Wow... it's been 2 weeks since I posted. I'm a bad blogger.
Been cleaning the house - getting ready for the holidays and the impending arrival of relatives. Haven't put up the tree yet, but I did go to Hallmark and get my yearly airplane ornament. WOOHOO!
Did the first shopping of the season yesterday - hit Toys R Us, and got some stuff for the rug-rat - which I hope he'll like and play with for more than an hour...
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Things I like
Scott Adams posted today a blog entry titled "Small Pleasures." In keeping with a positive vibe, I'll see if I can't come up with a few things that I like.
Finding a book that I wasn't expecting - from one of my favorite authors... and finding a favorite character on the first page.
Finishing a really good book. I close it, and then go back and look at the liner notes, and then if I can make myself do it, do a little ceremony where I place it into a slot in the bookcase. *reminder - shelve the books I have all over the place.*
The taste of the first bite of a piece of cheesecake that has been sitting on the table next to me for the duration of a meal. It HAS to be savored.
Opening the closet and finding clean clothes for work - without having to dig in the dryer. Bonus points if they aren't in need of ironing.
The feeling of satisfaction I get after hard lawn work - and putting all of the tools away - especially if there is a nice breeze, and it's not too hot.
Going through the images on my camera's memory card, and finding a singular *wow* image. It doesn't happen often enough. That's why I'm not a pro.
Having my cat rub against my leg. (usually when I'm in the kitchen, making lunch)
Making my wife laugh really hard. Doesn't happen enough - I'm not a comedian, but when it does, I feel good.
Watching my son realize something I said was funny - and seeing the smile appear across his face.
When my son says "I love you" and I haven't done something like give him a piece of cake.
Finding a book that I wasn't expecting - from one of my favorite authors... and finding a favorite character on the first page.
Finishing a really good book. I close it, and then go back and look at the liner notes, and then if I can make myself do it, do a little ceremony where I place it into a slot in the bookcase. *reminder - shelve the books I have all over the place.*
The taste of the first bite of a piece of cheesecake that has been sitting on the table next to me for the duration of a meal. It HAS to be savored.
Opening the closet and finding clean clothes for work - without having to dig in the dryer. Bonus points if they aren't in need of ironing.
The feeling of satisfaction I get after hard lawn work - and putting all of the tools away - especially if there is a nice breeze, and it's not too hot.
Going through the images on my camera's memory card, and finding a singular *wow* image. It doesn't happen often enough. That's why I'm not a pro.
Having my cat rub against my leg. (usually when I'm in the kitchen, making lunch)
Making my wife laugh really hard. Doesn't happen enough - I'm not a comedian, but when it does, I feel good.
Watching my son realize something I said was funny - and seeing the smile appear across his face.
When my son says "I love you" and I haven't done something like give him a piece of cake.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Fist of Death, Redux
The assault on my ears is incredible. I had to walk out of the office, being sure to slam my headphones down as I got up out of my chair, and tell one of my co-workers that I simply can't take any more of the LOUD NOISE from the other side of the cubicle equator. I was going for a walk, and not sure if I'd return.
I went to the skywalk, looked outside to see what was going on - then did a quick 180 towards the elevator. One of the guys in another department must have seen "the look" on my face, and he started laughing at me. I asked him what was funny - he said "What's going on?" I replied that the suite mates were driving me batty - then he told me that he used to be officed in the same suite, and it was just as bad then. AHA. It's not me. I asked him what he did to survive it - and he said "Exactly what you're doing right now. I had to take a lot of walks." We got on the elevator, and he asked me what floor - and I said "I don't really care. Whatever." He thought that was hilarious.
I did my sabbatical - walking out around the grounds for about 10 minutes, then returned to about the same atmosphere. Still a party going on over there - and the omnipresent tape dispenser was used to excess. (At least that loud FedEx guy hasn't been back in the past hour.)
Earlier in the day I asked the boss about moving to a different part of the building - even though I'd be away from my team, and he said "Something is in the works..." I hope something happens soon. I may have to bring my snake rake to work.
I went to the skywalk, looked outside to see what was going on - then did a quick 180 towards the elevator. One of the guys in another department must have seen "the look" on my face, and he started laughing at me. I asked him what was funny - he said "What's going on?" I replied that the suite mates were driving me batty - then he told me that he used to be officed in the same suite, and it was just as bad then. AHA. It's not me. I asked him what he did to survive it - and he said "Exactly what you're doing right now. I had to take a lot of walks." We got on the elevator, and he asked me what floor - and I said "I don't really care. Whatever." He thought that was hilarious.
I did my sabbatical - walking out around the grounds for about 10 minutes, then returned to about the same atmosphere. Still a party going on over there - and the omnipresent tape dispenser was used to excess. (At least that loud FedEx guy hasn't been back in the past hour.)
Earlier in the day I asked the boss about moving to a different part of the building - even though I'd be away from my team, and he said "Something is in the works..." I hope something happens soon. I may have to bring my snake rake to work.
Real man
Last night, my woman came in the house, commenting that a snake had taken up residence in the driveway, on the way to her gas guzzling SUV. I had just mowed the lawn, so I thought I'd disturbed a teeny little grass snake, so I armed myself with a flashlight, to go out and shoosh it along it's merry way.
About 12 seconds later, I was in the house, trying to figure out how to deal with a diamond back rattlesnake. This denizen of danger was threatening my life. Where's the 20 gauge shotgun, well folks, it's about 103 years old, so it's not getting fired. Plus I don't have any shells for it. A 9mm isn't much good against a snake, so I went back outside to consider my options.
I looked down, and found a clay pot with a dead flower in it... I picked it up and lobbed it -- directly onto the snakes head. PERFECT SHOT!!! I'd done it! I'd made it a non-snake! Yay me!!!
About 15 minutes later, I worked up my nerve to move the carcass after watching it... so I grabbed a big rake - not the leaf variant, the heavy metal, moving rocks and gravel variant. I started pushing the dirt, clay and snake, and guess what happened? The little bastard starts making a beeline towards the grass.
With a great big "UHNGGG!" I flipped the rake over and brought it down on top of the snake, killing it a second time. This time, it was definitely worse for wear. There was snake juice on the ground. Ewww.
Again, I considered my options. What could I do? Cut it up with a hoe? Use a shovel? I didn't really want to get close to it. VIOLA! I looked into the garage, and saw the perfect weapon - a 2003 Mercury Marauder.
I grabbed my keys, filed a flight plan for HEB, and rolled slowly out of the garage, straddling the demonic slithery thing. I straighted the car, and ran over the snake 3 times. I'm SURE it's a non-entity now. A former snake. It's passed on...
I went and did my shopping, and returned to a flat snake, and I showed a neighbor and promptly flung it into a vacant lot. Let that be a lesson to all snakes. Stay away.
Of course it was all of about 14" long... but hey, the only good snake is a dead snake.
About 12 seconds later, I was in the house, trying to figure out how to deal with a diamond back rattlesnake. This denizen of danger was threatening my life. Where's the 20 gauge shotgun, well folks, it's about 103 years old, so it's not getting fired. Plus I don't have any shells for it. A 9mm isn't much good against a snake, so I went back outside to consider my options.
I looked down, and found a clay pot with a dead flower in it... I picked it up and lobbed it -- directly onto the snakes head. PERFECT SHOT!!! I'd done it! I'd made it a non-snake! Yay me!!!
About 15 minutes later, I worked up my nerve to move the carcass after watching it... so I grabbed a big rake - not the leaf variant, the heavy metal, moving rocks and gravel variant. I started pushing the dirt, clay and snake, and guess what happened? The little bastard starts making a beeline towards the grass.
With a great big "UHNGGG!" I flipped the rake over and brought it down on top of the snake, killing it a second time. This time, it was definitely worse for wear. There was snake juice on the ground. Ewww.
Again, I considered my options. What could I do? Cut it up with a hoe? Use a shovel? I didn't really want to get close to it. VIOLA! I looked into the garage, and saw the perfect weapon - a 2003 Mercury Marauder.
I grabbed my keys, filed a flight plan for HEB, and rolled slowly out of the garage, straddling the demonic slithery thing. I straighted the car, and ran over the snake 3 times. I'm SURE it's a non-entity now. A former snake. It's passed on...
I went and did my shopping, and returned to a flat snake, and I showed a neighbor and promptly flung it into a vacant lot. Let that be a lesson to all snakes. Stay away.
Of course it was all of about 14" long... but hey, the only good snake is a dead snake.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Pffbbbt
After a financial debacle last month, I'm on financial time-out this month. Minimal spending outside of my bills and necessities. Poop.
Can't get my bling on... This morning on the way to work, I was thinking about how nice it would be to have an 80-200mm f2.8 lens for my camera. Oh, how nice indeed. Do I need it? Hell no. Do I want it? Hell yes.
On another front - my butt doesn't hurt quite as bad anymore. (Coccyx injury - tailbone bruise.) I guess it was just time - and trying to minimize my "down" time sitting.
I really can't wait for the gym by the house to open up. My plan is to spend at least 5 hours there per week, maybe more if I get obsessive about it.
At work, I've been hacking away at some Access database apps I'm building for InfoSec compliance. I'm just pleased as hell that I don't have to deal with Sarbanes Oxley.
That is all. Please return to what you were doing.
Can't get my bling on... This morning on the way to work, I was thinking about how nice it would be to have an 80-200mm f2.8 lens for my camera. Oh, how nice indeed. Do I need it? Hell no. Do I want it? Hell yes.
On another front - my butt doesn't hurt quite as bad anymore. (Coccyx injury - tailbone bruise.) I guess it was just time - and trying to minimize my "down" time sitting.
I really can't wait for the gym by the house to open up. My plan is to spend at least 5 hours there per week, maybe more if I get obsessive about it.
At work, I've been hacking away at some Access database apps I'm building for InfoSec compliance. I'm just pleased as hell that I don't have to deal with Sarbanes Oxley.
That is all. Please return to what you were doing.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
It's back...
The spinal biopsy packing tape that is... multiple times today, that hideous weapon has been used against my mind. I have gone through 2 batteries in my Sansa MP3 player today - and I REALLY HOPE the 3rd doesn't give up the ghost before work ends. 58 minutes isn't too much to ask Mr. Energizer, is it? PLEASE!
Tomorrow is a day off for me. I'm going to take the fam on a trip to see Thomas The Tank Engine. I Should Really Start Capitalizing All Of My Words. Kewl. That's L337. Don't want to be PwNeD at work. :-O
The powers that be, the big cheese, the big Kahunas that run this joint saw fit to give everybody 8 hours of leave to use during the holiday season. I must say, that's mighty civilized of them. The last agencies I worked for wouldn't ever do that for the folks.
Hopefully tomorrow will be fun, and I'll shoot a few hundred photos. Need to take the cam away from my eye from time-to-time to see what's going on around me though.
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