All 3 of you that read this blog know me pretty well. I'm a pretty good person to be around, I think anyway. (No smart ass comments please) Yesterday my wife let me know that I'm a ham and stuff like that when we get around people. I don't like to be the center of attention, but can get to that point pretty quick. I'm not saying that is a bad thing, but if I annoy you...deal with it. HAHA. Just kidding, just ignore me like you have up until this point.
Anyway, one of the funnest things I like doing is messing with my wife's head. You know playing jokes on her, getting her all worked up. She gets frustrated with me because she has a hard time getting me to fall for her antics when she is always falling for mine. Well hunnee, I just wanted to tell you that I have plans set in motion for your 30th birthday present already. I'm so excited for it and it will be a good one. The nice part about telling you this now, is that it will eat at you until the end of July when you get to that big 30.
Again, having fun can go multiple ways, either being a ham in groups of people or messing with peoples heads, having fun is the way to go.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Catching up a little...
I just wanted to touch base and fill you all in on the past few things have happened that I had talked about that I would blog on. The first is my poor puppy. This is Wash the day of or the day after his surgery. We had him wear this for about 7 days where we didn't take it off. One night it rained and I went out to get him out of the rain and he had found a way to get into the dog house. It was kind of funny. He's a good dog. This coming Wednesday, he is graduating from his beginning dog training.
There are some other things that I was going to blog about, but I'm tired and I have a huge headache, so I am going to go to bed. Keighlee is being mean to everyone so I'm going to go put her to sleep and fall asleep myself.
Helpin' Mother Nature
So we have started to improve our home by planting some trees. I planted 2 trees in the yard last night. I have some raspberry bushes to plant as well but have to finish getting the area cleaned up and fenced off so the kids and dogs will stay out. Haven't fully figured everything out but will probably have the bushes planted in the next few days with any luck.
The two trees are fruit trees. One is nectarines, which I really like a lot, and the other is cherry. The one thing about cherry trees is that you need another cherry tree to pollinate but this tree is different. It has 4 different trees grafted together and is therefore self-pollinating. If it weren't a tree, I'd be worried. Anyway, I'll get some pictures up to show you but I got them planted and then moved on to other things.
Last night was Nicki D's b-day so we had some pizza and watched a movie. It was a lot of fun. Other than that, not a whole lot going on.
The two trees are fruit trees. One is nectarines, which I really like a lot, and the other is cherry. The one thing about cherry trees is that you need another cherry tree to pollinate but this tree is different. It has 4 different trees grafted together and is therefore self-pollinating. If it weren't a tree, I'd be worried. Anyway, I'll get some pictures up to show you but I got them planted and then moved on to other things.
Last night was Nicki D's b-day so we had some pizza and watched a movie. It was a lot of fun. Other than that, not a whole lot going on.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Movie Review - Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
So I've decided that I'm not going to take the advice of the 101.9 The End movie critic guy. I've seen a couple shows now that he gave bad review and I can tell you they are pretty cool. I was hesitant to see Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium because of this guys review. As a matter of fact, we went and saw Enchanted in the theaters instead of this movie because of that review. I think that if he gives it a bad review, I'll go see it because he's been wrong for me a couple of times. Of course it is all according to yourself.
Anyway, Mr. Magorium's is a magical movie. I think I smiled through most of it because of how cool it was. I was really tired and expected to fall asleep through it, but stayed awake because I was just drawn in. The hardest part of watching this movie was seeing Natalie Portman with short hair. Some girls can pull of short hair, but this was too much. Her hair was shorter than Jason Bateman, who played a great part. They called him mutant. Dustin Hoffman did a great job as Mr. Magorium. He was mysterious and strange, kind of reminded me of Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Just that off the wall kind of character that seems to be everywhere and thinking everything at once. It was a good show. I'm going to grade it a B+, based on Natalie Portman's haircut and her conducting, that was annoying to watch. It was a very entertaining show.
Anyway, Mr. Magorium's is a magical movie. I think I smiled through most of it because of how cool it was. I was really tired and expected to fall asleep through it, but stayed awake because I was just drawn in. The hardest part of watching this movie was seeing Natalie Portman with short hair. Some girls can pull of short hair, but this was too much. Her hair was shorter than Jason Bateman, who played a great part. They called him mutant. Dustin Hoffman did a great job as Mr. Magorium. He was mysterious and strange, kind of reminded me of Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Just that off the wall kind of character that seems to be everywhere and thinking everything at once. It was a good show. I'm going to grade it a B+, based on Natalie Portman's haircut and her conducting, that was annoying to watch. It was a very entertaining show.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Stick with what you know....
I know that there are some people or organizations out there that think they can improve on a good thing or that can combine two different ideas to create a bigger and better idea but I'm here to tell you, not always is that the case.
For those of you that don't know, I like candy. Maybe not as much as Fez but close. I like chocolate the most usually when it encompasses some nuts, nugget, or cookie of some sort. I also like other things that are not chocolate like Mike and Ike's or Skittles. These do not necessarily go together well.
I purchased a "NEW!" Chocolate Mix of Skittles. I just have to say that I'm not impressed. I like Skittles a lot but I don' think I would buy these ever again. Anyway, just wanted to offer a candy review and to tell the MARS company, let's not screw up a good thing by trying to improve what doesn't need to be improved, OK?
For those of you that don't know, I like candy. Maybe not as much as Fez but close. I like chocolate the most usually when it encompasses some nuts, nugget, or cookie of some sort. I also like other things that are not chocolate like Mike and Ike's or Skittles. These do not necessarily go together well.
I purchased a "NEW!" Chocolate Mix of Skittles. I just have to say that I'm not impressed. I like Skittles a lot but I don' think I would buy these ever again. Anyway, just wanted to offer a candy review and to tell the MARS company, let's not screw up a good thing by trying to improve what doesn't need to be improved, OK?
Movie Review - I Am Legend
This movie is based off a novel by Richard Matheson. This is the 3rd remake of this story line. The first was "The Last Man on Earth (1964)" starring Vincent Price and the second was "The Omega Man (1971)" starring Charlton Heston. Each takes a different spin off the original story but each holds true to certain aspects of the story.
I really liked "I Am Legend" starring Will Smith as Dr. Robert Neville. It is an interesting take on one man's struggle with being what he feels is the last healthy person in the entire world. The other living creatures have been modified by a virus of some sort that creates something different but humanoid in some aspects.
There are actually two versions of this movie. There is the original theater ending and, if you get the deluxe DVD set, they also have the alternative ending. I won't give away any secrets, but the alternative ending is more enjoyable. BTW, the daughter of Robert Neville is the real-life daughter of Will Smith (just a bit of trivia.)
Anyway, as this movie circulates more and more people become familiar with the alternative ending, I may post more of my thoughts on this show comparing it with the other movies and the original book as well.
I do recommend Richard Matheson as a writer as he has written several novels that most may be familiar with but are unaware as to the origins. The link to his name takes you to his IMDB profile of which you can see a list of his other works that have been turned into movies as well.
I really liked "I Am Legend" starring Will Smith as Dr. Robert Neville. It is an interesting take on one man's struggle with being what he feels is the last healthy person in the entire world. The other living creatures have been modified by a virus of some sort that creates something different but humanoid in some aspects.
There are actually two versions of this movie. There is the original theater ending and, if you get the deluxe DVD set, they also have the alternative ending. I won't give away any secrets, but the alternative ending is more enjoyable. BTW, the daughter of Robert Neville is the real-life daughter of Will Smith (just a bit of trivia.)
Anyway, as this movie circulates more and more people become familiar with the alternative ending, I may post more of my thoughts on this show comparing it with the other movies and the original book as well.
I do recommend Richard Matheson as a writer as he has written several novels that most may be familiar with but are unaware as to the origins. The link to his name takes you to his IMDB profile of which you can see a list of his other works that have been turned into movies as well.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Movie Review - Bee Movie
Last night we watched "Bee Movie". I was kind of excited to watch this show because it looked like it was done well. We wanted to take the kids while the movie was in theaters, but we just never did. So we put it on the Netflix list as soon as we could and got it earlier this week.
I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. I'm looking at it from the standpoint of would the kids like it and was it entertaining. Yes, it covered those well. There were some things that had me laughing out loud, including one line that made Chels and I chuckle but the kids were like...huh? A little bit of adult humor. Overall the animation was pretty good, there were a couple of times the female cartoon lead in the movie looked cross-eyed and a lot of the vehicles were square for the most part. But the overall entertainment value of the movie was good.
Now the story line was very unclear in the beginning, but progressed fairly well. There were a couple of parts that were kind of draggy, but they moved well through different aspects of the story. Like what happens when a bee stings someone and such. The story also show the importance of a bee's work. They are hear to make things more beautiful and though I don't think that it would be as drastic as it shows in the movie if bees weren't on the earth things could be a lot less colorful.
Anyway, overall the movie was good and I would give it a B grade, no pun intended.
I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. I'm looking at it from the standpoint of would the kids like it and was it entertaining. Yes, it covered those well. There were some things that had me laughing out loud, including one line that made Chels and I chuckle but the kids were like...huh? A little bit of adult humor. Overall the animation was pretty good, there were a couple of times the female cartoon lead in the movie looked cross-eyed and a lot of the vehicles were square for the most part. But the overall entertainment value of the movie was good.
Now the story line was very unclear in the beginning, but progressed fairly well. There were a couple of parts that were kind of draggy, but they moved well through different aspects of the story. Like what happens when a bee stings someone and such. The story also show the importance of a bee's work. They are hear to make things more beautiful and though I don't think that it would be as drastic as it shows in the movie if bees weren't on the earth things could be a lot less colorful.
Anyway, overall the movie was good and I would give it a B grade, no pun intended.
Things that make you go "hmmmm."
So, recently, I had a few moments that I really didn't know how to respond to my own questions. They are very philosophical in nature and, because of recent events, have decided to put them out to you, the Whadda Blog fans.
1. I was thinking about restaurants the other day. I remember some ads for restaurants stating that it was "like home". I understand the concept of the cooking being like homemade, but I got to thinking a little bit more about this. If these restaurants are "like home", does the waitress come and make you stay at the table until you have finished everything on your plate? Do they not offer you desert if you don't eat all your vegetables? What about if you have your elbows on the table? Do you have to bus your own table and load them in the dishwasher? Anyway....
2. The other thing I was thinking about is swearing. I think I posted on that subject before but not quite like this. I know I don't have the cleanest speech but my daughter has picked up quite the potty mouth. I blame school or at least the other kids at school because I know that some of the word she uses, I don't. Anyway, I was thinking about swearing and punishments for such. When we were kids, and I've used this on my kids, when you swore you got your mouth washed out with soap. It made me wonder about two categories that are not discussed with this type of punishment. What about deaf children and swearing in blogs, IM, etc. Do you make them wash their hands with soap?
I'm sure there are a lot more "hmmmm" moments and as I approach them, I will try and share. There are a lot out there that I have seen in e-mail or have been told by others. Some of them are fun and make you laugh. Others make you take a step back and actually think about them.
1. I was thinking about restaurants the other day. I remember some ads for restaurants stating that it was "like home". I understand the concept of the cooking being like homemade, but I got to thinking a little bit more about this. If these restaurants are "like home", does the waitress come and make you stay at the table until you have finished everything on your plate? Do they not offer you desert if you don't eat all your vegetables? What about if you have your elbows on the table? Do you have to bus your own table and load them in the dishwasher? Anyway....
2. The other thing I was thinking about is swearing. I think I posted on that subject before but not quite like this. I know I don't have the cleanest speech but my daughter has picked up quite the potty mouth. I blame school or at least the other kids at school because I know that some of the word she uses, I don't. Anyway, I was thinking about swearing and punishments for such. When we were kids, and I've used this on my kids, when you swore you got your mouth washed out with soap. It made me wonder about two categories that are not discussed with this type of punishment. What about deaf children and swearing in blogs, IM, etc. Do you make them wash their hands with soap?
I'm sure there are a lot more "hmmmm" moments and as I approach them, I will try and share. There are a lot out there that I have seen in e-mail or have been told by others. Some of them are fun and make you laugh. Others make you take a step back and actually think about them.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Video of the Day - March 20th
So the winner for the first video of the day is Brad Paisley - Letter To Me
The reason I picked this video is because with the changes of seasons happening today, it always takes me back to times in my life. Whenever I hear this song I think if I could really do this, what would the letter say. I know that would be messing with the time space continuum but, it could be worth it. I think that I'd write this letter and never send it because I'd get done and realize that though I've had some things in my past that I'd like to remove, I think I've gone through all of them for a purpose...to make me, me.
So as spring starts today and you start all the major cleaning with the windows open, think of the times that you've had and think of the times that are still to come.
The reason I picked this video is because with the changes of seasons happening today, it always takes me back to times in my life. Whenever I hear this song I think if I could really do this, what would the letter say. I know that would be messing with the time space continuum but, it could be worth it. I think that I'd write this letter and never send it because I'd get done and realize that though I've had some things in my past that I'd like to remove, I think I've gone through all of them for a purpose...to make me, me.
So as spring starts today and you start all the major cleaning with the windows open, think of the times that you've had and think of the times that are still to come.
New Feature...
So I've been thinking of ways to make Whadda Blog more fun. One way is to introduce new features every once in a while. So, I was thinking about that the other day and came to the conclusion that I'll try to do something new on a regular basis. The question for the new feature is does it become regular or a returning favorite, like the McRib at McDonald's. So today, I'm going to introduce a new feature but I'm still working on finding something that will be great. The new feature is going to be a cousin to the Song of the Day, Video of the ...(don't know yet).
I listen to music throughout the day and since I work on computers, I like to take a break here and there and watch a music video on Launch. So I'm currently looking for a video that will be a good fit for the day and will introduce this new segment with a bang. So until I find the video that I am looking for, enjoy reading B's post Giving Away America which can be found on Whadda Blog as well as Thoughts from the Clan, which is where the link goes, on WordPress.
I listen to music throughout the day and since I work on computers, I like to take a break here and there and watch a music video on Launch. So I'm currently looking for a video that will be a good fit for the day and will introduce this new segment with a bang. So until I find the video that I am looking for, enjoy reading B's post Giving Away America which can be found on Whadda Blog as well as Thoughts from the Clan, which is where the link goes, on WordPress.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Giving Away America - Edited
I have decided to remove the context of this post as it isn't in the fun spirit of this blog. It is available on Thoughts from the Clan. I continue to update that sight with more thought-provoking, argument-provoking posts so bookmark it and visit.
I know I have been MIA for a little while and for that, I am truly sorry. It has been an interesting couple of days and so I'm not entirely sure what to blog about. I could tell you all of the fun and excitement over the past little bit but I don't think you all want to hear about the crappy time I've been having so I will focus on the most difficult bit over the last little bit.
I guess in the broader category, I am indecisive. I like having options available to me and by making a choice, you eliminate the other possibility. Therefore, if you don't make a choice, both options are available but time goes on and the indecisiveness creates havoc and makes me look like a wishy-washy type person. I have several decisions that I have had to make over the last little bit and each has pros and cons. I like the no-brainer type decisions (all pros, no cons) that make decision making easy.
Anyway, here are a few of the decisions I am currently faced with:
I guess in the broader category, I am indecisive. I like having options available to me and by making a choice, you eliminate the other possibility. Therefore, if you don't make a choice, both options are available but time goes on and the indecisiveness creates havoc and makes me look like a wishy-washy type person. I have several decisions that I have had to make over the last little bit and each has pros and cons. I like the no-brainer type decisions (all pros, no cons) that make decision making easy.
Anyway, here are a few of the decisions I am currently faced with:
- Buying my house - Right now we are renting from my mother-in-law. If we buy, the $$ go up every month because we don't have all the other additional costs associated with a house. On the other hand, it is ours. It is definitely a "fixer-upper" but I haven't let that discourage me as anything in our price range would be just that, a "fixer-upper". I like the idea of staying in the house because the yard is big enough but I need to fix the deck, some of the electrical, and finish the basement. The yard needs some work but because of the neighborhood we live in, as long as its not full of trash no one really cares.
- Fix my car vs. UTA - My car is having problems but I really can't be upset. It lasted 2 years longer than I originally planned so I am pretty happy with it. Right now, it has over 190k miles on it and the gears are struggling a bit. The biggest problem I have is that the radiator needs to be replaced and that, with all of the parts and chemicals will cost about $250ish and that's if I do the labor myself. The labor wouldn't be too hard but I would hate to spend the $$ and then have the gears go out. I don't want to replace it yet as Alythea's van registration is due this month so I would like to wait a few months. This way we can spread out the costs associated with cars. I have checked bus routes and it looks like they made a few changes that would make it a lot easier for me to get to and from work so I'm thinking this might be an excellent option.
Very Unhelpful Sign
So yesterday a few of us from work went to lunch and on our way we had to stop at a floral shop. When we parked I noticed this sign. The first time I read it, I thought, "Hmmmm, something seems to be missing".
As I did a double take to make sure I was reading it right, I started laughing and showed the sign to those I was with. I wanted to make sure that my eyes weren't playing tricks on me. We went into the flower shop and came out and I read the sign again, climbed in the car to leave and then decided that I needed a picture of this sign. This is a fill-in the blank sign and just leaves you wondering...
As I did a double take to make sure I was reading it right, I started laughing and showed the sign to those I was with. I wanted to make sure that my eyes weren't playing tricks on me. We went into the flower shop and came out and I read the sign again, climbed in the car to leave and then decided that I needed a picture of this sign. This is a fill-in the blank sign and just leaves you wondering...
Monday, March 17, 2008
Song of the Day - March 17th, 2008
Happy St. Patty's Day first off. Believe it or not, I don't have a ton of Irish music, even after living there for a couple years. There is a lot of good Irish music out there though including Chrisy Moore (see blog entry). I was thinking about picking one of his songs again, but none really fit the mood. Part of the Song of the Day is for a good pick me up.
So what is the Song of the Day you ask. Well it comes from a newer artist and it is sort of cheesy to pick but it is by an artist named Taylor Swift. She is a new country singer and she has some catchy songs. The song I'm going to choose is "Teardrops on my Guitar". Don't knock it till you listen to it. It's a pretty good song, good harmonies and a catchy tune. Not real upbeat but, again, catchy.
I'm pretty open in my love for music. I like artists from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to Anthrax, Tim McGraw to Will Smith, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince to Queen. (Did you catch that, hehe) If you want me to listen to something, let me know and I will be glad to give it a listen.
So what is the Song of the Day you ask. Well it comes from a newer artist and it is sort of cheesy to pick but it is by an artist named Taylor Swift. She is a new country singer and she has some catchy songs. The song I'm going to choose is "Teardrops on my Guitar". Don't knock it till you listen to it. It's a pretty good song, good harmonies and a catchy tune. Not real upbeat but, again, catchy.
I'm pretty open in my love for music. I like artists from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to Anthrax, Tim McGraw to Will Smith, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince to Queen. (Did you catch that, hehe) If you want me to listen to something, let me know and I will be glad to give it a listen.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Good Morning
So I had a long night with the dog. He hit his normal un-drugged around 3am. Which means all he did was pace. The dog has so much energy that he has to constatnly be moving, even after playing fetch for like 2 hours one day, he didn't crash like Zoey did. He's a crazy dog.
Speaking of crazy, on a totally different note, my wife is. She is in love with this twilight series of books. I think love is the wrong word for it, it's on a level with serious obsession. The saddest part about this whole thing is that she's not the only woman in her age that are infatuated with this series, she says there are 1560 of these "stalking fans" on this one website. I've read the book, the first one, and I wasn't all that impressed, I was waiting for more action. For a forbidden love story with vampires in it, there isn't much action. Even when Bella, the main character is in trouble, you don't get much action. Like a climax in the book, the story talks about her passing out rather than what they did to the bad guy, you know the good old fight scene. Anyway, she's not dumb, she's just found something to really get into and like, that a lot of other women have enjoyed too.
Speaking of crazy, on a totally different note, my wife is. She is in love with this twilight series of books. I think love is the wrong word for it, it's on a level with serious obsession. The saddest part about this whole thing is that she's not the only woman in her age that are infatuated with this series, she says there are 1560 of these "stalking fans" on this one website. I've read the book, the first one, and I wasn't all that impressed, I was waiting for more action. For a forbidden love story with vampires in it, there isn't much action. Even when Bella, the main character is in trouble, you don't get much action. Like a climax in the book, the story talks about her passing out rather than what they did to the bad guy, you know the good old fight scene. Anyway, she's not dumb, she's just found something to really get into and like, that a lot of other women have enjoyed too.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Part of the Family
So this morning I took my puppy, Wash, into the vet to get neutered. Now he's laying on the floor of the bedroom floor still trying to get over the anesthetics.
When I took him to the Vet this morning, I was given all the forms to sign and it reminded me a lot of when you have to go into a doctor appointment as a human. They give you the form saying that they aren't responsible if he dies and stuff like that. As I was signing all the forms and listening to the lady talk about what they were going to do to Wash and all that stuff, I realized I was getting more and more worried about leaving him. I knew that he was in good hands and that they weren't going to just let him die, but I was still worried. I was kind of in shock that I was that worried about it.
He has really become a part of the family, even Chels is coming around to liking him. She went out and kicked the ball and he'd chase it and drop it at her feet and then she'd kick it again. Now, for those of you who don't know, when Chels and I got married, having a dog was out of the question. As time wore on, she grew accustomed to the idea, knowing that he'd be an outside dog. We were thinking of getting a Jack Russel when KK got a little older then Nic and Rick bread Zoey and we fell in love with little Wash. When we brought him home, Chels wasn't exactly excited, but she tolerated it because I was happy.
Over the last about 8 months that we've had him, he's getting better and being a good dog and not an annoying puppy. He still has a lot of the annoying puppy things going on, but not as much. Last Saturday we were out cleaning the back yard and Bree was running around the yard and he would just run next to her as she ran. Before he would have been knocking her down trying to eat her hair and stuff. Now he seems to be willing to just play without having all the little annoying things.
Another thing that I think has really helped is that we've gone through 4 weeks of beginning dog training. He is getting a lot of the concepts down, but still has a lot to learn. We have 4 weeks left and hopefully he'll be at a good point in his training. I am thinking about enrolling him in the Intermediate training as well. We are doing all our training through PetSmart.
Well the family movie is over and as usual the family is asleep. I've been up getting stuff ready for our caching day tomorrow. I'm excited to go out. We have a pretty good system, I drive, look for the caches, and manage the older kids and Chels gets to read her book in the car and manage KK. At least that was the way it worked last time. Anyway, I'm gonig to go to bed. I don't think I've blogged longer than B, but it is pretty close.
When I took him to the Vet this morning, I was given all the forms to sign and it reminded me a lot of when you have to go into a doctor appointment as a human. They give you the form saying that they aren't responsible if he dies and stuff like that. As I was signing all the forms and listening to the lady talk about what they were going to do to Wash and all that stuff, I realized I was getting more and more worried about leaving him. I knew that he was in good hands and that they weren't going to just let him die, but I was still worried. I was kind of in shock that I was that worried about it.
He has really become a part of the family, even Chels is coming around to liking him. She went out and kicked the ball and he'd chase it and drop it at her feet and then she'd kick it again. Now, for those of you who don't know, when Chels and I got married, having a dog was out of the question. As time wore on, she grew accustomed to the idea, knowing that he'd be an outside dog. We were thinking of getting a Jack Russel when KK got a little older then Nic and Rick bread Zoey and we fell in love with little Wash. When we brought him home, Chels wasn't exactly excited, but she tolerated it because I was happy.
Over the last about 8 months that we've had him, he's getting better and being a good dog and not an annoying puppy. He still has a lot of the annoying puppy things going on, but not as much. Last Saturday we were out cleaning the back yard and Bree was running around the yard and he would just run next to her as she ran. Before he would have been knocking her down trying to eat her hair and stuff. Now he seems to be willing to just play without having all the little annoying things.
Another thing that I think has really helped is that we've gone through 4 weeks of beginning dog training. He is getting a lot of the concepts down, but still has a lot to learn. We have 4 weeks left and hopefully he'll be at a good point in his training. I am thinking about enrolling him in the Intermediate training as well. We are doing all our training through PetSmart.
Well the family movie is over and as usual the family is asleep. I've been up getting stuff ready for our caching day tomorrow. I'm excited to go out. We have a pretty good system, I drive, look for the caches, and manage the older kids and Chels gets to read her book in the car and manage KK. At least that was the way it worked last time. Anyway, I'm gonig to go to bed. I don't think I've blogged longer than B, but it is pretty close.
Working for the Weekend!!!!
I usually post my blogs first thing in the morning. Gives me an opportunity to get the gears rolling a bit and to find out which fire I have to deal with that day at work. Today just started weird and has pretty much stayed that way.
I had barely walked in the door when I had to deal with the first item for the day. We are having some employee issues, or more to the point, issues with one employee. The last couple of days have been major discussions about how to handle this particular situation so it has not made life fun.
One of the things that I hate most about being a manager or supervisor in any capacity is to deal with other people. When you have to oversee someone else that creates problems. Not only are you responsible for the stuff they are doing but you also have to deal with that person’s entire life. Anyone who says they seperate their work and personal lives is full of crap. Everyone drags different aspects of their personal life into their work and vice versa. Your attitude and mood because of something that happens at home can distract you from your job or problems at your job can distract you from your personal life.
I know there are times when I have such a hard day at work that I go home and just want to sit and watch tv. Sometimes dealing with the kids becomes a hassle because I just need peace and quite. While I am not doing work at home or thinking about work, the effects of the day have spilled over into my personal life and dealing with the kids.
Anyone who is a parent has had to stay up late with a sick kid and that also spills over to the next day when you are tired and groggy at work. You may not discuss your home problems at work or even really think about it, but the effects of what happens at home invade your professional life.
So dealing with employees becomes more than just about work, it becomes about life altogether. We walk around and carry the weight of our world upon us regardless of where we are and what we are doing. We can put it away for a while when we are on vacation or something but it is always there. Our lives then become intertwined in other people’s lives and then you struggle with what is going on in their lives. To accomplish a work task, you have to almost change a complete attitude or solve a personal problem so the focus can be on that task.
Anyway, this week has been especially draining because of various things like this. Not only do I have employee issues, I have issues with other co-workers that have definitely added to the stress of this week. I am really glad it is over and hope that I can take a couple of days to download all of the pent up frustration and have a little fun.
Today has been especially difficult because today was blood donation day. I donate every 2 months (usually) and after getting drained today, I have not felt the best. There’s always a physical drain as your body adjusts to the loss of blood but today it was a little more severe. I’m pretty sure it had to do with being a bit tired and the stress of the events of today but.....
I am looking forward to going home, hanging out with the kids and finding something fun to do. Not 100% on what that will be but whatever it is, I’m sure we will all have fun.
I am also looking forward to some fun tomorrow. I am going geocaching with my brother and, if the weather turns bad, Guitar Hero and Rockstar. After that, BBQ.
BTW, for those of you interested, Clark Planetarium starts their U2 laser show today!!!! Next month, they are starting a new show about mummys.... Get your passes quick because it is a lot of fun.
I had barely walked in the door when I had to deal with the first item for the day. We are having some employee issues, or more to the point, issues with one employee. The last couple of days have been major discussions about how to handle this particular situation so it has not made life fun.
One of the things that I hate most about being a manager or supervisor in any capacity is to deal with other people. When you have to oversee someone else that creates problems. Not only are you responsible for the stuff they are doing but you also have to deal with that person’s entire life. Anyone who says they seperate their work and personal lives is full of crap. Everyone drags different aspects of their personal life into their work and vice versa. Your attitude and mood because of something that happens at home can distract you from your job or problems at your job can distract you from your personal life.
I know there are times when I have such a hard day at work that I go home and just want to sit and watch tv. Sometimes dealing with the kids becomes a hassle because I just need peace and quite. While I am not doing work at home or thinking about work, the effects of the day have spilled over into my personal life and dealing with the kids.
Anyone who is a parent has had to stay up late with a sick kid and that also spills over to the next day when you are tired and groggy at work. You may not discuss your home problems at work or even really think about it, but the effects of what happens at home invade your professional life.
So dealing with employees becomes more than just about work, it becomes about life altogether. We walk around and carry the weight of our world upon us regardless of where we are and what we are doing. We can put it away for a while when we are on vacation or something but it is always there. Our lives then become intertwined in other people’s lives and then you struggle with what is going on in their lives. To accomplish a work task, you have to almost change a complete attitude or solve a personal problem so the focus can be on that task.
Anyway, this week has been especially draining because of various things like this. Not only do I have employee issues, I have issues with other co-workers that have definitely added to the stress of this week. I am really glad it is over and hope that I can take a couple of days to download all of the pent up frustration and have a little fun.
Today has been especially difficult because today was blood donation day. I donate every 2 months (usually) and after getting drained today, I have not felt the best. There’s always a physical drain as your body adjusts to the loss of blood but today it was a little more severe. I’m pretty sure it had to do with being a bit tired and the stress of the events of today but.....
I am looking forward to going home, hanging out with the kids and finding something fun to do. Not 100% on what that will be but whatever it is, I’m sure we will all have fun.
I am also looking forward to some fun tomorrow. I am going geocaching with my brother and, if the weather turns bad, Guitar Hero and Rockstar. After that, BBQ.
BTW, for those of you interested, Clark Planetarium starts their U2 laser show today!!!! Next month, they are starting a new show about mummys.... Get your passes quick because it is a lot of fun.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Bravery
I was listening to a book (I listen to book-on-tape in my MP3 player) and in the story I was listening to, one of the characters who is a great warrior had felt fear on one occasion. It was a unique experience for him causing him to doubt his manhood. He has, on more than one occasion, brought up that he should leave the party because he never knows when the fear will strike again and he feels that fear is a sign of not being a man. He feels that fear is the opposite of being brave and that is something he is struggling with.
It has led me to think about bravery and what it truly is. A few years ago, when I was in school, I was taking an English class for general education credit. Most of the assignment involved a series of articles written by various authors presenting pros and cons on a specific subject and each section the subject would change. One of which that I found very interesting was about Superman and bravery. If I remember nothing else about that class, I will remember these articles because they were very profound.
The one that I remember the most stated that Superman was not brave because he knew that he could not be hurt. Bravery, in this article, was defined as standing up to a situation not knowing whether or not you would survive. Bravery was more of the battle against the fear to do what was necessary. Superman, knowing that the bullets, knives, fists, etc. would not hurt him did not fear them. He has no fear of heights because he can fly and even if he falls a great distance, he can not be hurt. A large boulder could fall on him and it really wouldn't hurt him. Therefore, according to this article, he was not brave because he did not need to fear.
At first, I did not like this article because Superman was one of those characters you looked up to. In this light, he wasn't as brave as we thought him to be. After the initial "hero-bashing" wore off, I began to think about it and it made a lot of sense.
Bravery was measured by how we deal with fear. What do we do when we are afraid? This is what defines our bravery. When things get tough and we fear that we are making the wrong choices, do we shirk from our duties or do we press on hoping things will turn out? What do we do with the fears that surround us? Do we let them rule our lives or do we take precautions and move on?
There is a lot of bad out there. There is a lot of good also but its not the good you have to worry about. Things that are even neutral can be causes for fear. Heights, outdoors, dogs, etc. are all fears that the subject of fear is not good or bad but our perception of them and what can happen to us is what feeds those fears. There are a lot of words that end in -phobia that deal explain our fears. Those that let the fears rule their lives generally do not exhibit bravery or mastery over those fears.
Most of the time fears are of general black-and-white type things; fear of heights, fear of spiders, fear of being mugged, fear of death, etc. The fears that are more common but little well known or associated with bravery deal with being a father or mother, being a role model, working at a job, or anything we face on a day-to-day basis. Think about all the decisions you make during the day and whether you worry about making the right decision.
I suffer a lot of fears. It is not that we fear that makes us weak or cowardly, it is how we deal with those fears that defines us as brave or as cowardly. It is by pressing on each and every day in spite of the fear that helps us to be brave. It is by not hiding behind our fear and our self-pity of that fear that defines us as brave.
It has led me to think about bravery and what it truly is. A few years ago, when I was in school, I was taking an English class for general education credit. Most of the assignment involved a series of articles written by various authors presenting pros and cons on a specific subject and each section the subject would change. One of which that I found very interesting was about Superman and bravery. If I remember nothing else about that class, I will remember these articles because they were very profound.
The one that I remember the most stated that Superman was not brave because he knew that he could not be hurt. Bravery, in this article, was defined as standing up to a situation not knowing whether or not you would survive. Bravery was more of the battle against the fear to do what was necessary. Superman, knowing that the bullets, knives, fists, etc. would not hurt him did not fear them. He has no fear of heights because he can fly and even if he falls a great distance, he can not be hurt. A large boulder could fall on him and it really wouldn't hurt him. Therefore, according to this article, he was not brave because he did not need to fear.
At first, I did not like this article because Superman was one of those characters you looked up to. In this light, he wasn't as brave as we thought him to be. After the initial "hero-bashing" wore off, I began to think about it and it made a lot of sense.
Bravery was measured by how we deal with fear. What do we do when we are afraid? This is what defines our bravery. When things get tough and we fear that we are making the wrong choices, do we shirk from our duties or do we press on hoping things will turn out? What do we do with the fears that surround us? Do we let them rule our lives or do we take precautions and move on?
There is a lot of bad out there. There is a lot of good also but its not the good you have to worry about. Things that are even neutral can be causes for fear. Heights, outdoors, dogs, etc. are all fears that the subject of fear is not good or bad but our perception of them and what can happen to us is what feeds those fears. There are a lot of words that end in -phobia that deal explain our fears. Those that let the fears rule their lives generally do not exhibit bravery or mastery over those fears.
Most of the time fears are of general black-and-white type things; fear of heights, fear of spiders, fear of being mugged, fear of death, etc. The fears that are more common but little well known or associated with bravery deal with being a father or mother, being a role model, working at a job, or anything we face on a day-to-day basis. Think about all the decisions you make during the day and whether you worry about making the right decision.
I suffer a lot of fears. It is not that we fear that makes us weak or cowardly, it is how we deal with those fears that defines us as brave or as cowardly. It is by pressing on each and every day in spite of the fear that helps us to be brave. It is by not hiding behind our fear and our self-pity of that fear that defines us as brave.
Song of the Day - March 13, 2008
I've decided that if I miss a day, instead of going back and choosing the Song of the Day a day late, I'm just going to skip it. I'm sorry there will be songless days, but sometimes life just gets in the way. I'll writing the Song of the Day in the morning before the work day gets into full swing and I get so tied up in things that I can barely breath.
For the song today I'm going to pick one of the many great songs by the group Peter, Paul, and Mary. This is a group that for some reason reminds me of summer afternoons growing up. My mom would clean the house in the morning on Saturdays with Whitney Houston blaring, which for a teenage boy is a very wrong way to wake up. But after the Whitney albums were over, we'd pull out some of this better music. Groups like The Alan Parsons Project, Eddie Rabbit, and Peter, Paul, and Mary to name a few.
Today's song is "Lemon Tree". This song is just well written. Other songs on this album include Puff the Magic Dragon, Stewball, Leaving on a Jet Plane, and If I Had A Hammer (The Hammer Song) all of which could have been the song of the day. Enjoy.
For the song today I'm going to pick one of the many great songs by the group Peter, Paul, and Mary. This is a group that for some reason reminds me of summer afternoons growing up. My mom would clean the house in the morning on Saturdays with Whitney Houston blaring, which for a teenage boy is a very wrong way to wake up. But after the Whitney albums were over, we'd pull out some of this better music. Groups like The Alan Parsons Project, Eddie Rabbit, and Peter, Paul, and Mary to name a few.
Today's song is "Lemon Tree". This song is just well written. Other songs on this album include Puff the Magic Dragon, Stewball, Leaving on a Jet Plane, and If I Had A Hammer (The Hammer Song) all of which could have been the song of the day. Enjoy.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Song Of The Day - March 11, 2008 (A day late)
I know today is March 12th which makes this Song of the Day a Song of the Day a day late.
So the song that I had picked out for the Song of the Day yesterday and just didn't take the time to blog it was off the new Maroon 5 album, "It Won't Be Soon Before Long". The song..."Won't Go Home Without You". If you haven't heard it, you should. I'll get to today's song of the day a little later.
So the song that I had picked out for the Song of the Day yesterday and just didn't take the time to blog it was off the new Maroon 5 album, "It Won't Be Soon Before Long". The song..."Won't Go Home Without You". If you haven't heard it, you should. I'll get to today's song of the day a little later.
Honesty... Not just a word in the dictionary
I have not always been an honest person. I have told my share of lies through my life. This is not to say that I am perfect now or that I have ever had periods where I was a total scum bag and lied about everything but I have told a few lies.
I don't think that at any point in my life that I set out to outright lie about something. Usually something would happen inadvertently and I would lie to save my own skin but I don't think I ever did anything and thought that I would do something and lie about it, it was never premeditated I guess is the phrase I'm looking for.
I don't know if it is a conscience that keeps me from doing this or the morals my mother brought me up with or just a desire to be an honest citizen. I don't think I won't ever lie again. There are just some questions that you can't help but lie to (usually referred to as white lies.) I try not to because I believe in being honest and it has gotten me into trouble a few times. I guess the reason is because I can be brutally honest.
As with most of my blogs, there is an event that sparks the fire that becomes the outpouring that becomes my ramblings. The one event opens the gateway to all the memories of events that are similar to or have something in common with the event that sparked the "gotta-get-it-off-my-chest" blog.
This incident involved a freight claim at work. We has a shipment of 8 packages come in that showed signs of damage or missing items. The person who was supposed to check the shipment did not at the time and when it was time for those items to go out, there was a scramble because 2 parts were missing.
Several people had stated that they did extensive searches for these items but to no avail. Therefore, logic states that we make a claim with the freight company for those missing items. Not more than 5 minutes of filing that claim did the missing items turn up. (So much for extensive search.) So, making sure that I cover all my bases, I asked a particular person (no mention of names) whether all was well with that particular order so I could cancel the claim.
Now, the correct response was that everything was fine. The response I got was something different. That particular order was fine but we had lost money one a couple of other shipping problems that we just corrected and didn't bother to make claim against so we should leave the claim to collect on all the other times where we should have but didn't file a claim.
This wasn't a hard decision for me and took very little time to recognize this as dishonest. If there were reasonable claims in the past and we just pushed through them and corrected the error without bothering to file claim paperwork, apparently it wasn't worth enough to worry about. This isn't about accumulation and finding one claim with which to "get even" for past events.
I started to think about all the other events in life where dishonesty reared its ugly head. I'm not talking about the little lie when someone asks about their hair or makeup but the big lies that can cause loss and problems. The one's where you have to keep up the lies. You make up stories to save your own skin or keep out of trouble or to get something in which you are not entitled.
Movies and books have been written about it. Aesop wrote fables about it. I think this fits into the category of the "Mean People Suck" blog. It is so sad because there is good in everyone. It is possible for people to be honest but they just find it "entertaining" to lie, cheat, and steal.
I find it troublesome that people would not take responsibility for themselves enough to be honest with their fellow man. I, myself, find it difficult to understand why people would want to continue to lie when the truth is so much easier. I guess for the same reason why people want to be hurtful towards others.
So many things could be avoided by just being honest. I can see that there are some benefits in the short run with lies but they are mostly superficial and, in the long run, you lose a lot more than you gain.
There are some "lies" I still perpetuate (just so that someone doesn't bring them up.) Certain childhood characters that benefit children in one way or another are something that I really do enjoy fulfilling the role of. I'm not sure if these are counted as lies or just a displacement of credit to a fictional character. You decide for yourself but I don't necessarily count these in the "lie" category.
I don't think that at any point in my life that I set out to outright lie about something. Usually something would happen inadvertently and I would lie to save my own skin but I don't think I ever did anything and thought that I would do something and lie about it, it was never premeditated I guess is the phrase I'm looking for.
I don't know if it is a conscience that keeps me from doing this or the morals my mother brought me up with or just a desire to be an honest citizen. I don't think I won't ever lie again. There are just some questions that you can't help but lie to (usually referred to as white lies.) I try not to because I believe in being honest and it has gotten me into trouble a few times. I guess the reason is because I can be brutally honest.
As with most of my blogs, there is an event that sparks the fire that becomes the outpouring that becomes my ramblings. The one event opens the gateway to all the memories of events that are similar to or have something in common with the event that sparked the "gotta-get-it-off-my-chest" blog.
This incident involved a freight claim at work. We has a shipment of 8 packages come in that showed signs of damage or missing items. The person who was supposed to check the shipment did not at the time and when it was time for those items to go out, there was a scramble because 2 parts were missing.
Several people had stated that they did extensive searches for these items but to no avail. Therefore, logic states that we make a claim with the freight company for those missing items. Not more than 5 minutes of filing that claim did the missing items turn up. (So much for extensive search.) So, making sure that I cover all my bases, I asked a particular person (no mention of names) whether all was well with that particular order so I could cancel the claim.
Now, the correct response was that everything was fine. The response I got was something different. That particular order was fine but we had lost money one a couple of other shipping problems that we just corrected and didn't bother to make claim against so we should leave the claim to collect on all the other times where we should have but didn't file a claim.
This wasn't a hard decision for me and took very little time to recognize this as dishonest. If there were reasonable claims in the past and we just pushed through them and corrected the error without bothering to file claim paperwork, apparently it wasn't worth enough to worry about. This isn't about accumulation and finding one claim with which to "get even" for past events.
I started to think about all the other events in life where dishonesty reared its ugly head. I'm not talking about the little lie when someone asks about their hair or makeup but the big lies that can cause loss and problems. The one's where you have to keep up the lies. You make up stories to save your own skin or keep out of trouble or to get something in which you are not entitled.
Movies and books have been written about it. Aesop wrote fables about it. I think this fits into the category of the "Mean People Suck" blog. It is so sad because there is good in everyone. It is possible for people to be honest but they just find it "entertaining" to lie, cheat, and steal.
I find it troublesome that people would not take responsibility for themselves enough to be honest with their fellow man. I, myself, find it difficult to understand why people would want to continue to lie when the truth is so much easier. I guess for the same reason why people want to be hurtful towards others.
So many things could be avoided by just being honest. I can see that there are some benefits in the short run with lies but they are mostly superficial and, in the long run, you lose a lot more than you gain.
There are some "lies" I still perpetuate (just so that someone doesn't bring them up.) Certain childhood characters that benefit children in one way or another are something that I really do enjoy fulfilling the role of. I'm not sure if these are counted as lies or just a displacement of credit to a fictional character. You decide for yourself but I don't necessarily count these in the "lie" category.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Too harsh?
Most of the people that know me know I am always wanting to improve something. What that something is depends upon my mood or what I can see at the time. A lot of times I want to do something with my house or yard. There are a few things that stop my progression. First, money. To do much of anything you need money. Second, more pressing chores. How can you work on the yard when you need to wash clothes or dishes? Third, a lot of the clutter around the house has nothing to do with me and if I decide to just get rid of it, I would end up divorced or at least separated.
Last night I did spend a couple of hours raking the front yard. I do not have a single tree in my yard but since neighbors on both sides have multiple trees, my yard gets a lot of leaves. So, I spent the evening listening to a book on tape raking, sweeping, and piling in the garbage. Between my front yard, the little strip close to the curb, the gutter and the sidewalk, I filled a trash can (one of the big ones the garbage man dumps every week.)
Several things happened last night that I wonder about my own mood and motives on some things. My youngest decided to take her shoes off outside, which isn't a great problem but I asked her and her older sister to find them and get them in the house. They played, and I told them again. This happened repetitively for quite some time. Then I asked them to go get my wife to help them find the shoes before it got dark. They did make it in to tell her that I wanted her but she assumed I just wanted to show her the yard so she blew me off. (Not a super huge surprise since most people blow me off anyway.)
I was a bit upset when I got in for a couple of reasons. I was happy with the way the yard looked and the work I did though. First, I only found one of the shoes and it was getting to dark to look around. When I went in, everyone had had something to eat (it was fend-for-yourself night) and not one single person bothered to put their dishes away let alone load them in the dishwasher and run it and the recycling bin was full. Needless to say, I was upset that no one bothered to do anything.
This is only one example in a series of events through my life that this has happened. I struggle to understand why people can live in a mess or not care enough to clean up after themselves. My family isn't the only one, I see or hear about similar stories all over the place. It is difficult to understand and I wonder if I should be upset about it or if that is the norm and I am just an abnormality when it comes to that type of stuff.
It is hard to care when everyone around you doesn't. Not just at home but at work as well. It is hard to keep up with all of the things that need to be accomplished when everyone around you seems to work against you. It definitely is a struggle. One day I may figure it out.
Last night I did spend a couple of hours raking the front yard. I do not have a single tree in my yard but since neighbors on both sides have multiple trees, my yard gets a lot of leaves. So, I spent the evening listening to a book on tape raking, sweeping, and piling in the garbage. Between my front yard, the little strip close to the curb, the gutter and the sidewalk, I filled a trash can (one of the big ones the garbage man dumps every week.)
Several things happened last night that I wonder about my own mood and motives on some things. My youngest decided to take her shoes off outside, which isn't a great problem but I asked her and her older sister to find them and get them in the house. They played, and I told them again. This happened repetitively for quite some time. Then I asked them to go get my wife to help them find the shoes before it got dark. They did make it in to tell her that I wanted her but she assumed I just wanted to show her the yard so she blew me off. (Not a super huge surprise since most people blow me off anyway.)
I was a bit upset when I got in for a couple of reasons. I was happy with the way the yard looked and the work I did though. First, I only found one of the shoes and it was getting to dark to look around. When I went in, everyone had had something to eat (it was fend-for-yourself night) and not one single person bothered to put their dishes away let alone load them in the dishwasher and run it and the recycling bin was full. Needless to say, I was upset that no one bothered to do anything.
This is only one example in a series of events through my life that this has happened. I struggle to understand why people can live in a mess or not care enough to clean up after themselves. My family isn't the only one, I see or hear about similar stories all over the place. It is difficult to understand and I wonder if I should be upset about it or if that is the norm and I am just an abnormality when it comes to that type of stuff.
It is hard to care when everyone around you doesn't. Not just at home but at work as well. It is hard to keep up with all of the things that need to be accomplished when everyone around you seems to work against you. It definitely is a struggle. One day I may figure it out.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Song Of The Day - March 9, 2008
How do you pick the Song of the Day? That is a question that I can hear you all asking yourself, but are afraid to ask because you think it is a stupid question. No, not necessarily a stupid question, more like a stupid response. I really don't have any real reasons behind it, a lot of times it is just saying in five clicks on random in iTunes, that will be the Song of the Day. So today, because I've been sick in bed all day, I'm going to do the three click on random and the third song will be the Song of the Day.
Today's Song of the Day, randomly picked, is called "Delirium Tremens" by an Irish singer named Chrisy Moore. This song isn't in iTunes to buy. I bought this album while on my LDS mission there about 10 plus years ago. This whole album is good and if you know me and would like to hear more, please let me know.
Today's Song of the Day, randomly picked, is called "Delirium Tremens" by an Irish singer named Chrisy Moore. This song isn't in iTunes to buy. I bought this album while on my LDS mission there about 10 plus years ago. This whole album is good and if you know me and would like to hear more, please let me know.
Looking Back
So I'm going through some of the pictures that I have on my external hard drive and came across one that is cute and brought back a bunch of memories. Knowing Bree now and seeing this, we should have seen the signs of the trouble to come.
This picture was taken after a trip to Mirror Lake in the Uinta's. We decided to walk a little bit around the lake and the kids got really close and we told them to stay away. The two older ones did a good job at it, the younger one, Bree at the time, didn't. She fell into the lake and got soaked. We put Jarik's sweatshirt on her to keep her warm. She is mischievous and the smirk on her face shows that she had a lot planned for the future.
This picture was taken after a trip to Mirror Lake in the Uinta's. We decided to walk a little bit around the lake and the kids got really close and we told them to stay away. The two older ones did a good job at it, the younger one, Bree at the time, didn't. She fell into the lake and got soaked. We put Jarik's sweatshirt on her to keep her warm. She is mischievous and the smirk on her face shows that she had a lot planned for the future.
I'm First!!!!
Driving is so much fun. You get to see how stupid people really are. Truly, they are morons. I'm not saying I'm a perfect driver, far from it, but I do realize that I'm not the only one on the road and that I may own a small part of it through my taxes, but I'm not the only one.
I've been thinking about drivers and blogging about them for quite some time. There are so many different aspects of driving that I could touch on in the way of "this really bugs me". I could probably write an entire book on it, maybe entitle it something like "Stupid Human Tricks - The Driver's Edition."
I can't say I haven't done some really stupid things driving, mostly from not paying as close attention to the road as I should but I don't blatantly do idiotic things. Anyway, post any examples of things that really bug you about other drivers.
One of my favorites is the people who, knowing a lane is going to end, try to get as far ahead as possible. They will push ahead just one more car as if that will make all of the difference in the world in their travel time if they just get ahead of that one more person.
Another one that I like are the people that speed up as you are coming onto the freeway. They ride the right lane and even though, at current proper speeds, you will come out ahead of them, decide that they want to go from 65mph to 100mph just to make sure that you are behind them. Instead of moving over or allowing you just to merge, they get to the point where they almost force you off the road because you ran out of lane and they are right in the way.
Idiots!!! Anyway, what is your favorite "quirk" about drivers?
I've been thinking about drivers and blogging about them for quite some time. There are so many different aspects of driving that I could touch on in the way of "this really bugs me". I could probably write an entire book on it, maybe entitle it something like "Stupid Human Tricks - The Driver's Edition."
I can't say I haven't done some really stupid things driving, mostly from not paying as close attention to the road as I should but I don't blatantly do idiotic things. Anyway, post any examples of things that really bug you about other drivers.
One of my favorites is the people who, knowing a lane is going to end, try to get as far ahead as possible. They will push ahead just one more car as if that will make all of the difference in the world in their travel time if they just get ahead of that one more person.
Another one that I like are the people that speed up as you are coming onto the freeway. They ride the right lane and even though, at current proper speeds, you will come out ahead of them, decide that they want to go from 65mph to 100mph just to make sure that you are behind them. Instead of moving over or allowing you just to merge, they get to the point where they almost force you off the road because you ran out of lane and they are right in the way.
Idiots!!! Anyway, what is your favorite "quirk" about drivers?
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Song Of The Day - March 8, 2008
Well it's Saturday and I haven't been listening to a lot of music so it was hard to pick the song for the day. So as we were driving home from getting some dinner, which means we were lazy today, I realized what I was going to pick for the Song of the Day.
Today's Song of the Day is the theme song for the hit NBC comedy show, The Office. Chels and I watched the first 3 seasons of The Office on Netflix, the part where you can watch the shows on your PC. They have really annoying commercials on the radio for it. So we finished up season 3 today and started watching season 4 on NBC.com. We are somewhat new fans to the show and can't wait for the show to continue on April 10th. So as lame as that may be, that is my pick for the Song of the Day.
Today's Song of the Day is the theme song for the hit NBC comedy show, The Office. Chels and I watched the first 3 seasons of The Office on Netflix, the part where you can watch the shows on your PC. They have really annoying commercials on the radio for it. So we finished up season 3 today and started watching season 4 on NBC.com. We are somewhat new fans to the show and can't wait for the show to continue on April 10th. So as lame as that may be, that is my pick for the Song of the Day.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Song Of The Day - March 7, 2008
This was one of my favorite things to do when I wrote in this blog regularly. I'm going to start it up again...just for kicks. The song of the day is one that is put together just to give you a good song that may describe the kind of day I'm having or a song that just sounded good to me in my iTunes library. I have just under 3100 songs in my library and they are all pretty good, except for most of the Neil Diamond, that was bought for my wife.
So today's song is by Rascal Flatts. Reasons why, I wish I was going to their concert, except I'm too cheap to buy tickets. It's a good song for the weekend. The song is "Life Is a Highway" from Cars. In the iTunes store this is listed as their top selling song and is a good one.
That is the song of the day...take it or leave it.
So today's song is by Rascal Flatts. Reasons why, I wish I was going to their concert, except I'm too cheap to buy tickets. It's a good song for the weekend. The song is "Life Is a Highway" from Cars. In the iTunes store this is listed as their top selling song and is a good one.
That is the song of the day...take it or leave it.
Looks Like Fun
Once in a while, when I get bored of my music, I go to Launch and find different music videos that I want to watch. It's pretty cool. I was a big fan of MTV when it was actually music videos and not the stupid shows that are there now. I did like watching the Osbourne's every once in a while. Anyway, back to Launch...
I've always thought it would be a lot of fun to be a singer and/or someone involved in making these videos. Some videos that come to mind from way back when are "Pour Some Sugar on Me" by Def Leppard and "Parents Just Don't Understand" by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. During the summer we'd watch the top 5 or ten videos of the day and these two were on it when we watched it. Some of the videos I watch now a days for kicks include some of the newer songs on the radio..."Girlfriend" by Avril Lavigne, "White & Nerdy" by Weird Al, although that song hits way to close to home, and others. Launch has a lot of "Fans Only" videos where the fans have taken the song and made a video, you know singing and dancing in their element. I have seen a video of "These Boots Were Made for Walking" that would make the video maker very jealous, but it is hilarious. Anyway, videos do a great job of curing winter blues, especially if they are a fun summer song or a Kenny Chesney video, they are almost always on a beach somewhere tropic.
Something for a little fun...I heard Donny Osmond on the radio with the 101.9 guys this morning and this video came up. Here is the Donny cut that everyone needs to see.
I've always thought it would be a lot of fun to be a singer and/or someone involved in making these videos. Some videos that come to mind from way back when are "Pour Some Sugar on Me" by Def Leppard and "Parents Just Don't Understand" by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. During the summer we'd watch the top 5 or ten videos of the day and these two were on it when we watched it. Some of the videos I watch now a days for kicks include some of the newer songs on the radio..."Girlfriend" by Avril Lavigne, "White & Nerdy" by Weird Al, although that song hits way to close to home, and others. Launch has a lot of "Fans Only" videos where the fans have taken the song and made a video, you know singing and dancing in their element. I have seen a video of "These Boots Were Made for Walking" that would make the video maker very jealous, but it is hilarious. Anyway, videos do a great job of curing winter blues, especially if they are a fun summer song or a Kenny Chesney video, they are almost always on a beach somewhere tropic.
Something for a little fun...I heard Donny Osmond on the radio with the 101.9 guys this morning and this video came up. Here is the Donny cut that everyone needs to see.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Revocable Living Trust
I spent some time last night learning about revocable living trusts. I had a friend suggest it because, apparently, a will doesn't do what we all think it does. Here is what I have learned.
Wills are a document that give the directives you would like to have completed at your death. What is listed may not be what actually happens and the state and greedy lawyers get to have their hands in the pot as well. It could take up to 1 year to settle your affairs as well. Wills have to go through probate which means they are a matter of public record. Everyone gets to know your business. Lawyers get a fee for dealing with a bunch of nothing really and your relatives get taken to the cleaners.
A revocable living trust basically makes it so none of that happens. This is one of those things that they have 2 laws, one for the uninformed (which gets very expensive) and one for the informed (which saves your estate a ton of $$.)
The US is one of the only countries that still deals with probate and the main reason why it is still enforce here is that it is a very lucrative business venture for lawyers.
Anyway, I'm not going to go too indepth here but I would suggest everyone look into getting (or borrowing from the library) a book on living trusts and setting up estates. Its not just for the rich and shameless anymore and could save your hard earned moola and property for the people you want to have it.
Wills are a document that give the directives you would like to have completed at your death. What is listed may not be what actually happens and the state and greedy lawyers get to have their hands in the pot as well. It could take up to 1 year to settle your affairs as well. Wills have to go through probate which means they are a matter of public record. Everyone gets to know your business. Lawyers get a fee for dealing with a bunch of nothing really and your relatives get taken to the cleaners.
A revocable living trust basically makes it so none of that happens. This is one of those things that they have 2 laws, one for the uninformed (which gets very expensive) and one for the informed (which saves your estate a ton of $$.)
The US is one of the only countries that still deals with probate and the main reason why it is still enforce here is that it is a very lucrative business venture for lawyers.
Anyway, I'm not going to go too indepth here but I would suggest everyone look into getting (or borrowing from the library) a book on living trusts and setting up estates. Its not just for the rich and shameless anymore and could save your hard earned moola and property for the people you want to have it.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
If I had a million dollars.....
This is a statement commonly used with kids in junior high or high school. If you had a million dollars or were independently wealthy, what would you do with your life? The answer to that question would be what you should go into for your work or employment. It would be the "ideal" job for you.
I'm not sure if anyone that reads this has been asked that question or has ever thought about it. We all have our dream jobs in one way or another. This question is meant to get you to think about life. What you would do for a career, not just Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm, but what career would be part of your being.
I've asked myself that question many times through my life and each time the answer varies a bit but there is one answer that has popped up more than once in different forms. Of course, I've had my periods where I wanted to be a police officer or a soldier or some other type of "hero" position. There is one answer that really made me think enough to form a goal. I've talked about it before but have never been really serious about it until just recently.
The last time I asked myself that question, my answer was to stay at home with the kids and home school them. To be a part of their academic lives, take them on field trips, teach them, show them all of the stuff I feel that they are lacking. I've joked with Aurora many times about getting my teaching degree and getting hired on in whatever school she was in. She scoffed at it as though she would be totally embarrassed to be a teacher's child but every once in a while she would make mention of it.
So, I've decided that I need to get my teaching degree. Not sure how long it will take or when I will start but since I officially made the decision today, I'm sure I will take the time to figure it out. I'm not sure which subject(s) I will teach, but I'm sure it is something that I would really like to do. I love all subjects and just need to get started.
I've thought about this before but by making a public declaration, I am one step closer to that goal. I will figure out how to do it and make a living at it even if it kills me. Anyway, I wanted to share so that those of you that know me beyond the computer can kick me in the butt to make it happen.
I'm not sure if anyone that reads this has been asked that question or has ever thought about it. We all have our dream jobs in one way or another. This question is meant to get you to think about life. What you would do for a career, not just Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm, but what career would be part of your being.
I've asked myself that question many times through my life and each time the answer varies a bit but there is one answer that has popped up more than once in different forms. Of course, I've had my periods where I wanted to be a police officer or a soldier or some other type of "hero" position. There is one answer that really made me think enough to form a goal. I've talked about it before but have never been really serious about it until just recently.
The last time I asked myself that question, my answer was to stay at home with the kids and home school them. To be a part of their academic lives, take them on field trips, teach them, show them all of the stuff I feel that they are lacking. I've joked with Aurora many times about getting my teaching degree and getting hired on in whatever school she was in. She scoffed at it as though she would be totally embarrassed to be a teacher's child but every once in a while she would make mention of it.
So, I've decided that I need to get my teaching degree. Not sure how long it will take or when I will start but since I officially made the decision today, I'm sure I will take the time to figure it out. I'm not sure which subject(s) I will teach, but I'm sure it is something that I would really like to do. I love all subjects and just need to get started.
I've thought about this before but by making a public declaration, I am one step closer to that goal. I will figure out how to do it and make a living at it even if it kills me. Anyway, I wanted to share so that those of you that know me beyond the computer can kick me in the butt to make it happen.
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