July 30th 8:22PM
Things I don't understand, #473
I want to like and understand art, and maybe someday I will, but what I don't get is paintings that don't resemble anything identifiable. Abstracts, I guess. When a painting most closely resembles a bowl of peanut butter set ablaze, and is entitled: "morbid inertia" or something like that, it leaves me behind. I need a work of art to look something like something, or I'm out. Give me something to hang on to, wouldja? I feel like a chump when I try to read meaning into a messy mass of greens and reds that look like the Jokermobile after a car bomb. I don't mind searching for the meaning, but gimme a clue.
July 30th 12:49PM
Help Kerry the load?
I'm one of those moderate, independent swing voters you hear about. I'm not convinced one or the other candidate is supremely better than the other. So, I am always on the lookout for glimmers of hope to help me make up my mind. One such glimmer: John Kerry's stance on energy. Kerry promises to: "break our dependence on foreign oil," "develop new energy sources right here in America," and "invest in new technologies and alternative fuels, create tax incentives that help automakers produce more fuel efficient cars, and reward the consumers who buy them." I'm for that. It's the damned year two thousand, folks. Shouldn't we be moving towards the future of energy and harnessing renewable resources? It seems like a no-brainer to me
George Bush's website agreed that: "America will be more prosperous and more secure when it is less dependent on foreign sources of energy," but degrades quickly into vagueness and bureaucratic gibberish after that: "The Administration continues to work with Congress on the energy legislation needed to carry out the remaining recommendations." What a load.
Kerry promises tempting results - Bush has been unimpressive in achieving them. In this area, I would give Kerry the benefit of this doubt, rather than give Bush another four years to disappoint us.
July 29th 7:49AM
Thought of the day (if you needed one)
Love me, hate me, whatever; just don't ignore me.
July 28th 12:49PM
French radio online
I have no problem admitting that my French speaking and listening skills are "très faible," very weak. I believe it's due to primarily using a book-learnin' method, and not nearly enough speaking and listening practice. For a time, we had a French channel on our satellite system, but its expense and my apathy made it a bad choice. Even when I did watch, the language sped by in a river of auditory data - I couldn't keep up. While I have some audiotapes and CD's which are very helpful, I have found another tool that is helpful.
Radio France Internationale, a French online radio station, streams audio from their site's front page link. Listening to it in the background while I work or play is helpful in a different way than those above: having it running allows me to get used to the different inflections as they whiz by, and even after only a few hours, although my comprehension is still low, the language seems much less a streaming incomprehensible babble. I can pick out where one word ends and the next begins. Although I cannot identify all the words, I am acclimating some. Cool.
Learning another language is definitely aided by using multiple media: books, TV, CD's, newspapers, websites, penpals, they all offer different benefits. Way cool.
July 27th 12:49PM
Back to work
Yesterday was a coffee-induced frenzy, a struggle to get even with the many items that lay in wait in my absence. I even managed to do a pile of chores when I got home, to keep pace with and take the heat off of my tireless wife, who's been capably watching our youngster.
Thanks to Joe for his well-wishes. He is a good and benevolent seer of all things blogworthy.
July 25th 11:48AM
Home again
They surprised us and sent our little buddy home today! Rockin'! No more hospitals, no more nurses (competent, helpful, and less-so), no more long drives. Pleh! I may get a few minutes to relax today; wouldn't that be nice?
Thanks to all who wrote with congratulations and positive vibes, I appreciate it.
The adventure begins...
July 24th 7:48AM
Getting better every day
My new little buddy continues to do well. They took him off of the oxygen night-before-last, and started feeding him, too. That means fewer of those damned wires and tubes, which annoy him and make pictures look ghastly. I got to feed him twice yesterday, which was very cool. He burped and farted at me!
Michelle should come home today, and she's itching to go visit her little boy. She hasn't really seen much of him yet, so I'll be glad for them to get together.
Well, I've got lots of stuff to do - I'd better get started... See ya!
July 22nd 4:04PM
Cigars for everybody!
At 7:09AM this morning, our son was born. Actually, he was rescued like an infant hostage, via C-section performed by a SWAT team of caregivers. He weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces, and was 19 inches long. He's healthy overall, has all 9 fingers - er, I mean, TEN fingers and toes, and a big, bright red pair of jinglebobs. Jesus, he looks like some pornographic clown. You should see the photos.
Like I said, he's healthy overall, but since he's pretty early for the party and was breathing funny at first, they're keeping him for observation for a few days. My wife may make it home sooner, if she feels up to it.
His name - oh, we pondered that one for a while, but decided on Jose-Luis Akbar ... okay, I'm pullin' your leg, but I had you going, didn't I? His name is Brian Thomas.
July 20th 6:54AM
Comcast just doesn't get it
Comcast cable TV company is running ads beseeching viewers to "Dump their dish." What a joke. My hatred for cable companies in general and Comcast in specific is visceral and unreasonable in its intensity. I love my satellite dish system, and Comcast can kiss its own ass.
Bourne again
The sequel to "The Bourne identity" is now on the radar, with "The Bourne Supremacy." I really liked this action film, and look forward to its second edition. I hope it follows the recent trend of sequels, in that they don't suck.
Yesterday sucked overall
Monday marked the official first day of my vacation, and just wasn't much fun. My wife took my childish, impatient self along to some doctor visits, which never seemed to want to end, but finally did. From the moment we left the hospital, I developed a hammering throbber of a headache which totally ruined the next several hours, what should have been the best part of the day. I finally shook it by the end of the night, but I still am bitter about the loss of good daylight.
On the bright side, I studied some French, got some housework done, and went to a new café here in town. It could have been worse.
Coming in on-time and under budget
Oh and hey, my wife will be having a baby this week. We'll be looking for Junior to arrive with a splat on Thursday morning. We've even decided on a name, which didn't look like it was ever going to happen.
July 17th 6:39PM
Escargot!
I love that it grosses some people out. You've gotta try it before you die. Via Amazon, I found igourmet.com, which has serving ware and lots of escargot stuff. Whee!!
July 17th 6:29PM
I got problems in my head
The early portion of today was spent denying the ragged impulse to lose my temper and thrash about like a scorched orangutan. I can't explain it - I've been on serious edge since last night, for no obvious reason. I seem to be over it for now...
Vive la (nourriture de) France!
I found out that foodtv.com has lots of good French recipes, including escargot. I mentioned that to my patient wife, who wondered where the Hell you could get escargot. Amazon.com via Google provided a swift, easy answer. My lunch is gonna stink to Hell and gone the next time I bring leftovers to work. Yeehoo!
July 16th 5:29PM
Let the festivities begin
I been home an hour, and I'm already into the beer. It's gonna be a good week.
July 16th 7:49AM
Summer in Paris?
CNN reports that this summer in Europe has been more like winter. I don't think that's quite the case - from the news reports I've seen, this summer has been nothing like last summer, which saw the old and frail drop over from the heat. The news story shows people complaining of cloudy, tepid weather, and a negative impact on tourism.
Balderdash, I say - I loved the weather when we were there last October. Yeah, it was cloudy, and it even rained once in a while, but consider this: the weather was just cool enough to recommend a sweater, and you could usually do without it, even if sightseeing kept you outdoors most of the time. I prefer that to oppressive heat when you're walking endlessly from place to place. Also, ask any cinephile: rain-dappled streets are always more visually interesting; that's why so many movies feature cityscapes with freshly-soaked boulevards.
July 16th 7:49AM
I, Wikipedia
Joe C. links to my Encarta blog entry below, and compares Encarta unfavorably to Wikipedia. And he's so right. I liked my Encarta link because it was brief, and anyone kicking through my blog would get the precis version of what Bastille Day was about, and not get weighed down with details. Well, God knows Encarta was the right place for that, but Wikipedia is definitely the link for those who want to know (a lot) more.
I am still in the middle of reading the review for the movie "I, Robot," and there's mention there of Wikipedia, describing it as "invaluable." High praise from the literati!
Ha! At the end, there's even a dig at Microsoft Word. I dig it.
West and wewaxation at wast
I'm taking next week off, vacation time. I will likely be chained to the house because of my wife's stable but precarious condition. That's OK, I love my house. It's where I keep all my stuff.
July 14th 7:49AM
I really should have the day off
Don't you know what day it is? Happy Bastille Day! From encarta.com:
Bastille, former French prison fortress in Paris that became a symbol of royal tyranny... At the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789, the Bastille was attacked and captured by a mob assisted by royal troops. Two days later the destruction of the stronghold was begun amid great public rejoicings. The site is now an open square, called the Place de la Bastille. Bastille Day is the national holiday in France, celebrated annually on July 14.
July 14th 7:49AM
I can't control my arms
I started back on my regular workout routine today. I feel like I've flapped my wings from here to Stockton. My arms are beat, so when I reach to pick things up, I end up knocking them over - my coordination's all shot. Sometimes it's funny, sometimes it's frustrating. I could barely lather up in the shower, afterwards. Typing is a bitch, I'll tell you that. It gets better, after a while...
July 13th 7:49AM
Hard at work
I've been more driven and focused at work lately, and this week is no exception. My BNI chapter has asked all of its members to write up at least 20 letters of invitation to our "Visitors Day," a big meeting where we try to entice new members into the group. This is very good for the BNI chapter, as more members = more referrals = more business, which is what we're all after, but there's a downside.
One thing is that finding 20 people to invite is a pain in the ass. I've been spending a lot of time working to help expand my BNI chapter, while there are more-directly-job-related tasks that I could be performing. And that's just gathering the contacts - I haven't even started writing/printing the letters yet! I don't mind much, and am trying to keep things positive, but I'd rather spend my energy wowing my boss's boss in a more direct fashion. Meh.
Another is that I ran out of bona fide contacts (people I have ever spoken with, who don't already belong to BNI) about 8 contacts ago, and I still have many contacts to go if I am to complete my list of "at least" 20. I am now ripping contact info from outta the local Yellow Pages.
This makes me feel a little whorish. I am working hard to send out junk postal mail (unsolicited marketing materials). Appropriately, I am dealing with this slight aversion by doing the whorish thing: swallow the distasteful experience, and hope it will be over soon, and that I won't have to do it again for a while. Mom would be so proud. Not.
In other BNI news, I wrote our chapter prez about some of the shortcomings I've perceived, and offered to help shore them up, if he wanted my help. I'm a little surprised that he took me up on it - I am now on the Membership Committee. I have already sent out some e-mails and helped fix up some details that were lacking accuracy. I look forward to helping improve things further.
July 12th 7:49AM
I feel good this morning
Instead of going for the beer last night, I studied some French.
Work it out
With all the fun and games of the last two weeks, I hadn't worked out at all. This morning, I tried a different technique - rather than do three sets of about 5 exercises, I upped the weight and did one set of each. It certainly is faster and less tiring, but I think also less rewarding. I don't feel as exhausted and burnt as I usually do, and I still have fine motor control of my upper body, which isn't the case when I do it the "normal" way.
I think I'm short-changing myself, and will return to my old scheme unless I'm pressed for time. It's a bit of a bummer, because the more expansive method takes up every available second of my morning's free time, but then again, I don't think I want to half-ass it and have crap results. I need all the results I can get.
July 10th 7:50PM
The Shit List
All I need is a 12-gauge and a 12-pack...
- Stadium 10 Marketplace Cinema
Manteca's 'premiere' movie theater - pff, what a joke. This theater is continuing
its slide into the same pile of dog shit as its predecessor, "Valley
Cinemas" was. The manager clearly doesn't give a good squirt about
his customers, and here's why:
The scheduled box office hours are nearly impossible to get. The website that used to state them has been out of use for months, if not years. The theater meekly posts a sign ("We are not responsible for the Internet movie times"). Get responsible, you pathetic jerks. The phone recording listing movie times is down. Just rings and rings. No theater employees pick up, no recording sounds, not even with an error message letting a caller know that they've got the right number, just oops, it's busted. It's a freaking answering machine!!! Go next door to Rite Aid and get another one for $20!! Yaaarrrggh! I had to drive across town to the joint today and look at the marquee to find out when I could come in and catch a movie. In the 21st century, this is as embarrassing as showing up for work without your pants. Where is their shame? I showed up and asked the ticket-taker about the website and the phone line. Asking about the phone system, I got "Uh, yeah, we're having problems with the phone thing..." Yeah, they've been having problems for months, and haven't fixed it. I asked about the website, and the slack-jawed fatty behind the counter mumbled: "uh, yeh, we got a sign about that...duhhrr..." and pointed lethargically to the sign I noted above. So damn weak.
And the damned bathrooms are always in disrepair. At any given time, one or several of the urinals in the men's room are blocked up with duct tape and black garbage bags. Get 'em fixed!!
These things just scream "I don't care."
I was so happy when the Stadium 10 was put into place; all of the predecessir's evils of neglect, disrepair, overpricing and general disrespect for the patronage and public at large due to local monopoly would be eliminated, I thought. They were, for a while, but now they coming creeping back. Is it so hard to run a place without running it into the ground? It can't be. When you can sell $0.60 worth of sugarwater and stale popcorn for $10.50 to hundreds of people per day, there's no excuse for the shitter and the answering machine to be constantly out of service. There just ain't.
The funny part is, there's another theater in town, showing movies that are months or years out of date, in the old (Valley Cinema) theater building. They seem like a small operation, hungry for business, with cheap movies and homemade printed advertising materials. Wouldn't it be funny if they grew out of a sense of quality to eat the big boys' lunch? Wouldn't it be sadder still if they then grew sloppy and lazy, continuing the cycle?
- Dirtbag neighbors and Save Mart
When the loser bums in my neighborhood bring home their groceries in a shopping cart and leave the cart on the curb, it makes the place look like hell, as they kicked kicked around, left lying in the street. One of them even got burned to the ground in my neighborhood. When I do Save Mart a big, fat favor, and call them to let them know where their expensive conveyance device is, they take several days to come get them, if ever!
- City of Manteca
We got a notice that the city is going to start ticketing people whose garbage bins are visible from the street. It so happens that I don't have a convenient option to leaving them in my driveway - we keep our side gate locked so the dogs can't pop the lock and terrorize the neighborhood, and my garage barely has room in it for the shit it has in it now! This ordinance is oppressive, and is too much. If the city wants to improve the look of a neighborhood, start ticketing the dicks who never water or mow their yard.
July 10th 7:50AM
Parenting - how odd
I recently had occasion to speak sternly to my daughter about something I feel strongly about. Since we haven't had enough contact for much of her young life, I keep finding these life lessons that we've never had the chance to discuss before. It's like parenting in fast-forward, trying to pack in years of guidance into a few weeks' worth of time. I tried to convey my seriousness with a stern gaze and brisk language without raising my voice or anything else that would give her the impression she was just getting bawled out.
She's a sweet kid, and afterward I felt bad about giving her the stony-eyed treatment. My natural inclination was to immediately go "make it up to her," but I figure I can't go around apologizing for teaching her right and wrong. Otherwise, she'll think her Dad's a softy, or didn't mean what he said, and neither are true. Egads, I've never had to be this mature.
Maybe I'll console myself by being generally a little nicer to her today.
July 9th 7:49AM
And home again
She's back, for now. I went to visit her last night, and got a surprise - they released her. So, she's home for the time being. I feel bad for her. I'll feel better when this is all behind us.
July 8th 7:49AM
Still at the hospital
My wife was moved to a new room, to alleviate the noisy, whooping visits by a fat hillbilly with a loud, inconsiderate family. E-mail me if you need the new room number. She may come home soon.
My BNI meetings are having their difficulties; one guideline is to stand to speak, and sit down and shut up. My words, not theirs. Anyhoo, we're not doing that very faithfully, and I can see why it's important - otherwise, you get people speaking very informally from their seat, they're hard to see for some folks, and it just puts a less formal and less important vibe on the whole thing.
There are other goofs like this, and it's just not clicking as well as it might. I am living in fear of the top dog, John Lisle, swooping through and getting a load of this. He's a great guy, but he's sharp, too, and will not be pleased at such laxity. Let's hope for better days ahead.
July 6th 7:10AM
... and back to the damn hospital
She was doing so well, I thought. In the middle of the night, wrenching pain took us back to the hospital for multiple shots of the good stuff. Her blood work numbers are way way up, and that ain't good. One number, which was worrisome at 600, was over a hair-raising 2200 this morning, so I don't know what to tell you. I hope things don't get drastic, but they might.
I called in sick, since I've been up most of the night. I considered toughing it out so as to spare my coworkers my unexpected absence, but the last time I showed up despite adversity, one particular schmoe seemed inconvenienced by my work ethic, so fuck it. I called in sick.
My boss responded dryly, and didn't sound like he believed my story. I imagine that he imagines sinister plots afoot, with me out gaily searching for another job, or drinking the day away, and laughing and laughing... Believe me, don't believe me, whatever you wanna do, bubba. Bullshit, I just want to go back to bed before I start seeing the shadow people, or the little purple men with the big mouths. Don't ask.
And one other thing
If you call me at home (or anywhere else), and get the machine because nobody picked up the phone, just leave a Goddamned message stating what you want and where I can find you should I decide to provide it. Do not singsong into the machine: "Helloooo...,"or "I know you're home...," or knowingly advise "Fine, don't pick up..." I've already made that decision, and you weren't on the boat, so kiss my ass. All your presumptuous message does is merit me giving the machine the finger, and guarantee that I'll blow you off if at all possible. So just leave a message, and I'll call you back at my earliest convenience.
July 5th 12:45PM
It was like a dream I often have
I got into work this morning, brewed up some coffee and energetically began chasing my day's goals. The boss called me and another guy into his office, and said "Anybody wanna go home early...?" By the time he peeled back his lips to pronounce the "ee" sound in "early," I was on my way back to my desk to gather my goodies and go. So, the rest of the day is mine. Whee!
I was planning on taking my kid to the movies, but she's made other plans, so that's out. I'll figure something out...
July 4th 6:45AM
It doesn't take much to make me happy
Yesterday was a good one. My wife seems slowly, grudgingly to be starting to feel better. I am relieved.
I got my regular weekend chores on the run early, leaving time (if not energy) for leisurely pursuits.
I did a little French homework, and played some loud, noisy, clumsy AC/DC riffs on my guitar that made me giddy, using downloaded tabs.
I took my daughter to some garage sales, and we went swimming later. After we played in the pool for a while, the storm clouds that were amassing over my head largely dissipated, thank goodness.
July 2nd 7:24PM
Peripheral notes
I don't have anything of particular impact to share, so here are some items that I noticed, but almost didn't blog:
Someone recently started blogging to document their journey during/after their being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.That person rocks. (Linked from Joe's blog)
America's natural treasures are suffering from insufficient fundage. I would love to volunteer to offset some needs, but I am pessimistic that I could fit it into my lifestyle. I am not too good for picking up trash, I think I would love it, but driving 3 hours a day to do it? Maybe I am "too good for it." I suck.
These are the types of things I began blogging for. I'm glad I mentioned them, if nothing else.
July 2nd 6:54PM
I got my baby back
She came home today, and although she feels like shit, I am glad to have her home. I am hopeful that she will feel better tomorrow.
Bill Cosby Rocks
Due to my own stupidity, I failed to post a nice blog praising Bill Cosby for having the guts to step up, and speak out, against the ills he sees afflicting his people. Way to go, Cos. You rock.
I had a really nice post put together around lunchtime at work, but I forgot to upload it, so I will live with my idiocy, and let this post suffice for now. Maybe I'll re-post it later...
July 1st 7:49AM
The whole family's supporting the healthcare community
My wife went into the hospital Tuesday for some pain she was having. the baby is fine, and it's not terribly serious, at least not right now. She has "gallstone pancreatitis," which if it doesn't get any worse, will be treated with bed rest and no food for a few days, with surgery in the future (hopefully weeks after the baby is born). If it gets under control, she should be back home within 3 - 5 days.
Sheesh! Can't keep these Cunninghams outta the hospital! Not a hearty breed, I suspect . . . :)