Not quite off the deep end.

Here is a new twist

2006-10-03T10:07:00.000-07:00

Hat tip to Drudge.

Who says these guys don't listen. Now, in order to protest the Pope's quoting of the ancient guy about the violence saturated "religion of peace", they have hijacked an airliner and not hurt anyone.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Update: On Dennis Prager's show this morning, he corrected his take on the hijacking. I have not seen this elsewhere yet,but it looks like the hijackers may have been misunderstood. Apparently, they were Muslim converts to Christianity who were seeking asylum so as to remain warm blooded.

If true, we are back to square one.

If only I'd had computers when I was three.

2006-06-24T19:55:00.000-07:00

My daughter amazes me. She will be four next month, but she can already kick my butt at Five Acorns.

Five acorns can be found by heading through the games at yetisports.org.

The fact that a three year old can post scores of 3200 or so when the absolute high score online is near 4500 just stuns me.

Oh, and she has been practicing the same game for half of an hour already (while also playing with several toys).

And we are home

2006-06-23T14:07:00.000-07:00

I asked the nurse if she would bring us a case of "outta-here" (I really did). She didn't get it; but we did! We got home five minutes ago.

Ethan's long term health looks good, though for a month or so, the bump on his back will be larger than when we started down this road. Despite that, the structures have been repaired and he should be a normal boy.

Yeah.

Crossed eyes, fingers,...heck; crossed everything.

2006-06-22T21:29:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, Ethan had a second surgery. This time to stem the flow of spinal fluid out of his previous incision.

The surgery went well, but it was a really hard day. To the very talented pediatric neurosurgeon and her staff, it was a touch up. We didn't hear that take on it until they took him to the operating room.

I called Basia at 7 in the morning, wondering if the CSF leak had improved or... her response was shaky... they were taking him to surgery again at 10. I made calls to friends and woke his big sister. Sarah had two slices of baloney and two slices of american cheese for breakfast and was off to a day with Mrs Loretta and Mr. Mike. I hustled out of the house so fast I forgot her blankey and I smelled quite awful. Fear sweat sucks.

I called for an update when I was fifteen minutes from the hospital. Basia told me that they were going to take him down in 10 minutes or so. While I did not speed excessively or drive aggressively; I can tell you that as long as there are elevators, fat men can run (a short way). I got to the room exhausted, wanting to touch my little boy's head, wanting to embrace my wife and just cry awhile. I got my chance, as the operating room was not available until nearly 11. We spent the time with tears and tenderness; wondering about his survival and wrestling with the balance between our desire and God's Will. In the end, Praise to God, it seems that they will coincide. Regardless, it was a tough morning; one that reminds me how blessed I am to be married to the absolute perfect woman for me. In our weakness we found strength, and today we found smiles.

Ethan--at eight weeks--smiled for the first time. We--after nine days in the hospital--encountered a very satisfied neurosurgeon, who spoke of our going home.

Thank God! and thank you for all your prayers and kind thoughts on the way.

Wade

More pic updates

2006-06-20T15:19:00.000-07:00

This first shot is from a day or so after the surgery. The incision runs right up Ethan's spine from the top of his butt. That is his diaper there. The purple dot is a mark the surgeons use so they don't get incision creep (I think) (reminds me of the purple meat stamps of my youth) (ick).

And this shot is of the little guy getting his Tylenol 3 by mouth (again, Ick) (doesn't taste like Mom).

And of course, a couple of shots that make it look like Sarah learned to ride a bike here at the hospital. Gee whiz she is cute.

Pics from Ethan's first day here in the hospital

2006-06-20T13:36:00.000-07:00

I spent the first night alone in the trailer. See, nobody else.

The next two show Basia holding Ethan at our pre surgery checkin.

Here we are waiting for the news. The surgery took 3+ hours. Well, the first one, anyway. In this picture, we were still expecting to be home in a couple of days (how naive).

Ethan update (another one)

2006-06-20T12:57:00.001-07:00

Hmmm...

It's been six days when we thought it would be two or three. We are fraying on the edges of sanity.

On Saturday, Ethan's incision began to leak Cerebral Spinal Fluid. The leak persisted; even subsequent to an extra stitch and the next day a tap to reduce the volume under his skin (I know I am not giving enough info, but...).

The flow didn't stop, so early this morning, the plan was changed. He had a second surgery at 11 am. His neurosurgeon was all smiles and accomplishment when we spoke to her after the surgery. We'll see, but we are hoping and praying for the best.

Wow. Live blogging from a hospital room. Neat, huh. The wonders of cellular technology (yes, you can use cell phones most places in a hospital now).

So, we are looking at getting out of the hospital in the next few days.

Let me say, FedEx is a great company. With one phone call, I have all the time I need to get this handled. It seems that most companies would do the same, but it is nice to have that kind of treatment (even though I'm still a 13 digit number).

Oh, and I'm employee of the month for my department in Portland for June (that was fast).

Ethan is out of surgery

2006-06-14T11:12:00.001-07:00

The surgeon had nothing but good news. Untethered, resected, untangled and still neurologically complete. Thanks to all for the prayers. More later

Ethan is out of surgery

2006-06-14T11:12:00.000-07:00

The surgeon had nothing but good news. Untethered, resected, untangled and still neurologically complete. Thanks to all for the prayers. More later

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Hospital Camping

2006-06-13T21:18:00.000-07:00

As we prepared our 6 week old son (and our family) for the event that is SURGERY, we came upon a neat idea (though we weren't the first to think of it).

If we have to spend several days to a week at the hospital, why don't we take the travel trailer there and stay in that.

It makes sense because:

When Mom and Dad change shifts, there is no 22 mile drive.
Ethan's sister can be a part of the action rather than pawned off.
It is cheaper than a hotel.
We already have the trailer.
Food is cheaper in the trailer.
I've got a plug in to power the laptop.

As it turns out, our idea is not new. Other folks have been doing it so often that the hospital here in Portland has crafted four RV spaces for families of patients to use.

The surgery is at 7ish tomorrow morning (the 14th of June). I will try to post some results mid afternoon if I get a chance.

Is anyone really surprised by this?

2006-05-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch pedophiles are launching a political party to
push for a cut in the legal age for sexual relations to 12 from 16 and the
legalization of child pornography and sex with animals, sparking widespread
outrage.

Ahmadinejad talks around the bush with Spiegel

2006-05-30T11:33:00.000-07:00

The link to the interview I caught courtesy of Drudge.

I must admit, Ahmadinejad is likely a student of the West and PR. He spent the entire interview accentuating an argument with false choices. By doing so, if someone does not reject his argument on it's face, that person is left convinced that Israel has no right to exist.

Which of Ahmadinejad's statements lead me to that conclusion?

SPIEGEL: Well, we are conducting this historical debate with you for a very timely purpose. Are you questioning Israel's right to exist?

Ahmadinejad: Look here, my views are quite clear. We are saying that if the Holocaust occurred, then Europe must draw the consequences and that it is not Palestine that should pay the price for it. If it did not occur, then the Jews have to go back to where they came from. I believe that the German people today are also prisoners of the Holocaust. Sixty million people died in the Second World War. World War II was a gigantic crime. We condemn it all. We are against bloodshed, regardless of whether a crime was committed against a Muslim or against a Christian or a Jew. But the question is: Why among these 60 million victims are only the Jews the center of attention? [emphasis mine]

Are you questioning Israel's right to exist? No, what I'm saying is if the Holocaust happened Israel should be in Europe, 'cause they did it. If it didn't happen, then this is all a Zionist plot and they should go back where they came from.

Whatever his conclusion sounds like, it comes down to answering the question affirmatively; Israel, according to Ahmadinejad, has no right to exist.

Iran sponsors terrorists. Iran seeks Nukes. Even if Iran doesn't seek Nukes, the fact that Iran will not respect borders hammered out in previous conflict lessens the amount of trust Iran is due.

I found the interview enlightening, you should read the whole thing. (especially the part where he finds all deaths from WWII to be equal)

I do think, though, that he (they) are trying to get our dander up about these statements so that we can force ourselves to accept his greater argument. To my American ears, it sounds like he is spoiling for a fight.

Someone I noticed. Its Memorial Day

2006-05-29T15:06:00.000-07:00

How many of you have googled your name?
Maybe less than I might think.
If your name is John Smith, why bother?

With a name like Wade Lindberg, I figure that there aren't many of us. Google used to have gobs of skydiving references to me. But there was something else.

A Sergeant First Class named Lindberg Wade was killed in Viet Nam by a grenade attack. When I first noticed this years ago, it gave me pause. Though I did not know him, I thank him for his service and sacrifice to this country.

Ethan update

2006-05-28T21:25:00.000-07:00

CT scan results for the little guy's brain are back:

NORMAL.

Who says he didn't get any hereditary inheritance from his Mom?!?

Pulling back my defensive humor layer, though, WHEW.

More later.

And for those of you wondering about Ethan

2006-05-21T20:42:00.000-07:00

We have a neurosurgery appointment at 10 am in the morning (Monday 22 May 2006).

Ethan has a condition called Tethered Spinal Cord. The outward sign of this is visible on his back at his sacrum. The little fleshy lump is called a Lipomyelomeningocele. Yeah, whatever, just fix it.

It sounds like we can have this stuff taken care of fairly easily, but I've stopped relying on the expertise of general physicians. Their lack of knowledge in this area leaves them presenting hypothesis that wind up being contradicted. This is usually just after we begin to let the info settle in.

For tonight, all I can do is pray. Your help would be appreciated.

As someone who enjoys firing a nice assault weapon from time to time...

2006-05-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

I am somewhat flummoxed by the dwindling availability (at gun shows and elsewhere) of reload, surplus and factory new .223 ammunition (for you mil folks, that is 5.56).

A friend of a friend (who owns a gun shop) noted that the price of brass has gone up 40% recently.

Hmmm... The US military uses that caliber in large quantities and doesn't police up their brass when in theater. Apparently, the Israelly ammo isn't being used anymore. Also, who knows if we are replenishing our stocks.

I'm down to under 2000 rounds, and this is starting to concern me. At least I've got a few other weapons to switch to if need be (for plinking, mind you).

The Springfield M1A is my new favorite. That thing doesn't move much, and the round flies straight quite a ways. It feels really solid.

Anyone out there have an idea why the supply has dropped off?

Sukhoi's to Venezuela?

2006-05-21T20:05:00.000-07:00

Check this out.

Chavez wants to buy Russian fighter planes because the US government won't sell him upgrades for the avionics and weapons systems that he seeks for his 20ish f16s.

I'm just an aviation nut, but it seems to me that buying Russian equipment won't improve the avionics. They are quite something at airshows, though. Here is a link to a video file of one in action. It is a 40 gig file but the download is free.

There is a chill wind blowing in New Orleans...

2006-05-21T19:57:00.000-07:00

as a result of evaporative cooling?
Or is it from Democratic strategies that don't quite work?

John Kerry to buy Waffle House?

2006-05-21T19:53:00.000-07:00

Nope. Just more of the same rhetoric.

Kerry's position today:

He supports building the border fence, but it should be temporary and then we should take it down.

Yeah.

Please remember that I actually made almost $100 by selling these bumperstickers on CafePress.com in the last election cycle.

Uh huh. So you don't accidentally shake hands? Right...

2006-05-20T15:01:00.000-07:00

So Iran is going to enforce dress codes that mandate infidels be instantly identifiable? Hmm... I wonder how long until they start with the tatoos. Maybe it is 1936 or 1937 all over again. Let's learn from history.

Hey, I backtracked to this post by FroggyRuminations at BLACKFIVE: It's Beginning to Look alot Like Kristallnacht.

I found it through Hugh Hewitt. The update there caught my eye with the best comment I could even think of.

Here is the quote:

Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter responded to the new law Friday night, saying, "Whoever makes Jews anywhere wear the yellow star again, will find themselves in a coffin draped in black."

Take your lower lip...and pull it over your head!

2006-04-28T18:54:00.000-07:00

Bill Cosby fairly accurately described my wife's labor with our new one. On Tuesday, the "little" guy was born. 11 pounds and 22 inches long (with no clothes on; just a helmet...and his name, David (but that's not his name)).

Nonetheless, he will not be playing football. I am going to try to attach some photos to this, but they are kinda large; from the EOS Digital.

They are too big. I'll work on shrinking and get them up. Seeya

In truth, I had already found some of this distastful...BUT!!!

2006-03-29T16:35:00.000-08:00

Michelle Malkin: Posts a photo taken from one of the "Mexico" rallies.

What has been done is so backwards (and upside down) that I almost wonder if it could be a setup. Who would be that dumb...?

Technorati Tags: Brilliant, Protest, immigration, American+Flag, Garnering+Support+With+Islamists

For the record, I'm not dead. Just really busy...

2006-03-24T14:59:00.000-08:00

Hey all,

I'm having trouble staying up on the news and the like right now. We are weeks away from the new family member and work is short on days off right now.

Here's something else going on:

I took a book that I've been trying to read for two years. Flyboys is the book, and it is non-fiction about Navy flyers (mostly) in WWII. The focus is on brutality by both sides when Prisoners were captured. It is a very difficult read, but I would recommend it. The most known part of this story, although not completely on the lines of the prisoner focus, was the recounting of George H W Bush and his being shot down over Chi Chi Jima.

I don't think the book is for historical strategists, except as it may provide some context for decisions on both sides in the war in the Pacific.

Once you get through the first 150 pages, it will keep you in your seat and on the edge (sometimes ready to vomit).

I'll write more when I get time.

Uh Oh. Somebody is in T R O U B L E !

2006-03-16T16:17:00.000-08:00

I read about this weeks ago.

The sources said that Ferrari owner Stefan Eriksson and the other man in the car, identified by authorities as Trevor Karney, had a video camera rolling as they raced on Pacific Coast Highway on the morning of Feb. 21 at speeds in excess of 162 mph.

Go check out the whole story, it looks like this guy is in for some rough water.

Thanks Drudge, for the link. I don't get into the LA Times much (by choice).

Final thought: As someone with my own FastPast, even I can see that this guy is an idiot with an immortality complex. From the photo, it looks like physics and luck are not mutually exclusive.

UPDATE: Check out this story. It gives a bit more info on the likely criminal stuff that was going on. Amazing.

Brooks said that investigation also revealed that in September, Eriksson had brought two Ferrari Enzos into the country in San Diego -- one a red one and the other a black one. He also brought in a Mercedes SLR, a $600,000 vehicle.

Brooks said that the red Ferrari and the Mercedes have since been described as stolen, because the initial down payment on them was allegedly a fraudulent one through a company owned by Carl Freer.

And the capper?

Brooks told ABC7 that if it is determined that Eriksson was indeed the Ferrari driver, the most he could be charged with is possibly misdemeanor DUI and reckless driving, along with providing false information to authorities.

Yup. Misdemeanor. Except for the grand theft angle.

Dangerously Incompetent

2006-03-16T14:11:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Human Events for the photo. I've seen this thing everywhere, but suddenly, nowhere. Serious chuckles for how that looks.

Well, on to my comments. Yesterday, while poking through the cable channels in a motel in Spokane Washington, I stopped for just an instant (well, more like a few minutes) on CSPAN.

Senator Stabenow (now wearing a different pants suit and sans the embarrassing sign) was further spouting off on her objections to the Bush Administration. I wish I had a TIVO or a transcript. She acknowledged in typical bland Senate language that she had supported tax cuts for about a third of the former "surplus" to help the economy.

And I thought, huh? You did? The democrat line back then was that a tax cut of $300 dollars wouldn't even buy a muffler. I remember. Well, if she supported a smaller tax cut to help the economy, then how is it that the larger one did not help the economy.

This, of course, is on the floor of the Senate one day prior to record stock indexes.

I can see a good economy from my seat in the semi I drive every night. It is busy. Despite the Bush fuel prices (humor).

Eh, I am sick of thinking about Democrap for a while. I was just astonished to hear from someone with a KoolAid Grape tongue that tax cuts help the economy.

Buy Borden! Buy Starkist!

2006-03-13T12:01:00.000-08:00

Bird Flu Update compliments of Instapundit.

OK. It isn't mentioned in the article, but does the head of the HHS have a stake in BIG milk or BIG tuna?

My question does not mean that I am without concern; as a matter of fact, with a newborn on the way I am particularly concerned.

Maybe I will buy their stocks and their products.

Technorati Tags: Bird Flu, Tuna, Milk, Doom

I would not could not with a goat...but (pun intended)?

2006-03-11T20:46:00.000-08:00

Wow. Someone defends their word usage.

Yeah. Glenn would offer a Heh!

I may start borrowing the reference.

Hat tip to Blackfive.

Technorati Tags: Goat, Qaeda, Qaida, Taliban

Yep... That is 100 percent pure snow!

2006-03-09T22:19:00.000-08:00

10:19 pm out the front of our home here in Hillsboro. I've lucked out by having some time off work coinciding with the icky weather.

Happy thoughts and prayers for all the other drivers that must work all through it.

This photo and post brought to you by my cell phone.

Argh. The photo didn't get over to the post. I'll find it. Spank it. Post it. Back later.

I thought the mountain snow would be the exciting part of the evening.

2006-03-07T19:33:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I stayed over in a motel in Bend, Oregon. Upon my return to work, I was told to take two empty trailers to our Salem yard. After perusing the weather and road condition websites, I notified dispatch that I did not feel safe pulling two. I headed out with one trailer.

The difficulty with empty trailers stems from gravity not sucking them down to the road very well. They don't have very good traction to move forward and when braking, they can and will slide easily.

Snow packed and small, the mountain roads were no match for the locked differential and solo trailer, the truck beat the hill into submission in a hurry. My only issue stemmed from reduced visibility that comes along with blowing snow. I had not been down that particular road since October of 99 (back then, though, it wasn't snowing, and I was in a gas tanker).

My apprehensions with unknown routes has been addressed fairly well by a little GPS unit that runs through my cell phone/pda. The little 3-d moving map on the screen lets me know what the road is going to do ahead (which direction and how tight of a turn). It also tries to tell me where to turn (this works best if I've browsed it's routing ahead of time and know where it differs from the trucking route).

Anyway, about 40 miles up and over and through the snow. Then to the rain. Much rain. About five or ten miles from Salem, as the road ahead rose up and over a hill with a gentle right hand turn, I saw police lights up ahead a bit. A car was running along in front of me as we topped the hill.

At first, it looked to be a normal traffic stop, with the patrol car on the white fog line. I had long since taken my foot off of the throttle and was covering the brake, and now I also moved over to the left lane to go by the incident slowly. As I went down below forty or so, I simultaneously noted that the car was staying in the right lane and was slowing even more than I. I kept track of the car while trying to see what was going on with the cop.

I didn't see another vehicle in front of the cruiser, but then, visibility was very limited. Debris was coming into my view; it later turned out to be exploded fiberglass insulation or something like that. As the chunks took shape in the right lane, the car in the right lane decided to stop. The only problem was that they changed lanes to the left first. Stopped car directly in front of my direction of travel; very close in. Nice.

It happened in seconds (or less). I tapped the brakes, and the tell-tale feel of a sliding trailer (kind of a shudder accompanied by unusually poor slowing) caused me to check the mirror as I took my foot off of the brake. Yep, the trailer was going sideways and I was going to hit the car unless...

You can almost always steer around something easier than you can stop a semi... especially an empty one. To the left was a sharp drop to the median ditch. To my right, debris in the right lane and the police car on the shoulder. I did not see the officer so I chose that way. I think I missed the car by about a foot at about 30 miles an hour.

As I went to the inside, I saw the police officer waving like the top half of fevered jumping jacks. Screw the brakes, I turn back to the left and then to the right and coast to a stop on the shoulder.

In the end, nothing of note happened save for my wishing for convenient toilet paper and alleviating my need for caffeine for the next 5 hours. I still don't understand why his police car was on the shoulder with those blinding disco lights while the officer was standing 50 feet or so in front of his cruiser in the right hand lane.

That took quite a lot of text to describe, but the event only lasted about five seconds. Funny, my brain was thinking about each phase in the decision tree for quite a few minutes inside those few seconds.

I thank God that I am not one to take my hands off and scream. Also, that no one got hurt.

Hours, days, weeks, months of boredom; punctuated by short bursts of life or death decisions. Those that say this is easy are nuts (although, I've said that very thing). So be it.

Be Well.

Move along; nothing to see here.

2006-02-27T17:19:00.000-08:00

And even if there were, I've got no time for sightseeing.

So last night, I got called to work so that I would arrive in Seattle (Kent) between 2 and 3 am. No sweat; I left the house at 10 pm. Upon arriving at the yard, I grabbed my tractor and trailers and off I went into the dark rain.

Upon arriving at Seattle FedEx's Yard, I wound up waiting almost two hours for my next set of trailers. Then I got to drag them 19 miles to Tacoma. Whee.

I had been following the weather regarding the mountain pass that exits Seattle to the East (Snoqualmie)(don't bother trying to pronounce it). Ick. Snow? Freezing rain? Chains were not yet required, but then again I was slated to take two empty trailers to Pasco (Southeastern WA) to lay over.

I was unable to talk the dispatcher out of my taking both trailers (besides, I hadn't done a five mile long power-slide-with-a-60-foot-tail in several days. Pulling empties can be more challenging in weather; tires that are designed around supporting a heck of a lot more weight wind up floating over the road very easily. Maintaining forward motion can be difficult. Come to think of it, so can stopping. It is easy for the brakes to over-react on winter roadways. Oh, well... I set off to have some fun. It was.

Apologies for a lack of photography, but I was a bit busy.

Well, back to the title of the post. Pasco. Tri-Cities. Hmmm... Nothing of import is immediately obvious (save for the hotel pillows; man, I was tired).

I am only here for 10 hours so I won't be going through the Hotel's tourist rack of brochures or pining after a visit to the world's second largest ball of twine.

It is just as well. The sooner I'm out of here, the sooner I can get home to My wife and little girl. That's what I'm talkin' 'bout.

With my own two eyes...

2006-02-24T16:26:00.000-08:00

While preparing my FedEx tractor for a return to Portland from Missoula Montana yesterday, I saw something that I've read about. I managed to snap a photo of it a while later, but I took the picture from the driver seat of a moving truck. The photo is not the best, sorry; I don' wanna die.

Yep, it was solid Black. No, I did not see any identification markings on the aircraft. As I passed, though, I did see Bigfoot getting out of the cockpit.

Just seeing this aircraft confirms for me the stories of the CIA and the Military Industrial Complex blowing up the towers and the Pentagon on 9/11/01 (if it really happened).

OK, just kidding about the conspiracy and such. I know 9/11 happened; satire folks.

Did Cheney really think we would be too dumb to notice the black letters on black fuselage? Duh.

City to city

2006-02-20T19:15:00.000-08:00

While this may not seem all that cold to folks that are used to it, it was to me. Also, consider that at the time it was midnight, I was driving a truck with 3 trailers, and though I saw other cars every so often I was utterly alone. Thank goodness for xm radio.

Trading Spaces

2006-02-19T10:20:00.000-08:00

This space has been quiet for a bit, and for good reason.

I've traded back to my old career.

Yes, I did like living the office/desk job life, however, circumstances have made the stable and substantial income of my previous endeavor more attractive.

How lucky am I? Within two weeks of an exploratory phone call to the FedEx manager who had originally hired me, I am back on the job, in a truck, working nights.

There is a small spot in my brain, though, that thinks I'm nuts. Oh well, winter is almost over.

Expect motel days to provide some good surf and blog opportunities.

Just a quicky post

2006-02-10T20:30:00.000-08:00

Nothing important to report, except while Basia is back east for a bit; the little one and I have been on a camping trip (trailering). Through the wonders of science, I am now able to blog from a campground via my cell phone as modem.

Eh. I can't get away. Maybe I can at least get serious.

Even though this one didn't emerge from Denmark..

2006-02-08T15:28:00.000-08:00

Something is Fishy here. Hmmm...

Could this be one of those hoaxes? But, I pulled the story from Drudge .

I don't mean to question anyone's patriotism or support for the troops. As a matter of fact, I think the people who donated the funds had the best motives. I do think it is odd that it is being broadcast as a for-sure thing (read; fact)that he owed the $700.

Or could someone be avoiding an obvious inaccuracy that changes the story. Maybe that kind of thing would be located about 70% down the page, after the Democrat hystrionics.

What the article said to me, if I read the quotes correctly:

When he turned in his gear last week, Rebrook said he was told to pay nearly $700 or face not being discharged for weeks. The bill included a $570 charge for his Kevlar vest and gear destroyed in battle, and $130 for other lost items.

It sounds to me like the Army offered him an option, pay to save a few weeks of chasing paper trails, or wait a bit and have all be forgiven. It is still quite an obtuse sounding story, but I wonder... is there anything else that is being ignored?

I am glad that Lt. Rebrook is alive and getting better. May health and happiness find him again.

Technorati Tags: Armor, Rebrook, Rumsfeld, West Virginia, WV, Byrd, $700, Kevlar, IED

Done!!!

2006-02-06T00:31:00.000-08:00

The kitchen project is now in the pick-up-the-tools stage.

The following is a pretty revealing angle:

There are four more sliders that are out of view. Man, what a difference. It was a bit anti-climactic the first time I closed all of the cabinet doors; it looked exactly the same as before.

Technorati Tags: Finished, Done, Next, My Aching Back

A cartooning confluence; Drawing for fun and fatwa

2006-02-06T00:17:00.000-08:00

Okey Doke.

Do I or don't I?

I have a family to feed and take care of, and I haven't been too anonymous while blogging.

I don't think I can do it. Just like when someone threatened damage to my truck if I parked in a certain spot at work. Lesser of two evils? I dunno.

If I do happen to come across or create a private collection, I'll let you know.

In the interim, I do remember hearing about the two photos below. Is that Mohammed (Atta?)?

Okay, they aren't drawings and they aren't mine but who knows if they are actually Mohammed or maybe even his cousin? I think the description of them as the devil is pretty accurate though.

Of Marriage, Memory and Mere Clarification

2006-02-05T23:36:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in a fairly fresh post, my wife and I went to a marriage seminar this weekend. Also this weekend, I posted a little blurb about how I can relate to being an instructor in an aviation discipline. I won't pretend my experience was nearly as serious or valuable as Major Lucky from DesertOdyssey, but I can still relate. The photo of the jumpers in that post was a fairly random one, I was not in the picture.

Thanks to a confluence of thought and weekend activities (which also included a winter-spring cleaning), I found and scanned an actual picture of me in freefall. It is one of my favorites. My wife, in the middle, was doing her first jump. I am the Main Side Jumpmaster, on the left (the little orange pvc thingy on her hip is her main ripcord (my main reason for being RIGHT THERE!).

It should be noted, however, that though she is now my lovely and wonderful wife (and mom for our kids), this day was the day we met.

Sometimes I miss who we used to be, but then I look in on our sleeping daughter and it fades.

Technorati Tags: Skydiving, Love, Marriage, First Date,

Is this one funny?

2006-02-05T00:32:00.000-08:00

And for the record, I give my brother permission to de-caption and post for input.

This one dates back even farther than mower-man. If drawing is like riding a bicycle, one day I'll draw this stuff again. When I feel funny, that is.

You know, a lot of people come to me and they say, "Steve, how can you be so fucking funny?" and I tell them, "first you got to feel funny, so before I go on stage, I put bologna in my shoes – so I feel funny."

Technorati Tags: Cartoon, Hindsight, Caption, Abbagav, Steve Martin

Speaking of Pandora's Box

2006-02-05T00:10:00.000-08:00

Via Powerline:

Iyman Faris, the only terrorist who has been named publicly in connection with the NSA terrorist surveillance program, has moved to set aside his conviction for conspiring to destroy the Brooklyn Bridge on the ground that he was "illegally" spied upon by NSA. Faris's cause is being taken up by the American Civil Liberties Union:

Hey...That's great.

When I first heard about that big ol' leak about the NSA surveillance, I secretly hoped it was some Clancy-esque ploy that used the media to force terrorists to pick up new cell phones, thinking they were now safe and scrubbing-bubbles clean.

Even if that were the case, it is getting ugly. The lefties are taking a whole lot of extra rope to hang themselves with... and it takes way too long for it to play out off of the roll.

Thanks NY Times. Now who is targeting civilians?

Technorati Tags: Powerline, Iyman, ACLU, NSA, Scrubbing

Loose lips with a track record for bragging about them.

2006-02-05T00:06:00.000-08:00

via Hugh Hewitt. Could Jay Rockefeller and company provide relief to those still struggling to pronounce Abramoff?

Maybe, but not if the MSM has a say in what is covered.

Technorati Tags: Abramoff, Rockefeller, NSA, Wire taps, Domestic, Bastards

Taking an airplane out for a spin with a military student.

2006-02-04T23:29:00.000-08:00

"With a heavy shudder, the world stopped rotating and I jammed the throttles forward as I reefed back on the stick to gain altitude. The lowest we got, I think, was 11,500 feet. Tigre said not a word as the nose pitched up and the altimeter reversed. Passing back into our altitude block I turned my head to look at him. His face was white through his helmet visor."

"Woo hoo! That was fun, wasn't it!" I shouted through the intercom.

As I read that, it reminded me a bunch of the feelings and experiences I accrued as a freefall and tandem skydiving instructor. We had a few folks who made it passed the minimum qualifications and were passed on to more EXCITING adventures.

As tandem instructors the world over say, "I don't care what you do, but if you grab my hands, I'll head-butt you to death!"

Whee. One day, I'll post some fun stories. The first will be about the female tandem student who vomited in my mouth at about 4000 feet (and never apologized) (Taco Bell quesadilla for lunch; I'll never forget it).

Technorati Tags: Tweet, Skydiving Instructor, Aviation, Vomit, Disgusting

Okay, now I'm just showing off.

2006-02-04T22:18:00.000-08:00

Between the end of our Love & Respect Marriage Seminar (really quite good) and heading out for a reunion with old friends, I was able to install a bunch more of our kitchen cabinet slide-out stuff.

For those of you planning to catalog the locations of stuff in our home for later stealthy and sinister removal, note that most of what is stored in this house is old tupperware and second hand cookware. Still, here are a few more photos to check out.

Here are six shelves for under the counter. You wouldn't believe all the stuff that had been hiding in back for 5 years.
Okay, so it isn't all old junk. We do have a small amount of booze way up high that now goes unseen until the drawer is pulled out. Nothing really good though.
This may be the best improvement. Think about it. When you pull out a pan, it doesn't set off a domino event inside the cabinet. You slide out the drawer and lift. Great for lazy folks like me.
And here are the first 3 of 12 pull-outs for the remainder of the pantry. The top left cabinet contains the chalkboard/can cubby that I built earlier.

Once I got a system going, it was easy; just squeeze a big fat guy with a cordless drill and a flashlight into a 9 by 13 inch opening again and again. The rest is history.

I can tell I'm no professional, though. I wore a really long shirt for the install stuff so no one had to stare at my crack.

Technorati Tags: Cabinets, Crack, Showing off

Look at the photos. Did anyone think the ship would stay afloat in wind?

2006-02-03T11:50:00.000-08:00

Here is the ship that went down in the Red Sea.

And here is a sister ship that had not yet undergone a major refit.

The ship was "improved" years ago to add about 400 passengers to her capacity, and (it looks like) 3 decks above the original superstructure. From the photo, it looks like a hell of a lot of sail area in a cross wind. The news I heard was that the Al-Salam Boccaccio 98 got under weigh during a sand storm (that's wind, isn't it).

Here in the US, someone would wind up going to jail for that.

So much for weebles wobble but they don't fall down.

UPDATE:

My brother commented that a fire caused the sinking, but it still didn't seem that was the answer. Uh, yep, we can both be right.

The minister said Saturday an initial investigation showed a truck erupted in flames in the hold of the ship.

After the crew tried to put out the fire, the captain's efforts to turn the boat around caused it to tilt in heavy winds and ultimately sink.

Some survivors later described the tilting, saying it occurred slowly before the vessel sank.

UPDATE 2:

Hey, check this out.

Fathi Kamel cried out: "Allahu Akbar (God is Most Great)" when he heard that his nephew was among the survivors.

What do you wanna bet some folks flinched when he yelled that?

Technorati Tags: Egypt, Ship, Sink, Ferry, Disaster, Titanic, too tall, Allahu Akbar

Is it just me, or did I see Hillary Clinton

2006-02-01T22:50:00.000-08:00

chewing gum (very slowly; doing like 4 jaw rpms) during the President's SoTU speech?

And then there was all that non-verbal contempt she was throwing around. Heck, I guess I don't blame her, she knew one president very well and she couldn't trust him.

One of the reasons that I trust him is found at Gav's blog. All cowboy (in a good way); no pup tent.

The post linked above, notes a substantial quote; given with little nuance. It must scare the $h1t out of Ahmadahijinabsadabibab.

Kind of David Banner, ya know? "Don't make me angry; you wouldn't like me when I'm angry."

Matter of fact and not "Stuck on Stupid."

Technorati Tags: SOTU, Iran, Abbagav, Hillary, gum, cowboy

Some cabinet photos

2006-02-01T15:59:00.000-08:00

So, here are two of the roller boxes I got installed last night.

The above shows the boxes all the way out, and...

This photo yields a clue to their purpose.

These two boxes organize and store in otherwise low-value cabinets (above the fridge) our fancy glassware. We are fairly casual folk, so we don't need to get them often. Earthquake? No sweat, they can't bang into each other or fall off of a shelf. Yeah. Overbuild the solution.

Move along...move along...nothing to see here!

2006-01-30T23:22:00.000-08:00

Despite paralax, distance and media desire for something to see, there is no news here.

Trust me. I've watched skydivers in freefall many many times. At a great distance, you just can't tell how close stuff is. The two aircraft do seem to be in slightly different focal planes though.

Hey, if it were that close, somebody would have responded evasively to their TCAS (traffic collision avoidance system) , ATC (air traffic control) instructions or at least four horribly enlarged eyeballs. No worries.

Technorati Tags: near miss, dhl, jal,

And of the Flag

2006-01-30T07:10:00.000-08:00

Hamas demands one more small measure. Israel needs to change their flag. ...uh huh... um... if they change their flag, does that mean Hamas agrees that they exist? Or is it just one more step toward the sea? I know what my guess would be.

Shouldn't the United states flag, then, have 50 stripes? One extra for each of the occupied territories that still belong to the "native" Americans.

Technorati Tags: Israel, Flag, Hamas, Demand, Nonsense

Cabinet decisions here in Oregon...

2006-01-29T19:34:00.000-08:00

but not what you think.

If you remember in previous posts, I mentioned that I was constructing pull out drawers and bins for our kitchen cabinets. Well, on Friday, I assembled 27 different bins; two of them have plexiglas lids to keep the dust off of the crystal glasses and stemware.

Saturday, I sanded them down to where I could add polyurethane and the like. I also went and purchased the desired chemicals. Then today, (and here is the cabinet decision part) I took back the spray cans of polyurethane and got brush on stuff.

After some thought, and admission that I had precious few brain cells to waste on chemical highs, I decided not to poison myself with aerosols.

I was amazed how well my little girl did with the paint brush (with the sanding sealer). We got four drawers done in about an hour and she only doubled the time it would normally take. See...kids can be a big help.

If I can get some snaps of the work, I'll attach them on edit later.

Been busy, but hey...talk to you soon.

Technorati Tags: carpentry, kitchen, cabinets, dreamer

Honor. In pictures and in words.

2006-01-27T00:12:00.000-08:00

Real Men pay tribute to a fallen hero. Click for the story from Blackfive. Be sure to click on his site back to part I to get the full story.

A little clarification for the militarily uninitiated; The "coin" likely has little to do with money. My guess would be that it is a unit coin they are placing at the memorial. Unit coins are commemorative metal pieces fabricated with unit ID, crests, mottos. They are earned, and are often priceless.

Regardless what Joel Stein might say; I owe these men a parade...at the very least. For more commentary pulled together by Hugh Hewitt, click.

Technorati Tags: Hewitt, Stein, Honor, Fallen, Blackfive, Hero, Coin

If you can hear crickets chirping...

2006-01-26T23:48:00.000-08:00

You must have the news on while they are covering this.

"The man who served as the no. 2 official in Saddam Hussein's air force says Iraq moved weapons of mass destruction into Syria before the war by loading the weapons into civilian aircraft in which the passenger seats were removed."

I've thought that something along these lines has made the most sense all along. I mean, after all, the Left in this country has proven even nutcases can't be duped all the time. Or did I get that wrong. Well, Oprah doesn't count anyway. Halliburton?

Well, someone with better connections than mine will need to check on the BS quotient, but I find the story intriguing.

By the way, I don't think those barrels are coming back to Iraq on the same planes, if ever.

Thanks again Powerline!
And RightWingNutHouse!

Technorati Tags: Iraq, WMD, Powerline, Boeing, Syria

Well, this is fairly transparent

2006-01-26T23:36:00.000-08:00

Dateline, Maryland (or whatever the cliche is):

Maryland Democrats concerned about the political fallout from last week's court ruling on same-sex marriage are considering a plan to block any final court ruling from taking effect until after the November elections.

The proposal would be offered in legislation by Del. Luiz R.S. Simmons (D-Montgomery) that would freeze any decision from the state's highest court until the General Assembly has time to evaluate it.

"What we're trying to do is see if we can craft a bill allowing the legislature to seek an injunction, at least until 2007, when we'll have the opportunity to consider a constitutional amendment" banning same-sex marriage, Simmons said.

Democrats, playing only one move ahead, destined for check and mate. Checkers could not be reached for comment. Thanks for including the truth in there, WaPo.

Oh, and thanks Powerline for the push in the right direction.

Technorati Tags: Powerline, Gay rights, Maryland, Democrat, Shenanigans, Football

I wouldn't either; are they nuts?

2006-01-26T23:32:00.000-08:00

I break wind in their general direction Hamas, that is.

I'm sure, though, that they ran a cleaner election than Wisconsin. Yeah. Right.

...And Back a Few days

2006-01-26T23:09:00.000-08:00

Kobe Bryant.

Great Game. Though he could have been a character in that National Lampoon sendup of Tolkien's work. Anyone remember? Dribble.dribble.shoot.swish. The Ball Hog.

But why don't we revisit Mr. Bryant's comments after the Laker game:

[to] sit here and say I grasp what happened, that would be lying.

It seems folks might not know when he is or isn't. That smile looks familiar though.

Technorati Tags: Kobe, Ball hog, lying

Oprah Joins the Rodeo

2006-01-26T23:06:00.000-08:00

Manages to ride Bull for 8 more seconds

Technorati Tags: Oprah, Frey, Million Pieces, Bull, Rodeo, Milk

Hello to any Toastmasters browsing by!

2006-01-26T22:34:00.000-08:00

Yep, this is the blog I was speaking about. If you'll notice, on the right hand side-bar, there are some little links that will take you to some other fine places. Thanks again for allowing me the opportunity to speak before the group.

For those of you interested in starting your own blog, there should be a blogger button around here somewhere... or just click here.

Technorati Tags: Toastmasters

Riding that train...

2006-01-23T08:57:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend, I took Sarah on the light rail to the airport. We watched a bunch of planes take off and had lunch.

On the way through downtown, my eyes noticed that my Monday meeting was on the train route, hence my return to the train. How relaxing...

No traffic, just treo blogging.

Well that didn't take long. Alito hasn't even gotten to his new chair, yet...

2006-01-23T00:15:00.000-08:00

Via FreeRepublic

And folks are throwing snowballs hoping the apellate process can make them into snowmen (weak analogy).

So the Democratic Senators look like argumentative, rambling fools when faced with a rational seeming nominee. Everyone says it's all over, he'll be confirmed. Days later...

Does the snowball stand a chance in...

(As Barbra Streisand screamed) THE SUPREME COURT?

It has to get there first.

If you don't know, let someone who does write the story.

2006-01-22T23:37:00.000-08:00

Picking Nits; picking nits. I know.

Check this out.

Wow! Supergun. Neat. But within a few sentences I wonder if Ms Pamela Hess of UPI lost track of decimals or just plain doesn't understand:

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Next month a new high-explosive munition will be fired in Singapore and then tested again by the U.S. Army, heralding what may be a sea change in weaponry: a gun that can fire 240,000 rounds per minute.

That's compared to 60 rounds per minute in a standard military machine gun.

What? The US only has machine guns that fire 60 rounds a minute. My AR15 (civilian version of the m16 rifle--not available in California) will do that and more in semi auto mode with magazine changes. Duh. Oh and after 2 quick 30 round mags like that, I dare somebody to touch the barrel.

Okay, so later in the article they mention grenades. I don't know much about our auto loading grenade launchers, but 60 does seem slow. Then again, 240,000 rounds per minute. My God, that has got to be an extrapolation or something. 4,000 rounds a second? How does that happen? The techy guy tells the reporter that the thing has (let's say) 50 barrels and it fires all 50 instantaneously. Does that mean that the hypothetical weapons system could fire infinitely fast?

Picture being the poor schmuck loader. You just humped several truck loads of grenades or what-have-you over inhospitable terrain, and the yo-yo on the gun has a heavy finger. "Oh, crap Larry! I just made a BIIIIGG hole! ...And YOU need to fetch some more ammo."

That has got to be a mistake.

And another thing. Superships (episode 5 from the link) tonight on Discovery. If you're going to narrate a documentary, have a friggin' clue what you're talking about.

The half-episode in question was about a heavy lift ship that had been altered to transport yachts (a whole lot of them) around the world in dry-dock comfort. Blah blah blah and then the narrator starts talking about how hard it would be to "get in and out of Port Everglades [I think that was the Port] without their bow thrusters." (except genius voice said "beau" not "BOW"!)(Hell, he said it more than once) Hey buddy, the BOW is the front end of the ship, and the BEAU is the thing wrapped around the new yacht when DADDYKINS gives it to some PARIS act alike. Do some background, will ya.

The moon must be in the seventh house or something. Jeez.

Technorati Tags: Machine+Gun, Super+gun, Mistake, Superships, Annoyed

My brother in A Million Geeky Pieces

2006-01-21T23:44:00.000-08:00

If you want good writing, check out my bro at AbbaGav. One post in particular, had me laughing on the floor. He has an idea to write a satirical send up of that Oprah cry cry book alluded to in this post's title. Awesome.

He is not alone. Via Instapundit, comes a story from NJ.com or something about a professor who thought he had a brilliant idea. Come to the end, and as it turns out, he and Gav are on the same wavelength. Give it a read. But the money pull for me was (it is on page two after you enter a zip code and a year):

Pluss plans to write up the whole experience in the form of a historical novel. That gave me an idea. I had just read "A Million Little Pieces," that bogus memoir of drug rehab by James Frey that became a million seller. If hanging out with a bunch of bored druggies makes for a best seller, how about hanging out with a wacky bunch of nutty neo-Nazis?

"I've got just one more question," I said to Pluss before he had to go. "Have you had your people contact Oprah?"

Wonderful. It will be like a blaze of reality TV. Not real, but portrayed that way?

Ahh.

Technorati Tags: Million, Nazi, IRA, Professor, freedom, stupid, book, Oprah

No! IAEA won't add pressure to Iran? What?

2006-01-21T23:15:00.000-08:00

I can't vouch for the source credibility, but I found a link from a blog. It's a pretty important (to me) story. Anyone heard of EUPolitix.com? Well, follow the link and judge for yourself.

UN nuclear watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei, the has blocked EU moves to step up pressure on Tehran over Iran’s atomic programme.

On Thursday ElBaradei said Iran should be given until the end of next month to give International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors improved access to documents and sites.

Then this:

“ElBaradei has refused because he believes in due process,” one official told reporters. “He has said that the next report will be for the [regular] March 6 board and he can’t just advance that report.”

This just seems ludicrous. Due process. What the heck has been going on all this time. Now the seals are back off and I can hear ticking from multiple locations.

The way this is headed reminds me of a joke I heard probably 20 years ago. Thanks to Google and the Internet, I found it in a moment. It's a cute set up, but when you start swapping international figures and states into the joke's roles; not so much.

Why you need to Stop at a Stop Sign

An officer witnessed a car slow and cruise through a stop sign. The officer proceeded to pull the car over. The driver, very irate, asked why he was pulled over. The trooper calmly explained "Sir, you failed to come to a complete stop at the stop sign back there." "What does it matter," the driver yells, "I looked both ways and there was no-one around. I demand that you tell me why I should have to come to a complete stop." The trooper then reached into the vehicle and pulled the driver out. He started beating him over the head with his nightstick. After a few seconds, the trooper calmly asked the driver, "Tell me, would you like me to SLOW DOWN or COME TO A COMPLETE STOP?"

Here in the states, there isn't much I can't believe anymore. We've got confessed repeated child rapists receiving only 2 months in jail because the judge doesn't believe in punishing these criminals and the punishment gets in the way of treatment. Uh huh.

Days of miracles and wonder.

Technorati Tags: baradei, iran, nuclear, iaea, pressure,

Four things

2006-01-21T20:05:00.000-08:00

My brother over at AbbaGav guilted me into tagging myself with the "Four Things" meme so here goes:

4 jobs I've had:

Medical Lab Tech

Skydiving Instructor

Truck Driver

Mortgage Broker

4 movies I could watch over and over:

The Blues Brothers

Blazing Saddles

It's a Mad,Mad,Mad,Mad World

The Princess Bride

4 places I've lived:

Long Beach CA

Milwaukee Wisconsin

San Antonio Tx (Fort Sam)

Hillsboro, OR

4 TV shows I love to watch:

Myth Busters

Extreme Engineering (history channel)

The Beltway Boys (FoxNews; Bug and Kondracke;weekends)

Most Extreme Elimination Challenge (overdubbed killer Japanese gameshow)(not unlike MST3k)

4 places I've been on vacation:

La Jolla CA

Houston TX

Oregon Coast

LA CA

4 websites I visit daily:

abbagav

hughhewitt

powerline

drudge

4 Favorite Foods:

Cherry Garcia (if you don't know, don't bother asking)

Thin thin thin crust pizza (Anne's was the best; a dive in Milw)

Filet Mignon; Chicago medium with horseradish replacing the Bernaise sauce

Reddenbacher's (I know he's dead, but) microwave popcorn (movie is better, but I don't get out much)

4 places I'd rather be:

In bed, sleeping

in the garage tinkering (productively)

Flying

Playing with my daughter

4 books I could read over and over:

Wynken, Blynken and Nod and other bed time stories

Any Suess

The Boxcar Children

Other kids books

I don't play tag, so I guess the bad luck stops with me. Well, anyway.

So Israel is planning a "party?"

2006-01-21T19:21:00.000-08:00

How could they not.

Certainly there is no longer a win-win in this case. I'm not sure I care anymore. After the statements of Ahmadinejad (Iran's Nutter-in-Chief) can anyone think they were ever serious about nuclear electricity exclusively or stopping their enrichment of Plutonium.

If:

The only thing needed for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing.
Author: Edmund Burke

Then:

What kind of men are planning (both in Israel and the States, I think). Right. That's what I thought too.

Technorati Tags: Iran, Israel, Nuclear

Somewhere down the page...Cheney Interview audio

2006-01-21T19:15:00.000-08:00

Compliments RadioBlogger and Hugh Huwitt:

Radio Blogger

Well, I'm no techno geek either, but RadioBlogger didn't link properly to Hugh Hewitt's radio interview with VP Cheney. Just scroll down a mile or so, it is there.

Click on the audio for the mp3 file. I heard them live. Sure, Hugh didn't just scream Halliburton again and again (mostly directed almost softballs), but you get the impression that a very thoughtful and articulate man was answering.

I've liked Cheney since I saw him as SecDef in the first (or the beginning of the one) Gulf War in 91.

You can read the transcript, but the link to the audio provides the essential and wonderful inflection and vocal variety. Just listen. Trust ShallowVerb. Someone should.

Technorati Tags: Cheney, Vice President Cheney, Hugh Hewitt, Great Interview, Halliburton, Evil, Puppet Master, Not

Anybody think this is funny?

2006-01-21T19:06:00.000-08:00

I haven't drawn any cartoons in about 10 years.

Some say for good reason:

Technorati Tags: cartoon, gardening, finger food, floyd, funny

NTSB released some findings in Florida Mallard crash.

2006-01-20T21:38:00.000-08:00

I always dread hearing about plane crashes. I am especially sensitive when I hear about smaller planes, twin turbines to be exact. I used to spend a lot of time riding around in Twin Otters, Caravans and the like. When the news came on Dec 19th that a plane carrying 20 people had crashed in Florida, my first reaction was that it was likely a skydiving operation that suffered the loss.

While it was not to be, it certainly got my attention. A few days ago, the NTSB released some facts from the investigation.

Although the right wing ripped off the doomed Chalk's seaplane last month, the left one also had metal fatigue cracks, a preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report said Monday.

That bolsters evidence that the wear and tear of 58 years of flying might have played a major role in the Dec. 19 crash that killed all 20 on board, experts said.

...and...

The seaplane that crashed was built in 1947, had flown more than 31,000 hours and made more than 39,000 takeoffs and landings, the FAA said.

The families of those lost are still in my prayers. Could this be a commuter/sightseeing airline wake-up call? I hope so.

I worry about my friends still in the jump community as well, because before old airplanes go to die, many of them become jump planes.

Technorati Tags: Chalk's, Seaplane, NTSB, Skydiving, Mallard, Fatigue Cracking

Would anyone like to know why I don't drive a truck anymore?

2006-01-20T21:12:00.000-08:00

FedEx was easy, and paid fairly well. There was the prestige of pulling triple trailers around the Pacific NW. I got to have my very own LONG LOAD sign. I could listen to 8 hours of xm right wing talk radio every day.
Rush,Medved,Hewitt,Prager,Hannity,Bennett,Ingraham,Snow and even Savage once in a blue moon. Why would I give all of that up (along with being on a first name basis with hotel desk clerks in several states)?

Well, that is a picture of my truck as I was ready to leave Boise one night two years ago. I turned the photo into Tshirt art. I got my truck from my good friend Everett, who passed away while on a layover hundreds of miles from home. OK, that took a toll, but...

Check this out:

Bathtime!

This is your life. This is your life on trucks! Any questions?

The sacrifice is the job. Now I'm a mortgage broker.

Technorati Tags: Sacrifice, Family, Bath time, bathtime, Trucking, FedEx, Triples, Home, Everett, Rush, Medved, Hewitt, Prager, Hannity, Bennett, Ingraham, Snow, Savage

More on (not Moron) cabinets

2006-01-20T20:06:00.000-08:00

Also on the docket? Of course, you may have seen my post on the pull out pantry; well, I am constructing 27 more pull out shelves and the like to enhance our kitchen's livability. The big pull out thing has some changes. The front is now a chalkboard, and yes (gasp!) that is a picture of Ronald Reagan on the calendar.

Flame on for the calendar, not the carpentry, OK?

Anyway, I've also finished pullouts for our trash/shredding/recycling. Yeah. Am I ever storing up brownie points? Yeaah...

Look at my dovetail drawer production line here in the garage.

And here is a finished (yet to be sanded and stained) drawer.

Oh, and another thing... if you start a project like this and need drawer slides, try edirecthardware.com. Man that saved me a lot of money ($300 cheaper than the Rockler store).

Technorati Tags: Dovetail, Cabinet, Carpentry, Pantry, Reagan, Chalkboard, Kitchen ideas, do it yourself

And what of our coming weekend?

2006-01-20T19:29:00.000-08:00

While not exciting, the weekend activities include a light rail ride through town with my little girl. We'd like to spend extra money on a "value meal" by getting it at the airport. We're going to have a picnic on the top of the airport parking structure (a great spot from which to watch airplanes).

Technorati Tags: Max, Train, 737, Airport, PDX, Plane Crazy, Dad

What, exactly, did we expect?

2006-01-20T17:39:00.000-08:00

Justice would have been nice. Instead, the elite underbelly gets away with serious felonies.

When we respond ineffectively to terrorism, it encourages more through our apparent weakness. What do we think will happen in the next election? ..And I don't mean sugar in the fuel tank.

Though I'm originally from Wisconsin (Go Green Bay.), today I withhold my hearty cheer.

Sure, I could link this whole thing bit by bit, but The American Mind did a wonderful job.

Slash tires? No problem if your folks are wedged up against the enemy of the world, GWB.

Ugh.
Technorati Tags: Slashed Tires, Election, Democrat, Felony, Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Go Figure

Dan Checkoway's RV-7 Project

2006-01-20T17:25:00.000-08:00

Dan Checkoway's RV-7 Project
Click on the link and get a glimpse into one of my overtaking diversions. I dream almost non-stop about building my own airplane. Does that make me an idiot? Nah.

When you check Dan's website, the first thing you see is a picture of 5 different airplanes. Each of them came as nearly raw materials (much of it bent and pre-drilled). The passion and effort that goes into these creations is fantastic.

If you wonder how you do that, spend some time clicking around through Mr. Checkoway's site (he has thoroughly documented the process). If that sets the hook, then "Welcome Aboard!!!!"

Then check out vansairforce.net.

Also of note, if you look at my profile photo, you may notice a stunning resemblence in the airplane pictured on our shirts. The donor image for the photoshop extravaganza was an RV-8 out of Colorado. Beautiful

Oh, and here is a grainy shot of my little girl and me at the factory where they make those wonderful airplane kits:

Technorati Tags: Aviation, Home Built, Kitplane, RV, Van's Aircraft, Amazing, Patience

...After my own heart!

2006-01-19T23:30:00.000-08:00

On Hugh Hewitt's for the last number of hours, they have continued speaking of General Zod. It reminds me of Michael Medved when he channels Fawn Rainforest.

It really blasts soda through my nose. Nice job Hugh!

Technorati Tags: Hewitt, General Zod, Stardust, Comet, Spacecraft, NASA, Moonbat

Barone on Biden

2006-01-19T23:06:00.000-08:00

...and his incessant droning (via Hugh Hewitt and RadioBlogger)

In response, let's return to some Star Trek (from The Wrath of Khan):

Kirk: I would not presume to debate you.
Spock: That is wise. Were I to invoke logic, however, logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
Kirk: Or the one.

So while we can all celebrate Mr. Biden's nearly par speaking ability, can't CSPAN, the Senate floor and the Hearing rooms have a break?

Technorati Tags: Star Trek, Khan, Biden, HughHewitt, Hewitt, Radioblogger, Stutter, Barone, Or the one

Revelation 3:16, Mr. Chirac.

2006-01-19T22:19:00.000-08:00

But, maybe you've figured that out.

What am I talking about?

Namely. This. (via drudge)

From the first paragraph:

France said on Thursday it would be ready to use nuclear weapons against any state that carried out a terrorist attack against it, reaffirming the need for its nuclear deterrent.

And farther down:

Chirac, who is commander-in-chief of the armed forces, said all of France's nuclear forces had been configured with the new strategy in mind and the number of nuclear warheads on French nuclear submarines had been reduced to allow targeted strikes.

So, what changed that tune. Maybe the up-close-and-personal experience with radical islamist festivities?

Beware, your nuclear Maginot line (the line was abandoned in 1969 in favor of nuclear deterrent) has already been breached (but you know that). You are threatening 10,000 dispersed cockroaches with 300 sledgehammers; the enemy is long past adapting to that(are you a fan of the Tancredo option?). Come on, do nuclear tactics on a scale that you have developed really lend themselves to blowing up tents and homes within cities? And you complain about us?

Technorati Tags: France, Chirac, Nuclear, Terrorist, Maginot, Tancredo

Jay Leno has some quirks and some hobbies

2006-01-18T19:57:00.000-08:00

I caught a story about this bike and Jay Leno on the history channel tonight.

I can't recall the name of the program or why they were talking about it, but heck...

If you have ever ridden bikes or have that itch, you will be giddy after reading this.

Me? I get the change-my-diaper feeling when he talks about shutting off the power and it keeps pulling for a couple of seconds. That is a great way to get seriously hurt. I wanna try.

Anyway, the article isn't fresh, but it is a kick to read, so go and do it. Then thank me in the comments.

Technorati Tags: Jet, motorcycle, Leno, amazing machine

SHATNER! (ht andrew sullivan)

2006-01-18T15:14:00.000-08:00

YouTube - Bill Shatner: ""

Update: Well, at least it wasn't Nimoy.

Technorati Tags: Shatner, Abu Graib, torture, Spock, , Nimoy, Star Trek

SCOTUS puts off the inevitable

2006-01-18T12:33:00.000-08:00

from washingtonpost.com

It seems this plays to my side of the street. While I am pro life, returning the abortion debate to state legislature makes sense for me. Eh, that's all I've got.

Technorati Tags: Supreme Court, Pro-Life, Judicial

Help me out here. Am I the only one who thought Leif Garrett was dead?

2006-01-18T12:12:00.000-08:00

Teen Idol arrested (AGAIN!)

I don't get it. Why did I think he was dead? Maybe I was mixing him up with Andy Gibb. He's gone isn't he.

Update:

My wife also thought he was dead (she made the same mistake I did; confusing Garrett with Andy Gibb).

Technorati Tags: Leif Garrett, child star, drug, 70's, dead+celebrity

Holy Crap, is this funny.

2006-01-18T00:03:00.000-08:00

Mary Katherine Ham from HughHewitt.com notices Senator Kennedy and...

Go read it, but focus on

going to quit a club notorious for discriminating against women "as fast as I can."

Technorati Tags: Teddy, Ted Kennedy, Belch, Hypocrisy

Vegas! If Cracker-Jack wrote a history book

2006-01-17T23:09:00.000-08:00

Basia and I walked back the four blocks (2 and a half miles) from the party to our hotel on Saturday night. The whole way we weaved and dodged through a sea of desperate-yet-quiet (I think) hawkers trying to hand us prostitute's phone numbers (and photos of their prospective qualifications).

Vegas! and cracker jack. The box is pretty small but it is packed tightly, it has a bunch of nuts, and lots of stuff in there is sticky. ...and the prize inside doesn't thrill for long.

My psuedo-epiphanous history notion (which follows) came to me during that walk.

It seems that all of history's great moments are clearly landmarked, yet without (at least, appropriate) context. Almost without exception, the only real support offered for these monuments comes not from concrete and re-bar, but from that which resides just North of the underwire (or lack thereof). What a sad state; maybe that really is where we are, but it is just more visible there.

Is T & A really behind (no pun) all of History's great structures-events-times?

Maybe I could make the point better. Suffice to say, that prize was mine for a while long ago. I have a hard time watching all those people heading down the same hole I started down. But I thank God I didn't merge with the sewage after circling that drain.

Technorati Tags: Hooker, Vegas, Strip

What do geeks do when stymied for fun ideas in Vegas?

2006-01-17T23:00:00.000-08:00

Hmmm... from my youth, there are the big three. Maybe, bowling-miniature-golf-movies?

Nope. We were at the Treasure Island Hotel-Resort-Debauchery Kingdom at The Coffee Shop, and (OK, yes those imaginative folk have actually named it that). I noticed that after stirring our coffee, the excess bit of precious liquid pooled like a smile at the tip of the spoon. It is hard to describe, so here:

Three different tries on two different spoons. What the heck. Somebody explain that to me. Is it the surface tension not overcoming the sharp edge? Or some sort of Cascade detergent that does the trick?

Technorati Tags: Coffee, Surface Tension, Geek, Vegas, Boredom, Spoon

Off the grid? On the Grid? Eh. What?

2006-01-17T22:32:00.000-08:00

Right!

So, where have I gone? I've been at a "work" outing. I've been out of touch, in cognito, and getting some sleep.

This year, the company I work for had their Holiday party and pat-on-the-back session in Las Vegas.

Fun. Some. My wife is very pregnant; no drinking or thrill rides and I don't gamble much.

Aside from a pretty cool party at GameZone (the photo is blurry to match my head, my one 7 and 7 was mixed to private-party standards), the high point was seeing the musical Mamma Mia!

For those of you who are avid readers of my brother's blog; take a deep breath and relax. The music was made famous by Abba, not AbbaGav.

After waiting in line and then completing her task in the restroom, Basia hurriedly trudged back for the beginning of the second act. She had a fair amount of pain after moderate durations of seatedness, so when nothing happened on-stage for a few moments, she stood, turned around and conversed with some strangers who became friends for a while.

The second hand could not have gone more than 20 beats before--BAAAMMMMM!!-- the music started. Yes, it was music; but it was ferociously loud. The first notes jolted Basia about a foot in the air. I about choked to death laughing.

After the show, we found out that people as far back as five rows behind us thought the shock might send her into labor. They were really worried. Good show though. Don't throw out those polyester suits.

*****
Technorati Tags: Vegas, working+vacation, Mamma Mia

Doting Father: First Words (I got it in writing)

2006-01-11T13:07:00.000-08:00

Last night, on a menu at The Old Spaghetti Factory near our house, I saw something that truly amazed me.

Our little 3 and a half year old girl wrote her first word. We've been singing spelling songs for a few weeks (dumb ones that I make up; but she doesn't know that) and she is finally getting the idea that words are made out of combinations of letters.

I wrote "DAD" but she wrote "MOM" below it. The O is a little tough to follow, but I saw her do it, it is an O.

Hearing her first spoken word was not as dramatic for me for a couple of reasons. First, I was travelling for work back then, and may not have heard the original word. Second, she made a lot of sounds that could have been words; I was listening for intentional usage of certain sounds.

Possibly more important, and likely a direct result of the "S A R A H" spelling song; she humbly and without fanfare read her own name before we left for the restaurant. It was done so non-chalantly that Mom missed it at first.

Sarah told Mom, "I have Sarah's paper." Or something like that. I asked her how she knew the paper was hers (it was a coupon that gets her a free kids meal for reading or having someone read to her). She told us that her name was "Right here!" She used that emphatic tone. You know, the "Gee, what don't you understand now?" voice. I was stunned.

She has known the alphabet for quite a while. She knows what words are. She knows how to speak. Last night I saw a twinkling of her realization that these things are all connected.

Now I don't feel so weird singing goofy spelling songs. She is on her way. I am so proud (and grateful).
Technorati Tags: First Words, Learning, Children,

Soft Shell vs. Hard Shell

2006-01-10T11:28:00.000-08:00

The other day I promised to tell this story (or set of stories) , so here goes

Soft Shell:

When I was young and living in LA, somehow I gravitated to motorcycles. Both my Mom and Grandmother supported this, provided I always wear a helmet. I agreed.

Though I had previously been unconcious numorous times for non-motorcycle reasons, I thought that I was unbreakable. Chalk that up to testosterone and youth, I guess.

One fine warm day (Feb 28, 1984) I headed off to Long Beach City College. I had a bunch on my mind, the most pressing involved how to drop a bunch of classes I wasn't doing well in (I didn't always show up). The sun beating down felt great, so I bungied my helmet along with the nearly unused textbooks on the rear seat of my 900F Honda and took off toward Los Coyotes diagonal via Ximeno Ave (not that the street names matter). I loved that growling song that my aftermarket exhaust made; man that was loud. I saw myself as an incarnation of Joe Bitchin, and with the helmet off I was not anonymous. Everyone could see that it was really Wade that was so cool. What an idiot I was.

I made it two blocks. Going about 40 miles per hour up the street, I had nothing on my head but lots on my mind. I saw an oncoming silver 1981 Mazda Rx7 start to turn left into a driveway for the supermarket parking lot. HEY! The car was turning right into my path. Well, that woke me up in an instant.

I dropped down a gear and rolled on the throttle as fast as I could. The road was starting to curve to the left just a tad there; I remember pushing harder on the inside handlebar to maintain the bikes turn as the speed rapidly increased. That second passed like an hour. I almost made it.

As the front bumper struck the back of the rear wheel (behind the swingarm), I was suddenly just along for the ride. I don't remember much after the initial instant of shaken-ragdoll impact. I didn't see the chain rip off my shoe or the kickstand go through the center of my left foot. I didn't see the bike cartwheel into the wall. I didn't hear the police or the fire department arrive. I was in and out for a while. What I do remember feels like my memories of being a toddler; short, disconnected and vague. It was like I was a bystander as well as the guy laying there.

I remember paramedics discussing whether life flight was a necessity. In the end they took me to the hospital that was but a mile away.

I remember at some point, someone uttered, "I don't know if he is going to make it."

I remember that my eyes didn't work.

I remember pain in my head so severe that it just felt frozen.

I remember shaking.

I was lucky to have lived. I spent a week in the hospital, much of it in the ICU. The most notable long term effects from that accident are marked hearing loss in my left ear, visible gravel in my left ear, and a skull shape that was dramatically and instantly changed. I can still feel the indentation where the curb left its mark. The bony prominance above my right eye (my brow) protrudes more than it did the day before. I have TMJ (Jaw) pain, I get migraines, and there are parts of my tongue and face that I can't feel anymore.

Within 3 months, I had bought another bike. I guess I felt a little Nitsche about the whole thing. Scars I could live with, but I wasn't dead even though it seemed I should be. I felt like Superman. As a result of the accident, however, I did become religious about wearing the proper gear and wearing the gear properly.

Hard Shell:

I got into canyon riding. I read all the books (especially by Keith Code) about how to make bikes go fast. Whenever I got a chance I would head down the freeway to San Juan Capistrano and ride to Elsinore and back. Without regard to the speed limit, I would better my times regularly. I thought I looked cool hanging off the inside of the bike in sharp fast turns. I actually touched my knee to the ground once, though I hadn't fallen off.

On October 21st of 1984 at about noon, I had just finished one such trek. My mind and heart were still racing when I got back to the I-5 freeway, so I took a few minutes to mellow out in a gas station parking lot.

Still wearing a good helmet, leather riding jacket, gloves, boots and heavy jeans, I headed for home. I don't know if I turned my brain off, but it was certainly not running as effectively as moments before. I was going to go sedately home. I didn't expect anything to happen.

As I accelerated to 65 down the onramp from highway 74 onto NB I-5, I got the surprise of my life. It was as if a truck had beamed in (Star Trek style) right in front of me. A truck had run out of gas and had tried to get out of traffic before stopping. It crossed the solid lines heading for the shoulder. It then crossed me.

This time, I tried the brakes. There was an 18 foot skidmark (according to CHP) and then under I went. What a strange experience. Ragdoll again, but some unusual bumps and thumps.
Before getting spit out the other side, the bike had taken out the trucks driveshaft and somehow carved a deep gash in my groin. The bike was almost torn in half.

When I got to the hospital, some of the thumps and bumps were on my mind. I couldn't figure out what those feelings were. I had the nurse pass me my helmet. Upon inspection, there was a patch of skidmark on the lower left back of my Full Faced Arai helmet. HOLY CRAP! Suddenly the joggling made sense, and I started to cry (see, I'm not so cool after all). The truck had tried to run over my head long enough to leave a skid mark. I don't know which offered more protection in this case, the hard shell or the helmet's tendency to shoot out like a watermelon seed when top pressure was applied. I suspect it was some of both, but the latter explains why my body was spinning when I came out the far side.

Conclusion:

Maybe I'm not invincible? True. More importantly, I have lived through serious motorcyle accidents from two perspectives; without a helmet and with a full faced helmet.

When people choose to ride bikes, they also choose to accept possible negative consequences from crashing. I rode for ten more years after that, and always chose the hard shell.
Technorati Tags: Motorcycle Helmet, Fractured Skull, Car Accident, Motorcycle, Pain

Via Froggy (a great read)

2006-01-09T01:14:00.000-08:00

Add Matt to your blogroll. Well worth it.
Just click (and listen) and watch out for the

Black Helicopters. Where the heck did I put my Cool Aid (I was always more fond of Hi-C or some sort of carbonation, though Sunny Delight was good with Sprite). Hmm... Black Helicopter? Wack Job? Coincidence? I don't think so.

Oh man. It is really late (early). I'm so screwed. (I can hear my third trimester wife snoring though, so I wouldn't have been sleeping anyway). Off to the guestroom.

We are all mortal after all...

2006-01-09T01:00:00.000-08:00

I just caught this on Aero News Net. Any other aviation afficionados reading this will recognize the name immediately. I've seen Eric fly in four or five airshows.

I'll be honest, to me his act always seemed like filler between the jet jocks, but at the same time I respected what he could make the airplane do.

I'll say a prayer for his wife and her comfort. Now I'm going to bed. And I mean it this time. Remember tomorrow is Helmet-Story day.

Motorcycle Accidents I know.

2006-01-09T00:36:00.000-08:00

Arnold had a bit of a mishap today. Technically a motorcyle, but the vehicle had a sidecar.
The article I read described a low speed crunch and fifteen stiches. Being California, both occupants must have been wearing helmets. Being in California and riding a Hog with a side of bacon, their helmets were probably the type that look like they are just large enough for electric shock therapy.

Like I said a minute ago, G'night; but check back tomorrow. It has been a long time since I've recounted my comparison and contrast study regarding motorcycle helmets. God has granted me much, and this includes hindsight. If I don't share the story, what kind of a person would I be.

By the way, you can tell that it wasn't a beloved Democrat Governor in the accident. I didn't see any reporter questions assessing the other drivers motive for trying to kill the Gov.

Couple of things here...

2006-01-09T00:26:00.000-08:00

Right. The following is taken from TheDrudgeReport.com front page at 1225 am 1/9/06 Pacific time (US).

First, isn't the chickens head floppy giving us the finger (or something).

REPORT: Homeland Security opening private mail...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Human bird flu spreads to western Turkey...

Second, after reading that double-entendrish headline, I believe I'll have the tuna melt.

G'night.

Kennedy Proves himself a stupid stinky onion (or an olive maybe..hic)

2006-01-08T23:49:00.000-08:00

Hey. I read the following to my wife during the little one's bath time. Glad she wasn't drinking carbonated or alcoholic beverages at the time. Particularly keen snortage occurred upon (after pause for effect) peeling back the first layer (there is the onion reference right there) of humiliation. Not only did he get his dates wrong, he pulled the President's name from the Martini universe.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), hosting a morning roundtable with reporters, had nothing nice to say about Alito. "We here in the United States are not going to stand for monarchial tyranny," he said, protesting Alito's support for "unfettered, unlimited power of the executive." He faulted Alito for belonging to a group that was "anti-black and also anti-women." Kennedy wondered if "the average person is going to be able to get a fair shake" under Alito.Briefly, Kennedy rewrote the outcome of the 1964 election. "This nominee was influenced by the Goldwater presidency," he said. "The Goldwater battles of those times were the battles against the civil rights laws." Only then did Kennedy acknowledge that "Judge Alito at that time was 14 years old."

Uh yeah. Can't you just smell that belch.

Reading the two paragraphs provided by TheNewEditor.com, it left me with a deep slapstick aftertaste. I even took a moment to see if it was BS. I mean, come on.

Only then did Kennedy acknowledge that "Judge Alito at that time was 14 years old."

But he missed the Goldwater gaff. Sure glad I picked this week to quit sniffing glue.

*****

"We're gonna come in low!"

"Isn't that dangerous?"

"Yes, but it's part of every textbook approach."

With Kennedy, as with Airplane, there is always something else going on there. I guess what I mean is that I keep rereading it for a little more meaning and a bunch more laughter. Sadly, with Mr. Kennedy, it just isn't funny. At least the Zuckers did it on purpose.

not even half full

2006-01-06T09:50:00.000-08:00

Toastmasters meeting last night. What could be better than a starbuck's vente soy chai tea latte while hamming it up with friends.

Teach your children well..

2006-01-05T23:51:00.000-08:00

.

Sure, the photo is coming up on two years old, but I love it. So it is now my profile photo. At least, until my lovely wife says to get it the heck out of there.

Jonah Goldberg with about the funniest line I've heard this year!

2006-01-04T22:47:00.000-08:00

Taken from the corner:

SCIENTIFIC MARVELS [Jonah Goldberg]

Scientists are trying to create the "first liquid with holes."

Interesting, but I thought the first liquid with holes was the best way to describe John Kerry's foreign policy.

Posted at 01:40 PM

He links to a science article, check it out. I couldn't stop laughing long enough to click the link.

Will he be transported to France?

2006-01-04T22:44:00.000-08:00

Let all who have ears hear that we are praying for the life and health of Ariel Sharon. I spit on those who are undoubtedly handing out candy to celebrate his illness.

Non-Sequitized Football Fan

2006-01-04T21:44:00.000-08:00

Right. I've been a Green Bay fan forever. I relate to the joke about the guy with the celebratory dog in the bar. Everytime the Pack gets a field goal, the dog does backflips before returning to his beer and pretzels.
Bartender: Flips for a field goal. Cool! What does he do for a touchdown?

Frustrated Dog Owner: I dunno, I've only had him 3 years.

***********************
I just finished watching an amazing college football game, the Rose Bowl. As a Cheesehead (and having family in Texas), I naturally picked the underdog (uh, that WAS Texas).

When Texas was down by 12 points in the 4th quarter and they didn't have the ball, I was resigned to their defeat. Of course, being a Green Bay fan, I kept watching. I was barely able to resist running outside with my shirt off in near freezing weather asking everyone for "ice-cold beer!"

I've got to give the Horns credit, their comeback rally at the end proved to me (at least) that they are champions.

I can barely wait until the equivocation starts, though.

The answer is that it was a game and both teams played with the same rules. Texas should be proud tonight. Very Proud...

Me...I'm just confused. You can actually win when I'm cheering for you? Huh.

Oh. Two more things. Yes, that is a picture of a very old Longhorns helmet (1962). It's all I could find at this time of night (besides, I'm that confused).

Also, I caught a quote from the story linked here and above. Ever playful Vince Young was misquoted to sound kinda like an arrogant ass. I heard the quote:

"It's so beautiful," Young said as he received the Rose Bowl MVP trophy for the
second straight year. "Don't you think that's beautiful? It's coming home all
the way to Austin, Texas." The reporter forgot to finish with a comic "BABY!"

I wonder why they dropped the one word that made the comment fun.

My commute has eased

2006-01-03T17:10:00.000-08:00

Nope, I didn't get fired. Yep, I'm still driving 18 miles each way to work. Yep, my wife still gets by with a two mile drive (snide commments under breath).

I know that by the old Southern California drive-to-work standards that I used to live by, that would not be so bad; but here in Portland (the land of two lane freeways while still a big city) it has been a long way. Some days it would take an hour to get to work; there are really no solid alternate routes either.

Well, some of the delay has been caused by freeway expansion (the work was doled out like an annuity; a little every year and it never finishes). Suddenly, and without warning, the crews actually finished a big section that reduces congestion by altering flow and adding a lane. In LA, adding a lane might by scoffed at, but here it raised the capacity by 50%.

Now I occasionally risk speeding tickets (unintentionally, of course) during the peak drive time. Yay.

Making room in the kitchen...

2006-01-02T22:43:00.000-08:00

...Makes room in my garage.

Before you get the wrong idea about me, let me confirm that I have always been more of a dreamer than one who finishes projects. Hell, I start a lot of them.

About four and a half years ago, I built a few basic slide out shelves (on rollers) for my Mom's cabinets. They were awful, but she loved them. When she died, I sort of put all the dream plans for our kitchen on the back burner (the raw materials remained stacked in the garage).

Well, we are almost to our second young'n (April due date) and Dad is "nesting" with power tools.

Our kitchen has an abundance of cabinet space, but on the fridge wall, those suckers are actually two feet deep. When I emptied one out, I found stuff that was waaaaay out of date. What I needed to build was a set of pull out shelves that was only two cans deep; that way, you can always see the back of your supply. Years late, but as of tonight, they work. One down, six to go (but the first one is the hardest).

See above and below for a few photos of what I did. Picture 1 shows a cabinet as they came. 2-5 show the pull-out-ish-ness of the mechanism. Plans for finishing the system include a bit of ply to cover the front with half holding a calendar and half being a chalkboard. Well, nuf said...

Well, I've been going full blast on this rekindled notion of a perfect cabinet for the last few days. I've picked up power tools that I'd forgotten I had. I really wanted to get these put together and installed today. This project had gone too long acclimating in the garage. But, why finish today?

It dawned on me a few minutes before I took those pics. Although she is gone from my sight, I wish my mom a Happy Birthday. She would have been 65 today, and she loved gadgets.

Sleep and dreams of cabinet mods are calling me. Power Tools be damned; I still have all my fingers, so far!

Incon(th)eivable!!

2005-12-30T19:41:00.000-08:00

Plame-gate begat an indictment (at long last, after years of filtered fecal extrusion). Serious leaks, thus, beget...what?

Now the MSM and Democrats can "Clearly not choose the cup in front of them."

My point: I don't think this means what they think it means.

Jess says happy hangover

2005-12-30T11:25:00.000-08:00

Woo-hoo. I saw Jess's sunken eyes minutes before the office closed for the New Year's Weekend. It looked as if my co-worker had snuck into the headache closet a day or so early. Eh.

More than anything, I was just showing off my ability to post his picture to my blog in moments (from my cell phone).

His response: Underwhelmed. Do I need tape for my glasses?

Insta-Shallowverb

2005-12-30T10:59:00.000-08:00

Well, now I've got my mobile phone blogging instantly. I take the photo; I add text; and the technology that is indistinguishable from magic does the rest. Yay.

Now, I can blog about road kill or anything. Instantly. This is what the world needs.

And another thing

2005-12-30T10:35:00.000-08:00

My pictures were also taken with a Treo 650. I did not have the white balance issues that Jeremy had.

I suspect he had the phone on night picture mode or something. Maybe that was to make it dramatic? Or just a goof.