Friday, October 17, 2008

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Brian said I had to post this video



Let me say ... I can't QUITE believe this is real ... I'm sure it's just something someone has done to mock the environmentalists. But it's funny either way?

Sunday, October 12, 2008

funeral home thoughts

I got called in to work today at 1:00 to make a video for the funeral home.

Since I started this job, I've found it to be kind of a strange mental situation ...

I'm on call for certain days, and may or may not get called in, and so I need to keep that in mind while making plans.

The odd part is this ...

I can plan ahead that I may need a 4-8 hour chunk of time on a certain day, and if I do, I'll also get a chunk of much-needed income.

Meanwhile, if I DO get called in to work, that means there is a family out there, who has absolutely NO IDEA that their life will change completely in that same time period.

It's weird, really ... planning for something that will make such a minor impact on my life, when those whose lives will be forever altered have no way to plan whatsoever.

On a happier note ... here's some funeral humor for you. :)

A Country Funeral


As a young minister in Kentucky, I was asked by a funeral director to hold a grave-side service for a homeless man, who had no family or friends. The funeral was to be held at a new cemetery way back in the country, and this man would be the first to be buried there.

I was not familiar with the backwoods area, and I soon became lost. Being a typical man, I did not stop to ask for directions. I finally arrived an hour late.

I saw the backhoe and the open grave, but the hearse was nowhere in sight. The digging crew was eating lunch. I apologized to the workers for my tardiness, and I stepped to the side of the open grave. There I saw the vault lid already in place. I assured the workers I would not hold them up for long, as I told them that this was the proper thing to do.

The workers gathered around the grave and stood silently, as I began to pour out my heart and soul. As I preached about 'looking forward to a brighter tomorrow' and 'the glory that is to come,' the workers began to say 'Amen,' 'Praise the Lord,' and 'Glory!' The fervor of these men truly inspired me. So, I preached and I preached like I had never preached before, all the way from Genesis to Revelations.

I finally closed the lengthy service with a prayer, thanked the men, and walked to my car. As I was opening the door and taking off my coat, I heard one of the workers say to another, 'I ain't NEVER seen nothin' like that before, and I've been puttin' in septic tanks for thirty years.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

what was your first computer?

This past week, a friend started doing some shopping because the (25 gig) hard drive on her laptop had filled up.

I was thinking of how unimaginable this would have seemed to me when I bought my first computer in 1989. I'm not sure we even USED the term "gig". :) I had a 200 mg hard drive, and I can remember deleting documents when I needed to make room for new software.

My very first computer was a 286 with a pretty amber monitor (the ones at the college were green ... I thought the amber was SO much nicer.) I had considered the cheaper 80/86 (is that the right term? can't remember for sure ...), but I decided to spend extra on the bigger computer, so it would LAST me a while.

It came with a funny windows-ish thing called Geoworks, and a dot matrix printer - all for only $1,100! What a DEAL! If I remember correctly, I was still using it in 1993 when I signed up for my first Internet service - AOL at 10 hours/month, I think. I used Pro-Write and WordStar mainly ... with occasional forays into some kind of really basic desktop publishing program. That was IT, and I thought I was really techy!

What was your first computer?

P.S. ... out of curiosity, I just looked at my own hard drive. I have 80 gig, and 28.8 is full. YIkes! What IS all that stuff? :)

introvert vs. extrovert

This week, one of my co-workers and I were discussing the differences between introverts and extroverts.

I have always associated "introvert" with "shy", but he described introversion and extroversion as where a person finds their energy ... are they energized by being with people, or is it wearisome?

I found it quite an enlightening idea. Because, while I am not particularly shy, I find social occasions exhausting. While I enjoy them, I am always relieved to get into a room alone and close the door afterward!

It never occurred to me that extroverted people don't experience that same feeling ... that they might actually gain energy the longer they're at a gathering, while I gradually wind down and start taking long breaks in the ladies' room, longing for things to end for the evening. Interesting!

On a different note ... here's a new picture of the adorable nieces. I thought this was great!

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Neat quote today

This was on my google home page ... thought it was so good:

"Forgiveness is the answer to the child's dream of a miracle by which what is broken is made whole again, what is soiled is again made clean."
- Dag Hammarskjold

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

bored with the board

After last night's condo meeting, I decided that I'm just not condo-board material. (as opposed to board material, which would be wood, which, I'm not either, but I digress.)

Our condo board meetings are a picture of ineffectiveness if I've ever seen one. There are long, drawn-out conversations that have nothing to do with board business. And often these same conversations are repeated, almost verbatim, at every meeting.

(For instance, we have a rule on our bylaws against leaving trucks parked outside the building overnight. At every meeting, there is discussion as to why this rule exists, and whether vans and SUVs constitute "trucks.") No resolution is ever achieved, or attempted. It just seems to be a ritual pet-topic.

I'm a non-leader down to my bones, but the aimlessness of these meetings is such that I find myself pushing them forward, demanding answers, requesting the next agenda item, etc. Then I get home, grinding my teeth and clenching my jaw.

So, after last night's demonstration of inefficiency, I am going to tender my resignation. I'm tired of being infuriated by these gatherings!

I'll just write my monthly check, and consider that the extent of my contribution to the community!

dance like no one's watching


Here's adorable niece #2 doing just that. :)

Sunday, September 28, 2008

my brother's new blog

I woke up this morning to discover an email from my sister-in-law, telling me that my brother has a new blog.

I already enjoy sister-in-laws blog very much, and it's nice to have brother blogging also. He used to write a newspaper column, and did a great job. So I'm glad to see he's putting his hand to a keyboard again. :)

Monday, September 22, 2008

Eugenics in America

Have a look at an excellent blog I read today.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

amazon doesn't know what to make of me ...

I started my Christmas shopping this week. I know ... it's ridiculously early, but I find I make wiser decisions if I'm not doing it quickly, and I also find I enjoy Christmas more if the shopping is done before the busy-ness starts!

Anyhow, all that is to say ... Amazon is desperately trying to make recommendations according to my previous buying habits.

However, I've had one friend ask me to order power tools for her (she doesn't like shopping online.) I use my personal account to order books for the church where I work. I buy gifts for the adorable-nieces. Then there is my own stuff.

So ...

Amazon recommends power tools, and children's games, and deep theological books, and the occasional pretty necklace.

I'm almost tempted to throw in the occasional order for really cheap, random stuff, just to confuse their computers even more. :)

Friday, September 12, 2008

Have you seen this yet?

If not, take a second and watch it. This is one of our veterans.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

communication confusion

subtitled:
how I discovered my sister-in-law's phone doesn't display from whom text messages come!

I texted my delightful sister-in-law to find out how adorable-niece-#1's doctor's appointment went. (Both nieces have selective mutism, and are going to begin treatment for it.)

She responded back with detailed reports, and a great deal of affection, and also mentioned that my absence was probably a contributing factor, but that treatment was promising.

I was thankful for the detailed reports, and I'll be glad to accept affection when I can find it!

(Insert information here ... that my brother was out in the field with Army-training-stuff, and didn't have his cell phone. He had told sister-in-law that he might be able to borrow someone else's phone to check in.)

Starting to get the idea?

Well, from my end, confusion wasn't too bad. There was only one text from her that made it obvious she thought she was talking to my brother.

I assumed she was texting both of us at the same time, and just had sent one to the wrong person.

So I responded back:

"I think that was meant for Cliff?"

This is where sister-in-law's day starts to get weird!

She, thinking she was originally texting my brother, assumes that last message was from "random guy" who had loaned brother his cell phone.

So the rest of the conversation she begins to assume is with "random guy" ... who is quite overly-familiar. Or with returned-to-phone-Cliff ... who doesn't sound at all like himself.

The text conversation ends ... and sister-in-law remains confused.

Until last night, when I again sent her a text message.

Which she now assumes is from either Cliff or random-guy. And doesn't know how to find out which.

A further comedy of errors continues until finally she asks, "who is this." It is then, after MANY messages, I finally think to mention my identity.

All becomes clear to both parties, and much voice-on-phone hilarity ensues.

On other news, I started my new job last night, and am having that first-day, lots-to-learn feeling. But I think I will really enjoy it. Need to find a copy of "Adobe Photoshop for Dummies". :)

Thursday, September 04, 2008

a new job!

No, I didn't quit "the best job in the world" ... I'm not crazy. :)

But I did apply for a part-time job in the evenings to help fill in the gaps a bit.

I'm going to be making videos of families' pictures for a local funeral home. The hours are varied and flexible, and it's a nice low-pressure environment. Dead folks are SO non-demanding.

I'll be starting on Tuesday.

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

the mysteries of swimming pool etiquette

Situation:

You are trying to enter a pool full of children, in hopes of swimming laps.

Do you
a. tell the parent that you would like to have a little strip of the deep end for your very own?

b. try to swim back and forth, dodging children as you go?

c. ask the children to let you have a little strip of water, in hopes they listen to you, an unknown adult? (insert here the old saying about, "if you start to think you're powerful, try ordering someone else's dog around.")

d. stand outside the pool until a section drifts clear, and then start swimming in it like mad in hopes people will get the idea?

I tried "d." as it required the least communication.

It seemed to work for a while, until a young boy started jumping in right in front of me, causing me to snort water, and having to resort to a modified "b."

So ... I ended up giving up and coming inside after 15 minutes.

Isn't there a book somewhere on the proper way to phrase this kind of request, and to whom one should phrase it? :)

Monday, September 01, 2008

I am the allergy princess ...

what IS that body part halfway between a person's ear canal and the back of her throat ...

... the one that, somehow, reacts to pollen in such a way that the itching causes said woman to want to scrub the inside of her face with a wire-brush?

UGH! And this is me ON allergy meds.

I can still remember the first few weeks of school, when my allergies are the worst, I used to be so allergy-plagued I could hardly stand it - swollen itchy eyes, itchy ears/throat, runny nose, sneezing. I was the most miserable looking and feeling critter out there.

I'd beg my mom for allergy medicine, and when she would get it for me, it would put me into this half-trance state ... barely able to stay awake.

It was either misery, or coma ... no other option for September and October!

I'm thankful the allergy meds have improved since that time, but for some reason, they still don't touch the itchy ear/throat thing!

Now where IS that sandpaper?

Sunday, August 31, 2008

A political candidate I can be excited about!

I remember hearing about Sarah Palin from somewhere ... maybe a blog? ... about the time Fred Thompson dropped out of the race.

When it became evident McCain was going to be the candidate, I was quite discouraged. However ... I have much-renewed optimism at Sarah's presence on the ticket!

She has strong conservative positions. She's not from the traditional Washington batch of folks.

I'm very, very happy about this!

Saturday, August 30, 2008

welcome to the neighborhood

subtitled:

Why I was beating on the door of #18 and ranting at midnight.

I'm on the board of our condos, and so have occasionally been involved in interviewing prospective buyers.

In June, I interviewed the fellow who bought the unit directly above me.

(anyone care to guess where this is headed?)

He was in his early 20's, and so we repeatedly asked him if he understood that this was a quiet, early-to-bed, early-to-rise kind of community.

"oh yes," young man says, "that's what I'm looking for."

OK

We vote young man in.

(ok ... now want to guess? feel free ... )


First some background ... on the first night of the olympics, I was kept awake all night by loud music, pounding feet, and loud-voiced-men in the parking lot.

OK, thinks I, it's one time.

He's having an olympic-watching party ... I'll ignore it.

But ... last night ... around 9:00, I heard the same pounding/music/shouting combination.

And it continued

and continued

and I got hot

and hotter

and hotter

until ... finally, I found myself upstairs, pounding on his door at 11:30.

Music stops, but door does not open.

No problem ... I can make myself heard -- door or no door.

"You agreed to a 10:00 quiet hour when you bought this place. I expect you to abide by your agreement."

Stomp downstairs, bathrobe flying behind me. Feet may or may not have been making sparks as they struck the ground ...

Music resumes. Pounding resumes. Shouting resumes.

Stomp upstairs, with fire in my eyes.

Louder pounding-on-#18-door.

(repeat first statement) followed by, "I won't come up here again. I'll just call the police."

Music stops. Pounding stops.

However, loud talking continues, out in the parking lot, until 2:00 a.m.

OK. It's an improvement ...I'll live with the loud talking, though I still think it's incredibly rude ...

But I'm now kicking myself for voting "yes" on this guy. :(

Addendum ...

I waited until 10:30, and gave him a call.

He responded very well, and seemed to (or pretended to!) understand the issue.

I tried to practice "love thinks the best" (see post on 1 Cor. 13), and suggested that maybe his friends were not overly concerned about the neighbors, because they weren't THEIR neighbors, but that I was sure he would understand the situation and keep them under control in the future.

I put on an "older neighbor who wants to like you, but also expects a certain standard of behavior" manner. That whole "taking charge" thing is not something I'm particularly good at, so I think God helped me strike a balance between firm and friendly.

Whew ... back to house cleaning. Dirt is so much easier to understand than people!

Thursday, August 28, 2008

another fun project from Grandma and Grandpa's house

I was also given this clock:


I know ... it's in pretty bad shape! But my friend T. has built clocks from kits, and was interested in trying to get it working for me. So she's been taking it apart and cleaning it.

I thought I'd post a few pictures, so you could enjoy the progress with me!

Here is what it looks like with the face removed ... also before any work was done on it (though we may have vacuumed out the mouse turds at this point. :)

This is the identifying label on the back.

And here is how it looks as of today. She's taken the works out, cleaned and oiled them, and started cleaning the case in preparation to re-glue it. We need to find a source to purchase the glass bezel for the face, and that appears to be the biggest obstacle at this point.