Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Shortest Straw / Until the End
I had this song in my head tonight and youtube.com did *not* let me down...
ø„¸¨°º¤ø„¸¸„ø¤º°¨¸„ø¤º°¨
¨°º¤ø„¸ MetallicA „ø¤º°¨
¸„ø¤º°¨ ROCKS!! ``°º¤ø„¸
¸„ø¤º°¨¸„ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø„¸¨°º¤ø
So clever, whatever, I'm done with these endeavors
Alone I'll walk the winding way (here I stay)
It's over, no longer, I feel it growing stronger
I live to die another day, until I fade away
Why give up? Why give in?
It's not enough, it never is
So I will go on until the end
We've become, desolate
It's not enough, it never is
But I will go on until the end
Surround me, it's easy, to fall apart completely
I feel you creeping up again (In my Head)
It's over, no longer, I feel it growing colder
I knew this day would come to end, so let this life begin
Why give up? Why give in?
It's not enough, it never is
So I will go on until the end
We've become, desolate
It's not enough, it never is
But I will go on until the end
I've lost my way
I've lost my way
But I will go on until the end
Living is, hard enough, without you fucking up
Why give up? Why give in?
It's not enough, it never is
So I will go on until the end
We've become, desolate
It's not enough, it never is
But I will go on until the end
I've lost my way
I've lost my way
But I will go on until the end
The final fight, I win
The final fight, I win
The final fight, I win
But I will go on until the end
and then some very clearly sung MOTORBREATH!
ø„¸¨°º¤ø„¸¸„ø¤º°¨¸„ø¤º°¨
¨°º¤ø„¸ MetallicA „ø¤º°¨
¸„ø¤º°¨ ROCKS!! ``°º¤ø„¸
¸„ø¤º°¨¸„ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø„¸¨°º¤ø
So clever, whatever, I'm done with these endeavors
Alone I'll walk the winding way (here I stay)
It's over, no longer, I feel it growing stronger
I live to die another day, until I fade away
Why give up? Why give in?
It's not enough, it never is
So I will go on until the end
We've become, desolate
It's not enough, it never is
But I will go on until the end
Surround me, it's easy, to fall apart completely
I feel you creeping up again (In my Head)
It's over, no longer, I feel it growing colder
I knew this day would come to end, so let this life begin
Why give up? Why give in?
It's not enough, it never is
So I will go on until the end
We've become, desolate
It's not enough, it never is
But I will go on until the end
I've lost my way
I've lost my way
But I will go on until the end
Living is, hard enough, without you fucking up
Why give up? Why give in?
It's not enough, it never is
So I will go on until the end
We've become, desolate
It's not enough, it never is
But I will go on until the end
I've lost my way
I've lost my way
But I will go on until the end
The final fight, I win
The final fight, I win
The final fight, I win
But I will go on until the end
and then some very clearly sung MOTORBREATH!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Giving Up
Vader is a Polish metal band that absolutely is viciously heavy. They are touring. Midwest dates? Sure! The complete billing for the trek is as follows:
VADER
DECREPIT BIRTH
WARBRINGER
THE AMENTA
AUGURY
SUCCESS WILL WRITE APOCALYPSE ACROSS THE SKY
And the following are the only Midwest dates..
|
Nov. 13 - The Pearl Room - Mokena, IL
Nov. 14 - Rave - Milwaukee, WI
Nov. 15 - Station 4 - St. Paul, MN
|
After St. Paul, they go to Canada. But when I searched youtube.com for "Vader" I found this instead:
Then I found Darth Vader being a jerk:
Of course, then I found a video of the metal band Vader.
Also found this classic song with different lyrics:
Also, I am now following: http://blacksabbathdemos.blogspot.com - check it out!
And with that lyrics that were changed:
|
Witches gather at black masses
Bodies burning in red ashes
On the hill the church in ruin
Is the scene of evil doings
It's a place for all bad sinners
Watch them eating dead rats' innards
I guess it's the same whereever you may go
Oh Lord yeah
|
echoing in my brain, I move on. It's 11:30 and I have a lot of work to do tomorrow at work so I want to be fresh.
VADER
DECREPIT BIRTH
WARBRINGER
THE AMENTA
AUGURY
SUCCESS WILL WRITE APOCALYPSE ACROSS THE SKY
And the following are the only Midwest dates..
|
Nov. 13 - The Pearl Room - Mokena, IL
Nov. 14 - Rave - Milwaukee, WI
Nov. 15 - Station 4 - St. Paul, MN
|
After St. Paul, they go to Canada. But when I searched youtube.com for "Vader" I found this instead:
Then I found Darth Vader being a jerk:
Of course, then I found a video of the metal band Vader.
Also found this classic song with different lyrics:
Also, I am now following: http://blacksabbathdemos.blogspot.com - check it out!
And with that lyrics that were changed:
|
Witches gather at black masses
Bodies burning in red ashes
On the hill the church in ruin
Is the scene of evil doings
It's a place for all bad sinners
Watch them eating dead rats' innards
I guess it's the same whereever you may go
Oh Lord yeah
|
echoing in my brain, I move on. It's 11:30 and I have a lot of work to do tomorrow at work so I want to be fresh.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
My God... FF is a Soap Opera
A few years back, if you would have told me that Dino Cazares, Fear Factory guitarist, was in a public feud with his ex-bandmates Raymond Herrera and Christian Olde Wolbers, I would have laughed. I admit that when I listened to Archetype, I did not really know the story behind Dino Cazares' departure from the band. All I really knew was that the bassist became the guitarist and whamo! a great release came out of the mix. Now I learn that the full story, according to Cazares, is nothing short of a soap opera. Read about it on Blistering.com, which is the site I check for my metal news. http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/link/1/templateid/16371/tempidx/1/menuid/1
Wanted: Crystal Ball
Crystal balls would sure have come in handy for Jammie Thomas-Rasset. A jury ruled Thursday that Jammie Thomas-Rasset must pay fines totaling $1.92 million to the RIAA, as a penalty for violating the copyrights on 24 songs. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2349029,00.asp
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
A Girl Like You / Writing Exercise
I do not have this song in my collection, but man, I had it in my head today. I like the guitar, the guitar riff, everything about it. I don't even know the last time I heard it on the radio or where I heard it. I am not the only one who likes them. I saw these:
"For me rock and roll began with The Beatles and pretty much ended with the Smithereens. The last great rock and roll band!"
"Yes--the Smithereens, the last great rock and roll band--please, let them continue as I have to see them [in] 2009!"
In other news, I played with rewriting the following:
Original:I hope you are doing well. I am reaching out to you as an introduction, to make sure that you have my contact information as I am your main point of contact here at.
Revisions:
I hope you are doing well. I would like to introduce myself. My name isI am your main point of contact here at .I hope you are doing well. I have recently been assigned as your main point of contact here at . If you need anything, please let me know.
Among the exciting changes at, I am now your main point of contact at . I have been with for and in the software industry for I look forward to working with you. In the meantime, if you have any issues you want me to address, please use the contact information below to get in touch.
Hello. My name isand I hope you are doing well. I would like to introduce myself. I am your main point of contact here at . If you have any concerns you would like me to address, please use the contact information below to get in touch.
I am going to be writing a review of Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" for Dailyvault.com, thanks to the encouragement of CT, the founder of dailyvault.com:
My two cents: I'd send the review in. Nothing like getting more than one opinion on an album, I always say.
CT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: prhmusic
To: dv staff
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 7:10:02 AM
Subject: RE: Black Sabbath retrospective
The only review I could contribute would be to re-hash what CT already wrote about "Paranoid" as it's my only BS release. I consider "Rat Salad" to be the best non-drum solo drum solo - what I would cover as a replacement to any type of drum solo, if I were actively playing. I've been confied to the basement: http://prhmusic. blogspot. com/2009/ 06/830-drums. html
Finally, before I retire for the evening, I have this opinion.
I recently downloaded a PDF. There are 32 pages. On page 31, it says this:
"This page was included but left blank to provide a multiple of 4 pages for booklet-style printing."
This is new. This is exciting. I like the fact that the true reason - however non-applicable it would be to, say, my mother-in-law had she downloaded this file - is explained so that those who do understand page layout and the constant battle with it see exactly what the page layout was designed to achieve. I applaud actions like this. There is often a need to hide the techy-mumbo-jumbo from end-users. I have been writing software documentation since 2/10/95. I am coming to a point where every time I try to "protect" the end-user from the nitty-gritty behind-the-scenes details, I am asked to include the very information I specifically chose to exclude. Depending up on your audience and your clients, I think end-users need to know exactly what is going on, especially with documentation that explains how to use software. Users sometimes need to know what field in what file is updated when a menu option is submitted. They sometimes also need to know this information for troubleshooting why what they expected and what the software did are not the same. Information such as this can lead the user into the depths of programming and, at a certain point, the user probably gets out the white flag and says, "This doesn't make sense." But for as long as they are digging into files and looking at things, they are accountable for their actions. Or should be, in a perfect world. Once they give up and contact the software vendor's customer support department, then it's up to the CSR to figure out what happened and whether it can be attributed to the company as a bug. After all, the clients paid money for the software that is not doing what they thought it would do.
And now that I've bored my one reader to tears, I am cashing in.
"For me rock and roll began with The Beatles and pretty much ended with the Smithereens. The last great rock and roll band!"
"Yes--the Smithereens, the last great rock and roll band--please, let them continue as I have to see them [in] 2009!"
In other news, I played with rewriting the following:
Original:I hope you are doing well. I am reaching out to you as an introduction, to make sure that you have my contact information as I am your main point of contact here at
Revisions:
I hope you are doing well. I would like to introduce myself. My name is
Among the exciting changes at
Hello. My name is
I am going to be writing a review of Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" for Dailyvault.com, thanks to the encouragement of CT, the founder of dailyvault.com:
My two cents: I'd send the review in. Nothing like getting more than one opinion on an album, I always say.
CT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: prhmusic
To: dv staff
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 7:10:02 AM
Subject: RE: Black Sabbath retrospective
The only review I could contribute would be to re-hash what CT already wrote about "Paranoid" as it's my only BS release. I consider "Rat Salad" to be the best non-drum solo drum solo - what I would cover as a replacement to any type of drum solo, if I were actively playing. I've been confied to the basement: http://prhmusic. blogspot. com/2009/ 06/830-drums. html
Finally, before I retire for the evening, I have this opinion.
I recently downloaded a PDF. There are 32 pages. On page 31, it says this:
"This page was included but left blank to provide a multiple of 4 pages for booklet-style printing."
This is new. This is exciting. I like the fact that the true reason - however non-applicable it would be to, say, my mother-in-law had she downloaded this file - is explained so that those who do understand page layout and the constant battle with it see exactly what the page layout was designed to achieve. I applaud actions like this. There is often a need to hide the techy-mumbo-jumbo from end-users. I have been writing software documentation since 2/10/95. I am coming to a point where every time I try to "protect" the end-user from the nitty-gritty behind-the-scenes details, I am asked to include the very information I specifically chose to exclude. Depending up on your audience and your clients, I think end-users need to know exactly what is going on, especially with documentation that explains how to use software. Users sometimes need to know what field in what file is updated when a menu option is submitted. They sometimes also need to know this information for troubleshooting why what they expected and what the software did are not the same. Information such as this can lead the user into the depths of programming and, at a certain point, the user probably gets out the white flag and says, "This doesn't make sense." But for as long as they are digging into files and looking at things, they are accountable for their actions. Or should be, in a perfect world. Once they give up and contact the software vendor's customer support department, then it's up to the CSR to figure out what happened and whether it can be attributed to the company as a bug. After all, the clients paid money for the software that is not doing what they thought it would do.
And now that I've bored my one reader to tears, I am cashing in.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
830 Drums
Alex took these pictures after I had set up my drums in our basement. The clear drums are my original set that I've had since 1984 and the colored drums are the ones that were in our church's storage room that I was told I could have. I'm not very good at playing two kick drums but I like the way the set looks with the clear on one side and the dark on the other.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Opportunity to Work for Free from Home
I slipped into work this AM, through the back door, and turned on my work PC. I surveyed the project folders that have made it to my desk - not as many as I feared - and opened Outlook 2007 to download my e-mail messages from the web server to my PC, all 755 messages. As I watched them download, I felt dirty. I mean, I am, after all, on vacation until 6/15 and now, with this unthinkable act of turning on my PC, I will probably log on tonight, after the wife and kids are in bed and poke around the work that is awaiting me on 6/15. I mean, what was I thinking? Why would I want to give myself the opportunity to work for free from home?
In other news, I am sitting in Lynch Ford in Mount Vernon, IA, while the Ford F-150 receives an oil change. I tried connecting through Logmein.com to my work PC, but this "Customer Workstation Internet Access" PC is having trouble connecting with the Active-X controls that are used. I am getting an oil change today because tomorrow, we leave for Elkader for 4 days of camping. Today is going to be a lot of packing the truck and getting laundry done.
We got home last night around 6:15. By 8, the truck was empty and I was getting tired of looking at the long grass in our yard. I decided to mow so I did that. I admit, the grass does look better now and doing so allows me to focus 100% on getting the truck & camper ready for camping today. My wife is talking about a Wal-Mart run so, if I am not required to go on that run, I may take a few minutes and play some drums, now that they are set up in the basement.
How was South Dakota? It was fun. I think it's a trip everyone should take - just to see the wilderness of the Black Hills, the majestic beauty of the in-progress Crazy Horse monument, and the stunning images of past and present military personnel standing on the stage at the Mount Rushmore amphitheater as the American flag is lowered. There's also the Watiki waterpark in Rapid City, free tap beer at a casino in Deadwood from 4-6 to celebrate their grand opening, and horseback riding. Along the way home, the corn palace in Mitchell, SD, is an acceptable diversion and the Perkin's in Albert Lea adheres to the "Free Kids' Meals from 4-6" policy but if you go to the BK on the same road, don't order the fish sandwich unless you like grease.
I hope to post some pictures of our trip in the near future, but only if they are surrounded by an explanation of what the picture really is indicating. For that reason, it may be a short while before I find the time to post them. I'd like to work on it tonight, but I don't think it will happen.
I was able to catch up on the WWE Extreme Rules PPV results.
In other news, I am sitting in Lynch Ford in Mount Vernon, IA, while the Ford F-150 receives an oil change. I tried connecting through Logmein.com to my work PC, but this "Customer Workstation Internet Access" PC is having trouble connecting with the Active-X controls that are used. I am getting an oil change today because tomorrow, we leave for Elkader for 4 days of camping. Today is going to be a lot of packing the truck and getting laundry done.
We got home last night around 6:15. By 8, the truck was empty and I was getting tired of looking at the long grass in our yard. I decided to mow so I did that. I admit, the grass does look better now and doing so allows me to focus 100% on getting the truck & camper ready for camping today. My wife is talking about a Wal-Mart run so, if I am not required to go on that run, I may take a few minutes and play some drums, now that they are set up in the basement.
How was South Dakota? It was fun. I think it's a trip everyone should take - just to see the wilderness of the Black Hills, the majestic beauty of the in-progress Crazy Horse monument, and the stunning images of past and present military personnel standing on the stage at the Mount Rushmore amphitheater as the American flag is lowered. There's also the Watiki waterpark in Rapid City, free tap beer at a casino in Deadwood from 4-6 to celebrate their grand opening, and horseback riding. Along the way home, the corn palace in Mitchell, SD, is an acceptable diversion and the Perkin's in Albert Lea adheres to the "Free Kids' Meals from 4-6" policy but if you go to the BK on the same road, don't order the fish sandwich unless you like grease.
I hope to post some pictures of our trip in the near future, but only if they are surrounded by an explanation of what the picture really is indicating. For that reason, it may be a short while before I find the time to post them. I'd like to work on it tonight, but I don't think it will happen.
I was able to catch up on the WWE Extreme Rules PPV results.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Farewell... for now
It's 12:27 AM, Monday, June 1, 2009. I just finished watching the season finale of "Breaking Bad." I like the show, but I'll be damned if I understand the direction it is heading. Walt's wife left him, Jesse is whacked out on drugs, and Jesse's girlfriend's father just made two planes crash into each other. I don't know what is going to happen in the next season, but I hope it is as powerful as the last 6-ish episodes I watched.
The reason I titled this post "Farewll for now" is that I am about to embark on what is called a "family vacation." We are driving to South Dakota and the Badlands. We are going to be gone from 6/3 - 6/9. When we get back, 6/10 will be spent doing laundry and packing the camper. Then we will leave for our first camping trip of 2009.
In the meantime, I am off work until 6/15. I think it is awesome to have 2 weeks off of work - a well-deserved break from the chaos I endure daily.
With that said, take it easy, play it safe, and be careful. I doubt there will be an update to this blog until... 6/10.
Peace...
The reason I titled this post "Farewll for now" is that I am about to embark on what is called a "family vacation." We are driving to South Dakota and the Badlands. We are going to be gone from 6/3 - 6/9. When we get back, 6/10 will be spent doing laundry and packing the camper. Then we will leave for our first camping trip of 2009.
In the meantime, I am off work until 6/15. I think it is awesome to have 2 weeks off of work - a well-deserved break from the chaos I endure daily.
With that said, take it easy, play it safe, and be careful. I doubt there will be an update to this blog until... 6/10.
Peace...
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Signs & Government @ its Worst....
This is something that came up this week that I've thought a lot about.
Someone I know said, "If I am laid off from my job, I'll take it as a sign [from God] to finally do what I've always wanted to do as a career. If I am retained, then I was meant to work where I am working." Do we, as humans, really get to decide what our sign from God is going to be? Isn't it really God choosing what He wants us to do according to his plan?
I went to Google to find an answer and came across this discussion. I like this quote:
Use your gut, use your intuition, trust your sense to know your truth, and the ways that the god of your understanding communicaties with you, you get to "learn that language" no one else can do it for you. It will be very individual, and most likely something that is personal and meaningful to you.
I can find comfort in that. It goes along with the idea that God gave us the ability to choose - our curse or our gift, depending upon the circumstances.
I am jumping to something else, though this could have easily been its own blog post called "You should have a usable website but I don't have to have one in order to tell you to have a usable website."
This came across on Techwr-L on Wed and I find it really funny. A usability site that isn't usable...
-----Original Message-----
From: Dan Goldstein
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 1:46 PM
To: techwr-l@lists.techwr-l.com
Subject: RE: GUI Elements defined
OK, it's irony time: Guy McDonald discovered that the home page for http://usability.gov lacks a certain... usability. Specifically, in IE7, the bulleted items activate the hand cursor, even though they're unlinked. The site works fine in Firefox. Before I write to HHS, can someone check if the site works in IE 6? Opera? etc... >
-----Original Message----->
From: Dan Goldstein
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:00 PM
To: techwr-l
Subject: RE: GUI Elements defined
And for more definitions of Web-specific elements, see http://usability.gov/pdfs/glossary.pdf
Someone I know said, "If I am laid off from my job, I'll take it as a sign [from God] to finally do what I've always wanted to do as a career. If I am retained, then I was meant to work where I am working." Do we, as humans, really get to decide what our sign from God is going to be? Isn't it really God choosing what He wants us to do according to his plan?
I went to Google to find an answer and came across this discussion. I like this quote:
Use your gut, use your intuition, trust your sense to know your truth, and the ways that the god of your understanding communicaties with you, you get to "learn that language" no one else can do it for you. It will be very individual, and most likely something that is personal and meaningful to you.
I can find comfort in that. It goes along with the idea that God gave us the ability to choose - our curse or our gift, depending upon the circumstances.
I am jumping to something else, though this could have easily been its own blog post called "You should have a usable website but I don't have to have one in order to tell you to have a usable website."
This came across on Techwr-L on Wed and I find it really funny. A usability site that isn't usable...
-----Original Message-----
From: Dan Goldstein
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 1:46 PM
To: techwr-l@lists.techwr-l.com
Subject: RE: GUI Elements defined
OK, it's irony time: Guy McDonald discovered that the home page for http://usability.gov lacks a certain... usability. Specifically, in IE7, the bulleted items activate the hand cursor, even though they're unlinked. The site works fine in Firefox. Before I write to HHS, can someone check if the site works in IE 6? Opera? etc... >
-----Original Message----->
From: Dan Goldstein
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:00 PM
To: techwr-l
Subject: RE: GUI Elements defined
And for more definitions of Web-specific elements, see http://usability.gov/pdfs/glossary.pdf
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
LP
I used to list Linkin Park as one band I couldn't stand, in the same vein that I can't stand "Friends in Low Places" by Garth Brooks and any material from the loafish Meat Loaf. I still think the "Shut up! Shut up! when I'm talking to you!" lyrics in their debut single are cliche and I think that song, as a whole, sounds like two separate songs joined together by the "Shut up!" lyrics.
That said, I heard this song in my truck today as I was returning to Mr. Movies with a DVD *inside* the case instead of in my DVD player. I like it.
That said, I heard this song in my truck today as I was returning to Mr. Movies with a DVD *inside* the case instead of in my DVD player. I like it.
WAH...and an Apology Foretold
I'm working @ home because Megan has 7th grade orientation. I hope her 7th grade year is a lot like mine. Socially, I remember bouncing from group to group and making a lot of friends. It was the year I was asked to couple skate @ Super Skate and she knew how to skate backwards so that was a huge moment for me. She also turned out to be in 9th grade so even *that* was cool. Megan won't have that opportunity, though, because the school she will be at is only 7th & 8th graders. Later that year, I had a girlfriend and that was ultimately very cool.
But this isn't about that.
Last night, as I drove Megan to a classmate's house to work on their project, I apologized to her. I told her about my co-worker whose car engine is "falling apart." She said that her first instinct was to call her father because he likes cars and has done work on cars and understands them.
I am not like that. I believed in blinker fluid as a freshman in college.
I apologized to her because I know, someday, she will have car trouble. Some light will come on or turn off or some thing will sound funny under the hood. She will call me and say, "Hey Dad, the car is [fill in the blanks]. What do you think it is?"
Maybe between now and that phone call, I will know more than I do now. If she asked that question today, I would reply, "I don't know."
I would then go on to suggest taking it to a mechanic.
But this isn't about that.
Last night, as I drove Megan to a classmate's house to work on their project, I apologized to her. I told her about my co-worker whose car engine is "falling apart." She said that her first instinct was to call her father because he likes cars and has done work on cars and understands them.
I am not like that. I believed in blinker fluid as a freshman in college.
I apologized to her because I know, someday, she will have car trouble. Some light will come on or turn off or some thing will sound funny under the hood. She will call me and say, "Hey Dad, the car is [fill in the blanks]. What do you think it is?"
Maybe between now and that phone call, I will know more than I do now. If she asked that question today, I would reply, "I don't know."
I would then go on to suggest taking it to a mechanic.
More Season Finales
The season finale of "24" was on tonight. I still have Friday's "Prison Break" and Sunday's "Desparate Housewives" to watch. Maybe another show too.
But not tonight.
Good night...
But not tonight.
Good night...
Monday, May 18, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Saturday Night
We drove up to Zhwingle, Iowa, on Saturday morning to get our camper. It was an uneventful drive. After the camper was hooked up, Karen drove through Dubuque to get to Balltown.
After lunch, I mowed my in-law's yard with the riding mower. It was the first time I'd ever driven a riding lawn mower and it was okay. The bouncy ride made my Pepsi flat but other than that, I did okay. I didn't remember how to put the damn thing into reverse so I was always looking forward. After the majority of the yard was done, I used a push mower - a non-self-propelling - to finish. That was more work than I thought it should be.
After that was done, I took a nap on their couch. Then, we ate supper - meat loaf, baked potato, corn, and French Silk pie for dessert - and played Euchre. Louie and I beat the women 3-0. Then we all went to bed.
That's what I wanted to write about.
I slept like a log. It was 10:30 when I got into bed and I slept so soundly. I woke up once, at 5 AM, and then, after that, I didn't wake up until 8:30-ish. It was wonderful.
Today, we went to 10 AM Mass in Balltown, followed by breakfast - French Toast & Holy Cross sausage - and then played Euchre. The men lost.
Then I drove the camper home. After we got home, I decided to mow. Alex thinks mowing the yard is fun (?!?!) so he ended up doing 85% of it. I think he will be doing all of it in the near future.
Tonight was a huge TV night. The season finale of "Deparate Housewives", the season finale of "Survivor", the WWE PPV "Judgment Day", a new "Breaking Bad", and to top it all off, the episode from MASH called "Adam's Ribs" (one of my favorites!). I taped DH, I caught some of Survivor, the results of the PPV are here
After lunch, I mowed my in-law's yard with the riding mower. It was the first time I'd ever driven a riding lawn mower and it was okay. The bouncy ride made my Pepsi flat but other than that, I did okay. I didn't remember how to put the damn thing into reverse so I was always looking forward. After the majority of the yard was done, I used a push mower - a non-self-propelling - to finish. That was more work than I thought it should be.
After that was done, I took a nap on their couch. Then, we ate supper - meat loaf, baked potato, corn, and French Silk pie for dessert - and played Euchre. Louie and I beat the women 3-0. Then we all went to bed.
That's what I wanted to write about.
I slept like a log. It was 10:30 when I got into bed and I slept so soundly. I woke up once, at 5 AM, and then, after that, I didn't wake up until 8:30-ish. It was wonderful.
Today, we went to 10 AM Mass in Balltown, followed by breakfast - French Toast & Holy Cross sausage - and then played Euchre. The men lost.
Then I drove the camper home. After we got home, I decided to mow. Alex thinks mowing the yard is fun (?!?!) so he ended up doing 85% of it. I think he will be doing all of it in the near future.
Tonight was a huge TV night. The season finale of "Deparate Housewives", the season finale of "Survivor", the WWE PPV "Judgment Day", a new "Breaking Bad", and to top it all off, the episode from MASH called "Adam's Ribs" (one of my favorites!). I taped DH, I caught some of Survivor, the results of the PPV are here
The week ahead is crazy busy (after work)
Monday - Alex has a game
Tuesday - Megan has a tour @ her new junior high. I am leaving work @ noon, racing to Regina by 12:30, racing her to the jr high by 1, then working @ home until 2:30, when I'll pick her up again and bring her home.
Wednesday - Alex has a game
Thursday - Nothing. I think the plan is to get the kids' floor cleaned up and/or the basement put back together.
Friday - Up in the air. We have talked about loading the camper and going to Riverside with Mark & Susie for Karen's (free) meal @ the buffet for her birthday. Susie's birthday is also in May so her meal would be free as well.
Saturday - Up in the air. We have talked about going to the CR Kernels game @ 4 for a concert called "The Music of the Eagles," followed by a 6:35 game, followed by fireworks. We may also be playing @ 5:15 Mass for the next to last time until the new church is built. I need to bring my drums home.
Sunday - Up in the air. We have talked about hosting a barbeque, but it is also the weekend of the Blues-n-Barbeque event in the North Liberty park, which I think would be fun to go to.
Monday - Nothing. Probably take a long nap from 12:30-3.
At work, it is going to be an insane 9 days. I have 5 days (5/18-5/22) to get as many and as much documentation for the next update completed. It means trying to 'will' my way through more work than can be reasonably completed in a 40 hour week. After Friday (and Memorial Day), I will begin developing UI changes for at least 39 changes to our software and that number is likely to go up. I need to be done with all of these changes by 4 on Wednesday so I can give the paperwork to my co-worker so she can test them on Thursday and return any changes she has on Friday so I can make those changes and wrap up the entire process.
My goal is to be done with all of that work by Friday, 5 PM. If I am, I plan to take a full two weeks of vacation, starting 6/1 and not returning to work until 6/15. What a glorious break that would be! If I am not done with my work by Friday, I will work a 1/2 day on Monday 6/1 and a full day on Tuesday 6/2. I *really* want to be done with my work on Friday so I can give myself a full two weeks off. That is my goal.
So that's what I have to look forward to this week.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
5159
5150 is the code for mentally unstable, if I remember the press releases that surrounded the Van Halen release of the same name. It was the first release with Sammy Hagar replacing David Lee Roth. No one thought it would work, but it did. For several years, in fact, as the "Van Hagar" band rocked the world, releasing a lot of singles, a lot of albums, and a lot of songs that showcased Eddie and Alex Van Halen.
I feel a little off tonight. I watched the season finale of "Lost" and ... just when I thought I understood everything, the season finale asks more questions. Okay, I get that Jacob wanted everyone to return to the island and he was the one that got Hurley to agree. I also get that he visited everyone, at some point, and interacted with them in an innocent way. He gave Jack the candy bar that was stuck in the machine. What the episode doesn't explain, though, is who the hell is John Locke? How is he in Jacob's house, instructing Ben to kill Jacob and yet, John Locke's body was in the casket. A character said, "If that's John Locke, who's in there with Ben?"
I DON'T HAVE A CLUE!!! Let's see what the Internet says... maybe Juliet is alive. Basically.... wait and see what happens in 2010. I did read that the eye that is in the 13 second teaser is Jack's. People are equating the eye at the end of season 5 with the eye that opens up episode 1 in season 1. Read this:
http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00024255.html
I feel a little off tonight. I watched the season finale of "Lost" and ... just when I thought I understood everything, the season finale asks more questions. Okay, I get that Jacob wanted everyone to return to the island and he was the one that got Hurley to agree. I also get that he visited everyone, at some point, and interacted with them in an innocent way. He gave Jack the candy bar that was stuck in the machine. What the episode doesn't explain, though, is who the hell is John Locke? How is he in Jacob's house, instructing Ben to kill Jacob and yet, John Locke's body was in the casket. A character said, "If that's John Locke, who's in there with Ben?"
I DON'T HAVE A CLUE!!! Let's see what the Internet says... maybe Juliet is alive. Basically.... wait and see what happens in 2010. I did read that the eye that is in the 13 second teaser is Jack's. People are equating the eye at the end of season 5 with the eye that opens up episode 1 in season 1. Read this:
http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00024255.html
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Rain Rain Rain & How to Spend $100 quickly...
We went to the North Liberty fields for Alex's game ... and waited until the games were called off because of lightening. On the way home, we stopped at the Rec Center and signed up the kids for swim lessons. They are both taking two sessions x $25 each = $100.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The best concert I'm not going to attend...
Bands Announced so far:
Rock Gone Wild in Algona, Iowa from 8/21-8/24 ... two 4-day General Admission Passes + one 20X20 tent site for only $175.00 ( plus shipping and taxes )
Puddle of Mudd
Saxon
Warrant
April Wine
Skid Row
Lita Ford
Dokken
Great White
Kix
Candlebox
Saving Abel
Eve 6
Tantric
Saigon Kick
Jackyl
Cherie Currie (lead singer of the Runaways)
LA guns (featuring Phil Lewis)
Honeymoon Suite
Tyketto
powerman 5000
Hardcore Superstar
Primal Fear
Helix
Armored Saint
Lizzy borden
Rhino Bucket
Black n' Blue
Dirty looks
Lillian Axe
Gypsy Pistoleros
Texas Hippie Coalition
Tigertailz
Crazy Lixx
Sick of Sarah
Ernie and the Automatics
Stuck on Stupid
Savior
Ashamed
Frainkenstein 3000
Mighty Swine
Downtread
... and more
Rock Gone Wild in Algona, Iowa from 8/21-8/24 ... two 4-day General Admission Passes + one 20X20 tent site for only $175.00 ( plus shipping and taxes )
Puddle of Mudd
Saxon
Warrant
April Wine
Skid Row
Lita Ford
Dokken
Great White
Kix
Candlebox
Saving Abel
Eve 6
Tantric
Saigon Kick
Jackyl
Cherie Currie (lead singer of the Runaways)
LA guns (featuring Phil Lewis)
Honeymoon Suite
Tyketto
powerman 5000
Hardcore Superstar
Primal Fear
Helix
Armored Saint
Lizzy borden
Rhino Bucket
Black n' Blue
Dirty looks
Lillian Axe
Gypsy Pistoleros
Texas Hippie Coalition
Tigertailz
Crazy Lixx
Sick of Sarah
Ernie and the Automatics
Stuck on Stupid
Savior
Ashamed
Frainkenstein 3000
Mighty Swine
Downtread
... and more
Guardrail
The tune "Guardrail" by Bayside is my new favorite song. I have been listening to it a lot in the truck on the way to work. I like the part about the caught up, / In the day-to-day / Drama of being you / To notice me / And what's become of my eyes phrase the most. I know people like this, that are so self-involved that they don't notice other people or how their actions influence people that, if asked, they would consider their friend. So here are the lyrics to "Guardrail." It is from the Sirens and Condolences album.
You can sleep with a gun but when u going to wake up and fight for yourself?
There are a lot of cool Metallica youtube videos from their recent hall of fame induction but this is the video that I wanted to include. It is not from 2009. I like the choppiness of how the guitar riff is played. I also like when the camera goes to Ozzy and you can see him singing along... and Hetfield's laughter towards the end of the guitar solo...
And... flame me if you want - I don't care - I still contend that "St. Anger" is not the crap-ridden release that others make it out to be. I think SA is a great record. It can still receive a few spins in a row in my CD player & the title track is never skipped:
You wanted to know just what makes me tick,
I guess I could say that,
You and your bullshit,
Are pushing me towards an explosion.
I guess you're what drives me.
I wish I could ride you,
Drive you too fast into a sharp curve,
Break your neck like you broke my will,
The guardrail will take you home.
I guess you get caught up,
In the day-to-day,
Drama of being you.
To notice me,
And what's become of my eyes,
The vessels are an angry red,
Just like the blood from my
lips, as I chew on them.
I wish I could ride you,
Drive you too fast into a sharp curve,
Break your neck like you broke my will,
The guardrail will take you home.
I keep your picture as a reminder,
of what I wish I wasn't.
It's like a fun house mirror
version of myself, through
those f'ed up eyes of yours.
I wish I could ride you,
Drive you too fast into a sharp curve,
Break your neck like you broke my will,
The guardrail,
The guardrail,
The guardrail,
will take you home.
You can sleep with a gun but when u going to wake up and fight for yourself?
There are a lot of cool Metallica youtube videos from their recent hall of fame induction but this is the video that I wanted to include. It is not from 2009. I like the choppiness of how the guitar riff is played. I also like when the camera goes to Ozzy and you can see him singing along... and Hetfield's laughter towards the end of the guitar solo...
And... flame me if you want - I don't care - I still contend that "St. Anger" is not the crap-ridden release that others make it out to be. I think SA is a great record. It can still receive a few spins in a row in my CD player & the title track is never skipped:
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
It's MY JOB to READ!
And I didn't read the directions. Alex had a project due today and he and I worked on it last night from ~7:45-9:15. It was on Robert Feller, a baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. He was supposed to make a poster with pictures. I suggested printing pictures from the Internet, instead of drawing them, and gluing them on.
He is getting docked points for not reading the instructions that said, "Remember, not all of us are artist's (sp) so do your BEST Fourth Grade work in all of the drawing you do."
That means, no printing pictures from the Internet.
And this was an exercise in creativity how?
Also, he is getting docked points because it is not a colorful poster. Uh, the majority of the pictures printed were in COLOR INK! Hello?
Life goes on but I feel robbed...
He is getting docked points for not reading the instructions that said, "Remember, not all of us are artist's (sp) so do your BEST Fourth Grade work in all of the drawing you do."
That means, no printing pictures from the Internet.
And this was an exercise in creativity how?
Also, he is getting docked points because it is not a colorful poster. Uh, the majority of the pictures printed were in COLOR INK! Hello?
Life goes on but I feel robbed...
Buzzing along...
Lauren, on Techwr-L, posted this today:
I guess it would be best to avoid (or use, in some cases) everything generated
http://www.1728.com/buzzword.htm
http://www.robietherobot.com/buzzword.htm,
but this one is exceptionally lovely
http://www.elfqrin.com/buzzwgen.html.
More fun
http://www.westegg.com/cliche/random.cgi.
Enjoy!
I guess it would be best to avoid (or use, in some cases) everything generated
http://www.1728.com/buzzword.htm
http://www.robietherobot.com/buzzword.htm,
but this one is exceptionally lovely
http://www.elfqrin.com/buzzwgen.html.
More fun
http://www.westegg.com/cliche/random.cgi.
Enjoy!
RIP
Captain Chaos is dead. He was 75 when he breathed his last. I remember always thinking Captain Chaos was a funny comedian. I remember being taken to see "The Cannonball Run," the movie in which he starred and liking it enough that I purchased the movie on DVD.
My kids don't think CC is very funny, but maybe, someday, they will.
My kids don't think CC is very funny, but maybe, someday, they will.
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