Tomorrow, Julie and I are going to a wedding.
No, it's not ours. That's a-ways away in the future. We don't have a date set.
This is the wedding of her friends Amy and Troy. You might've seen it in her blog that she was looking for a date for the wedding, and that's how we ended up meeting. (She got more than just a date for the wedding out of the deal.)
It's going to be an absolutely beautiful day for a wedding. Highs in the upper 60's, maybe lower 70's, and for November 1st, that's pretty impressive.
I've got my nice, dark gray suit here, ready for tomorrow. Julie's got...well...she's got something, but I'm not entirely sure what it is.
I'll make my way back to Pittsburgh a few days later, fix up the old house nice and pretty, and get her on the market. Shortly thereafter, I'll load some stuff on a truck and say "goodbye" to Pennsylvania, and "hello" to Illinois as a full-time resident. Get a job out here, something retail likely, until I can find someone willing to take a chance on me.
We'll get a picture or two of us tomorrow, for the curious who wanna see how we look dressed up.
I'll have to be sure and shake Troy's hand when I see him, because if it weren't for him...
I wouldn't have found the love of my life.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
It's a video blog, Charlie Brown.
A special treat for my readers (and occasional stalker) today:
Julie's oldest son, Travis, decided he wanted to carve pumpkins for Halloween.
This in and of itself is not unusual. People all over carve pumpkins, some quite creatively and with rather interesting patterns.
After opening and hollowing out the pumpkins, he got the idea to put Kadie, the rather photogenic and incredibly adorable dog into the pumpkin, as you see here.
With that accomplished, Travis thought it'd be a good idea to stuff Bob, one of Julie's cats, into the pumpkin. Bob's a good kitty, especially affectionate in the bathroom (don't ask), but somewhat shy and unwilling to try new things, as seen here...
Of course, you can't torture one without torturing the other. It was Rico's turn next, Julie's older (and somewhat larger) cat. Rico is less active, but more vocal, about what displeases him...
Of course, it was all in good fun. The pumpkins didn't get finished last night, but the memory will last a lifetime.
No animals were harmed in the making of this blog.
Julie's oldest son, Travis, decided he wanted to carve pumpkins for Halloween.
This in and of itself is not unusual. People all over carve pumpkins, some quite creatively and with rather interesting patterns.
After opening and hollowing out the pumpkins, he got the idea to put Kadie, the rather photogenic and incredibly adorable dog into the pumpkin, as you see here.
With that accomplished, Travis thought it'd be a good idea to stuff Bob, one of Julie's cats, into the pumpkin. Bob's a good kitty, especially affectionate in the bathroom (don't ask), but somewhat shy and unwilling to try new things, as seen here...
Of course, you can't torture one without torturing the other. It was Rico's turn next, Julie's older (and somewhat larger) cat. Rico is less active, but more vocal, about what displeases him...
Of course, it was all in good fun. The pumpkins didn't get finished last night, but the memory will last a lifetime.
No animals were harmed in the making of this blog.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
A surprise...
This weekend, in Sycamore (DeKalb's neighbor), they've had a cool Pumpkin Festival with a parade, rides, decorated pumpkin contests...just a big party.
We went to the high school yesterday for an antique show (vendors too, but with some cool stuff...like amazing cinnamon banana roasted pecans), and wandered around a bit.
Today, we got up early went back into town. You have to go early for three reasons:
* Get a good parking spot
* Get a good parade viewing spot
* Get some good food.
And there was good food a-plenty to be had. Caramel apples. Beer-battered Brats on a Stick. Spiced Apple Cider.
Julie, Cory, Hailey and I walked around for a bit, the sun shining and a cool breeze whipping through the streets. We stopped in a candle and scent shop and Julie got a cool scented oil diffuser. We all got free tea lights. There was a cat in there. It was really cool.
Leaving there, we walked up the street. I said "let's go in here", to a jewelry shop Julie brought me to before, when she got her Grandma's old ring cleaned and fixed.
There's been a ring in there that Julie had wanted since she first laid eyes upon it. An orange diamond. Gorgeous ring.
Today, when we went in there, I bought her that ring.
Putting it on her finger, I whispered in her ear "you do know what this means, don't you?" She said "I'm going to marry you".
It was then I asked her to marry me. She said yes.
:)
We went to the high school yesterday for an antique show (vendors too, but with some cool stuff...like amazing cinnamon banana roasted pecans), and wandered around a bit.
Today, we got up early went back into town. You have to go early for three reasons:
* Get a good parking spot
* Get a good parade viewing spot
* Get some good food.
And there was good food a-plenty to be had. Caramel apples. Beer-battered Brats on a Stick. Spiced Apple Cider.
Julie, Cory, Hailey and I walked around for a bit, the sun shining and a cool breeze whipping through the streets. We stopped in a candle and scent shop and Julie got a cool scented oil diffuser. We all got free tea lights. There was a cat in there. It was really cool.
Leaving there, we walked up the street. I said "let's go in here", to a jewelry shop Julie brought me to before, when she got her Grandma's old ring cleaned and fixed.
There's been a ring in there that Julie had wanted since she first laid eyes upon it. An orange diamond. Gorgeous ring.
Today, when we went in there, I bought her that ring.
Putting it on her finger, I whispered in her ear "you do know what this means, don't you?" She said "I'm going to marry you".
It was then I asked her to marry me. She said yes.
:)
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Yeah, I should be sleeping, but...
...instead, I sit and read and listen to music and blog and stuff like that.
Tomorrow morning (likely VERY early) I'll get on the road and go back out to DeKalb. I've missed Julie so much these past couple weeks. It's amazing how happy she makes me (and how happy I make her). With her, I'm complete, I think. She has my heart, and I love her so very much.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. You've heard it all before. What else is new, I know.
Well...
I had a real estate agent come by and we talked about selling the house. I could do one of two things:
It's a no-brainer, really. It'll require a little scraping of old paint (and the wallpaper it's been painted over), a fresh coat of new paint and (maybe) ripping up 20 year old rugs (I've got hard wood...floors!), and I might be able to get an extra few grand out of the house.
Also, I've gotta take paintings and pictures down (no biggie, since I was going to do so anyway) and take out some of the furniture (once again, already planned). The real estate agent said there was "too much furniture in the dining room", and really, she's right. Besides the table and four chairs, there's a bar, a dresser/cabinet, an entertainment center loaded with photo albums, DVDs and CDs, another entertainment stand with the stereo and more movies and music, an old organ...the list goes on.
The good news is, according to the research she's already done, houses in my area sell fairly quickly, within an average of sixty days. That's not too shabby, given the current economy (but then, this isn't a big, super-expensive home, and the Pittsburgh market hasn't been too too bad). My insurance will cover the house for six months, should I have to leave it vacant that long, before the coverage drops to fire only.
And, best of all...I get to be closer to my love. I think I can live with that, and the extra bit of work that needs to be done isn't that bad.
So, yeah, I'll be leaving Pittsburgh behind, moving out to DeKalb. My family...well...I've talked to two of my brothers, and I know they're worried, but they also understand that it's my life, and they know that Julie makes me happy.
Julie...
Okay, I think I will call it a night, now. Go to bed and get some sleep. Do a little more cleaning out tomorrow, call it an early night (promise!) and be ready to go see my angel...
Tomorrow morning (likely VERY early) I'll get on the road and go back out to DeKalb. I've missed Julie so much these past couple weeks. It's amazing how happy she makes me (and how happy I make her). With her, I'm complete, I think. She has my heart, and I love her so very much.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. You've heard it all before. What else is new, I know.
Well...
I had a real estate agent come by and we talked about selling the house. I could do one of two things:
- Sell the house as/is for less money, or
- Fix up a few things and get more cash.
It's a no-brainer, really. It'll require a little scraping of old paint (and the wallpaper it's been painted over), a fresh coat of new paint and (maybe) ripping up 20 year old rugs (I've got hard wood...floors!), and I might be able to get an extra few grand out of the house.
Also, I've gotta take paintings and pictures down (no biggie, since I was going to do so anyway) and take out some of the furniture (once again, already planned). The real estate agent said there was "too much furniture in the dining room", and really, she's right. Besides the table and four chairs, there's a bar, a dresser/cabinet, an entertainment center loaded with photo albums, DVDs and CDs, another entertainment stand with the stereo and more movies and music, an old organ...the list goes on.
The good news is, according to the research she's already done, houses in my area sell fairly quickly, within an average of sixty days. That's not too shabby, given the current economy (but then, this isn't a big, super-expensive home, and the Pittsburgh market hasn't been too too bad). My insurance will cover the house for six months, should I have to leave it vacant that long, before the coverage drops to fire only.
And, best of all...I get to be closer to my love. I think I can live with that, and the extra bit of work that needs to be done isn't that bad.
So, yeah, I'll be leaving Pittsburgh behind, moving out to DeKalb. My family...well...I've talked to two of my brothers, and I know they're worried, but they also understand that it's my life, and they know that Julie makes me happy.
Julie...
Okay, I think I will call it a night, now. Go to bed and get some sleep. Do a little more cleaning out tomorrow, call it an early night (promise!) and be ready to go see my angel...
Friday, October 17, 2008
Random Notes for October 17, 2008
A few odds and ends to talk about today...
Her room's pretty much cleared out. All that's left in there is her old furniture (anyone want a vanity and dresser? All you've gotta do is pick it up and haul it away. I'll even through in a used organ...), and the cedar chest, which comes with me. Yes, there are her memories and papers in there, but I want the chest (always did), and I can go through that at my leisure.
Today, I tackled the hall closet. Oy vey. There's old coats of hers that she hasn't worn in 10+ years, my brother's books from when he was in college (and he graduated 30 years ago), a really cool old microscope, and my old records.
Wait. Read that again. I found my old records!
I understand to you, gentle reader, this means diddly, but to me...these are lost memories that I thought were long gone. These are the 33rpm records (younger readers might not now what that is...ask if you're not sure) that I played over and over when I was a kid.
It was so bloody wonderful to open the one bag in there and see my old records. Even my original Bill Cosby comedy albums (those got played more than anything else, with perhaps the exception of Johnny Horton's Battle of New Orleans, and that one got played A LOT.) were in there.
Brought a big smile to my face, lemme tell ya.
No, that's not my Hallowe'en costume, going as a fat, balding Fonzie.
Awhile back, I told Julie that I used to wear a biker jacket in the Winter. For some reason, she found it hard to believe that I would wear such a thing, and I told her that when I found it, I'd put it on and take a picture.
It was in the hall closet, so I just had to put it on and take a picture. And yes, sweetheart, it's coming with me to DeKalb.
On that note, Julie's probably done with work for the day. I'm gonna take a break and then get back to work cleaning out my closets...
- I got a phone call from the Realtor today. She'll be out to see the house Tuesday afternoon at 2 to talk to me about selling the place.
- To this end, I've started cleaning out 50+ years of stuff.
Her room's pretty much cleared out. All that's left in there is her old furniture (anyone want a vanity and dresser? All you've gotta do is pick it up and haul it away. I'll even through in a used organ...), and the cedar chest, which comes with me. Yes, there are her memories and papers in there, but I want the chest (always did), and I can go through that at my leisure.
Today, I tackled the hall closet. Oy vey. There's old coats of hers that she hasn't worn in 10+ years, my brother's books from when he was in college (and he graduated 30 years ago), a really cool old microscope, and my old records.
Wait. Read that again. I found my old records!
I understand to you, gentle reader, this means diddly, but to me...these are lost memories that I thought were long gone. These are the 33rpm records (younger readers might not now what that is...ask if you're not sure) that I played over and over when I was a kid.
It was so bloody wonderful to open the one bag in there and see my old records. Even my original Bill Cosby comedy albums (those got played more than anything else, with perhaps the exception of Johnny Horton's Battle of New Orleans, and that one got played A LOT.) were in there.
Brought a big smile to my face, lemme tell ya.
- Speaking of things I found...check this out:
No, that's not my Hallowe'en costume, going as a fat, balding Fonzie.
Awhile back, I told Julie that I used to wear a biker jacket in the Winter. For some reason, she found it hard to believe that I would wear such a thing, and I told her that when I found it, I'd put it on and take a picture.
It was in the hall closet, so I just had to put it on and take a picture. And yes, sweetheart, it's coming with me to DeKalb.
On that note, Julie's probably done with work for the day. I'm gonna take a break and then get back to work cleaning out my closets...
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Video didn't kill the radio star
I can remember, when I was a little kid, waiting every week for the new issue of TV Guide to come to the house. I'd get it and put it on the end table near the couch, under the current issue, and not let anyone look at it until that week was over.
I loved TV Guide. Mind you, I'm talking about the old digest-sized TV Guide, not this new magazine-sized imposter. I would read it from cover to cover, every week, even if I didn't understand what all the articles meant. Even did the crossword puzzle in the back of the book most weeks.
I'd wait for the new Fall Preview Issue. Oh, that was a special one, one that would be kept for a few weeks (every other issue was tossed into the garbage Saturday morning). It was so cool, seeing the listings for all the new shows coming, wanting to see the cool ones and forgetting about those dull, boring dramas.
TV Guide meant to me there was another week coming. As a kid, I figured that if we didn't get a new issue of TV Guide, well, the world was going to come to an end. No TV Guide...no more life.
Yeah, I was a warped little kid.
We stopped getting TV Guide years ago, around the time so many new cable stations started to appear. There were so many options, guides on the TV and on this new, marvellous invention called the internet, why did we need this little book? After so long, we ended the subscription and just decided to "wing it". Whatever was on, we watched.
As a kid, I watched a lot of TV. The older I got, I watched less and less, with fewer and fewer shows coming out to hold my interest. I can count on probably one hand (maybe adding an extra finger or two) TV shows that have captured my interest to the point that I had to see them. Otherwise, it was background noise, something to fill the void in an empty home.
Some night, I wouldn't even turn the TV on. A shocking concept, to be sure, but I was content to listen to a record, read (Heavens forbid!), or just surf the web.
About two years ago, I dropped cable and switched to a satellite. We got cable in the house back in 1981, when cable was in its infancy and MTV actually showed music videos. Mind you, I love the dish, and I won't switch back to cable. There's more choices, a better signal, and my rates don't go up every time some VP at the cable company farts.
But yesterday, to go along with the changes in my life, I did something that, as a child, would have seemed impossible.
I stopped the TV service.
Well, not stopped, but more like put on a six-month "hold". I haven't been here to watch the TV, and since I'm looking more toward moving to DeKalb, I really don't have time to watch the boob tube anymore. A phone call later, and my dish service is "paused".
Last night, when I'd normally be going into the living room and flip on the television, I popped in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Paused it a couple times when Julie called, but that was it. No TV shows for me to stay up late and watch. No annoying commercials. No flipping through 500 channels and not finding one damn thing worth watching.
It was an amazing experience, one that still, today, seems somehow surreal (and I can't even watch The Surreal Life).
Yes, I'm aware I can watch most of the shows on the Internet, but I'm not comfortable doing that. Places like Youtube and their ilk are good for short clips, but to sit and watch a whole show on the computer? I'm a geek, but I'm not ready to go there.
In six months time, I don't know if I'll restart the dish service. I may. I may not. Yes, it's nice to have the shows, the diversions, the entertainment. But I prefer my music, and I still have my XM radio. I've got DVDs out the yin-yang. Sure, it'd be cool to have Julie over to watch the race in high-def (even though she doesn't see a difference, she might sing a different tune when she sees Dale Jr. in crystal-clear high definition...and then have her forget her loving boyfriend again...sigh), but I don't know, right now, if I want the TV back.
Another day, another change. Interesting where life takes you, isn't it...and I don't even have a copy of TV Guide to tell me what's on anymore.
I loved TV Guide. Mind you, I'm talking about the old digest-sized TV Guide, not this new magazine-sized imposter. I would read it from cover to cover, every week, even if I didn't understand what all the articles meant. Even did the crossword puzzle in the back of the book most weeks.
I'd wait for the new Fall Preview Issue. Oh, that was a special one, one that would be kept for a few weeks (every other issue was tossed into the garbage Saturday morning). It was so cool, seeing the listings for all the new shows coming, wanting to see the cool ones and forgetting about those dull, boring dramas.
TV Guide meant to me there was another week coming. As a kid, I figured that if we didn't get a new issue of TV Guide, well, the world was going to come to an end. No TV Guide...no more life.
Yeah, I was a warped little kid.
We stopped getting TV Guide years ago, around the time so many new cable stations started to appear. There were so many options, guides on the TV and on this new, marvellous invention called the internet, why did we need this little book? After so long, we ended the subscription and just decided to "wing it". Whatever was on, we watched.
As a kid, I watched a lot of TV. The older I got, I watched less and less, with fewer and fewer shows coming out to hold my interest. I can count on probably one hand (maybe adding an extra finger or two) TV shows that have captured my interest to the point that I had to see them. Otherwise, it was background noise, something to fill the void in an empty home.
Some night, I wouldn't even turn the TV on. A shocking concept, to be sure, but I was content to listen to a record, read (Heavens forbid!), or just surf the web.
About two years ago, I dropped cable and switched to a satellite. We got cable in the house back in 1981, when cable was in its infancy and MTV actually showed music videos. Mind you, I love the dish, and I won't switch back to cable. There's more choices, a better signal, and my rates don't go up every time some VP at the cable company farts.
But yesterday, to go along with the changes in my life, I did something that, as a child, would have seemed impossible.
I stopped the TV service.
Well, not stopped, but more like put on a six-month "hold". I haven't been here to watch the TV, and since I'm looking more toward moving to DeKalb, I really don't have time to watch the boob tube anymore. A phone call later, and my dish service is "paused".
Last night, when I'd normally be going into the living room and flip on the television, I popped in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Paused it a couple times when Julie called, but that was it. No TV shows for me to stay up late and watch. No annoying commercials. No flipping through 500 channels and not finding one damn thing worth watching.
It was an amazing experience, one that still, today, seems somehow surreal (and I can't even watch The Surreal Life).
Yes, I'm aware I can watch most of the shows on the Internet, but I'm not comfortable doing that. Places like Youtube and their ilk are good for short clips, but to sit and watch a whole show on the computer? I'm a geek, but I'm not ready to go there.
In six months time, I don't know if I'll restart the dish service. I may. I may not. Yes, it's nice to have the shows, the diversions, the entertainment. But I prefer my music, and I still have my XM radio. I've got DVDs out the yin-yang. Sure, it'd be cool to have Julie over to watch the race in high-def (even though she doesn't see a difference, she might sing a different tune when she sees Dale Jr. in crystal-clear high definition...and then have her forget her loving boyfriend again...sigh), but I don't know, right now, if I want the TV back.
Another day, another change. Interesting where life takes you, isn't it...and I don't even have a copy of TV Guide to tell me what's on anymore.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Online, offline and holding the line
Well, that was quick, wasn't it?
Okay, explanation time, if you didn't hear.
Before I left for my last DeKalb visit, I went and switched my home telephone number from Verizon to Vonage. Vonage is cheaper, and has a more features which appeal to me these days (like accessing my voicemail online and a virtual DeKalb phone number). I did the switch, it worked, and it was all good.
Except...switching the home phone number from the phone company meant that they were cancelling my home phone service. Not a good thing, trust me.
When I got home, I found that I had no DSL. Given that I'm trying to find work and need to stay in touch with the woman I love, who happens to be over 500 miles from me, being offline is a bad thing.
A long phone call back to Verizon (my cell phone bill is gonna be bad again this month...sigh) later, I was able to setup DSL service through them, but not without consequences:
* I had to cancel DSL through my long-term provider, Speakeasy. This hurt. I loved their service, and losing them, while expected and even planned, was unpleasant. If you ever used the onestar@speakeasy.net e-mail address, you can delete it, as that account is gone.
* Verizon told me it could take up to 10 days to get my DSL back up and running at home. This was unacceptable, I told them, and believe me, I spoke to about a half-dozen people, all the way down to the local connection office on Friday, in the hopes I'd be connected sooner than October 20th.
Thankfully, it seems someone there listened, and I'm back up and running with a dedicated DSL line here at home. If you have my home phone number, you can call it safely and I'll be able to answer. I think I'll have to put my cell phone in the freezer to let it cool down from all the use it's received over the last few days...
Now then. Time for the big news. Some of you are probably expecting the next sentence and won't be surprised in the least. Some of you, friends and stalkers alike, might be surprised.
I'm leaving Pittsburgh.
For the last month, I've been actively seeking employment out near Julie. I've decided, after the last trip back here from seeing her, I don't want to leave her. I want to be nearer to her, and she wants me there as well.
I'll put my home up for sale, and start the process of relocating out to the Mid-West.
I don't want to start 2009 here. I will be in DeKalb, near the woman I love, to start the new year.
I've applied for over three dozen jobs out there, and while I haven't heard anything yet, I'm continuing to apply, I'll be working with headhunters, and am actively seeking employment there.
My heart is out there. I don't want to be here anymore.
So while I'm back online, you might not see or hear from me as much as you used to. I've got things to do...lots of things...to make this work. I'll keep you posted as how things go, job hunting, living accommodations, stuff like that...as I make this move.
Okay, explanation time, if you didn't hear.
Before I left for my last DeKalb visit, I went and switched my home telephone number from Verizon to Vonage. Vonage is cheaper, and has a more features which appeal to me these days (like accessing my voicemail online and a virtual DeKalb phone number). I did the switch, it worked, and it was all good.
Except...switching the home phone number from the phone company meant that they were cancelling my home phone service. Not a good thing, trust me.
When I got home, I found that I had no DSL. Given that I'm trying to find work and need to stay in touch with the woman I love, who happens to be over 500 miles from me, being offline is a bad thing.
A long phone call back to Verizon (my cell phone bill is gonna be bad again this month...sigh) later, I was able to setup DSL service through them, but not without consequences:
* I had to cancel DSL through my long-term provider, Speakeasy. This hurt. I loved their service, and losing them, while expected and even planned, was unpleasant. If you ever used the onestar@speakeasy.net e-mail address, you can delete it, as that account is gone.
* Verizon told me it could take up to 10 days to get my DSL back up and running at home. This was unacceptable, I told them, and believe me, I spoke to about a half-dozen people, all the way down to the local connection office on Friday, in the hopes I'd be connected sooner than October 20th.
Thankfully, it seems someone there listened, and I'm back up and running with a dedicated DSL line here at home. If you have my home phone number, you can call it safely and I'll be able to answer. I think I'll have to put my cell phone in the freezer to let it cool down from all the use it's received over the last few days...
Now then. Time for the big news. Some of you are probably expecting the next sentence and won't be surprised in the least. Some of you, friends and stalkers alike, might be surprised.
I'm leaving Pittsburgh.
For the last month, I've been actively seeking employment out near Julie. I've decided, after the last trip back here from seeing her, I don't want to leave her. I want to be nearer to her, and she wants me there as well.
I'll put my home up for sale, and start the process of relocating out to the Mid-West.
I don't want to start 2009 here. I will be in DeKalb, near the woman I love, to start the new year.
I've applied for over three dozen jobs out there, and while I haven't heard anything yet, I'm continuing to apply, I'll be working with headhunters, and am actively seeking employment there.
My heart is out there. I don't want to be here anymore.
So while I'm back online, you might not see or hear from me as much as you used to. I've got things to do...lots of things...to make this work. I'll keep you posted as how things go, job hunting, living accommodations, stuff like that...as I make this move.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Offline
I'm going to be offline for a while, folks.
I've no internet at home (again), and it's gonna be a few days before I can get back online there.
It's either borrow my buddy's connection of hang out in coffee shops to get on.
Be back when I can...
I've no internet at home (again), and it's gonna be a few days before I can get back online there.
It's either borrow my buddy's connection of hang out in coffee shops to get on.
Be back when I can...
Saturday, October 04, 2008
In all fairness...
For my birthday, Julie bought me some new clothes. For some reason, she dislikes parts of my wardrobe, as we learned from the whole blazer or no blazer debacle.
Among the gifts was this new henley shirt:
It's a long-sleeved shirt. I won't wear long sleeves until it gets to about, oh, 10 below zero, so I pushed the sleeves up.
Time to take this to the Court of Public Opinion (for fun, of course...this is all in good fun you know). What do you think?
C'mon. Vote. I'll still do what I please, mind you...
Among the gifts was this new henley shirt:
It's a long-sleeved shirt. I won't wear long sleeves until it gets to about, oh, 10 below zero, so I pushed the sleeves up.
Time to take this to the Court of Public Opinion (for fun, of course...this is all in good fun you know). What do you think?
C'mon. Vote. I'll still do what I please, mind you...
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Just call me "gramps"
Time to bring this to the court of public opinion.
It's a little chilly in DeKalb today, and I wanted to wear my blazer. Now, folks know I love my blazers...but Julie doesn't seem to think I look good in 'em.
For your consideration...please take a look at the two examples presented below:
She seems to think that these sportcoats make me look like I'm 71, and not 41. I like the feel of a sport coat. It's a classic look. Julie, on the other hand, thinks they're from the 70's (okay...maybe more like early 80''s) and says they make me look more than just old-school...just plain old.
So I ask you, gentle reader, to offer your two cents worth. Sport coat or no?
Not that it matters. I'm too stubborn for my own good, and if I like 'em, I'll wear 'em (just not around my love...)
It's a little chilly in DeKalb today, and I wanted to wear my blazer. Now, folks know I love my blazers...but Julie doesn't seem to think I look good in 'em.
For your consideration...please take a look at the two examples presented below:
She seems to think that these sportcoats make me look like I'm 71, and not 41. I like the feel of a sport coat. It's a classic look. Julie, on the other hand, thinks they're from the 70's (okay...maybe more like early 80''s) and says they make me look more than just old-school...just plain old.
So I ask you, gentle reader, to offer your two cents worth. Sport coat or no?
Not that it matters. I'm too stubborn for my own good, and if I like 'em, I'll wear 'em (just not around my love...)
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Defining moments in a life
Music.
Those who know me, know it's as integral to my life as the woman I love, the air I breathe and the food I eat. Music has kept me going through the good times as well as the bad. It's more than just background noise...and should never be treated as such.
Yes, I know. Not everyone shares my passion for music. Some just "see" it, as I said, as background noise, something to have on in the car while they're driving or in the house to fill the empty spaces in their lives. I don't see it as such. To me, it's needed to define moments, put things in perspective, or just simply carry me away to a safe place inside my soul.
There isn't a week, it seems, that goes past that I'm not buying a CD. And yes, let's get this out of the way now: I don't like digital downloads. They're not as good as CDs, even though CDs today are mostly audibly overproduced pieces of noise made louder to satisfy the iPod and their ilk. Dynamic range is a thing of the past. Tonal quality sacrificed at the altar of a lie jokingly referred to as "cd-quality". Pfft. That's likely the second biggest joke I've ever heard, with the concept of "conservatives for change" narrowly beating it out.
But I digress. As I said, there isn't a week that goes past where I haven't bought at least one CD. This week, well, I've got four of them sitting near me as I type. Colin Hay (the lead singer of the 80's band Men at Work) did a solo album with acoustic version of his old group's biggest hits, along with some of his solo material, and it's damn good. Well worth tracking down, if only to hear "Overkill" done acoustically.
A couple blasts from the past as well: Metallica's self-titled (and sometimes referred to as the "black" album) from '91 is part of my collection again, as well as a greatest hits package by Cheap Trick, something that's long been missing from my collection.
I also decided I wanted something new. During a recent visit to a Barnes and Noble (yeah, they're slightly overpriced, but you can listen to samples of every album they have, and they've got excellent Jazz and Classical sections), I picked up the new release by an artist from Mali named Issa Bagayogo.
His style's considered electronic, but this new album also has some Jazz overtones to it. Listening to samples of some of the tracks, I was hooked, and picked it up. It's in the car CD player now, and it's been nice to listen to there, but I have to devote some time to listen to it at home where I can enjoy it uninterrupted.
Yes. Believe it or not, I still try to sit back and listen to albums the way they were meant to be listened to...by themselves with no interruptions. No TV, no games, not while reading or cooking or whatever, but just hearing the music for the sake of the music.
Although it's next to impossible to find in the new layout Facebook offers, I have an app that shows what I'm listening to on Winamp. Right now, The Fugees are playing Killing Me Softly. I've got my noise cancelling headphones on, which is so cool that it's even drowning out the sound of my fingers going across the keyboard at full speed.
What about you? What drives you, musically? Is it mere background noise filling in the holes in your life or does it have a greater meaning than that? Most importantly...what are you listening to right now?
Those who know me, know it's as integral to my life as the woman I love, the air I breathe and the food I eat. Music has kept me going through the good times as well as the bad. It's more than just background noise...and should never be treated as such.
Yes, I know. Not everyone shares my passion for music. Some just "see" it, as I said, as background noise, something to have on in the car while they're driving or in the house to fill the empty spaces in their lives. I don't see it as such. To me, it's needed to define moments, put things in perspective, or just simply carry me away to a safe place inside my soul.
There isn't a week, it seems, that goes past that I'm not buying a CD. And yes, let's get this out of the way now: I don't like digital downloads. They're not as good as CDs, even though CDs today are mostly audibly overproduced pieces of noise made louder to satisfy the iPod and their ilk. Dynamic range is a thing of the past. Tonal quality sacrificed at the altar of a lie jokingly referred to as "cd-quality". Pfft. That's likely the second biggest joke I've ever heard, with the concept of "conservatives for change" narrowly beating it out.
But I digress. As I said, there isn't a week that goes past where I haven't bought at least one CD. This week, well, I've got four of them sitting near me as I type. Colin Hay (the lead singer of the 80's band Men at Work) did a solo album with acoustic version of his old group's biggest hits, along with some of his solo material, and it's damn good. Well worth tracking down, if only to hear "Overkill" done acoustically.
A couple blasts from the past as well: Metallica's self-titled (and sometimes referred to as the "black" album) from '91 is part of my collection again, as well as a greatest hits package by Cheap Trick, something that's long been missing from my collection.
I also decided I wanted something new. During a recent visit to a Barnes and Noble (yeah, they're slightly overpriced, but you can listen to samples of every album they have, and they've got excellent Jazz and Classical sections), I picked up the new release by an artist from Mali named Issa Bagayogo.
His style's considered electronic, but this new album also has some Jazz overtones to it. Listening to samples of some of the tracks, I was hooked, and picked it up. It's in the car CD player now, and it's been nice to listen to there, but I have to devote some time to listen to it at home where I can enjoy it uninterrupted.
Yes. Believe it or not, I still try to sit back and listen to albums the way they were meant to be listened to...by themselves with no interruptions. No TV, no games, not while reading or cooking or whatever, but just hearing the music for the sake of the music.
Although it's next to impossible to find in the new layout Facebook offers, I have an app that shows what I'm listening to on Winamp. Right now, The Fugees are playing Killing Me Softly. I've got my noise cancelling headphones on, which is so cool that it's even drowning out the sound of my fingers going across the keyboard at full speed.
What about you? What drives you, musically? Is it mere background noise filling in the holes in your life or does it have a greater meaning than that? Most importantly...what are you listening to right now?
Monday, September 29, 2008
September 29, 1967
Here's the truth: I hate my birthday.
Only those closest to me know the date. It's protected on Facebook, and I've done my level best to restrict the knowledge of it everywhere else. The majority of my co-workers don't know when it is, and those that do know that not only do I not celebrate it, I don't even like to talk about it.
I'm pretty passionate about it, but no one knows why. Since the 45th anniversary of my day of arrival on this orb has arrived (I buried this article, written in 2012, way back in my archives so it wouldn't be found), I guess I can talk about it now.
I had a good childhood. Not many friends, but I had a couple, and they were around for a party and cake and presents and the what-not. At least, that's what the pictures tells me. Don't remember much about those days, and it doesn't really bother me that much. Only thing I do remember was this balloon I had; an orange kangaroo named Hoppy. It was a birthday thing. It was something My Kid got, I guess, when I was a baby and it was tradition to get it out and blow it up and put it on the table. Hoppy's long gone, but it's the one memory I still have.
As I got older, birthdays became more of a family thing. My older brothers, all moved out and on their own now, would come over and we'd have cake, ice cream...you know, the usual. Mum insisted they come over on my birthday, not the weekend before or after, but that day. A birthday, to her, wasn't a holiday that you could celebrate any other time. Birthdays were meant to be celebrated on your day of birth.
That was the case, at least, until I turned 12. My birthday was on a Saturday, which conflicted with The Big Game (Panthers were playing someone, dunno who, at Pitt Stadium) and my brothers decided the game was more important that my birthday. They went to it and came over to the house Sunday. It was at that point, I decided, I didn't want any more parties, didn't want to celebrate it, didn't even want to acknowledge the day. You had something better to do, go do it.
I wonder sometimes if that's part of the reason why I loathe football. No, wait. It's because football is slow, boring, and only good for putting me to sleep. That's why I hate football.
After that, Mum tried to do something for my birthday, but it wasn't the same. No parties. No cake. I didn't want anything to do with the day.
I tried to have some friends over my 21st, but since I don't drink, it was kinda boring for them. Looking back at it, it was more just an evening with friends hanging out over at my place (something else that happened very rarely as I got older). We had pizza, sat around and talked and didn't do much else.
My birthday, to me, became a quiet day of reflection. If I could, I'd take the day off work, claiming I was sick or just in need of a day off. For close to 20 years, no one knew of the day. Mum, bless her, tried to do something for me. We'd end up going out to dinner someplace, but as she was getting older, even that fell by the wayside.
Then she got...bad. Onset of Alzheimer’s. Dementia. She had to be institutionalized while I tried to find a nursing home that could take care of her, because I'd done all I could.
On my 39th birthday, I stopped by the hospital after work, as I'd done for nearly two months by this point, to spend some time with her. For whatever reason, the nurse was making notes on her sheet, and she asked what day it was. I told her. Mum sat there, and started mumbling the date, wondering why it was so important.
I told her it was just another day. The last thing I wanted was for her to remember it was my birthday and feel bad, somewhere in her mind or heart, that she was there and could do nothing for me. If she would've thought about it, and remembered what day it was...the pain would've been too much for both of us.
When I turned 40, I was...seeing someone. I was never in a relationship with someone on my birthday, believe it or not. There was a very dear friend whom I loved, but did not love me, that I would go out with (strictly as friends) on my birthday, but the best I ever got was when I kissed her on the cheek. In fact, she'd blown me off several times, so I'd hoped I could spend what I considered a milestone (40 is kinda impressive, I think) with someone who loved me.
Won't go into details. Let's just leave it at...I was alone that night, as usual. Once again, my birthday was just another day.
When that relationship ended, I'd sworn that I would live the rest of my life alone. Kept that promise too, for all of about six months, before I'd met Julie.
My angel.
It's one of life's little ironies, but our birthdays are eight days apart. Same year, same month, separated by only a few days. I think that's incredible. Our first year together, we decided to go to Lake Geneva the weekend between our birthdays, just the two of us, for an overnight. It was an amazing weekend, even if I didn't get the most amazing pizza in the world. (That's another story for another time.)
That year, I spent it with Julie. Best damn birthday I'd had in a long, long time.
Shortly after that, I'd moved out here to DeKalb, out of the only home I'd ever known into my own apartment. It was just down the street from her. A little while later, I got a job (out of work for a year and a half...yadda, yadda, yadda...that story's elsewhere, go look it up) and was coming home from work on my 41st birthday to a surprise party, thrown by my stepdaughter.
It was the first surprise party anyone ever threw for me.
That following year, I was in Phoenix for my birthday, flying home after being away for two weeks. Naturally, we had to go to Applebees for dinner, where everyone was waiting.
These days, the kids know...or at least, they used to know...when my birthday was. Sometimes they get a little too wrapped up in their lives to remember my day, but that's okay. I don't expect anything from them, and I don't say that in a bad way. They've got their own lives to lead, and their own bills to pay. Save their money for themselves. If they think of me that day...which would probably constitute a miracle...I'd be okay.
Julie will wish me a happy birthday several times that day, even though this year, she'll have to work that night. S'okay. I'll be there when she gets off work, and we can sleep in the next morning. To be by her side makes me happier than anything.
Some of the friends I have on Facebook will post something to my page, but those who've known me longer will know all I ask them to post is a smile. Back in my DeviantArt days, I asked my friends there not to wish me a “happy birthday”, but just put a smile on my page. All I wanted is, if they thought about me, I'd hope it'd bring a smile to their faces, and just share that smile with someone else. That was good enough for me.
So now you know. Now maybe you'll understand why I hate, loathe, detest and ignore that day. I'll let it pass quietly as I start another year. If you happen to read this, and know when my birthday is, and you want to wish me something, just smile. That's all. Share a smile and I'll be happy.
After all, as Paul said, it's just another day.
41
Yanno, I sat here, wrote something incredibly deep and so full of bullshit that even I had to look at it and go...screw that.
It's a day. I'm gonna spend it with the woman I love.
The 40th year is over. Time to move on. Let's go have some fun.
Oh, and yes, I changed the color of the blog. It's blue. I like blue.
Don't read anything more to it than that...it's just something a little...different.
Nothin' wrong with different.
It's a day. I'm gonna spend it with the woman I love.
The 40th year is over. Time to move on. Let's go have some fun.
Oh, and yes, I changed the color of the blog. It's blue. I like blue.
Don't read anything more to it than that...it's just something a little...different.
Nothin' wrong with different.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Poor little puppy...
Over at my flickr page, I posted this shot of Julie's dog.. I love this shot so much, and I wanted to blog the story behind the shot.
Kadie Madison is a chihuahua-shih tzu mix. She's totally lovable, extremely playful, and a bed hog. Yes, this little dog somehow manages to take up more of the bed than everyone else in the house, myself included. She loves to snuggle, and has almost pushed me out of bed on more than one occasion.
Yesterday, she had an appointment with the groomer. Julie's kids have been trying for some time to get their mom to have Kadie groomed, and get the hair out of her eyes. Finally relenting, the appointment was made, and a very nervous and scared little Kadie was left with the groomers to get "prettied up".
After a couple hours (and a nervous mother and daughter...the latter wanting her little puppy back home), Kadie was ready to be picked up.
We went over to the groomers and got the little angel, all trimmed, hair out of her eyes, looking like a little puppy all over again. The ride home, she leaned against my chest (nowhere near as hard as she did when we were leaving her there...she was pushing with all her might against, not wanting to be left there), and walking into the house, she seemed...lethargic.
This little dog has a lot of energy. She's very playful, happy to toss around a ball or bite my fingers and growl (playing, of course...I call her the "ferocious little beast" when we play). Yesterday, though, she didn't want to do anything. I tried to take her for a walk and she didn't want to move.
I shot this photo on the porch of the house. She looked so pathetic! I love how the background of the photo's overexposed. It emphasizes Kadie, I think, and the look in her eyes...
It wasn't until Julie got home from work and told me it was the bandanna around her neck that she was upset over. When they first put a collar on her as a puppy, she moped around for almost four days before getting over it.
Julie took the bandanna off, and the happy, playful little dog returned.
Right now, Kadie's waiting for me in the other room, waiting for someone to go play with her. I think I'll go see if she wants to be a "ferocious little beast" and have some fun...
Kadie Madison is a chihuahua-shih tzu mix. She's totally lovable, extremely playful, and a bed hog. Yes, this little dog somehow manages to take up more of the bed than everyone else in the house, myself included. She loves to snuggle, and has almost pushed me out of bed on more than one occasion.
Yesterday, she had an appointment with the groomer. Julie's kids have been trying for some time to get their mom to have Kadie groomed, and get the hair out of her eyes. Finally relenting, the appointment was made, and a very nervous and scared little Kadie was left with the groomers to get "prettied up".
After a couple hours (and a nervous mother and daughter...the latter wanting her little puppy back home), Kadie was ready to be picked up.
We went over to the groomers and got the little angel, all trimmed, hair out of her eyes, looking like a little puppy all over again. The ride home, she leaned against my chest (nowhere near as hard as she did when we were leaving her there...she was pushing with all her might against, not wanting to be left there), and walking into the house, she seemed...lethargic.
This little dog has a lot of energy. She's very playful, happy to toss around a ball or bite my fingers and growl (playing, of course...I call her the "ferocious little beast" when we play). Yesterday, though, she didn't want to do anything. I tried to take her for a walk and she didn't want to move.
I shot this photo on the porch of the house. She looked so pathetic! I love how the background of the photo's overexposed. It emphasizes Kadie, I think, and the look in her eyes...
It wasn't until Julie got home from work and told me it was the bandanna around her neck that she was upset over. When they first put a collar on her as a puppy, she moped around for almost four days before getting over it.
Julie took the bandanna off, and the happy, playful little dog returned.
Right now, Kadie's waiting for me in the other room, waiting for someone to go play with her. I think I'll go see if she wants to be a "ferocious little beast" and have some fun...
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
These are the days of our lives
I intended to sit here and blog a little this morning.
Then Kadie, Julie's dog, came in and wanted to play.
I've better things to do than sit here and blog right now.
I'll be back later.
Until then...I think Freddy Mercury said it best...
Then Kadie, Julie's dog, came in and wanted to play.
I've better things to do than sit here and blog right now.
I'll be back later.
Until then...I think Freddy Mercury said it best...
Thursday, September 18, 2008
A little waterlogged, but none the worse for wear
Thursday night, 9:20PM CDT.
DeKalb, IL.
I left Pittsburgh Monday before the dawn. Woke up around 2:30 and could not go back to sleep, so I figured...might as well get ready and go.
The trip was uneventful, but gorgeous. I kinda like driving that hour of the morning: Few idiots, and few state police, on the highway. Although it was raining when I left PA, the skies cleared and I was Driving With the Moon again. Always nice to go for a ride with the moon lighting my way, this time, leading me to my love.
The rains from Ike that hit the Midwest made for some interesting moments. Usually, I bypass the heart of Chicago, taking 80/94 to the South and coming up 294 before I hit the East/West Tollway, but 80/94 was closed due to flooding. I was amazed that the entire roadway was closed...and also a bit lost. I'd only ever gone the one way, and here I was going on unfamiliar roads.
Thankfully, I had a rough idea where I was going. When Julie and I spent the weekend in Toledo, she didn't take my turn-off, and went through the heart of the city. She called me for directions, and I had a Triptik in the glove compartment (long story for another blog) how to get there. I talked her through it then, and remembered the directions.
It did add a good hour travel time, however. I'm just thankful I didn't have to go through Chicago during peak rush hour. How folks make it on those roads is beyond me.
When I did make it to DeKalb, it was right before she left work. Mind you, when Julie called me earlier, I sorta...fibbed...on where I was, telling her I was about two hours behind where I was actually was. I pulled into the parking lot at her Target just as she and her team were coming out the door. Rolled down the window and told her "Excuse me, I'm looking for some help finding something..."
To say she was surprised and happy to see me was an understatement.
It's been nice these last few days. I've sent in a bunch of resumes and applications for work out here. Haven't heard anything yet, but I'm hopeful.
Tomorrow's going to be game night here. I've heard stories of the game nights held here at the Williams household in the past, and I'm looking forward to it. Julie's stressing a little: She wants the house to look a certain way before company arrives, and I fear I might've been a...distraction. I know it'll be last minute, but tomorrow, whatever I can do to help clean, I will.
I think I shocked her a little this evening when I washed the dishes in the sink...
This weekend, Julie and I are going to Lake Geneva for a getaway, just the two of us. It's going to be...romantic...I believe. We're both looking forward to getting up early, getting on the road, and just spending some "us" time together.
The more time I spend with her, the harder it is for me to leave here. Hopefully, I'll find work out here, find a place to live (no, I'm not going to move in with Julie just yet) and spend more time with my love and my family.
It's been...amazing, and I believe the best is yet to come.
DeKalb, IL.
I left Pittsburgh Monday before the dawn. Woke up around 2:30 and could not go back to sleep, so I figured...might as well get ready and go.
The trip was uneventful, but gorgeous. I kinda like driving that hour of the morning: Few idiots, and few state police, on the highway. Although it was raining when I left PA, the skies cleared and I was Driving With the Moon again. Always nice to go for a ride with the moon lighting my way, this time, leading me to my love.
The rains from Ike that hit the Midwest made for some interesting moments. Usually, I bypass the heart of Chicago, taking 80/94 to the South and coming up 294 before I hit the East/West Tollway, but 80/94 was closed due to flooding. I was amazed that the entire roadway was closed...and also a bit lost. I'd only ever gone the one way, and here I was going on unfamiliar roads.
Thankfully, I had a rough idea where I was going. When Julie and I spent the weekend in Toledo, she didn't take my turn-off, and went through the heart of the city. She called me for directions, and I had a Triptik in the glove compartment (long story for another blog) how to get there. I talked her through it then, and remembered the directions.
It did add a good hour travel time, however. I'm just thankful I didn't have to go through Chicago during peak rush hour. How folks make it on those roads is beyond me.
When I did make it to DeKalb, it was right before she left work. Mind you, when Julie called me earlier, I sorta...fibbed...on where I was, telling her I was about two hours behind where I was actually was. I pulled into the parking lot at her Target just as she and her team were coming out the door. Rolled down the window and told her "Excuse me, I'm looking for some help finding something..."
To say she was surprised and happy to see me was an understatement.
It's been nice these last few days. I've sent in a bunch of resumes and applications for work out here. Haven't heard anything yet, but I'm hopeful.
Tomorrow's going to be game night here. I've heard stories of the game nights held here at the Williams household in the past, and I'm looking forward to it. Julie's stressing a little: She wants the house to look a certain way before company arrives, and I fear I might've been a...distraction. I know it'll be last minute, but tomorrow, whatever I can do to help clean, I will.
I think I shocked her a little this evening when I washed the dishes in the sink...
This weekend, Julie and I are going to Lake Geneva for a getaway, just the two of us. It's going to be...romantic...I believe. We're both looking forward to getting up early, getting on the road, and just spending some "us" time together.
The more time I spend with her, the harder it is for me to leave here. Hopefully, I'll find work out here, find a place to live (no, I'm not going to move in with Julie just yet) and spend more time with my love and my family.
It's been...amazing, and I believe the best is yet to come.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Sunday morning blogging
I've been up for about two hours now.
Sunday morning have always been quiet times for me. When The Kid was home, I'd get up early to take her to church (she always wanted to go to the early service...7AM early). I'd drive her to the church (right around the corner from the house, but with her bad feet and bad eyesight, it was easier for me to drive her), come home and shower. By the time I was done (as Julie will tell you, I take more time in the bathroom than she does), church would be over. I'd go get her, and we'd go out for breakfast and grocery shopping.
These days, I sleep in a little later. Get up, still take too much time in the bathroom, and come downstairs for a bit of breakfast (this morning, cereal, but some days I'll make microwave pancakes and sausage on the Foreman grill), and ease into the Sunday slowly.
Around lunchtime, I'll get in the car and drive out to check on The Kid. Usually, by the time I get there, they've put her down in bed for an afternoon nap (they get her up around 6, and usually after lunch, she's a little tired, even if she refuses to admit it). I sometimes have them get her up, or I'll pull up the chair next to the bed and visit.
At least, that's what I've done.
Tomorrow, I leave for three weeks with Julie. With any luck, I'll find a job out there, and I'll start the process of moving out to be closer to her.
My life until now had been dull, boring and routine. Not any longer.
I'd always known (and I've mentioned it here in the pages of this blog) that my 40th year on this planet would bring changes to my life. I just never realized how big those changes would be.
The 40th year is drawing to a close. Yeah, that day is almost upon us. Julie said to me last night that she thinks I want to make more of a big deal of it than I'm saying. Honestly, it'll be nice (and different) to spend my birthday with someone who loves me. I've tried to do that before, and it hasn't worked out too well.
It's been a very long time since I've celebrated a birthday. When I was 16, my brothers blew off my birthday because they had tickets to a football game. There was no party, no celebration, no nothing. After that, I decided I didn't want another party. Acknowledge the day, as I've long told my friends, and then let's move on.
It used to frustrate My Kid because she wanted to do something, anything, for my birthday. I told her no cake, no presents, nothing. I just wanted to take the day off work, sleep in, and maybe go out for a nice dinner. That's all. She'd try and find something silly for me, and I appreciated it. I knew how hard it was for her to do or get anything.
On my 39th birthday, she was in the mental hospital. I went up to visit with her, but I told the staff not to tell her it was my birthday...I didn't want her remembering or feeling bad because she couldn't do anything for me, not that she could. She was coming out of therapy when I came in to see her. A nurse was writing a report and asked what's the date. I said it, and The Kid said "why does that sound familiar". I told her it wasn't important...it wasn't anything special.
This year, we'll do the same. It'll be just another day. Acknowledge it and move on.
I'll be spending it with the woman I love. Maybe we'll go out for dinner. Maybe I'll just get an extra long hug from her. Doesn't matter. All I want is to be with her.
Hm. Not sure where this all came from. Just started typing and it poured out. Maybe these are things I needed to say.
They're said now. I think I'll disable comments for this post. Just accept this for what it is...
Sunday morning have always been quiet times for me. When The Kid was home, I'd get up early to take her to church (she always wanted to go to the early service...7AM early). I'd drive her to the church (right around the corner from the house, but with her bad feet and bad eyesight, it was easier for me to drive her), come home and shower. By the time I was done (as Julie will tell you, I take more time in the bathroom than she does), church would be over. I'd go get her, and we'd go out for breakfast and grocery shopping.
These days, I sleep in a little later. Get up, still take too much time in the bathroom, and come downstairs for a bit of breakfast (this morning, cereal, but some days I'll make microwave pancakes and sausage on the Foreman grill), and ease into the Sunday slowly.
Around lunchtime, I'll get in the car and drive out to check on The Kid. Usually, by the time I get there, they've put her down in bed for an afternoon nap (they get her up around 6, and usually after lunch, she's a little tired, even if she refuses to admit it). I sometimes have them get her up, or I'll pull up the chair next to the bed and visit.
At least, that's what I've done.
Tomorrow, I leave for three weeks with Julie. With any luck, I'll find a job out there, and I'll start the process of moving out to be closer to her.
My life until now had been dull, boring and routine. Not any longer.
I'd always known (and I've mentioned it here in the pages of this blog) that my 40th year on this planet would bring changes to my life. I just never realized how big those changes would be.
The 40th year is drawing to a close. Yeah, that day is almost upon us. Julie said to me last night that she thinks I want to make more of a big deal of it than I'm saying. Honestly, it'll be nice (and different) to spend my birthday with someone who loves me. I've tried to do that before, and it hasn't worked out too well.
It's been a very long time since I've celebrated a birthday. When I was 16, my brothers blew off my birthday because they had tickets to a football game. There was no party, no celebration, no nothing. After that, I decided I didn't want another party. Acknowledge the day, as I've long told my friends, and then let's move on.
It used to frustrate My Kid because she wanted to do something, anything, for my birthday. I told her no cake, no presents, nothing. I just wanted to take the day off work, sleep in, and maybe go out for a nice dinner. That's all. She'd try and find something silly for me, and I appreciated it. I knew how hard it was for her to do or get anything.
On my 39th birthday, she was in the mental hospital. I went up to visit with her, but I told the staff not to tell her it was my birthday...I didn't want her remembering or feeling bad because she couldn't do anything for me, not that she could. She was coming out of therapy when I came in to see her. A nurse was writing a report and asked what's the date. I said it, and The Kid said "why does that sound familiar". I told her it wasn't important...it wasn't anything special.
This year, we'll do the same. It'll be just another day. Acknowledge it and move on.
I'll be spending it with the woman I love. Maybe we'll go out for dinner. Maybe I'll just get an extra long hug from her. Doesn't matter. All I want is to be with her.
Hm. Not sure where this all came from. Just started typing and it poured out. Maybe these are things I needed to say.
They're said now. I think I'll disable comments for this post. Just accept this for what it is...
Friday, September 12, 2008
Quick Geek Notes for a Friday.
I love Gizmodo. For a geek, it's almost like Heaven.
They've got so many interesting finds, geeky things that I find interesting, and they have fun writing about them. I mean, when they covered the Phillips company...you know, those guys who make the sonic toothbrushes...making vibrators and referring to them as "soniccooch", ya just gotta love it.
They also posted an article about a toaster that scans pictures or text and then burns them in the bread. It's such an interesting concept...and you know full well someone's gonna have either a naughty idea about this one, or try and sell the image of Jesus Christ burned into one to someplace like goldenpalace.com.
But my favourite one today had to be the link to the webcam at the Large Hedron Collider. Now, I realize a good number of my readers (or stalkers, if you're sneaking around out there...hi!) are wondering what the hell a Large Hedron Collider is.
Basically, it's a big ring-shaped chamber buried under the Earth over in Europe that scientists are going to use to research thing that only scientists, geeks, nerds and physics students (the lowest of the low...I've known a few physics nerds in my day, and can say that with some certainty) that will find interesting. They're hoping to take two particles, send them through the chamber, and crash them together at high speeds to see if they can learn about the beginning of the universe.
Oh, sure, some have said that it could have created a black hole and wiped us all out in the process, but damnit, this is science! What's a little massive death and destruction on a global scale when it could give us an insight on the God Particle?
I'll bet most of you have glanced over this post and yawned, but this seems to have been a geek week for me. Between the music server, designing fractals, setting up my new Vonage VoIP phone line and reconfiguring my router, I've been in geek mode. It's my blog. I can geek here if I wanna.
Next week I'll be headed out to see Julie. I have to geek now while I'm able...
They've got so many interesting finds, geeky things that I find interesting, and they have fun writing about them. I mean, when they covered the Phillips company...you know, those guys who make the sonic toothbrushes...making vibrators and referring to them as "soniccooch", ya just gotta love it.
They also posted an article about a toaster that scans pictures or text and then burns them in the bread. It's such an interesting concept...and you know full well someone's gonna have either a naughty idea about this one, or try and sell the image of Jesus Christ burned into one to someplace like goldenpalace.com.
But my favourite one today had to be the link to the webcam at the Large Hedron Collider. Now, I realize a good number of my readers (or stalkers, if you're sneaking around out there...hi!) are wondering what the hell a Large Hedron Collider is.
Basically, it's a big ring-shaped chamber buried under the Earth over in Europe that scientists are going to use to research thing that only scientists, geeks, nerds and physics students (the lowest of the low...I've known a few physics nerds in my day, and can say that with some certainty) that will find interesting. They're hoping to take two particles, send them through the chamber, and crash them together at high speeds to see if they can learn about the beginning of the universe.
Oh, sure, some have said that it could have created a black hole and wiped us all out in the process, but damnit, this is science! What's a little massive death and destruction on a global scale when it could give us an insight on the God Particle?
I'll bet most of you have glanced over this post and yawned, but this seems to have been a geek week for me. Between the music server, designing fractals, setting up my new Vonage VoIP phone line and reconfiguring my router, I've been in geek mode. It's my blog. I can geek here if I wanna.
Next week I'll be headed out to see Julie. I have to geek now while I'm able...
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Monday, September 08, 2008
The Bluesman, Live in Concert
So, today's been a mega-geeky kinda day.
I can probably guarantee this is the kinda day that will likely drive Julie nuts, when we're living together, because she'll be wondering what the Hell she's done, falling in love with a geek.
At any rate...
I've set up a music server here at home. One computer, with all my music ripped to MP3 (at the "insane" bitrate, remember), running Ubuntu and Squeezecenter.
The setup is simple. I've just got to open Firefox to Squeezecenter's webpage, and use the interface to pick and choose what songs I wanna hear. From there, I use any audio player that can handle streaming music (I recommend, as always, Winamp), and tell it to play. The music starts playing. Sure, I could just pop in the CD, but if I wanna hear a mix of Emimen, Andre Rieu, Frank Sinatra and Blue Man Group, I can use this. It's simple, in a geek kinda way.
I wanted to play music from the server through my PSP. I knew it could be done: A few firmware updates back, they added Internet Radio to the device. S'cool: You can choose from a bunch of streaming audio stations and have it play through your wifi connection. But I couldn't figure out how to get my music play.
A bit of websurfing, a few downloads, a quick editing of a HTML file and not only was the music streaming, I was geeking out. Thank goodness no one saw me geek dancing in the living room. It was not a pretty site.
But that's not all I was doing. I was multi-geeking.
I've been playing with Apophysis again, designing more fractals. I wanted to make a calendar of my fractal art, and I completed the last couple designs for it. I'd made one more design, and this time...I wanted to do something different.
It's just a shame that some damn tagger had to go and mess up that wall after I hung the poster...
I can probably guarantee this is the kinda day that will likely drive Julie nuts, when we're living together, because she'll be wondering what the Hell she's done, falling in love with a geek.
At any rate...
I've set up a music server here at home. One computer, with all my music ripped to MP3 (at the "insane" bitrate, remember), running Ubuntu and Squeezecenter.
The setup is simple. I've just got to open Firefox to Squeezecenter's webpage, and use the interface to pick and choose what songs I wanna hear. From there, I use any audio player that can handle streaming music (I recommend, as always, Winamp), and tell it to play. The music starts playing. Sure, I could just pop in the CD, but if I wanna hear a mix of Emimen, Andre Rieu, Frank Sinatra and Blue Man Group, I can use this. It's simple, in a geek kinda way.
I wanted to play music from the server through my PSP. I knew it could be done: A few firmware updates back, they added Internet Radio to the device. S'cool: You can choose from a bunch of streaming audio stations and have it play through your wifi connection. But I couldn't figure out how to get my music play.
A bit of websurfing, a few downloads, a quick editing of a HTML file and not only was the music streaming, I was geeking out. Thank goodness no one saw me geek dancing in the living room. It was not a pretty site.
But that's not all I was doing. I was multi-geeking.
I've been playing with Apophysis again, designing more fractals. I wanted to make a calendar of my fractal art, and I completed the last couple designs for it. I'd made one more design, and this time...I wanted to do something different.
It's just a shame that some damn tagger had to go and mess up that wall after I hung the poster...
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