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Wednesday, June 30, 2004

 

8 year old adults

We just returned from the reception for David Fisher. His son Ben was obviously upset but was just being such a man. He held his composure better than I may have been able to do myself. The service was open casket and Noah handled himself very well. He became somewhat upset and tucked his hands deeply into his pockets refusing hugs and definitely refusing to step up to the casket with either Ben or myself. Ben was thrilled at Noah's presence. When they saw each other Ben lit up. Noah did a good thing tonight and it was hard. He is such a good child!

 
 

Driving Test Question

Trick Question (note: this is psuedo-safe for work but unlikely to be safe for guys to view it while sitting near your wives and/or girlfriends. Also, if your workplace is super-uptight about today's sexual harassment overkill you may just want to wait until you get home to click this link..of course, if that's the case, then they probably are equally as uptight about blogging and reading blogs online which means you are in trouble already anyway and you just might as well click the link.)


Link
 
 

Evening Choas

All adult focus now turned toward preparing for the receiving of our recently passed friend. The children's focus is torn between screaming for the adults, singingly loudly and repetitive to drown out the screaming, and being totally self-absorbed in video games and telephone calls. Sprinkle on a little anti-cleaning and you understand our moment in time.

 
 

Job Search Progress



 
 

Practice your stagger


Link
 
 

Come back here!

Ok. My skin is crawling off my skelton right now. Can you imagine what it would feel like to have a thousand ants crawling over you. Yeah.. that's me right now. And I haven't even overdone caffeine today!

I think I should take a 7 minute juggling break and finish it with a glass of decaf hot tea.

 
 

Free Magazine

Don't miss your opportunity to subscribe to Pig International for FREE!
Link
 
 

Goals

a) met with "barter" client DONE
b) finish Home Depot app DONE (took forever!)
c) clean kayak and complete sale
d) cold call realtors
e) answer a Good Samaritan
f) answer news paper ads (dry one this week.. maybe the sales section) In process
g) post resume on The Perfect Job
h) update LinkedIn.com profile
i) David Fisher's receiving DONE
j) create http://templates.sidesigns.com for reselling html templates on an affiliate program. These are the templates that will be applied to the content management system
k) apply for online sales coordinator position DONE
l) Prepare call list for tomorrow so I can hit the ground running on sales
m) Prepare script for making calls tomorrow
n) investigate Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). Do we qualify?
o) Investigate Temp Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Do we quality?

 
 

Not Business

The legal firm collecting for the TSAC student loan called me today to tell me that despite my request the autodraft couldn't be stopped and will go through today or tomorrow. He strongly recommended finding a way to "not bounce a check to the federal government." The statement was funny because if you read the full meaning into it the read should be "don't bounce a check to the federal government but bouncing checks to other people is ok." I don't want to bounce checks to ANYBODY!

So I dropped in on my "barter" client and learned that he really wants to only do barter and only if its not terribly expensive.

Maybe I can get some cash for the kayak today. I'll miss my outtings on the lake more so now that there is no hope of returning to them but we do what we have to do. One day I'd hoped to take that kayak down the intercoastal water way but if that were ever to happen I should be in a state that I'll be able to afford a new kayak anyway. Of course dreams like that and hiking the Appalachian trail are things that should be fulfilled when you are single and in your 20s anyway. I am not certain I could enjoy a 6 month adventure unless my family was with me.

 
 

Killing Animals

My brother reminded me of a bird incident.

My father, whose degree was in biology, taught me to respect animals with certain exceptions like moles (in my early teens I was asked to go check the mole trap and usually that required putting a shovel through the wriggling creature). Snakes you never kill. When I was 12ish, once in the woods with a friend we came across a snake and stomped it dead. We received no punishment over a slight scolding because it was a Hog-nosed snake and we had to deal with the stench the whole way we carried it home.

The bird. So, I'm near 14 years old and moving. My best friend and I take my bb gun out to the woods (in New Orleans, Kenner actually, this amounts to roughly a field of 12 feet tall weeds with bike paths) and we are shooting at rabbits and dragon flies. I don't mind the rabbits because they just run away. Dragon flies were cool to shoot because they were so abundant you didn't feel like you were killing something. It was akin to swatting a mosquitoe. Of course, dragon flies were color coded too. The green ones were easy kills. Blue a little tougher. Orange very hard. Red near impossible to get. Shooting at the birds bothered me. It's my turn to shoot and we see a black bird up in a dead tree. At my friend's urging I draw a bead on it. I aim true and then decide I'll miss on purpose and just scare it off. So I raise the bb gun so that I'm point above its head. I breath in then with a slow exhale I squeeze the trigger and thwack! As you've probably guessed, I nailed it! The bird goes from sitting upright on the branch to hanging upside down. Its wings fall open to look like this black upside down cross with what looked like blood flowing from both wings. It hangs for what seems a long time then it falls bouncing on every branch in a way that would have made the Warner Brothers (someone should tell them their home page does not work in Mozilla) proud. It was a horrific scene. I tell Dad the story and he explains to me that it was a Red-winged Black Bird and is a protected animal. I felt badly.

Red winged black bird in weeds
Red winged black bird in weeds

 
 
A New Day!

Let's start the day off with a PayPal donation link:


This Morning
I stayed up for a bit after getting home and watched the end of Star Trek - Nemesis thanks to video on demand so this morning I really wanted to stay in bed longer. Today shall be interesting.



 
 

Ye ol' babblings

First off, running 70 mph (112 km/h) through the mountains on a 25 mph (40 km/h) road is exhilarating and I can understand why I used to do that in college. However, I don't need that thrill again any time soon. Thank goodness a deer, bear or ranger didn't jump out and get me.

Seeing the vulture was definitely a highlight of the evening!

The mock casino went well and although I had to throw back to my thespian vocal training and spend the whole night talking "from the diaphragm" to overcome the noise I managed to maintain my voice. Turns out the mock casino was for some cemetary organization (I joked that the party would be dead). And I about died when their fearless leader gets up on the microphone and says "if you run out of money, you can buy $25,000 more fake dollars for $25 real dollars." Every so often one of these fake casinos has the misfortune of becoming a "real" illegal casino when handled in such a way. The leader of the company that puts on the casinos was very quick to jump to the microphone and make some corrections to the rhetoric to make our casino legal again. They haven't done an auction in sometime. I miss those. It was fun cracking jokes with the audience and pretending to be an auctioneer.

On the way back I pulled over at one of the lookouts to observe the mountains, the near full moon, the fire flies and the somewhat distinct smell of bear. When the area around you resembles the aroma of a petting zoo, tis best to get back into the car.

The drive home was leisurely. I resisted the urge to do more white noise (audio blogging).

Time to whisper appliance descriptions into my wife's ear.



 

Tuesday, June 29, 2004

 

Arrival - 0:46

this is an audio post - click to play


 
 

Vulture - 1:37

this is an audio post - click to play


 
 

Babbling continued sprinkled with politics - 3:32

this is an audio post - click to play


 
 

Pointless Babbling - 5:00

this is an audio post - click to play


It's a shame the radio didn't come through.. It really sounded like "the station Billy Crystal uses for all his movie sound tracks." Later it became some real good bluesy rock.

 
 
On the road. Trying to make an hour and a half trip in 40 minutes.

--

Mobile Email from a Cingular Wireless Customer http://www.cingular.com


 
 

Job applied for.....out of town

I just applied for this ColdFusion Developer contract job. 3-6 months. They'll have to front some travel money if they want me.



 
 

These are the tedious things that get in the way

I just spent an enormous amount of time retyping my resume into a "text only" version for a company that doesn't like the word format. However, now that it is done, it will be easy to maintain.

Time for snack break and to rest my eyes from this monitor. When I come back, quickly copy a cover letter and shoot it off along with this text only resume.

 
 

Listening Pleasure

Today's listening for productivity is "The Very Best Of Todd Rundgren." When I was gandering the CDs I saw "Al Green Greatest Hits" and could not hold back a chuckle because I read it as "Al Greenspan's Greatest Hits" and parody and music titles like "Easy Money" "Money for Nothing" "The Rates Are Going Up" "Under Wallstreet (to the tune of Under the Boardwalk)" etc came to mind.

  

 
 

Here's a concept I missed

Usually my good friend and I are exceptional at predicting trends in technology. I completely missed this one! Your retail stores like Home Depot, Target etc go through such turnover that they are now require applicants to sit a terminal to apply. The interesting thing is this terminal simply goes to an Internet job site so you no longer have to get dressed to apply for minimum wage jobs because you can do it from the convenience of your house!



 
 

Business

1 successful business meeting set for July 12th. So how do I live until the money starts coming?

 
 

This picture better shows the depth of the trench. I should have taken a picture of the stuck Jeep but my mind was a little focused on wenching it out. Ropes can be seen on the hood of the green car in the first picture. Click on the pictures for a larger view.  Posted by Hello

 
 

You might be a redneck post sorta implied that I got the Jeep stuck in my own backyard. Well... I might have been driving it through a spot that I've planned to put a gray water discharge so there is an L shaped trench and two deep holes. The arrows show the intended path of the Jeep. The circles show the 4 axle deep holes that the 4 cooresponding wheels of the Jeep ended up in. Ooops. (really 2 holes and a trench) Posted by Hello

 
 

Too soon.. Too young..

FISHER, DAVID CLARK — age 37, of Knoxville, passed away Sunday, June 27, 2004 at UT Medical Center. He was a member of All Saints Catholic Church and a Network Engineer for Freightliner of Knoxville. Mr. Fisher is survived by: his wife, Michelle Fisher; son, Benjamin; and daughter, Carley Fisher; parents, Jack and Carolyn Fisher all of Knoxville; brother, Jeff Fisher of San Antonio, Texas; sister, Amy Blizzard of Alcoa, TN; and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 30, 2004 at Highland Memorial Park, Funerals and Cremation, 5315 Kingston Pike. A Funeral Mass will be said at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, July 1, 2004 at All Saints Catholic Church with Father Chris Michaelson officiating. Interment will be in Highland Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made for the children to the David C. Fisher Fund: AmSouth Bank, 8921 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37923. Arrangements by Highland Memorial Park, Funerals and Cremation, 588-0567.




Link
 
 

Goals

a) submit for CF position in Charlotte NC (requires text only version of resume)DONE
b) apply at Home DepotIn Process
c) Cold call real estate agents
d) deal craps at mock casino tonight (leave by 5:30) DONE
e) email friend regarding website on monthly fee
f) contact "barter" client for a brief meeting DONE
g) set meeting with "pay later" client DONE
h) email contract agency saying "I can do XML" DONE
i) Confirm casino time as 7:30pm DONE
j) Make payment arrangement with KPA DONE
k) write marketing blurb for self for websites
l) create banner ad for self for websites
m) write 30 second sales pitch for self
n) contact D.R. for BNI meeting DONE
o) drop Noah off at a friend's house DONE
p) contact friend to let him know I have an AOL 9.0 disc for him DONE

 
 
A New Day!

Let's start the day off with a PayPal donation link:


This Morning
I want to go back into the warm bed. My mind is racing because there is so much I need to be doing. It's hard to be calm when it feels like all the walls are crumbling around you. I need to spend 2 hours at a temporary agency to get a job that won't pay my bills and will get in the way of me making sales calls but .. oh I don't know.

Tonight I deal craps at a mock casino although what I will get paid will probably just cover gas with a little let over.

 

Monday, June 28, 2004

 

Dungeons and Dragons

I took Tommy to play D&D at his friend's house. I really appreciate the guy that is DM'ing. He has gone out of his way to really help these kids have some normal social time and he is being extremely patient. Tommy is having a tough time staying under control but so far has not been unbearable. Despite my constant reeling Tommy back in the game is very fun and relaxing for me too. I needed the break.

 
 

Tommy's appointment

I took Tommy to his doctor's appointment and the doc took some time to let me know Tommy is feeling more depressed than usual because of my job searching. (there was a lot more to it than that but in summary - and it was good conversation). He recounted a story of a very successful friend of his that ended up as a cashier. Many people have suggested that I will end up in retail at minimum wage. Is this a polite way of telling me that I'm not as good as I think I am? They nicen it with "this market just doesn't support you" but do they really mean "your fire burned out buddy! your horse died! Get off the traiL! Yer in the way!"

 
 

Good people!

A couple of kind souls have donated today and I understand deeply what it means when a poet says something has "warmed his heart!" I have felt so terribly beat down recently that this act of kindness actually created a physical warmth inside my chest! I'm not ashamed to say I started to tear up.

Thank you!

 
 

Lights out

Well now, I feel about worthless! The bastards They cut my power off anyway even though I'd negotiated for 5pm today! Talk about embarassing! All the kids say "Hey! What happened?" "Uh, well... yer Dad's a bum and the world is angry with him and you are feeling the brunt of it." I'm surprised we don't hear all the time in the news that these meter people are being shot. I asked, "why didn't you tell me before you did that?" and he replies "we don't do that anymore." I only lost about a half days work in job searching.... Again, when things are going poorly the system works twice as hard to get in the way.

 
 

Glow in the Dark

Here's a cool sounding job.. Note, this is for working in Oak Ridge, TN (that's the place where the nuclear bomb was made and where the DoD still produces its nasty weapons) "WNP Fallout Specialist I"

 
 

Collectors

MBNA called.

Looks like I'm going to spend the day talking to collectors. That's the interesting thing.. when they want the most from you they require more of your time be spent with them instead of spent earning the money that they want.

 
 

Hourglasses

I hate seeing hourglasses on computers! Why won't anything move at my speed?!

 
 

Collectors

So Sears, perhaps the most obnoxious of collectors, calls while I'm upstairs and I say "hang on. I need to put you on hold a sec." That was so I could take the call downstairs. I place the call on hold and head downstairs to find that they've hung up. I guess they'll call in another hour.

I think it's ridiculous to have collectors ask that you hold for an operator but they won't hold for you to discuss collection issues outside of your kids earshot.

 
 

Yesterday's passing

Noah's best friend's father passed away yesterday. Apparently the car accident had placed him in a coma and they were giving him 72 hours before making the decision to pull the plug and he decided to go on his own.

The newspaper and news stations never gave any mention of the accident. The only details are rumors. The father and his son were on the way to the grandparents to pick up the little sister. He was on a 5 lane road (2 northboard, 1 turn lane, 2 southbound) that most West Knoxvillians regularly drive for one reason or another. The speed limit on that road is 35 mph (56 km/h)[if I recall correctly] but frequently cars are in excess of 50 mph (80 km/h). The rumor is that some teens in an SUV were driving too fast in Friday's torrential rains and hit him head-on on the driver's side of the vehicle. One doctor said he had never seen such severe brain injury. The child was thrown from the back seat to the front seat to be saved by the airbag. Were it not for the airbag he would be dead too.

The child called yesterday and cried for Noah to come visit with him. He said "I don't care about toys. I just want to talk to you." Noah bravely and calmly went to visit. Pretty heroic actions on the part of 2 eight year olds. I had the pleasure of being with one of the neighbors and was able to watch from afar as the boys greeted each other in the street. The neighbor on her own accord commented on their bravery. Everyone recognizes that these children are being forced by circumstances to "act like men."

The feelings here are somber. Each of the children is in deep throught. Tommy relinquished himself to his tent for awhile after given the news. Noah had tears, pulled himself together then made that difficult phone call. (I still ponder whether or not Noah fully understands the family structure. There is a piece of me that wonders if Noah thinks "dads" are replaceable.) Sarah always internalizes and rarely lets things out. Cathy is quite upset. I am scared that I won't be able to pull things together for my family before it is too late.

I did not know David that well although I believe the two families, ours and theirs, were just starting to become closer. When the leaves drop in the autumn I can see their house from my dining room window. However, it has made me put serious thought into how severely insane it is to be having lived one fifth of my life (the past 7 years) without insurance. To have 4 children and a wife and not have life insurance and health insurance is ludicrous. Daily I have stress pains in my chest and sides and hold such tension in my chest that I often wonder if I'm not experiencing small heart attacks. The thought of leaving my family in such chaos, financial turmoil and completely without means terrifies me. The knowledge that if something happened to me my health care could conceivably be inadequate because of my financial status pisses me off. The rich always get better care. I was reading in the paper that some companies are now hiring without giving health benefits. The industry will have to change soon but I doubt it will happen without the US sinking into a health care dark ages.

 
 

And it begins...

TN Lottery Results and SI Designs appear to be down.

 
 

Goals

a) brew coffee DONE
b) finish XML example - failed to work DONE
c) contact contract agency with XML example DONE
d) write high level spec for "barter" client
e) contact at least one recruiter In process
f) contact TSAC collectors and stop autodraft DONE
g) send fax for overseas friend to help him with a US problem DONE
h) find marketing for risque but potential lucrative venture DONE
i) take Tommy to doctor's appointment DONE
j) (while Tommy at docs) visit with Protemp DONE
k) (while Tommy at docs) drop in on old client
l) Pay KUB DONE
m) Contact friend Randy for social networking In process
n) Contact friend in DC for social networking
o) find marketing for local developers

 
 
A New Day!

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This Morning
I feel like I'm going to throw up. My nerves are shot!

By not sticking to my guns by going home after church I feel like I let myself down and let my family down. However, I would not have traded yesterday for anything. I really enjoyed my time with my family.

We will make it through this. I'm going to take today one step at a time.

 

Sunday, June 27, 2004

 

7:30 and nothing yet

So, 7:30 has rolled around and I have made no headway in my preparations for tomorrow which means that tomorrow will be spent making preparations for a productive Tuesday.

 
 

A house for us!

Here's the estate that my family needs! NIKE MISSILE BASE & UNDERGROUND HOME UNDERGROUND HOME WITH POOL,SAUNA & SAUNA

You are bidding on 1 Nike Missile Base,complete with 3 missile silos. 1 silo has been converted into a home that I have lived in for over 20 years. My home has an underground pool with 9,000 gallon aquarium in the end of it.A fire place with a water fall and goldfish pond, and a swinging rock for entry to wood storage. A hot tub and sauna and 10x30 ft elevator that enables me to park 3 of my classic cars in the family room.The astro turf in the family room is from the Bengals football field.The elevator doors over the elevator and pool open to flood light into the house. Each silo has 5,600 sq.ft.of useable space.Both of the other silos have an elevator 55ft long x 10ft wide with steel doors covering them to keep out the weather that are hyd. operated.The property also has several out buildings. (1)barracks 36x200+ ft (has a bad roof) (2) maintenance garage 40x40 (3) generator building 20x40 (4) horse stable 40x40 (with outside riding arena)all these buildings are concrete block. (5) above ground bomb shelter 40x30 with 16" thick poured concrete walls. (6&7) 2 small guard shacks. on 14.58 acres. security fenced with remote controlled gate, city water(all water lines have been replaced) The property is on state route 262 in Dillsboro, Indiana. We are only 30 minutes from Cincinnati, Ohio

This is a fun and very private property that also has many possibilities as a business site.I am taking bids on this property to see what kind of interest I get. The property is for sale but the min. bid is 500k.The property will be shown by appointment only to only qualified buyers.Any questions please email me at [removed].

Item Specifics - Residential Real Estate
Sq Footage (Sq. ft.): 5600.00
Setting: Rural/Country
Property Type: --
Number of Bedrooms: 4
Property Address: 8854 s,r, 262
Number of Bathrooms: 2
City: --
Year Built: 1958
State/Province: Indiana
Lot Size (acres): 14.58
Zip Code: 47018
Sale Type: Existing Homes
For Sale by: Owner
At the time I looked at the auction the current bid was US $1,250,000.00


Link
 
 
Mentally and physically exhausted. During church I decided I'd bail on the family and spend the afternoon on the computer. Instead I gave into lunch and swimming. Now the evening is here and all I want to do is lie in bed and watch television.

 
 

Great day!

It was implied but never stated that yesterday was a wonderful day! Lots of productivity and during a stress break I made great headway on the yard moving a rik of wood, filling the void left by the removal of the 2nd 3rd of sidewalk, seeding the manure, cleaning the driveway, and packing the trailer full of old rusty fencing and nasty mosquitoe breeding guttering. Only received one poke! Hmm.. When was that last tetanus shot?

I even decided to move the peach tree. I will dig out a huge ball and use the Jeep to drag it. If I kill in the process it is no worse off than it is now. If I succeed in re-planting it and it lives then we will have an upright, fruit bearing peach tree near our future garden and grapevine! I may try to winch it to the trailer rather than drag it.

 
 
A New Day!

Let's start the day off with a PayPal donation link:


This Morning
I have mixed feelings about today. I will make a choice and be happy with it. Everyone is supposed to go to church today. I feel like I should stay home while everyone else goes. Of course, everyone is going swimming afterwards and I really enjoy the swimming plus I feel better when I am helping to keep a watchful eye on the kids--the more pairs of eyes the better!

Goals should be:
a) finish xml example to secure contract
b) submit multiple resumes to ads in paper; broaden horizon to sales jobs and possibly call centers
c) write high level specification to help secure "barter" client as pay or partial pay
d) Review marketing piece to make sure it is ready and convincing so that I can rapidly send it out
e) search jobs online for contract work in Asheville, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Lexington, and Nashville
f) contact Randy
g) clean Kayak for sale

Goals will be:
a) Take Tommy to church DONE
b) Swim with family in pool DONE
c) cook dinner
d) settle kids in for dinner
e) try to finish xml example
f) send email to contract agency regarding xml abilities
g) write high level spec for "barter" client
h) send email to "barter" client
i) contact Randy for appointment

Tomorrow:
a) avoid mental breakdown
b) pay power company
c) Give plasma
d) Call TSAC and stop autodraft of student loan payment
e) visit "barter" client
f) visit IRS office
g) apply for job at Home Depot (of all the low paying jobs, I think this has the most appeal)
h) visit unemployment office
i) visit Randy
j) sell Kayak
k) make several sales calls
l) Take Tommy to play D&D with his friend

 

Saturday, June 26, 2004

 

The excitement begins

Ok. I spent $60 of our last $100 on food tonight. That leaves $40 to pay for gas and food while trying to find a job and wait for the first paycheck to come (usually 2 weeks right?). Let me tell you. This is a wild ride! I've begun looking at pawn shops differently.

I wonder how much plasma brings in now-a-days and how frequently I can give.

More realistically I wonder what incentive I can give people to pay me a deposit to get to working on their web sites, wireless lans, computer repairs, etc. immediately.

Nailing a couple of consulting gigs would go a long way right now.

 
 

Tragedy

One of my son's friends was just in a car accident with his father. The boy is fine except for extreme mental trama. The father has suffered severe brain injuries and is unlikely to improve.

Please hug your loved ones today. Tell them how much you love them. Never part company angry. And remember things are never as bad as they seem.




 
 

You might be a redneck if...

If you have the tools and the knowledge on how to get your Jeep unstuck from a large hole in your yard, you might be a redneck.

If you have the capability of getting your Jeep stuck in your yard, you might be a redneck.

If you actually get your Jeep stuck in your yard, you might be a redneck!


 
 

Good Attitude

Undaunted by adversity I am highly motivated toward productivity today.

Blue Oyster Cult is certainly helping. Screaming, unhappy children are not. I feel like I should be upstairs helping reduce the wife's stress.



 
 

Goals

a) Contact friend, Randy, for social networking
b) clean up Kayak for sale (no final ride)
c) get rest of manure out of trailer DONE
d) load trailer in preparation for a trip to the dump DONE
e) convert http://www.tnlotteryresults.com to XML using an XML data island so it can be used as a recent example to secure a contract In Progress
f) update dice.com
g) more pricing effort on "barter" client - ie. high level spec
h) email friend confirming availability to deal craps at 2 mock casinos DONE
h) help an overseas friend deal with a US problem DONE
i) move one rick of wood from one part of the yard to another part of the yard DONE
j) Cook dinner. DONE

 
 
A New Day!

Let's start the day off with a PayPal donation link:


This Morning
Sleep deep but woke achy. Decided to floss teeth couldn't find floss. Did stretch though. Let Tommy get on my nerves and I became snappy. Looked at Amy's unhappy wrinkled face and was reminded that is not a path I want to walk. Decided it best to leave the room for a few and come back with a different attitude.

 

Friday, June 25, 2004

 

What next?

As everything else comes to a head, the IRS decides to start breathing down my neck. Let's suffice it to say that last fall my attorney wanted me to give him $1000 retainer to begin straightening this out (I am certain the final bill will be 5 times that) but didn't want me to do anything until I could bring him all my paperwork in order. Hmm.. Seen my house? The paperwork is anything BUT in order.

So this is how we come to make those difficult choices in life.. Does one choose to live under the bridge or jump off of it?

 
 

Do I know XML?

So I get this email:

I noticed you had some XML on your resume. How much experience and how
recent is your experience with XML? I have a contract that just came
for dealing with XML that may be a possibility for you.


The problem is the only reference to XML on my resume is circa 2002. (btw, if you are going to look it wouldn't be complete without also looking at brief 1 and brief 2) I reply that I know XML very well because I believe I do and that obviously there is more to the job than what the initial email implies. To make sure I'm not fooling myself, I run out to the W3 Schools and spend the evening reviewing XML history, standards etc. Of course, the first thing I see is this joke:


Question: When should I use XML?
Answer: When you need a buzzword in your resume.


For my level of skill, XML is far from rocket science. But to make sure, I took the W3Schools XML test. My results appear below:


W3Schools XML Quiz
Result:
20 of 20
100%

Perfect!!!

Time Spent
3:23


 
 

Poetry: Addiction

Tim of Spy Journal has written some exceptional poetry. I used to enjoy dabbling in some writing and presenting it at coffee house poetry readings until one day I read something that the guy I looked up to as a respected poety responded with "What the f*(& was that?!" He didn't mean it in a bad way but it made me a little bashful about presenting poetry anymore. However, there is one small piece that I wrote around 1992 that thought needed to be read (the recording didn't come out as well as I expected. Now that audioblogger.com has arrived I can put up some poetry. Special thanks to Tim for the inspiration!

this is an audio post - click to play

Addiction
I am addicted!
Oh I can't get enough
7 times a week
24 times a day
60 times an hour
60 times a minute
Oh I can't get enough
Hey you! Can I have some of yours?
Just a bit
Please!
All I need is a little more
Time.


 
 

Bad scene

Had a huge blowout with the wife. We went to pick up Sarah from her week away at camp. Everyone is happy and Cathy does something innocent and for some reason I found it intolerable and got upset. Cathy unhappy with me driving angry made a comment and I blew up worse and ended up parking the car and started to walk home in the rain. Made a complete ass of myself in front of Cathy and 3 of the kids. I feel horrible. How could I have been that way? There was no good in it and my chest still feels absolutely hollow inside. I question whether or not my heart beats. Of course to add insult to injury was the power cut off notice when we got home.

 
 

Scheduled Power Outage

According to the nice pink note that appeared on my door sometime between 1:30 and 3 my electricity is scheduled to disappear at 5pm if $300 doesn't magically fly out of my hindquarters. No matter how badly you hate your job, be thankful you have one.

While trying to make arrangements to keep power the person on the other end of the phone says "Is there anything else I can do to help?" and my reply was "Yes, don't vote for Bush!"

 
 

Political

Cheney says the F word and Bush gets fighting mad! AP Press picture of GW



 
 

Nervous

Phone interview in 6 minutes,social networking call (and a very good one), stomach in knots, this morning has been anything but normal, hot as hades in the office.

 
 

Tech Time

Researchers warn of infectious Web sites

The researchers believe that online organized crime groups are breaking into Web servers and surreptitiously inserting code that takes advantage of two flaws in Internet Explorer that Microsoft has not yet fixed. Those flaws allow the Web server to install a program that takes control of the user's computer.
Now that's a reason to use Mozilla Firefox!
Get Firefox


Link
 
 

Goals

a) telephone interview DONE
b) update dice.com
c) email friend regarding dates for helping him
d) email pay monthly prospect DONE
e) contact Linksys re support question
f) email "barter client" DONE

 
 
A New Day!

Let's start the day off with a PayPal donation link:


This Morning
Gentle rain outside. Pleasant to listen to except for the occasional memory that both the windows in the Jeep are down and the thought that kids didn't zip up the tent. I wanted to stretch out because my back is aching so much from sitting in this horrid wood chair but the time is flying this morning and I've got to get productive. Main goal is to prepare for a decent phone interview. If all goes well I'll have 4 large companies offer me jobs at the same time!

 

Thursday, June 24, 2004

 

Political

Cheney utters "F-word"

According to Senate rules, profanity is not permitted in the chamber. But when the exchange occurred between Leahy and Cheney, the Senate was not in session so there was technically no foul.
Technicality or not I don't think that's any way for a vice president to act.


Link
 
 

Twinkle Twinkle I'm in the Stars

this is an audio post - click to play


 
 
this is an audio post - click to play


 
 

Today's Quote

It is a good thing to be rich, it is a good thing to be strong, but it is a better thing to be beloved of many friends.
- Euripedes


 
 

Webrings

I've always been bothered by webrings for some reason but my wife created Big Family Bloggers and I have joined!

Now off to pick up a child.

 
 

The Car Wreck

youthofbritain.com/chillout is getting a lot of press. My original post (doesn't say anything more than this post)

 
 

Progress?

Another local company that I am very excited about has contacted me directly wanting a phone interview for tomorrow.

 
 

Memory Lane

I have to post this so I can get the window off my screen. When I was 7 or 8 my brother and I inherited my father's 45s (that would be a record for those that don't know) I also had some 78s and 33s of course. We had these until they became a victom of a mass cleaning around age 13. Anyhow, a few of the songs stuck so strongly in my head that every month or so for some unknown reason I hum the tune and a few lines to myself.

I originally thought this one HERE COMES THE JUDGE by Pigmeat Markham was on the B-side of The Monkees D.W. Washburn (D.W. Washburn plays in my head more often and more frequently than any other song I can think of).

Here are the lyrics:
HERE COMES THE JUDGE
Pigmeat Markham

Hear ye, hear ye
This court is now in session
His Honor, Judge Pigmeat Markham presidin
Hear ye, hear ye, the court of swing
It's just about ready to do that thing
I don't want no tears, I don't want no lies
Above all, I don't want no alibis
This Judge is hip, and that ain't all
He'll give you time if you're big or small
All in line for this court is neat
Peace brother, here comes the Judge
Here comes the Judge
Everybody knows that he is the judge

Everybody near or far
I'm goin' to Paris to stop this war
All those kids gotta listen to me
Because I am the judge and you can plainly see
I wanna big 'round table when I get there
I won't sit down to one that's square
I wanna lay down the law to them that brought it
I'll bust some head because I am the judge
He is the judge, he is the judge

Who's there? I is. I is who?
I is your next door neighbor
Order in this courtroom, order in this courtroom
Judge, your Honorship, Hi sir
Did I hear you say "Order in the Court?"
Yes I said order in the court
Well, I'll take two cans of beer, please
He is the judge, he is the judge
Everybody knows that he is the judge

I had a chat with Ho Chi Min
With cheap rice wine and chased with gin
Won't take long unless I miss my guess
I'll have you out of this doggone mess
I sent a cable to Bob and Mac
Let them know I'm comin' back
Sit right down with Rock and Nick
Teach them boys some of Pigmeat's tricks

Oh, oh judge, your Honor, Pigmeat said
"Don't you remember me??"
No, who are you, boy
Well, I'm the feller that introduced you
To your wife... to my wife?
Yeh, life! You son-of-a-gun you
Come November, election time
You vote your way, I'll vote mine
Cause there's a tie, and the money gets spent
Vote for Pigmeat Markham, President
I am the judge, vote for Pigmeat
I am the judge, vote for Pigmeat
Now, everybody knows I am the judge


Link
 
 

Progress?

The recruiter called with a possible temporary contract whilst we wait for the other company to come through!

 
 

Shaky Ground

Today I am shaky and didn't want to go to the trouble of fixing lunch but had a quick hotdog. While in the kitchen I absolutely felt like I wanted to pass out.

 
 

So difficult for the small business man


Link
 
 

Stay Low


[10:02] <ConqSoft> Friend of mine caught this out his back window last night: http://www.conqsoft.com/lightning.mov
[10:03] <slammmed> loud audio lol
[10:05] <ConqSoft> The audio doesn't do it justice.
[10:05] <ConqSoft> He said.
[10:05] <ConqSoft> It shook the house and tripped two breakers. Never lost power though.


 
 

I present to you an example of sheer stupidity. I post this picture knowing that the card has to have been cancelled by now as this link is going all over the Internet. He posted the picture for an ebay auction of a Rolex watch. This is the same as walking through the mall with several hundred dollar bills hanging out of your back pocket. Posted by Hello

 
 

Goals

a) send information to person requesting pricing DONE
b) send pricing to business seeking to pay monthly for a website
c) send pricing to "barter" prospect
d) take Tommy to STAR DONE
e) finish updating dice.com

 
 
A New Day!

Let's start the day off with a PayPal donation link:


This Morning
Woke this morning with my stomach in knots as my brain rushed through a variety of things done and things that need to be done. This was in that half sleep half wake stage so it took some effort to bring myself around and into some semblance of calm.

I decided to do some stretching and start the day right but got into a conversation in the hello picasa chat program. The day I installed it someone signed up as a friend. The conversation was utterly brief and he disappeared so quickly that I couldn't help but wonder if I offended the person somehow. Of course, for all I know it was a 12 year old kid looking for porn. The Internet is certainly the last place to take things personally but incidents like that reinforce my belief that manners are disappearing, people's phone skills (chat is nothing more than phone typed) are declining, and communication is becoming more succinct and impersonal.

Time to brew some coffee and wake Tommy.

 

Wednesday, June 23, 2004

 

Relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda



 
 

sssSCIence!



 
 

Movie

I don't know how long this one will last so enjoy it while you can. Entire text reproduced below:
'Harry Potter' Loses Potency Atop U.S. Box Office
Sunday June 13 2:23 PM ET

Harry Potter as a devout high-schooler who gets pregnant following an unsuccessful attempt to cure her boyfriend of homosexuality, has earned $3.7 million to date. The $5 million film was released by United Artists, a unit of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.

I found it! Reuters feed Read the first and last paragraph. The Yahoo page either messed up on the feed or a disgruntled or soon to be fired employee was having some fun.
Seems to have gotten a lot of press!


Link
 
 

Victorinox SwissMemory
Buy me one! Pleeaaasssee!

SwissMemory features:
  1. USB memory with 64MB memory stick
  2. Blade
  3. Nail file
  4. Screwdriver
  5. Scissors
  6. Key Ring
  7. LED mini light
  8. Retractable ball point pen



 
 

Post written in India.


This picture was taken by a friend of mine so I know for a fact that it was not photochopped.  The story:

While checking out of Walgreens with her toddler the cashier gives her one of those small flags (presumably since July 4th approaches). The "MADE IN CHINA" sticker just could not be ignored!

(click picture for a larger view)Posted by Hello

 
 

Brains! Brains!

I put that adorable picture of Amy up to replace my psycho looking profile picture but in that scaled down version I can't help but look at it and have it scream "brains! brains!" at me. Time for a new picture.

 
 

The new earth is walkable! I should have rolled it out or something and am certain I'll need to add more dirt but its nice to see things coming together. Our squirrel says "Welcome to the nut house!" (click picture for a larger view)Posted by Hello

 
 

Grass grows fast in manure! I like this picture of the grass and weed. I say weed instead of weeds because my blog is already attracting the drug culture with references to tetrafluoroethane huffing and canned air. I figure if I mention weed and grass then 'shrooms from the horse dung (better say mushroom too) that I'll really pull in the curious person looking to melt their mind. Of course, after reading my blog they have have the effect they wanted without the expense! Hope your day is as trippin' as mine! Posted by Hello

 
 

MS Patents Your Body!

Microsoft has been awarded a patent for using human skin as a power conduit and data bus. Patent No. 6,754,472, ...

For example, a watch, pager, PDA and radio may all include a speaker." To reduce the redundancy of input/output devices, Microsoft's patent proposes a personal area network that allows a single data input or output device to be used by multiple portable devices.
DoCoMo also works on this technology.


Link
 
 

Networking

Got client's networking issue resolved over the phone! I had set a gateway on the nics and once removed they worked again. Win2000 has a problem with losing the USB devices and I may need to update some files later but hopefully they will be up and trouble free for awhile.

 
 

AT&T can't compete.

The company said it would no longer offer the services, as a bundle or individually, to new customers in Ohio, Missouri, Washington, Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas and New Hampshire, where almost 38 million Americans live.
That's AT&T. My long distance carrier for 10 years+ I suppose that means for existing customers the rates will go up or stay the same but in no way be competitive. Time to find new LD.
"The ability to bundle local and long-distance services has become an essential aspect of competition in the long-distance market," said AT&T spokeswoman Claudia Jones. "AT&T and other competitors will not be able to effectively compete in the residential long-distance market without a viable local product."


Link
 
 

Hydrogen Cars are here now!

Environmentalist standup! Hydrogen Cars

If you can’t wait five, 10 or 20 years for the much-touted "hydrogen economy," then step right up: Several companies are ready to sell you vehicles that run on the fuel that's much cleaner and gets higher mileage than gasoline or diesel.
There is a Hydrogen Hummer and a Hydrogen Shelby Cobra!


Link
 
 

Goals

a) finish fixing client's network issue DONE
b) update monster.com DONE
c) pay cable DONE
d) email "barter" prospect DONE
e) hand deliver ovedue paywork to GirlScouts for Sarah's upcoming camp DONE
f) cook dinner DONE

That's it. I'll add other goals after completely those. The wants are:
1) program on TennesseeLotteryResults.com
2) work on DomesticPsychology.com
3) clean in office
4) have money poor pour into my lap (translation: do some good work and be paid appropriately and appreciated for the work)
5) work on finances
6) take the kayak out one last time before selling it
7) work on the yard

 
 
A New Day!

Let's start the day off with a PayPal donation link:


This Morning
Woke at 3:40, 5, 6 and got up at 6:30. Must focus on solving the client's network issue. The wireless network was performing too slowly or cutting out when they were trying to share files on a particular accounting package so we kept the wireless network up for their internet connectivity and used the nics and a hub to connect the machines directly. I would have preferred to use a crossover cable but didn't have my crimping tools with me. Note to self: add network toolkit to computer doctor bag. The issue now is that the two machine talk over the nics (metric 1) but as long as the nics are enabled they won't use the wireless for the internet connectino (metric 5) Obviously the computers are seeking the Internet on the wrong network. nics are on subnet 255.255.255.224 and wireless on subnet 255.255.255.0. Wnoder where my DNS and Bind book is?

Yesterday
It was very difficult to not fall into "poor me" mode but the preacher's words on worry kept me positive and despite the stresses I made it through. Yesterday morning I parked in the parking garage instead of the lot because the sign on the parking garage implied cheaper parking and it looked like rain. Turns out it was valet parking. Cars pulled in behind me and I let it go but something felt wrong. Walked half way to my destination to relize I left them my entire keychain which has one of those tiny credit cards hanging off of it. Ran back and got them to give me everything but the ignition key. Left for the office without my umbrella and decided not to go back for it. In the office 1.5 hours of work turned into 4 hours without the proper finish. When I return to the parking garage they don't have change for my $20 bill and it takes what seems like 1/2 hour for them to run around to businesses and banks trying to get change.

At least afterwards I had a nice lunch with the father in law and was able to get his computer to print his expense reports.


 

Tuesday, June 22, 2004

 

Goals

a) visit downtown client without getting a parking ticket DONE
b) update monster.com
c) followup with monthly residual prospect
d) sit down with planner and review overdue action items
e) submit 1 resume/cover letter
f) make a sale
h) have lunch with father in law DONE

 
 
A New Day!

Let's start the day off with a PayPal donation link:


This Morning
Want to slip into a panic attack but I keep talking myself out of it.

The father-in-law's preacher told a story on Sunday and the father-in-law recounted it to me. I'll try to convey it the best I can.
The preacher has always had his paychecks delivered to the middle drawer of his desk. He didn't want anything more interaction than that. He simply knew on payday the check would be in his desk. The church gets a little modern and starts using direct deposit so now on Friday at 12:01am his check will be deposited into his bank. As he has some bills to pay this makes him nervous. He begins to worry. And on Tuesday goes online to check his statement only to find the check has not been deposited. On Wednesday he finds the same. His worry continues and on Thursday no money has been deposited. He decides to set his alarm for 12:01am Friday and get up to see if the money is there. Just before going to bed he changes his mind and resets the alarm to its normal time in the morning. Friday morning after waking up at his normal time he checks his account and sure enough the money is there.

He worried Tuesday and nothing happened. He worried Wednesday and nothing happened. He worried Thursday and nothing happened. He learned that things happen when they are supposed to happen and all the worry in the world is not going to change that.

Ironically before his worry began he was preparing a surmon on "worry."


I have been worrying too much and the worrying has been impeding my productivity. Time to let things happen when they happen.

 

Monday, June 21, 2004

 

Bush2004

http://www.bush2004.com Look closely!

The backstory
...Bush supporters who have offered to pay as much as $135,000 for the domains. He declined to sell, citing animosity toward the incumbent president as the chief reason.


Link
 
 

GMail Tech

Using GMail and logging for POP3 access or the ability to send all your other emails to your GMail account? Those are here now! Pop Goes the GMail allows you to check GMail using any POP3 email client (like Outlook or Outlook Express). mbox and maildir sucks your email from your other accounts and sends them to your GMail address.



 
 

How we are found

Yesterday someone found my blog by searching Google for "cooked chipmunk in dryer". I come up as the 2nd listing on the results!

I love the Internet!

Here are my last 20 searches:
29 May, Sat, 23:07:24 Google: motorola v400 ring answer length
31 May, Mon, 13:48:44 Google: geocaching reality television
03 Jun, Thu, 06:39:27 Google: billy teeths buy
04 Jun, Fri, 14:02:49 Google: teenage asperger's
04 Jun, Fri, 15:28:02 Google: juggler bottles
04 Jun, Fri, 18:07:48 Google: naked 5th graders
04 Jun, Fri, 19:53:51 Google: "spectrum fairness"
07 Jun, Mon, 03:59:55 Google: huffing canned air
11 Jun, Fri, 12:37:43 Google: shaggy eatting pizza Scooby Doo
11 Jun, Fri, 17:58:11 Google: tetrafluoroethane huffing
11 Jun, Fri, 18:49:36 Google: "libby lu" teen girl target
12 Jun, Sat, 01:00:10 Google: resume juggler new orleans
13 Jun, Sun, 22:31:24 Google: libby lu's in atlanta
14 Jun, Mon, 15:26:43 Google: credit card swipper cleaning
14 Jun, Mon, 18:42:15 Google: juggler + blogspot
15 Jun, Tue, 16:40:36 Google: "fix USB port"
18 Jun, Fri, 00:47:51 Google: tetrafluoroethane huffing
19 Jun, Sat, 10:25:56 Google: tetrafluoroethane huffing
20 Jun, Sun, 07:01:18 Google: autonomous lawn cutting system is called the “Weed Eater”
20 Jun, Sun, 12:56:02 Google: cooked chipmunk in dryer

"naked 5th graders"?!!! 1) Who would search for that?! 2) Why would it find me?!! (that's evident. 5th graders reference is Sarah's field trip etc and naked is in many references to Amy and Tommy) I get an awful lot of finds on "tetrafluoroethane huffing".

 
 

Goals

a) prepare for morning meeting DONE
b) go to morning meeting DONE
c) see daughter off to church camp DONE
d) call friend regarding a website and maybe sell him my kayak DONE
e) send pricing to person requesting information about a website
f) decide how to proceed with "barter" client
g) submit 1 resume/cover letter
h) update monster.com
i) update dice.com
j) Aspie support group
k) Lunch DONE
l) Support wireless network client
m) send pricing to friend regarding website
n) answer friend about helping him in June and July
o) send friend confirmation on price of kayak


 
 
A New Day!

Let's start the day off with a PayPal donation link:


This Morning
Completely and utterly wigged out.

 

Sunday, June 20, 2004

 

Goals

a) some home repair DONE
b) swim with the kids DONE
c) review "pay comes later" site in preparation for meeting
d) cook dinner DONE


 
 

Lost Humor

Somewhere along the line this comedian traded humor for stress. My wife often cracks jokes that I respond way too seriously. I want my humor back!


 
 

Book Recommendations

I've been given two boook recommendations. I cannot review these yet but they come highly recommended from a good friend.

The Church Beyond the Congregation by James Thwaites and SoulTsunami by Leonard Sweet

  



 
 
A New Day!

Let's start the day off with a PayPal donation link:


This Morning
The inlaws had Sarah, Noah and Amy for the night. Wahoo! We could sleep in except that my body won't let me.

Had a pleasant phone call from my brother where I talked his ear off.

Called my father to wish him a Happy Father's Day.

 

Saturday, June 19, 2004

 


Cathy suggested these pictures should be done in order. They are too big to render in a line in most people's browsers so I will describe them assuming you are reading left to right and top to bottom.

The first picture (shows a soccer goal) is to the leftmost of what we all call "the lower lot". Beyond the burn pile is the area that has a grapevine and will become a garden. This picture was actually taken from the bottom of the driveway.

The 2nd picture. View from the dining room window. The stuff on the right is being trimmed back.

The third picture is the view directly behind the house. Notice how our private jungle encroaches upon us. Note: all these "hello" pictures can be clicked on for larger images.

The fourth picture. Here is the rest of our rain forest down the backside of the house. View still from dining room window and to the right of the initial dining room picture. Posted by Hello

 
 

This is in the lower lot directly behind the house and is being cut back dramatically to be landscaped after it is under control. The tree in the right hand corner is the dogwood that is seen with the bird feeders from the dining room window. Posted by Hello

 
 

Amy the Innocent

A couple of nights ago Sarah left her container of makeups unlatched (Amy can't open it when its latched) and lying on her floor beside her bed. The kicker is that while Amy raided the makeup, Sarah was on her bed reading a book and taking no notice of Amy's activities!

Who me? "Come on! I didn't do anything..."

I give in! "OK! You busted me..."

I want to be my big sister! "I just want to be like Sarah sooo badly!"

Ewwwww "Eeyuck! Look what I did!"

I'm clean.. "I'm clean! It's the tub's turn!"


Once again, Goof Off comes to the rescue!


 
 

Tommy Hides

This is how Tommy spends an unusually large portion of his days now. Yes, like Prego, he's in there!
Tommy hides
In all fairness, here is Tommy up and about. He is walking the grandparents dog in our cove (our house to his back).
Tommy hides


 
 

Don't talk to me until after my first cup

Looks like its "kill people's bandwidth day"! I hope everyone has a broadband connection.

Noah before his first cup of coffee.
Gimme Joe!

 
 

Pineapple Bacon and Cheese Toast

With Judith's great recipe posts as my inspiration, I decided to post some pictures of one of my favorite quick and tasty breakfasts. I woke one morning in my early teens to the smell of bacon cooking and watched my father make this. Never being one to shy away from trying new foods I chowed down and loved it! Thanks Dad!

Ingrediants
slice bread
1 slice of bacon per slice of bread
1 slice of cheese per slice of bread
1 pineapple slice per slice of bread

Cook the bacon. Lightly toast the bread. Apply a pineapple slice to each slice of bread. Break a bacon strip in half and place the bacon across each pineapple. Then place a piece of cheese over the bacon.

preparing the sandwich

Place the prepared sandwiches under the broiler for a few seconds to melt the cheese onto the bacon and pineapple. Best served warm.

preparing the sandwich

Enjoy!



Link
 
 

Tim Dragged Me In

Tim of Spy Journal posts Bush Shoot Out. It's a quick fun game without being impossible. I'm playing on the hardest level now and finding myself taking one too many breaks to have a quick bout with the terrorists! Thanks Tim!
Link
 
 

Huffing - Canned Air

I probably get a hit a day to my blog from people searching for information on "tetrafluoroethane huffing". I don't know if these are concerned parents or experimenters looking for instructions on how to do it safely. THERE IS NO SAFE WAY!

Live healthy, eat healthy and you will have natural buzzes that beat anything a substance can give you!

My original post from April appears in the box below.
I had a question about my "canned air" reference. This is neat stuff. The chemical composition is 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (at least in the Fellowes brand that I buy). It's a chemical under pressure that is typically used to blow dust out of computers. If you turn it upside down the chemical will spray out in liquid form and can freeze ants or be used to remove bubble gum stuck to something.

I found it interesting that when I bought this at Walmart I had to have an "age verification" which severely slowed me down at the self-serve checkout. This forum discusses the "blackouts" and "paralysis" caused by huffing canned air. Would You Know If Your Child Was "Huffing"? (scroll down to see article. Note 1999 publish date.)

    

Link
 
 

Goals

a) remove crayon from clothing DONE
b) clean floors
c) 1 home repair effort
d) some yard work

 
 

From the Mouths of Babes

Amy has been no stop talking this morning. I love conversing with her!

Amy brought out one of her Little People toys and I said "Now get the ladder" and she replied "Awwlwite" Sounds like Buckwheat when she says that. She brought me the ladder and after trying to hook it to the toy said "fix it."

I just said "oh, you need the flag" she said "awlwight. be right back." Apparently the flag is too well hidden.

 
 
A New Day!

Let's start the day off with a PayPal donation link:


This Morning
Woke feeling youthful and achy tired and old at the same time. I was remembering what it was like to be around 18 years old and pondering how I might guide, advise and mentor my children when they are in their late teens. Then I lay in bed and tormented myself with the things that I have to do and tried to prioritize them.

Yuck. I just felt something crawling up my leg. I figured it was an ant. Reminded me of that time when I was about 12 and stepped in a pile of fire ants down at the levee at Lake Pontchartrain. I lost all my inhibitions right there and stripped my pants down in front of my friend and everyone that passed by. Better to be naked in public than to go to the hospital! This time it was an ant..it was a firefly! How did a lightning bug end up in my pants leg at 9am!

Today I am rested and content. Amy is up and more jolly than ol' Saint Nick! I looked at some photos Cathy sent me from the pool yesterday and they made me feel a little "extra" fatherly. They reminded me of the pictures I've seen of my father in his younger days.

 

Friday, June 18, 2004

 

Fun Swim

Had a wonderful time at the grandparents neighborhood pool with the kids. I spent most of my time with Amy. I need to make more time for the others on the next swim. Amy kicked and I gave her as much freedom to experiment with "swimming" as I thought she could handle. We even played with getting dunked and she responded with surprise and giggles.

Tonight the boys are with the grandparents and the girls are with us.

 
 

From the mouths of babes

Amy, so tired she's ready to sleep standing, crawls into her bed. Cathy hands her a pacifier. Amy almost pops it in her mouth, perks up and says "Heeey! Not that one!" It's a red pacifier that every time you give it to her she rejects. Her "hey" was like Fonzie! And the "Not that one" sharp and quick.

 
 
My wife is troubled and stressed. I am a bad husband.

 
 

Sweaty

Ripped up more of the sidewalk. I've got to get the rest of the manure out of the trailer so I can use the trailer for other things. Didn't intend on getting hot and sweaty today.

 
 

When it rains....

Why does everything fall apart at once?! I am making such horrid decisions as a parent.

 
 

Runner

Run, Run, Run as fast as you can!
Don't slow down that'd be crazy man.
Hurdle this obsticle and dodge that.
Move fast and leave behind everything
Incomplete or slow does not matter now.
Because if you run fast enough, somehow,
You can hide until the end.

 
 

Sadness

Our 2nd Geocache has been stolen.

I do not understand why people do things like this. This one I can actually do understand...a homeless person found the ammo box and liked the looks of it. It's still not right.

 
 

Goals

a) fax invoices DONE
b) decide whether to pay cell bill or request a later pay date DONE
c) call "want to build it in the spring" prospect DONE
d) call barter prospect
e) brew coffee DONE
f) update Monster
g) update Dice
h) submit resume for Technical Programmer DONE
i) read a book DONE
j) work in the yard DONE

 
 
A New Day!

Let's start the day off with a PayPal donation link:


This Morning
Woke at 4:51 and ALMOST got up.

This day promises to be stressful if I let it or relaxed if I don't.

Recruiter gave a promising phone call yesterday on two positions now the challenge is to keep the power on and the phone lines open. Does anyone hire someone they can't call or email?





 

Thursday, June 17, 2004

 
And they were the size of coconuts!

 
 

Goals

a) submit 1 resume to 1 ad from Sunday's paper
b) submit 3 resumes to a company I've been eyeing
c) visit downtown client (don't park in front of fire plug) DONE
d) trade in cell phone
e) arrange time to help rid a friend's computer of viruses
f) take son to STAR
g) contact customer service and push off paying cell phone until end of the month
h) contact if you build it eventually money will come client DONE
i) contact barter client
j) contact "want to build in the spring" prospect
k) call about a sales position
l) Finish cleaning crayon'd clothes

 
 
A New Day!

Let's start the day off with a PayPal donation link:


This Morning
Up and at em. Not as early as I'd like but earlier.

 

Wednesday, June 16, 2004

 
Time to make dinner.

 
 

Tommy with Friend

Tommy has gone to play at a friend's house! He was so excited I thought he'd explode!

 
 

Boom!

BOOM box
Check it out! Plays music and shoots missles too! Shelf Help System. Just enough power to give your fro a comeover!
Thanks to Gizmodo for the link!



 
 

Progress

Made contact with 2 recruiters, neither looking that optimistic.
Sent resume to one personal contact for a potential telecommuting position.

 
 

Today's Car Wreck

Remember, I told you not to waste your time Cows With Guns


Link
 
 

Meanie

I lost it and said unfair harsh words to my wife who has been fighting a migraine. End result is she's back in bed in pain when we intended to have lunch together and I'm in charge of all the kids.

I'm going to cause us to lose everything!

 
 

For I Carry My Own Drum!

My life is such a wicked adventure. I am so overjoyed that I chose the path least traveled!

 
 

Political

This one is WORTH watching Salon's ad for the free day pass Reagan blasts Bush

"My father crapped bigger ones than George Bush," says the former president's son...
Ron Reagan was much less subtle in his assessment of the Bush presidency, denouncing it as "overly aggressive, overly secretive, and just plain corrupt."..."My father was a man -- that's the difference between him and Bush."
"The big elephant sitting in the corner is that George W. Bush is simply unqualified for the job... What's his accomplishment? That he's no longer an obnoxious drunk?"
This editor's note from Salon deserves reprint:
Editor's note: As the Bush crowd worked shamelessly last week to wrap their man in the holy shroud of Ronald Reagan, the dead president's son, Ron Reagan, delivered an eloquent eulogy that discreetly signaled his conviction that Bush is no Reagan. "Dad was ... a deeply, unabashedly religious man. But he never made the fatal mistake of so many politicians wearing his faith on his sleeve to gain political advantage," said Reagan at the burial service for his father on Friday, and there was no mistaking the meaning of his words.
Futher quotes from the article least it disappear into archives..
What if a group of concerned citizens approached him and helped raise money for his entry into politics -- would that make a difference? "You mean like they did with George W.? 'Hey, you've got name recognition, that's all that matters -- we'll give you millions of dollars to run!' Imagine coming to a man with just two years' experience in public office, and a ceremonial one at that. Imagine installing such a blank slate in the presidency of the United States! This is a regency, not a presidency.

"And they told us, 'Don't worry about W. not knowing anything, good old Dick Cheney will be his minder.' Dick Cheney? And this was going to be compassionate conservatism? Dick Cheney is to the right of Genghis Khan, he wants to drill in your backyard, he wants to deny black people their rights --it was all there in his voting record for us to see. What were we, rubes?"
Special thanks to South Knox Bubba for the exceptional summary and link and of course to Betty Bean that brought it to Bubba's attention.


Link
 
 

Dark Cloud

The day is going to the crapper already. Late start. Mess of desk knocking things over. Fat fingering the keyboard and making idiotic mistakes. Too much white noise! Ring, hum, buzz. Why do monitors have to squeal? What's up with that whine a television makes? Why can't a CPU fan be silent? What's up with that ringing in my ears when I put in ear plugs? Even light bulbs make noise!

 
 

From the Mouths of Babes

I gave Amy some dry cereal (Cookie Crisp if you call that cereal) and a cup of milk. She runs to the fridge and opens the door saying "Baby milk" and I say "you already have milk." I close the fridge and she shakes her head back and forth saying "no no no" so I let her open the fridge, get the milk and she takes it to her bowl and cup. I ask "in here?" pointing to the cup and pour her some more. She says "milk cookies" so I concede and pour some milk in with her cereal and she becomes happy.

She's a riot! This morning has been chatter chatter chatter. "My toy!" "Noah eat!" "alright alright" "hot hot hot" (when the tea kettle whistled) Dad says "No food on the couch" Amy replies "alright" and backs up. "What are you doing?" (to Noah) "My cereal" "Noooo oh"

Amy laid down to eat her cereal and I told her "you'll spill it" and it spilled all over her. Fortunately I didn't put that much milk in it. When I fixed her a new bowl she did a dance repeating over and over "Baby cereal" (that could be "Amy cereal")

 
 

I took a quiz!

My inner child is sixteen years old today

My inner child is sixteen years old!


Life's not fair! It's never been fair, but while
adults might just accept that, I know
something's gotta change. And it's gonna
change, just as soon as I become an adult and
get some power of my own.


How Old is Your Inner Child?
brought to you by Quizilla


Greenplaits gets credit for encouraging me to take this quiz. I anticipate the dialog my wife has for me over my results.

 
 
Cathy nurses a migraine.
Amy arises.
Sarah sleeps on the couch.
Noah lounges on the floor.
Tommy reads D&D waiting for his bus to arrive.
I want to concentrate on my goals but cannot divide my attention. Guess its time to play with the kids.

 
 

Goals

a) submit resumes to ads from paper
b) call headhunter re: sales job DONE
c) followup with barter client 1
d) followup with pay comes later client 2
e) give sister some hosting options
f) call techical staffer in NC DONE

 
 
A New Day!

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This Morning
Odd sleep last night. Woke at 4am but could not inspire myself out of bed. One day it will come! At 7am I was wishing Tommy didn't have summer school.



 

Tuesday, June 15, 2004

 

Taffy

The left half this way
The right half that way
Me up
I down
Myself twisted around

The left hand types
The right hand writes
You yes
She no
Everyone else go go go

One must create
Two must destroy
Hers for fun
His to annoy
Ours to live on in joy

Yes
No
Maybe
Don't decide
Ambivalence is crazy



 
 

Stormin

Thunder! Storm cometh. Dog cowers. Boys play. Jeep gets wet.

 
 

Eek! Procrastination and powerfailures

Hmm. The figures for the quote I'm trying to prepare were unsaved on a document that was lost when the power flicker last night shutdown my laptop. Oh well.

 
 

Audio Pleasure

Cat Stevens "Tea for the Tillerman"

Link
 
 

Focus Time

Light the incense.
Don the headphones.
Turn up the music.
And get the groove on.
Do the dumb things
You gotta do.
Touch the puppet head!

 
 

Another industry goes to India

Report finds outsourcing of religious services in US

Facing shortage of priests, Roman Catholic Churches in the United States, Canada and Europe have for years been "outsourcing" religious services to India and other developing countries, says a newspaper report.
Thanks to South Knox Bubba for the link.



 
 

When in VA keep your kids close

Va. Tells Men: No Sex With Young Girls

The state is posting billboards with messages such as "Isn't she a little young?" as part of a campaign to dissuade men from having sex with underage girls.
In 1999 and 2000 in Virginia, men over 18 were responsible for 219 births involving girls who were 13 and 14...
The Washington Post requires registeration to view their articles. If this bothers you, http://www.bugmenot.com/ has a login and password already made for you to use.



 
 

Jane Public



 
 

Stats?

What stats program do you use for blogging and what do you like about it? What do you dislike about it?

 
 

Today's Goals

a) replace that horrific profile picture (made with cell phone) with something that doesn't look quite so psychotic
b) submit resume to jobs in Sunday's paper
c) apply to Home Depot
d) look at contract opportunities in Raleigh, Nashville, Asheville, Chattanooga, Altanta, Denver and Boulder
e) evaluation/bid of web application project
f) cook breakfast for boys DONE
g) followup email to client DONE
i) read a chapter in a book DONE
j) short game of D and D with the boys DONE
k) return phone call and email to recruiter regarding Raleigh NC job DONE
l) clear memory of phone and see if its performance changes DONE still bites
m) email resume to recruiter DONE
n) get ad in papers announcing Monday's Asperger Support Group
o) cook lunch for the kids DONE
p) cook dinner DONE

 
 
A New Day!

Let's start the day off with a PayPal donation link:


This Morning
I woke at 3:30 and should have pulled myself out of bed. Regretfully I slept until 7am. Fortunately I woke then because I had to get Tommy out of bed.

So once again I find myself questioning, "Why do I blog?" I began it as an anonymous outlet to vent; something cheaper than a shrink. But I found it had a life and refused to stay anonymous. Blogging is also fun and addictive! Do I use it to release too much emotional baggage? Should it be a technology report instead? In an irrational fit of anger or stress do I blurt out unreal hurtful feelings? My journals have always been magnets of negative feelings; best to get those out and keep the good feelings in! These questions arise because Tommy's teacher has become a reader of Tommy's blog (or a one time reader) and she is a nice person that tries hard with Tommy but I wonder (and will have to put aside some time to review the archives) if anything harsh was written. Our only frustrations with her have been in what appears a lack of communication. "How was Tommy's day?" "We had a great day!" Meanwhile I'm hearing about Tommy swinging baseball bats at kids or setting off panic alarms in the main office. Now, that could be her style and in the big picture those incidents may not have been significant. We could also be spoiled by having such astounding communication from his 7th grade teacher that openly reported what was going on good or bad and frequently (almost daily) did it over the phone. She solicited our input and we accepted her suggestions. It could also be dictated by the administration that she minimize communication with the parents and our real beef is with the administration, not the teachers. The administration consistently fills our IEPs with what seems to be false promises or fails to provide for us some of the same accommodations that other more functional students than Tommy receive.

"Does blogging hurt?" So has this blog interfered with my finding a job? I think not. I think my efforts have not been strong enough. I have considered taking the blog down while I search for a job but really once on the Internet, always on the Internet. Thanks to The Wayback Machine and regular backups once you publish, it's alway there! Have I offended anyone? Probably. My views are not always mainstream and I'm certain someone has become irrationally offended. If so, my apologises. I am sure it will happen again.

"Who reads this?" I originally was writing to myself. Then to my wife. Now I mostly write to my wife but I am happy that I have a somewhat regular readership and I am pondering ways to better write for them. Some of the readership I know and some I am surprised when I learn about their interest. I think having readers is exciting!

 

Monday, June 14, 2004

 

Today's end

Overall a good day. My cell phone even turned cooperative for a bit. I promised myself some reading. I'm going to do that now.

A thunderstorm has rolled in. I should have had the top back on the Jeep. I'd kill for some materials to build a carport or garage. The sound of the rain is pleasant. Let it wash away the pains of the day.

Roll in rain,
to clear my brain
Dust be gone,
let me see again
Mists rise,
invigorate my soul
Fog of the morn,
run from my mind
With a glimpse,
of tomorrow's bright sunshine


 
 

Dinner

I love cooking dinner for my family! Particularly when dinner is breakfast. We cook 17 eggs to feed our family! I don't think most families would comprehend buying that many much less preparing that many in one sitting. How about 2 gallons (7.5 liters) of milk every 1-2 days?

I feel like we are in a movie!

 
 

Today's Audio Pleasure

For concentration, the soundtrack from "Rushmore." Brilliant film. Brilliant soundtrack by Mark Mothersbaugh (Devo)! Wow his credits rock!

 nbsp;

 
 

National or World Juggling Day

I am getting conflicting information but this site lists today as World Juggling Day. Throw something in the air today!


Link
 
 

Ticket

Decided just to pay the ticket despite my belief that in principle I was conned. Instead of wasting time drying downtown to pay it I will mail it. I write the check, fold it in half and "rip!" it tears. What is Murph trying to tell me here?! Is this a sign that I should appeal?

Ugh! Such a typical example of how everything turns into something more than it should be!

--
Live and Learn, Karmically something has to turn! --me, 2004

 
 

Tortured!

I made my invoice but my software won't print without crashing. I'm also running out of time to waste half a %^$#( day driving downtown to pay or appeal a parking ticket. If I don't do it today things get nasty.

 
 

Ever voyuers dream

Japanese invisibility cloak 'augments reality'But now Japanese scientists have turned fantasy into reality by creating an invisibility cloak that makes it possible to see straight through its wearer. He, or she, simply vanishes from view.



 
 

Another gremlin

So I get my invoice for services done last week put together and try to print it and my software blows up.

 
 

Estimate faxed

Wow! I completed a task!

Estimate faxed.
Email tech support completed.

 
 

Nervous Breakdown Pending

Cell phone has got to be traded in today!!

Note: Half the ^%$%&(* day is gone and I haven't done anything productive!

 
 
today i feel old

 
 

So hard

I really feel like I'm frequently cursed. Everything seems to take so much more effort for me. My cellphone is very non-responsive..like the software is low on memory. It has also quit making noises. I just did a test call and it doesn't ring anymore. I double check all settings and the volume is set the loudest it can be.

So I pass on troubleshooting that and continue to make my phone call to compusa. The number has been changed or disconnected.

Does problem and problem after problem happen to other people? I thought our society is supposed to be advancing. Great! We live longer but we spent more of our lives wasting our time! I'd rather have a shorter life with less headaches!

 
 

Productivity?

The wife is up and its time to....tech support.

 
 

Video Game Brain Damage

Yesterday I declared it a day of no electronics and we got more work and play out of the boys than we have in ages. Today, Noah has already put in over an hour of play on his Gameboy and already he is walking around like a drooling zombie.

  

 
 

Big Brother II

The Son of Patriot Act Also Rises

While activists and politicians work to repeal or change parts of the Patriot Act that they say violate constitutional rights, Patriot Act II legislation -- which caused a stir when it came to light last year -- is rearing its head again in a new bill making its way through Congress.
The bill would strengthen laws that let the FBI demand that businesses hand over confidential records about patrons by assigning stiff penalties (up to five years in prison) to anyone who discloses that the FBI made the demand. The bill would also let the FBI compel businesses to cooperate with record requests, and it would expand the government's secret surveillance powers over noncitizens in the United States.
This is scary. Starting to sound like the old Soviet Union.


Link
 
 
A New Day!

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This Morning
Slept through the night (I think). Up at 7am to rouse Tommy and do my stretching exercises. I almost talked myself out of the stretching but man does my back ever feel better for having done them!

Goals?
a) submit resume to jobs advertised in yesterday's paper (this should have been done yesterday)
b) decide whether or not to accept a 2nd interview for a job I am far overqualified for that pays $9.50 per hour more than I am getting now DONE
c) do something with my parking ticket (either pay it $25 or appeal it-$0 or $92) DONE
d) find a contract immediately
e) sales calls
f) follow-up letters to previous sales calls
h) evaluation and bid on network project and web application project
i) trade in cell phone for one that works
j) fax invoice for services rendered DONE
l) eat lunch DONE

 

Sunday, June 13, 2004

 

Exceptional Dinner

I'm going to compliment myself on this one because the steaks came out just right!

Helped Noah collect ants for his ant farm. Strange. These little things I once or twice a year battle to get them out of the house I am now bringing into the house on purpose. Couldn't help but stare and watch them work.

Amy was jazzed to be home. She obviously had a blast this weekend and was quite wired. She ran around giving everyone big hugs and had a perpetual smile on her face. I think she loves her trips with her grandparents but is always excited to return home.

Done out. Time to lay in bed with the wife.

 
 

Most of hardwoods

My typically weekly cleaning includes scrubbing the hardwoods minus the bedrooms. That's done.

Time to cook dinner.

 
 

Kitchen cleaned

Whew! Kitchen cleaned and I mean CLEAN! Scrubbed all exterior surfaces (inside the cabinets and fridge alluded me). Moved the appliances and scrubbed under them. Scrubbed floor.

Onto hardwoods...

 
 

Gaming

Tommy, Noah and I played an adventure in Dungeons and Dragons and had a blast!

 
 
Tommy just ran over one of my dwindling supply of moving straps with the lawn mower. I can't be angry at him although he is supposed to look where's he is mowing. I have to be angry at myself for not putting it away in the first place. I don't want to waste energy being angry. Just learn learn learn. Two steps forward one step backwards.

 
 

Decision made

It was not Noah I heard but Tommy. Cathy has risen also. So I decide to make breakfast.

 
 
A New Day!

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This Morning
As we lay down to bed last night my wife comments "there is no baby here tonight. You don't need to wake up at 2am, 4am and 6am." I questioned the 2am. The 4am is an alarm I have oft set. The 6am is the other alarm. I said "no problem. There are no alarms set." I woke at 1:45, 3:30 and 6am! I finally dragged myself from bed around 9am because our visiting dog (we have the inlaws dog while the inlaws have our girls) was barking and I just knew that if she didn't get a walk there would be more mess than I was sure was already upstairs (she prefers to poop on our wood floors instead of the grass).

The next debate. As my family sleeps, what is my next move?
a) Cook bacon, eggs, toast and sausage DONE
b) Clean my office and/or desk
c) Get the paper and submit resumes
d) Work on automating one of my websites (the stages: make database driven, grab data automatically)
e) Read a book
f) Home repair
g) Clean the garage
h) Play Dungeons and Dragons with the boys DONE
i) Work on wife's web projects
j) Weekly cleaning of kitchen, bathroom, wood floors minus bedrooms, and wood floors in the bedrooms
k) Fix lunch (sandwiches) DONE
l) Cook steaks for dinner DONE

Noah rises.



 

Saturday, June 12, 2004

 

In Review

The day was action packed.

Worked in the yard removing old fencing, hidden garbage (raccoons and previous owners), and brush.

Got upset with Tommy over his decisions in the kitchen then I felt bad and relized I need to use words of affirmation with him and help him learn.

Sent Sarah and Amy off to middle Tennessee with the grandparents.

Took the boys and wife to see Shrek 2. What fun!

Bought groceries.

Had a wonderful dinner.

Watched movies with the wife and found sleep.

 
 
A New Day!

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This Morning
I lay in bed in that state half between sleep and have been awake and just completely wigged out. I sometimes drifted awake enough to look at the clock. It was totally a panic attack.

As I got up and dealt with a collection call from evil Sears I started to come around and relax. Upstairs I stretched and Amy and Noah use the opportunity to play daddy-jungle-gym. Prior to the stretching Amy had wanted some time with Noah. He had cereal with milk in it and insisted hers have milk too. As soon as I helped her she said "bye bye daddy" and sat right up against Noah for some quality time with her big brother. Spending some time helping the kids have a block stacking contest was a thrill and relaxing. Sarah is a sore loser.

Now for an hour of clearing the yard.

 

Friday, June 11, 2004

 
Had one sales call today and mostly stared at the computer beating myself up mentally for not being on the cover of Fortune500 already.

 
 

Missed Opportunity

I'm just not he ebay guru I should be Gmail Invitation Prices Crash

On Monday morning, invitations to join the testing of Google's Gmail Web e-mail service were still fetching as much as $100 on eBay closed auctions. By Wednesday afternoon, sellers were lucky to crack the $20 mark.
Between my wife and myself we could have scored $600. Now had we invited some of our other email addresses and those received invitations we could have made our monthly sales goals! Of course, being a nice guy I just gave my invitations to people online that I've never met in real life.


Link
 
 

Nation Mourns Reagan's passing; Business stops

Nation Bids Final Farewell to Reagan My wife explained that Tennessee is the only state not participating. However, that did not stop several of us from going to the post office today. One poor elderly gentleman rang door bells and hobbled around confused. I explained what was going on and he replied "wasn't the funeral yesterday?" He further inquired "are any post offices open today? I drove 20 minutes to get here." A kind lady advised he could still mail his packages and I translated for his near deaf ears. One of his packages was obviously a bottle of pills and considering the medical tape he used to secure the brown paper on the package I wasn't sure it would mail. The lady had the insight to suggest using a priority mail box then made her exodus. I took some time to help him get the box labeled and we priced it for first class. His other package was appropriately wrapped but weighted in at $5.60 postage even at 2nd class. I could get it down to under $2 if he sent it as "bound material" but I wasn't sure that would float. He needed the postmaster. The two packages also exceeded the amount of cash he had without breaking a $20 and he had no desire for $14 in dollar coins.

He was obviously frustrated and I was sorry I couldn't help him more. I wonder how functional I'll be at his age and whether or not he should be driving.


Link
 
 

Dad Taxi

Time to run Noah to his friend's house. If only a major street didn't separate them they could ride between the two houses all day long.

 
 

The Latest Car Wreck

This is almost not worth the post. It's techno driven music and once you start watching you won't stop but in the end you'll send me emails asking if you can have those 2-4 minutes of your life back but I'll have to say no because "I warned you." http://www.youthofbritain.com/chillout/


Link
 
 
A New Day!

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This Morning
Slept like a rock. Time to rush off for a sales call.

 

Thursday, June 10, 2004

 

Irony

So I open up my Iwon window and this is the quote I see (immediately after that previous post):

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is a beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is life, fight for it!
- Mother Teresa



 
 

Marking up life

My life would be a lot better if I had a decent dry erase board.

 
 

Another reason Downtown Knoxville sucks

this is an audio post - click to play


So, do I appeal?

 
 

My Family's Emotional Needs

I was just thinking about The Love Languages.

The 5 Love Languages as defined by Gary Chapman are:
1. Words of Affirmation
2. Quality Time
3. Receiving Gifts
4. Acts of Service
5. Physical Touch

So here's my guesses for my family:
1. Words of Affirmation -- Tommy
2. Quality Time -- Cathy, Amy (although she might be Acts of Service)
3. Receiving Gifts -- Sarah
4. Acts of Service -- me
5. Physical Touch -- Noah

  

 
 
A New Day!

Let's start the day off with a PayPal donation link:


This Morning
Woke at 4:15 and really got out of bed. Sat at the computer and was there for 15 minutes! Then the bed monster sucked me back in. I slept through the 6am alarm and rose at 7am. I was so close!

At 7am I gave Tommy his medicine and got him going. I then took a half hour for some dumbbell exercises, pushups, situps and stretching. My back appreciated that! After a quick bath I'm read to print some resumes and have some interviews today!

 

Wednesday, June 09, 2004

 

Afternoon/Evening

Had a little slow down in the afternoon so I took some time to play with Amy. The other kids were each doing their own thing. Took the evening with Cathy and Amy after dropping Sarah, Noah and friend at Bible School. We sought Knoxville postcards for this family. I can't believe how hard it is to find a postcard! Decided to shop at our favorite grocery for dinner, The Fresh Market. Returned home to cook a satisfying meal and have the evening ritual.

 
 

Amy as a Guest Blogger

Inspired by Tim's laughing baby and Amy's chattiness today.


this is an audio post - click to play


this is an audio post - click to play


Of note, Amy turns 2 years old tomorrow.


 
 

Weed in the Corn

DRESDEN, Tenn. - Investigators made a quick hit finding 150 marijuana plants along the Tennessee-Kentucky state line. Silly journalists! "made a quick hit" haha! I wonder how many people that slipped by.

"We just smile and waved....sitting thar on that sack o' seeds..."




Link
 
 

False start

Was going to make client runs (+$) today but a scheduling change has me back on administrative tasks (-$).

 
 

Wahoo!

A phone call this a.m. requesting work!

 
 

Motivational Music

Listening to Jimmy Buffett "Boats" followed by Alan Jackson Greatest Hits II. Can you draw the connection?
  

 
 

What's happening?

ugh! Finally opened Sunday's paper for the jobs. I suppose a really motivated person would have been doing this Sunday a.m. So, a job that I applied for in February, and had breakfast with the CTO in May is now being advertized again. And I am so perfect for the job!


 
 

Fahrenheit 9/11 Trailer

Michael Moore Fahrenheit 9/11 Michael Moore is like one of those horrible car accidents where you can't help but look. The trailer rocks and just whets your appetite so much more! I can't wait to see what this film does to Bush's ratings.



 
 

Geeking out!

Wahoo! Had a good time showing my wife how to use SharpReader. It's also changing my mindset on how to develop websites. I cannot imagine not developing a website without an rss feed now.

 
 
Spent most of my time between activities trying to fix Cathy's Windows 98 computer which was not allowing the .Net Framework to be installed. I kept running into "Internal Error 2???" and a "1935" error. This wonderful site finally helped solve the problem.
Other useful information: http://www.gotdotnet.com/
http://dotnetjunkies.com/
http://blogs.msdn.com/junfeng/


 
 

Pink Eye

My pink eye is back with a vengence.

 
 
A New Day!

Let's start the day off with a PayPal donation link:


This Morning
Alarm had me up at 4:15 and I was so close to staying up. Doused the alarm and work at 7:15. Now for morning ritual stuff.

 
 

Two Political Links

http://www.musicforamerica.org/

Music for America is an independent nonprofit political organization getting 1 million new voters fired up to participate in the 2004 elections. Through live concerts and an interactive website, we are connecting culture and politics, exposing political hypocrisies, and igniting a grassroots movement.


http://www.fundrace.org/ See which of your neighbors is contributing to what candidate.




 
 
My text vanished?!

 
 
Wife and I had quality time. Good conversation.

The 5 Love Languages as defined by Gary Chapman are:
1. Words of Affirmation
2. Quality Time
3. Receiving Gifts
4. Acts of Service
5. Physical Touch

My love language may very well be Acts of Service but I'm not sure yet; it could be Words of Affirmation. Cathy's is definitely not Acts of Service. I suspect Cathy's love language to be Quality Time.



 

Tuesday, June 08, 2004

 

Knoxville Traffic

this is an audio post - click to play


My grandfather used to tell this joke:
I was riding in the car with a friend of mine once and we came to a green light and he stopped. The light turned red and he went through it. The next light was green and he stopped. When it turned red he went through it. I was getting nervous so I asked my friend if he ever had any driving lessons and he said "Sure! My brother taught me how to drive." So I said "Well surely you know that green means 'go' and red means 'stop'?" to which he replied "of course I do but my brother might be on that other street!"

To put a little cheese on the top my grandfather would add:
My friend's name was 'Red' and in response I blurted out "Right on! Red!" so he turned right at the red light and from that day forth it's been legal to make righthand turns at red lights.


 
 

David Hasselhoff Arrested

David Hasselhoff Arrested

David Hasselhoff was arrested over the weekend on suspicion on driving while intoxicated, police said Monday.
The arresting officer was heard saying "He truly believes that he wasn't driving and told me that 'Kit' must have had too much high octane gas. As I put [David] in the cruiser he turned toward the car and yelled 'I told you not to sniff jet fuel!' I swear the car backfired at that point."


Link
 
 

Interview

btw, scored an interview. Didn't think it prudent to make it for today so I made it for Thursday.

 
 

Must calm

Mind racing. Thoughts on:
* dwindling money in checking account
* dying transportation
* ability to fix all problems but lack resources
* job submissions and how stinking long it will take for one to turn into anything
* $0 and lots of attempts at bigger $$ vs $7-9/hr and no time for submissions and interviewed vs $40-65/hr out of town
* yard work
* home repair
* doing things that make me feel good

 
 
DAMN this situation I've put myself into. I am a bane to everyone that comes in contact with me!

 
 

Photoblogging

Check phlog.net for new pictures. Hopefully blogger.com will add photo bloggimg soon.

Link
 
 

On the drive to the Ranch

this is an audio post - click to play


Audio blogging is way too fun!

 
 

Good smells

My wife put on some patchouli on similar scent last night and it still lingers in the house wherever she had been. It's a wonderful smell! Of course she put it on just before heading out for the evening ... hmmmm

I typically am turned off by perfumes but she has nailed this one. It's distinct too. I can't smell it without having vivid images of this wonderful person. I have jars of my grandfather's cologne (from 1965!) and it's a similar pleasure. The smell is absolutely unique to him. I've pondered trying to ebay the unique jars of cologne (jars are in the shapes of cars) but I think they are much more valuable just being able to share moments with him periodically.

 
 

Productivity

Cover letter written! Resume printed. Time to deliver (40 minute round trip drive).

 
 

Time wasted?

I've piddled away an hour blogging, reading email and getting an RSS Aggregator working. Now that its time to get serious I expect that Amy will awaken and I'll have to be upstairs until the rest of the family comes around.

 
 

The Next Project

Here's what comes next. The French Drain This trench needs to go down another 3 feet (1 m) and be dug across the full 44' (13.4 m) length of the house. Living on a hillside the heavy rains had started to leak through the walls. The trench in its current state in conjunction with the waterproofing inside the house has stopped the problem; however, it would be a mistake to not fix it correctly. This is a hazard, an eye sore, and a lot of work!

Estimated project cost: $1000
Needs: Backhoe, 20 tons of rock (20,321 kg), 20 tons topsoil, tar for waterproofing the wall, pvc pipe pre-drilled, lots of burlap, hammer drill

My hopeful goals are to take advantage of the trench being open to run an additional sewer discharge along the front of the house as well as an extension of the incoming water so that an additional structure (be it a shed or a stand alone garage) can easily tie into having water--hmm, that may be to code though and would require a permit and inspection. Crud!
Link
 
 
A New Day!

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This Morning
Woke at either 1:00am or 1:20am to find the girls (Sarah and friend) still awake. They are going to be grumpy today!
Woke at 4:15 but could not convince self to get out of bed. Allllmost got out of bed to run around the neighborhood.
Woke at 5:00 but could not convince self to get out of bed. Allllmost got out of bed to stretch but decided it would be too much work to make a spot to stretch. Lamer.
Woke at 6:20 and rose 10 minutes later to brew a pot and start my day!

Goals: Hand deliver a resume and cover letter that should have been done yesterday. Submit more resumes. Market the content management system and market self. Oh, and get crayon out of the clothing as promised to wife.

 

Monday, June 07, 2004

 

To do versus What will be done

I know I should stay up and work into the wee hours. I have letters to write, miracles to perform, mediations, stretching, cleaning, organizing, and so much more. But sleep calls...

 
 

Coolness

Ok. Let's follow this. I was reading Sanity Adrift and happened to be reading the comment to what's on your pizza? that read "caught your post on 'shouting into the void'" and being a regular reader of Shouting Into the Void (and having survived the Void of the Void) I felt I must jump over to see what this was about. Turns out Sanity Adrift was honored as a Guest Host which I feel is a fantastic concept. Of course, this led me to read on and catch up on The Void which mentioned, something I somehow missed, that Blogger now has free audioblogging! (See AudioBlogger.com and this from the Blogger Dashboard News). I read on from Shouting Into the Void to learn that the great blogman himself, Wil Wheaton (an avid Geocacher I might add) has an audio blog WWDN's Audioblog. I found myself unable to break away from his commentary. I could enjoy this too much! There have been many times where I've wanted to get philosophical driving down the road. My first audio blog is on my test blog where I do experiments to see how the new Blogger features work.

 
 
Are you trying your damnest?
No, I'm not.

 
 

The Planting

First off, I got picture happy and couldn't narrow this down to a single picture so to those whose bandwidth hath been kilt, my apologises. Now on with the pictures!


Preparing to plant. The void from the removal of the sidewalk would take 3/4 of the trailer to refill:
Preparing to Plant

A progress shot in similar perspective as the done shot:
In progress..

Tree in the ground and mulched. Need grass seed:
Done!

A closer shot of the tree:
The Tree

I thought this was a cool shot of the house with the landscaping in progress:
The House

The house from the road:
From the Road
Ok. This is what happens when a person is without work for a long time. Help save your bandwidth! Get me work!



 
 

Political


Link
 
 

Happiness! Mother and Daughter

True Happiness!


Link
 
 

Baby Genius

Amy helps solve a puzzle.

Amy Puzzled Amy Fitting Pieces Amy Solves It! Amy Undaunted



 
 

Pictures

Ok. I had to take some time to edit some pictures. Here's our family poser. No known candid shots. Thankfully she enjoys making chocolate chip cookies! Sarah Makes Cookies!


Link
 
 

Lefty's the only peoples in their right mind?

Oops. I forgot that our morning person has been up for awhile. Noah makes a presence. He is our only left handed person in the family. Goes to sleep early and is out instantly. Gets up early. Is almost always cheerful. Is just a great guy.


 
 

Sleepy Heads

Amy is first to rise at 8:37.

 
 

Bug found

Found the css bug in Cathy's blog. Yet another reason to use Firefox instead of Internet Exploder.

I do like the fact that on this machine Cathy uses IE and I use Firefox. Our cookies don't intefere with each other and our saved settings don't get mixed up. If it doesn't already exist, that would be a nice plug in or feature for Firefox "multi-users."

 
 

Waste

Man this household produces a bunch of trash! Garbage is to the curb minus a little bit but hunger and thrist for coffee kicked in. Yes... I will get the cat liter changed after I eat. That's the worlds worst job to get started; once you are doing it it's not so bad.

 
 
A New Day!

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This Morning
Woke to rush around and get garbage to the curb..a task that I should have done last night.

Today's tasks:
-get a resume out to someone that I promised it to before Tuesday
-get a haircut
-submit cover letters and resumes to all ads from yesterday's paper
-work on a computer at a local business
-take Tommy to play D&D this evening provided it doesn't conflict with Bible School
-possibly shovel more manure
-{whatever tasks the wife has}

 

Sunday, June 06, 2004

 

Yard work at long last!

I went to a friend's house and picked up horse poop. Unfortunately someone else beat me there not long ago taking 30 tons. On the positive side I wasn't faced with moving 30 tons of manure and I believe there is plenty for me to complete the work I want to do. And! Everyday they make more!

Half of the sidewalk has now been removed. It took almost a full trailer load of manure to fill the void. The new tree has been planted (using a mixture of mostly cow manure...hmm.. cow manure surrounded by horse manure...yum!) This manure had seasoned so long that there is absolutely no smell. The tree has been trimmed in and mulched. Picture moment!

 
 

Jerry RIP

Dead mouse found on couch. (the cat really wanted us to know she'd done her job) Fortunately (for the cat) it died of internal injuries or heartattack so the couch wasn't messy. Tom properly rewarded and encouraged to do more!

 
 
A New Day!

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This Morning
Off to shovel manure.

 

Saturday, June 05, 2004

 

Programmers Wanted

This is too terribly funny in light of my current searching. I had to borrow this image from CollegeHumor.com (this link is to the original picture and is worksafe however the site CollegeHumor.com has suggestive banners and links to non-worksafe material)
Programmers wanted


Link
 
 

Remember when? Nope..

Ever since I was about 11 I've had this concern over losing memories. Some sob stole a journal from me that I'd kept for 3-5 years. (Theft was years ago and I still haven't fully gotten over it--at least they found a way to make a memory stick!) That was heartbreaking! Here's an article about Making a Vivid Memory

A study in the May 27 issue of Neuron confirms previous models of memory recall that found sensory-specific components of a memory are preserved in sensory-related areas of the brain. The hippocampus can draw on this stored sensory information to create vivid recall.
It's a short article with nothing of great interest except the link to KidsHealth referencing the The Nemours Foundation


Link
 
 
A New Day!

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This Morning
Ice thawing between wife and self.

Yesterday
Had an interperson interview with a really interesting company. Again, slow moving with the job possibility not to be realized before the end of the month. The types of jobs I need, qualify for, and pay correctly are sluggish corporations. My lack of degree hurts badly.


 

Friday, June 04, 2004

 
A New Day!

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This Morning
Rain this morning.

 

Thursday, June 03, 2004

 

Break

Took a much needed mental break and cleared park of the hillside.

 
 
Scheduled haircut. Spoke to friend about hauling off a bunch of his manure to fill holes in my yard and make beds for planting.

Worked on my new business cards. Plain Jane but something to hand out that shouldn't cost a fortune to print.

 
 
Lunch time. Bad time for cold calls. So time to shift focus. First, schedule haircut.

Must decide:
a) online job searching, monster etc
b) make new business card
c) draft letter to businesses that want info
d) draft marketing flyer
e) plan list of calls to make on my referral network
f) get fancied up and visit some temp agencies

 
 

Political Funds and where they come from

What an exceptional site! How fund[sic]! Search on your zipcode to see who around you is funding what candidate Fundrace.org

The depressing part is that The City of Knoxville gave $2000 to Bush. Unfortunately, I live in the county or I'd be complaining!


Link
 
 

Cold calls

I really hate cold calls.

 
 

Prospects

After a strong negative, I got a positive on a cold call. Now to consider my sales closing skills as I could have handled this better.

 
 

Privacy

Bug Me Not.com Now you can skip filling out invasive registration forms to read online articles from places like the New York Times. Bugmenot.com Thanks to Russ for the link!

A friend points out http://www.sneakemail.com/ as a good way to stop spam.



 
 

XKeyI've got to get me one of these! M-System's Xkey 2.0, a USB key drive with a 32-bit processor inside it that lets you run programs right off of it. Thanks to Tim for the link! (who in turn got his link from Russ)



 
 
A New Day!

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This Morning
My wife chose to sleep on the couch last night. I will take my turn on the couch tonight so she can get a good night's rest.

 

Wednesday, June 02, 2004

 
Made some cold calls trying to generate sales for a content management system which would result in monthly residual income. Took an hour for lunch..more than intended but a WWII movie was on! Picked up Noah from his friends and confirmed that my charges for virus and ad removal are on target.

Now its time to make more phone calls.

 
 

Cold Calls - Love em - Hate em

Cold calling scares the dickens out of me sometimes but once I get started I really enjoy it. I've picked a potentially good place to start and am not getting cold shouldered on these calls.

 
 

2 yr old makes puzzle

Amy decided to sit down at the kitchen table and help build the 550 piece glow in the dark puzzle that the family is working on.



 
 
I really want to take the kids to a park. I want to give Amy more educational stimulation. I want Tommy to have more social interaction. I want Noah to be around "normal" boys and play baseball and try other sports. I want Sarah to have more one on one time with her Mom.

 
 

From the Mouths of Babes

Climbing into her high chair her foot gets caught in the seat belt and Amy says "Baby 'tuck!"

Then as I sit in front of Cathy's computer Amy says "Mama ????" I reply "Mama asleep" More assertively Amy says "Mama ?????" and I said "Mama asleep" Then I finally understand "Mama CHAIR!" and reply with "Yes, I am sitting in Mama's chair."

Now she's identifying "My feet" and requesting "Bite Dada Bite" because she wants me to quit typing and eat my breakfast.

 
 
A New Day!

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This Morning
Woke at 6 and 6:30 but didn't get out of bed until 7:20. Refreshed and ready to go!

My goal was to start making sales calls 20 minutes ago. Instead I'm enjoying some time with Amy. We are eating breakfast together. I overpoured the syrup on her waffles so she'll be a sticky mess. Sink bath!

I'll start my calls at 9.

Last Night
I cleaned all the lip gloss from the tub. Got some hard soap scum removed too! Also cleaned the lip gloss from the giant stuffed animal dog. Goof Off is powerful stuff!



 
 

Wearing down

I think I need some sleep. Tomorrow will be devoted to sales calls all day.

 
 

Another resume

Just applied for a technical support and documentation writer. Is it beneath me? Possibly. The interview would tell. I think regardless I would enjoy it and excel.

 
 

One more unrelated job

I've just sent another coverletter and resume to a job involving GIS Implementation.

 
 

Job app

Just applied for another job outside the scope of my experience. This one programming PLCs. I could do it but I am sure there will be much better candidates.

 

Tuesday, June 01, 2004

 

Another resume

Answered another ad from Sunday's paper. This is for work outside my current experience but sounds fun.

 
 

Dead Kitty

My cat is pretty cool in that she likes to be around people but just out of reach. So when I am programming or working at the computer she hops up on the monitor and goes to sleep. Yesterday she was so sound asleep that she rolled off the monitor falling onto my hands on the keyboard on her back, stayed asleep and rolled limply onto my forearms. I was certain she'd had a heartattack! A moment later as I held her gently in my lap and pet her she stirred awake, shook her head, looked around, then slowly hopped back on the monitor.

 
 
I can feel myself approaching that sluggish non-productive time of day. I must grab a focus and work on it!

 
 
I've turned into such white trash. I feel like a David Allen Coe song.

 
 
Learned today that successful car salesmen live in housing subdivisions with 300+ houses and enter the job with pre-established human networks and typically take 2 years to start making their income.

 
 

Match.com for pet lovers


Link
 
 

Taxi Service

Time to shuttle Noah around.

 
 
Took Tommy to his group therapy, paid the cell phone bill, checked on the cost of top soil ($25/yard) and returned home to eat lunch.

 
 
Taking 13 yr old to therapy so he can complain about how abusive I am.

 
 
Whenever I become focused on trying to get money into the house my wife misreads it as depression and anger. Why can't I just be focused and productive? I'm happy when I am focused and productive! I've hand delivered a resume with cover letter and work samples today. I've emailed another submission. I've been on the phone with a contractor about our french drain. I've talked to 1 recruiter and now have him submitting me for a 4-6 month contract that I'm ideal for (granted, this recruiter bills out lower than I should be but that's still more than I'm making now). I've left messages for another recruiter and for a business contact that I have a history of getting work from. A depressed angry person doesn't have a productive morning--my morning has been productive!

 
 
It's a shame I don't have a decent life insurance policy. If I did my family could win the skid mark lottery.

 
 

Anyone Connected?

I'm like the essence of good so I'm walking into unfamiliar territory here. Anyone know how to get an appraisal on your soul? After I get the appraisal I'm going to need a connection to the underworld too.

 
 

Productivity

Another cover letter written! This one in less than an hour.

 
 
A New Day!

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This Morning
I got up 3 minutes later than planned. Still wish I could have stayed up all night. I should stretch and run but I need to be organizing my call list and my pitch.

If you have ever considered clicking that "make a donation" button these next 2 weeks are going to be very hard and now would be a good time to click it.

 
 

Tired

It's late. I'm tired. There is so much left to do. I wanted to email several resumes to jobs listed in the paper then plan a barrage of phone calls for the morning.

 

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