Other than an imminent snow storm about to barrel into town this evening I mean. Honestly when they start predicting snow to these proportions it's really not likely to do much, perhaps half of what they say.
We are forecasted to get eight to ten inches of snow, perfect for me by the way as I do love the stuff, however I believe we'll be lucky to see four to six when it's over and it'll be gone next week.
Anyway it's Monday again, it was a good weekend all in all. A full week of work ahead and it'll be pretty busy. Since I called in Friday I know that work will still be there this morning. On top of that all of the work that will be generated normally will start to pile up again.
That's the way things go.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Awesome Saturday!
The past three days have been incredible weather wise! Really nice!
Today it'll get colder, tomorrow colder still and snow in the evening, Tuesday will be snowy again according to the forecast. We'll see. This year we haven't had much in the way of snow or bad weather, just cold weather. The northeast has been hammered though, intensely!
Aw to live in a southern state! I know my Northern Brother is having a difficult time with all of the snow up his way and the single digit temperatures. We enjoyed two seventy degree days along with no wind and bright sun!
Anyway those were could have been the last nice days until spring officially gets here.
Today it'll get colder, tomorrow colder still and snow in the evening, Tuesday will be snowy again according to the forecast. We'll see. This year we haven't had much in the way of snow or bad weather, just cold weather. The northeast has been hammered though, intensely!
Aw to live in a southern state! I know my Northern Brother is having a difficult time with all of the snow up his way and the single digit temperatures. We enjoyed two seventy degree days along with no wind and bright sun!
Anyway those were could have been the last nice days until spring officially gets here.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Great Day Off
I ran errands most of yesterday. Paying off odds and ends, utilities, and stocking up for this coming year. We bought a quarter beef and a quarter hog. I'd do the same if I were you, food prices are going to rise dramatically this year. Get it now while it's cheaper. I mean it, if you can afford to buy a larger quantity of meat now get it. It'll be the equivalent of four dollar a gallon gas soon and we all know how much that hurts. The cool thing, if I'm wrong then you still have cheaper meat for a long time and you prepared for the worst.
It's better to be a little paranoid and be prepared than a starving victim later.
Why you may ask is meat prices rising? Ethanol and inflation. Corn prices have risen because of the ethanol laws meaning feeding livestock is more expensive meaning it'll cost you a lot more to feed your family this year. I don't have to explain inflation to you.
For my family I believe we've easily purchased a year's worth of meat. It filled up our deep freeze and part of the refrigerator freezer. As meat is a large part of our grocery budget when we do shop it's nice to get that expense out of the way right now.
In fact I just put a roast into the crock pot for supper this evening. It's a comforting feeling knowing that the economy can get worse and we'll still get fed well.
I purchased my mom a great birthday present for this coming week. She's an avid reader so I got her a Kindle, my brother is going to get the leather case with the light, and we'll get her a gift card so she can fill it up. With twenty five dollars you could fill it with more quality classic literature than you could read in a lifetime. I'm excited about this because I try to find things that will be useful for a person for a gift. I'm not always successful but this seems a perfect fit! That makes me excited!
Yep! It's a nice feeling knowing in one day everything is either paid off for good or taken care of for a long time! I'll sleep like a baby for quite a while:)
It's better to be a little paranoid and be prepared than a starving victim later.
Why you may ask is meat prices rising? Ethanol and inflation. Corn prices have risen because of the ethanol laws meaning feeding livestock is more expensive meaning it'll cost you a lot more to feed your family this year. I don't have to explain inflation to you.
For my family I believe we've easily purchased a year's worth of meat. It filled up our deep freeze and part of the refrigerator freezer. As meat is a large part of our grocery budget when we do shop it's nice to get that expense out of the way right now.
In fact I just put a roast into the crock pot for supper this evening. It's a comforting feeling knowing that the economy can get worse and we'll still get fed well.
I purchased my mom a great birthday present for this coming week. She's an avid reader so I got her a Kindle, my brother is going to get the leather case with the light, and we'll get her a gift card so she can fill it up. With twenty five dollars you could fill it with more quality classic literature than you could read in a lifetime. I'm excited about this because I try to find things that will be useful for a person for a gift. I'm not always successful but this seems a perfect fit! That makes me excited!
Yep! It's a nice feeling knowing in one day everything is either paid off for good or taken care of for a long time! I'll sleep like a baby for quite a while:)
Friday, January 28, 2011
Called In
One of the wonderful benefits to my job is the ability to call in for vacation. Yep you don't even have to be sick or anything. You earn your leave so you are able to take it as you please and are very very rarely turned down.
It's really pretty nice. You call control, tell them you want off today, they take down your name. That's pretty much it! Darn simple and effective!
Now if you called in sick leave then you should actually be sick. Vacation is different and you are free to do whatever you want that day.
Today is supposed to be very nice out, The Date was offered a permanent job at the library yesterday, we are going to celebrate that with a nice lunch, and today's payday! What better reason do you need than to have a day off?
It's really a big deal for her to be offered a permanent job there. First off she loves this job! That's huge to anyone in the work force today, second they love her work and are going to train her to do more now that she is staying around! These jobs come open very rarely as most people stick around there for a long time. It's really a big deal and I'm very proud of my baby:)
It's really pretty nice. You call control, tell them you want off today, they take down your name. That's pretty much it! Darn simple and effective!
Now if you called in sick leave then you should actually be sick. Vacation is different and you are free to do whatever you want that day.
Today is supposed to be very nice out, The Date was offered a permanent job at the library yesterday, we are going to celebrate that with a nice lunch, and today's payday! What better reason do you need than to have a day off?
It's really a big deal for her to be offered a permanent job there. First off she loves this job! That's huge to anyone in the work force today, second they love her work and are going to train her to do more now that she is staying around! These jobs come open very rarely as most people stick around there for a long time. It's really a big deal and I'm very proud of my baby:)
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Thursday
Trash day, the day before Friday, anything much happen on Thursday?
Yeah actually, I'm going to again be super busy at work. It's been a very busy week. Lots of stuff has moved through the shop and I've done it all.
Regardless it's no big thing, it's my job and it's what puts food on the table. This morning the cats are fed, all of the girls are asleep, weird dreams vivid even danced in my sleeping head.
Tonight Thing 2 has rehearsal and The Date works until nine. Tomorrow is payday Friday and bills are scheduled to be paid. All in all it's a normal life. Everything falls into line when it is supposed to:)
Thing 1 is driving well thus far. The Date is starting to like not having to take the girls to school in the morning and then rushing around in the afternoon to pick them up from school so she can rush to work or class. Thing 1 even went to the grocery store yesterday to pick up some chicken for supper. Our errand running sixteen year old is being utilized to it's somewhat full potential right now.
Thus it's a Thursday.
Yeah actually, I'm going to again be super busy at work. It's been a very busy week. Lots of stuff has moved through the shop and I've done it all.
Regardless it's no big thing, it's my job and it's what puts food on the table. This morning the cats are fed, all of the girls are asleep, weird dreams vivid even danced in my sleeping head.
Tonight Thing 2 has rehearsal and The Date works until nine. Tomorrow is payday Friday and bills are scheduled to be paid. All in all it's a normal life. Everything falls into line when it is supposed to:)
Thing 1 is driving well thus far. The Date is starting to like not having to take the girls to school in the morning and then rushing around in the afternoon to pick them up from school so she can rush to work or class. Thing 1 even went to the grocery store yesterday to pick up some chicken for supper. Our errand running sixteen year old is being utilized to it's somewhat full potential right now.
Thus it's a Thursday.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Middle State Of The Union
I'd like for someone to explain to me what "middle America" actually is. Is it a fiscally conservative liberal? A socially conscious conservative who spends a great deal of money on entitlements? What is mainstream America?
I don't think it exists at all. I think when the deplorable Ted Kennedy said Robert Bork was out of step with mainstream America that he was being partisan. Wow, partisan, what's that?
If you go to work each day to put food on your table, are becoming more affected by the higher costs of food and gas at the pump then I'd say you are middle American. I'd say you have a stake in how this country is run. If you are on public assistance and abusing a system that wasn't designed to be a lifestyle then I don't care what your opinion is so shut up while the adults figure this out.
You have a car payment, mouths to feed, and a mortgage. That's who I'm talking to, the working class (blue collar and white both) who put in their forty or more each week, play hard on the weekends, and do it again on Monday. More people can identify with that as middle America than anything else.
What are the political leanings of middle America though? Liberals believe the poor need more entitlements ala the war on poverty up until the great society from LBJ. Colossal failures that transferred billions of dollars from one sector of the society to another by the government. We still have poor and disenfranchised, not only that but one could argue that it created more poor and disenfranchised as the less motivated saw an opportunity to live off of a system.
That's not middle America. That's the vision of many liberals though, America is a soup kitchen. The term "rich" is always defined down to meet their standards. Wealth is relative to political whims...unless YOU are the one who has worked eighty hours a week, had a spectacular idea and made it reality, or opened a small business and turned it into a massive chain. Then you will likely have different political ideas from when you started out. One of my favorite articles I read years ago (and can't find now) was about NBA players who were either apolitical or liberal before being drafted and got their first paycheck and became conservative.
Middle America does NOT exist, we are all partisan. I know people in my same situation who are rabid liberals. I also know people in my same situation who are staunch conservatives. We all work and earn our livings, render unto Caesar what is Caesar's each paycheck and have strong opinions on how America should be ran. Partisan.
As a conservative I'm all for gridlock, that means checks and balances work and no one branch can consolidate power that was never meant to be given. If Congress shut down for a few months, I'd be thrilled as they couldn't do any damage then.
Here are my issues: Simplify the tax code and spread the burden evenly via a flat tax or fair tax. Reduce entitlements and spending. A reasonable social safety net is fine but not a lifestyle. Strong military and border security. Streamlined INS process. Term limits on all members of Congress so they are forced to go back and live in the society their policies shape once their term is over. You do that and we have a great shot at staying strong.
I don't think it exists at all. I think when the deplorable Ted Kennedy said Robert Bork was out of step with mainstream America that he was being partisan. Wow, partisan, what's that?
If you go to work each day to put food on your table, are becoming more affected by the higher costs of food and gas at the pump then I'd say you are middle American. I'd say you have a stake in how this country is run. If you are on public assistance and abusing a system that wasn't designed to be a lifestyle then I don't care what your opinion is so shut up while the adults figure this out.
You have a car payment, mouths to feed, and a mortgage. That's who I'm talking to, the working class (blue collar and white both) who put in their forty or more each week, play hard on the weekends, and do it again on Monday. More people can identify with that as middle America than anything else.
What are the political leanings of middle America though? Liberals believe the poor need more entitlements ala the war on poverty up until the great society from LBJ. Colossal failures that transferred billions of dollars from one sector of the society to another by the government. We still have poor and disenfranchised, not only that but one could argue that it created more poor and disenfranchised as the less motivated saw an opportunity to live off of a system.
That's not middle America. That's the vision of many liberals though, America is a soup kitchen. The term "rich" is always defined down to meet their standards. Wealth is relative to political whims...unless YOU are the one who has worked eighty hours a week, had a spectacular idea and made it reality, or opened a small business and turned it into a massive chain. Then you will likely have different political ideas from when you started out. One of my favorite articles I read years ago (and can't find now) was about NBA players who were either apolitical or liberal before being drafted and got their first paycheck and became conservative.
Middle America does NOT exist, we are all partisan. I know people in my same situation who are rabid liberals. I also know people in my same situation who are staunch conservatives. We all work and earn our livings, render unto Caesar what is Caesar's each paycheck and have strong opinions on how America should be ran. Partisan.
As a conservative I'm all for gridlock, that means checks and balances work and no one branch can consolidate power that was never meant to be given. If Congress shut down for a few months, I'd be thrilled as they couldn't do any damage then.
Here are my issues: Simplify the tax code and spread the burden evenly via a flat tax or fair tax. Reduce entitlements and spending. A reasonable social safety net is fine but not a lifestyle. Strong military and border security. Streamlined INS process. Term limits on all members of Congress so they are forced to go back and live in the society their policies shape once their term is over. You do that and we have a great shot at staying strong.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Matrix Education
There was a part of Matrix where Neo was essentially programmed with many styles of fighting at once. Usually people refer to Star Trek tech when talking about visions of the future however this is Matrix tech.
I believe the transporter would do more to make this a very tiny world and bring people closer together than anything else. Perhaps with a dash of Matrix tech everyone could enjoy a free, efficient education as well.
Writing and books are essentially the same as they have been for thousands of years. Someone writes it on a media, it is then read by the reader and interpreted or retained. The costly middleman of this whole process is your motor skills and reading skills. If someday they were able to be bypassed in favor of essentially loading a book into your head along with the enjoyment that comes with it, books would only then become obsolete.
Books would become obsolete, not writing. Writing will likely be the most efficient way of relaying an idea from one to another outside of speaking itself. Say you'd like to read the entire Charles Dickens collection but that'd take months if not years to complete. You don't have that kind of time as you'd also like to read many many more authors as well. Someday perhaps, it could be loaded up, implanted into your head via USB 5.0 cable and learned in a matter of minutes.
Just as the transporter would allow anyone to live anywhere on earth, work anywhere on earth, and revolutionize travel, instant reading would do the same. Education wouldn't take from kindergarten to post graduate school anymore. It'd be a matter of perhaps a few months. Granted there are many social aspects to school that one should not miss out on, there are also aspects many would like to skip or forget altogether.
With knowledge comes great responsibility though and I'm sure there are many unforeseen problems I've not thought of this fine morning.
I believe the transporter would do more to make this a very tiny world and bring people closer together than anything else. Perhaps with a dash of Matrix tech everyone could enjoy a free, efficient education as well.
Writing and books are essentially the same as they have been for thousands of years. Someone writes it on a media, it is then read by the reader and interpreted or retained. The costly middleman of this whole process is your motor skills and reading skills. If someday they were able to be bypassed in favor of essentially loading a book into your head along with the enjoyment that comes with it, books would only then become obsolete.
Books would become obsolete, not writing. Writing will likely be the most efficient way of relaying an idea from one to another outside of speaking itself. Say you'd like to read the entire Charles Dickens collection but that'd take months if not years to complete. You don't have that kind of time as you'd also like to read many many more authors as well. Someday perhaps, it could be loaded up, implanted into your head via USB 5.0 cable and learned in a matter of minutes.
Just as the transporter would allow anyone to live anywhere on earth, work anywhere on earth, and revolutionize travel, instant reading would do the same. Education wouldn't take from kindergarten to post graduate school anymore. It'd be a matter of perhaps a few months. Granted there are many social aspects to school that one should not miss out on, there are also aspects many would like to skip or forget altogether.
With knowledge comes great responsibility though and I'm sure there are many unforeseen problems I've not thought of this fine morning.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Super Bowl Set
The Green Bay Packers will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl 45 or XLV I believe. Pittsburgh is about to climb their stairway to seven and Green Bay will attempt to resurrect their glory days again.
I really don't have a dog in this fight so I'll likely root for the team that has the ball and hope it's a high scoring shoot out with lots of great plays! Overtime would be good if that happens too.
The games were pretty good yesterday, the NFC game was more competitive than the AFC game but neither of them were thrillers by any stretch of the imagination. Most of the AFC game was sleepable actually. The second half is where things started to click for the Jets but the hill was too steep at that point.
Thing 1 will take her driving test today and pay a lot of her own money for insurance on her (my) car. This will be responsibility day for her. Hopefully it'll go smoothly for all involved:)
I really don't have a dog in this fight so I'll likely root for the team that has the ball and hope it's a high scoring shoot out with lots of great plays! Overtime would be good if that happens too.
The games were pretty good yesterday, the NFC game was more competitive than the AFC game but neither of them were thrillers by any stretch of the imagination. Most of the AFC game was sleepable actually. The second half is where things started to click for the Jets but the hill was too steep at that point.
Thing 1 will take her driving test today and pay a lot of her own money for insurance on her (my) car. This will be responsibility day for her. Hopefully it'll go smoothly for all involved:)
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Old Errol Flynn Movies
Yesterday The Date had to work pretty much the entire day. That left me free to my own devices, a place that I'm comfortable left but now a subtle change has happened. It happened long ago it's just that I've noticed it in the last few months.
A quiet house makes me think something is wrong. If I don't hear Thing 2 plucking on her violin or Thing 1 absurdly loud music I think something has happened and I must investigate.
Regardless back to my story, The Date was working all day long. I took Thing 2 to set call for the teen show. I took Thing 1 to work. I went grocery shopping and made beef stew. I told Thing 1 I will pick her up after work because I wanted to get The Date a new coat. Her heavy coat was most likely stolen recently leaving her with a jacket in the winter.
So after she got off work I picked her up and we went shopping for a new coat. Turns out the one we got her was a bit too small so we'll get another size today. We got home and gave the coat to her, she loved it though:)
Then we headed to Filmmaker Friend Chris' birthday bash. Sadly we were only able to stay about an hour or so as The Date was very tired from working all day and Thing 2 wasn't feeling well at all. So we head home and I find on TCM The Sea Hawk!
Errol Flynn in one of his finest swashbuckling roles! Action, adventure, piracy, political intrigue, the whole shebang right there in one package! After some thought on the matter I really couldn't think of many modern movies that had that in one package and made it fun. The Pirates of the Caribbean series was about as close as I could come.
Captain Blood, (his first starring role) The Sea Hawk, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Prince and the Pauper, and a few others such as Charge of the Light Brigade type cast him as the swashbuckling star. During TCM's Summer under the Stars month Errol Flynn had a day devoted to his films. Thing 2 and I watched a couple of them. She was quite enamored with him at the time.
Errol Flynn movies are now a great beacon pointing the way back to the films of yesteryear. They were made differently, the good guys always won, the bad always lost even when they had every advantage. What's happened to the swashbuckler?
A quiet house makes me think something is wrong. If I don't hear Thing 2 plucking on her violin or Thing 1 absurdly loud music I think something has happened and I must investigate.
Regardless back to my story, The Date was working all day long. I took Thing 2 to set call for the teen show. I took Thing 1 to work. I went grocery shopping and made beef stew. I told Thing 1 I will pick her up after work because I wanted to get The Date a new coat. Her heavy coat was most likely stolen recently leaving her with a jacket in the winter.
So after she got off work I picked her up and we went shopping for a new coat. Turns out the one we got her was a bit too small so we'll get another size today. We got home and gave the coat to her, she loved it though:)
Then we headed to Filmmaker Friend Chris' birthday bash. Sadly we were only able to stay about an hour or so as The Date was very tired from working all day and Thing 2 wasn't feeling well at all. So we head home and I find on TCM The Sea Hawk!
Errol Flynn in one of his finest swashbuckling roles! Action, adventure, piracy, political intrigue, the whole shebang right there in one package! After some thought on the matter I really couldn't think of many modern movies that had that in one package and made it fun. The Pirates of the Caribbean series was about as close as I could come.
Captain Blood, (his first starring role) The Sea Hawk, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Prince and the Pauper, and a few others such as Charge of the Light Brigade type cast him as the swashbuckling star. During TCM's Summer under the Stars month Errol Flynn had a day devoted to his films. Thing 2 and I watched a couple of them. She was quite enamored with him at the time.
Errol Flynn movies are now a great beacon pointing the way back to the films of yesteryear. They were made differently, the good guys always won, the bad always lost even when they had every advantage. What's happened to the swashbuckler?
Saturday, January 22, 2011
The Endless Parade
Yeah, it's the weekend again. The endless parade of weekdays followed by weekends continues. Week by week, month by month, year by year it mounts up and continues to ride by. I'm ok with it though as a spectator and observer. I'm a bit too self aware to be a full fledged participant at times and at other times I dive right in and join the parade for a block or two.
I offer commentary on how I see things, much like many MANY others who feel they have something to offer the world at large. I've earned a humble readership over the past few years and while it's mostly me-centric in terms of content, it's also reality as I post it. There isn't much I haven't talked about here and it'll continue to evolve over the upcoming years.
So why the self evaluating post from the macro term "endless parade"? Well that leads me to the micro. A landmark of growing up has happened in my life. I cosigned for a vehicle for Thing 1 yesterday.
Here's the story. When I was in high school I worked continuously. I had a paper route from the time I was a freshman until the time I was a senior. Here's the cool thing to balance out the fact that I got up at 4:30 every morning for years on end to help support my family and I. I was driving at age fourteen by myself around town with no one around. That's when I learned to drive in deep snow, on ice, in pouring rain, and on dry pavement. I love driving on bad roads, I'm good at it.
This was the age before cell phones replaced land lines so if I got into trouble with the car it was a walk to get back home to get help. So I made sure I didn't get into trouble, very much.
The point is that by the time I was eligible to get my license I was already a seasoned driver with years under my belt. It was a small town and not uncommon for kids to drive at an early age so it really was no big deal. The town cop gave his approval as long as I didn't wreak havoc around town.
This brings me to yesterday. For a teenage girl getting her license is the greatest thing in the world, apparently. Thing 1 learned that they were not giving driving tests yesterday because there was still some icy patches on the road on their course. This ruined her life...for about fifteen minutes. In the midst of her world ending because she had to wait until Monday to take her test Thing 2 chimed in with the question, "what if the zombie apocalypse happened Monday morning?"
This understandable made me giggle to no end, ending Thing 1's world further. I told her to cheer up because I had negotiated with the car dealership the price of a 2007 Dodge Caliber. Initially she had to come up with nearly seven hundred dollars down. She didn't have and I didn't have it to give. The price either had to come down or she had to pick an older, cheaper vehicle.
The price came down. Now she has money to purchase insurance, tag, title, tax, and a tank of gas:) Her wold stopped ending for a bit as she pondered herself in a car of her own. So now Thing 1 will have a car of her own to pay for, a lesson in responsibility that every teen needs to learn.
We'll have a new driver and one milestone of life out of the way.
I offer commentary on how I see things, much like many MANY others who feel they have something to offer the world at large. I've earned a humble readership over the past few years and while it's mostly me-centric in terms of content, it's also reality as I post it. There isn't much I haven't talked about here and it'll continue to evolve over the upcoming years.
So why the self evaluating post from the macro term "endless parade"? Well that leads me to the micro. A landmark of growing up has happened in my life. I cosigned for a vehicle for Thing 1 yesterday.
Here's the story. When I was in high school I worked continuously. I had a paper route from the time I was a freshman until the time I was a senior. Here's the cool thing to balance out the fact that I got up at 4:30 every morning for years on end to help support my family and I. I was driving at age fourteen by myself around town with no one around. That's when I learned to drive in deep snow, on ice, in pouring rain, and on dry pavement. I love driving on bad roads, I'm good at it.
This was the age before cell phones replaced land lines so if I got into trouble with the car it was a walk to get back home to get help. So I made sure I didn't get into trouble, very much.
The point is that by the time I was eligible to get my license I was already a seasoned driver with years under my belt. It was a small town and not uncommon for kids to drive at an early age so it really was no big deal. The town cop gave his approval as long as I didn't wreak havoc around town.
This brings me to yesterday. For a teenage girl getting her license is the greatest thing in the world, apparently. Thing 1 learned that they were not giving driving tests yesterday because there was still some icy patches on the road on their course. This ruined her life...for about fifteen minutes. In the midst of her world ending because she had to wait until Monday to take her test Thing 2 chimed in with the question, "what if the zombie apocalypse happened Monday morning?"
This understandable made me giggle to no end, ending Thing 1's world further. I told her to cheer up because I had negotiated with the car dealership the price of a 2007 Dodge Caliber. Initially she had to come up with nearly seven hundred dollars down. She didn't have and I didn't have it to give. The price either had to come down or she had to pick an older, cheaper vehicle.
The price came down. Now she has money to purchase insurance, tag, title, tax, and a tank of gas:) Her wold stopped ending for a bit as she pondered herself in a car of her own. So now Thing 1 will have a car of her own to pay for, a lesson in responsibility that every teen needs to learn.
We'll have a new driver and one milestone of life out of the way.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Rest In Peace Princess
Yesterday, after much consideration and consultation with the vet we put Princess down. The last option was a feeding tube surgically implanted into her neck. She was three and a half pounds, very weak and frail. It was unlikely she would have survived the surgery to start and second her quality of life after would have been roughly the same.
It would have just put off the inevitable from feline CRF for a little while. It would have been purely selfish at that point and not in her own best interest.
As I explained in an earlier blog she had it rough. She had her entire kittenhood in the SPCA with no family to love her. She was adopted once only to be brought back because they said she smelled. We adopted her and she didn't smell at all, she did have an intestinal parasite but a quick treatment by the vet cleared that all up. We didn't know that she had CRF and it was fatal.
She was two, far too young for such a disease that mostly effects older cats.
She loved stickers and pieces of paper. She would put them into her water bowl, fish them out and carry them to another water bowl only to repeat the process. We were lucky to have her as long as we did, she was sweet, gentle, and was a wonderful family member.
We miss her greatly. So if you are able, adopt an older pet from the SPCA. It's likely that they'll never have a family of their own after a certain age. It's worth the heartache as they will completely enhance the quality of your life as you enhance theirs.
It would have just put off the inevitable from feline CRF for a little while. It would have been purely selfish at that point and not in her own best interest.
As I explained in an earlier blog she had it rough. She had her entire kittenhood in the SPCA with no family to love her. She was adopted once only to be brought back because they said she smelled. We adopted her and she didn't smell at all, she did have an intestinal parasite but a quick treatment by the vet cleared that all up. We didn't know that she had CRF and it was fatal.
She was two, far too young for such a disease that mostly effects older cats.
She loved stickers and pieces of paper. She would put them into her water bowl, fish them out and carry them to another water bowl only to repeat the process. We were lucky to have her as long as we did, she was sweet, gentle, and was a wonderful family member.
We miss her greatly. So if you are able, adopt an older pet from the SPCA. It's likely that they'll never have a family of their own after a certain age. It's worth the heartache as they will completely enhance the quality of your life as you enhance theirs.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Snowing A Bit
Not the storms we had last year or even the year before but we've gotten about two inches this morning. Your mileage may vary depending on where you are in town though. It appears to be a little bit slick out but not overly bad.
I really doubt Thing 1 will get to take her driving test today. With road conditions being questionable at best they really probably don't want to authorize another young driver right now.
No matter for me though, I love to drive in this stuff. Give me a four wheel drive and I'd pull people out of ditches all day long.
Princess is back at the vet, this time I'm not sure she will come home. More on that tomorrow. She's down to three and a half pounds and very weak.
I really doubt Thing 1 will get to take her driving test today. With road conditions being questionable at best they really probably don't want to authorize another young driver right now.
No matter for me though, I love to drive in this stuff. Give me a four wheel drive and I'd pull people out of ditches all day long.
Princess is back at the vet, this time I'm not sure she will come home. More on that tomorrow. She's down to three and a half pounds and very weak.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Coke And Potato Chips
I believed I've blogged about this simple pleasure before, if not then I'm doing it now. There is something really cool about a cold coke and a bag of salty potato chips. It has to be the saltiness of the chips and the sweetness of the coke. Maybe like hot french fries and a chocolate shake? That's pretty darn good too!
Talk about a simple pleasure in life those two have to be among the tops as far as culinary treats are concerned. Yeah you have your smoked meats but those take hours to cook which precludes them from being a simple pleasure.
Simple means simple, opening a coke and a bag of chips is about as simple as you can get.
Simple, a nice love letter written by my wife, left on my keyboard for me when I awoke this morning. That's a simple pleasure I'll not forget:) Letters have become or are fast becoming a lost art form. If video killed the radio star, the internet killed hand written letters in the mail.
Soon they will be a vestige of a bygone era like buggy whips and horse drawn carriages. I propose this, today, after you finish reading this write a letter to a loved one, if in another state then mail it to them. If in your own home then leave it for them to read:)
Talk about a simple pleasure in life those two have to be among the tops as far as culinary treats are concerned. Yeah you have your smoked meats but those take hours to cook which precludes them from being a simple pleasure.
Simple means simple, opening a coke and a bag of chips is about as simple as you can get.
Simple, a nice love letter written by my wife, left on my keyboard for me when I awoke this morning. That's a simple pleasure I'll not forget:) Letters have become or are fast becoming a lost art form. If video killed the radio star, the internet killed hand written letters in the mail.
Soon they will be a vestige of a bygone era like buggy whips and horse drawn carriages. I propose this, today, after you finish reading this write a letter to a loved one, if in another state then mail it to them. If in your own home then leave it for them to read:)
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Does Happiness Just Happen?
I don't know. It's a good question though. Let's examine it and see if happiness just happens or not.
Evidence against the question:
1. Even lottery winners can become unhappy. Everyone has heard the stories where the winners of a lottery tell X that it was the worst thing that happened to them. Their lives fell apart, everyone treated them differently, their families collapsed. Money has a way of changing people. If you are a horrible person without money you'll be an enhanced horrible person with large sums of money that can now get out of many situations. If you are a good person with money you might still wind up a horrible person as you now have no limits to what you can do and few people to tell you differently.
2. I know some of the most miserable people around at work. They only are happy when complaining about something. I've known them for years and they have patterns that they follow like clockwork. I amuse myself in my head by saying what they are going to say before they say it. I'm convinced they are only happy when miserable because that's what they expect to happen. Their actions and their words always are negative and they will constantly find a way to bring about their misery even though in relative terms they have it pretty darn good.
3. There are always people who fall on hard times but you'd never know it by their attitudes. There are also a handful of these people at work. One guy's house burned up pretty good but not destroyed. He was the happiest person in the world before the fire, during, and after even though it would have brought many people to their collective knees. His attitude was so happy and positive that it made me wonder if he were on drugs. His house was restored, he had decent insurance for it. He was all the happier after the experience that did not destroy him but seemed to have added another layer of happiness upon his already happy countenance.
Evidence for the question:
1. I don't have any. I can't think of a real person I know or can use as an example where happiness just happened to them. You might say case three above would be an example but I'd disagree. I asked him about his happiness and he said it was an active choice he made every single moment of his life. He could be like many of his fellow coworkers and be unhappy about X but he didn't like the way they were living their lives. Being content when everything was against them was no way to live.
It seemed a fake answer to me as I asked further. How do you convince yourself to be happy I genuinely wondered? Essentially you catch yourself every single time you detect a negative attitude. No tricks, no exotic hypnotism, nothing but your own mind at work as a detector. You feel the need to complain you say a compliment instead. You feel the need to criticize you encourage instead. It's very difficult and I do my fair share of complaining at work. Usually in the mornings and it wears off during the day as I hit my happiness stride and work at it more.
It's a choice you make. Minute by minute you decide to be happy, life is too short to decide to be miserable. In the over all scheme of things it's logical to convince yourself to be happy at first and eventually you'll just be happy all the time. Here's why, you'll find yourself with the same situations no matter if you are miserable or happy. When you are happy though you'll be better able to cope with them and blow them off because in twenty years you won't even remember there was a situation.
It's also about faith. Knowing there is hope for a better world after this one is the faith every Christian shares. It really makes a lot of the world's tribulations lose their stings. Hurt yeah but perhaps to a lesser degree in the big scheme of things. Knowing that there is Divine Providence at work in everyone's life and that a sparrow does not fall from the sky without God knowing it or ordaining it is of great comfort to a believer. The old hymn Count Your Blessings is an excellent example of how to look at what is good in your life and when you do that it'll keep everything is a perspective that is accurate and not mountainous.
I'd like to think of myself as a positive person. I know I fail at that quite a bit though. After many years it's still something I have to actively do minute by minute but it's gotten me through some very tough times. Start it though and see how it works for you. Believe me you are not fooling yourself as perspective and attitude go a long way in this world and they are very real.
Your very first opportunity to say something mean or negative, immediately say something good about X. Even if everyone else go one way, be a contrarian and go the other way. Go out of your way to do something good for someone, actions speak louder than words and try to do it when no one is around so you can take credit for it. It'll do wonders for your personal happiness, I promise.
No, happiness doesn't just happen at all. It's hard but satisfying work.
Evidence against the question:
1. Even lottery winners can become unhappy. Everyone has heard the stories where the winners of a lottery tell X that it was the worst thing that happened to them. Their lives fell apart, everyone treated them differently, their families collapsed. Money has a way of changing people. If you are a horrible person without money you'll be an enhanced horrible person with large sums of money that can now get out of many situations. If you are a good person with money you might still wind up a horrible person as you now have no limits to what you can do and few people to tell you differently.
2. I know some of the most miserable people around at work. They only are happy when complaining about something. I've known them for years and they have patterns that they follow like clockwork. I amuse myself in my head by saying what they are going to say before they say it. I'm convinced they are only happy when miserable because that's what they expect to happen. Their actions and their words always are negative and they will constantly find a way to bring about their misery even though in relative terms they have it pretty darn good.
3. There are always people who fall on hard times but you'd never know it by their attitudes. There are also a handful of these people at work. One guy's house burned up pretty good but not destroyed. He was the happiest person in the world before the fire, during, and after even though it would have brought many people to their collective knees. His attitude was so happy and positive that it made me wonder if he were on drugs. His house was restored, he had decent insurance for it. He was all the happier after the experience that did not destroy him but seemed to have added another layer of happiness upon his already happy countenance.
Evidence for the question:
1. I don't have any. I can't think of a real person I know or can use as an example where happiness just happened to them. You might say case three above would be an example but I'd disagree. I asked him about his happiness and he said it was an active choice he made every single moment of his life. He could be like many of his fellow coworkers and be unhappy about X but he didn't like the way they were living their lives. Being content when everything was against them was no way to live.
It seemed a fake answer to me as I asked further. How do you convince yourself to be happy I genuinely wondered? Essentially you catch yourself every single time you detect a negative attitude. No tricks, no exotic hypnotism, nothing but your own mind at work as a detector. You feel the need to complain you say a compliment instead. You feel the need to criticize you encourage instead. It's very difficult and I do my fair share of complaining at work. Usually in the mornings and it wears off during the day as I hit my happiness stride and work at it more.
It's a choice you make. Minute by minute you decide to be happy, life is too short to decide to be miserable. In the over all scheme of things it's logical to convince yourself to be happy at first and eventually you'll just be happy all the time. Here's why, you'll find yourself with the same situations no matter if you are miserable or happy. When you are happy though you'll be better able to cope with them and blow them off because in twenty years you won't even remember there was a situation.
It's also about faith. Knowing there is hope for a better world after this one is the faith every Christian shares. It really makes a lot of the world's tribulations lose their stings. Hurt yeah but perhaps to a lesser degree in the big scheme of things. Knowing that there is Divine Providence at work in everyone's life and that a sparrow does not fall from the sky without God knowing it or ordaining it is of great comfort to a believer. The old hymn Count Your Blessings is an excellent example of how to look at what is good in your life and when you do that it'll keep everything is a perspective that is accurate and not mountainous.
I'd like to think of myself as a positive person. I know I fail at that quite a bit though. After many years it's still something I have to actively do minute by minute but it's gotten me through some very tough times. Start it though and see how it works for you. Believe me you are not fooling yourself as perspective and attitude go a long way in this world and they are very real.
Your very first opportunity to say something mean or negative, immediately say something good about X. Even if everyone else go one way, be a contrarian and go the other way. Go out of your way to do something good for someone, actions speak louder than words and try to do it when no one is around so you can take credit for it. It'll do wonders for your personal happiness, I promise.
No, happiness doesn't just happen at all. It's hard but satisfying work.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Last Day
Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and it's also my last day off from my forty hour. Three day weekends are really wonderful battery chargers. I'll be able to get through the next thirty two hours of work without a problem and charge headlong back into the upcoming weekend.
I've given Princess her medicine this morning and fluids. She is maintaining and eating. For now that's good enough. I watch our other cats play around in the mornings and wish she would have the energy to do the same but she wants to sit on the TV or go back to her bed in the bathroom and sleep.
It's been a quiet weekend. I'm thankful for that. I'm thankful The Date has time to spend with me yesterday and today. I'm thankful that I've got Things 1 & 2 upstairs. I'm thankful for you dear reader.
I've given Princess her medicine this morning and fluids. She is maintaining and eating. For now that's good enough. I watch our other cats play around in the mornings and wish she would have the energy to do the same but she wants to sit on the TV or go back to her bed in the bathroom and sleep.
It's been a quiet weekend. I'm thankful for that. I'm thankful The Date has time to spend with me yesterday and today. I'm thankful that I've got Things 1 & 2 upstairs. I'm thankful for you dear reader.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
MId Way
Yep, the second day of my three day weekend of rest and relaxation has begun. I've fed Princess in the bathroom. We have to keep the kitties separated while she is sick so the other cats aren't mean to her. I guess they do that to a sick kitty.
She's eating though, drinking water, and taking her medicine. Even if she gains an ounce every couple of days I'll be happy. It'll be a slow road to recovery for her but I'm going to make sure she has that chance:)
The Date worked all day yesterday at two different jobs. By the time she got home she was worn out completely. I sliced up some potatoes and deep fat fried my own potato chips, that was pretty cool. Now I need to change the oil out though, it's pretty used up.
Anyway nothing much has happened this weekend thus far. We'll see if anything does.
She's eating though, drinking water, and taking her medicine. Even if she gains an ounce every couple of days I'll be happy. It'll be a slow road to recovery for her but I'm going to make sure she has that chance:)
The Date worked all day yesterday at two different jobs. By the time she got home she was worn out completely. I sliced up some potatoes and deep fat fried my own potato chips, that was pretty cool. Now I need to change the oil out though, it's pretty used up.
Anyway nothing much has happened this weekend thus far. We'll see if anything does.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Slow Day
The Date is working some very long hours today. Thing 2 is going to spend the afternoon with friends, go to the winter formal, and spend the night at one of her friend's house. Thing 1 is up in her room playing Xbox I believe.
As for me it's slow. Not a lot planned for today. It is a three day weekend though and that's always good.
Been watching Gold Rush on Discovery. Good show, really good. If you are the kind of person that can't catch a break, two bad things happen to every one good thing, or you are constantly battling to keep it together then this is your show.
I identify with the plight of these miners. They sunk everything they had into one lease and all of the equipment for three months of mining. They have really put themselves into a corner and in desperate straits in many ways.
There is no Plan B for these men, it's Plan A and that's it. They all face financial ruin should they fail to find any gold in this lease and in this limited amount of time. I really doubt if many people will follow in their footsteps either. This show is a first class example of how expensive things are and how much bad can happen to a group of dreamers.
I really hope they find gold. I hope they can find enough to pay for their investment. I hope they can find enough to stave off the pack of wolves at their doors.
Catch the show, it really is worth watching people still living the American Dream.
As for me it's slow. Not a lot planned for today. It is a three day weekend though and that's always good.
Been watching Gold Rush on Discovery. Good show, really good. If you are the kind of person that can't catch a break, two bad things happen to every one good thing, or you are constantly battling to keep it together then this is your show.
I identify with the plight of these miners. They sunk everything they had into one lease and all of the equipment for three months of mining. They have really put themselves into a corner and in desperate straits in many ways.
There is no Plan B for these men, it's Plan A and that's it. They all face financial ruin should they fail to find any gold in this lease and in this limited amount of time. I really doubt if many people will follow in their footsteps either. This show is a first class example of how expensive things are and how much bad can happen to a group of dreamers.
I really hope they find gold. I hope they can find enough to pay for their investment. I hope they can find enough to stave off the pack of wolves at their doors.
Catch the show, it really is worth watching people still living the American Dream.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Princess Is Home
She is eating a bit. Her medicine has been changed as well as how often I give her fluids. Now instead of 50-60 milliliters per day it'll be 40 every other day.
As long as her appetite keeps going on she'll be ok. If she stops eating again then we have problems. She needs to gain weight now. I got a special brand from the vet just for kidney patient kitties and I mix it with some other food she likes.
Now if she'll just continue to eat this for a few weeks or months she'll put the weight back on:)
As long as her appetite keeps going on she'll be ok. If she stops eating again then we have problems. She needs to gain weight now. I got a special brand from the vet just for kidney patient kitties and I mix it with some other food she likes.
Now if she'll just continue to eat this for a few weeks or months she'll put the weight back on:)
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Successful Shoot
Last night was Beersnob's first shoot with our new business. It went very well as we went through the entire process of taking the given ideas, making them shootable, shooting them, editing them, and uploading them. The whole process took three hours in total! Not too bad at all!
We'll both do one or two more shoots together and then I'd like to let him take one on his own and run it from start to finish without my help. He's got a good eye for it and we both need to be capable of shooting if one of us is unavailable.
He'll gain confidence in our next shoot for sure. Last night was a getting your feet wet type of shoot. Like the tour around the new place you are working at.
I'm excited as this is again real progress towards the goal of a profitable business! It's tangible, measurable. It's also ours!
The Date is really liking her new job! She likes the work environment, the people, and the work itself! That makes a good job a pleasure to go to! Her class schedule is going to take some getting used to, it's a busy one this semester and fitting in a new job on top of that! All in all it is going to be a hectic week or so until she gets the rhythm down but she will!
She comes home at night tired but happy, not angry like her last job. She genuinely enjoys the work and without a college schedule the tired part would go away and the happy would be twice as much!
We'll both do one or two more shoots together and then I'd like to let him take one on his own and run it from start to finish without my help. He's got a good eye for it and we both need to be capable of shooting if one of us is unavailable.
He'll gain confidence in our next shoot for sure. Last night was a getting your feet wet type of shoot. Like the tour around the new place you are working at.
I'm excited as this is again real progress towards the goal of a profitable business! It's tangible, measurable. It's also ours!
The Date is really liking her new job! She likes the work environment, the people, and the work itself! That makes a good job a pleasure to go to! Her class schedule is going to take some getting used to, it's a busy one this semester and fitting in a new job on top of that! All in all it is going to be a hectic week or so until she gets the rhythm down but she will!
She comes home at night tired but happy, not angry like her last job. She genuinely enjoys the work and without a college schedule the tired part would go away and the happy would be twice as much!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
All Tested!
I signed up for life insurance a month ago through work to protect my family in case I'm no longer around for some reason. Last night a nurse came over to our home and drew blood, asked a ton of questions, and checked blood pressure three times. I'm all normal and in good shape relatively speaking.
It's a good thing she didn't ask me to run a mile. I could walk a mile but run? HA! The company already provides some insurance automatically but this will be considerably more and would give a temporarily comfy life for The Date and The Things. That's the kind of protection I've never had to think of until a year ago last November. Now I think of this stuff and I try to plan as best I can.
Tomorrow is a shoot at 4:30, it'll be the first for Beersnob to participate in! We'll go through the whole process from shooting, editing, uploading, and invoicing. I'm sure we'll do this a couple of times before we get it down and then I'll hand off some work to him! We'll likely alternate some shoots until he gets going really well in sales.
This is exciting for both of us as it means real progress again. I got a lot of the bugs worked out while he was in Iraq and now I think the process is fairly smooth! All in all it's working well and I've got it down! Now to impart that knowledge to Beersnob and we're golden!
Princess is doing better. The Date visited her yesterday at the vet. Her bad levels have dropped by half and she's more energetic! The change in medicines must have made a big difference for her! She is going to be OK!
It's a good thing she didn't ask me to run a mile. I could walk a mile but run? HA! The company already provides some insurance automatically but this will be considerably more and would give a temporarily comfy life for The Date and The Things. That's the kind of protection I've never had to think of until a year ago last November. Now I think of this stuff and I try to plan as best I can.
Tomorrow is a shoot at 4:30, it'll be the first for Beersnob to participate in! We'll go through the whole process from shooting, editing, uploading, and invoicing. I'm sure we'll do this a couple of times before we get it down and then I'll hand off some work to him! We'll likely alternate some shoots until he gets going really well in sales.
This is exciting for both of us as it means real progress again. I got a lot of the bugs worked out while he was in Iraq and now I think the process is fairly smooth! All in all it's working well and I've got it down! Now to impart that knowledge to Beersnob and we're golden!
Princess is doing better. The Date visited her yesterday at the vet. Her bad levels have dropped by half and she's more energetic! The change in medicines must have made a big difference for her! She is going to be OK!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
It's A Cruel World
Princess is at the vet clinic. Her numbers are better and worse than last time. Some are improving, some not. The vet is going to try some different medicine and get her appetite back.
She's been short changed her whole life. She was adopted from the SPCA twice, the first time she was brought back because she "smelled bad". The second time was by us. A trip to the vet uncovered she had an intestinal parasite. A bit of medicine and she was perfect for us! She would by a lap kitty for me, when she felt like it:)
(As a side note, if a pet has been at the SPCA for over a year they are less likely to get adopted, meaning they are more likely to live their entire lives out at the shelter. If you are looking for a family pet, get a mature pet. They could really use the new family. Most likely no one else will give them one and they will love you just as much as a younger pet.)
She is a small kitty, very gentle. She is a great fit in our home. We are praying the new treatments work. I'm optimistic they will work.
I listened as the vet taught me how to administer the best and most effective treatment and I do that daily. She isn't going to get worse because of a lack of effort on my part. She seemed to be getting much better. She would eat plenty, drink plenty...until the other day. She took a serious turn for the worse as I recounted.
Ultimately the world is cruel. Caring for this poor sick kitty made me ponder why, with tragedy unfolding every single day for people, do I not care for them. Why did I not care for the grieving people of Tucson and not feel guilty for not caring? They were bystanders caught up in an insane person's rampage but compared to the fragile life of our sick cat they meant nothing to me.
That lead me to the train of thought about pets going to Heaven. Many theologians believe they don't, I ask why not? There is no scripture that precludes animals from an afterlife. In fact I'd argue the opposite, tell me of another way to teach someone about unconditional love, compassion, mercy, kindness. They become more than an animal to us, they lift our spirits at our worst, they love us on our bad days, and they don't care if we suck to be around. Tell me that isn't part of God's plan.
They depend upon us for food, water, shelter, and love. We depend upon them to give us so much more in return. Go ahead think about that and try to exclude it from God's plan. Did animals participate in the fall of man in the garden of Eden? Are they cursed with original sin as we are?
I expect to see beloved family members including pets in Heaven. I don't think it is unreasonable or a huge leap into heresy to believe that.
One of my favorite theologians, Dr. R.C. Sproul (brilliant man, scholar, and teacher) says, "Whenever Heaven is described, though it be highly imaginative language, it is a place where animals seem to be present. Whether these animals are newly created for the new heavens and new earth or they are the redeemed souls of our pets that have perished, we can't know for sure. All of this is sheer speculation but I'd like to think we will see our beloved pets again someday as they participate in the benefits of the redemption that Christ has achieved for the human race."
Call me callous for not caring about national tragedies right now, I could care less about them, there will always be another given enough time. My heart is elsewhere.
She's been short changed her whole life. She was adopted from the SPCA twice, the first time she was brought back because she "smelled bad". The second time was by us. A trip to the vet uncovered she had an intestinal parasite. A bit of medicine and she was perfect for us! She would by a lap kitty for me, when she felt like it:)
(As a side note, if a pet has been at the SPCA for over a year they are less likely to get adopted, meaning they are more likely to live their entire lives out at the shelter. If you are looking for a family pet, get a mature pet. They could really use the new family. Most likely no one else will give them one and they will love you just as much as a younger pet.)
She is a small kitty, very gentle. She is a great fit in our home. We are praying the new treatments work. I'm optimistic they will work.
I listened as the vet taught me how to administer the best and most effective treatment and I do that daily. She isn't going to get worse because of a lack of effort on my part. She seemed to be getting much better. She would eat plenty, drink plenty...until the other day. She took a serious turn for the worse as I recounted.
Ultimately the world is cruel. Caring for this poor sick kitty made me ponder why, with tragedy unfolding every single day for people, do I not care for them. Why did I not care for the grieving people of Tucson and not feel guilty for not caring? They were bystanders caught up in an insane person's rampage but compared to the fragile life of our sick cat they meant nothing to me.
That lead me to the train of thought about pets going to Heaven. Many theologians believe they don't, I ask why not? There is no scripture that precludes animals from an afterlife. In fact I'd argue the opposite, tell me of another way to teach someone about unconditional love, compassion, mercy, kindness. They become more than an animal to us, they lift our spirits at our worst, they love us on our bad days, and they don't care if we suck to be around. Tell me that isn't part of God's plan.
They depend upon us for food, water, shelter, and love. We depend upon them to give us so much more in return. Go ahead think about that and try to exclude it from God's plan. Did animals participate in the fall of man in the garden of Eden? Are they cursed with original sin as we are?
I expect to see beloved family members including pets in Heaven. I don't think it is unreasonable or a huge leap into heresy to believe that.
One of my favorite theologians, Dr. R.C. Sproul (brilliant man, scholar, and teacher) says, "Whenever Heaven is described, though it be highly imaginative language, it is a place where animals seem to be present. Whether these animals are newly created for the new heavens and new earth or they are the redeemed souls of our pets that have perished, we can't know for sure. All of this is sheer speculation but I'd like to think we will see our beloved pets again someday as they participate in the benefits of the redemption that Christ has achieved for the human race."
Call me callous for not caring about national tragedies right now, I could care less about them, there will always be another given enough time. My heart is elsewhere.
Monday, January 10, 2011
It's Snowing
Yep, fifteen days after Christmas and it's snowing a little bit. There's about an inch on the ground and most of it will be gone by tomorrow. The roads will be as clear as if it were August and just as safe.
My thoughts are on Princess this morning. She didn't eat yesterday. I gave her the sub-q injection and that was it, she slept all day. What I'd give to have her running around the house like the other two kitties. Just running and playing.
I gave her another can of food this morning and she ate a few bites. This past week she ate as many as three cans of food per day. She was gaining weight and feeling and looking a lot better. Thursday she threw up all over and had diarrhea. Friday she ate well again, two cans of food. Saturday, maybe a half a can, yesterday nothing.
Her weight is down again now and The Date will take her back to the vet this morning before her brand new first day of class:)
Yep! Her last semester at this school starts today! Tomorrow she starts a job at the public library as well! She got hired last week and is all ready to begin now!
I'm warming up The Date's car now and getting the windows defrosted for her so they can make it to school and not have to worry about not seeing out of the car. One of the things I do for my love:)
My thoughts are on Princess this morning. She didn't eat yesterday. I gave her the sub-q injection and that was it, she slept all day. What I'd give to have her running around the house like the other two kitties. Just running and playing.
I gave her another can of food this morning and she ate a few bites. This past week she ate as many as three cans of food per day. She was gaining weight and feeling and looking a lot better. Thursday she threw up all over and had diarrhea. Friday she ate well again, two cans of food. Saturday, maybe a half a can, yesterday nothing.
Her weight is down again now and The Date will take her back to the vet this morning before her brand new first day of class:)
Yep! Her last semester at this school starts today! Tomorrow she starts a job at the public library as well! She got hired last week and is all ready to begin now!
I'm warming up The Date's car now and getting the windows defrosted for her so they can make it to school and not have to worry about not seeing out of the car. One of the things I do for my love:)
Sunday, January 09, 2011
Cigars And Theology
I'm suspending the friend a day format for a bit in lieu of the regular blog format. I've got to get another set of friends and what I'm going to say ready in my head before I start blogging about them again. I've got questions about how far back do I go, how many do I include, what circles do I draw from, to answer before I start again. Don't feel slighted if I haven't done one for you yet, I haven't done one on many great and wonderful friends I frequently see yet and it's no indication on how I feel for you.
Last night was spent at Beersnob's home and his cigar lounge set up in the garage. While the Colts battled the Jets on TV I would watch occasionally but head back to the lounge part as I had a nice cigar going.
Joining me for a lot of the evening were Poker Playing Lawyer, her husband Farmer, Master Baker, Teehee, Beersnob, and J. Numerous discussions were had, many cigars were smoked, future dreams were discussed, and many laughs as well!
The Jets pulled off a last second win, I had three cigars along with a Pepsi and a 7up. It was a fun evening, a memorable one, and lots of fun was had by all!
Today I've got a business meeting to get our business finalized, paper work done, and I'm going to make Scotch eggs. A hard boiled egg encased with ground sausage, battered in bread crumbs and deep fat fried. They should be marvelous and I've never had one but we'll see!
Last night was spent at Beersnob's home and his cigar lounge set up in the garage. While the Colts battled the Jets on TV I would watch occasionally but head back to the lounge part as I had a nice cigar going.
Joining me for a lot of the evening were Poker Playing Lawyer, her husband Farmer, Master Baker, Teehee, Beersnob, and J. Numerous discussions were had, many cigars were smoked, future dreams were discussed, and many laughs as well!
The Jets pulled off a last second win, I had three cigars along with a Pepsi and a 7up. It was a fun evening, a memorable one, and lots of fun was had by all!
Today I've got a business meeting to get our business finalized, paper work done, and I'm going to make Scotch eggs. A hard boiled egg encased with ground sausage, battered in bread crumbs and deep fat fried. They should be marvelous and I've never had one but we'll see!
Saturday, January 08, 2011
Hollywood Actor
I got to hang out last night at cabaret with many of my friends. Filmmaker Friend Chris, Teehee, Skate, The Invader, Court, Jamal, Beersnob and Mrs. Beersnob, Red, and of course Hollywood Actor. Hollywood Actor and I go back as far as FFC and I do as I met them at the same auditions for FFC's first movie.
A talented writer and actor, he appeared in a ton of extra roles and should have earned his SAG card if not for casting politics. He certainly did enough to earn one from what I know. Hollywood Actor has reinvented himself since a few years back. He's become more of a serious writer and challenges himself on the Theatre's stage more now.
I'm not sure, I'd have to go back and look but he had a stretch of plays in a row that would have rivaled anyone's. I've probably done tech or lights for more shows with Hollywood Actor in it than any other actor.
He took his shot in Hollywood, that time it didn't work out for him, but he went. He pursued his dream, took the chance and stuck it out for nearly two years. Not many people living would have had the courage he had when he packed up and left to seek out his big break. If anyone called him a failure, he can look squarely at them and say, "I went, it didn't work out, what have YOU done?" He'll never have to hang his head in shame and while film acting in California might not be in his future he is certainly leaving his mark right here at the theatre.
He can certainly be a prolific writer as well, he has the talent and the drive for that. He can write some very touching work. For the first time in a lot of years I really think he has a certain level of happiness, a lot of that is due to his fiance Red. I'm happy for him, he deserves to be happy he really does.
A talented writer and actor, he appeared in a ton of extra roles and should have earned his SAG card if not for casting politics. He certainly did enough to earn one from what I know. Hollywood Actor has reinvented himself since a few years back. He's become more of a serious writer and challenges himself on the Theatre's stage more now.
I'm not sure, I'd have to go back and look but he had a stretch of plays in a row that would have rivaled anyone's. I've probably done tech or lights for more shows with Hollywood Actor in it than any other actor.
He took his shot in Hollywood, that time it didn't work out for him, but he went. He pursued his dream, took the chance and stuck it out for nearly two years. Not many people living would have had the courage he had when he packed up and left to seek out his big break. If anyone called him a failure, he can look squarely at them and say, "I went, it didn't work out, what have YOU done?" He'll never have to hang his head in shame and while film acting in California might not be in his future he is certainly leaving his mark right here at the theatre.
He can certainly be a prolific writer as well, he has the talent and the drive for that. He can write some very touching work. For the first time in a lot of years I really think he has a certain level of happiness, a lot of that is due to his fiance Red. I'm happy for him, he deserves to be happy he really does.
Friday, January 07, 2011
Filmmaker Friend Chris
If there were ever two people who shouldn't be friends it's likely FFC and I, well I mean outside of the obvious Israeli and Palestinian militant relationship dynamics. NO two people have less in common or come from different backgrounds in my circle than he and I.
We are just opposites in practically every way you can think of. Which has given rise to some tension over the years but considering our personalities it's amazing sparks haven't flown more than they actually have. Years, I said years didn't I? Yeah, it's coming up on a decade since we first met for the filming of his first movie.
He had posted a wanted ad at a local grocery store for actors and crew. I answered as I had recently purchased the bulk of my film equipment at the time. Our friendship took off from there. We worked some long hours on his projects. We have had our arguments as well leading for me to leave his second movie shoot in fact. It didn't take long and we patched things up after it was over.
He's moved away to Minnesota and returned before. Strange though is that we did keep in contact, I'm a bit miffed that he didn't wind up going to where they filmed MST3K and see the place or send me a picture of it though...however he returned and I believe we went out to eat upon his return home.
We've both had some rough times. Like the time I was robbed, he came over immediately and helped me patch up the back door. It was cold and not nice out but he came anyway and gave a helping hand. I was about as upset as I could be then but he talked with me and things felt better.
He knows that if he ever needed me for the same, I'd be right over to help however I could. We go and get coffee every couple of weeks now, just to chat or bounce ideas off one another. Several ideas have failed to launch the most recent being an idea for a streaming website. The problem with that though it needs a special actor with a ton of free time and lack of privacy. Very hard to come by and the one guy we did peg backed out after a couple of emails.
No matter, bouncing ideas is fun anyway even if nothing comes from them. Chatting about the future is always good anyway as it keeps one from stagnating. We do chat future plans and we remain friends.
In fact he is singing at cabaret tonight and the fam and I plan on being there to watch him!
We are just opposites in practically every way you can think of. Which has given rise to some tension over the years but considering our personalities it's amazing sparks haven't flown more than they actually have. Years, I said years didn't I? Yeah, it's coming up on a decade since we first met for the filming of his first movie.
He had posted a wanted ad at a local grocery store for actors and crew. I answered as I had recently purchased the bulk of my film equipment at the time. Our friendship took off from there. We worked some long hours on his projects. We have had our arguments as well leading for me to leave his second movie shoot in fact. It didn't take long and we patched things up after it was over.
He's moved away to Minnesota and returned before. Strange though is that we did keep in contact, I'm a bit miffed that he didn't wind up going to where they filmed MST3K and see the place or send me a picture of it though...however he returned and I believe we went out to eat upon his return home.
We've both had some rough times. Like the time I was robbed, he came over immediately and helped me patch up the back door. It was cold and not nice out but he came anyway and gave a helping hand. I was about as upset as I could be then but he talked with me and things felt better.
He knows that if he ever needed me for the same, I'd be right over to help however I could. We go and get coffee every couple of weeks now, just to chat or bounce ideas off one another. Several ideas have failed to launch the most recent being an idea for a streaming website. The problem with that though it needs a special actor with a ton of free time and lack of privacy. Very hard to come by and the one guy we did peg backed out after a couple of emails.
No matter, bouncing ideas is fun anyway even if nothing comes from them. Chatting about the future is always good anyway as it keeps one from stagnating. We do chat future plans and we remain friends.
In fact he is singing at cabaret tonight and the fam and I plan on being there to watch him!
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Jamal
I've got to tell you about Jamal. He's a talented actor, singer, musician, and cook! In fact if you are ever so fortunate to be invited to his home for a meal, jump on it and plan on staying a while! The man can put on a spread and you'll enjoy every single bite!
If there was ever someone who it would be cool to own a restaurant with it'd be Jamal! His cuisine ideas would be top notch in the least.
Jamal is also a very good guy. Kind, generous, and hard working. He travels frequently and that limits what shows he can do at the theatre. When he is able to do something at the theatre then you probably want to be involved cause it'll be good.
When I learned that Jamal and Mozart were writing a musical I immediately wanted to shoot the process. I've blogged about it a few times. I have been able to get about three evenings worth of footage thus far and more to come.
The last footage I've got to get transferred to DVD for Bdub, Mozart, and Jamal. At the cabaret at the theatre they premiered a couple of songs from the musical and some of the story. I shot it and it looks good but I'm getting off track here.
Jamal is someone I'm proud to call a friend. The Things love him as well as The Date. He's someone you enjoy being around and someone who's infectious good spirit is welcome everywhere he goes!
Thank you Jamal for being my friend!
If there was ever someone who it would be cool to own a restaurant with it'd be Jamal! His cuisine ideas would be top notch in the least.
Jamal is also a very good guy. Kind, generous, and hard working. He travels frequently and that limits what shows he can do at the theatre. When he is able to do something at the theatre then you probably want to be involved cause it'll be good.
When I learned that Jamal and Mozart were writing a musical I immediately wanted to shoot the process. I've blogged about it a few times. I have been able to get about three evenings worth of footage thus far and more to come.
The last footage I've got to get transferred to DVD for Bdub, Mozart, and Jamal. At the cabaret at the theatre they premiered a couple of songs from the musical and some of the story. I shot it and it looks good but I'm getting off track here.
Jamal is someone I'm proud to call a friend. The Things love him as well as The Date. He's someone you enjoy being around and someone who's infectious good spirit is welcome everywhere he goes!
Thank you Jamal for being my friend!
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Court
My friend Court is really pretty amazing. She has gone through some really tough times and now she's about to apply for a master's degree course! She has a beautiful voice as I've worked with her on several shows at the theatre and spent more time with her away from the theatre.
She is always quick to tell her friends she loves them. The thing is that she means it and why not tell someone you love them. Doesn't everyone deep down want to know someone cares for them? She will express it to you as she gives you a big ole hug!
Court is not only super sweet but she loves kittys too, of which we now have three. The Date and Thing 2 rescued one as it was running around in drive thru traffic and about to get killed. Ebbie is about eight weeks old, very playful and attacks Scotch with wild abandon. He likes it since Captain is no longer here to play with him all the time. Cappy has gone to live with my brother and is fitting in very well!
Back to Court though, she not only has got a big heart and is expressive to her friends but she is also very loyal. I'd trust Court with anything I've got and she's trusted us to take care of her pets while she has been out of town as well.
All of that and more is why Court is one of my friends:)
She is always quick to tell her friends she loves them. The thing is that she means it and why not tell someone you love them. Doesn't everyone deep down want to know someone cares for them? She will express it to you as she gives you a big ole hug!
Court is not only super sweet but she loves kittys too, of which we now have three. The Date and Thing 2 rescued one as it was running around in drive thru traffic and about to get killed. Ebbie is about eight weeks old, very playful and attacks Scotch with wild abandon. He likes it since Captain is no longer here to play with him all the time. Cappy has gone to live with my brother and is fitting in very well!
Back to Court though, she not only has got a big heart and is expressive to her friends but she is also very loyal. I'd trust Court with anything I've got and she's trusted us to take care of her pets while she has been out of town as well.
All of that and more is why Court is one of my friends:)
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Abostang
Not everyone who I am friends with will be known by everyone I write about, such is the case today. Abostang is a coworker. A single father of two who is my Starcraft 2v2 partner. We've played over two hundred games together via skype and battle.net, and probably another hundred in 3v3s.
Abo is a darn good guy. I've known him since he started to work where I work when he was nineteen. He has been the victim of low seniority and nearly got fired his first week because of an ill fated training attempt.
We identify with each other as we experience the same treatment at work. Frequently we are the work horses in our shops, while he does have a few guys he can depend upon I have me in mine. One of my main gripes lately is that his shop has been overstaffed and is underworked. A fact that really hit home yesterday as yet another new guy for his shop was given the tour.
This has created nothing but a running joke about on the job retirement for the most senior guys in the shop. I've taken numerous pictures and have considered posting them on the Demotivational site but its really only funny to me and those familiar with the situation.
Abostang is one of the good guys at work though. One of the handful I'd hang out with after hours. The others are either in one of the two fantasy football leagues I'm in or we've just become friends over the years. He's dealt with the craziness of night shift as have I. He's someone that people go to when work needs done. He's dependable and while he has gone through one of the normal burnouts at work, I've gone through about four, he'll recover and get out after his thirty years is up like me.
By then we'll be able to play Universe of Starcraft, I'm sure Blizzard will have it finished by then:)
Abo is a darn good guy. I've known him since he started to work where I work when he was nineteen. He has been the victim of low seniority and nearly got fired his first week because of an ill fated training attempt.
We identify with each other as we experience the same treatment at work. Frequently we are the work horses in our shops, while he does have a few guys he can depend upon I have me in mine. One of my main gripes lately is that his shop has been overstaffed and is underworked. A fact that really hit home yesterday as yet another new guy for his shop was given the tour.
This has created nothing but a running joke about on the job retirement for the most senior guys in the shop. I've taken numerous pictures and have considered posting them on the Demotivational site but its really only funny to me and those familiar with the situation.
Abostang is one of the good guys at work though. One of the handful I'd hang out with after hours. The others are either in one of the two fantasy football leagues I'm in or we've just become friends over the years. He's dealt with the craziness of night shift as have I. He's someone that people go to when work needs done. He's dependable and while he has gone through one of the normal burnouts at work, I've gone through about four, he'll recover and get out after his thirty years is up like me.
By then we'll be able to play Universe of Starcraft, I'm sure Blizzard will have it finished by then:)
Monday, January 03, 2011
Skate
Today is my first day back to work in ten days. It was good for me to be off and not do a whole lot, the grind was really getting me. If I had the spare time I would have taken this week off as well.
Beersnob and I established our marching orders yesterday. What each of us were going to do regarding the business. What point we are at, and how to get to where we want to go.
It's good to know I don't have to shoulder things by myself now and can depend upon my friend and partner along the way!
Now I want to turn your attention to Skate. A giant teddy bear of a man who although he breaks things he feels horrible when he does. It's impossible to be in a bad mood around Skate. He has a personality that will light up the room and a booming voice that will project his jolliness.
I met Skate through the theatre, dinner theatre to be exact. He was cast as a goofy inspector in a mystery/comedy. Since then I've come to love this goofy lug and all of his antics. Skate is a man of character and while he can dig himself a hole by talking too much at the wrong times he wouldn't hurt someone intentionally. I've seen him break down in tears over an apology, that's honesty and a genuine person right there.
Skate now has the opportunity to retrain in his military career and become something more along the lines of what he was meant to do. Soon after he will be shipping off to Germany as a newlywed. Over time and hard work I believe he'll catch on at a local station and become an anchor, perhaps at a small town first and work up from there.
The Date and I will miss his presence immensely. I only pray someday we get to live close to one another again because his get togethers are some of my favorite experiences. I'll miss him personally because I know when the zombies come he'll be right there with me, and he's also a good guy with a great heart.
Beersnob and I established our marching orders yesterday. What each of us were going to do regarding the business. What point we are at, and how to get to where we want to go.
It's good to know I don't have to shoulder things by myself now and can depend upon my friend and partner along the way!
Now I want to turn your attention to Skate. A giant teddy bear of a man who although he breaks things he feels horrible when he does. It's impossible to be in a bad mood around Skate. He has a personality that will light up the room and a booming voice that will project his jolliness.
I met Skate through the theatre, dinner theatre to be exact. He was cast as a goofy inspector in a mystery/comedy. Since then I've come to love this goofy lug and all of his antics. Skate is a man of character and while he can dig himself a hole by talking too much at the wrong times he wouldn't hurt someone intentionally. I've seen him break down in tears over an apology, that's honesty and a genuine person right there.
Skate now has the opportunity to retrain in his military career and become something more along the lines of what he was meant to do. Soon after he will be shipping off to Germany as a newlywed. Over time and hard work I believe he'll catch on at a local station and become an anchor, perhaps at a small town first and work up from there.
The Date and I will miss his presence immensely. I only pray someday we get to live close to one another again because his get togethers are some of my favorite experiences. I'll miss him personally because I know when the zombies come he'll be right there with me, and he's also a good guy with a great heart.
Sunday, January 02, 2011
Teehee
I've got one last day of time off left, today. I'm going to spend it making sure my uniforms are ready to go tomorrow and perhaps The Date and I will venture to Beersnob's domain and watch football.
Today though I want to talk to you about one of the most compassionate men I know, Teehee. My young friend is studying in medical school right now. He automatically has a good connection with everyone he meets, no one has anything bad to say about him. He's a good guy and has a ton of passion for helping others. One of the best reasons for him to become a doctor in fact. He'll be outstanding!
He will listen to each patient, talk to them, and put them at ease about their ailments. Teehee will be the kind of doctor that all people should strive to be. Warm, funny, as I said compassionate, and brilliant. He would himself discount the brilliant part however I know differently.
The one oddity about Teehee is that he hates school and studying medicine. I had the pleasure of having lunch with him Friday and we started talking about one of his projects. He got talkative, he expressed great interest, he had a fire rarely seen in him! Teehee loved talking about his project! He has so much passion for it and such a lack of passion for what he's doing, however his working hard now will lead to better project results later!
Teehee is my friend. Teehee is one of the most special of my friends not because of his brilliance but because of the size of his heart. This man has a heart the likes of which are immeasurable. He would get in his Rav4 and travel across this country to help you if you really needed it and he'd be happy about it!
I and my family are the fortunate ones for knowing Teehee.
Today though I want to talk to you about one of the most compassionate men I know, Teehee. My young friend is studying in medical school right now. He automatically has a good connection with everyone he meets, no one has anything bad to say about him. He's a good guy and has a ton of passion for helping others. One of the best reasons for him to become a doctor in fact. He'll be outstanding!
He will listen to each patient, talk to them, and put them at ease about their ailments. Teehee will be the kind of doctor that all people should strive to be. Warm, funny, as I said compassionate, and brilliant. He would himself discount the brilliant part however I know differently.
The one oddity about Teehee is that he hates school and studying medicine. I had the pleasure of having lunch with him Friday and we started talking about one of his projects. He got talkative, he expressed great interest, he had a fire rarely seen in him! Teehee loved talking about his project! He has so much passion for it and such a lack of passion for what he's doing, however his working hard now will lead to better project results later!
Teehee is my friend. Teehee is one of the most special of my friends not because of his brilliance but because of the size of his heart. This man has a heart the likes of which are immeasurable. He would get in his Rav4 and travel across this country to help you if you really needed it and he'd be happy about it!
I and my family are the fortunate ones for knowing Teehee.
Saturday, January 01, 2011
2010 - A Foundation Year
Yep, after marrying my beautiful bride in 2009 and getting settled and used to married life it was time to start clearing the land for a new foundation on a new life. With The Date being a full time student and building her education towards a bright new job future she passed up a job that would have been a good opportunity but ended her plans for higher learning and future growth.
It was a decision we both made however I obviously would have supported her in either decision she felt was right. The extra money would have been great but the potential for future better income and a far better life would have been over with.
For me that event really summed up what the year was about. That one event is what really made the decision of future over now. Putting off smaller gains now for better gains in a couple of more years of sacrificing. Working hard now and building for a better and more secure future. I know a new dwelling is at the top of The Date's list. I want nothing more than to give her the home she and The Things deserve, it's a goal that is closer now than it was last year.
With Beersnob back at home we have begun discussing where to take our business. That is my stake in the future, what I'm building for just as The Date is going to college. I'm working a full time job and Beersnob and I will be attempting to continue the meager growth the production company experienced last year.
Fortunately we are not in a desperation situation where this has to work or we will starve. We both have full time jobs that supply us with enough money to support our families and afford us the time to work on our company.
2010 was the foundation as I blogged about earlier, 2011 is about growth and building on that foundation. With The Date by my side and I by her's, with a solid business partner to depend upon, and with dreams of a brighter future ahead we are now leaving the station!
It was a decision we both made however I obviously would have supported her in either decision she felt was right. The extra money would have been great but the potential for future better income and a far better life would have been over with.
For me that event really summed up what the year was about. That one event is what really made the decision of future over now. Putting off smaller gains now for better gains in a couple of more years of sacrificing. Working hard now and building for a better and more secure future. I know a new dwelling is at the top of The Date's list. I want nothing more than to give her the home she and The Things deserve, it's a goal that is closer now than it was last year.
With Beersnob back at home we have begun discussing where to take our business. That is my stake in the future, what I'm building for just as The Date is going to college. I'm working a full time job and Beersnob and I will be attempting to continue the meager growth the production company experienced last year.
Fortunately we are not in a desperation situation where this has to work or we will starve. We both have full time jobs that supply us with enough money to support our families and afford us the time to work on our company.
2010 was the foundation as I blogged about earlier, 2011 is about growth and building on that foundation. With The Date by my side and I by her's, with a solid business partner to depend upon, and with dreams of a brighter future ahead we are now leaving the station!
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