What a great day to be alive! My first day on the job was fantastic! Nice people, nice environment, and $1 20 oz pops in the vending machine on top of it all. I get my laptop sometime tomorrow and also there is a departmental lunch on the first Wednesday of the month. There is a 8:30 daily meeting to talk about what you are working on and my manager is very cool. She is a (cool) manager. I sit in a nice cubicle with two file cabinets. Eventually, the former inhabitant will reclaim his 3 shelves of books and I will then slowly fill it with my own books. Jesse is my cubicle neighbor and he seems nice.
On top of all that, I explained one of my pet peeves in documentation to a co-worker. I said that I had seen documentation where the menu option was something like "Options . . ." on the menu option and, in the documentation, I had read something like "On the Tools menu, select Options . . . . I said it looks really strange to have the . . . followed by an unbolded . and my new co-worker said, "It sounds like someone needs to learn how to use punctuation." EXACTLY! It seems insignificant, but really, it sealed the deal.
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Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Pics
I was in Dubuque yesterday for 99% of my day. We had family pictures taken at a studio by Target on Highway 20. I was not involved in picking out pictures so I made a dash to Target to pick up caffeine. As I walked by an end cap, there was Eddie Murphy's DVD "Delirious." Oh my. Only $5. I had to get it. It's a very funny movie - I remember watching it when I was Megan's age.
After pictures, we went to BK for lunch/early supper.
Then we went to Mass.
Then we went to Balltown.
It was a long day. I didn't get a nap in.
This is an example of Eddie Murphy comedy at its best.
And from a different show:
After pictures, we went to BK for lunch/early supper.
Then we went to Mass.
Then we went to Balltown.
It was a long day. I didn't get a nap in.
This is an example of Eddie Murphy comedy at its best.
Warning - Vulgar Language Within
And from a different show:
Friday, May 27, 2011
Letting Go
Today is about letting go. Alex graduated from 6th grade @ Regina. Letting go means saying goodbye to friends and classmates. It means knowing that no matter what is said or done, life is going to be different. It means not going swimming when your friend forgot his swimming suit. It means eating pizza and cake and shooting baskets and pool. It means smiling.
It means life is forever never going to be the way it was.
This also applies to my life. Since I left the employer where I was for 12 years, life has not been the same. Friends I had there are still important to me. We met for pizza and talked for one hour. It was the first time in 6 months. I look forward to always having the three I ate with as my friends.
At the same time, I am moving forward.
Editor's Note: Who were the three other friends you ate lunch with?
It means life is forever never going to be the way it was.
This also applies to my life. Since I left the employer where I was for 12 years, life has not been the same. Friends I had there are still important to me. We met for pizza and talked for one hour. It was the first time in 6 months. I look forward to always having the three I ate with as my friends.
At the same time, I am moving forward.
Editor's Note: Who were the three other friends you ate lunch with?
Thursday, May 26, 2011
And Justice for All
I remember looking at the guitar music for the Metallica release "And Justice for All" back in 1992. I was at band rehearsal and the guitarist in the band had it. I looked at the time signatures and thought, "This is a complicated release." I saw 7/8 time and 5/4 time and 4/4 followed by a measure of 2/4 then back to 4/4. Tonight, when waiting for Alex's drum lesson to be complete, I saw the book again, this time for sale. I thought about buying it, not because I have any desire to play guitar, but b/c I'd like to review the music being played and learn more. "Justice" is one of my top three Metallica releases (the other two being "Master of Puppets" and "Death Magnetic") so it would make sense to me to dive further into the release and really finally understand all the intricacies of the music I have listened to since the release of the album in 1989.
Life is good.
Life is good.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Jokes and a New Blog?
I have been cleaning the den and going through old papers this week. Yesterday, I found a huge stack of cartoons and jokes, dating back to 1999. I have none of them online so I'm not going to paste them here.
But it did make me think about starting a new blog, just for jokes, and having it automatically publish a new joke every day. With Blogger, you can specify when you want the post to be published. Hypothetically, I could get all these jokes entered and publish them without manually publishing them. I could be a month or several months ahead of the current date and then magically, a new joke would be posted. It's kind of an intriguing idea.
But then I thought about how crazy my life already is, how I have a huge stack of CDs and DVDs to review, how the camping season is just a few days away (6/9), and how I start a new job (Yeah!!!!) on 5/31. Don't I already have enough going on in my life without adding another 'daily' type thing? But then I think about how I wouldn't really have to do much with it except type a few jokes. I could probably find the joke somewhere online and copy/paste it into this blog that would be only for jokes.
But who would read it? http://www.ajokeaday.com/, http://www.jokeemail.com/, http://www.freedailyjoke.com/, and http://www.emailajoke.com/mailinglist/join.asp already exist. Why enter into that competitive market?
I don't either. That's why that huge stack of jokes and cartoons just ended up in the recycle bin (blue trash can, not a Windows Recycle Bin) to be used for something more meaningful.
Except for this one from http://www.jokesonmobile.com/general-jokes/i-get-all-the-thanks-i-need-.php except this was one that was in my stack of jokes.
A married couple was in a terrible accident where the woman's face was severely burned. The doctor told the husband that they couldn't graft the skin from her body, so the husband offered to donate some of his own skin.
However, the only skin on his body that the doctor found suitable would have to come from his rear end. The husband and wife agreed that they would tell no one about where the skin came from, and requested that the doctor also honor their secret. After all, this was a very delicate matter.
After the surgery was completed, everyone was astounded at the woman's new beauty. She looked more beautiful than she ever had before!
All her friends and relatives just went on and on about her youthful beauty! One day, she was alone with her husband, and she was overcome with emotion at his sacrifice.
She said, "Dear, I just want to thank you for everything you did for me. There is no way I could ever repay you."
"My darling," he replied," think nothing of it. I get all the thanks I need every time I see your mother kiss you on the cheek."
But it did make me think about starting a new blog, just for jokes, and having it automatically publish a new joke every day. With Blogger, you can specify when you want the post to be published. Hypothetically, I could get all these jokes entered and publish them without manually publishing them. I could be a month or several months ahead of the current date and then magically, a new joke would be posted. It's kind of an intriguing idea.
But then I thought about how crazy my life already is, how I have a huge stack of CDs and DVDs to review, how the camping season is just a few days away (6/9), and how I start a new job (Yeah!!!!) on 5/31. Don't I already have enough going on in my life without adding another 'daily' type thing? But then I think about how I wouldn't really have to do much with it except type a few jokes. I could probably find the joke somewhere online and copy/paste it into this blog that would be only for jokes.
But who would read it? http://www.ajokeaday.com/, http://www.jokeemail.com/, http://www.freedailyjoke.com/, and http://www.emailajoke.com/mailinglist/join.asp already exist. Why enter into that competitive market?
I don't either. That's why that huge stack of jokes and cartoons just ended up in the recycle bin (blue trash can, not a Windows Recycle Bin) to be used for something more meaningful.
Except for this one from http://www.jokesonmobile.com/general-jokes/i-get-all-the-thanks-i-need-.php except this was one that was in my stack of jokes.
A married couple was in a terrible accident where the woman's face was severely burned. The doctor told the husband that they couldn't graft the skin from her body, so the husband offered to donate some of his own skin.
However, the only skin on his body that the doctor found suitable would have to come from his rear end. The husband and wife agreed that they would tell no one about where the skin came from, and requested that the doctor also honor their secret. After all, this was a very delicate matter.
After the surgery was completed, everyone was astounded at the woman's new beauty. She looked more beautiful than she ever had before!
All her friends and relatives just went on and on about her youthful beauty! One day, she was alone with her husband, and she was overcome with emotion at his sacrifice.
She said, "Dear, I just want to thank you for everything you did for me. There is no way I could ever repay you."
"My darling," he replied," think nothing of it. I get all the thanks I need every time I see your mother kiss you on the cheek."
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Ignorance
"Come upstairs," I told my son.
25 minutes pass - no son.
And he wonders why I haven't returned his PlayStation and MP3 player to him which I took from him for - wait for it - NOT LISTENING and doing what he is told.
25 minutes pass - no son.
And he wonders why I haven't returned his PlayStation and MP3 player to him which I took from him for - wait for it - NOT LISTENING and doing what he is told.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Official Announcement
I accepted a new position as a Senior Technical Writer at a different company. I am very excited and feel very blessed to have this new opportunity to advance my career. I look forward to a long career at this company. It is a very exciting time in my life. I start Tuesday, 5/31/11.
Friday, May 20, 2011
And Here it is...
I can officially announce that I will have official exciting news ... on Monday. I am very VERY excited but need to wait just a couple of more days.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Sick
I heard the last part of this song by Adelita's Way on the radio today and really liked the energy in the music. It reminds me of Three Days Grace.
Usability
==> Date: Wed, 18 May 2011 12:06:19 -0400
==> To: techwr-l@lists.techwr-l.com
I wondered how people felt about writers pursuing courses on usability.
I think that it is a natural evolution of a TWer to draw upon their experience as a user of the software they are documenting to notice similarities and differences between a company's software. Do you need a formal course on usability? Perhaps, perhaps not. I earned a certificate at the 2008 WinWriter's Conference because I attended a certain number of sessions about usability. Does that make me an expert? Of course not. It did, however, give me some more additional credibility when discussing a UI with a developer.
The bottom line is that no matter how much you proclaim that every app will follow the standard development process, the standard development process often is a moving target. Developers often will pick up a new technique and make coding something easier for them and, at that point, usually, something in the User Interface will change. You can leverage your observation skills and pick up on these slight differences. Eventually, you will form opinions about which UI 'thing' works best. You will also be able to pick up on the flow of the screen the user has to fill out.
Tabs are often a controversial UI element. If there are a bunch of tabs, does that make the information hard to find? I used to design the GUI that laid on top of a text-based screen. I was constantly creating tabs (for various reasons) and constantly getting feedback that tabs are evil b/c they hide information. Look at the default tab of a tabbed UI and describe what is on the 4th tab *without clicking* on the 4th tab (using a shortcut key is off-limits as well.)
The point is that you, as the person that needs to explain how to use the UI to the user, can easily pick up on what works and what doesn't work. Another brief example is if you have three fields that are interlinked, there should probably be a group box around them to give the user a clue that the fields are interlinked. Maybe the Developer didn't think of that.
In the end, no, I do not think you get any more credit for usability if you have a class v. the experience of working on a team with Developers and being involved in the UI design.
My favorite UI design story is this. I was in a meeting where we were talking about the rewrite of a General Ledger application. In some places, "General Ledger" was the acronym "GL" and in other places, it was "G/L" in the screen samples we were discussing. What should we call it became the focus of the discussion. How do accountants refer to General Ledger - GL or G/L or both. Someone finally said, "What do you think?" to me. I said I don't really care. I think we should pick one and use it and then never discuss it again. The point of the story is that it is easy, too easy, to get sucked into discussions about the tiny details of the UI. The larger question for me has always been about the overall flow.
To answer the question directly, no, I do not think you have to attend courses on usability unless you are in an environment where you are not involved in the UI design decisions. Then those courses may assist you in your marketability.
==> To: techwr-l@lists.techwr-l.com
I wondered how people felt about writers pursuing courses on usability.
I think that it is a natural evolution of a TWer to draw upon their experience as a user of the software they are documenting to notice similarities and differences between a company's software. Do you need a formal course on usability? Perhaps, perhaps not. I earned a certificate at the 2008 WinWriter's Conference because I attended a certain number of sessions about usability. Does that make me an expert? Of course not. It did, however, give me some more additional credibility when discussing a UI with a developer.
The bottom line is that no matter how much you proclaim that every app will follow the standard development process, the standard development process often is a moving target. Developers often will pick up a new technique and make coding something easier for them and, at that point, usually, something in the User Interface will change. You can leverage your observation skills and pick up on these slight differences. Eventually, you will form opinions about which UI 'thing' works best. You will also be able to pick up on the flow of the screen the user has to fill out.
Tabs are often a controversial UI element. If there are a bunch of tabs, does that make the information hard to find? I used to design the GUI that laid on top of a text-based screen. I was constantly creating tabs (for various reasons) and constantly getting feedback that tabs are evil b/c they hide information. Look at the default tab of a tabbed UI and describe what is on the 4th tab *without clicking* on the 4th tab (using a shortcut key is off-limits as well.)
The point is that you, as the person that needs to explain how to use the UI to the user, can easily pick up on what works and what doesn't work. Another brief example is if you have three fields that are interlinked, there should probably be a group box around them to give the user a clue that the fields are interlinked. Maybe the Developer didn't think of that.
In the end, no, I do not think you get any more credit for usability if you have a class v. the experience of working on a team with Developers and being involved in the UI design.
My favorite UI design story is this. I was in a meeting where we were talking about the rewrite of a General Ledger application. In some places, "General Ledger" was the acronym "GL" and in other places, it was "G/L" in the screen samples we were discussing. What should we call it became the focus of the discussion. How do accountants refer to General Ledger - GL or G/L or both. Someone finally said, "What do you think?" to me. I said I don't really care. I think we should pick one and use it and then never discuss it again. The point of the story is that it is easy, too easy, to get sucked into discussions about the tiny details of the UI. The larger question for me has always been about the overall flow.
To answer the question directly, no, I do not think you have to attend courses on usability unless you are in an environment where you are not involved in the UI design decisions. Then those courses may assist you in your marketability.
Lost, but Not the Show, Part II
I looked in one additional place for the checkbook when I got up this AM and sure enough, that's where it was. All is good in that department.
It's premature to record a lot of details, but I am on the edge of having a big announcement regarding my life. It is not a bad announcement or a sad announcement. When it is posted on this blog, then you will know. There are some details that need to be worked out before I can write about it in detail. I am hopeful I will be able to write about it on Friday, 5/20, but if you are one of the three followers I have, you should not hold your breath in anticipation. The details that need to be worked out are partially out of my control and rely on other people to provide additional information before the details can be solidified.
At this point, it's wait and see.
It's premature to record a lot of details, but I am on the edge of having a big announcement regarding my life. It is not a bad announcement or a sad announcement. When it is posted on this blog, then you will know. There are some details that need to be worked out before I can write about it in detail. I am hopeful I will be able to write about it on Friday, 5/20, but if you are one of the three followers I have, you should not hold your breath in anticipation. The details that need to be worked out are partially out of my control and rely on other people to provide additional information before the details can be solidified.
At this point, it's wait and see.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Lost, but not the Show
It used to be that every so often, I would lose something and nothing I did would find it. I would retrace my steps, pray to find it, and other assorted methods when this would happen. Unfortunately, when this would happen, it would usually be related to the checkbook. This time, of course, it is the checkbook. We have two: a blue checkbook and a brown checkbook. I know where the blue checkbook is; not so much with the brown. I don't remember when I had it last. It's not sitting on the desk in the basement and I don't see an obvious place I put it so I wouldn't lose it. I have some stacks of papers and it's not there. It's not on the kid's PC desk, which is where I kind of thought I had put it. It's 9:40 and I'm tired. I will find it tomorrow. I hope.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Dangerous Waters! Iceberg Ahead!
These are my thoughts about Ashton Kutcher replacing Charlie Sheen, which I read about on this website: http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=647600 This is a risky move for a show. Off the top of my head, I can only think of a couple of times where a central character being replaced on an established show has worked.
The best examples I can think of are Cheers and M*A*S*H. In both of these shows, the characters that were replaced helped expand their show in a different direction. For Cheers, the lovable Coach character was replaced by the lovable Woody Boyd and the whiny Diane Chambers was replaced by the sometimes whiny Rebecca Howe. On MASH, Trapper was replaced by BJ, Henry Blake was replaced by Sherman T. Potter, and Frank Burns was replaced by Charles Winchester.
I would argue that the seasons of these two shows were better than the seasons with the former characters. I especially used to think that about MASH. My recollection of the early MASH episodes were that it was just a lot of slapstick. I didn't really care for the one-dimensional character that Alan Alda created in Hawkeye Pierce. His character complained about the war and then got drunk. Time has given me a different perspective. I've grown to have a deeper appreciation of the earlier episodes. The one titled "Yankee Doodle Doctor," about a documentary film being made about the 4077th has a most serious ending with Hawkeye Pierce looking directly in the camera and talking about the hell that is war.
With Cheers, I remember being apprehensive about Woody Boyd replacing Coach. Coach had a lot of funny line and a lot of comic timing. However, some of the lines from Woody Boyd are tremendously funny> I offer his comments about the Hanover Hangover Cure in "It's Lonely at the Top" as evidence. The subplots of Rebecca Howe and Robin Concord as well as Woody and Kelly gave the show a deeper dimension. The addition of Frasier and Lilith Crane also served the same purpose. Yet throughout Cheers, regular characters Norm, Cliff, Sam, and Carla all gave the show enough of a grounding in the past to satisfy fans that had been with the show since day one. That is my belief.
So now, Ashton Kutcher replaces Charlie Sheen. It is unclear to me how this will be written into the show. If the writers were smart, they would send Charlie away to a foreign country or on a long trip so that he could reprise his role for at least the series finale.
The only show I can think of, off the top of my head, that really did not work after a main character was gone is the John Ritter sitcom "8 Simple Rules for Dating my Teenage Daughter." After his death, the show added David Spade and James Garner as members of the family and tried to repackage the show as a bland sitcom. The renaming of the show to "8 Simple Rules" also deflated the original premise of the show, which was John Ritter's Paul character going through the pains of watching his daughters and son grow up and make their own choices. I personally think the show should have had a single final episode that wrapped up the series after Ritter's death. I do not agree with the decision - and I didn't agree with it at the time - of repackaging the same characters. Ritter was too central a character to undermine his legacy.
That said, I would state the same about Kutcher replacing Sheen. The show *is* Sheen, his ego, his poor decisions, and his comic interaction with his "brother." There is a lot for Kutcher to step into. If the writers take the show in a direction that is not about Alan and Jake living with Charlie, then I wish them a lot of luck and hope for the best. I personally do not think the show can be salvaged by Kutcher. Fans are not going to buy into his role. That's my prediction and I know it sounds evil to say that without even seeing or learning how Kutcher is going to be used. The additional loss of the Rose character is a double-whammy, for me, because her quips made the show.
As for Charlie Sheen, I find his rants funny and sad at the same time. I hope he gets whatever help he needs, if indeed he does need help. I also hope he finds a way to channel his comedic timing into another avenue, whether it is another sitcom or a movie that utilizes his talents. Personally, I vote for sitcom. I didn't really have any desire to see him in any of the movies he has been in like "Hot Shots" or ... I think that's the only one I'm aware of off-hand. He was fantastic in "The Outsiders" - I guess I could mention that movie.
In conclusion, I hope Ashton Kutcher doesn't ruin the show. I hope the writers create a character for him that is likeable and able to interact with the other characters. I also hope that the writers have the foresight to not make Charlie "dead" on the show or else they would have to bring him 'back to life' like Frisco Jones was brought back to life on "General Hospital." Remember that storyline?
The best examples I can think of are Cheers and M*A*S*H. In both of these shows, the characters that were replaced helped expand their show in a different direction. For Cheers, the lovable Coach character was replaced by the lovable Woody Boyd and the whiny Diane Chambers was replaced by the sometimes whiny Rebecca Howe. On MASH, Trapper was replaced by BJ, Henry Blake was replaced by Sherman T. Potter, and Frank Burns was replaced by Charles Winchester.
I would argue that the seasons of these two shows were better than the seasons with the former characters. I especially used to think that about MASH. My recollection of the early MASH episodes were that it was just a lot of slapstick. I didn't really care for the one-dimensional character that Alan Alda created in Hawkeye Pierce. His character complained about the war and then got drunk. Time has given me a different perspective. I've grown to have a deeper appreciation of the earlier episodes. The one titled "Yankee Doodle Doctor," about a documentary film being made about the 4077th has a most serious ending with Hawkeye Pierce looking directly in the camera and talking about the hell that is war.
With Cheers, I remember being apprehensive about Woody Boyd replacing Coach. Coach had a lot of funny line and a lot of comic timing. However, some of the lines from Woody Boyd are tremendously funny> I offer his comments about the Hanover Hangover Cure in "It's Lonely at the Top" as evidence. The subplots of Rebecca Howe and Robin Concord as well as Woody and Kelly gave the show a deeper dimension. The addition of Frasier and Lilith Crane also served the same purpose. Yet throughout Cheers, regular characters Norm, Cliff, Sam, and Carla all gave the show enough of a grounding in the past to satisfy fans that had been with the show since day one. That is my belief.
So now, Ashton Kutcher replaces Charlie Sheen. It is unclear to me how this will be written into the show. If the writers were smart, they would send Charlie away to a foreign country or on a long trip so that he could reprise his role for at least the series finale.
The only show I can think of, off the top of my head, that really did not work after a main character was gone is the John Ritter sitcom "8 Simple Rules for Dating my Teenage Daughter." After his death, the show added David Spade and James Garner as members of the family and tried to repackage the show as a bland sitcom. The renaming of the show to "8 Simple Rules" also deflated the original premise of the show, which was John Ritter's Paul character going through the pains of watching his daughters and son grow up and make their own choices. I personally think the show should have had a single final episode that wrapped up the series after Ritter's death. I do not agree with the decision - and I didn't agree with it at the time - of repackaging the same characters. Ritter was too central a character to undermine his legacy.
That said, I would state the same about Kutcher replacing Sheen. The show *is* Sheen, his ego, his poor decisions, and his comic interaction with his "brother." There is a lot for Kutcher to step into. If the writers take the show in a direction that is not about Alan and Jake living with Charlie, then I wish them a lot of luck and hope for the best. I personally do not think the show can be salvaged by Kutcher. Fans are not going to buy into his role. That's my prediction and I know it sounds evil to say that without even seeing or learning how Kutcher is going to be used. The additional loss of the Rose character is a double-whammy, for me, because her quips made the show.
As for Charlie Sheen, I find his rants funny and sad at the same time. I hope he gets whatever help he needs, if indeed he does need help. I also hope he finds a way to channel his comedic timing into another avenue, whether it is another sitcom or a movie that utilizes his talents. Personally, I vote for sitcom. I didn't really have any desire to see him in any of the movies he has been in like "Hot Shots" or ... I think that's the only one I'm aware of off-hand. He was fantastic in "The Outsiders" - I guess I could mention that movie.
In conclusion, I hope Ashton Kutcher doesn't ruin the show. I hope the writers create a character for him that is likeable and able to interact with the other characters. I also hope that the writers have the foresight to not make Charlie "dead" on the show or else they would have to bring him 'back to life' like Frisco Jones was brought back to life on "General Hospital." Remember that storyline?
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Consider this
This week looks to be not as busy as previous weeks with just lessons on Monday and a baseball game on Thursday. Megan's driver's education class is over so that lightens up the nights a bit. There is a lot going on in my life and it makes things really chaotic at times.
First up on the agenda is getting the camper. We are pulling the camper home today and when we do this, we drive through the yard of the neighbor behind us and into the camper's spot next to our garage. It rained all day yesterday - which was definitely needed for the yards - but the concern was the neighbor's yard may be too mushy for us to drive through. I don't really think we would get stuck, but I do think the tire tracks could leave a more lasting mark in the wet grass. As it turns into today, the wind is blowing the grass dry and hopefully, upon our return to our house with the camper behind us, it will be dry. The forecast is for rain, which is not a good thing. I'd rather have gotten up earlier (it was 8 when I got up) and left the house by 9, up to the camper by 11 and home by 2, but that was not the plan.
Once we are home, tonight is the 2 hour season finale of "Desparate Housewives", the season finale of "Survivor". Those shows are on ABC and CBS, respectively. We'll PVR both shows.
The other 'must see TV' tonight is TNA has a PPV called "Sacrifice". The main event is Rob Van Damme v. Sting. I expect Sting to win (yay!) because Mr. Andersen just won the 25 man battle royal to become the #1 contender for Sting's championship belt. Update! Here are the results of "Sacrifice". The PPV next month is considered by some to be TNA's 'Wrestlemania' PPV that sets the tone for the next year. I expect Andersen and Sting to battle at that PPV *UNLESS* they want to put Hulk Hogan v. Sting @ that PPV to draw a big audience. I read that on the Internet - not my original idea - that the end game for the championship belt is to put it on Hogan's waist *again*. The only question that remains is whether Hogan can go an entire match with Sting.
By the time I get to bed, I will have had a long day and will probaby be very tired but that is my life for today.
First up on the agenda is getting the camper. We are pulling the camper home today and when we do this, we drive through the yard of the neighbor behind us and into the camper's spot next to our garage. It rained all day yesterday - which was definitely needed for the yards - but the concern was the neighbor's yard may be too mushy for us to drive through. I don't really think we would get stuck, but I do think the tire tracks could leave a more lasting mark in the wet grass. As it turns into today, the wind is blowing the grass dry and hopefully, upon our return to our house with the camper behind us, it will be dry. The forecast is for rain, which is not a good thing. I'd rather have gotten up earlier (it was 8 when I got up) and left the house by 9, up to the camper by 11 and home by 2, but that was not the plan.
Once we are home, tonight is the 2 hour season finale of "Desparate Housewives", the season finale of "Survivor". Those shows are on ABC and CBS, respectively. We'll PVR both shows.
The other 'must see TV' tonight is TNA has a PPV called "Sacrifice". The main event is Rob Van Damme v. Sting. I expect Sting to win (yay!) because Mr. Andersen just won the 25 man battle royal to become the #1 contender for Sting's championship belt. Update! Here are the results of "Sacrifice". The PPV next month is considered by some to be TNA's 'Wrestlemania' PPV that sets the tone for the next year. I expect Andersen and Sting to battle at that PPV *UNLESS* they want to put Hulk Hogan v. Sting @ that PPV to draw a big audience. I read that on the Internet - not my original idea - that the end game for the championship belt is to put it on Hogan's waist *again*. The only question that remains is whether Hogan can go an entire match with Sting.
By the time I get to bed, I will have had a long day and will probaby be very tired but that is my life for today.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Do What You Say You Are Going To Do
I think there is a lot to be said about a person's character when they act in the manner they say they are going to act. For example, if I say I am going to act like a Christian and I do an act that can easily be linked to the acts of Christians - for example, I do not bear false witness when it would be easy to do so - then someone observing my actions may draw the conclusion that "You are acting like a Christian." On the other hand, if I say I am going to act like a Christian and then I do an act that cannot easily be linked to the acts of Christians - for example, I tell someone I just met that I am a world famous astronaut when it is clear I am not (it'd be a lie) - then someone observing my actions may draw the conclusion that "You are not acting like a Christian."
Not sure why I chose acting/not acting like a Christian as an illustration because what I really wanted to say is that if you say you are going to do something, you should do it. It used to drive me nuts in high school. "I'll call you tonight and we'll find something to do." Stupid me would sit by the phone and wait, believing the person at their word that they were going to do what they said. Another example was with Old Stew, the band I was in during college. In the fall of 1992, the guitarists and vocalist were going to play an acoustic gig at a bar in Iowa City. I said, "Tell me when it is and I'll go with you." "Yeah, I'll do that." No one did. Instead, I heard the song I wrote the lyrics for on a cassette after the gig.
Personally, I think following up with someone in the workplace should be expected. It should not be a surprise to anyone if I say to you, "I will let you know tomorrow what [another employee] thinks we should do - I have a meeting with [another employee] in one hour." You should expect me to follow through and call or send an email or walk up to you the next day and in some way communicate with you that I did, in fact, speak with [another employee] and that I discussed the situation and this is their answer. It should be straight-forward. You should not have to corner me in the hallway and demand to know. You should not have to call me repeatedly and leave voice mails. You should not have to do any of those things. It should be a given. I do not know why people stopped doing what they say they are going to do. If someone tells me, "I will call you either way," I take them at their word and when days pass and I do not hear from the person, it is me that has to call them and ask them about the status.
I can tell you that there are two people I dealt with today that are excellent examples of what should be done by everyone. The first was a topper dealer in West Branch. On Tuesday, I stopped to ask a question about our topper on our Ford F-150. He said that he didn't have a part that I needed but he would look around some more and call me when he had one. He called yesterday afternoon to say that he had one. He said he would call and he did. Simple. Another example is I called our camper storage guy - his name is Doug - and I asked him what we would owe him when we pick up the camper on Sunday. He said, "Give me about 10 minutes and I'll call you back." Sure enough, within 10 minutes, he called me back. He said he would call and he did.
I have been guilty of not doing what I say I am going to do. I say that I am going to be a better person, but I continue to make mistakes. I say that I am going to keep the den picked up and organized and, frankly, it doesn't. I say that I am going to write music reviews for Daily Vault and I have not. I say that I am going to not make the same mistake twice and instead, it happens three times. These are all illustrations of my humanity. I am a human being. I have faults. I hope that my good and decent qualities outweigh or outnumber the bad and indecent qualities of my persona, my character, my legacy as a member of society on this planet.
I really do not believe what Maya Angelou, the great poet, said is correct. She was quoted as saying, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I think people live in a society, today, where what you have done is never forgotten. Look at Tiger Woods who is still reeling from the scandal of his infidelity. Look at Charlie Sheen who is still a public relations nightmare. Look at the way society views Monica Lewinsky. What was her job title? Don't know, but she was Bill Clinton's mistress. And while I am not Al Gore's greatest fan, how often is it brought up that he said, one time, he created the Internet:
It is the punchline to a lot of jokes and a lot of humor has been made at his expense. It isn't about what he made us feel like when he stated that - it's what he said.
By the way, waste another 9:30, watching this video, then quit surfing the Internet - that Al Gore invented - and spend time with your family and friends:
Not sure why I chose acting/not acting like a Christian as an illustration because what I really wanted to say is that if you say you are going to do something, you should do it. It used to drive me nuts in high school. "I'll call you tonight and we'll find something to do." Stupid me would sit by the phone and wait, believing the person at their word that they were going to do what they said. Another example was with Old Stew, the band I was in during college. In the fall of 1992, the guitarists and vocalist were going to play an acoustic gig at a bar in Iowa City. I said, "Tell me when it is and I'll go with you." "Yeah, I'll do that." No one did. Instead, I heard the song I wrote the lyrics for on a cassette after the gig.
Personally, I think following up with someone in the workplace should be expected. It should not be a surprise to anyone if I say to you, "I will let you know tomorrow what [another employee] thinks we should do - I have a meeting with [another employee] in one hour." You should expect me to follow through and call or send an email or walk up to you the next day and in some way communicate with you that I did, in fact, speak with [another employee] and that I discussed the situation and this is their answer. It should be straight-forward. You should not have to corner me in the hallway and demand to know. You should not have to call me repeatedly and leave voice mails. You should not have to do any of those things. It should be a given. I do not know why people stopped doing what they say they are going to do. If someone tells me, "I will call you either way," I take them at their word and when days pass and I do not hear from the person, it is me that has to call them and ask them about the status.
I can tell you that there are two people I dealt with today that are excellent examples of what should be done by everyone. The first was a topper dealer in West Branch. On Tuesday, I stopped to ask a question about our topper on our Ford F-150. He said that he didn't have a part that I needed but he would look around some more and call me when he had one. He called yesterday afternoon to say that he had one. He said he would call and he did. Simple. Another example is I called our camper storage guy - his name is Doug - and I asked him what we would owe him when we pick up the camper on Sunday. He said, "Give me about 10 minutes and I'll call you back." Sure enough, within 10 minutes, he called me back. He said he would call and he did.
I have been guilty of not doing what I say I am going to do. I say that I am going to be a better person, but I continue to make mistakes. I say that I am going to keep the den picked up and organized and, frankly, it doesn't. I say that I am going to write music reviews for Daily Vault and I have not. I say that I am going to not make the same mistake twice and instead, it happens three times. These are all illustrations of my humanity. I am a human being. I have faults. I hope that my good and decent qualities outweigh or outnumber the bad and indecent qualities of my persona, my character, my legacy as a member of society on this planet.
I really do not believe what Maya Angelou, the great poet, said is correct. She was quoted as saying, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I think people live in a society, today, where what you have done is never forgotten. Look at Tiger Woods who is still reeling from the scandal of his infidelity. Look at Charlie Sheen who is still a public relations nightmare. Look at the way society views Monica Lewinsky. What was her job title? Don't know, but she was Bill Clinton's mistress. And while I am not Al Gore's greatest fan, how often is it brought up that he said, one time, he created the Internet:
It is the punchline to a lot of jokes and a lot of humor has been made at his expense. It isn't about what he made us feel like when he stated that - it's what he said.
By the way, waste another 9:30, watching this video, then quit surfing the Internet - that Al Gore invented - and spend time with your family and friends:
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Favorite Cheers Episode of all Time
Cheers Season 11, Episode 22 It's Lonely on the Top
Part 1
Part 2 - Paul's Crowing is the best!!!!
Part 3 - "I'll tell you what's on your butt if you tell me what's on mine"
Monday, May 9, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Stand Up and SHOUT
The movie "Rock Star" is one of the movies I can watch over and over. I think it's a good story. I have no idea whether or not the events depicted in it are representative of the rock and roll world because I have never been in that world. I think the music of Steel Dragon is catchy.
But I'd rather watch Cheers:
Three
But I'd rather watch Cheers:
First
Two
Three
Four
Friday, May 6, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
5/5/11
This is not something I am proud of, but it is the way my life is today.
I know today is Cinco de Mayo. I know it is a holiday of some sort. I know that the Mexican bars always have margarita specials on 5/5. I remember on 5/5/1988, my Spanish V class went to a now-closed Mexican restaurant by Lindale Mall in Cedar Rapids during lunch to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
For the life of me, I don't remember what it means.
I'm sorry. If you know, leave a comment below.
I know today is Cinco de Mayo. I know it is a holiday of some sort. I know that the Mexican bars always have margarita specials on 5/5. I remember on 5/5/1988, my Spanish V class went to a now-closed Mexican restaurant by Lindale Mall in Cedar Rapids during lunch to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
For the life of me, I don't remember what it means.
I'm sorry. If you know, leave a comment below.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Back to 1990...
David, a Techwr-L Chat list member, wrote:
I’ve decided to say something to one of the members that I think he’s not gonna like. At this point, I’ve read four or five of his stories and every one of them uses the same scenario – people or aliens from a dystopic future coming back to our present to change things so as to fix their present/our future. Nothing intrinsically wrong with that scenario, but I think he should branch out and try to vary his subject matter.
I responded with the following:
Consider that he may be trying to find his voice in the genre. Maybe there are parts of each of his stories that are worth combining. Haven't read what you have read but I offer this glimpse into what may be going on by him choosing to write about exactly the same subject.
In January 1990, I auditioned to play drums with a band. We rocked the barn the audition was held in and I really liked the music. They had just been in the studio and had a record that they had given me to learn. I spent 2 weeks learning the fills, the tempos, the beats, and I could play every song on their release. After a couple of hours, they asked me to join the band. Until that point, I had played in basement bands - not even good enough to get up to the garage I like to say. I was a sophomore in college with a full load of classes and I declined their offer. I didn't see where I could fit in rehearsals and gigs. I didn't think I was a good enough musician to even pass the audition.
In September 1990, I saw a front page article in the newspaper that that band was going on tour in Europe. Now, I don't know what kind of budget they had so I don't know if it was sleeping in a van or what, but the fact remained that I had turned down the gig. Had I joined, would I have quit between January and when the tour was booked? I'd like to think no. So anyways, this band I was asked to join is now leaving for Europe and I was stuck at college, reading dead authors as an English major. I was mad at the world. I was mad at God and stopped going to Mass on a regular basis, I was mad that I had not at least tried to play in the band, and I was mad at the fact I believe in choices and that you can only choose to do something with the information you have when you have to make a decision. I began to sink into the joys of being a 21 year-old.
At the same time, I dove into my academics. I was taking a Milton class and I proved without a shadow of a doubt that Satan in Paradise Lost was in no way a heroic character. I went overboard (I admit) and used 18 sources when I only was required to use 6.
At the same time, I tried to write a two part poem about these events - that I had been handed a dream drummer gig and I turned it down, only to find out that it meant I was passing up going on tour in Europe. I wrote so many drafts and for months, it was the only subject I could write about. I tried so many different takes on it. I finally gave up on it, ending up with a spiral notebook of bad BAD poetry with forced ABAB rhyme schemes.
The point is, maybe your member that is writing in the same genre is looking for his voice to convey what he really wants to convey by choosing the genre. He ultimately has something he wants to say about going back in time or time travel or whatever you want to call it. Maybe he's seen 17 Again and 13 going on 30 and the Terminator movies too often that he thinks he can put a new spin on it. Whatever the case may be, don't most authors pick a genre or theme and have it central to their work? Stephen King comes to mind, though I've only read Christine and Pet Sematary. Both of them have to do with the supernatural, no?
So instead of criticizing him, maybe look for some common theme that he is striving to comment about in these four different stories.
I’ve decided to say something to one of the members that I think he’s not gonna like. At this point, I’ve read four or five of his stories and every one of them uses the same scenario – people or aliens from a dystopic future coming back to our present to change things so as to fix their present/our future. Nothing intrinsically wrong with that scenario, but I think he should branch out and try to vary his subject matter.
I responded with the following:
Consider that he may be trying to find his voice in the genre. Maybe there are parts of each of his stories that are worth combining. Haven't read what you have read but I offer this glimpse into what may be going on by him choosing to write about exactly the same subject.
In January 1990, I auditioned to play drums with a band. We rocked the barn the audition was held in and I really liked the music. They had just been in the studio and had a record that they had given me to learn. I spent 2 weeks learning the fills, the tempos, the beats, and I could play every song on their release. After a couple of hours, they asked me to join the band. Until that point, I had played in basement bands - not even good enough to get up to the garage I like to say. I was a sophomore in college with a full load of classes and I declined their offer. I didn't see where I could fit in rehearsals and gigs. I didn't think I was a good enough musician to even pass the audition.
In September 1990, I saw a front page article in the newspaper that that band was going on tour in Europe. Now, I don't know what kind of budget they had so I don't know if it was sleeping in a van or what, but the fact remained that I had turned down the gig. Had I joined, would I have quit between January and when the tour was booked? I'd like to think no. So anyways, this band I was asked to join is now leaving for Europe and I was stuck at college, reading dead authors as an English major. I was mad at the world. I was mad at God and stopped going to Mass on a regular basis, I was mad that I had not at least tried to play in the band, and I was mad at the fact I believe in choices and that you can only choose to do something with the information you have when you have to make a decision. I began to sink into the joys of being a 21 year-old.
At the same time, I dove into my academics. I was taking a Milton class and I proved without a shadow of a doubt that Satan in Paradise Lost was in no way a heroic character. I went overboard (I admit) and used 18 sources when I only was required to use 6.
At the same time, I tried to write a two part poem about these events - that I had been handed a dream drummer gig and I turned it down, only to find out that it meant I was passing up going on tour in Europe. I wrote so many drafts and for months, it was the only subject I could write about. I tried so many different takes on it. I finally gave up on it, ending up with a spiral notebook of bad BAD poetry with forced ABAB rhyme schemes.
The point is, maybe your member that is writing in the same genre is looking for his voice to convey what he really wants to convey by choosing the genre. He ultimately has something he wants to say about going back in time or time travel or whatever you want to call it. Maybe he's seen 17 Again and 13 going on 30 and the Terminator movies too often that he thinks he can put a new spin on it. Whatever the case may be, don't most authors pick a genre or theme and have it central to their work? Stephen King comes to mind, though I've only read Christine and Pet Sematary. Both of them have to do with the supernatural, no?
So instead of criticizing him, maybe look for some common theme that he is striving to comment about in these four different stories.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Osama Bin Laden is dead!
They finally caught the man responsible for the 9/11/2001 attack on the soil of the United States is dead. It only took nearly 10 years. I wish a special place in hell for Osama bin Laden and that he is made to suffer. I believe he was an evil man.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Just a Second
I'd like to take a moment to talk about the phrase "just a second." It is a curious phrase because rarely does anyone really mean they will be with you in a single second. It usually means I'm in the middle of what I am doing and if I quit doing it right now, when being asked to quit, I will lose my train of thought and fear never being able to recall what the brain was telling me to do. It seems a better response to being summoned to another room would be, "I'm in the middle of my train of thought. I know me coming to you is very important and I will be next to you as fast as I can, but I need to finish this thought or I will lose it." That answer is honest, but not something easily committed to memory. Unfortunately. The net result is that when someone calls your name, you will respond, "Just a second." You will then finish your task, so you do not lose your train of thought, and then approach the person that called your name.
Take this a step further. If Christ calls your name, do you really have the courage to tell Him "just a second" - that the things you are doing in your life are more important than finding out what He is calling you to do?
Is what you are doing in your life more important than what Christ is calling you to do?
I didn't think so either.
Take this a step further. If Christ calls your name, do you really have the courage to tell Him "just a second" - that the things you are doing in your life are more important than finding out what He is calling you to do?
Is what you are doing in your life more important than what Christ is calling you to do?
I didn't think so either.
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