be outside for the next three days, the temperatures are going to drop into the low 60's (Spending time at Comiskey Park as the White Sox finally come home to start their first home stand).
posted at 04:40 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, April 08, 2002
Thank you for your timelinessSo today is April 8, right? Guess what I got in the mail today.
A W-2. From my prior company that went bankrupt - marchFIRST. I was hoping they'd finally get around to sending a W-2. I was hoping the bankruptcy judge would tell the trustee to get out the W-2's so all of us former employees. It's bad enough that the company went *poof*, but they were screwing around with the former employees as well. So maybe I'll get a chance and file a complete return electronically without having to file manually using IRS Form 4852 "Substitute for Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement". At least it looks like a refund is in order... I won't know until I plug in all the number into TurboTax...
posted at 03:26 PM | Link | Work § |
Sunday, April 07, 2002
GFI GoodWhen we got back from the game, I reset the GFI breaker in the garage and the thing reset. I haven't a clue on why I couldn't reset it before.
posted at 09:38 PM | Link | Mundane § |
GFI BadBefore going to my parents for lunch, I went into the bathroom up stairs and realized that the clock we have in there was dead. So was the night light. The outlet was dead. It's a GFI outlet, and the reset is actually in the garage on another outlet. I hit the reset and couldn't get the circuit to reset. So all of the bathroom outlets and the outside outlets were dead - not to mention the power in the garage that is also powering the garage door opener. We decide to open the door manually and deal with the circuit breaker later.
posted at 12:01 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Spring AheadI hate the beginning of Daylight Savings Time for only one reason - that initial shock of losing an hour that could be devoted to quality sleep. The longer daylight hours is cool, it's just that shock of the first morning that's a killer...
posted at 09:23 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, April 05, 2002
SnowWhat's the deal with the snow? It seems that it's been snowing here for days - big, light flakes. No accumulation, hardly any wind, but everytime I look out the window or go out somewhere, it's snowing. I'm watching the Cleveland at Detroit home opener (on DirecTV) - and it's snowing. The Cubs home opener is just starting - is it going to snow there, too? This is Spring, damn it!!!
posted at 02:26 PM | Link | Mundane § |
iGlasswareOooooo... techno-geek alert - an interesting application of technology, if only someone can figure out how to implement it in a cost effective manner so that your local bar or club can use it - a drinking glass that can signal when it's almost empty. I guess it's called iGlassware.
posted at 12:37 PM | Link | Geek § |
Blogistan?Wait... I'm in Blogistan? Or am I in Lower Blogovia? I think Alex Beam in his Boston Globe article is a little bit off-base on blogging. "Welcome to Blogistan, the Internet-based journalistic medium where no thought goes unpublished, no long-out-of-print book goes unhawked, and no fellow ''blogger,'' no matter how outre, goes unpraised." Fortunately, others have replied. Of course, it happens to be a blog. And John Dvorak has decided he's going to blog, so he's written his Eight Rules for the Perfect Blog in his article Deconstructing the Blog.
posted at 10:20 AM | Link | Blogging § |
Thursday, April 04, 2002
Final Day of Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ duty
It's over. I have finally ended my Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ duty. Dad's last radiation treatment was today. No big fanfare, but he did get a ribbon from the staff and they let him take home the form-fitting mask that is used to lock him into the radiation gear. He's got a CT Scan on May 16th and an appointment on the 21st. The treatments took more of a toll than I had thought. The fatigue is pretty bad. He's really tired now. He's been pretty quiet in the car during our trips. We used to have conversations before. Well, as much of a conversation that you can have with someone who tries to talk but can't because of the laryngectomy, which means that you have to read his lips... which is extremely difficult when you are trying to drive a car. But at least they were conversations. It seemed that I was the only one that could read his lips well - Mom or Diane couldn't, and Mom would just give up and say to him in a frustrated voice "I don't know what you're saying" and that would just piss him off. I looked at his skin that was in the radiated area. Not only did it look leathery from a bad sunburn, there were areas that almost looked purple because the burn was so dark. Now he needs to just kick back and chill. It'll be weeks before his sore throat goes away. He's lost about 7 pounds in the last 6 weeks. I'm just hoping that his energy comes back.
posted at 04:26 PM | Link | Family § |
Wednesday, April 03, 2002
Good sleepNothing new today - except I got a good night's sleep. That's the first one in at least a week. My insomnia was getting to me. I wound up spending hours on the couch scanning through DirecTV to find things to watch at 3 in the morning. I don't know what's going on. Is it the unemployment? All I know is that I finally slept well last night.
posted at 10:23 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, April 02, 2002
B&B back from LV
Our friends Barry & Buffy went to Las Vegas last Saturday. The four of us have gone together 6 times. This is the first time they've been there on their own (we just couldn't go - the money situation, you know). They were coming home tonight, so both Carol & I thought it'd be fun to meet them at the airport and surprise them, and then drive them back home - that way, we were still "part" of their trip. Their flight was well over an hour late (they said it was "ground delayed" in Las Vegas due to weather in Chicago - weather? what weather?) Anyway, we waited outside the security area in Terminal 2 at O'Hare. Carol made a little cardboard sign with their last name on it, just like all those people meeting co-workers - or fares - at the airport. Well, let's just say the surprise worked, and they were ecstatic to see us. They seem to have an OK time. They stayed at Harrah's (the four of us never stayed there before) and seemed pleased. It was 90° in Vegas today - about 20 degrees above normal. They said that Easter weekend was mobbed. They ate somewhere new - Postrio at The Venetian. Sounds like we'll have to go again when we're all together again, perhaps in September again. Well, it turns out that Barry drove to the airport, so we couldn't drive them home. We'll be seeing them again - after the White Sox game on the 13th.
posted at 08:34 PM | Link | Friends § |
I leave the trailer park...Woooooo Hoooooo!!!! at exactly 9:30, a white panel truck pulled up in front of the house. Two guys get out and HAUL AWAY MY OLD HOT WATER HEATER!!! I feel part of the Village of Hoffman Estates citizenry again...
posted at 09:31 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, April 01, 2002
My Life-Clock starts ticking againWARNING: In case you are new to this blog, please be aware that I'm a Chicago White Sox fan. Please - no flames - I wouldn't respond like that about that "other" team - please respect my opinions and allegiance.
That being said, my life's clock has begun ticking again - Baseball has started!!! It's going to be a rocky ride this season - the Sox have only one or two guys that I trust pitching - the rest are a toss-up. We saw that today when the Sox won 6-5 over the Mariners in Seattle. The bright spots: Mark Buehrle pitching 6-innings of two-hit ball with 5 strikeouts (one solo Home Run, unfortunately). Konerko and Alomar with 2 RBI's each. Tough win. Todd Ritchie starts tomorrow. Let's see how the series progresses.
posted at 07:18 PM | Link | Baseball § |
Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ dutyStarted the final stretch of Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ duty. After today, Dad has three more treatments. His skin is starting to get badly burned from the radiation - I guess it's starting to blister. He just needs to tough it out for the week and at least another week or two of recovery, and it should start subsiding.
The Northwest Tollway was down to two lanes eastbound when I got on at Roselle. I guess this is the lane configuration out here and it sucks. They haven't setup the new lanes westbound yet. On the way home it started snowing. By the time I got home, it was coming down in those really big flakes and the grass is covered. It wasn't supposed to snow today! This is April! What the heck is going on????
Hey! I called a waste hauler today to cart away the old hot water heater on my parkway! It's supposed to be gone by Wednesday, which is good since the Village is going to do another inspection on Friday to make sure I am in compliance of Village ordinances. It's going to cost me $28. I feel like I'm supposed to be living in a double-wide...
posted at 02:57 PM | Link | Family § |
Sunday, March 31, 2002
Easter Sundayposted at 10:47 PM | Link | Family § |
Saturday, March 30, 2002
Lasagna and WolvesWent to Chelby & Damian's tonight for dinner and, of course, watch the Wolves game on CLTV. Good dinner - lasagna. I love Italian food. Good lasagna. Later, during the game - a root beer float. Oh, yummmmmmmmmmmm... Of course, I had lost a few pounds just before going over there. I got on the scale and realized that I gained it all back. Nuts. Oh, the Wolves lost 5-1 (they're in Utah). They looked terrible and were outplayed.
posted at 11:16 PM | Link | Friends § |
Livin' in a Double Wide...Oh my God... I've turned into white trailer trash... I got a letter today from the Code Enforcement Division of the Village of Hoffman Estates. I am in violation of village ordinances by having the old hot water heater laying in the parkway for pickup. Apparently, the village doesn't do that - I have to call an independent hauler and pay to have it hauled away. That's the last time I listen to my wife as authoritative on refuse hauling...
posted at 04:13 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Insomia RobinCrud. I couldn't sleep. I went downstairs, watched a little TV, watched a little TiVo and then... I heard it... a Robin. Outside. Twittering in the dark. It's the first robin I've heard this spring. But I don't think I've seen a robin yet.
posted at 04:10 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, March 29, 2002
Good Friday and bunniesGood Friday. A perfect day for reflection. A slow, quiet, sleepy day. No Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ duty. Worked a little on Indy's cage & Webcam. Hopefully everything will run fine on Sunday - Indy always gets hits from people wanting to see a live bunny webcam (or BunnyCam) on Easter, believe it or not. She even gets ! (There's a thumbnail image on the left side of this page that links to a a full size image, as well as a link to a live Java Push applet display that will show streaming video as fast as I can push it).
Now, as I talked about three weeks ago, if you do wind-up watching Indy and start thinking about how cool it would be to buy a rabbit for Easter, PLEASE go to the House Rabbit Society's Easter Page first before potentially making a mistake.
posted at 09:15 PM | Link | Bunnies § |
Thursday, March 28, 2002
Here's the thirdWhat is it about the myth of "celebrities die in threes"? I can't remember when all three people dies in the same day. This time, to fill out the troika, writer/director Billy Wilder died yesterday.
posted at 09:47 PM | Link | Mundane § |
PreseasonWatching the White Sox - Cubs preseason game on Fox Sportsnet Chicago (The Sox are winning 16-3 after 5 innings). There's a black cat running on the field. Of course, Chip Caray has to say that he feels good about it since it's on the Sox side of the field. I HATE Chip Caray. HATE him. (Update: Sox won 22-7)
posted at 03:56 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ dutyBack from Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ duty. Found out today that Dad only has four more treatments, and that the labs are closed tomorrow for Good Friday, so I have a "vacation day". The Northwest Tollway threw me for another delay today, when they shifted the three lane of traffic east of the Des Plaines Oasis. On the way back, I saw a mobile sign that says 2 lanes through the area starting April 4. There are mobile signs of Golf Road out here saying lane closures start the week of April 1st. What a way to start the week. Thank God my chauffeuring is coming to an end. Of course, if I'm not employed soon, I could still be tapped for more service (Dad will have a follow-up CT Scan and appointment 6 weeks after). I really don't want this to become a new career for me.
posted at 03:04 PM | Link | Family § |
Wednesday, March 27, 2002
I'm Not HappySo, I came to the realization recently that I am not happy lately. I remember that I used to be, well, not unhappy, but now I know I'm not happy. I think it's the being unemployed thing, and justr maybe sprinkled with a dash of September 11. I think that now that I haven't had a job in such a long time, it's taking a toll on my psyche. Now, I don't seem to laugh as much as I used to, I don't seem to enjoy my time like I used to. It's not a depression - I'm just not happy.
And then, you hear this:
Dudley Moore dies at 66 of pneumonia as a complication of progressive supranuclear palsy.
Damn. But it doesn't stop there...
Milton Berle, dead at 93 - died in his sleep while taking a nap.
Less smiling, less happiness... bad day for happiness...
posted at 10:06 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Construction, a wash, and a carcass
What a gorgeous day outside. On the way to my Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ duty, I could see the start of the construction in the neighborhood. I was wrong earlier - this years construction is Higgins Road. Next year's construction is Golf Road. They started hacking apart the medians and anything else in the way at Golf and Higgins, though. Should be an interesting summer.
When done with my Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ duty, I decide to get the car washed. Though dark blue, it looks llight gray from all of the salt stains on it from the last few weeks of snow. So, it's off to Turtle Wax to get a Super Turtle.
Wednesday is Garbage Day. So I get home from my Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ duty, only to see that the old hot water heater carcass is still laying on my front lawn. Damn. What the hell is going on? And I've got family coming over for Easter on Sunday! Why didn't the pick it up??? (You, too, can watch the drama by clicking on the thumbnail of my live webcam on the left of the page to see if it finally disappears!)
posted at 04:09 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, March 26, 2002
88 Years OldHAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD! He's 88 today. Just another day with him in Radiotherapy at Loyola Medical Center. Came into the waiting room and ... no receptionist. Laurie wasn't there - she was in training, and there's a sign on front of the desk "It's a Boy! Born 3/25" so Jane must have had her baby yesterday. Very backed-up today - took about an hour. Because we were "backed-up", we saw people that we normally didn't see. Saw a woman who looked to be in her late 40's - early 50's, with her daughter. Come to find out, through conversations with other people that we never saw before, that she was stumbling and her left side was going numb. She thought she was having a stroke, so she went to the hospital - only to find out she has a malignant brain tumor that has spread to her lungs. Makes me feel luckier that Dad isn't that bad.
posted at 03:16 PM | Link | Family § |
Monday, March 25, 2002
Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ dutyOh, man... my mouth feels like sandpaper, my brain feels fuzzy... too many apple martini's last night... too late of a night... it's been snowing for a while this morning. Wind chills are around zero. The trip to my parents was a breeze - no one was on the tollway. The trip to Loyola Medical Center was a breeze, too. A little crowded in the Radiation Therapy Waiting Room. Jane the receptionist isn't there - she's "upstairs - she was experiencing labor pains (yes, she is pregnant), so the person that's she's been training (Laurie) is there. There's been a lady we see everyday - I think her name is Christine. She's definitely on the younger side of the age group that flows through the waiting room. Today was her last treatment - 43 in all. No one asked about her cancer. In fact no one ever asks that of any one. Everyone is anonymous. You have no idea had bad someone's cancer may be. It's just something that isn't talked about. Anyway, everyone made sure they offered their best wishes to Christine before they left. It's just that hope that everyone there has toward the patients.
posted at 02:44 PM | Link | Family § |
74th Academy Awards
We went to Barry & Buffy's, like we do every year, to watch the Oscars. We got there at 4:30, and we left at 11:30! We always have a good time, starting with watching the red carpet stuff. We have food, lots of drink, and take our shots at Oscar fashions . Then of course, there's the balloting, Every year, B&B go out and buy a present to be won. we all vote - most correct wins. This year, Barry just reproduced the ABC ballot that they had at the Oscar website, which meant we had to vote in all categories. We only had 8 people this year - Buffy keeps changing the mix to get it just right for entertainment and fun for all - including her. A few years ago they had about 24 people and that was really difficult to listen to the show, serve food and refreshments, and have a good time. We're still having problems actually listening to the show - there are times when people are socializing and not paying attention, causing others to get a little irate. The year of the big party was bad and may have strained a few friendships.
Since this is the first year that I'm blogging, I didn't think about blogging during the Oscars - I'm going to have to add to the post later!
posted at 12:16 AM | Link | Friends § |
Sunday, March 24, 2002
Dad's cake
Went to my parents' house for lunch, and to celebrate Dad's birthday - he's 88 on Tuesday. We're still adjusting to his laryngectomy from May - I mean, how can a man who has a stoma and whose windpipe is no longer attached to his moth blow out candles on a bithday cake? He can't - I mean he might be able to do it through the stoma, but that's just not something we want to see... We pray he still has many more birthdays to come...
posted at 03:29 PM | Link | Family § |
Saturday, March 23, 2002
Grabby bunnyIn a way, I'm glad our bunny Indy never learned how to grab on to things, not like this rabbit...
posted at 10:56 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Flo ControlOh, man, this is just so damn cool... I saw this link at Erin's site, and I had to mention it. It's a great implementation of technology to stop your cat from bringing "gifts" into the house...
posted at 10:37 PM | Link | Geek § |
Age GaugeLinked via KateSpot (I'm not sure if this makes me feel younger, or just adds to me feeling older than I am):
Boy the Bear's Age Gauge
read more of this entry »
You said your birthday is 1 / 4 / 1957
which means you are 45 years old and about:
40 years 2 months younger than Walter Cronkite, age 85
37 years 11 months younger than Zsa Zsa Gabor, age 83
36 years 8 months younger than Pope John Paul II, age 81
32 years 7 months younger than George Herbert Bush, age 77
30 years 7 months younger than Andy Griffith, age 75
25 years 9 months younger than Leonard Nimoy, age 70
27 years 1 month younger than Dick Clark, age 72
26 years 7 months younger than Clint Eastwood, age 71
25 years 3 months younger than Barbara Walters, age 70
23 years 11 months younger than Yoko Ono, age 69
23 years 11 months younger than Kim Novak, age 69
23 years 8 months younger than Carol Burnett, age 68
23 years 2 months younger than Larry King, age 68
20 years 11 months younger than Alan Alda, age 66
20 years 11 months younger than Burt Reynolds, age 66
19 years 6 months younger than Bill Cosby, age 64
16 years 11 months younger than Ted Koppel, age 62
16 years 11 months younger than Nick Nolte, age 62
15 years 8 months younger than Ann-Margret, age 60
15 years 7 months younger than Bob Dylan, age 60
14 years 2 months younger than Linda Evans, age 59
13 years 6 months younger than Geraldo Rivera, age 58
13 years 5 months younger than Mick Jagger, age 58
11 years 9 months younger than Eric Clapton, age 56
10 years 6 months younger than President G.W. Bush, age 55
9 years 10 months younger than Billy Crystal, age 55
9 years 0 months younger than Ted Danson, age 54
8 years 7 months younger than Stevie Nicks, age 53
7 years 2 months younger than Whoopi Goldberg, age 52
6 years 8 months younger than Jay Leno, age 51
5 years 6 months younger than Jesse Ventura, age 50
4 years 5 months younger than Robin Williams, age 49
2 years 11 months younger than Oprah Winfrey, age 48
1 year 10 months younger than Kelsey Grammer, age 47
1 year 3 months younger than David Lee Roth, age 46
1 year 2 months younger than Bill Gates, age 46
0 years 6 months younger than Tom Hanks, age 45
1 year 5 months older than Drew Carey, age 43
1 year 7 months older than Madonna, age 43
1 year 11 months older than Jamie Lee Curtis, age 43
3 years 6 months older than John Elway, age 41
4 years 3 months older than Eddie Murphy, age 40
4 years 5 months older than Michael J. Fox, age 40
5 years 2 months older than Jon Bon Jovi, age 40
7 years 10 months older than Calista Flockhart, age 37
9 years 2 months older than Cindy Crawford, age 36
10 years 2 months older than Billy Corgan, age 35
11 years 11 months younger than Tom Selleck, age 57
12 years 1 month older than Jennifer Aniston, age 33
13 years 3 months older than Mariah Carey, age 31
13 years 7 months older than Jennifer Lopez, age 31
14 years 7 months older than Jeff Gordon, age 30
15 years 11 months older than Alyssa Milano, age 29
17 years 5 months older than Alanis Morissette, age 27
19 years 0 months older than Tiger Woods, age 26
20 years 11 months older than Colin Hanks, age 24
22 years 2 months older than Jennifer Love Hewitt, age 23
24 years 11 months older than Jenna and Barbara Bush, age 20
24 years 11 months older than Britney Spears, age 20
26 years 7 months older than Mila Kunis, age 18
31 years 3 months older than Haley Joel Osment, age 13
34 years 6 months older than Madylin Sweeten, age 10
and that you were:
40 years old when Princess Diana died
38 years old at the time of Oklahoma City bombing
37 years old when O. J. Simpson was charged with murder
36 years old at the time of the bombing of the World Trade Center*
34 years old when Operation Desert Storm began
32 years old during the fall of the Berlin Wall
29 years old when the space shuttle Challenger exploded
27 years old when Apple introduced the Macintosh
26 years old during Sally Ride's travel in space
24 years old when Pres. Reagan was shot by John Hinckley, Jr.
22 years old at the time the Iran hostage crisis began
19 years old on the U.S.'s bicentennial Fourth of July
17 years old when President Nixon left office
15 years old when Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace was shot
12 years old at the time the first man stepped on the moon
11 years old when Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated
8 years old during the Watts riot
6 years old at the time President Kennedy was assassinated
2 years old when Hawaii was admitted as 50th of the United States
not yet 1 year old when the Soviet satellite Sputnik 1 was launched
and when these songs were topping the charts
and these events occurred your age was:
Tequila, The Champs: 1
Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper die in a plane crash: 2
The Twist, Chubby Checker: 3
Big Bad John, Jimmy Dean: 4
Sherry, The 4 Seasons: 5
The Beatles first appear live on The Ed Sullivan Show: 7
Downtown, Petula Clark: 8
The 8 track tape player first offered in 1966 Fords: 8
To Sir with Love, Lulu: 10
Hey Jude, The Beatles: 11
Woodstock Music Festival: 12
Me and Bobby McGee, Janis Joplin: 14
ABC TV premieres In Concert: 15
Time in a Bottle, Jim Croce: 16
I Shot the Sheriff, Eric Clapton: 17
Silly Love Songs, Wings: 19
Elvis Presley Dies: 20
Do Ya Think I'm Sexy, Rod Stewart: 22
Another Brick in the Wall, Pink Floyd: 23
John Lennon is shot to death: 23
MTV makes its debut: 24
Who Can it be Now, Men at Work: 25
The recording of We Are The World: 28
Walk Like an Egyptian, Bangles: 29
Didn't We Almost have it all, Whitney Houston: 30
Back In The U.S.S.R. is released exclusively in Russia: 32
Nothing Compares 2 U, Sinead O'Connor: 33
Emotions, Mariah Carey: 34
Fleetwood Mac perform at Bill Clinton's inauguration: 36
The Sign, Ace Of Base: 37
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opens: 38
and that you were:
2 years old when the first episode of Bonanza aired
5 years old at the time Beverly Hillbillies first aired
7 years old when the Addams Family first appeared on TV
9 years old at the time the first Star Trek episode was televised
14 years old when All in the Family was first shown
15 years old at the time the TV series M*A*S*H began
18 years old when Saturday Night Live first aired
21 years old when CBS introduced Dallas
24 years old during the first airing of Hill Street Blues
25 years old at the time the first Cheers episode was televised
29 years old when L.A. Law was first aired on TV
30 years old at the time the series Married with Children began
33 years old when Seinfeld was first televised
34 years old in the month Home Improvement began
37 years old at the time the TV series Friends began
39 years old when Everybody Loves Raymond first aired
42 years old when Who Wants To Be A Millionaire began in the US
and when these movies were released in the U.S. your age was:
Ben-Hur: 2
West Side Story: 4
The Sound of Music: 8
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner: 10
Midnight Cowboy: 12
The Godfather: 15
American Graffiti: 16
Jaws: 18
Star Wars: 20
Animal House: 21
Star Trek: The Motion Picture: 22
ET: 25
The Terminator: 27
Top Gun: 29
Planes, Trains & Automobiles: 30
Steel Magnolias: 32
Home Alone: 33
Wayne's World: 35
Jurassic Park: 36
Forrest Gump: 37
Fargo: 39
Saving Private Ryan: 41
Toy Story 2: 42 « hide the extended part of this entry
posted at 06:32 PM | Link | Memes § |
New Hot Water Heater
Just four days ago, we had to have someone come out and service our furnace - a fan stopped working and thus, no heat in the house. That wasn't planned. Unfortunately, today was planned - by Carol. After almost 18 years in the house, she decides we need a new hot water heater. We were still getting hot water (though she claims not as much as we used to), and let's face it - 18 years on a hot water heater is just asking for trouble. So today, we're doing a preemptive strike by replacing it. Our friend Damian in coming over with his dad and they're going to handle the swap. They're over at about 8:30 and start working on the disconnection. Well, we knew we were in for a problem when: 1) when disconnecting the feed into the tank, you look at the inside of the pipe connected to the tank and it's full of gunk and crud, and 2) when opening the tank's drain, nothing is coming out. The means the tank has to be moved out to the curb full of 40 gallons of water and God knows how much sediment. That wasn't easy, but we finally got it out to the parkway, where Damian just tips it over. The thud of the tank hitting the lawn actually bounced me in the air (admittedly, just barely). So at 9:30, we're off to Home Depot and find a tank that looks almost identical the the old one (meaning - the piping doesn't have to be redone!). We're back to the house by 10. Damian says they have about an hour of work ahead of them.
The tank finally goes "live" at 2 in the afternoon. Yes, everything fit, but apparently sweating the joints and getting the whole thing leak-free just took a bit longer than they thought. It didn't help that everytime they lit the torch to heat the pipe the hard wired smoke detector right above their heads would go off. Since it's hard-wired to the house, there was no way to disconnect it. Anyway, we're now have drip-free hot water coming from a tank that should last at least 9 years...
posted at 02:23 PM | Link | Friends § |
Friday, March 22, 2002
Indy Likes Money
Note to self: Check pants pockets before washing... so that when they come out of the dryer, money doesn't haphazardly fall to the floor unnoticed, where Indy will think it's hers and eat it...
posted at 09:15 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ dutyThe weather, though it feels bitterly cold, is actually beautiful - bright sunshine, hardly a cloud in the blue sky. The traffic on the Northwest Tollway was "normal" - even though the construction is still there, it's like everyone knows what's going on and they're either taking an alternate route, or they're just blowing right through the construction area. Today is Dad's Radiation Treatment #22. Only two more weeks to go. We're in the Radiation Therapy waiting room. Mom is reading a book. I look at the floor - there's a piece of red yarn that looks like it's from Mom's craft work she was doing yesterday (Cubs logos and little guys). Got into the car to go bring them back home - there's a small piece of red yarn in the backseat. Sigh.
On the way home, we pass Skrudland's - a photo processing place in our old neighborhood. I look up at the sign. It's something I had never thought about! I'm unemployed, and short on cash - hey! I can get our pet bunny Indy to make some cash!!! Why didn't I think of this sooner!
posted at 03:08 PM | Link | Family § |
Neighborhood RoundupI am watching two women, one in a silver SUV the other in a maroon compact car, driving around my neighborhood, stopping, and getting out of their vehicles chasing a dog. Looks like a Min Pin (Miniature Pinscher). The dog, though small, is easily out running them. They're all over the neighborhood. The thing is - I think I know the dog and if so, the dog's not theirs. At least, I don't think so. It's a Keystone Kops image, for sure.
posted at 11:03 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday 5 - Seasons
OK, I'm jumping on the bandwagon, I am now going to participate in The Friday Five!
1. What is your favorite time of year? Spring, Has to be Spring
2. What is it about your favorite season that, well, makes it your favorite season? Two things. First, it just feels like a re-awakening from a deep sleep - the colors start coming back, the sounds, the smells, the warmth... And then the second thing is - the start of baseball. I seem to measure my life around baseball. My year is the baseball season, and after the World Series, I just seem to... hibernate. If there is a baseball strike/lockout, my entire body-clock gets screwed-up The year seems "incomplete" and I feel lost.
3. What is your least favorite time of year? Why? Winter. Winter in Chicago stinks. Yes, there are times of absolute beauty, but, damn, it gets cold here. The days are so much shorter. The wind rips through you. Commuting actually feels like it ages you. It's difficult to stay warm.
4. Do you do anything to celebrate or recognize the changing of seasons? Not really, though I still associate it with Baseball - Baseball season that is. I make sure I go to Opening Day and try to be part of the last home game of the season - let's face it, we don't know post-season baseball in Chicago. There's almost an overlap between Baseball Season and Hockey Season, which we also follow a bit. We try to to do the same with that, too. (Opening game, last game of the season).
5. What's your favorite thing to do outside? Other than sitting in the stands watching a ballgame on a warm, bright, sunny day with just a hint of a breeze when your team is winning?
posted at 08:35 AM | Link | Friday Five § |
Thursday, March 21, 2002
How can I say "Thank You"?I had an experience today that actually showed me what family means. I've been without full-time employment since June. Things have been getting financially "tight". Today, my parents paid my property taxes. They knew we were having a little bit of trouble, and they just did it. I get home and pick up the mail and there's a letter from my sister. Inside the letter - a check. A check to help with expenses and just because she really does appreciate me playing chauffeur for Dad's radiation treatments. Complete with a P.S. - it's a gift and she doesn't expect repayment.
It brought a tear to both Carol's and my eye. Sometimes people just want to help - I've just never been on that receiving side of that before. I really have no idea what to say or how to express how I feel. Family. You can't chose them, but thank God they're there.
posted at 08:17 PM | Link | Family § |
Daffodilsposted at 04:18 PM | Link | Family § |
SnowAw, crap... it snowed again. I thought it was going to rain, not snow. Great.
posted at 08:14 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, March 20, 2002
Good traffic timesNo construction on the Northwest Tollway yet. Not much has changed since yesterday.
posted at 03:22 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Nice daySpring has come to Chicagoland! Though you can't tell it by the weather that's coming later tonight...
posted at 01:16 PM | Link | Mundane § |
I'm sickAw, crap. I'm sick. My throat is on fire, I'm sneezing, and my eyes are burning. I don't do "sick" well. I don't get sick, so I'm not a good "sick person". Hopefully, Carol will pamper me a little. Just a little. That's all I need, just a little...
posted at 08:20 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, March 19, 2002
New AIBOOooo... I've always wanted a Sony Aibo robot, and now they've come up with a real cool one...
posted at 05:35 PM | Link | Geek § |
Primary DayWell, at least those damn campaign ads are off the air... for a while. Today is Primary day in Illinois - a day that both Carol & I do not exercise our right to vote. Reason? We don't want to declare the party to vote for - we believe in voting for the candidates that we think will do the best job, and not having to vote just for Republican or Democratic candidates. I understand that there are other states in the US that allow this, but not here.
posted at 05:07 PM | Link | Current Events § |
Local construction
Well, the construction hasn't started on Golf Road (next week), but they're really scrambling to put up temporary traffic lights at Golf & Higgins. The Northwest Tollway also has no construction - yet. The Roselle Road entrance ramp has "Work Zone - Speed Limit 45" signs posted and they're posted in a few other places. There's small construction horses along the right shoulder from Roselle to 53, construction barrels from Golf to west of Arlington Heights, west of Elmhurst Road on right side, then onto left side east of the Des Plaines Oasis. There's some patching-over of the "rumble strips" in the left shoulder around Mannheim. That's it.
Found out that my dad passed his annual Driver's License test this morning! He turns 88 next Tuesday. (Drivers that age have to take an annual visual test and road test, just to make sure they're OK to drive.)
posted at 03:17 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Proficient Heating & Cooling
8:31. He's here - Dan from Proficient Heating & Cooling. I remember him! He says it's the drafting motor and it won't be as bad as trying to replace "that board"! He's got one in the truck that can be used - for $498! What can you do. at least it's not as "that board" - it's a circuit board that controls the whole staging of the furnace - unfortunately, the furnace manufacturer is bankrupt and getting a replacement was quite difficult - we were without heat for two days in the middle of winter a few years ago.
At 9:26, I'm hearing the sound of a fan! Sounds like the furnace is alive! Yep, it has fully turned on. Dan's been carrying it on the truck for a year. He actually has to cut apart the housing of the old fan to reuse the flange because it's not an exact replacement fan. Dan leaves with his Merrit cigarettes at 9:36.
posted at 09:47 AM | Link | Mundane § |
No heat"Michael." "huh... wha..." I spring up in bed. It's Carol, and it's 7:30 in the morning. It used to be that at exactly 7:30 in the morning I'd be on a train passing through the Bensenville yards on the way downtown. That was back when I was employed. Now, as I'm still trying to push the sleep away, Carol is telling me that the furnace isn't turning on and she smells and electrical smell when trying to recycle the furnace. Great. It figures that the house starts to go south while I'm unemployed. Carol wants the hot water heater replaced this Saturday before something happens to it. After all, this August we will be in the house 18 years. This stuff happens over time. Thank God that we built this house, so a lot of the physical plant stuff has been "new". Great.
posted at 07:37 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, March 18, 2002
Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ duty
They didn't start on the Tollway construction yet. They were putting out barrels along the inside shoulder, but that's about it. Traffic was normal inbound & outbound during my daily trip to the parents and taking Dad to Radiation Therapy at Loyola. The waiting room was really crowded - overflowing out into the hall. Things just felt slower. So did Dad - he's just slowing down. I think the radiation is getting to him. Hopefully he'll tough it out.
posted at 03:05 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Construction Season
Well, it's that time of season again. Construction season, that is, as my life is talking another step towards "hell-like". Golf Road by my house is going to be under construction for most (if not all) of the year as they make it three lanes in each direction (expanding what was already done east of here). And then the Northwest Tollway is being "rehabbed" as it gets stripped down and resurfaced. That also should last at least most of the year. Traffic should be horrendous and it's a bit difficult to avoid. I'm going to have to take side streets and other main arteries to get anywhere. Sigh.
posted at 10:42 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, March 16, 2002
Green RiverAw, man... I thought Chicago had cornered the rights to dying the Chicago River green... I just saw that the Venetian in Las Vegas dyed their gondola canals green. Just doesn't seem fair... The Chicago River gets dyed at 10:45am this morning.
posted at 08:47 AM | Link | Current Events § |
Friday, March 15, 2002
Ides of MarchSoothsayer Caesar!
CAESAR Ha! who calls?
CASCA Bid every noise be still: peace yet again!
CAESAR Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music,
Cry 'Caesar!' Speak; Caesar is turn'd to hear.
Soothsayer Beware the ides of March.
CAESAR What man is that?
BRUTUS A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.
CAESAR Set him before me; let me see his face.
CASSIUS Fellow, come from the throng; look upon Caesar.
CAESAR What say'st thou to me now? speak once again.
Soothsayer Beware the ides of March.
CAESAR He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass.
Julius Caesar Act I Scene II
posted at 07:21 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, March 14, 2002
Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ dutyThe Radiation Therapy waiting room is empty today. Dad is now three weeks into his course of treatment. I was able to time his treatments - 16 seconds of 3 hits. The side effects are starting to kick in - he's getting fatigued and he says that he's had a sore throat for the past 4 days. Well, it's Thursday, so it's Doctor day, so Dr. Emami said he had a prescription for a "cocktail" that should help. It's so popular, that he had a bunch pre-typed and just hands them out to the patients. Hmmm... it's made of Maalox, Benadryl, Xylocaine, and Diflucan - 1 teaspoon every 2 hours as needed.
posted at 03:29 PM | Link | Family § |
Wednesday, March 13, 2002
Nice goingThe War On Terrorism has had me worried since the beginning. Why? Because I don't trust the people that need to do some specific things to bring this phase to an end. I don't trust the new Afghani forces to actually bring the remaining Taliban and al Qaeda to justice, let alone kill or just even capture them, when wide spread corruption has existed in the war lords world for way too long. I don't trust the Pakistani's to do the same with any escaped Taliban or al Qaeda. And now, I'm not feeling too good about our own Government when the INS on MONDAY MARCH 11, 2002, just two days ago, Huffman Aviation of Florida received from the INS M-1 Student Visas for hijackers Mohamed Atta and Marwan Al-Shehhi six months to the day they flew planes into the World Trade Center. Couldn't anyone in the government catch this before they were mailed???
posted at 04:40 PM | Link | Current Events § |
Tuesday, March 12, 2002
Joseph D. Konopka - Terrorist???I don't know if you know about this - it seems to be a local story - but there was a guy that was arrested saturday on the UIC campus on suspicion of burglary. Big deal, eh? Well, now the guy is in federal custody, charged with possession of a chemical weapon!!!! He's 25 years old, and has been living in the subway since jumping bail in Wisconsin. He had a pound of Cyanide stashed away in a CTA vault that was on the Blue Line subway downtown. Scary enough for you? Could you imagine what could have happened??? He's got a nickname - "Dr. Chaos". Sgt. Teri Vogel of the Door County sheriff's police said Konopka "definitely has the propensity to commit mass destruction." Gee, I feel safe... not!
Direct from the Shawano County Wisconsin Sherrif's Office Most Wanted List: Joseph D. Konopka (06.24.1976) AKA Tim Whiting, Doctor Chaos, Doc Chaos, Doc Chaz. Konopka is wanted for Felony Failure to Appear on multiple Burglary, Theft and Criminal Damage charges (Door County); Felony Bail Jumping and Felony Criminal Damage/Solicitation of a Child to Commit a Felony/Arson (Shawano County); Felony Burglary and Criminal Damage charges (FBI); Felony Failure to Appear for Pretrial Conference (Kewaunee County); and, Felony Criminal Damage to Property - Business (Marquette County). If you have any information concerning this person, please contact your local law enforcement agency or call the Shawano County Sheriff's Office at 715.526.3111.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO APPREHEND ANY OF THE LISTED PERSONS.
posted at 10:39 PM | Link | Current Events § |
Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ duty
Another packed day at Radiation Therapy. This time, though, for some reason, Dad gets called in ahead of everybody else in the room. Everybody gives him the Evil Eye as he leaves. Had to stop at Walgreens on the way to their house to pick up some prescriptions. Dad's starting to look tired. His cough is still there, though it's hard to tell if it's getting worse. It's just a bad, dry cough.
posted at 03:12 PM | Link | Family § |
Monday, March 11, 2002
Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ duty
1:25pm. Ah, another crowded day inside the Radiation Therapy waiting room. Standing room only. They guy that complained about & dropped his coffee is here, as well as the other older couple with the guy who also has a laryngectony like Dad. Both of these couples are cut from the same cloth, and I'm thinking my parents are in that group as well. There's an older lady sitting next to me, talking to another woman about divorce papers - I think it's about her daughter. There are not many secrets here - the room is too small, and most of the people here are old enough that their hearing is probably going, causing elevated voice levels. There's been a younger woman here that must have an appointment before Dad's since she's always here with the rest of us.. She gets called in to get changed - few people do, must be specific to the location of the tumor(s). She stands out from the others because of her age - she's definitely below the mean average of the room. Mom is doing her plastic needlepoint craft work that she takes everywhere (and I do mean everywhere), making some Cub players. Yech. There's an electrical equipment closet, just inside the entrance of the reception area. Whenever some gets their radiation exposure, you can here a very loud buzz come from the closet. It makes sitting in here a little odd - you can tell how much radiation the patients are getting, like you can tell who is getting high dosages because of the exposure time. I think that younger lady is in there now, and her exposures are relatively short - 5-10 seconds. I brought this up to my parents about a week ago, and now it's always on our minds as we sit here. Somebody get's an exposure of just under 60 seconds. To me, being just a Joe Schmoe, I equate length of exposure to severity of the tumor(s). Well, Dad's getting called in, so it's time for me to walk back to the Parking Garage to get the car to drive around the buildings to pick them up when he's done...
But my day isn't over - my Mom wants to go to the cemetery (St. Adalberts). Seems that as of March 1st, the wreaths that may be on the graves must be cleared off, so she wants to pick up the stuff she brought out there who knows when over the winter. So we drive all the way up there and wind our way through the cemetery - only to find out that one of the sections have been cleaned out of decorations. We go to another site where she picks up the wreaths at her parents graves - then proceeds to steal two more to make up for what she lost on the other graves! Needless to say, it was a long ride home...
posted at 04:19 PM | Link | Family § |
Would you like simulated fries with that?OK, another day, still unemployed. I wonder what it whould be like to get a job at McDonald's. Hmmmm... Let me simulate that...
posted at 09:01 AM | Link | Odd § |
Saturday, March 09, 2002
Pay per viewBarry & Buffy just left. We had a great evening with them, just sitting around and talking. Carol made a great pasta dinner, and we did our first Pay Per View movie ever (either DirecTV or cable) - Rush Hour 2. Fun movie. The four of us were in Las Vegas a year ago Monday, and they were still finishing shooting at the Desert Inn - which was transformed into the Red Dragon Hotel & Casino for the film. Just seems a short time between shooting it and watching it on Pay-Per-View. Spent a lot of time on the IMDb trying to figure out who was in what movie. The house was making a ton of noise because of the wind. Had a big candle wax problem - had one of those big 3-wick jobs sitting on top of one of my Bose speakers break open an pour hot wax down the front. Crap. I have no idea how to get this wax of the speaker material.
Speaking of Las Vegas, B&B are leaving for a short vacation on the 30th. They're staying at Harrah's and flying Our Favorite Airline to Las Vegas™, National. I am so jealous and envious! We've been going to Vegas together every year (sometimes, twice a year) for a while now (since May '97) and it just feels weird not going with them. I mean, we'd go together, but it's really my fault - I don't have a job, so we don't have any money. Crap. Well, I hope they have a good time. Seriously. And I hope that they won't feel guilty about doing things there just because we're not with them. We talked a bit about this, and I know they, too, feel weird about us not being there with them, but they should have a good time on their own. We'll be there together again... someday...
posted at 09:52 PM | Link | Friends § |
Windy deathsOK, this is bad - when the thunderstorms came through, it also brought high winds. The house is creaking and occasionally we hear a bang or bump something from somewhere. This is the worst we have heard. The furnace is doing something weird, too - sometimes it won't turn on. We're hoping it's related to the wind. The highest wind gust recorded was 58mph at Meigs Field (52mph out here at O'Hare). There was a bad accident downtown. Some scaffolding that blew off the Hancock building (what the hell was scaffolding doing on the Hancock with these kind of winds????) crashing into a three cars on Chestnut Street, killing three people. The rest of the scaffolding just swung around crashing into windows of the floors around it. This looked bad. I saw on a news broadcast a car with no roof (probably cut off), that had two people in the back seat in cervical collars - the people in the front seat had been killed. There's going to be lawsuits coming out of this...
posted at 03:59 PM | Link | Current Events § |
DropThe temperature dropped 26° in the last two hours. The rain is now sleet, smattered against the windows. Here we go again...
posted at 11:07 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Creaking thunder1:10am. Thunder again. Thunderstorms rumble all night. High winds, too. It's dishwasher time again.I hear on the police scanner that there's a Severe Weather Watch with Flash Floods and winds up to 80 mph. It's now 5:30am and Carol and I are both up - don't know why. Actually, Carol knows why - Barry & Buffy are coming over for dinner today and somehow, sometime during the night she realized that she didn't have any mushrooms. She's going to the store now. The house s creaking way too much. Guess I'm getting up to and Blog this mess...
posted at 05:39 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, March 08, 2002
Big swingCriminy... it's 64° outside. So, from Monday to today, we swung from -6° to 64°... boy, if this doesn't screw-up your health, not much else will...
posted at 04:51 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Dishwasher5:55am. I'm in the middle of some great sleep, when noises penetrate the dreams and wake me up. Thunder. What the hell is going on? We went from 61° on the 24th to -6° on Monday, now it's 50° and we're in the middle of a thunderstorm. The rain is blown against the aluminum siding and it sounds like you're sitting (or sleeping) in inside a dishwasher. I know that there's this joke that says something like "If you don't like the weather in Chicago, just wait a minute - it'll change", but this is ridiculous.
posted at 06:11 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, March 07, 2002
Rubik's CubeDamn, I know all I'm doing right now is posting links to other things, but here's a great little interractive game - it's a web based Rubik's Cube! (I don't think I've ever posted as many links like today...)
posted at 10:44 AM | Link | Odd § |
slamming the groovy enchiladaSome of these almost sound familiar - The Euphamism Generator
posted at 10:38 AM | Link | Odd § |
k-logHmmm... the marriage of Blogging and Knowledge Management (which I'm interested in, since I'm a Lotus Notes guy) - What is a k-log?
posted at 10:28 AM | Link | Blogging § |
Wednesday, March 06, 2002
Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ duty
My normal daily "taxi service" for my parents is different today. Today, Dad has a 1pm appointment for Dr. Bastian's office. Last week, Dr. Emami thought that there would be some kind of device - like perhaps a different trache - that Dad could get to help him "talk". I'm skeptical, but I feel that my parents aren't making use of any opportunity that's afforded them, so even if he comes away with nothing, it shouldn't be viewed as "time wasted". We just don't know what's available, and it's important to find out.
I'm sitting down in the Lobby of the Mulcahy Outpatient building with my little Toshiba Libretto - my parents are up in the office area of Dr. Bastian. Mom came down to let me know that nothing is happening upstairs and Dad is getting impatient - pretty typical for him when meeting a new situation. He's been very "calm" dealing with the process in Radiation Therapy. This kind of stuff drives him nuts - the older he gets, the more impatient he gets. He's going to be pretty upset. It's been over an hour, and we're late for our 1:30 Radiation Therapy appointment. They show up at 2:05 and I get them to the Russo building at 2:15. We're back on the road home at 3 o'clock.
Saw something I never saw before on the way home. We cross a couple of different Commuter rail lines to and from the hospital. This one crossing - near Lake and First Avenue - seems to be near a Metra station, because there has been a few time when I saw the crossing gates go down, only to go back up again a few seconds later. There's always a train to the east, probably at a station. Well, I noticed something today - at the railroad crossing, there is a second set of flashing lights - not the red flashing lights that go on when the gates go down when a train approaches, but there's a pair a blinking yellow lights - identical to the red ones - near a sign that says "DO NOT STOP ON TRACKS" - probably a warning that says "there's a train that'll be here in a few moments - stay off!"
posted at 04:28 PM | Link | Family § |
Tribute of LightHmm... two more job postings to answer today, one at monster.com for a Sr. Notes Administrator and another at JustNotesJobs.com for a Lotus Notes Administrator. These people must be getting swamped - I'm not getting any call backs in months. I'm guessing that they're getting tons of resumes to try to sift through.
In case you haven't heard, the first memorials to the World Trade Center attacks will be unveiled on March 11. One is the "Tribute of Light," two beams of light to simulate the towers, the other is the original 27-foot bronze sculpture by Fritz Koenig called "The Sphere" that used to stand in the plaza of the World Trade Center. The lights will be illuminated from sunset to about 11pm, and talk is that it's only a temporary memorial. "The Sphere" will be at Battery Park until a permanent home could be found, perhaps back at the original site.
posted at 08:20 AM | Link | Current Events § |
Tuesday, March 05, 2002
Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ dutyThe last two days have been interesting driving on the tollway & expressway - there have been a lot of trucks that have been sitting outside collecting snow over the weekend. Now, as they barrel down the road at a high rate of speed, the compacted snow is shooting off the tops of the trucks in sheets, causing havoc for anyone following behind. You don't want to be behind these things. I saw another truck that didn't have compacted snow, just light snow on top. It left a blizzard behind it - you couldn't see the traffic in the middle of this snow-cloud.
On the way to pick-up my parents, I saw a huge fire over in Harwood Heights. I think I heard later on the radio that it was some kind of auto body place. It was kind of startling to see - being on the Kennedy expressway, you're sort of in a wide ditch - below ground level, so you don't see what's going on in the neighborhoods around you. Then, when I got off at Nagle, you could see the black smoke in the sky, not very far ahead. It must not have been burning very long.
Ah... baseball on the radio... Sox playing the Cubs... gotta love it... and the Sox won 20-6! And it was a split squad game for the Sox! Update: Of course, bragging too soon, the Sox split-squad lose against Arizona 16-5 tonight...
Hey, did you know that an ostrich's eye is heavier than it's brain? See, the daytime version of the Weakest Link is educational!
Got an invoice from the Chicago Wolves for Calder Cup playoff tickets. Like they're gonna win the cup this year... We reluctantly spend money that we don't have and send in our ticket request (including a 25% deposit for next season's tickets).
posted at 03:16 PM | Link | Family § |
Monday, March 04, 2002
OldGee, Chicago turned 165 years old today...
posted at 10:18 PM | Link | Current Events § |
A Man of Constant SorrowOK, it's damn cold... it was -6° this morning. It was just 61° on the 24th. This is nuts. Everything outside is frozen solid. The sun is out almost all day, and it slowly warms up. The neighborhood streets still suck - they never really got "clean". Then I look out the window tonight and it's snowing again - everything is covered. Again.
Had a chance to just watch some TV tonight with Carol and Indy. We watched O Brother, Where Art Thou? on Starz!. What a hoot! Great movie, great performance by George Clooney. Apparently, Indy (our bunny) didn't enjoy it as much. She doesn't like music, especially vocals with harmonies. She took off early to spend the rest of the time in her bunny condo, ignoring the movie and napping.
posted at 09:29 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, March 03, 2002
Don't look at the lightSnow everywhere. Bright, blazing sun. Looking out the window hurts. No, I mean hurts. The pain is unbelievable - you can almost feel the pupils straining to close down. Squinting doesn't help. Tears come immediately. I think I know how the Nazi's felt when viewing the Ark of the Covenant at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark...
The sun's out, but it's getting colder. Carol & I go to my parents' for dinner. The traffic both ways is light - my guess is people know what's coming and they're just staying home.
posted at 09:47 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, March 02, 2002
More snow
Damn, it's snowing... no I mean snowing... The "lull" lasted for a few hours. It was in the low 30's, so sidewalks/driveways - when cleared - just melted. Now, it's coming down - hard. I lost the signal to the DirecTV satellite - except for local stations - those spotbeams are pretty strong. I wonder if the Wolves game is still on?
posted at 04:00 PM | Link | Mundane § |
SnowYep, 6 inches of snow on the ground - and we're in a "lull" between storm systems. "They" are keeping the Winter Storm Warning through tonight, with the snow restarting early this afternoon through early evening - with another 3"-6". Should be interesting going to the Wolves game tonight. Pozo was here about an hour ago to plow the driveway and shovel the sidewalk to the door - I don't mind paying for this at all - it sure saves the back - this is a really heavy snow - it's right around freezing and "they" are now saying it's actually a mix of snow and drizzle right now. Not a lot of activity in the neighborhood - saw a few plows but not much other traffic.
posted at 09:19 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, March 01, 2002
Snow coverIt's after 10pm and the ground is already covered in snow... Carol said she heard that after midnight we may get 2" of snow an hour. This is gonna be fun... (check out the live webcam on this page!)
posted at 10:21 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Fish Fry
Well, I went back to my old parish tonight (my parent's current parish) - St. Ferdinand's to go to their annual Fish Fry. They run it every Friday through Lent (except Good Friday). My Mom helps out, cutting cakes mostly. The turnout is always good - last week they had 650 people show up - and they do a drive-up business as well. Well, Carol, Diane, Melinda and I decided we were going today - Polish Day. You get a free Pierogi with every adult meal! It's always an odd socializing time - either meeting people from my childhood or meeting my Mom's friends. Had the Cod tonight (pretty good... and quick!) And, of course, Mom brought over some extra sauerkraut Pierogies for us.
On the ride home, we saw our first flakes of snow at 8:30pm. Let's see what happens...
posted at 09:26 PM | Link | Family § |
Winter Storm WarningGreat... Winter Storm Warning - up to 10" of snow where I live... let's see if "they" get it right...
posted at 06:41 AM | Link | Mundane § |
March 1st and marchFIRSTHere it is March 1st and of course I can't get out of my mind marchFIRST, my old company. It's been 48 weeks since I worked for them. Oh, oh... that's almost a year... I'm just starting to see some job postings come around, but it's been really bad for a Lotus Notes Engineer... Every couple of weeks I see a job posting like this on Headhunter.net - thought I had better apply.
posted at 06:34 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, February 28, 2002
Zamboni
Great dialog from tonight's CSI: The scene takes place in the bowels of an ice rink, where our two characters have entered and are staring with their mouths agape as they gaze on a bright, shiny machine...)
Gil Grissom: There are three things in life that people like to stare at - a rippling stream, a fire in a fireplace, and a Zamboni going 'round and 'round.
Sara Sidel: Charlie Brown. I love a Zamboni.
Grissom: We all do.
posted at 09:15 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ dutyDad has his 6th radiation treatment today. The first symptom showed up - difficulty swallowing. Other than that, he's fine. We were called in to see Dr. Emami (it's Thursday, so he just camps-out in Radiation Therapy - that way he sees everyone as they go through. Well, Dad led the way in, followed by Mom, and I trailed behind. I heard the loud outburst of laughter coming from the tech area in therapy labs. Everyone is laughing their asses off. Mom just turns to me and says "I am so embarrassed." I didn't know what happened. Apparently, Dad hit Dr. Emami with his cane. Dad's like that - he tries to be a little "playful" with people outside the family - something that I think has rubbed-off on me - but he hit Dr. Emami in the head with his cane! On the plus-side, everything was very cheery and light after that!
Going to the hospital everyday is a trip. Other than the 3-4 hours out of my absolutely boring, unemployed day, you just never know what you see or what you hear. Today was "spill" day - sort of a theme. There's a drip coffee pot and bottled water in the waiting room for Radiation Therapy. There was a guy in a wheel chair, next to the receptionist, his wife sitting on a chair near him, reading the paper. The guy asks the receptionist if she made the coffee (she did) and starts ripping into her about how bad the coffee is. I mean, rip into her. First off, the damn coffee is FREE - he didn't have to take it. Second, as his wife finally told him, it's probably been sitting there all morning and no one took any so it's been just bubbling there all day, getting stronger. Then she admonishes him by reminding him that he used to do that at home. He shuts-up. A minute or so passes and you hear a "clup" - the sound of styrofoam cup hitting industrial carpet - he dropped his coffee - everywhere. And of course, doesn't clean up. Spill one. On the way back to the parking garage I see the aftermath of spill two - a clear yellow substance outside a GI testing lab - and I don't want to know what it was. Third spill - I hope it was a spill - was in the garage, something red and bubbly and not very good smelling... I felt like I had to watch everywhere I walked today...
posted at 04:28 PM | Link | Family § |
Wednesday, February 27, 2002
Poll infoThe Muslim poll that pissed me off was also reported at CNN.com.
posted at 09:55 PM | Link | Current Events § |
Tuesday, February 26, 2002
Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ dutyWell, "they" were wrong - just a dusting of snow today. Cold as hell, though. Dad's radiation treatment went quicker today - 45 minutes. Actually responded to a job posting on HotJobs today - first one I've seen in about a month. We need money - quickly. This sucks.
posted at 08:35 PM | Link | Family § |
Monday, February 25, 2002
Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ dutyIt was 61° yesterday. This is Chicago. This is February. And now, Mother Nature is going to even things out a bit. Temps will be in the 20's tomorrow and "they" (you know, the mysterious weathermen and associated agencies) are estimating 3"-6" of snow.
Today was Dad's third radiation treatment. Today, it wasn't 30 minutes long from getting the hospital and leaving. Today was an hour and a half. They had a ton of patients to get through and it just backed-up. They had two patients that needed radiation treatment every six hours. Hey - where do I have to go? Where do I have to be? I put my unemployment check in the bank today - and saw that the bank balance after the deposit was the check amount - ouch! I need this economy to turn around quick. I'm going nuts.
posted at 10:47 PM | Link | Family § |
Saturday, February 23, 2002
Conference and Learning Center at Comiskey Parkposted at 01:17 PM | Link | White Sox § |
Chuck JonesDamn... I am really upset about this... one of the guys that really molded my childhood (and even significantly twisted my adulthood) died - Chuck Jones. I mean, Rabbit of Seville is a classic, the great Rabbit Seasoning, the uncut version of Bully for Bugs ("What a gulla-bull! What a nin-cow-poop!"), my favorite Daffy Duck - Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2 Century and Robin Hood Daffy ("Yikes! and Away!"). Michigan J. Frog singing "Hello My Baby" in One Froggy Evening. I can still hear "Kill the Wabbit! Kill the Wabbit! Kill the Wabbit!" from What's Opera, Doc? And the Geisel-interpreted visualss of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Man, Chuck, I have a hole in my heart from your passing, but your works will always live on...
posted at 09:21 AM | Link | Entertainment § |
Friday, February 22, 2002
Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ dutyCarol & I didn't get to sleep until after 1 o'clock and we just don't know why we were up and about at that hour. Of course, that produced absolutely rotten sleep. Dad's second radiation treatment went smoother and quicker - this time we were in & out in under 30 minutes, which is a good thing since I didn't have to pay parking for under 30 minutes! Drove back through River Forest instead of Oak Park - oh, man I love the properties there! After I got my parents home, Dad & I went to get air for his front right tire which was in bad shape. The scary thing - he drove. He turns 88 next month. I only saw my life flash before my eyes just once in the 15 minutes we were out. Whew.
posted at 03:23 PM | Link | Family § |
Thursday, February 21, 2002
Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ dutyWell, I can see that this will start getting old very fast. Took Dad for his first radiation treatment. Just another 30-some to go. I asked Dr. Emami something we've never talked about - how far "down" does Dad's tumor go? He showed me a diagram that he produced for the radiology computer showing the radiation areas. It shows the tumor in his throat which looks pretty substantial, and must be about 3cm tall. The thing that got me was that there are 2 tumors down in the lungs that are being radiated as well. I didn't expect it. Well, yes I did - after I saw how dad was drawn on with blue markers by Jack and Leela yesterday. I wasn't ready for this. I'm just stunned. I don't know what I should read into this. So maybe this time I'm spending with Dad driving him back and forth isn't so bad after all.
The world has turned upside down this afternoon. First I hear that kidnapped Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearlis dead - at least he looks that way on a videotape that the US has. And I'm sorry, but I don't trust the Pakistani police to find everybody involved. I saw a show on DirecTV the other day, I think it was on the WorldLink channel, called "Karachi Kops". Let's just say it wasn't as good as Fox's "Cops" and it sure was suspiciously edited. I don't trust these guys.
Then I hear that the US Olympic Committee has turned over all of fthe evidence they have to the FBI on death threats against Apolo Anton Ohno. It started after his first race, and after the disqualification of Kim Dong-Sung last night, the death threats apparently really escalated. Jeez. Oh, and there's increased security around the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia because of a possible attack. It's not over - a US Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed in about 120 miles northeast of Mindanao in the Philippines with 12 aboard. This is all part of the war against terrorism - this time it's Abu Sayyaf, an offshoot of al Qaeda. What the hell is going on today?!?!?
posted at 04:45 PM | Link | Family § |
One eyeAnother bad night of sleep. Couldn't get to sleep, had trouble getting up. One eye is glued shut. Ew. Just don't feel good. Slight dusting of snow overnight, about 20 degrees colder than yesterday. Yuck.
posted at 08:29 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, February 20, 2002
Radiation Therapy Chauffeur™ duty
It was 52° this morning. It's ugly outside, that drizzly pissy rain. Got the parents to Loyola Medical Center early for Dad's 1:30 appointment for a radiation therapy "practice" session. The Radiation Therapy waiting room is tiny - only a dozen chairs. I've always heard that these guys just crank through the patients - not today. Things are way backed up. This, needless to say, isn't "pleasing" to Dad, who, as he's been getting older, gets more and more impatient over these things. I walk around, just to walk around and get out of the room that seems to be getting more crowded and claustrophobic. While I'm out, there was a discussion with Mom & Dad and Dad wants me to go in with him - he thinks I can read his lips better than Mom (I can). I don't remember when he got called - it was a little before 2 o'clock - and we go in. Dad has to strip to the waist, so I've got to help him with his shirt & undershirt. He's so much smaller than me. It's the first time in my life that I'm doing something for him - for his care. He's got to take his glasses off and hearing aids. Then climb up onto a table that's is precision controlled to line him up correctly with the equipment. The techs - Jack & Lela - get a white, plastic mesh form-fitted mask (that obviously was molded sometime in the past, probably during his Simulation CatScan), but it over his head and lock him into the table. Then Jack puts a piece of plexiglass under Dad's feet with ropes tied to it. Dad has to hold onto the rope. I remember him telling us about it but we couldn't understand what the ropes were for. So I asked. The idea is for the patient to reach down and grab the ropes, but not to pull - this gets the shoulders low and out of the way of the radiation. Dad looks very uncomfortable locked into the table. There are laser lines all over the room to align his body correctly with the machine. The techs are taping things around him and are marking the mask and his chest in blue markers. The lights darken and we have to leave - everybody but dad, who's still on the table. Films are taken - three in all, all of which take time to load the films, rotate the radiation "thing" (I don't have a clue on what it's actually called - it's the thing that actually shoots the radiation). Jack doesn't think Dad is tolerating this well, and they get the last films but don't finish-off drawing on his chest. They get the face mask unlocked, and that's when dad tells me that he couldn't swallow with it on, so he was having some problems. He looks really weird - I had no idea that the mask was so tight against the skin - he's got marks from the mesh all over his face and head - he looks like a cheap alien from Star Trek or Babylon 5. We help him sit up - a bit too fast and he got dizzy & lightheaded. Then I help him get back together - hearing aids, glasses, and shirts. We finally shuffle out of the room, when a nurse - Dolores - says she wants to talk to us. I go get mom and Dolores talks to us about what to expect from the treatment. Basically, there should be no side effects except the sore throats and dad has no restrictions on his lifestyle - just keep doing what he's been doing. The side effects won't show up until about 10 treatments in. since radiation therapy is cumulative. Dolores gave mom some cream to help with skin care - keeping the skin moist. We look at the clock and it's 10 to 3. We're off. Tomorrow - the actual treatments start - every weekday for about six weeks.
posted at 04:16 PM | Link | Family § |
Groggy stressThis has got to be one of the worst nights of sleep that I've had in quite a while. The brain just wouldn't shut down. It was frustrating. I tried to think of other, peaceful things, and it still wouldn't detach. I think that my dad has a lot to do with it. I couldn't shake him from my mind. First, today is when we take him for his 3-D radiation therapy "rehearsal" or "practice" scan. Tomorrow he starts his radiation treatment - every weekday for 6 weeks. I wonder if I'm stressing about driving him every day? I don't think so. I think what's getting to me is something we found out about yesterday - my cousins Kathy & Jane are going to be vacationing in St. Maartin for Easter - the family is starting to fracture a little bit, now that Jane is going to get married in June - and I think it's bothering me (I know it's bothering my mom) that they're not "interested" in sharing the holidays with us. (Not interested is a bad term - it's more that we feel that they don't try to share, but it's a matter of too many family pieces each pulling in different directions). I think that now that dad has cancer, they're not interested in seeing him. I don't know. I think this just really got to me last night. I'm feeling really groggy, slight headache. And I think I'm rambling, it's like there's a stop that's been pulled and the brain just wants to dump...
posted at 08:38 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, February 19, 2002
Marshmallow Bunny Survival TestWell, it's getting to be Easter Time again... time to see how those marshmallow bunnies make it through Bunny Survival Tests. Of course, The Bunnies Strike Back so it's time to test those Evil Peeps.
posted at 09:02 PM | Link | Odd § |
Saturday, February 16, 2002
CostcoSo, Carol & I trudge off to Costco for a little carnivorous shopping. You see, carol bought one of those vacu-sealer thingies off a TV infomercial the other day. With the way the job market is going, we're going to buy some meat, in bulk, and vacuseal it and freeze it - hoping that this will actually cut down some of out grocery bills. $170 later, we're home with tons of chicken thighs and breasts, pork fillets, beef fillets, and some great tasting chicken/turkey sun dried tomato sausages (I love going to Costco, right around lunch time, and then graze through all the food demos going on... that's how we got the sausage).
I hope this all works out. Actually, I'd rather have a job and earn some money and not have to worry about this.
posted at 01:13 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, February 14, 2002
Panda Lunch
Went to lunch with Barry today at a Panda Express by the Allstate Arena. Had my favorite - Black Pepper Chicken. Had a nice discussion on the Olympics - in retrospect, we really didn't talk about much else. I think Barry is pro-snowboarding compared to my curmudgeoness stand against.
Looks like that water main break at Golf and Higgins got fixed - it's just a bunch of mud now, and they were putting up the telephone pole - a day later. There was a lot of salt on the road to make sure people didn't go sliding through the intersection.
posted at 01:27 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Luge Fantasy CampThe Today Show just did a piece on a Luge Fantasy Camp! Now that looks great! They started the teaching process slowly, understanding the start, then the actually went out to the track and started half-way down, and eventually working their way up the hill. One of the students wiped-out and had a mild concussion! This looks like a great time!
posted at 08:38 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, February 13, 2002
PC HelpWell, I spent almost all day at our friends Janie & Gary's house. I spent all afternoon working with Gary, getting his PC skills "upgraded" a bit and help him out with his "new" Dell. Then I spent some time with Janie, getting her setup as a seller on eBay. She wants to sell some artwork. Boy, this was harder than I thought today. And longer. Carol drove down to them and Janie made a great chicken stir fry for dinner, along with ginger bread for desert. The food was great. Then I went off to try to take some digital photos of the artwork - very hard to do when some of the pieces have glass in the frames. Carol & Gary were watching the Olympics and then I realized that I missed the Olympics today! Bummed me out! I need to figure out what's going on! I heard that the IOC went after the ISU to get it's act together and do it fast! I guess the Olympics are getting mired in this whole skating controversy. Anyway, finally got back home after 10 o'clock. I'm trying to get some Olympic Pins on eBay and I keep getting outbid. Some of the pin prices are getting outrageous, and I just can't seem to get a winning bid that I feel comfortable with.
On the way to Janie & Gary's, I was at the corner of Golf & Higgins at a stoplight. I looked over, and saw the work crews that are working on prepping the area for the construction that's coming over the next two years to widen both roads and try to fix the intersection, one of the worst intersections in the state. There were some telephone poles on the ground that they must have been installing, probably for additional lighting, but also maybe for video cameras (they did that further down the road on Golf when they were widening Golf and Roselle).
And then I saw it, the water gushing out of the ground. Yep, they were digging and hit a water main. The intersection started to flood. When I drove by tonight, there was a lot more heavy equipment and night lighting and a much bigger hole, trying to fix the problem.
posted at 11:09 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Zamboni Fantasy CampThe Today Show just did a piece on Zamboni Fantasy Camp - a 2-day camp Utah Olympic Oval in SLC where they're setting records in Speed Skating! How cool would that be?!?!? At 4,675 feet in altitude, there's less room between water molecules, making the ice denser & "slicker".
posted at 08:43 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, February 12, 2002
Dead monarchsOn my way home from my parent's house, I was listening to NPR. There was a story that kind of upset me. Every year, monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico to spend the winter, basically November to March. Last month (January 12-13), there was this cold front that moved over the Michoacan region (filled with hills and pine trees). Well, it was a weird little weather front and it killed (according to the World Wildlife Fund) up to 250 million monarch butterflies. Here's a quote: "This is not about the extinction of the species, although we cannot know for sure what is going to happen."
posted at 06:32 PM | Link | Current Events § |
Oncology
Well, I brought Dad to see Dr. Clark about Chemotherapy. He asked quite a few life style questions, like "Is he active?" The tumor has spread downward toward the media stinum (man, I wish I had a bit of anatomy - there's not much on the web about this). He wants to prescribe cisplatin once a week for every week of radiotherapy. The administration of the drug is about an hour, but the entire process is 4 hours long, primarily to make sure fluids are flushed through him. Side effects include "worsening" ;of the radiation side effects, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. Nothing is written in stone that this is necessary. It is worth trying. Dr. Clark thinks it can help control the cancer.
Dad says "No." He doesn't want to go through it. Mom says that over the past year, he has gotten waker and doesn't think he can handle it. Dr. Clark thanks us for our time, says that in case you change your mind, there's still time to call and start chemo, and leaves.
Let's just say the ride home was very quiet.
posted at 05:01 PM | Link | Family § |
Thursday, February 07, 2002
Way to go, Erin!!!!Wha....???? ERIN GOT A JOB!!! Look, I don't know her personally, but I read her blog religiously. She's been out of work as long as I have, so I have a certain empathy for her. And then, what appeared to be pretty suddenly, the interview/contacts started coming-in, and voila! she's got a full-blown job offer and re-entering the workforce on Monday. Wow. It sounds weird, but I'm proud of her! (which is weird since I don't really know her, but trying to get back into this crappy job market is tough and she made it!) Congrats to Erin!
(I guess the flipside of this is the hope that something will come up in the job market around here... I feel like I'm being left behind...)
posted at 08:27 PM | Link | Blogging § |
Dad's CT for radiationBack going to the parent's house and - whooo hooo! that damn Grey car that the guy across the street was selling gone from in front of their house! Now, unfortunately, I can't park in front of their house because of the snow and ice that's there. Damn, I was sliding all over the place. Pissed me off - to add insult to injury, I'm trying to park while there's a guy double-parked across the street, with traffic going down the street. I give up and I realize that my parents are watching me from the door, amused.
Quick trip to Loyola Medical Center. The Radiation Therapy department is also in the basement and the waiting room is even smaller than the CT scanning waiting room. Dad goes in at 10:50 (10 minutes early) and shows up again at 11:17, just under half an hour, and we're off again. He has a appointment scheduled for that "practice" therapy session on Feb. 20 at 1:30, and then therapy starts the next day at 1:30 and every weekday after that for at least 6 weeks, always at 1:30. Saw Dr. Emami again afterward, and again, very friendly, personable. Excited about construction of a new building that Radiation Oncology is moving into sometime in 2003.
On the way home, we stop at Russel's on Thatcher for lunch. Yum... barbecue beef...
posted at 01:28 PM | Link | Family § |
Wednesday, February 06, 2002
Meeting the radiation therapist
Another day of providing taxi service for my parents to Loyola Medical Center to meet with Dr. Emami. We had to wait for him to come into the examining room, so that just makes dad way woo anxious and agitated. The doctor is in a totally different mood when we meet with him - more friendly, easier to talk to, not as "scattered" as our meeting a few weeks ago.
Normally, he said, a patient in this condition will just be sent for Radiation Therapy "classically". But, based on recent info (over the past 2-3 months), if a Patient can tolerate chemo there is a beneficial effect adding chemo, not necessarily beneficial in this "specific presentation". Being realistic - long term cure "not very frequent" (it's still interesting listing to the doctor put sentences together. He speaks Farsi, so I wonder how much of what he says is being translated from his "native" tongue)
He proposes to start planning process for radiation therapy. Side effects: redness of skin, soreness, sore throat, loss of hair around site. If the treatment is also with chemo, side effects are more intense, with longer recovery.
He stresses that dad will chose what he wants done (chemo or not - dad has already decided to go forward with radiotherapy). He says that other university hospitals in the area basically say " Radiation and Chemo. Period." Loyola is very open - sort of a freedom of choice of treatment. About 20% of patients in this situation chose to add chemo.
So, he wants to go through the planning process for the radiation therapy, since that's being done no matter what. The cool thing is that Dr. Emami leads research using 3-D conformal radiotherapy - meaning dad will go in for still another CT scan - this time, to map the area in detail and store the data in separate computers. Then the doctor looks at about 60 individual slices around the area, and plots in the computer those "structures" that need to be radiated and those things he needs to "protect" (oh, you know, like the spinal chord). The computers then produce a 3-D image of the entire area and the radiation treatment is then precisely plotted to give the most aggressive treatment, saving the rest of the tissues from exposure. Pretty cool. The process, because of case load, takes almost a week, since team meetings are also done during this time.
Dad would come back then for a"rehearsal" or "practice" run, to see if everything lines up the way they believe it will. Treatment would start the next day. The treatment itself only takes about 2 minutes, and he should be in the department for no longer that 15-30 minutes a day. Every weekday for about 6 weeks straight.
So, we'll be back tomorrow for that Planning CT at 11:00am, and they have an appointment with Dr. Clark to discuss chemo next Tuesday at 4:30.
I felt better about the meeting than I thought. I got a chance to see dad's CT scans and saw the tumor is about 1cm x 2cm and it's not where I thought it was - it's to the left of his stoma (the opening in his neck) - it's pretty obvious when you look at films - you can see that the structures in his neck aren't symmetrical, though it was difficult for my untrained eye to detect.
Oh, well... back again tomorrow.
posted at 06:21 PM | Link | Family § |
YEOW!!!I wake up and get on the computer to do my "normal" morning things - go through my EMail, check out my Job Agent emails & visit the job posting websites that I follow, go through today's Las Vegas Review-Journal, check out the local sports pages, even check some of my favorite bloggers. About 9 o'clock I wander downstairs to grab some cookie and chill on the couch with the satellite.
"Hello."
I must have jumped a bit when I heard that, because Carol, who is laying on the couch, starts apologizing. She wasn't feeling well, so she didn't go to work. And I didn't have a clue that she was home on the couch in the family room.
I hate when that happens!
posted at 10:06 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, February 05, 2002
Goin' to Loyola tomorrowHmmm... just got a phone call from my mom... I'm playing taxi again tomorrow - they have a 3:15pm appointment with Dr. Emami. I guess we'll find out about the biopsy and what was being said about last weeks CT scan.
I'm scared.
posted at 03:57 PM | Link | Family § |
Interesting combinationWhat is self titled as "The Best Picture Ever". Retro flashback!
posted at 12:49 PM | Link | Odd § |
Monday, February 04, 2002
Ad Meter resultsposted at 09:26 AM | Link | Entertainment § |
Saturday, February 02, 2002
B-52 and a movie
Carol & I left to go get some Chianti (which we've never shopped for before) to bring to Barry & Buffy's house. I pull out of the driveway and look up into the sky and see something I have only seen on television.
Over the skies of Afghanistan.
I remember seeing perfectly circular contrails in the skies over Afghanistan being made by B-52 bombers as they circled, providing cover. And now, over Chicago. The same circles are in the sky. Perfect, large circles, about six of them, the older ones dispersing and moving east with the wind. Perfect circles. We watched the last circle being completed, when the aircraft broke it's pattern and headed straight west, right over my house. Commercial aircraft don't do this. Not at this altitude. I've always heard about the military flying cover over the major cities. It's just something I've never seen. After thinking about this - I'm trying to rationalize what I'm seeing. When the plane came overhead, I couldn't identify 8 engines - a typical B-52, but they're 4 pylons of 2 so it would be difficult to see that from that altitude. I'm starting to believe that maybe it was a KC-135 providing refueling services for the aircraft flying cover. That would make sense. I mean, a bomber over the city? I hope not!
Headed over to Binny's to buy the Chianti. Found a good "end of bin" deal, and took off to go to B&B's for dinner. Buff's mom is recuperating there from knee replacement surgery that she had about two weeks ago. She's in her 80's and was moving around great (even though it was with a walker). You almost couldn't tell that she had the surgery. This joint replacement stuff is amazing. Had a nice homemade Italian dinner, and watched the movie Memento afterward. Wow, what a flick. I'm still not sure exactly what we saw, but we all loved it.
posted at 11:21 PM | Link | Friends § |
Groundhog Day02-02-02!!!! Wooooo Hoooo! Symmetry! Catch it!
Punxsutawney Phil says 6 more weeks of winter (he saw his shadow). Woodstock Willie saw his shadow, too, in Woodstock, Illinois where they're celebrating the 10th anniversary of the filming of Groundhog Day (the film was shot there - it's about a 30 minute drive from my house), and Cloudy at the Brookfield Zoo saw his shadow, so that looks like a clean sweep to me.
posted at 02:02 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, February 01, 2002
SoxFest 2002
Well, we left home almost two hours before SoxFest was supposed to begin. We barely got there in time, due to the traffic. We were meeting our friends and season ticket holders Jeff & Doreen, and Janie & Gary at 5pm, when the doors opened. Well, when we got there, we had to go to a different floor because the line was so long. We knew that there was a security bag check before ewe went in, but had no idea what we were in for. We met everyone else while we were standing in line. The line started to move around 5:40pm! We went straight to the first (and only) scheduled seminar - a discussion session with General Manager Kenny Williams and Manager Jerry Manual, hosted by radio broadcaster Ed Farmer. The first thing we hear is something that literally just happened probably minutes before - we get Kenny Lofton as our new Center Fielder!!! Got him as a free agent with a one year deal. This is big deal!
Well, Jeff gets in line to ask a question of Kenny Williams, the General Manager. It's long, involved, loaded with pointed questions. Kenny rolls his eyes and asks Jeff for his cheat-sheet that has the questions on them, so he can answer the whole thing. It was priceless. Kenny signed the questions for Jeff and gave them back. The audience seemed to like it. The thing about SoxFest is that you see management types like this and they don't dodge questions - they answer honestly - how many major league teams of any sport do that???
We went downstairs to the main floor. Jeff & Doreen get into line to get an autograph from Paul Konerko (her favorite), so Carol & I with Janie & Gary go over to the Fox Sports Net stage where they broadcast live from 7-8 tonight. They were interviewing players throughout the show. Pretty cool.
We walked through the exhibitors, picking a few trinkets along the way (hats, pins, signed baseballs, etc).
There was always a White Sox Training Academy clinic going on - we watched a bit of the pitching clinic with pitchers Jim Parque and Jon Garland.
We finally pick up Jeff & Doreen toward the end of the night from their autograph session, take a last walk through the exhibitors and then go to the Hotel lobby (Hyatt Regency Chicago) to hit their coffee shop for dinner. Dinner took almost two fricken hours!!!! Severely understaffed! Kelly Wunsch came in and sat down in a corner by himself for dinner. It was amazing how many people went over to bother him!!! Anyway, it was a great time at SoxFest. It hard to believe that the first pre-season game is 4 weeks from today!
posted at 11:04 PM | Link | White Sox § |
Thursday, January 31, 2002
Wet snow and no signal
pant... pant... pant... (gulp)... damn that snow is heavy... just shoveled the sidewalk to the front door... the snow is heavy and wet (it's 34° outside) - your typical "heart attack snow". So far, none reported on the news, but a guy in LaGrange lost two fingers in a "snowblower incident". Ew.
So I get up this morning and was watching the local news to see how bad things are outside. Then I decide to see what else is on - I flip over to BBC America, and... nothing. Black Screen. Hmmmm... I flip over to ESPN. Nothing. What the.... I have local stations and NOTHING ELSE. I have now experienced what is probably the single downfall of DirecTV - SNOW. The local channels are spot beamed down to the Chicago area and are at a high signal strength. It's getting through the snow on the dish (Normally I get 100% signal strength on these channels - I'm getting 78%), The signal strength on the other channels is ZERO. No lock on the satellite. I look out the family room window and see my dish covered in snow. Crap. I get dressed, grabbed a ladder and trudged through the snow to the side of the house. Only twisted my ankle once and went down in pain, but I'm OK. Got on the ladder and brushed the snow off - it just slid off. If I just waited longer, I bet it would have slid off by itself. Now, I'm back to 84% signal strength on the other channels and everything is fine. Got online and went to American Satellite to order what Carol calls a "sweater" for the dish - it's a cover to keep the snow off so I won't have to do this again.
posted at 12:18 PM | Link | Mundane § |
SnowHoly crap, it snowed! I mean, IT SNOWED!!! There's 10" of snow out there! It really came down!
posted at 08:27 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, January 30, 2002
CT Assisted BiopsySo, I drive into the city. Not a flake in the sky until I get to Foster & Nagle, and then it's barely doing anything. Get to my parents house, walk in to the house in the middle of an argument about God-know-what. This whole health situation has been slowly effecting my family in so many ways. I can't imagine what goes on between my parents day-in, day-out... couldn't park in front of the house because someone has parked a dark gray 1990 Chevy Cavalier with no plates or sticker that they're trying to sell for $1200 right in front of my parents house. PISSES ME OFF. It's been there since at least Sunday. Anyway, the snow continues but never accumulates... the streets are just wet...
I love driving down Chicago Avenue in Oak Park. It's great just after a snow, to see the streets that are lined with the old-growth trees, just covered in snow. And there's a ton of great houses. BIG houses. Carol has a house that she loves that's on a corner lot. I think it was up for sale recently... can't remember how many millions of dollars it was going for... one of these days I'm going to have to go to the Frank Lloyd Wright house.. I pass it on these trips to the medical center...
Finally got to Loyola Medical Center. Still no snow on the ground - a good thing. Dad goes back to the CatScan lab in the basement. We were there for almost an hour, getting him signed-in and prepped. Then we have to leave - we're going to go to a separate CT lab back on the first floor. Typical of a super large medical facility, it takes a while to finally get there. We're in part of the hospital we've never been in before. We go down one corridor, and there's a brand new art exhibit hanging on the walls (it was new according to the nurse that escorted us to this CT lab). The exhibit was "The Ten Commandments - 10 pieces of canvas with abstract painting on each that is supposed to depict each commandment. We didn't pay too much attention, but I just didn't get it.
We finally make it to the CT Lab - "CT Scanner #4". We all wait out in a very tiny, dark waiting room. Eventually the nurse takes dad in. It's 12 noon. Mom and I ask if we could go to the cafeteria to grab something to eat & drink. The nurse says sure, it should take about an hour. Off to the VERY crowded cafeteria for a quick lunch. We sat by a window and watched the snow falling on the patio area. Still no accumulation, its just wet - puddles everywhere. We go back at about 20 to 1 and find out that the actual procedure hasn't started yet. They were just cranking-up when we had got there. Apparently, they had to confer with Dr. Bastian before they could do the actual needle biopsy. All of a sudden, Dad gets scanned, they look at the shots, another doctor goes in, gets the tissue sample, and walks out to go and make sure he's got a good sample. It just happened probably within the span of 5 minutes. I stepped out of the room for a minute or two, just to walk down the corridor to see what was down the hall (The Heart Failure Lab, actually) when I saw the doctor going back in. I started walking back and the doctor was coming back out and said "We're all done". When I walked into the waiting area, the was another doctor that was talking to my mom, in broken English. All I caught at the end of the conversation was something about the tumor had grown, and "wrapped around" something, and was now down below the stoma. This sounds bad. The tumor has grown since the last CT? Mom helps dad get dressed and we head on home. Still snowing, still no accumulation. I drop them off, and head home myself.
This is sounding worse than I what I heard from Dr. Emami just two weeks ago today.
I'm feeling scared. This is new to me. Mom had said to me in the waiting room that she "knew that people with 'this' never come out of it" and that she's taking it a day at a time and she's doesn't want to think about it much because it bothers her too much.
I understand.
posted at 03:20 PM | Link | Family § |
Garbage DayHoly crap... am I tired... I wanted to keep sleeping... must be the weather. No snow by us. but 1"-2" south of O'Hare. The city is literally split it half with this Winter Storm that's been going through since last night... 6"-10" by tomorrow afternoon! I've got to get myself together to drive my parents to Loyola Medical Center again...
it's Wednesday, so it's garbage day... nothing I hate worse is to be on your way out the door and remember "hey, it's Wednesday!" and have to drag out the garbage and recyclables...
posted at 08:05 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, January 29, 2002
Geese and Satan
The geese are back... now I'm starting to think they're inviting friends...
Got the mail and saw a letter from Unemployment... lots of things run through your head when you see a letter like this, all of which have to do with losing your benefits. Turns out, it's just a letter saying that the calculation changed for calendar year 2002. Unfortunately, I made too much money during my 6 months of work last year for that new calculation to make any difference - I'm still at the max allowable.
OK trust me, the next two things aren't related (I don't think...)
We have to sit through another State of the Union speech tonight by George the 43rd. Look, I'm behind the guy absolutely 100% when it come to the War On Terror, but I never liked his domestic policies. I hope we start turning up the heat in the Philippines, and, after seeing Black Hawk Down over the weekend, I hope that Somalia gets "cleaned-up" as well, but the rest of the policies? Fahgetaboutit.
Now - not related (I don't think), the Mayor of Inglis, Florida (Carolyn Risher) issued a proclamation that declared the Prince of Darkness persona non grata. "Satan, ruler of darkness, giver of evil, destroyer of what is good and just, is not now, nor ever again will be, a part of this town of Inglis." Think the ACLU is happy?
posted at 04:16 PM | Link | Mundane § |
I have no lifeGreat... here's a button that you can buy at ThinkGeek that just sums it all up for me:
posted at 03:47 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Winter Storm WatchOh, oh.. it may be cloudy now, with rain on the way, but there's a Winter Storm Watch out for tomorrow afternoon through Thursday. Why is it when I have to drive into the city during the week, it's snowing?...
posted at 08:31 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Job hunting in the darkVery cloudy and dark this morning... a great day to sleep-in... had a little problem with some stomach acid (blech!) overnight, but not bad. Solid sleep. Mmmmm... sleep... sleep good... nuts... I'm up...
Responded to a posting on Monster.com for that same job as on the 24th, this time called a Messaging Analyst Project Manager through Strategic Staffing Solutions in Detroit. It popped-up in my morning job search Email agents, so I have to try it from as many recruiters as possible... hey it looks like there's actually two jobs...
posted at 07:50 AM | Link | Job Search § |
Monday, January 28, 2002
Unemployment check
Another unemployment check to deposit into the bank... boy that's a slap in the face - looking at the envelope, it comes from the department of Employment Security. Employment Security??? Since when are jobs secure??? Boy, they're not doing their jobs! A quick trek out to the ATM, and we make it through another couple of days...
posted at 03:17 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, January 27, 2002
Family dinnerThe high temperature today - 59° . In January. In Chicago. Ooooooo... Mother Nature is messin' with us...
So, went to my parents for dinner with Diane and the dogs. Guess I'm taking my parents back to Loyola Medical Center on Wednesday. Dad's going to have some kind of CT assisted biopsy - I think they use the CT for correct positioning of the needle to extract the correct tissue for sampling. Brought a CD over for Diane that I had burned of all of the family pictures that I've been scanning out of Mom's archives. Still have that problem with those satin-finish photos... produces a series of dots for each ridge on the image... I wish I knew how to get them cleaned up...
Came home and found out that our little bunners Indy had chewed a hole in our carpet in the family room about the size of a silver dollar. That little brat! Now I have a hole of just carpet backing - no nap. Great. We REALLY needed new carpeting, and we would have done it - if I was still employed. Like so many other things, we've had to put off some of the things we wanted to do...
posted at 10:15 PM | Link | Mundane § |
It's nice outside. Too bad I'm overweightOooooo... this looks like it's going to be a nice day outside...
Major problem, though... you see, Mother Nature has a tendency of "evening things out"... which means that all hell will break loose later in the week (probably snow and cold).
Interesting... I had Mexican food last night and my stomach's fine. No GERD in 15 days... wonder what that means... I'm eating healthier? or at least am eating things that aren't acidy? or maybe my stress level has gone done? nah... can't be that... where's the hell's my job?!?! Oh, maybe it's... 5'3" 204 pounds... 'nuff said...
posted at 10:42 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, January 26, 2002
Mogadishu on the big screen
Wow. Another 52° day.
Barry & Buffy came over to visit. We went out this afternoon to the AMC South Barrington 30 to see Black Hawk Down. The only negative: it runs 144 minutes. Wow. What a movie, what a story. It's the true story of the Battle of Mogadishu, the longest sustained ground battle involving American soldiers since the Vietnam War. 120 American Delta units and Ranger infantry were dropped into Mogadishu, Somalia on October 3rd, 1993, to abduct two of Somalian warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid's lieutenants. Instead, two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were shot down, and what was expected to take an hour lasted 15, resulting in the deaths of 18 Americans, 73 wounded, and hundreds of Somalians dead. Great cinematography. Great acting. Ridley Scott did another great job.
But the real real story is even more timely and hits home even more - you see Gen. Muhammed Farrah Aidid's people were actually trained, funded, and staffed by - guess who - BIN LADEN! Yep, the same bastard we're still going after 8 years later. If you happen to see the movie, think about that and see how it "colors" your view of what was going on in Moga (as the Rangers call it).
Went to this Mexican place, El Mason, in Schaumburg for dinner. Haven't been there since the 80's. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and sounds like we'll go back. Everyone had combo platters (Carol, Buffy & I each had the same one, that came with a half of a strip steak that was very tasty and tender).
posted at 08:15 PM | Link | Movies § |
Friday, January 25, 2002
Wedding at the BuffetOK, I'm not getting this...
I was hungry when Carol got home so we went to this Chinese Buffet place not far from the house. Nothing special about this place. I don't know a bout you, but these buffet places have been springing up everywhere, and most times these places fail. this one has been going strong for a couple of years now.
We get there early, before the dinner rush. But there's something odd about this place that I can't explain. Friday nights turn out to be Latino Night of the Chinese Buffet. No clue why this happens. We can go there any other night of the week, and there's never as many Hispanics in the place as there are on Friday nights.
The place was empty when we got there. About halfway though our dinner, this 14-person part comes in the door. The busboy starts rearranging tables next to us. Sure enough, Latino Night has started.
But this was a bit odd. As usual, more than half the people were kids under the age of 7. Not a big deal. But then I notice that one of the guys is in a tuxedo. OK, so I'm starting to stereotype in my mind, thinking maybe he was a waiter at some upscale restaurant somewhere. But that's when I notice the woman. She's got a jacket on (that she continues to wear through most of dinner). Then I see the white satin dress. And the white flat shoes that she's wearing. And the baby's breath in her hair... oh my God, is this a wedding reception??? None of the other adults seam to be as "dressed" as these two. The "bride" takes her jacket off. The dress is backless - no wonder she's cold. There's pictures and video being taken. I'm just not getting this... I've got to remember to take my digital camera out with me more often...
Now to add insult to injury, I can't stand when parents don't control their kids at a buffet. What you don't need is some kid running around underneath you as you are trying to navigate the buffet with a full plate of food. What's even worse is a toddler who is coughing his lungs out (at least it sounds that way) anywhere near the food. It's one of my MAJOR pet peeves...
On the way out, at another table, I hear a young teenager cry "Why did I put soy sauce on my macaroni and cheese!"
posted at 06:35 PM | Link | Mundane § |
They mock me
They're back... they're mocking me... they're sitting on my driveway... time to go ruffle some feathers...
posted at 02:45 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Another bright, bright, sunshiny day...It might get up to 60° on Sunday. I need to get out and enjoy it somehow - get out of this house. No new job listings today. Figures.
posted at 10:39 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, January 24, 2002
Geese and jobsGeese walking through the neighborhood again... this time there's no squirrels as part of their posse... I need a job... responded to a posting on Monster.com for a Messaging Analyst through CIBER, Inc. (is this the same job on dice.com? Or this? Or even this from Oak Enterprises that I'll also reply to? Surely this one is...)... my pessimism is coming out here, but I'm not expecting a call back, though I sure would like one about now. I've been debating about applying for this job at Keebler in Elmhurst (I didn't remember that Kellogg's is the parent company) as well that I saw through Flipdog.com, though I'm not an exact match. Guess I'll do it anyway.
posted at 01:31 PM | Link | Job Search § |
Wednesday, January 23, 2002
Geese, squirrels, and DirecTVDamn, my life has become such a bore. What a waste of space... this unemployment just sucks.
Well, the geese went through the neighborhood again - this time with two squirrels running with them. Very odd.
FedEx showed-up with a replacement satellite receiver from Sony. Called DirecTV and got the new unit up and running. I really felt like I was receiving good customer service. This has been a great experience...
posted at 08:33 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, January 22, 2002
Warm, but a bum receiverIt's Chicago. It's JANUARY. It was 54° today!!! Greenhouse effect? Who cares! It's gorgeous outside!!!!
Well, inside things are not going as well as I had hoped with DirecTV. I had to call Sony about this one satellite receiver that was giving me "A short has been detected in your access card" message. Sony is overnighting a replacement receiver. Not bad!
posted at 09:08 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, January 21, 2002
Chest CTposted at 01:22 PM | Link | Family § |
Not enoughJust couldn't fall asleep. Had to get up early. Didn't enjoy the shortness of my sleep time.
posted at 07:22 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, January 20, 2002
GroggyWhoa... groggy again... solid night's sleep, but can't remember anything about most of the dreams last night... all I remember is being an investigator on a multiple (24) murder investigation next to a seaside resort...
posted at 09:10 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, January 19, 2002
DreamsWow... almost 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep. The dreams were pretty vivid and detailed. Lots of odd little things, mostly about working somewhere where everyone was being laid-off, though I never made it to lay-off day. A lot of character interaction. Odd things, too, like climbing up a side of a brick building (not a big building, only a couple of stories) using the mortar and other surfaces to hang on to, as well as ledges... and doing this as a means of transportation to certain offices and floors... A remarkable thing about dreams, which aren't real to begin with, is to dream about something and then in the middle of the dream saying to yourself "oh, I remember that", and remembering a certain situation... which you never did before either - creating a false memory that's used in your dream. Weird. Familiar people, familiar surroundings - in unfamiliar places. Feeling pretty good when you wake up...
posted at 10:15 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, January 18, 2002
Bad receiver, no job matchWell, I wanted a better day.
First, I got my FedEx from DirecTV. Turns out - the problem isn't the access card, it's the receiver. Bummer. I only had it two weeks. Now I have to find a Sony dealer for service.
Then it looks like I don't match as well as I would have liked with that job on Dice.com based on an EMail that I got back from the headhunter. I really wanted that opportunity.
Went to Rosatti's for the buffet for dinner. That was OK. Oh, and I had a great night's sleep. Oh, and then I had my first great DirecTV Sports moment - I was able to watch the Manitoba Moose at the Utah Grizzlies on Fox Sports Rocky Mountain - my first AHL game in a different market. Thought that was cool.
The other stuff just bums me out today.
posted at 11:28 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, January 17, 2002
Bad receiver, bad lunch, too much hopeOdd day. Started with one of my DirecTV receivers crapping out with a "short in the access card". A new one is being FedEx'd to me and I should have it tomorrow. Gotta like those DirecTV people.
Then Barry calls. He's in the neighborhood and wanted to know if I wanted to do lunch. So we went to the Super Chinese Buffet on Golf for lunch. Always went there for dinner, not lunch. Disappointing. Obviously they would have less of an offering, but somehow the food didn't seem as good either. Strange.
I answered a job posting on Dice.com. The opportunity is interesting - a contract position. But it's 100% travel for 6-12 months. I'm not sure I fit the position, but it sounds interesting. Had another search firm leave me three voice mails today for a position that looks like I don't fit.
Odd day.
posted at 09:41 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, January 16, 2002
The cancer won't be cured
I leave the house at about 12:30pm to drive to my parents to drive them to Loyola Medical Center in Maywood. Dad had to see Dr. Emami, who's the chairman of the Radiation Oncology department at Loyola. Out in Hoffman Estates, it's been snowing big time - big flakes, too. On the way to my parents and on the way to Loyola, the snow was lighter and wetter. But the closer we get to the hospital, the bigger the flakes are becoming. Get there at 2:30 for a 3:00. Turns out that the big deal is not the lymph node that Dr. Bastian was concerned about. There's a mass behind the stoma that is probably cancerous. The MRI shows the mass and everyone believes it's cancer.
If dad would have gotten radiation treatment after his laryngectomy back in May, that mass would not be there. At that time, Dad didn't want to do radiation. Mom agreed. They both knew what could happen if he didn't get radiation. He was feeling good after the surgery. He didn't want to feel worse.
Now he's in trouble.
Dr. Emami wants to make sure it's cancer. He wants dad to get a needle biopsy to make sure. Dad was also supposed to get a chest x-ray, but now he'll get a chest CT instead, just to make sure the cancer didn't spread further down.
A resident (Dr. Paul Crossan) checked out dad, made sure he was OK.
The course of treatment will probably by 33-34 treatments, once a day, 5 days a week, so that'll be almost 7 weeks.
But there's a major problem: behind the mass is dad's spinal column. The spinal column can only handle about 25 treatments. It's going to be difficult to monitor - radiation treatments take weeks to actually work - (there's actually a delayed reaction to the radiation), so it's going to be tricky. Really tricky. And this won't be a cure. It's too late for that. It'll give him a bit over 2 years. If he doesn't get it, the mass will continue to grow, eventually cutting off his windpipe.
DAMN.
posted at 06:39 PM | Link | Family § |
Crows
Wow, really started to snow... I gotta get going to pick up my parents... there're salt trucks going through the neighborhood. Damn! It's Wednesday and the crows have found our garbage AGAIN, like they do every week when we put it out for pickup...
posted at 12:07 PM | Link | Mundane § |
AprehensionSecond good night's sleep. Carol said that I'm not snoring as much as I used to. Coincidence?
We're supposed to get 3" of snow this afternoon. I'm driving my parents to see dad's radiologist this afternoon. I'm not looking forward to the drive. I'm not looking forward to going to Loyola's Cancer center. There's a lot of dread here. I just don't know what to say or put into words. It's a bit scary. It's a bit of reality coming up from the darkness and slapping you in the face. I'm not looking forward to this...
posted at 09:30 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, January 15, 2002
Sleepmmmmmm... sleep..... sleep good.........
posted at 09:48 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, January 14, 2002
Chicago Wolves Season Ticket Holder Partyposted at 09:50 PM | Link | Wolves § |
They're baa-ack
There is something that happens around this time of year that pisses me off... it never fails, when there's no snow on the ground, usually when it's drizzling or raining, we have "herds" of geese that walk the neighborhood, always stopping to feed on our lawn. The hang around for hours at a time, refusing to leave, even if I go out there after them. They never fly away, they always just walk around. And, of course, there's a big negative spin on this - they're crappin' all over the driveway and sidewalks. It's gross. Why can't they just migrate!!!!
posted at 03:02 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Too early for meUgh. Couldn't fall asleep. Woke up early. This sucks.
posted at 08:30 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, January 13, 2002
Slept better?Didn't eat dinner last night either before or during the hockey game - just a Coke during the game. Turns out, it let me get a great night's sleep - once I got there. Feel better this morning, though I feel I could have slept longer.
posted at 10:07 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, January 12, 2002
GERDAnother crappy night of sleep. This GERD is getting to me - all I can think of is my dad and how he had to get a laryngectomy due to cancer. There was never a discussion on what caused the cancer. Was it his cigar & pipe smoking that he quit 10-20 years ago? Was it acid reflux that he's been complaining about all of my life? And if it was, am I "predisposed"? It's scaring the hell out of me. Now, between the GERD and unemployment, it's not like my life is in great shape right now, and my sleep is just pure crap. Can fall asleep, can't "catch up". It's hell and I hate it.
posted at 09:54 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, January 10, 2002
Alarm tagQuickly got hold of my mom. I'm driving them next week to talk to the radiologist and to get a chest X-ray for Dad. Found out the alarm company actually called twice - once around 11:45 the other at 1pm. Just sounds odd... never heard back from anyone, so I'm assuming that everything is fine...
posted at 03:42 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Elderly Parents and Health CareTalked to Diane in New York. She thinks everything is OK, and that it's probably the cleaning people. They've been tripping the alarm lately. The reason why I can get hold of my mother is that she went out to run errands.
The thing that came out in conversation that I didn't know and don't like the sound of, is that my dad's surgery is now "on hold". He went for a CAT scan last week, and now the doctor wants them to talk to a radiologist. Wow. There's a lot of different ways to interpret this. I guess they have an appointment for next Wednesday at 3pm. I guess I'm driving. I'm saying I guess because my mom hasn't talked to me yet. They've got some very weird ways of approaching health care that make no sense in a logical world. You don't talk about it and it'll go away. right. Not when you deal with cancer. They're never going to change...
posted at 03:03 PM | Link | Family § |
Tag - you're itHad lunch with Barry at a Chinese buffet by Manheim & Oakton - no idea the name of the place.
While at lunch, my mom called and left a message at my house - the alarm company called and said the alarm is going off at Diane's house. She doesn't know what to do. I call her when I get home (around 1:30). No answer. I keep trying every half hour. No answer. i bet they drove over to the house to make sure it's OK.
I EMailed Melinda to find out what's going on. She doesn't know - she's not on the call list. (I think they need to fix this). We'll try to keep each other informed. Diane is in her New York office. Melinda will try calling her on her cell.
I feel helpless.
posted at 02:31 PM | Link | Family § |
Gotta have beef
Ever watch TV when you're hungry, and something comes on, whether a commercial or just something within a show, that shows some great looking food and then that's all you want right now? That happened to me and Carol yesterday. We were flipping through the channels and saw this great ribeye that someone was cooking and immediately that was it - we had to go out and have a steak. We went to the Chicago Prime Steakhouse on Meacham in Schaumburg. We needed beef. Carol had an 18oz Ribeye (Cowboy Chop) and I had a 14oz Prime Rib. Very good. We're gong back.
No Katie-sitting today... all of a sudden, I feel free! Now if I could only find a job...
posted at 10:33 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, January 09, 2002
Last day with KateLast day dog-sitting. Yeah! Katie's a very sweet dog, but it's a little stressful knowing you've got a one-eyed dog that's recovering from surgery and you're responsible for her medical care.
posted at 09:05 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, January 08, 2002
Dogsitting, eBay, and marchFIRST
Nice quiet day dogsitting Katie. Replied to someone that saw my resume on Monster, but no reply from the EMail. Got my marchFIRST Microsoft Alliance shirt that I won on eBay. Watched a bunch of Hopkins 24/7 shows on Discovery Health. Great series.
posted at 10:09 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, January 07, 2002
Bad sleepBad night sleeping... didn't want to wake up, but I'm Katie sitting again today. I'm tired, but I think the stress about not having a job is getting to me. I just can't get myself to sleep. Damn.
posted at 02:33 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, January 05, 2002
DirecTV and The Wolves
Spent half the day going to stores to find things related to our DirecTV installation. First stop - cancel the cable and turn-in the cable box! That felt gooooood! Went to Radio Shack for a five-way phone jack for all my stuff in the family room. Had lunch at Sweet Tomato - a salad buffet place. Very good - we'll be going back there. Then to Best Buy to buy that replacement multiswitch. Oh, and buy the DVD of Buckaroo Banzai. Then off to home, replace the equipment, call DirecTV to resend the authorizations and voila everything works. I can't stop talking about how great DirecTV is. Great programming choices, great picture quality (I love the Sony receivers), and above all, great customer service.
Went to the Wolves game tonight against the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins. First time the teams have met. The Penguins have the most penalty minutes in the entire league. (1,267 minutes - the closest teams are Cleveland and Philadelphia both with 1,089. The Wolves have 756. Wonder if that's why they also lead the league in attendance. They're also the worst in the league - they're 7-22-7-3.) Things got pretty bad with fighting, but they calmed down by the third. They wound-up with a 3-3 tie. It was Elvis night at the game - Elvis impersonators performing in the lobby, Elvis costume contest during the first intermission. Strange.
posted at 11:29 PM | Link | Wolves § |
Friday, January 04, 2002
Birthday dinner and DirecTVMy sister Diane and Melinda took Carol & me out to dinner for my birthday. Had some great baby back ribs at Bone Daddy. Yum. On my way to her house, I realized that I didn't eat a crumb of food all day. I think this DirecTV thing has got my adrenaline going and I just forgot!
All the DirecTV receivers are plugged-in - half are fully operational. I need to go out tomorrow and buy a new multiswitch - I think that's the problem. The picture quality is absolutely unbelievable! We got the Platinum package and can't believe the number of stations! 23 local sports stations! I can't wait for baseball season!
DirecTV - a very nice birthday present!
posted at 10:54 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Up on the roof (of the garage)
Ooooooo.... the dish is up...
posted at 10:18 AM | Link | Mundane § |
He's coming! He's coming!Ooooooo.... Larry the DirecTV installer is on his way....
posted at 09:02 AM | Link | Mundane § |
45Yaaaawwwwnnnnnnn..... just another day, but I'm another year older. It's my birthday today. Just hangin' 'round the house. Unemployed. 45. No Katie-sitting today, so I'm really alone. Need to clean-up the place a bit - don't know when the DirecTV installer is coming...
posted at 08:28 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, January 03, 2002
UPS!
Wooooooo Hooooooo! UPS just delivered my DirecTV stuff! Three boxes worth. One box is the dish itself, another box looks like a self-install kit (cable, connectors, a multiswitch and a videotape), and the last box is the 4 receivers (much smaller than I thought). Now I just need to get it installed and activated...
Damn... installation is expensive! More than the equipment itself! But I got an installer to come out tomorrow.
Another Katie-sitting day again. I gotta tell you, I've been looking all over the house to see if Katie left a "present" anywhere. She didn't. Man, is she passing gas...
posted at 11:37 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, January 02, 2002
No UPSKatie-sitting again. Now that she's got her cone off, she has no problem going up stairs, so she woke me up this morning. Now she's just hanging out with me in my "computer room".
Well another day passed, and still no UPS delivery of my DirecTV stuff. Starting to concern me. I want to cut-off AT&T Broadband as quickly as possible.
And, of course, everybody is at work this New Year. Everyone except me, that is. This job market better break real soon.
posted at 12:55 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Tuesday, January 01, 2002
Hangover?Wow... groggy... ate too much last night... need to just kick back and watch Rose parade and marathons on Food Network...
posted at 10:14 AM | Link | Mundane § |
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Spent the evening at Barry & Buffy's with Debbie and Kenny & Pat. As usual, everyone brought appetizers to eat. Things from brie & pear slices, toast points with creme fresh & caviar, cucumber slices with salmon, creme fresh, capers, & dill, walnut dried salami, Kenny's special shrimp (very yummy), barbecue chicken wings, Italian meatballs, a great Reuben mix that you put on miniature rye slices, baklava... and I'm sure I'm missing something... Watched the ABC 2002 coverage, even with the 30th Anniversary of Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve. Was very disappointed in the local coverage. The phone rang at Barry's just after 11. Barry answered and talked for a while. We couldn't figure out who he was talking to. The he turns and hands the phone to me - it was Diane! Her and Melinda were at their Michigan home - where it was midnight (the New Year) and she had to call! The drive home this year was uneventful - dry roads and hardly any idiots.
posted at 02:04 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Monday, December 31, 2001
End of the yearSo, here it is New Year's Eve. Thank God this year is over. Going over to Barry & Buffy's tonight to party. Don't know when we'll roll home.
Carol is off today, so she's been handling "Katie Duty". Yep, Katie is over again today. At least she's not a funnel-headed dog any more - she doesn't have to wear her protective cone any more. She seems much happier. Carol got me an early birthday present - a new coat from land's End. It's lightweight (which I can't use right now - it's 21 degrees (wow - that's warm!). It came via UPS today. I was expecting my DirecTV stuff today, but it didn't show. Bummer.
posted at 03:56 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, December 30, 2001
Crabs
We were taken out to dinner by Chelby & Damian tonight in thanks for dog sitting Katie (who we get to see again tomorrow). We went to Shaw's Crab House over by Streets of Woodfield. Good company. Not great food. I think there stuff is OK, not stellar. We found lots of things that were either OK or just not to our liking at all. Creme Brule? More like custard pudding. Au gratin potatoes? Didn't expect jarlsberg cheese being the dominant flavor. Crab cakes OK. Filet Mignon - had much better elsewhere (but then again, what should I expect of a seafood place?) Saw an older gentleman knock a glass off his table as he was leaving. NEVER saw anyone bring a broom to clean it up. Just people every once in a while kicking pieces of glass around. Saw a person seat another couple at the table get on her hands and knees and try to pick up some of the glass. When we left, there was still glass around the table even after telling Tina, our waitress about it. No one seemed to care about it.
posted at 11:06 PM | Link | Friends § |
Andre Braugher?Why was Andre Braugher (of Gideon's Crossing and Homicide: Life on the Street) in my dream last night? Why did I feel like he was trying to tell me something? Weird.
posted at 09:09 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, December 29, 2001
DirecTV
Tossed and turned all night thinking about DirecTV and how the installation should go and what I need to do and order to do what I want the installation to do...
posted at 01:21 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, December 28, 2001
To hell with AT&T Broadband - Part II
Damn those AT&T Broadband bastards!!!!! I get a phone call at 6:32pm. the Caller ID says INTERACTIVE MAR.
"Hi my name is Millie. I'm calling from AT&T cable. The reason I'm calling is to let you know we've upgraded our system in your area and we're replacing the old analog boxes with new digital boxes. We're going to have an installer in your area on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and we want to set up an appointment to swap the boxes... AAAAAUUUUURRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!! They're forcing people to switch to digital???? SCREW THEM!!! Just hours earlier I just purchased my DirecTV receivers!
posted at 10:42 PM | Link | Mundane § |
To hell with AT&T Broadband - Part I
That's it... I've had it!!! After days of crappy reception on our AT&T Broadband cable, I went on eBay and found a company that sells DirecTV cheap. I put in an order for a dish and 4 receivers (4 TV's in the house). I've been waiting a long time for this. Cable rates are going up, no new channels are being added. I can break even on the monthly service by switching to satellite - and as of yesterday, DirecTV started transmitting all local broadcast channels! This was a no-brainer. I just hope that I can get somebody to do the install. (I'm not a hardware guy...)
posted at 12:07 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, December 27, 2001
Police BlotterWhen you do something illegal, what makes you tell the police? From the December 20, 2001 Schaumburg Pioneer Press Police Blotter: A man reported that a prostitute had stolen $4,500 from him between 6:30 and 11:30am Dec. 9 in the 1700 block of Nature Court. According to a police report, the man had earlier that night been at Heavenly Bodies in Elk Grove and then had gone to the Grand Victoria casino in Elgin where he had received a $10,000 cash advance on his credit card. He then went to Chicago where he picked up a prostitute, who bought drugs on the street. They went back to his Nature Court home where they drank and snorted heroin. He passed out and when he woke up, discovered the money, his credit card, some jewelry and the prostitute gone.
posted at 11:36 AM | Link | Odd § |
Wednesday, December 26, 2001
Sorry, Mike
Well, MJ had 28 points, but that couldn't get the Washington Wizrds to a franchise record 10-game winning streak. They lost 99-93 to Charlotte.
posted at 10:09 PM | Link | Sports § |
Tuesday, December 25, 2001
MERRY CHRISTMASSpent the entire day at my parents'. Got some great gifts. Also, got some money from my parents to help us out until I can find a job. They were way too generous. But there's no way I could talk them out of it. They wouldn't hear of it. I guess the root of it really showed up when my dad was in the hospital back in May. that's when I found out out upset my mom was that Carol & I & Diane were shuttling her back and forth to the hospital. She really hated imposing on us. In fact, she broke down once while talking to the doctor about how she always saw to it that we were fine, and yet she was having trouble dealing with us helping her.
Kind of opens your eyes.
Needless to say, the cash they gave will help us out more than they know.
I'm just praying that after the first of the year, the job market turns around.
posted at 09:42 PM | Link | Family § |
Monday, December 24, 2001
Christmas Eve
Another Christmas Eve at my sister Diane's house with her dogs, our parents, and my cousin Kathy's family. A nice night. Diane did a great job of cooking. It's great seeing the kids get their presents, even though they're getting older. For us, well a few "couple" gifts - gifts for Carol & me. I wound-up getting a wallet and a Best Buy gift card.
posted at 11:30 PM | Link | Family § |
Baseball!
Fox SportsNet Chicago is running a White Sox game from June 3rd.
Basebaaaaallllllllllll...... aaaaaahhhhhhhhhgggllllllll.....
Man I miss baseball.....
posted at 12:48 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Bad sleepChristmas Eve. Groggy again, pain in the base of my neck and shoulders. Damn... I slept wrong again. We had Carol's brother & wife over last night for dinner (another great one cooked-up by Carol) and they stayed a bit late. Got to bed after midnight.
posted at 10:09 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Sunday, December 23, 2001
Get rid of him!!!!
I want somebody to get those damn ATA commercials off the air! You know the ones! Any commercial with that damn fat guy in them! Get them off! Get Him off!!!!
posted at 10:37 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Dick SchaapAnother bad GERD night. Guess I shouldn't have had that tiramisu last night. Man I was full.
The Sports Reporters is on ESPN. It's a tribute to Dick Schaap. All that Mitch Albom, Bob Ryan, & Mike Lupica are doing is just telling stories about Dick Schaap. How sad of a loss - he died because of an infection after hip replacement surgery. He seemed to be a kind man, but he knew everything and everybody. What a career, what a man.
posted at 09:24 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Saturday, December 22, 2001
Friends and beefCarol finally called Teri this afternoon and talked to her a good while. It's good to know everything is well with them. Found out that Rick & Kathy really did move to Wisconsin. Joey played football this year instead of baseball. Sounded like everything went well with that. They finally had to put Cocoa down - she was 11 years old.
On our way out the door this evening I see a breaking news story on ABC about American Flight 63 from Paris to Miami being diverted to Boston with an F-15 fighter escort. A guy with a British passport was trying to set his shoes on fire, because they had detination cord and C-4 in them!!! Two flight attendants were hurt and the guy was subdued. Great. I really feel safe. Jeez.
Carol & I had dinner at Magnum's in Rolling Meadows with Barry & Buffy & Debbie as our holiday get together. Definitely a carnivore night. Very good Green Apple martini's. I had a great appetizer - sea scallops wrapped in bacon (yum!) and had my first escargot (I'm almost 45 and never tasted snails). I had a char-broiled 24oz ribeye that was like buttuh with a side of roasted garlic mashed potatoes. Unbelievable. Barry had the same. Debbie & Buff had London Broil and Carol had a filet & lobster tail. Great waitress (Char). Actually had a piano bar at the end of the room. The bar actually had a piano built into it. A guy sang & played all night. Was great. The room was great. All in all, I'd definitely recommend this place if you're a carnivore.
Buff filled us in on her cousin TJ's wife Patty. She had gone back to France quite a few months ago. They had separated and she was allegedly back in France to try to get treatment for her MS. TJ wrote her about 2 months ago and told her that he wanted a divorce and wanted to start the process. She never contacted him about it. Buff talked to hear on the phone around thanksgiving. She was moving out of her parent's and into her own place.
Buff found out this past Wednesday that Patty was found dead in her bathroom in her apartment. She had been dead 1-2 weeks. An autopsy was being performed, since there was no indication of why she had died.
Needless to say, this was a bit of a shock to all of us, not to mention Buff's family and especially TJ. I'm Shocked. I'm stunned. I don't now what to say. I don't know how I feel. It's just a numb feeling. I had met her a few times - great french accent. It's just weird knowing that she was found dead in France. Weird.
Same day - Buff finds out that her sister Karen's place had been robbed - jewelry only. Very specific. Karen's house is just 5 blocks away from my parent's house.
All in all - Wednesday December 19 was not a good day for a bunch of us.
posted at 11:24 PM | Link | Friends § |
Bad sleep. Weird dreams. Frustrating.Frustrating. Sounds that don't make sense. Voices from people that don't correspond to the images. I hear squeaking. Seriously start to think Katie is back in the house. It's dark. Drifting in and out of dreamstate. Soon realize squeaking noise is me wheezing. Lungs are filling up. Not good. Roll over awake. Dark outside... just cloudy dark. Damn. I'm up.
posted at 09:12 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Friday, December 21, 2001
Wolves on Cableposted at 11:39 PM | Link | Mundane § |
Winter SolstaceWooooo Hooooo!!!!! After today, the days start getting longer!!!!!
posted at 09:45 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Thursday, December 20, 2001
100 Days
It's hard to believe that 100 days ago was September 11. The FDNY reported that yesterday was the first day that there hasn't been a fire burning in the rubble. Terrorists must be stopped no matter where they hide...
posted at 04:44 PM | Link | Current Events § |
Ding Dong, the cable's dead...
YIPPPEEEEEE!!!! AT&T Broadband is DEAD!!!! Well, not really... but close enough I hope! AT&T announced it's spinning-off the cable group in a merger with Comcast and will be called AT&T Comcast Corp. Now if they can just give good customer service and stop increasing rates and stop forcing people to convert to digital cable, everything will be, well, OK.
posted at 11:51 AM | Link | Mundane § |
HizonerMayor Richard J. Daley died 25 years ago today. I remember seeing him just days before at the lighting of the Christmas Tree at Daley Center... wait... was Daley Center called "Daley Center" when Richard J. Daley was alive? Hmmm.....
posted at 11:46 AM | Link | Current Events § |
Howlings
7:26am. Katie starts howling. And she does this every 2-3 minutes for the next half-hour. I'm dog-sitting a friend's dog, who just had an eye removed due to glaucoma. She's got a cone around her head, and she needs to be leash walked. Since I'm currently unemployed and not doing anything, I'm watching her. I just wish she'd get over her separation anxiety. Then again, I should be awake and up and about. Checked my web job posting sites. Nothing new today.
posted at 08:33 AM | Link | Mundane § |
Wednesday, December 19, 2001
7 in a row
WTF... The Washington Wizards have won seven in a row. They're 12-12. Of course, the damn Bulls are 4-19 (0-13 on the road). Thank you MJ.
posted at 10:51 PM | Link | Sports § |
CancerDamn. My sister Diane just called. Dad's biopsy was positive. It's cancer, but it's contained within the lymph node. He's scheduled for surgery January 15th. I knew this was going to happen when they chose not to have any radiation treatment after the laryngectomy. Merry Christmas. Time to get some prayers in line...
posted at 08:30 PM | Link | Family § |
First snow
Wow. Finally we got out first snowfall that's sticking... only to the grass, but at least it's an accumulation. It's great right now - the sun's out, the streets are clear, and there's still a bit of snow on the grass. Not bad.
This morning I drove into the city to drive my parents to Loyola Medical Center in Maywood. Dad had to see Dr. Bastian. Dr. Bastian found a small growth on his neck below the scar from his laryngectomy that he had last May. He had it biopsied last week, but the results were "inconclusive", so he had to go back today. It took 2 tries to get a good sample - same as last week. Hopefully, everything will be OK. I'm always nervous about this things.
I hate hospitals. I sat downstairs of the Mulcahy Outpatient Center, eating a chocolate glazed doughnut & drinking a cup of french vanilla coffee from the coffee shop. I know there has to somebody named Mulcahy that this place is named after, but why can't I think of anything except Fr. Mulcahy on M*A*S*H?
Tons of elderly people motor by my table - an awful lot of them using walkers or canes. There are a few "younger" people - in their 30's - almost all of them on crutches. Except for their ambulatory problems, they look in good health.
There's a VERY LOUD-MOUTHED guy that comes over to use the tables to fill out paperwork. He's just LOUD. And he swears a lot. Jeez, this is a hospital for cripes sake! STFU!
Thankfully, everything only takes an hour and we're driving the parents to their home, and then back on home.
Just another jobless day...
posted at 12:27 PM | Link | Family § |
Tuesday, December 18, 2001
First Bowl Game?Jeez... there was a College Bowl game tonight (The New Orleans Bowl)... seems pretty damn early for this...
posted at 11:18 PM | Link | Mundane § |
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