Happy holidays now back to work

Ugh. I'm dying of boredom.

I realize that I have no photographic skill whatsoever. I can't pick out a decent shot and when I do happen to find something interesting, the resulting picture is blurry or out of focus, or I've taken a picture that doesn't contain the image I wanted.

Ever since I was a little kid, my hands have shook. I remember going to the doctor about it. Like I have Parkinson's but only in my hands. This is not a good trait for a photographer. Every shot looks like an action shot. I need a tripod, but those are kind of bulky to carry around. I'll figure something out.

Happy New Year!

What have I done this year?

1)work
2)bought a house and moved into it
3)started working out again

That's it. I didn't take any great trips. I didn't find any long-lost relatives. I didn't find a cure for cancer. Nothing. The house is nice though and I guess that is a big step in one's lifetime.

When I was younger I used to evaluate every year and determine if it was better than the year before. I would always say something like "I learned the multiplication tables" or "kissed a girl for the first time". Buying the house should be a bigger thing but it doesn't seem that big. I was supposed to buy a house. Learning the multiplication tables was pure chance and sheer luck. Plus, when I was younger I could always say I grew 2 inches and gain 17 pounds this year. I wish I'd have written those things down. They're probably hilarious.

What do I want to do in 2004?
1) Buy a Road King
2) Ride said Road King to Los Angeles. (I can't explain it, but I just feel drawn to LA, like I HAVE to go there--not to live but to visit.)
3)Make sure I visit my Grandmother
4)Find long-lost relatives and spend time with them
5)Find long-lost friends.

I skipped the most important development

of the weekend!! I got a digital camera!! It's a Kodak, 3.1 MP. I've already become very annoying with it. My dogs hate it. Dogs have evil demon-looking eyes when you take their picture using a flash. It's not red-eye, it's demon-eye. Or maybe it's just my dogs. Now I just need to figure out how to get a blog that I can post pics to.

Still reading, enjoying both books. But now am superfocused on taking pics.

Movie Reviews

Saw 3 movies this weekend. First up, Pirates of the Caribbean. I had heard many good things about this movie. Cool camera shots and lots of swordfighting, but not a very interesting story and by the end I just wanted all the characters to fall off a ship and drown. Don't see it.

Second was Bruce Almighty. Good movie. More serious than Ace Ventura, but not a "serious" movie. Maybe by writing "more serious than Ace Ventura" what I really mean is that Bruce has a plot and character development. I really like Morgan Freeman. Makes a good God. See it.

Last is Down with Love. I realize the movie isn't meant for me and I didn't really want to see it. However, it's not very good. Nobody I know (man or woman) has liked this movie. I think my Grandmother liked the original, but that's just cause she thought Rock Hudson was a stud and didn't know he was gay. Don't see this one. No matter what.

what I should have blogged

Have a holly, jolly Christmas. But I got off work early on wednesday and bolted out of the office like a bolt of Truman. So I didn't post my full Burl Ives lovefest. I did have a wonderful Christmas eve, eating Mexican food and drinking margaritas (which were free). Free margaritas are the best ever!!

Had a wonderful Christmas. I didn't have any margaritas but did have some very tasty Gentleman Jack whiskey. Raked in some Christmas loot and will soon be going to Best Buy to spend it.

Today is the most boring day ever at work. Redid our small network and rebuilt a domain controller. zzzzzzzzzzz

Will go home and partake of more tequila. mmmm, tequila

Life DOES imitate art

Wasn't the movie Minority Report about this? I'm all for "pre-emptive" arrests though.

So if terrorists do strike in California, will Arnold seek revenge like he did in that one movie of his...what was the name of that...oh yeah, it's EVERY movie of his.

Is today only Tuesday??? It seems like a month ago it was yesterday. Didn't do any reading last night or today. Too busy watching football and also too busy shopping. Finished with shopping but there's always more football. It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Glad it's a short week

It's only Monday afternoon and I'm already feeling worn out. Went to the library this weekend.
Book 1: Family Matters. It's by Rohinton Mistry, the author of A Fine Balance. So far it's about India. I want to visit India.
Book 2: The Koran. Amazon doesn't have a link to the translation I'm using.

I was brought up Baptist. Went to church every Sunday (twice on Sundays). I don't think I'll convert to Islam. Just wanted to read and study it. I think next I'll read about Zorastrianism.

I'm back, baby!

On the Harley that is. Last night was a Goldbergian effort to arrange rental truck and motorcycle to allow me to get to work and pay minimal rental fees. Got everything taken care of. Repair bill was outrageous....I almost bought a new bike instead of paying to fix this one. The repair bill would have made a great down payment. But if getting new sneakers makes you run faster, then getting new tires should make the bike faster right?

This story shows a dangerous precedent being set. What are we going to do when all our food starts making a break for it? God forbid, cows ever learn to operate automatic rifles.

Ladies, I think he's still single

Today at lunch, I'm getting my hair cut and a kind of nerdy-looking, overweight guy comes in and is talking with the woman cutting his hair. She asks "What have you been up to?" His reply "Watching T.V., looking for a job, and waiting for the new Lord of the Rings movie to come out." I found this amusing.

Now that I've got my truck, I can't wait to start tossing Bud Light cans into the truck bed.

how many doors do you need?

That was the question the car-rental counter guy asked. I answered "um, one." I had reserved a compact car. I got a pickup truck. A GMC Sonoma.

I'm sick of Saddam. (look how many stories there are!!)

Just hitchin a ride

Today renting a car because my bike will never get fixed!!! Before I bought my Harley in Nov 2001, I'd heard and dismissed reports that Harley's were badly built bikes. "That's left over from the 70's when AMF built the bikes." I just want the bike to run. Maybe Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday I can pick it up. Maybe.

Got the Christmas tree put up this weekend. Did nothing else productive. Needed to get a haircut and to go to the library. Went to the library but it was closed and didn't get a haircut. Someone pass me a joint.

sometimes you have to take the bad with the bad

So yesterday when I get home there are two messages on my machine. 1. Is Eric from the Harley shop saying the rear axle is messed up and asking if I have an extended warranty. You never want to hear a mechanic ask if you have an extended warranty. Only bad news can come from that. 2. Is Tom from the Harley shop who also mentions I need a new front tire.

Luckily I have the extended warranty. Hopefully it covers the rear axle. However the part they need will need to be ordered and probably won't be there until Tuesday (who can say when it will be installed and finished). Lovely. To sum up, I've been riding on two bald tires, the rear axle is hosed, I'll have to rent a car or bum a ride until at least Tuesday, and even with the warranty, all this will cost way more than I have. Happy Holidays.

Finished Snow. Need to start planning my next read. It's off to the library tomorrow. We'll see. I like just picking up something I know nothing about. But you take your chances doing that and I won't read a bad book. That's just time I'll never get back.

A book I read some time ago, House of Sand and Fog is now a movie. It was a good book, kind of weird in the "heroine" is not someone I really liked and the "villain" was someone who was only doing the best thing for his family. Interesting to see how the movie turns out. Jennifer Connelly fits with what I imagined the main character, but Ben Kingsley does not fit at all. I'll see it and try to work past my prejudices.

More people should try that with their lives.

l'm without motorized transportation

Put my bike in the shop yesterday. Besides all the other stuff they check and replace at 10,000 miles, I also getting new brakes and a new rear tire. This will cost me about $350-$500. Merry Christmas, Truman!

Still reading Snow. I wish I could just read for about 4 hours straight. I'm tired of reading an hour at a time. Just when I start really getting into it, time to go back to work or go to bed.

Maybe I'm just "old-fashioned"

But when people are driving tons of metal at 60mph, they shouldn't be reading the paper or applying makeup. Maybe because I ride a motorcycle, I tend to focus only on what's going on around me on the road. (I know, it's kind of hard to even listen to the radio if you don't have one. Not to mention how hard it is to put on makeup while wearing a helmet. Although the lady in front of me was able to put on makeup while wearing a helmet of hair).

I need a haircut. I need to put my bike in the shop for maintenance. I need a vacation and I need more money. Other than that, I'm all set.

I don't like Birthdays

Except for mine. Are birthdays celebrated the world over? Except for those religions that don't celebrate any holidays. My birthday always depresses me. I think birthdays are better for making resolutions than New Years though.

I feel like I've been busy. This weekend I don't remember doing anything important, but I still feel like I'm rushed and haven't had a chance to relax in a while. I need more vacation time.

My favorite web-writer is back. I missed TMQ while he was out. I guess he wasn't out near as long as Mike Vick though.

I should really do something to make this blog more cool. I'm too lazy to even post here on the weekend. Don't guess there's much chance I will do anything to make the site better. My stupid posts will have to be entertainment enough.

I almost forgot to post this

This weekend I was so forgetful. I would hear something, understand it, and then forget it in 2 seconds. I'm glad I didn't have anything really important to do. Probably would have cut off a finger or something and then said "I forgot what I was supposed to be cutting. That finger was sticking out too far anyways."

I'm sure all kinds of interesting things happened, but as noted above, I've forgotten what they were.

Still reading Snow.... I didn't even realize it was already a movie. I can't see how it would be a movie I would like. Too much jumping around in space and time in the book.

On week 2 of my "mass-building" stage of working out. I'm sure I've gotten massively massive.

Anyone know a really good lawyer?

I'm need to sue the makers of Lever soap.

Let me explain my case.
1)Lever soap is sold as a product to clean human skin.
2)I am a human and my face has human skin.
3)My eyes are on my face.
Therefore, Lever soap should be used near my eyes. The maker recommends this!
However, if I get Lever soap in my eyes, it burns and I'm temporarily blinded.
So, the maker of Lever soap is relying on only my closed eyelids to prevent its product from blinding me. How can I not win???

work blog

I don't like people who don't know how to do their jobs and rather than learn how to do it, expect others to do it for them. I usually won't do someone's job, but will take the time to help them learn. Two platitudes come to mind: 1)Give a man a fish and he eats for a day; teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime. and 2) You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink.

Started reading Snow Falling on Cedars. Set in Puget Sound. Reminding me of Seattle, but I'm not too far along in it.

ok so this is really interesting

Just finished reading back over the blog. Two-months worth. Spellbinding! Heart-stopping! A non-stop thrill ride! The best blog you'll read all year! I should be a movie critic and go on junkets so I can rave about stupid movies.

So, speaking of movies, over the weekend rented X-Men 2 and Terminator 3. Both were Spectacular! Thrilling! What a rush! I didn't really care too much about X2. I saw X1 and it was ok and X2 was about the same. My major gripe about both x1 and x2 is how can you have Rebecca Romijn-Stamos wearing nothing but a paint suit and not show her in every scene?

T3 was cool. T2 was better but for a 3rd installment, t3 wasn't bad. Rocky 3 had to be the best 3 movie made. Rocky3 was the one with Mr. T. "my prediction....pain"

Finished LBJ and will be going to the library tonight to begin anew. No idea what I'll get.

Do 2 instances make a trend?

First, hope all had a happy thanksgiving.

A while back I read a book called Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic that decried America's constant desire to consume. Today, while browsing around, found two different links that make the same point. Here and here. Second one is just a brief paragraph, but I like it. Maybe Santa Claus in every store two weeks before Thanksgiving got on people's nerves.

Just about finished with the book on LBJ. I don't think anyone writes a completely objective biography. I don't think it's possible. But after reading most of this one, I'm beginning to question LBJ's place in history. He seemed more trapped by Vietnam and recognized way before most Americans did that Vietnam was no place for American soldiers, but he couldn't figure a way out. I really doubt anyone else in his place could have figured a way out.

Changed my weight training routine:

Monday and Friday: Chest and back
Tuesday and Thursday: Legs
Wednesday: Arms and shoulders
I'm trying it for this month and will evaluate it at the end of the month.