tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357811122012-01-07T22:08:28.786-08:00A place for my ideas, good and bad.Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.comBlogger1121100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-61705916969077437552011-09-01T02:21:00.000-07:002011-09-01T02:31:26.151-07:00

" It's an art to live with pain... mix the light into grey."  -- attributed to Eddie Vedder And, voila, two years blink by. Sorry.  I'm still here.  The blog isn't dead...entirely.  It's been, well, resting a bit after a particularly loud squawk.Things have happened, without comment.  Things continue to happen.  "Change happens."Life...proceeds.  Healing...kind of.  It's been hard to clean

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-50861509751564134712009-08-14T21:00:00.000-07:002009-08-14T21:41:55.414-07:00

Another musical post tonight; the lyrics express my inner voice and monologue better than any words I can come up with at the moment. Tonight ended one of my last week-long visits with Kara this Summer. As we were driving to the exchange point, she wanted to listen to some music and the soundtrack to The Bourne Ultimatum was the only CD in the car. Now, I know she has different tastes in music

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-75705964530995792822009-08-13T22:12:00.002-07:002009-08-13T22:19:46.703-07:00

"Ah, well, it must be true if it's on the Interweb."-- Liz Lemon, "Cleveland," 30 Rock (season 1)In the 1984 movie Brazil, a single typographic error leads to a series of improbable events which ultimately affect several lives for the worse. Admittedly, Terry Gilliam movies usually feature improbable sequences of events, but Brazil seems a particularly apt parable for the concept...and risks of..

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-24317917374040484662009-07-02T21:21:00.000-07:002009-07-03T14:11:24.864-07:00

The future is called "perhaps," which is the only possible thing to call the future. And the only important thing is not to allow that to scare you.-- Tennessee WilliamsAs I mentioned in my previous post, things are starting to shift for me emotionally.That said, there are still some logistical challenges. Finances are a major concern; wedging the two paycheck mortgage into a single income has

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-62003407050858219932009-06-30T22:30:00.000-07:002009-07-03T13:22:33.495-07:00

Sometimes, lost is where you need to be. Just because you don't know your direction doesn't mean you don't have one.-- Slick, "Someone to Watch Over Me" (Battlestar Galactica, Season 4.5)When I first found this picture, I thought I'd use it for one of my solstice posts, but it didn't seem to fit with the words that came out, so I held it back until I found the right words to pair it with.Sunrise

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-41282290075746854272009-06-21T22:18:00.000-07:002009-07-03T10:30:34.816-07:00

There's nothing quite so good for a man's ego as the admiration of his daughter.This year, the Solstice falls on a day that Kara would normally spend with her mother. However, because it's Father's Day, I got a little extra time with her. Spending the first day of Summer with her was comforting on many levels this year.The day started with the traditional breakfast in bed, though it was "supposed

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-82880966913236967012009-06-20T08:17:00.000-07:002009-06-20T09:33:41.228-07:00

To succeed in life is to be able to transform.-- Blake Snyder, Save the CatTomorrow is a solstice, the first day of a new season. Locally, it marks the first day of Summer and the longest day of the year. In your part of the world, it may be the first day of winter and the longest night. Regardless, it marks a new beginning.Tomorrow also happens to be Father's Day and I have two sets of ideas

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-56939943412234437502009-06-17T21:39:00.000-07:002009-06-20T23:00:47.151-07:00

Give a little love to a child, and you get a great deal back-- John RuskinDo me a favor, would you? Click on the photo and take a few minutes to look at it. What do you see? This collection of oddments, bookmarks, photos, pieces of candy, and, yes, even a baggie filled with Jell-O represents souvenirs collected during an evening spent at Kara's school, the culmination of an interesting assignment

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-32806329711866700292009-06-13T23:18:00.001-07:002009-06-14T12:02:18.175-07:00

I've been doing a lot of thinking over the last few days and weeks, trying to make sense of what happened, how it happened, and the impact of the various changes that have taken place. Four months ago, I was proud to celebrate my fifth anniversary. Within days, I learned of a betrayal...and as the weeks have continued, I have learned of other betrayals. Broken trust, broken confidences, broken

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-71921436442020351022009-06-07T17:35:00.000-07:002009-06-09T08:43:58.240-07:00

For as long as I can recall, I've collected bits of wisdom, quotes, and epigrams that I've found amusing, interesting, or worth pondering. I'm fairly certain I started collecting because a girl I knew (and wanted to date) had her own collection. (Amazing how that works, isn't it?)At first, I wasn't very organized about it. I just scribbled things down. I didn't keep very good track of my

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-25867308649816325462009-05-17T11:14:00.001-07:002009-05-17T11:28:29.784-07:00

The recent changes in my life have had serious and painful consequences; there have been many losses. Losses of trust, losses of financial freedom, and losses to things people take for granted each and every day...like the ability to simply talk to to a trusted friend as a peer. In other words, the loss of communication, communion, and contact. You know, simple friendship. The ability to talk

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-64843763793248247122009-04-26T09:25:00.000-07:002009-04-26T10:34:56.951-07:00

[A]nonymity is very important to me, and I don't want to be recognized in public more than I already am.-- Todd Solondz, as quoted in an "Believer"     magazine interview, pub. Feb. 2005.It's been a few weeks since my last post and things have been busy. I'm still here and still working through the various details that one has to handle when cleaning up a messy situation. I'm not going to share

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-87292043229979062722009-03-31T16:52:00.000-07:002009-03-31T17:12:28.287-07:00

I recently described how music frequently serves as an indicator of my mood. Well, today's post is inspired by our local weather and sponsored by Frank Sinatra's rendition of "Stormy Weather," a phrase that accurately depicts what's been going on for me lately. (While I heard Billie Holiday running through my head as I composed this post, I picked Frank's rendition because the lyrics match the

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-45183909200338102232009-03-14T06:37:00.000-07:002011-09-01T01:59:27.174-07:00

And it came to pass that change became necessary. There's no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to blurt it out and go from there. JP and I have decided to part ways; we're going to divorce. There's no blame here. She's a good person, a terrific mother, and a truly giving friend. I'm a good man, a responsible husband, a loving father, and a devoted partner. We each deserve happiness

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-53914078310733673662009-03-12T23:04:00.000-07:002009-03-13T00:21:00.553-07:00

I must not fear.Fear is the mind-killer.Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.I will face my fear.I will permit it to pass over me and through me.And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.Only I will remain.-- Bene Gesserit Prayer,as quoted in Dune, by Frank Herbert.Remember when I recently mentioned that

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-56655025050273451492009-03-01T10:50:00.000-08:002009-07-02T23:43:37.981-07:00

"Not all those who wander are lost"-- J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Fellowship of the Ring""Seek and you will find."-- Matthew 7.7, NIV"Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it."-- UnknownThe phrase "Not all who wander are lost" is fairly common in our culture. I've heard it used by hippies, feminists, members of the GLBT community, and others. If you think for a moment, there's a corollary: "

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-83763879953221912072009-02-20T23:04:00.000-08:002009-02-22T13:25:50.788-08:00

Some time back, friend 'Snake used this song as an anthem for my blog. To be honest, I loved it, for I am a huge fan of the Donnie Darko score. And it's a perceptive pick on his part (even if I prefer the cover version over the original). When Gears of War used the same song for their adverts (above), well, I was as close to music-geek-gasm as I ever get. (It's also a convenient

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-42942720654371048552009-02-18T21:49:00.000-08:002009-02-18T22:41:19.896-08:00

The opportunity for doing mischief is found a hundred times a day, and of doing good once in a year.-- "The Book of Fate," VoltaireToday was a difficult day for me. The girls are on their mid-Winter breaks this week. This means DD gets to stay home (which is cool and fun) and it also means that we didn't get to see Kara today. School holidays have precedence over the usual residential

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-80960689237940381532009-01-25T22:20:00.000-08:002009-01-25T22:47:23.252-08:00

I stumbled over a new inspiration site this evening; the theme is "Sassy." Yes, it's late, but I thought I'd give it a whirl...primarily because a couple of the questions really caught my attention. Note, however, some gender appropriate editing.1. If you could say anything you wanted to say to George Bush, what would you say?"Can you get me a meeting with President Obama?"2. If you had to be

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-63516318108710386782008-12-24T13:26:00.000-08:002008-12-24T23:14:11.854-08:00

If you're of a certain age, the name Carl Sagan may be familiar. Throughout the 70's, 80's, and first half of the 90's, Sagan made science accessible and interesting to the the average person. He was able to explain complex issues in ways that made them entertaining. In hosting TV programs like Cosmos, Nova, and others, he helped teach a generation about astronomy and other sciences.I stumbled on

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-78002637438184918062008-12-06T10:09:00.000-08:002008-12-06T11:04:09.864-08:00

By now, you've probably heard about Marc Shaiman's three minute musical parody of Proposition 8, the recently-passed referendum banning gay marriage in California. Clips have run on a variety of TV shows (ranging from MSNBC to Jon Stewart's The Daily Show) and several articles have appeared in various newspapers and periodicals (including The Rolling Stone and The New York Times).As far as the

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-89302346306593688322008-11-23T13:15:00.001-08:002008-11-23T22:49:11.205-08:00

"I am not a destroyer of companies. I am a liberator of them! The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good."-- Gordon Gecko, in the 1987 film "Wall Street."Over the last several months, many explanations have been offered for the causes of the current economic crisis, including (but certainly not limited to):Subprime mortgages that allowed people without jobs

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-77209390573520839422008-09-03T22:42:00.000-07:002008-09-04T07:22:07.971-07:00

I try hard to be an understanding kind of guy, especially with my children.After my parents split, neither could say a civil word about the other and each tried to get me to ally with them against the other. I know what it feels like to be pulled in two directions. Loving both...liking neither.I hated it and I would never subject anyone else to it...most especially my own child.Our (meaning JP's

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-80816062413179931692008-08-07T23:23:00.000-07:002008-08-07T23:51:10.911-07:00

There are a number of personality tests "out there," but I found this one rather amusing. A LOLCat, in case you've not encountered the meme, usually shows a picture of a cat (though not always) in some amusing position accompanied by a caption that's usually grammatically incorrect. (Examples can be found here, here, and other places.)In any event, here's the kind of LOLcat that I appear to be (

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-15009422079631746222008-08-02T09:02:00.000-07:002008-08-02T10:32:36.781-07:00

[A] great many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our point of view.-- Obi-wan Kenobi, Return of the JediMany stories detail the impact of online activities on people's lives. The consequences of "revealing" behavior run the gamut. Marriages are destroyed. Parents are found. Arrests are made. Jobs offers are revoked. Jobs are lost. An indignant community expresses outrage.Yet, these

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-76610629342993130692008-07-26T09:25:00.001-07:002008-07-26T11:16:02.340-07:00

I was checking my email this morning when I realized I was being stalked. A nine year old tiger was sneaking and creeping up behind me. I could feel the tension building as she prepared for her attack.However, crisis was averted with clever timing, tickling, cuddling, and other weapons of mass distraction.That and cinnamon toast for breakfast.Photo credit: Giane Portal (I picked it because it

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-58279697985752528022008-07-24T23:24:00.000-07:002008-07-24T23:59:17.972-07:00

I love online quizzes. I have learned so many things about myself. For example, I know far too much about Internet memes (scoring 272 out of 272 on one test, which I can't find the link to at the moment, but will share when I do). Tonight, I learned I am....100% GeekBut that's not much of a surprise...is it?P.S. Hint (2XL, please)

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-46409152235230199842008-07-12T22:42:00.000-07:002008-08-02T10:06:21.830-07:00

This happy kitty caught my attention as I was searching Flickr for a photo to go with this post. I'm not sure what he's chewing on, but he seems very content with whatever it is.I'm feeling a bit content myself. Granted, things are (very!) hectic at work and JP's been worried about some things that she's been going through lately. However, a conversation with one of our neighbors left me feeling

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-8466259867772559162008-05-13T16:39:00.000-07:002008-05-13T20:04:45.322-07:00

And just like that, several weeks go by. I did not mean to drop out of circulation like that, especially after committing to emotional honesty in my posts. However, things didn't quite turn out the way I thought they would and, well, sometimes real life does intervene and take focus. Thanks for checking up on me.I'm sorry I haven't been keeping this up as frequently as I should (read: at all).

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-8940331636825618872008-03-14T19:49:00.000-07:002008-03-14T21:18:01.366-07:00

Overture, curtains, lights,this is it, the night of nightsNo more rehearsingand nursing a partwe know every part by heartOverture, curtains, lightsthis is it, you’ll hit the heightsAnd oh what heights we’ll hiton with the show this is it-- The Bugs Bunny, Road Runner HourTonight is opening night! Yes, I'm in a play, which is one reason why I haven't posted this last week. We (as in the cast and

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-50287846326187012452008-03-02T21:43:00.000-08:002008-03-03T13:01:50.224-08:00

I want to believe so badly; in a truth beyond our ownhidden and obscured from all but the most sensitive eyes...-- Fox Mulder, "Closure," The X-FilesI've borrowed this video from friend Tara's blog. It's an amazing testament to the power and appeal of this candidate.I feel the country has become cynical in the last eight years. We've been classified, separated, and divided. Red State, Blue State.

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-13902194775163362742008-03-02T21:27:00.000-08:002008-03-04T08:42:37.216-08:00

My darling JP's recent post on change got me to thinking that I really need to change myself. That is, I need to revive this blog and start posting again. I'm sorry I let things lapse for so long. It's not that there hasn't been anything to write about. Indeed, life goes on, whether we record it or not.If you followed my blog over the months, you may have noticed that I began well. I posted (

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-47894356394822251672007-12-18T22:32:00.001-08:002007-12-19T22:29:38.928-08:00

One of the hardest things about being a parent is knowing that your child is going to be changed, possibly even harmed, by an event. Even harder is knowing that you are powerless to prevent the event or to shelter your child from its impact.I experienced these feelings last Sunday afternoon. I had taken the girls to a local park, to give them a chance to run around and get some fresh air. While

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-42973385545313311382007-12-17T23:47:00.000-08:002007-12-20T15:46:58.228-08:00

We had Kara this last weekend, so we decided to make it our final "Let's Get Ready for Christmas" weekend. Well...sort of. JP has been quietly getting the house ready for the holiday. She had me bring in the boxes of holiday decorations a couple of weeks ago and then filled the house with a tastefully chosen (and carefully placed) variety of our traditional decorations. She had me put up the

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-48452376545783037022007-11-02T12:50:00.000-07:002007-11-02T12:57:58.011-07:00

I stumbled across this today. It appeals to my cat fancy. Enjoy.Background and details can be found on wikipedia.

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-8316650992036725682007-10-19T21:50:00.001-07:002007-10-20T22:58:24.284-07:00

One of my co-workers has a thing for Apple computers...to the point of bringing a ginormous screen in from home. I have to confess a small amount of monitor envy led me to add a small decoration.If the joke seems a bit thin, I should probably point out that, according to rumor, the internal code name for Apple's OS X operating system was "Cheetah."Hee Hee

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-58076493816924927512007-10-19T21:15:00.000-07:002007-10-19T21:29:45.512-07:00

Today, I did something that I've been meaning to do for some time; I tried using our local public transit for my commute. Now, I live roughly 40 miles from my office. I'm not sure how familiar you are with the greater Seattle transportation system, but a generous description would be simply that it stinks. It's great if you happen to live or work in Seattle, Tacoma, or Everett...cities connected

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-33718646200611043422007-10-15T18:29:00.001-07:002007-10-15T18:56:00.863-07:00

We've been in our new home for three months now (though in some ways, it feels like it's been much longer) and I've begun to learn some basic skills I imagine are common to all homeowners. While our home is relatively new (10-15 years), some minor repairs and improvements have already been necessary.When I stumbled downstairs a few Sunday's ago, looking for my first cup of coffee, JP informed me

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-69825415694488969832007-10-07T19:14:00.000-07:002007-10-07T19:17:36.443-07:00

No, I haven't dropped off the face of the Earth. Things have gotten really hectic since school started and it's been hard to find time to actually sit at my keyboard long enough to compose a good post.We're all good here; just busy and tired. More soon.Photo credit: me. It's a gooney bird and looks a bit like the way I feel right now.

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-32234909033283595612007-09-01T13:05:00.000-07:002007-09-01T14:08:56.552-07:00

As of 12:00 am this morning, it's been three years since my last cigarette. When I mentioned it to JP this morning, she asked if I still get cravings. I do, especially when one of the neighbors is smoking outside (we have smokers on both sides and directly across the street), but they're nowhere near as strong as when I first quit. I think, more than anything, that today's cravings are related

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-28793529759378861902007-08-18T00:29:00.000-07:002007-08-24T22:29:58.939-07:00

You may have heard that the conclusion to a certain series of books regarding a certain boy wizard was published earlier this summer. I finished reading it a few nights ago.No, I'm not about to spoil it for you. If you're interested and you haven't finished it, please enjoy. Goodness knows there are plenty of spoilers out there. I will say that the end of the series is...well deserved. It feels

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-53289454308076416222007-07-28T23:48:00.000-07:002007-07-29T00:06:05.419-07:00

Today's Sunday Scribblings prompt is phenomenon, which (of course) brought to mind the classic Muppets sketch with Sandra Bullock.For geekier among you, I also found this X-Files take off. It made me laugh. I freely admit my (no-so) inner geek.(I believe I've previously mentioned my fondness for Muppets...and X-Files?)So, it's a perfect prompt for me. Phenomenon. Do Do Doo Doot!And, for those

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-3138195781221688212007-07-19T22:06:00.000-07:002007-07-19T23:52:25.854-07:00

Tomorrow is the big move! Unfortunately, we won't have an Internet connection until the next day (at least). So, we are essentially off-line for the next day or two.The picture, by the way, is known as a test pattern. In the days before cable and 24-hour music, news, and movies, broadcast TV stations used to have to sign off for a few hours each night. Many would use test patterns at the very

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-74482639841319144442007-07-16T20:59:00.000-07:002007-07-16T22:55:54.615-07:00

We started moving this past weekend. Saturday, we cleared out the storage unit, which generally consisted of a lot of my junk stuff, along with some furniture. With a little help from our friends, we got everything moved into the digs. (Most of it went into the garage for later unpacking and, I'm sure, reducing.)Yesterday (Sunday) morning, we got up and (with JP's help) over to the new house

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-63447060728049263802007-07-13T22:58:00.001-07:002007-07-13T23:01:33.043-07:00

If you've read my blog for any length of time, you may have a sense of what I consider absurd.This picture reveals a bit of what I consider funny.Photo credit: Unknown...not me. Sadly.

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-70485726439864815622007-07-12T22:47:00.000-07:002007-07-13T00:27:54.535-07:00

Earlier this week, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) held a mock funeral for the "N-word" during the association's 98th annual convention. Detroit (Michigan) mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was quoted as saying, "Today, we're not just burying the n-word, we are taking it out of our spirit, we are taking it out of our minds. To bury the n-word, we gotta bury the pimps

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-48389828104114868942007-07-05T23:15:00.001-07:002007-07-06T12:28:15.767-07:00

Some years ago, our current President promised to be a uniter, not a divider. He promised to restore dignity to the White House. He promised to hold his staffers accountable for illegal actions.Promises are like eggs...easily broken. If I may be allowed to offend the metaphor, I believe President Bush has not only broken his promises, he's pitched the entire carton to the curb and ground it

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-81840359431531132732007-06-27T23:39:00.000-07:002007-06-28T11:18:53.627-07:00

We have a new game show in the U.S. It's called "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader" and features contestants grappling with questions taken from our primary school curriculum. (Quickly Now: How many moons does the planet Mars have? No peeking.)DD was in the fifth grade when this show debuted, so we watched several episodes. She delighted in knowing answers to questions that JP and I both had

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-23571800010027710402007-06-26T21:12:00.000-07:002007-06-26T21:47:26.248-07:00

Today, the Central Intelligence Agency released several hundred pages of formerly classified material detailing (among other things) misdeeds and other embarrassing activities made by "The Agency" between 1959 and 1973. In the tradition of Dave Letterman's "Top 10" lists, here is a summary of the so-called Family Jewels:8. Tested equipment in Miami prior to a political convention.7. CIA personnel

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-78230632474445213422007-06-24T12:02:00.001-07:002007-06-25T10:16:19.251-07:00

If you see me,acting strangely,don't be surprised.I'm just a manwho's circumstanceswent beyond his control.-- Mr. Roboto, Styx.Today's Sunday Scribblings prompt is secret. We all have secrets. Things we keep from our children, because they're not old enough or because we're not ready to admit they're mature enough. Things we keep from each other because they're embarrassing or simply too private.

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-47982819260366143992007-06-21T21:40:00.001-07:002007-06-22T00:02:55.979-07:00

Today marks a solstice, summer in the northern hemisphere and winter in the southern. According to Wikipedia, it is also the anniversary of the end of the Tauranga Campaign in the New Zealand Land Wars (1864), of Guam's becoming a U.S. territory (1898), of the fall of Tobruk during World War II (1942), of the acquital (by reason of insanity) of John Hinckley, Jr. in the assassination attempt of

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-55931450597668942892007-06-20T22:12:00.000-07:002007-06-20T23:14:56.877-07:00

Yikes! Its been more than a month since my last post. I'm soooo very sorry. I will strive to post more frequently.So...what brought me out of hiding? What tidbit of activity in this life caught my fancy enough to share it with you? What madness stirs me to post?Identity theft is, as I'm sure you've heard, becoming a major problem in modern society. It appears in headlines more and more frequently

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-9518834344580110792007-05-15T22:33:00.000-07:002007-05-15T22:54:50.128-07:00

It's a busy time for us these days. Besides trying to find a home we can afford, both JP and I are completely swamped with work. We're both trying to stay on top of the household chores, but we're both tired and neither one of us is sleeping well.With all this in mind, I found myself idly surfing the 'Net for something amusing, casually looking for something to make me smile. While the linked

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-39660227182278970692007-05-04T21:34:00.000-07:002007-05-04T23:48:51.195-07:00

We have Kara for the weekend and I'm writing as the girls are going to bed. Or rather, I'm trying to write while they're trying to not go to bed. It's 10:00 p.m. and they've both been up and down multiple times.Yes, it's chaotic...and perhaps even a teeny bit trying. It's all good, though. I'm smiling and shaking my head as I roll my eyes. I breathe deeply, making sure to let any frustration flow

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-40563740895038399182007-04-30T19:38:00.000-07:002007-04-30T22:31:14.177-07:00

You may say that I'm a dreamerBut I'm not the only oneI hope someday you'll join usAnd the world will live as one-- John Lennon, ImagineYesterday, I wrote about recent trends in solar energy collection. Specifically, it looks like the cost of converting your home to solar energy may soon become affordable. If this happens, the future may be very bright indeed.Some who've converted their homes to

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-86898684744216599192007-04-29T09:40:00.000-07:002007-04-29T11:20:13.726-07:00

Solar energy may finally be ready to solve the world's energy problems and drastically reduce the production of greenhouse gases said to be a leading cause of global warming.You probably already know that the amount of sunlight that strikes the Earth each day could, if properly collected, easily support our electrical needs as a race. The problem, of course, has been in figuring out how to

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-18991809961355941982007-04-22T19:07:00.000-07:002007-04-23T10:33:18.844-07:00

Regarding the tragedies of last week, I don't have any insights that others haven't already expressed more clearly. However, this post inspired a response.RightsResponsibilitiesOpportunitiesChallengesFrustrationsLimitationsChange When does awareness lead to action?Photo credit: The Rodin Museum

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-70754347427547390382007-04-22T11:42:00.000-07:002007-04-22T13:29:18.212-07:00

Today's Sunday Scribblings prompt is rooted and allows one to explore two different aspects: the feelings of being rooted or the confusion of rootlessness. The latter describes how I've felt about my blog recently.A couple of months ago, I inadvertently caused a bit of a stir by expressing a good idea poorly. Feelings got hurt and people rose to defend those who were hurt. And, as commonly

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-74791951659674921072007-04-08T08:43:00.000-07:002007-04-08T08:55:51.966-07:00

Happy Easter, My LoveHere's an Easter surprise, just for you.It's hidden in the best place possible...right in plain sight.Yet, I don't think you'll find it very quckly.It's sugar-free and low-calorie. It won't wilt over the next few days. And, you'll know where to find it the next time you want it.I love you very much. While our lives get crazy sometimes, our love isn't. I'm very proud to be

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-24780319661005845422007-04-01T11:32:00.000-07:002007-04-01T12:05:39.756-07:00

As you may have heard, DD recently turned eleven. I periodically write about my experiences as a parent and about the pride I have in my children. DD and I have an interesting relationship in that we have honest and connected conversations about many things.As she's gotten older, she asks me about things and I try to explain them to her, or at least I try to explain my perspective on them to

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-26958086550599746952007-03-20T22:46:00.000-07:002007-03-20T23:14:02.870-07:00

This video is an interesting mashup (combination) of the notorious 1984 Macintosh ad by Apple Computer and the race for the Democratic Party nomination for the 2008 U.S. Presidential election. It's clever (especially the closing logo that reshape's Apple's older logo).It's also an interesting stretch of copyright and fair use guidelines. "Fair Use" is a legal term that outlines conditions

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-61879005428965682952007-03-13T10:09:00.000-07:002007-03-13T13:29:57.747-07:00

In my last post, I described how much JP and I enjoyed the film Man of the Year and I gave writer and director Barry Levinson well-deserved kudos for his ability to create effective stories and movies. I also took issue with his computer programming skills and promised to explain further today.You'll recall that the voting machines in Man of the Year contain a "glitch" that causes them to return

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-77904012768504934162007-03-12T21:16:00.000-07:002007-04-22T19:55:03.288-07:00

...[S]uit the action to the word, the word to the action; with this special observance, that you o'erstep not the modesty of nature. For anything so overdone is from the purpose of playing, whose end, both at the first and now, was and is, to hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to nature...Now this overdone or come tardy off, though it make the unskilful laugh, cannot but make the judicious grieve;

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-29028186609368276512007-02-28T10:20:00.000-08:002007-02-28T10:38:07.636-08:00

Sorry for being so quiet lately. Everything's fine, I've just been a bit busy lately.JP is recovering nicely from her recent procedure. She's not yet 100%, but she's getting there. Her humor's back and it's nice to see her lively again.What amazed me most through this experience was how tired *I* felt. No matter how much I slept last week, I felt like I was always on the verge of nodding off.

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-49253782815998544552007-02-16T21:41:00.000-08:002007-02-16T22:08:20.209-08:00

A video making the rounds puts today's increases in technology into a certain perspective. Originally written as a Powerpoint presentation for teachers to help them put the pace of advancement in information management technologies into perspectives, the video really helps you envision just how quickly things are evolving.The version I've linked to runs about seven minutes and the story behind

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-8908480193731325402007-02-15T20:02:00.000-08:002007-02-15T20:58:00.050-08:00

I've not been sleeping well for the last couple of weeks. As a result, I'm tired, emotionally strung out, and feeling a bit punchy. I'm contemplative, philosophic, and meloncholic...and inventing paradoxical epigrams on the fly:In religious wars, arms dealers are the only winners.When people get their nose bent out of shape, they tend to cover their ears and close their minds.When arguing, it is

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1170649163464692202007-02-04T20:03:00.000-08:002007-02-15T23:37:12.318-08:00

Allow me to present Mr. Austin Fluffer the Third, Esq.JP has been sending (and receiving) care packages from some of her "bloggy" friends and DD has gotten into the spirit of sharing and giving. She used her allowance to buy small presents for us and Mr. Fluffers was her present to me.I have a small amount of puppetry experience (thanks, in part, to the original Muppet Show) and was animating

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1170392590401889402007-02-01T20:28:00.000-08:002007-02-01T22:02:51.266-08:00

During my morning commute, I periodically listen to KUOW, a public radio station from the University of Washington. Like similar stations, KUOW features programs covering news, politics, local interests, cultural concerns, and similar topics. One of these, Weekday, has daily conversations, interviews, and caller questions over a wide range of topics. It's like talk radio, only intelligent,

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1170225084549970562007-01-30T22:14:00.000-08:002007-02-01T22:06:16.996-08:00

In the 1940's, Dr. Kenneth Clark conducted experiments to designed to measure the self-confidence of African American school children between the ages of three and seven when compared to the self-confidence of Caucasian children.In these experiments, children were presented with four dolls that differed only in skin tone. The children were asked which doll they preferred to play with and which

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1169758594968052422007-01-25T12:54:00.000-08:002007-01-25T15:43:26.496-08:00

"It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."-- Sherlock Holmes, The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.Julie Amero, a substitute teacher in Connecticut, faces up to 40 years in prison after being convicted for exposing her middle school students to adult material via the classroom computer.

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1169621624169478672007-01-23T22:45:00.000-08:002007-01-23T23:31:28.726-08:00

JP sometimes refers to what she calls my "commuter series" of photos. The "series," such as it is, is not artistically planned. It's more of a series of pictures opportunistically snapped while driving. My digital camera has an untraditional form factor that lets me take pictures with one hand. Yes, they're usually blurry due to the movement of the vehicle, but every once in a while, I luck

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1169273483506850652007-01-19T21:26:00.000-08:002007-01-20T00:33:29.060-08:00

There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.-- Thorin, The Hobbit, by J.R.R. TolkienThis week's Sunday Scribblings prompt is "Fantasy" and it seemed ironic, given that I'd just discovered the book shown to the left in a local used bookstore. I found it because I had some

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1169184663878329922007-01-18T21:13:00.000-08:002007-01-23T22:55:10.133-08:00

In 1957, the U.S.S.R. stunned the world by launching the first artificial satellite, Sputnik I. Reacting to the potential of its radio beeping, the U.S. accelerated its own research and began a massive investment in space exploration. A year after Sputnik's launch, Explorer I launched in response. For the next several years, each nation claimed bragging rights in the media as they leap-frogged

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1169102880459381242007-01-17T22:43:00.000-08:002007-01-20T09:57:46.893-08:00

Last summer, Kara and I rode our bikes to a local park during one her visits with me. It was just the two of us and I tend to make her the center of attention at such times. We went to the park to toss a football back and forth.Kara's actually quite good for someone her age. Her throws have power and she's very accurate for a (then) seven year old. She’s a bit of a tomboy. (Who am I kidding?

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1168925885660641452007-01-15T21:35:00.000-08:002007-01-15T23:24:20.816-08:00

The past is prophetic in that it asserts loudly that wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows.-- Martin Luther King, Jr.Today, the U.S. celebrates a birthday (sort of). Had he lived, the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. would have been 78 today. As you may know, he was 39 when he was assassinated. I was four at the time and hardly aware of his actions or his courage.Over the

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1168412455687633812007-01-09T22:45:00.000-08:002007-01-10T13:36:36.800-08:00

Sorry I've been so quiet lately. Things have been busy and I'm still trying to figure out how to carve time out of my schedule for daily writing.Before I get too carried away, let me say a huge "thank you" to everyone who offered good wishes for my (and JP's) recent birthday. I certainly enjoyed mine and I'm fairly certain she enjoyed hers. Naturally, we spoiled each other (though I have the

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1167977672559884262007-01-04T22:09:00.000-08:002007-01-05T00:16:52.276-08:00

Some days, you're the line noise on the modem carrier. No matter what you try, you just can't seem to make a connection that works.Still, you keep trying to connect...and that counts for something. I think. I hope.

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1167434310022240782006-12-29T15:03:00.000-08:002006-12-29T17:24:26.146-08:00

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."-- Martin Luther King, Jr.As the President spends the Holidays pondering the way forward in Iraq, I find myself pondering a variety of politically-related observations.On December 26th, the number of U.S. soldiers killed while serving in Iraq exceeded the number of casualties on 9/11. The number of

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1166948773478313182006-12-24T00:21:00.000-08:002006-12-24T01:09:41.776-08:00

I hear you say 'Why?' Always 'Why?'You see things; and you say 'Why?'But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?' -- Serpent, Back To Methuselah, by George Bernard ShawToday, Christmas began in earnest for our family. We've been preparing for this for the last few weeks and, to be honest, we're actually in pretty good shape this year. (Last year, we were wrapping presents until 3:00

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1166596372700137252006-12-19T22:28:00.000-08:002006-12-29T19:50:50.370-08:00

Tonight, I offer a poem inspired by this week's One Deep Breath prompt ("Storms") and dedicated to Darlene, her family, and their crisis.A Parent's Nightmare:Child Hurt; Hospitalized.Heartbeat Stable. Wait.

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1166386616571697652006-12-17T12:14:00.000-08:002006-12-17T18:26:34.940-08:00

"I see you shiver with antici..." Say it! Say it!"...Pation!"Thank You!Today's Sunday Scribblings prompt is "Anticipation" and, as one might expect, some folks thought of Carly Simon. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that, of course. As a song (and ketchup jingle), it's become an integral part of the American pop culture.Now when I see a number of people tap into the same gestalt, there are

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1166295676677148592006-12-16T10:44:00.000-08:002006-12-16T12:46:29.810-08:00

Well, the wind storm is over and we've all survived. According to news reports, this was the worst windstorm in our region since 1993. I can well believe it. More than one million people lost power and it may take as much as a week to return power to everyone affected. (We were among the lucky ones; we had power in the morning.)DD woke up in the middle of the night, frightened by the howling.

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1166165740807477782006-12-14T22:49:00.000-08:002006-12-15T07:58:57.140-08:00

It's blowing in the Pacific Northwest tonight.Great gusts of wind throw clouds across the sky, enthusiastically herding them toward the mountains like Shelties herding sheep.Trees bend dangerously. Like a man stressed beyond his breaking point, they're close to snapping and falling. Weaker branches shear away and skitter across the roof, gremlins feeding after midnight.Rain splatters against the

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1165910813624417942006-12-11T22:35:00.000-08:002006-12-15T08:01:50.503-08:00

I took this a few weeks ago, while driving into work one foggy morning. There are times when the weather in the area is breathtaking. On this particular morning, I drove through that transition area where cheesecloth haze begins to give way to hard details. After rolling down the window, I tried to capture the subtle beauty of translucence.It's hard to take good pictures while standing still.

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1165562289621231522006-12-07T22:34:00.000-08:002006-12-07T23:31:00.193-08:00

"The time has come," the Walrus said,"To talk of many things:Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--Of cabbages--and kings--And why the sea is boiling hot--And whether pigs have wings."-- Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking GlassTonight's post is a potpourri of ideas, follow-ups, and thoughts to consider.My previous post highlighted a recent story by NPR that outlined problems at one U.S. Army base

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1165297354201905312006-12-04T21:41:00.000-08:002006-12-15T08:00:37.340-08:00

Today, National Public Radio (NPR) ran a chilling story describing how American soldiers trying to seek professional help to cope with the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are routinely disciplined and dishonorably discharged from an American Army base near Colorado Springs, Colorado.According to the story, very senior leadership in the military, are on record supporting programs

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1165036103923030442006-12-01T20:58:00.000-08:002006-12-02T17:22:27.906-08:00

Today's post is a reflection in response to this week's Sunday Scribblings prompt, In the last hour. As you'll see, it serves a couple of other purposes, too.Several years ago, I lived in a community with an active and vibrant theatre community. It was local theatre, not professional, but the people who consistently participated had a passion for doing professional quality work and for genuinely

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1164868987890380202006-11-29T22:26:00.000-08:002006-11-30T00:55:59.126-08:00

We had an interesting morning. Actually, it started yesterday afternoon. JP called me out to the kitchen with an emergency. Apparently, Climber (the "blonde" kitty) had gotten stuck under the house again.At least, that's what she thought. When I went outside, I heard a meow much louder and deeper than either kitten uses. (They're both rather quiet kitties. Truth be told, their purrs are

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1164695343447087962006-11-27T22:23:00.000-08:002006-11-27T23:52:11.976-08:00

This week's One Deep Breath prompt is legacy, a term that refers to something handed down or inherited from generation to generation. My contribution is a bit loaded, so forgive me for waxing poetic before I get to the actual poem.My father passed away two years ago. He was not a rich man, nor a particularly popular man. Like all of us, he had flaws...and gifts. Like many of his generation, he

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1164402132206972572006-11-24T12:47:00.000-08:002006-11-24T21:55:21.493-08:00

Today's post is a bit of whimsy inspired by a recent item in The Washington Post, which describes how the US administration has redefined the word "hunger." (For a more serious look at this article, please see JP's far more articulate and relevant analysis.)"The Republican National Committee (RNC) has vowed that they will never experience poverty again. However, some Americans may experience "

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1164271155925110072006-11-23T00:29:00.000-08:002006-11-23T09:38:14.180-08:00

It's Thanksgiving Day here in the US and I feel truly blessed. I am blessed that both Kara and DD are a part of my life. This is our year to be with Kara on this holiday and she's been at the top of her form. Kara recently turned 8 and we celebrated her birthday this last weekend. It was fun, but also difficult in spots because of the way one of our guests was treating both of the girls.

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1164185128445876162006-11-22T00:13:00.000-08:002006-11-22T08:21:59.466-08:00

..is if he'd really done it. Not conjecturally, but actually. Truth, not fantasy.I would also want to know why he kept dragging my emotions through the wringer, as I'm sure I would have a pretty difficult time getting over it.The b'sphere is aghast and agog over OJ's recent attempt to milk yet another 15 minutes fame from the American Public. And it's all a-twitter with Fox's sudden coming of

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1163921942668541892006-11-18T23:23:00.000-08:002006-11-19T22:41:55.996-08:00

(Tonight's image borrowed, with respect, from Paul's Justice Blog).In case it's not been crystal clear in the times I've blogged about her, I adore my wife...and I'm very grateful we've both decided to revise, re-create, and re-release our relationship (e.g. Marriage 2.0)There are nights we sit on either side of the dinner table, dueling laptops, keyboards, and mouse clicks. Generally, she's

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1163836508698633062006-11-17T23:46:00.000-08:002006-11-17T23:56:26.033-08:00

(Tonight's image has been borrowed from e-panaphobia.com; I hope they don't mind too much.)On most days, I'm pretty even-keeled. I'm hard to offend and I'm even harder to shock.Still, there are things that push my buttons instantly, things I can't abide, things I will immediately leap to the defense of those wronged in such situations. Such situations include intolerance, injustice (especially

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1163660108596477102006-11-15T22:35:00.000-08:002006-11-15T23:05:10.853-08:00

If you've followed my wife's blog for any length of time, you know that she writes poetry on a near daily basis and that she participates in many different challenges given throughout the blogosphere.Well, she asked me to add a couple of buttons to her blog template tonight, buttons that point to a couple of different sites offering such challenges. While doing so, I noticed that Poetry Thursday

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1163567915968908912006-11-14T21:10:00.000-08:002006-11-14T21:51:21.556-08:00

You know, there are days when you really don't want to write about what happened to you. So, instead of ranting about the injustice of evil, let's all just watch the otter. He's cute; he's at peace. Just swimming around and enjoying a meal.Hmmm.(Overheard at bedtime)"MOOOOMMM! Daddy's being weird""Am not!""Are too!"Dee Two"(DD bursts into gales of laughter)Simple pleasures, y'know?

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1163219955641218992006-11-13T22:29:00.000-08:002006-11-13T23:11:49.083-08:00

My sweetie recently challenged me to a meme quartet. I'm new to this part of blogging, but feel up to the challenge.And, so, without further ado:a) Four jobs I have had in my life1. Writer2. Computer Programmer3. Telephone Solictor (which lasted three weeks)4. Wedding Photographer (yes, paid!)b) Four movies I would do watch over and over again1. Amadeus2. What Dreams May Come3. Amélie4.

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1163294552349710512006-11-11T16:55:00.000-08:002006-11-12T22:02:37.680-08:00

In 1985, DC Comics ran a 12-part series designed to help clean-up continuity problems that had crept into the various storylines of their characters over the years. The Crisis on Infinite Earths involved gathering superheroes from each of the dimensions of the DC Multiverse to battle villains that threatened to destroy all dimensions. In the end, all dimensions were collapsed into one and only

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1163138727638913212006-11-09T21:28:00.000-08:002006-11-09T22:34:44.080-08:00

In an attempt to show that I'm not always going to rant about politics or stressful things, this post is about the youngest members of our household.At seven months, both "Pouncer" (lower left) and "Climber" (upper right) are beginning to grow into their adult personalities. They're both very sweet kitties that love to cuddle and play. But, they each have their own distinct personalities and

Footpadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06838715859599251871noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35781112.post-1163054342220834592006-11-08T21:23:00.000-08:002006-11-08T23:29:35.186-08:00

(Image courtesy of The Architect of the Capitol.) Congratulations to all who won posts during this year's mid-term elections in the U.S. As you probably know, the Democratic party has taken control of the U.S. House of Representative and has won a slim one vote majority in the Senate.To the Democratic Party, I raise a glass in well-deserved salute. I’m happy. I’m pleased. I’m jubilant. Before we

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