life of donzilla (663)
+ we found an AWESOME band for our wedding reception
- they want $1500!
= perhaps we should find a non-name-brand artist who HASN'T released FOUR cds
To Portland, round trip:
Airplane: $158 / 2 hrs
Greyhound: $116 / 18 hrs
Amtrak: $168 / 17 hrs
Car: ~$200 / 10 hrs
I really want to go see TSG in Portland this weekend. But I might have to go next weekend instead.
I was a little bit stunned. I was ready to cancel the whole card, and ready to be fuming angry at them, and then...
It's a good customer service trick they got going there...
And probably good financially, too. Many people probably just pay the thing, and the ones who don't get endeared to the whole system so that they can have their money sucked out of them later, like a thin-skinned tourist in Kisumu...
Veinte-tres mas o menos... Cinco mas o menos...
1. Go into your archives.
2. Find your 23rd post.
3. Post the fifth sentence (or closest to it).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.
5. Tag five other people to do the same thing.
tagged by Pilgrim
- Listening to Gordon Lightfoot
- Doing web programming
- Did the Chores
- Plotting Eastbound Roadtrip (again)
While running -- yes, LITERALLY running, we were late -- into town to se a movie, I stepped off a curb and rolled my anchor. My past years of karate (along with my Guardian Angel) intervened, and I plunged into a combat roll instead of breaking my ankle.
But it's definately sorn, somewhat strained, if not sprained. I walked the rest of the way to the movie, sat through it -- it was I, Robot, very decent movie, enjoyable -- and walked back home. Then elevated it and iced. I wonder God's trying to tell me with all these minor injuries that keep happening...
July 11, 2004, 6.17 pm
Source: http://www.bayaccess.org/launchsites.html
July 9, 2004, 11.31 pm
July 8, 2004, 11.41 pm
Source: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=39253
July 8, 2004, 4.16 pm
July 6, 2004, 8.19 pm
July 6, 2004, 3.55 pm
July 6, 2004, 3.52 pm
July 6, 2004, 10.08 am
July 6, 2004, 1.01 am
July 5, 2004, 1.45 am
July 5, 2004, 1.10 am
July 4, 2004, 12.04 am
July 3, 2004, 11.54 pm
July 3, 2004, 9.28 pm
July 2, 2004, 5.44 pm

Tuesday, June 6 2006, 6:56 pm
It was awfully sad to leave TSG at the airport. And it's always so much funt at her (adopted) Aunt's. It's back to work down here -- but the countdown is on.
It's 80 days until we get married.
It's 80 days until we get married.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, June 6 2006, 6:52 pm
Well folks, I'm back in California and the basil is doing well. The tomatoes had all gone to bud, so I spent a few minutes gently picking them off and kindly informing the plants that now is not the time for succulent, mouth-watering tomatoes. Now is the time to grow big and strong, so that when August comes there will be many, many juicy tomatoes.
I let the little Jalepeno pepper plant bloom, though, and now little peppers are forming at the base of the buds. They are only about half an inch long right now, but they should grow to five or six times that.
I let the little Jalepeno pepper plant bloom, though, and now little peppers are forming at the base of the buds. They are only about half an inch long right now, but they should grow to five or six times that.
categorized as life of donzilla
Sunday, June 4 2006, 6:45 pm
So TSG had to go to work today at 4ish... I wandered down the street to this coffee house to do some web design/coding...
But it turned out that, this particular afternoon, it WASN'T a WiFi hotspot (as it advertised). So, a few hours of intesive networking (and cursing Apple Airport Extreme) it is now again a wireless hotspot.
Your Comuter Genius strikes again!
But it turned out that, this particular afternoon, it WASN'T a WiFi hotspot (as it advertised). So, a few hours of intesive networking (and cursing Apple Airport Extreme) it is now again a wireless hotspot.
Your Comuter Genius strikes again!
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, June 1 2006, 10:21 pm
Right now I'm sitting just beyond security in PDX, working frenetically on a website that I'm going to have to show results on very soon.
Today was a full day at the office, then a brief headlong dash for the airporter, followed by car pursuit of said airporter (a successful chase, with NailinCoffin at the wheel). But we landed here, safe and sound, despite what the pilot called "severe" turbulence.
TSG and I have been apart from each other for fifteen entire, heart-wrenching days, and in minutes, minutes, ladies and gentlemen, those just outside this terminal will witness a homecoming scene.
Yesterday I got a call from work just as I was about to head to work (8:30am) and that triggered a more or less relaxed, and more or less un-productive day of rest, recuperation, and sometimes work at home. However, it was necessary for sanity, and for the continued and improved performance of TheGenius.
At work I now have the GeniusCave (tm), which happens to be the ONLY office that has a door which closes. It became my de facto office when I (cunningly?) appropriated an entire wall for my rack of shiny new servers. The current running joke about the GeniusCave has something to do with the fact that I never have the florescent overhead lights on, just my one incandescent bulb, and my window shades up, so that my two little house plants can live.
Yesterday I also planted my Basil plants, one some kind of blue basil; the other a Genovese. Also, my last cherry tomato plant went into the last pot, and I fertilized some of the other guys, and rearranged the watering system to boot.
The basil plants weren't going to fit in the pots -- especially because they grow to five feet, and then are supposed to be trimmed back to three -- so I planted them in the ground. I gave them lots of organic potting soil, so we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
For now, I'm with (almost) my love in sunny (almost) Portland. Cheers.
Today was a full day at the office, then a brief headlong dash for the airporter, followed by car pursuit of said airporter (a successful chase, with NailinCoffin at the wheel). But we landed here, safe and sound, despite what the pilot called "severe" turbulence.
TSG and I have been apart from each other for fifteen entire, heart-wrenching days, and in minutes, minutes, ladies and gentlemen, those just outside this terminal will witness a homecoming scene.
Yesterday I got a call from work just as I was about to head to work (8:30am) and that triggered a more or less relaxed, and more or less un-productive day of rest, recuperation, and sometimes work at home. However, it was necessary for sanity, and for the continued and improved performance of TheGenius.
At work I now have the GeniusCave (tm), which happens to be the ONLY office that has a door which closes. It became my de facto office when I (cunningly?) appropriated an entire wall for my rack of shiny new servers. The current running joke about the GeniusCave has something to do with the fact that I never have the florescent overhead lights on, just my one incandescent bulb, and my window shades up, so that my two little house plants can live.
Yesterday I also planted my Basil plants, one some kind of blue basil; the other a Genovese. Also, my last cherry tomato plant went into the last pot, and I fertilized some of the other guys, and rearranged the watering system to boot.
The basil plants weren't going to fit in the pots -- especially because they grow to five feet, and then are supposed to be trimmed back to three -- so I planted them in the ground. I gave them lots of organic potting soil, so we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
For now, I'm with (almost) my love in sunny (almost) Portland. Cheers.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, May 30 2006, 9:03 am
Well,
Yesteday we shirked our responsibilities, grabbed a flat of beer and headed to the beach.
Getting the beer was practically the ONLY thing we did right.
To be continued...
Yesteday we shirked our responsibilities, grabbed a flat of beer and headed to the beach.
Getting the beer was practically the ONLY thing we did right.
To be continued...
categorized as life of donzilla
Monday, May 29 2006, 10:28 am
So we took care of the irrigation in the front yard on saturday...
But I've still got to crawl under the car and fix the oil leak, and I've got to pot the plants in the back yard and fertilize everything.
We dashed out to the coffee shop in San Rafael, saw TSG's Auntie C. NailinCoffin, RR, and I got embroiled in a debate about Relativity and high-level physics.
Afterwards, we headed up to Boyd Park in San Rafael and played some frisbee golf (that we just made up, not on a course). Some of the shots were nearly-vertical. We worked our way deep into the park, till we came out into public lands behind the park. We hiked up the hill a little ways and admired the view (I need a camera!).
It was a beautiful day.
But I've still got to crawl under the car and fix the oil leak, and I've got to pot the plants in the back yard and fertilize everything.
We dashed out to the coffee shop in San Rafael, saw TSG's Auntie C. NailinCoffin, RR, and I got embroiled in a debate about Relativity and high-level physics.
Afterwards, we headed up to Boyd Park in San Rafael and played some frisbee golf (that we just made up, not on a course). Some of the shots were nearly-vertical. We worked our way deep into the park, till we came out into public lands behind the park. We hiked up the hill a little ways and admired the view (I need a camera!).
It was a beautiful day.
categorized as life of donzilla
Sunday, May 28 2006, 4:19 pm
Michael, "Mi Cael - who is like the merciful G-d?" is the representative of the attribute of mercy. Gabriel - "my strength is G-d"- represents the attribute of power and judgment; they are therefore on the right and left respectively. Oriel - "my light is G-d," represents the attribute of knowledge by which man wishes to know what lies ahead and how to act accordingly; thus, Oriel "stands before" a man to show him the way. Rafael - "my healer is G-d" - is the attribute by which G-d heals any ill which befalls a man; that is why he "stands behind" man.
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, May 26 2006, 4:14 pm
I have MonitorBrain. And that's one stage worse than ComputerEyes.
You know it's friday when...
...you see the first beers of the weekend in the fridge, waiting... for five o'clock.
You know it's friday when...
...you see the first beers of the weekend in the fridge, waiting... for five o'clock.
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, May 26 2006, 4:07 pm
My weekend (recreation) to-do list:
+ Fix irrigation in front yard.
+ Plant my two new basil plants and the new tomato plant and fertilize
+ Crawl under the car and find/fix the oil leak
+ ??? There WAS something else ???
Weekend work:
+ My current web design project
+ Fix irrigation in front yard.
+ Plant my two new basil plants and the new tomato plant and fertilize
+ Crawl under the car and find/fix the oil leak
+ ??? There WAS something else ???
Weekend work:
+ My current web design project
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, May 26 2006, 2:42 pm
- Hectic.
- Narrowly avoided the CHP motorcycle cop on the way to work this morning.
- Adjusted the tire pressure in the car; alignment feels alright now.
Last night we partied in the city with The Random Englishman and PilgrimoftheAbsolute. We hit up a crazy crepe place for dinner and then ended up in a smoky bar for drinks, afterwards. 'Twas an excellant time, and I had gotten in a little Genius Nap (tm) after I got home from work, so I was feeling better.
I still feel almost continually sleep-deprived though, and I also feel like I am still coming out of a severe coffee addiction... But I don't think that that makes sense or is what is really happening, but maybe... I feel like I'm underwater all the time, and lights are too bright.
Sleep and water, that's what I need. My two cure-alls. I hear they even cure cancer.
- Narrowly avoided the CHP motorcycle cop on the way to work this morning.
- Adjusted the tire pressure in the car; alignment feels alright now.
Last night we partied in the city with The Random Englishman and PilgrimoftheAbsolute. We hit up a crazy crepe place for dinner and then ended up in a smoky bar for drinks, afterwards. 'Twas an excellant time, and I had gotten in a little Genius Nap (tm) after I got home from work, so I was feeling better.
I still feel almost continually sleep-deprived though, and I also feel like I am still coming out of a severe coffee addiction... But I don't think that that makes sense or is what is really happening, but maybe... I feel like I'm underwater all the time, and lights are too bright.
Sleep and water, that's what I need. My two cure-alls. I hear they even cure cancer.
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, May 25 2006, 12:31 pm
Know any of these guys? 'Cause we're trying to get some of 'em to play at our wedding reception.
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, May 25 2006, 11:56 am
What am I? Where am I doing? What??! Where's my TO-DO list??!
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, May 25 2006, 9:47 am
Fairfax Lumber had a whole slough of new tomato plants and basil plants as well. I couldn't decide between several of the basil plants, so I bought two of them. They all smelt SO good. The new tomato plant is a red pear cherry tomato plant. AND I bought some organic fertilizer, so I'm pretty sure that my ENTIRE operation could be CERTIFIED ORGANIC.
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, May 25 2006, 3:44 am
So TSG gets off her evening shift at about 11:00 pm... And being the loving fiancee that she is, she calls when she gets home (sometimes even before she gets home).
And, because I go to bed these days as close to 8 pm as possible, she usually wakes me between midnight and one am. Then we chat for a bit, and we both go to sleep.
However, we started talking about stressful-planning and work-type things,and I found myself lying awake an hour and a half after crawling back into bed, breathing exercises and all.
SO, I've got these web design plans for a current site I'm supposed to do floating around in my brain, and a snazzy illuminated keyboard, so I'm all set to work.
It just means that tomorro's GONNA BE ROUGH at work. Maybe I'll work from home.
And, because I go to bed these days as close to 8 pm as possible, she usually wakes me between midnight and one am. Then we chat for a bit, and we both go to sleep.
However, we started talking about stressful-planning and work-type things,and I found myself lying awake an hour and a half after crawling back into bed, breathing exercises and all.
SO, I've got these web design plans for a current site I'm supposed to do floating around in my brain, and a snazzy illuminated keyboard, so I'm all set to work.
It just means that tomorro's GONNA BE ROUGH at work. Maybe I'll work from home.
categorized as life of donzilla
Wednesday, May 24 2006, 10:39 am
+ we found an AWESOME band for our wedding reception
- they want $1500!
= perhaps we should find a non-name-brand artist who HASN'T released FOUR cds
categorized as life of donzilla
Wednesday, May 24 2006, 10:37 am
Oakland airport has a "Park and call" area. Now what a good idea! You can stay for 30 minutes, and you can call and then when your person pops out of the terminal, you pop down and pick 'em up.
The Genius thought of this long ago.
The Genius thought of this long ago.
categorized as life of donzilla
Wednesday, May 24 2006, 10:29 am
I've become as strange mix of computer-hippy and eco-geek.
So I love computers and computing power and processors and stuff but balk at the energy consumption of a 400-watt PSU. Or even a 250-watt one...
Solar-powered, zero-enviromental impact computing, that's what I want.
And those little wireless toys with the ridiculous Li-ion batteries. They should be solar too, like those little calculators that we all had at some point or other.
So I love computers and computing power and processors and stuff but balk at the energy consumption of a 400-watt PSU. Or even a 250-watt one...
Solar-powered, zero-enviromental impact computing, that's what I want.
And those little wireless toys with the ridiculous Li-ion batteries. They should be solar too, like those little calculators that we all had at some point or other.
categorized as life of donzilla
Wednesday, May 24 2006, 10:24 am
Having not drunk coffee or black tea since the massive doses we ingested during OUR LAST FINALS WEEK EVER in college, even one cup of Chai latte (that I made myself, thank you very much, from Tazo bought at Costco) gives me the jitters.
Well, not really the jitters, but kind of a little hyper-nervous-shakiness. The pre-jitters. Or something.
Back to work.
Well, not really the jitters, but kind of a little hyper-nervous-shakiness. The pre-jitters. Or something.
Back to work.
categorized as life of donzilla
Wednesday, May 24 2006, 8:21 am
To Portland, round trip:
Airplane: $158 / 2 hrs
Greyhound: $116 / 18 hrs
Amtrak: $168 / 17 hrs
Car: ~$200 / 10 hrs
I really want to go see TSG in Portland this weekend. But I might have to go next weekend instead.
categorized as life of donzilla
Wednesday, May 24 2006, 7:01 am
So I drove the ol' Silver Bullet up to work today, got here, and checked the fluids.
(You have to wait until the thing gets hot to check ATF and PS, so...)
Everything was looking good, except that the oil was low (not good, because the leaking fluid SMELLS like oil when it burns), and that the coolant, which LOOKED like it was fine was actually bone dry. The level that I thought I was checking was actually coolant-colored sludge on the side of the tank. So I absolutely have to get more today. AND the transmission fluid was WAY OVER the full line.
Of course, that was when I realized that (a) the car was on a slanting hill, and (b) I definitely wasn't awake.
So now I've got a cup of Chai and am sitting in front of the computer...
Ready to do mind-numbing web server administration...
(You have to wait until the thing gets hot to check ATF and PS, so...)
Everything was looking good, except that the oil was low (not good, because the leaking fluid SMELLS like oil when it burns), and that the coolant, which LOOKED like it was fine was actually bone dry. The level that I thought I was checking was actually coolant-colored sludge on the side of the tank. So I absolutely have to get more today. AND the transmission fluid was WAY OVER the full line.
Of course, that was when I realized that (a) the car was on a slanting hill, and (b) I definitely wasn't awake.
So now I've got a cup of Chai and am sitting in front of the computer...
Ready to do mind-numbing web server administration...
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, May 23 2006, 3:07 pm
I'm thinking about joining here...
BUT, I've gotta save money for the big day. So maybe not right now...
BUT, I've gotta save money for the big day. So maybe not right now...
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, May 23 2006, 10:16 am
I went to bed at 8:56 pm last night, tried to get up at 6:00 am, succeeded at 7:15 am, and was at work by 8:24 am.
I feel MUCH better.
Sunday night, even though I had to get up for work I stayed up till almost two shuffling stuff in my room. Having not been in one place very long since Africa, my "worldlies" have been scattered and augmented strangely... So now it's a matter of sorting them all out, and throwing them all out.
I've started piles in various parts of my room: car stuff here, computers over there, music equiptment here, and so on.
I feel MUCH better.
Sunday night, even though I had to get up for work I stayed up till almost two shuffling stuff in my room. Having not been in one place very long since Africa, my "worldlies" have been scattered and augmented strangely... So now it's a matter of sorting them all out, and throwing them all out.
I've started piles in various parts of my room: car stuff here, computers over there, music equiptment here, and so on.
categorized as life of donzilla
Monday, May 22 2006, 8:56 am
Back to the grind...
Silver's still smoking something, when she gets warmed up. Fluid levels continue to be fine, but I found a little hose (belongs to the EGR system, maybe?) that was off, so I reconnected it. I've GOTTA put her up on blocks and check out the underbelly.
Silver's still smoking something, when she gets warmed up. Fluid levels continue to be fine, but I found a little hose (belongs to the EGR system, maybe?) that was off, so I reconnected it. I've GOTTA put her up on blocks and check out the underbelly.
categorized as life of donzilla
Sunday, May 21 2006, 6:42 pm
My dad heard this on the radio years ago, and he wrote down the questions on a scrap of paper, which he gave to me.
Being the packrat that Iam used to be, I kept it. Now I am sharing it with you, because I think it's interesting.
Being the packrat that I
An alien broadcast is heard. These three math equations are heard, stated to be true.
13 + 15 = 31
10 x 10 = 100
6 x 3 = 24
The question is, how many fingers do the aliens have?
13 + 15 = 31
10 x 10 = 100
6 x 3 = 24
The question is, how many fingers do the aliens have?
Good luck.
It's easy.
It's easy.
categorized as life of donzilla
Sunday, May 21 2006, 11:52 am
The Random Englishman is posting again...
Hope he doesn't mind if I give you a link to his latest alleycat post...
Hope he doesn't mind if I give you a link to his latest alleycat post...
categorized as life of donzilla
Sunday, May 21 2006, 11:34 am
And how many TAC library books do YOU still have?
categorized as life of donzilla
Sunday, May 21 2006, 11:12 am
cardboard
Cardboard.
I'm on a semi-permanent search for the inventions that have changed the way mankind lives because I have a hypothesis that, well, there aren't any.
But. I was just in the garage breaking down our inordinately large stock of boxes. Big boxes, little boxes, boxes of great strength and large crunch-test numbers, wine boxes, and so on.
And I realized that cardboard is maybe one of the least appreciated inventions. It is one of the most ubiquitous (how that word is overused in computing circles!) and adaptable substances ever.
Everything comes in cardboard, or its wealker brother, paperboard. Our shoes: cardboard. Our backpacks: cardboard. Our luggage: cardboard. I once even built myself a cardboard house for shelter from a storm, but that's a different story.
And then, this morning, I got to thinking about cardboard. It's kindof like our society. You know, tacky. You wouldn't use cardboard if you wanted to look nice. It's ultimately weak. Yeah, it might get your record collection from here to Omaha via UPS, but you're not going to WANT to build a house of it (trust me, I KNOW). It's not a "survival tool" that any sane person would consider using in an emergency. I don't have any in my car. It wouldn't go in my patented Bachelor Survival Kit (tm), whereas something like Duct tape would (and is).
Yup. It's a great image of our society. Cardboard. Tacky, weak. Non-surviving. Ubiquitous. That's my cranky Sunday morning thought.
I'm on a semi-permanent search for the inventions that have changed the way mankind lives because I have a hypothesis that, well, there aren't any.
But. I was just in the garage breaking down our inordinately large stock of boxes. Big boxes, little boxes, boxes of great strength and large crunch-test numbers, wine boxes, and so on.
And I realized that cardboard is maybe one of the least appreciated inventions. It is one of the most ubiquitous (how that word is overused in computing circles!) and adaptable substances ever.
Everything comes in cardboard, or its wealker brother, paperboard. Our shoes: cardboard. Our backpacks: cardboard. Our luggage: cardboard. I once even built myself a cardboard house for shelter from a storm, but that's a different story.
And then, this morning, I got to thinking about cardboard. It's kindof like our society. You know, tacky. You wouldn't use cardboard if you wanted to look nice. It's ultimately weak. Yeah, it might get your record collection from here to Omaha via UPS, but you're not going to WANT to build a house of it (trust me, I KNOW). It's not a "survival tool" that any sane person would consider using in an emergency. I don't have any in my car. It wouldn't go in my patented Bachelor Survival Kit (tm), whereas something like Duct tape would (and is).
Yup. It's a great image of our society. Cardboard. Tacky, weak. Non-surviving. Ubiquitous. That's my cranky Sunday morning thought.
categorized as life of donzilla
Sunday, May 21 2006, 9:37 am
I can't understand this website 'cause it's in Japanese, but they sure as hell stole my picture of my camera!!!
categorized as life of donzilla
Sunday, May 21 2006, 9:34 am
I a . l . m . o . s . t feel like a blogger again...
categorized as life of donzilla
Sunday, May 21 2006, 9:33 am
I have moved my personal Maximum Sleep In Time (tm) to 8:00am from 10:00am.
This means that I get out of bed if I wake up at or near (or after) 8am, as a general rule.
This means that I get out of bed if I wake up at or near (or after) 8am, as a general rule.
categorized as life of donzilla
Saturday, May 20 2006, 1:56 pm
I think I might put a drop-shadow on the border of my blog-thingy... Just to stay one ahead of the competition... Also, I need to write a new shopping cart app, so if anyone needs one, let me know.
categorized as life of donzilla
Saturday, May 20 2006, 1:55 pm
I wonder how long it will be until all the homeless dudes have websites with Paypal "Donate" buttons on them...
Or maybe they'll take those rfid credit cards that are getting popular... Just wave your keys at them as you pass by...
Or maybe they'll take those rfid credit cards that are getting popular... Just wave your keys at them as you pass by...
categorized as life of donzilla
Saturday, May 20 2006, 11:09 am
'Twas a hectic week.
So now it's a lazy Saturday decompression day.
I've got a few irrigation thingies to fix in the front yard, and I've gotta put the car up on blocks and see what this oil leak is all about.
We just finished putting Da'moose's computer together and moving it upstairs.
The downstairs room still looks like a train wreck. It looks like maybe six people moved in, instead of NailinCoffin and I moving back from SoCal, which is what really happened.
So now it's a lazy Saturday decompression day.
I've got a few irrigation thingies to fix in the front yard, and I've gotta put the car up on blocks and see what this oil leak is all about.
We just finished putting Da'moose's computer together and moving it upstairs.
The downstairs room still looks like a train wreck. It looks like maybe six people moved in, instead of NailinCoffin and I moving back from SoCal, which is what really happened.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, May 16 2006, 4:01 pm
- Yesterday we planted three tomato plants, a butter-nut squash plant, a bell pepper plant, a chile plant, a cucumber plant, and some oregano.
- Today TSG left for Oregon.
- Today I started full-time employment.
- Yesterday was the feast day of St. Isidore the Farmer, and of his wife, St. Maria. We had an engagement blessing at St. Rita's, where it was also St. Rita's feast day.
- Today TSG left for Oregon.
- Today I started full-time employment.
- Yesterday was the feast day of St. Isidore the Farmer, and of his wife, St. Maria. We had an engagement blessing at St. Rita's, where it was also St. Rita's feast day.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, May 16 2006, 1:46 pm
Well, TSG left about an hour and a half ago... I'm already on my second beer...
Ginger beer, that is.
I'm back at work in 'The Office,' where I'll be doing database work and so forth for about two-thirds of the Summer, at least. Meanwhile, TSG is purusing a job on an essential oils farm in Oregon, painfully far away... Sigh...
Ginger beer, that is.
I'm back at work in 'The Office,' where I'll be doing database work and so forth for about two-thirds of the Summer, at least. Meanwhile, TSG is purusing a job on an essential oils farm in Oregon, painfully far away... Sigh...
categorized as life of donzilla
Monday, May 15 2006, 11:04 am
And now the job search begins in earnest...
Not really, because TSG and I both have jobs lined up, but not long-term jobs. And we also have to find a place to live after we get married...
I did some work on the irrigation systems here at home yesterday, and I think we might go and get some plants and do some gardening together in an hour or so.
Not really, because TSG and I both have jobs lined up, but not long-term jobs. And we also have to find a place to live after we get married...
I did some work on the irrigation systems here at home yesterday, and I think we might go and get some plants and do some gardening together in an hour or so.
categorized as life of donzilla
Saturday, May 13 2006, 5:14 pm
And we never have to go back to Southern California (if we don't want to).
categorized as life of donzilla
Sunday, May 7 2006, 1:23 pm
Yesterday we "borrowed" the three C boys and went on a hike with them. Their ages are 9, 6, and 4, and we hiked more than two miles. We spotted a pair of deer, one buck one doe, squirrels, cows far off in the distance, and all sorts of bugs, bees, and insects. We also saw a red-tailed hawk a close range, and a few other small hawks, as well as buzzards and turkey vultures. After we reached The Painter's Shack, we collected a few good sword sticks and waged war on the brambles and thistles and each other on the way down.
categorized as life of donzilla
Wednesday, May 3 2006, 1:03 pm
Went to visit some friends last night... They live on the university campus of CSU Channel Islands, which, incidentally, is quite nice...
The cactus-covered hills and red, chiseled and pock-marked rock give the land a true feeling of southern California.
I'm moving out of southern California for the last time a week from tomorrow.
Right now it is time for my last two classes of my college career, and, true to form, I am sitting in the coffee shop in Santa Paula, crusin' blogs.
I feel that this is a more fitting end to my college career than actually attending those classes. This way, my college career ended this morning on a bright note with Mr. Collins and Einstein.
Not with a bang, but with a whimper.
TSG, on the other hand, has had her last two consecutive classes at La Cabaña. I'm about to go join them over there, because it's "more of a party than a class," as her prof just remarked.
The cactus-covered hills and red, chiseled and pock-marked rock give the land a true feeling of southern California.
I'm moving out of southern California for the last time a week from tomorrow.
Right now it is time for my last two classes of my college career, and, true to form, I am sitting in the coffee shop in Santa Paula, crusin' blogs.
I feel that this is a more fitting end to my college career than actually attending those classes. This way, my college career ended this morning on a bright note with Mr. Collins and Einstein.
Not with a bang, but with a whimper.
TSG, on the other hand, has had her last two consecutive classes at La Cabaña. I'm about to go join them over there, because it's "more of a party than a class," as her prof just remarked.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, May 2 2006, 7:55 pm
take the money and run
We are skipping out on our college graduation.
When we mention this to people (our friends) we generally get one of two reactions:
(1) Right on!
or
(2) No! You can't do that!
I think most of our parents didn't go to theirs', and we certainly don't feel any obligation to the school, or even really to our current class (excepting certain members, whom we love).
And we feel that getting our diplomas from Mimi (on next Thursday!) is even more symbolic than getting them from the dean.
When we mention this to people (our friends) we generally get one of two reactions:
(1) Right on!
or
(2) No! You can't do that!
I think most of our parents didn't go to theirs', and we certainly don't feel any obligation to the school, or even really to our current class (excepting certain members, whom we love).
And we feel that getting our diplomas from Mimi (on next Thursday!) is even more symbolic than getting them from the dean.
categorized as life of donzilla
Monday, May 1 2006, 5:16 pm
My last TAC Seminar EVER is in 45 minutes... The Phaedrus...
categorized as life of donzilla
Monday, May 1 2006, 3:39 pm
And now I'm back at my favorite (and the only) WiFi-enabled coffee shop in Santa Paula, contemplating my soon-to-be-executed "last move out of southern California," which is scheduled ten days hence.
categorized as life of donzilla
Monday, May 1 2006, 3:38 pm
Wow, it was a whirlwind weekend in San Fran. I think we counted 16 people over for dinner on Saturday night, and the connections and relations and so on between all of them was staggeringly complex.
I was introducing my Kenyan former roommate's mother to my fiancee's father's brother-in-law. Seriously. And that was only the beginning of the mayhem.
It was great crowd and a great time.
I was introducing my Kenyan former roommate's mother to my fiancee's father's brother-in-law. Seriously. And that was only the beginning of the mayhem.
It was great crowd and a great time.
categorized as life of donzilla
Sunday, April 30 2006, 3:10 pm
Been up north, just about to head down south. Two weeks less two days and we're college grads!@
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, April 27 2006, 10:15 am
Tomorrow we head north (again) for (another) party in San Francisco.
Last weekend we left here at 4am, arrived in Santa Clara - at the INCREDIBLY beautiful Santa Clara mission - attended the wedding, the reception, and so on, and then headed back down here, arriving at 10pm.
This weekend will be a little more sane, though we are taking an almost full load of stuff (after trying to throw out or give away most of it)...
Last weekend we left here at 4am, arrived in Santa Clara - at the INCREDIBLY beautiful Santa Clara mission - attended the wedding, the reception, and so on, and then headed back down here, arriving at 10pm.
This weekend will be a little more sane, though we are taking an almost full load of stuff (after trying to throw out or give away most of it)...
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, April 27 2006, 10:11 am
We had the faculty/staff vs. senior class softball game yesterday, and us, the senior class, won for the first time in nine years, thanks mostly to the leadership of one TONK.
We played seven innings in the on-and-off-rain, and then had hamburgers and then burned our thesis drafts in a fifty-gallon metal drum...
We played seven innings in the on-and-off-rain, and then had hamburgers and then burned our thesis drafts in a fifty-gallon metal drum...
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, April 25 2006, 9:34 am
I did not know...
A man who is engaged to a woman is said to be that woman's fiancé, and she is called his fiancée. These words are pronounced identically in English; the last -e in the feminine form is simply a French feminine ending.
...that they were different words.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, April 25 2006, 9:28 am
TRAGEDY OR HOPE? A View from East Africa
Lake Victoria, Faith, Widow-Inheritance, HIV/AIDS, Orphans, & Hope! These are some of the topics Fr. Benedict Croell OP from the Dominican Friars of East Africa will share with us during all the Masses this weekend. Deacon Turrentine's son, Don Turrentine, recently worked 2 months doing missionary work together with the Dominicans in Kisumu near Lake Victoria in Western Kenya. They will be telling us first-hand about the fascinating work of the Dominican Friars in Kenya, Tanzania & Uganda in youth evangelization & assisting the poor & orphans. If you wish to be generous and share in their work contact Fr. Benedict directly at benedictcroell@yahoo.com or you can call him: 720-226-2239 (until May 29).
Fr. Benedict Croell OP
Dominican Friars Kisumu (c/o Dominican Mission Secretariat)
141 E. 65th ST.
New York, NY 10021-6607
Lake Victoria, Faith, Widow-Inheritance, HIV/AIDS, Orphans, & Hope! These are some of the topics Fr. Benedict Croell OP from the Dominican Friars of East Africa will share with us during all the Masses this weekend. Deacon Turrentine's son, Don Turrentine, recently worked 2 months doing missionary work together with the Dominicans in Kisumu near Lake Victoria in Western Kenya. They will be telling us first-hand about the fascinating work of the Dominican Friars in Kenya, Tanzania & Uganda in youth evangelization & assisting the poor & orphans. If you wish to be generous and share in their work contact Fr. Benedict directly at benedictcroell@yahoo.com or you can call him: 720-226-2239 (until May 29).
Fr. Benedict Croell OP
Dominican Friars Kisumu (c/o Dominican Mission Secretariat)
141 E. 65th ST.
New York, NY 10021-6607
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, April 25 2006, 8:57 am
I keep having lots of Bloggable Thoughts (tm), but usually I'm nowhere near a computer. One of these is:
I've always thought that if you need to know something, all you have to do is go to daily mass, and you'll know.
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, April 21 2006, 3:11 pm
REI Steps Up to 20 Percent Green Power
Recreational Equipment Inc. ... announced ... Monday that it will purchase 10 million kilowatt hours of green power, or 20 percent of the company’s national electricity usage.
...
REI’s purchase of 10 million kilowatt hours will place the company among the top 10 retailers in the country purchasing green power.
...
REI’s purchase of 10 million kilowatt hours will place the company among the top 10 retailers in the country purchasing green power.
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, April 21 2006, 2:51 pm
Yesterday was like a record day in terms of people asking me to do thing for them. Something like 18 people asked me for seperate things, all day long. And it continues today! Several of the things I actually receieved compensation for, so that was good, but I said "OK" to too many things! Like my mother says, "No" is a complete sentence.
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, April 20 2006, 4:55 pm
TSG and I went for a long, romantic walk this morning... We were going to go for a short, romantic jog, but we stopped to smell the flowers.
There were orange ones, and yellow ones (on three different bushes and plants), pink and white ones, purple and white ones, and some pale blue ones.
On the way down the final hill, we gathered bouquets of sage, lavender, and some other sweet-smelling herbs to hang and dry in our room.
We saw a squirel, a bunny, a mole (dead), lots of quail, other birds... A ripe avocado that TSG stepped on... And we made baby footprints (with our hands) in the mud along the side of the trail...
There were orange ones, and yellow ones (on three different bushes and plants), pink and white ones, purple and white ones, and some pale blue ones.
On the way down the final hill, we gathered bouquets of sage, lavender, and some other sweet-smelling herbs to hang and dry in our room.
We saw a squirel, a bunny, a mole (dead), lots of quail, other birds... A ripe avocado that TSG stepped on... And we made baby footprints (with our hands) in the mud along the side of the trail...
categorized as life of donzilla
Wednesday, April 19 2006, 2:12 pm
We've already been back here TOO LONG. Aaugh.
categorized as life of donzilla
Wednesday, April 19 2006, 10:32 am
My very sunburned back turned into a very itchy and red back for a night or two, but it's better now. And I have a leg up on my California friends for the Suntan '06 season.
We are back from Florida, and back to work, although we don't have classes (UGH!) till tomorrow. It's okay though, by the time we realize that we are back it will be the weekend.
We are back from Florida, and back to work, although we don't have classes (UGH!) till tomorrow. It's okay though, by the time we realize that we are back it will be the weekend.
categorized as life of donzilla
Monday, April 17 2006, 1:12 pm
I got my tax return (federal) on 4/14, the day BEFORE tax day!
categorized as life of donzilla
Monday, April 17 2006, 11:43 am
Florida here is not too hot or humid, - it's just enough to make you want to go swimming all the time. However, it being only April 17th, I can imagine that the summers here must get terrible.
And I feel that the in-laws have fully accepted me into their family. I won't say how I know this just yet, but...
And I feel that the in-laws have fully accepted me into their family. I won't say how I know this just yet, but...
categorized as life of donzilla
Monday, April 17 2006, 11:41 am
Now that all the split ends are off my hair, it curls better!
We went to a coffee shop here in Pensacola... It's called Bad Ass Coffee Company, but it's not a funkycoolhipindependent coffee place, but a franchise... Ah, well, it had good coffee, okay sandwiches, and a terrible big-screen tv showing an awful gameshow.
But the company (we brought) was AWESOME.
We went to a coffee shop here in Pensacola... It's called Bad Ass Coffee Company, but it's not a funkycoolhipindependent coffee place, but a franchise... Ah, well, it had good coffee, okay sandwiches, and a terrible big-screen tv showing an awful gameshow.
But the company (we brought) was AWESOME.
categorized as life of donzilla
Saturday, April 15 2006, 4:22 pm
I GOT A HAIRCUT TODAY!
Actually, I got MOST of them cut...
Actually, I got MOST of them cut...
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, April 13 2006, 6:17 pm
Spellcheck in Thunderbird just corrected my spelling of "Y'all."
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, April 11 2006, 3:58 pm
I really don't feel like a student.
Of course, that's not really a NEW feeling...
I've been working, remotely, on computers all day. I read Edward Abbey until late in the night, and slept in this morning. We went visiting friends in town, bringing them coffee, and we rushed back for my class, which was canceled. I think we're still kind of getting caught up from sleep-dep on the weekend, and we're getting ready for our Florida adventure tomorrow.
Of course, that's not really a NEW feeling...
I've been working, remotely, on computers all day. I read Edward Abbey until late in the night, and slept in this morning. We went visiting friends in town, bringing them coffee, and we rushed back for my class, which was canceled. I think we're still kind of getting caught up from sleep-dep on the weekend, and we're getting ready for our Florida adventure tomorrow.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, April 11 2006, 1:40 pm
I'm trying to find some time to get both me and TSG up here for a few days...
I'm thinking right after school, when she and I drive up to my folks house, and then when she continues on to Oregon that I will go with her, and we could spend a day or two at Mt. Tabor on the way up.
I've also got lots of relatives and friends that I haven't spent time with at all recently...
I'm thinking right after school, when she and I drive up to my folks house, and then when she continues on to Oregon that I will go with her, and we could spend a day or two at Mt. Tabor on the way up.
I've also got lots of relatives and friends that I haven't spent time with at all recently...
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, April 11 2006, 1:36 pm
We hung out in Tehachapi all weekend with a big group of friends and their family. Every night we stayed up late chatting and socializing, and all day we played with the kids, mostly a 4yo and a 2yo and their 10-month-old baby sister, who goes by either "Baby Sister" or "Princess."
Good times.
And we are ready to get away from all the rain for a few days. We're preparing to make the most of the sun in Florida, although the last time we went their they had a hurricane, just for us. So we'll see...
Good times.
And we are ready to get away from all the rain for a few days. We're preparing to make the most of the sun in Florida, although the last time we went their they had a hurricane, just for us. So we'll see...
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, April 7 2006, 5:43 pm
Off to visit the B's for the weekend!
The snow has stayed on Topa Topa for four or five days! Despite all this newfound California sun!
The snow has stayed on Topa Topa for four or five days! Despite all this newfound California sun!
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, April 7 2006, 5:23 pm
I ordered two books and a cd from Amazon on Feb 18th.
I have received ONE of those books.
How can this company stay in business?
I like it as a marketplace for the used book vendors... THEY deliver their books and such ASAP, 'cause their reputation depends on it.
Amazon is good for finding rare things, but they stink as far as getting them to you.
I have received ONE of those books.
How can this company stay in business?
I like it as a marketplace for the used book vendors... THEY deliver their books and such ASAP, 'cause their reputation depends on it.
Amazon is good for finding rare things, but they stink as far as getting them to you.
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, April 7 2006, 4:51 pm
I have quietly been assembling a smörgåsbord of climbing gear.
I sold a hard drive on ebay a while back, and I let the paypal payment just fester in my account while I searched and searched for good deals on climbing gear.
In fact, I searched so much that it would have been better financially to WORK all that time and simply buy, flat-out, mindlessly, top-of-the-line gear. Oh well. Now I have items with character.
I have an olive print chalk bag, some 7-year-old ex-rental climbing shoes, and a Singing Rock harness.
And I oh-so-want a Black Diamond ATC Belay Device. An a D Carabiner, also for belaying.
AND we've already had almost TWO sunny days in a row! We may actually get to go climbing this month!
I sold a hard drive on ebay a while back, and I let the paypal payment just fester in my account while I searched and searched for good deals on climbing gear.
In fact, I searched so much that it would have been better financially to WORK all that time and simply buy, flat-out, mindlessly, top-of-the-line gear. Oh well. Now I have items with character.
I have an olive print chalk bag, some 7-year-old ex-rental climbing shoes, and a Singing Rock harness.
And I oh-so-want a Black Diamond ATC Belay Device. An a D Carabiner, also for belaying.
AND we've already had almost TWO sunny days in a row! We may actually get to go climbing this month!
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, April 7 2006, 3:48 pm
I went to work right after class, so I didn't even realize TODAY IS FRIDAY! Woo-hoo!
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, April 6 2006, 1:55 pm
I've gotta start working out more than once every 2.5 weeks, 'cause then when I do work out, I'm sore for 5 days...
Anyways, TSG and I finally got all her parents' stuff moved out of the storage unit and in the moving truck so that it can all be shipped to their new (Florida) address. Sweet.
Tomorrow, after class, we are going up into the mountains to visit some friends. We are taking the little truck because, unfortunately, the Silver Bullet has a problematic steering rack. I am researching and ordering a new one and hopefully I can install it by Eastertide, so my brother can drive home in it.
Four more days of class and we'll be in Florida for almost a week.
Fourteen more days of class and we'll be college grads, and we won't ever have to come back to this infernal place. I can't wait.
Anyways, TSG and I finally got all her parents' stuff moved out of the storage unit and in the moving truck so that it can all be shipped to their new (Florida) address. Sweet.
Tomorrow, after class, we are going up into the mountains to visit some friends. We are taking the little truck because, unfortunately, the Silver Bullet has a problematic steering rack. I am researching and ordering a new one and hopefully I can install it by Eastertide, so my brother can drive home in it.
Four more days of class and we'll be in Florida for almost a week.
Fourteen more days of class and we'll be college grads, and we won't ever have to come back to this infernal place. I can't wait.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, April 4 2006, 7:43 pm
I had a whirlwind trip up to San Francisco... put in 16+ hours of work, turned around and headed down.
TSG's defense was yesterday, Stevo's today. They both passed, which is all we care about right now.
Only 16 days of class left.
We'll be in Florida for a week, starting next Wednesday, getting an early start on our summer tans.
TSG's defense was yesterday, Stevo's today. They both passed, which is all we care about right now.
Only 16 days of class left.
We'll be in Florida for a week, starting next Wednesday, getting an early start on our summer tans.
categorized as life of donzilla
Saturday, April 1 2006, 3:42 pm
I'm up in Marin County working on a few server installs...
Including some nice 64-bit machines...
Including some nice 64-bit machines...
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, March 30 2006, 4:52 pm
Anyone need a new used laptop?
It's actually pretty fast and peppy and that sort of thing... And it's a tough one.
It's actually pretty fast and peppy and that sort of thing... And it's a tough one.
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, March 30 2006, 4:51 pm
19 days of class left, after today...
TSG and I discovered a 5:30 pm mass in the area that WE DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A DRESS TO. So we have been going there the last few days, instead of to campus. The mass is said in English, which is nice, and by a nice old Irish (we think) priest who dispenses with the whole affair in about 29 minutes. And then they all say evening prayer, or like last night, stations of the cross in Spanish.
TSG and I discovered a 5:30 pm mass in the area that WE DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A DRESS TO. So we have been going there the last few days, instead of to campus. The mass is said in English, which is nice, and by a nice old Irish (we think) priest who dispenses with the whole affair in about 29 minutes. And then they all say evening prayer, or like last night, stations of the cross in Spanish.
categorized as life of donzilla
Monday, March 27 2006, 12:12 pm
22 days of class left after today...
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, March 24 2006, 8:34 pm
Someone at the coffee house that I'm at is playing Halflife on his laptop...
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, March 24 2006, 8:33 pm
I saw my first HUMMINGBIRD of Spring today. I know other people have seen them around in the last week or so, but this was the first time I saw one.
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, March 23 2006, 4:20 pm
I had my thesis "defense" yesterday, and it went well.
Now I just have to show up for enough classes to pass... and I'm done.
Now I just have to show up for enough classes to pass... and I'm done.
categorized as life of donzilla
Monday, March 20 2006, 4:54 pm
Thesis defenses start(ed) today.
Mine is the day after tomorrow.
I need to write a preceses of about 250 words, sort of a caveat emptor for those tutors elected to read and attack -- the opposite of defend -- my thesis.
I'm thinking that it'll be something like a description of how my thesis really only pertains to natural theology, the realm of philosophy as it deals with God, not the realm of Faith. Because I can envision it being attacked on those grounds...
Incidentally, here is my thesis, for what it's worth. I don't think I'm terribly impressed or satisfied by what it turned out to be, but I think that it will do.
Mine is the day after tomorrow.
I need to write a preceses of about 250 words, sort of a caveat emptor for those tutors elected to read and attack -- the opposite of defend -- my thesis.
I'm thinking that it'll be something like a description of how my thesis really only pertains to natural theology, the realm of philosophy as it deals with God, not the realm of Faith. Because I can envision it being attacked on those grounds...
Incidentally, here is my thesis, for what it's worth. I don't think I'm terribly impressed or satisfied by what it turned out to be, but I think that it will do.
categorized as life of donzilla
Monday, March 20 2006, 9:25 am
I was going to write a big long tirade about how Chase bank (affiliated with Amazon for their VISA card) charged me a horrendous late fee when it was Amazon's fault for not reversing the charges on a non-shipped order fast enough, but when I called up the bank, the first thing they did was waive the fee, before I even had a chance to complain... The conversation went something like this:
ME: "There's a fifteen-dollar charge on my account, and-"
CUST SRVC: "Oh, let me take care of that. Ok, I reversed it. Is there anything I can help you with today?"
ME: "Um, no... I guess not..."
CUST SRVC: "Oh, let me take care of that. Ok, I reversed it. Is there anything I can help you with today?"
ME: "Um, no... I guess not..."
I was a little bit stunned. I was ready to cancel the whole card, and ready to be fuming angry at them, and then...
It's a good customer service trick they got going there...
And probably good financially, too. Many people probably just pay the thing, and the ones who don't get endeared to the whole system so that they can have their money sucked out of them later, like a thin-skinned tourist in Kisumu...
categorized as life of donzilla
Sunday, March 19 2006, 1:29 pm
Up at Crashbox's working on some website stuff...
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, March 17 2006, 4:27 pm
As you get more serious about bouldering, you may want to bring a toothbrush for cleaning moss, dirt or other debris from potential holds.
...uh-huh...
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, March 14 2006, 3:59 pm
TSG and I get a lot of comments about looking like brother and sister...
Love: 10 crazy scientific facts
By Laura Schaefer
#1. It’s like looking in a mirror! It turns out we all have a little something in common with Narcissus—the mythical fellow who fell in love with his own reflection. Scientists at the University of Liverpool recently concluded that our brains favor people with familiar faces. The research team asked over 200 participants to view a number of digitally altered human faces. They found that subjects preferred the features they found the most familiar—whether that means his or her own visage or that of a family member. This may explain that common phenomenon of couples looking like they could be siblings.
By Laura Schaefer
#1. It’s like looking in a mirror! It turns out we all have a little something in common with Narcissus—the mythical fellow who fell in love with his own reflection. Scientists at the University of Liverpool recently concluded that our brains favor people with familiar faces. The research team asked over 200 participants to view a number of digitally altered human faces. They found that subjects preferred the features they found the most familiar—whether that means his or her own visage or that of a family member. This may explain that common phenomenon of couples looking like they could be siblings.
-from my TSG
categorized as life of donzilla
Monday, March 13 2006, 4:54 pm
Man, it's a relief to have that blessed thesis done.
categorized as life of donzilla
Monday, March 13 2006, 4:25 pm
pickup trucks are engineered to be driven with the tailgate up
TSG's mother found this a while ago. We were going to conduct our own road tests, when we were going cross country last summer, but we never bothered.
categorized as life of donzilla
Monday, March 13 2006, 4:15 pm
Whew! Theses are DONE as of 11:45 pm last night. The party went till almost 3 am, I'm told. TSG and I left at 1:20 am, and the Dean was still there when WE left.
(I didn't dump any ice water on him this year, though I thought about it.)
So now, life gets better and better.
Automotive report: I put a new battery in TSG's truck today; one of the cells tested as dead and I was only getting 11 or so volts, and each time I tried to crank the engine, it scuddered. So now it's much better, and it has a new, much tinier battery.
Now I've got a lot of computer work to do, and some websites to design, and some money to earn, CAUSE WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!!!
(I didn't dump any ice water on him this year, though I thought about it.)
So now, life gets better and better.
Automotive report: I put a new battery in TSG's truck today; one of the cells tested as dead and I was only getting 11 or so volts, and each time I tried to crank the engine, it scuddered. So now it's much better, and it has a new, much tinier battery.
Now I've got a lot of computer work to do, and some websites to design, and some money to earn, CAUSE WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!!!
categorized as life of donzilla
Sunday, March 12 2006, 11:09 am
Theses are due for good in 12 hours.
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, March 9 2006, 9:26 am
Seen on the license plate of an older Caddie in Santa Paula today:
WYRUFAT
WYRUFAT
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, March 7 2006, 3:32 pm
Mar. 06 (CWNews.com) - South Dakota's Governor Mike Rounds has signed a bill banning nearly all abortions in the state.
The new law-- the first statewide abortion ban enacted since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision-- is due to go into effect July 1...
Thus the South Dakota law sets the stage for the first direct challenge to Roe v. Wade...
The new law-- the first statewide abortion ban enacted since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision-- is due to go into effect July 1...
Thus the South Dakota law sets the stage for the first direct challenge to Roe v. Wade...
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, March 7 2006, 10:02 am
The thesis is due this coming up Sunday, and of course there has been lots of excitement surrounding that...and other things.
I had a dream that I was a journalist attached to a Marine squad in 1989, I think maybe in Iraq, and after a firefight which wiped out everyone who was with us except me and one other fellow, I had to talk him out of suicide.
I had a dream that I was a journalist attached to a Marine squad in 1989, I think maybe in Iraq, and after a firefight which wiped out everyone who was with us except me and one other fellow, I had to talk him out of suicide.
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, March 2 2006, 4:26 pm
We made it safely down the coast and back to school last night. We were in bed by two am.
Back to the grind again, but not for too much longer. We're almost done.
Back to the grind again, but not for too much longer. We're almost done.
categorized as life of donzilla
Monday, February 27 2006, 2:54 pm
So I emailed my advisor - a still admittedly rough - draft last night at 1:29 am.
I've got some reworking, some references to look up, and then whatever changes the advisor recommends, but I'm done for now, until I discuss it with him...
This is exciting...
I've got some reworking, some references to look up, and then whatever changes the advisor recommends, but I'm done for now, until I discuss it with him...
This is exciting...
categorized as life of donzilla
Saturday, February 25 2006, 6:12 pm
We spent all day at the Fairfax outpost of Marin Coffee Roasters, working on our theses. TSG just emailed her "next-to-last" draft to her advisor, I am a few hours of proof-reading/editing behind her... So I'm still going to work hard here and try to finish before (the rest of) the dinner guests arrive. It seems that most of Marin County now knows I'm here, so I've gotta rush and finish the thesis before the party party party starts...
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, February 24 2006, 5:19 pm
This post snuck in when I should be doing my thesis...
Know what I've started doing? I've started cleaning not only the outside of my car's windows with the squeegee at the gas station, but also the INSIDE as well. Yeah...
Know what I've started doing? I've started cleaning not only the outside of my car's windows with the squeegee at the gas station, but also the INSIDE as well. Yeah...
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, February 24 2006, 11:25 am
We already have the national Do Not Call List. How about a national "Do Not Email" List?
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, February 23 2006, 4:24 pm
It's another belabored thesis day in Fairfax, which means that we don't really get out of the house... But we've been more productive today than yesterday, which was kind of a slump, after two really good days...
categorized as life of donzilla
Wednesday, February 22 2006, 1:06 pm
We are on strict socialization prohibition until our papers are done...
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, February 21 2006, 4:02 pm
So remember that thing I was selling on Amazon? Well, I sold it to a guy in Nigeria! Now I have to go figure out how to ship it to him...
categorized as life of donzilla
Monday, February 20 2006, 2:27 pm
I wonder if writing and typing use different parts of the brain... I'll bet they do...
categorized as life of donzilla
Sunday, February 19 2006, 11:36 pm
The modern version of NASCRAP is a pathetic excuse for motor racing that ranks right up there with professional wrestling and roller derby, in terms of cerebral involvement. Push the pedal to the floor and turn left, Cletus. Whatever..............
linkage: http://www.smokingtoaster.com/blog/
...should visit this guy more often!...
categorized as life of donzilla
Sunday, February 19 2006, 11:09 pm
Made it to the '30 from the '3060 in six flat. Gunna settle in and finish up the theses while we're here. And we're gunna be here for 11 days. Which is sweet. Cause I was about to crack down there at school.
categorized as life of donzilla
Saturday, February 18 2006, 5:09 pm
Why selling things on Amazon is better than selling them on eBay:
-No fees until you sell the blessed thing
-Shipping credit!
-No Paypal taking a chunk out of your money, they put it right into your checking account
See what I'm selling on Amazon...
-No fees until you sell the blessed thing
-Shipping credit!
-No Paypal taking a chunk out of your money, they put it right into your checking account
See what I'm selling on Amazon...
categorized as life of donzilla
Saturday, February 18 2006, 4:29 pm
Put new strings on TSG's guitar and played and played...
I now have a puncture wound on my left thumb, a huge blister on my right thumb, and hamburger hands in general...
I now have a puncture wound on my left thumb, a huge blister on my right thumb, and hamburger hands in general...
categorized as life of donzilla
Saturday, February 18 2006, 12:48 pm
The hills around school are covered in snow, and it has been cold, cold for the last few days...
categorized as life of donzilla
Saturday, February 18 2006, 12:10 pm
I am so glad to have finished that week of school.
Now I've got a few things to do, a thesis draft to crunch out, and a road trip to go on.
Now I've got a few things to do, a thesis draft to crunch out, and a road trip to go on.
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, February 16 2006, 5:01 pm
46 days of class left in my undergraduate college career.
15 of which I can skip and still graduate.
It's not that I'd do that, it's just a comforting thought.
15 of which I can skip and still graduate.
It's not that I'd do that, it's just a comforting thought.
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, February 16 2006, 4:30 pm
I am now making 4.5% on my online money market account.
The bank that I chose to open a savings money market account (after long hours of painstaking research) I have barely had contact with. I think I may have mailed or faxed them an initial authorization page or something, and maybe talked to them on the phone once... But other than that, all of my interaction with them has been through the internet, either their website or email, for the last two years.
That's pretty remarkable.
(There is a "Refer-a-Friend-and-get-$20-each" link...)
The bank that I chose to open a savings money market account (after long hours of painstaking research) I have barely had contact with. I think I may have mailed or faxed them an initial authorization page or something, and maybe talked to them on the phone once... But other than that, all of my interaction with them has been through the internet, either their website or email, for the last two years.
That's pretty remarkable.
(There is a "Refer-a-Friend-and-get-$20-each" link...)
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, February 16 2006, 11:53 am
When you get off the beaten track of the internet, it's amazing how many poorly designed sites there are... The market is still there for professional and semi-professional website design, although the monetary cost of design has fallen. With tons of people now designing their own websites, there are now tons of crappy websites in existence.
categorized as life of donzilla
Wednesday, February 15 2006, 10:48 pm
Two more school days in this week.
President's Day on Monday.
Don Rags the week after.
Time to crunch out the last few revisions of the ol' thesis.
President's Day on Monday.
Don Rags the week after.
Time to crunch out the last few revisions of the ol' thesis.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, February 14 2006, 9:00 pm
TSG found an article about this guy in one of the trashy magazines that lie about the house she house-sits.
I happen to be reading A Walk Across America, which chronicles a slightly different trek.
For one thing, Peter ran 11 miles every day BEFORE setting out, and The Fat Man couldn't even walk to the eatery. Peter Jenkins AND Cooper together weighed about HALF of what he weighed.
I happen to be reading A Walk Across America, which chronicles a slightly different trek.
For one thing, Peter ran 11 miles every day BEFORE setting out, and The Fat Man couldn't even walk to the eatery. Peter Jenkins AND Cooper together weighed about HALF of what he weighed.
categorized as life of donzilla
Monday, February 13 2006, 3:50 pm
I feel like I'm getting sick again. Too little sleep for too many days. And the weather is hot, though it's supposed to cool off for the next couple days and then rain on the weekend, which will ruin weekend climbing plans.
Ah well...
TSG and I are planning on extending the President's Day holiday and merging it with TAC's Don Rags next week in order to get enough time for a San Fran-Thesis-Getaway. We'll see what happens.
Ah well...
TSG and I are planning on extending the President's Day holiday and merging it with TAC's Don Rags next week in order to get enough time for a San Fran-Thesis-Getaway. We'll see what happens.
categorized as life of donzilla
Saturday, February 11 2006, 4:41 pm
American Sign Language is the 3rd most used language in the U.S.
I want to learn it and Japanese.
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, February 10 2006, 5:20 pm
Does my blog reflect that it's the weekend? Can you tell??!
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, February 10 2006, 4:40 pm
Diary of a Thesis
10th, february.
Don took me to a coffee shop in Ojai, and while he boldy drank a blueberry latte, I grew considerably. Perhaps because of his discussion with his advisor this morning, I received an entirely new section about boundaries.
Don took me to a coffee shop in Ojai, and while he boldy drank a blueberry latte, I grew considerably. Perhaps because of his discussion with his advisor this morning, I received an entirely new section about boundaries.
...found this in my notebook this afternoon...
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, February 10 2006, 3:45 pm
You can smell the ocean from campus. The air has drifted in from the coast, and it calls us, lingering here, drawing us to the ocean...
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, February 9 2006, 4:30 pm
According to our beloved CoffeeBoy, a twelve-ounce cup of drip coffee has twice as much caffeine as a double-shot of espresso.
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, February 9 2006, 4:28 pm
Well, The Random Englishman came down last weekend and we drank enormous amounts of coffee and exhibited the most ADD behavior I have ever heard of.
Somewhere between heading down to the classroom to pound out some drum n' bass and watching Peter D sweat and labor over removing a rock wall, we ended up in Santa Paula loading chairs into the back of a little green pickup for Joe T.
There were about 18 other things in there, too. Hey, wanna go ride bikes?
Somewhere between heading down to the classroom to pound out some drum n' bass and watching Peter D sweat and labor over removing a rock wall, we ended up in Santa Paula loading chairs into the back of a little green pickup for Joe T.
There were about 18 other things in there, too. Hey, wanna go ride bikes?
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, February 9 2006, 11:33 am
We are all gathered at the Santa Paula Coffee Shop working on laptops and theses (<-- the plural of thesis)...
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, February 7 2006, 9:13 pm
This is the first post from the new server... It's taken me a long time to get it over here, and, most likely, things will be a little strange as I convert Intel/MS specific php to Redhat... But bear with me. And update your links: some of you have me as yourcomputergenius.com/ec or computergenius.net/ec, but the correct url is http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
categorized as meta-blogging
Tuesday, February 7 2006, 9:17 pm
This is the first post from the new server... It's taken me a long time to get it over here, and, most likely, things will be a little strange as I convert Intel/MS specific php to Redhat... But bear with me. And update your links: some of you have me as yourcomputergenius.com/ec or computergenius.net/ec, but the correct url is http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
categorized as meta-blogging
Tuesday, February 7 2006, 9:20 pm
This is the first post from the new server... It's taken me a long time to get it over here, and, most likely, things will be a little strange as I convert Intel/MS specific php to Redhat... But bear with me. And update your links: some of you have me as yourcomputergenius.com/ec or computergenius.net/ec, but the correct url is
http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, February 7 2006, 9:21 pm
This is the first post from the new server... It's taken me a long time to get it over here, and, most likely, things will be a little strange as I convert Intel/MS specific php to Redhat... But bear with me. And update your links: some of you have me as yourcomputergenius.com/ec or computergenius.net/ec, but the correct url is
http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, February 7 2006, 9:23 pm
This is the first post from the new server... It's taken me a long time to get it over here, and, most likely, things will be a little strange as I convert Intel/MS specific php to Redhat... But bear with me. And update your links: some of you have me as yourcomputergenius.com/ec or computergenius.net/ec, but the correct url is
http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, February 7 2006, 9:13 pm
This is the first post from the new server... It's taken me a long time to get it over here, and, most likely, things will be a little strange as I convert Intel/MS specific php to Redhat... But bear with me. And update your links: some of you have me as yourcomputergenius.com/ec or computergenius.net/ec, but the correct url is http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
categorized as meta-blogging
Tuesday, February 7 2006, 9:17 pm
This is the first post from the new server... It's taken me a long time to get it over here, and, most likely, things will be a little strange as I convert Intel/MS specific php to Redhat... But bear with me. And update your links: some of you have me as yourcomputergenius.com/ec or computergenius.net/ec, but the correct url is http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
categorized as meta-blogging
Tuesday, February 7 2006, 9:20 pm
This is the first post from the new server... It's taken me a long time to get it over here, and, most likely, things will be a little strange as I convert Intel/MS specific php to Redhat... But bear with me. And update your links: some of you have me as yourcomputergenius.com/ec or computergenius.net/ec, but the correct url is
http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, February 7 2006, 9:21 pm
This is the first post from the new server... It's taken me a long time to get it over here, and, most likely, things will be a little strange as I convert Intel/MS specific php to Redhat... But bear with me. And update your links: some of you have me as yourcomputergenius.com/ec or computergenius.net/ec, but the correct url is
http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, February 7 2006, 9:23 pm
This is the first post from the new server... It's taken me a long time to get it over here, and, most likely, things will be a little strange as I convert Intel/MS specific php to Redhat... But bear with me. And update your links: some of you have me as yourcomputergenius.com/ec or computergenius.net/ec, but the correct url is
http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, February 7 2006, 9:13 pm
This is the first post from the new server... It's taken me a long time to get it over here, and, most likely, things will be a little strange as I convert Intel/MS specific php to Redhat... But bear with me. And update your links: some of you have me as yourcomputergenius.com/ec or computergenius.net/ec, but the correct url is http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
categorized as meta-blogging
Tuesday, February 7 2006, 9:17 pm
This is the first post from the new server... It's taken me a long time to get it over here, and, most likely, things will be a little strange as I convert Intel/MS specific php to Redhat... But bear with me. And update your links: some of you have me as yourcomputergenius.com/ec or computergenius.net/ec, but the correct url is http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
categorized as meta-blogging
Tuesday, February 7 2006, 9:20 pm
This is the first post from the new server... It's taken me a long time to get it over here, and, most likely, things will be a little strange as I convert Intel/MS specific php to Redhat... But bear with me. And update your links: some of you have me as yourcomputergenius.com/ec or computergenius.net/ec, but the correct url is
http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, February 7 2006, 9:21 pm
This is the first post from the new server... It's taken me a long time to get it over here, and, most likely, things will be a little strange as I convert Intel/MS specific php to Redhat... But bear with me. And update your links: some of you have me as yourcomputergenius.com/ec or computergenius.net/ec, but the correct url is
http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, February 7 2006, 9:23 pm
This is the first post from the new server... It's taken me a long time to get it over here, and, most likely, things will be a little strange as I convert Intel/MS specific php to Redhat... But bear with me. And update your links: some of you have me as yourcomputergenius.com/ec or computergenius.net/ec, but the correct url is
http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
http://equivocalcatharsis.com.
categorized as life of donzilla
Monday, February 6 2006, 2:56 pm
I wrote a bunch of posts over the weekend, but didn't write them due to lack of a consistent internet connection.
But here's one irate remark:
When did the American public approve of "1-year agreements" and "early termination fees"?
Are we just used to getting trampled on by large, extortive companies? Are we completely reliant on buying things on credit? Have we lost faith that Americans determine what values are represented by companies in our country?
Time is over-ripe for a change of public values.
But here's one irate remark:
When did the American public approve of "1-year agreements" and "early termination fees"?
Are we just used to getting trampled on by large, extortive companies? Are we completely reliant on buying things on credit? Have we lost faith that Americans determine what values are represented by companies in our country?
Time is over-ripe for a change of public values.
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, February 2 2006, 2:30 pm
TSG and I woke up at five to four this morning to take her dad to the airport. Now it's two-thirty and I'm sipping Chai tea, solving computer problems that are hundreds of miles away.
As soon as I'm done with that, I'm going switch modes and hats and go to work on my thesis again.
Because we just read Husserl, I am writing a "Train of thought in this Thesis" as a glorified outline of my thesis and its thoughts, arguments, and conclusions. This I will then give to my wonderful thesis advisor: target time 7pm tonight. Go go!
As soon as I'm done with that, I'm going switch modes and hats and go to work on my thesis again.
Because we just read Husserl, I am writing a "Train of thought in this Thesis" as a glorified outline of my thesis and its thoughts, arguments, and conclusions. This I will then give to my wonderful thesis advisor: target time 7pm tonight. Go go!
categorized as life of donzilla
Wednesday, February 1 2006, 6:16 pm
A PDA is a palm pilot.
If YOU think it is a problem that my girlfriend and I are holding hands, YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.
Deal with it.
If YOU think it is a problem that my girlfriend and I are holding hands, YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.
Deal with it.
categorized as life of donzilla
Sunday, January 29 2006, 8:34 pm
"This is the dark side of the reality of war. ... People don't want to know the Marlboro Man has PTSD."
hat-tip: Drudge
categorized as life of donzilla
Sunday, January 29 2006, 6:54 pm
At The Underground with TSG's dad... Working on our theses...
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, January 26 2006, 3:06 pm
Cingular must have put in a new tower. Because I get five bars (full signal) all over campus now. Even down at the gate.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, January 24 2006, 4:19 pm
From last night:
I just realized that I've been typing in 10pt font. So if I bump it up to 12, and throw double-spacing on, my current corpus of thesis stretches just on to the 13th page. One of the folks that we spent all day Sunday helping move had a thesis that was just 14 pages.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, January 24 2006, 12:29 am
Why is it that I am only really creative during some weird change of state? Like drinking a ton of coffee, or listening to music loudly (sensory overload), or staying up late?
I dunno... but that's when the muse strikes...
I dunno... but that's when the muse strikes...
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, January 24 2006, 12:24 am
Well, we are plunging into another week at That Academic College.
I am up late - for a change - and working on my thesis (also a change, kinda...).
The winds are blowing somethin' fierce, tree limbs down, various plants of all size being carried to and fro through the air - that sort of thing.
I'm behind on the computer work, work that I/we were supposed to get done by the beginning of this year... Having encountered various setbacks...
TSG and I must be getting in better shape, because we hiked straight up the hill, and then later went running, jogging up another one, and we weren't even winded.
I really need to exercise, maybe because it helps get stress out, the stress that always builds up here...
Anyways, back to the thesis. More later.
I am up late - for a change - and working on my thesis (also a change, kinda...).
The winds are blowing somethin' fierce, tree limbs down, various plants of all size being carried to and fro through the air - that sort of thing.
I'm behind on the computer work, work that I/we were supposed to get done by the beginning of this year... Having encountered various setbacks...
TSG and I must be getting in better shape, because we hiked straight up the hill, and then later went running, jogging up another one, and we weren't even winded.
I really need to exercise, maybe because it helps get stress out, the stress that always builds up here...
Anyways, back to the thesis. More later.
categorized as life of donzilla
Saturday, January 21 2006, 3:53 pm
Have you seen the Thames? I wouldn't swim in that thing!
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, January 20 2006, 8:21 pm
When is the media going to STOP acceding to the terrorists wishes? When will they STOP publishing every snide comment to come out of that terrorist fellow?
You know what I want to see? On the fourteenth page of the paper? An obituary.
You know what I want to see? On the fourteenth page of the paper? An obituary.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, January 17 2006, 9:22 pm
I received one of these from TSG's wonderful Grandmother for Christmas... So now I have joined that coffee-drinking elite: those who brew their own in a French press. I used it for the first time tonight, however with mate and not coffee... It is necessary that I obtain a small, hand-operater coffee grinder should I wish to use said apparatus for making coffee...
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, January 17 2006, 7:48 pm
The noisy neighbors who keep me awake to all hours with their giggling, screaming, thudding, and shouting had the gall to come by and ask me to turn down my music. When it was barely even audible in MY room.
Sigh.
I turned it down...
Sigh.
I turned it down...
categorized as life of donzilla
Monday, January 16 2006, 12:15 am
We drove up to Tehachapi to drop off a now (lucky!) ex-student at her folks...
Then we drove her much-dejected boyfriend back toprison hell school here...
The dorm room's depressing, much as I've tried to spruce it up. Maybe I should get some plants in here and put more things on the walls.
I don't like this school, being here, very much.
There are just 71 class days left. And I can skip 21 of them.
You can always tell the quality of the student by whether he lists "classes missed" or "skips to go" on the back of his or her door.
I'm not really going to skip 21 of them, but it is a reassuring thought that I could. And still get my diploma. Which is all I want from here.
I have one class that it is simply amazing to go to, on account of the prof being incredible and the material being quite good, most of the time, and I have two other classes for which I also have amazing tutors (but the curriculum sucks).
This is what I am paying 23,000 hard-earned (some of that earning still in the future, #$@^^$!) dollars, I am going into debt for. I don't believe in going into debt. In fact I don't believe in a lot about the school, but for some reason, somehow, I am still here...
Then we drove her much-dejected boyfriend back to
The dorm room's depressing, much as I've tried to spruce it up. Maybe I should get some plants in here and put more things on the walls.
I don't like this school, being here, very much.
There are just 71 class days left. And I can skip 21 of them.
You can always tell the quality of the student by whether he lists "classes missed" or "skips to go" on the back of his or her door.
I'm not really going to skip 21 of them, but it is a reassuring thought that I could. And still get my diploma. Which is all I want from here.
I have one class that it is simply amazing to go to, on account of the prof being incredible and the material being quite good, most of the time, and I have two other classes for which I also have amazing tutors (but the curriculum sucks).
This is what I am paying 23,000 hard-earned (some of that earning still in the future, #$@^^$!) dollars, I am going into debt for. I don't believe in going into debt. In fact I don't believe in a lot about the school, but for some reason, somehow, I am still here...
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, January 13 2006, 10:23 pm
Took a nap on TSG's lap while she wrote more of her thesis here at the underground...
A bizarre, spiritual, drank too much mate, half-prayer half-nap.
Onwards and upwards.
A bizarre, spiritual, drank too much mate, half-prayer half-nap.
Onwards and upwards.
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, January 13 2006, 7:01 pm
pooped
Whew, this week really did me in. I'm tired.
Thanks (in part) to TSG's wonderful parents and their wonderful Christmas presents, Colby is my new favorite cheese.
I've been eating a lot of cheese before bed, so I've been have wild and more lucid dreaming...
I have these creative thoughts during the day, but they are stifled by other things, like class... sigh...
We are "working on our thesises" now, and going out for an Australian's birthday party at 9:00pm, if we can stay awake that long.
Thanks (in part) to TSG's wonderful parents and their wonderful Christmas presents, Colby is my new favorite cheese.
I've been eating a lot of cheese before bed, so I've been have wild and more lucid dreaming...
I have these creative thoughts during the day, but they are stifled by other things, like class... sigh...
We are "working on our thesises" now, and going out for an Australian's birthday party at 9:00pm, if we can stay awake that long.
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, January 12 2006, 3:38 pm
I've been working on my thesis! So has TSG! On hers, that is!
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, January 12 2006, 3:21 pm
Should I respect people who "do what they think is right"?
To a certain extent yes, following one's convictions is respectable.
But if those convictions greatly differ from what is objectively true, then it is not commendable to follow them. It is, rather, one's duty to ensure that one's convictions conform as nearly as possible to what is really true.
To a certain extent yes, following one's convictions is respectable.
But if those convictions greatly differ from what is objectively true, then it is not commendable to follow them. It is, rather, one's duty to ensure that one's convictions conform as nearly as possible to what is really true.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, January 10 2006, 9:30 am
Everything on the internet has a quiet, unassuming existence... An existence which could silently pass away, without any outcry.
If it were a book, at least there would be ripping and tearing of pages, or burning, or burying, or impact, or a splash. But with the intenet, nothing, silence. A computer turns off, and out winks all of the electronic information superhighway. Pathetic.
If it were a book, at least there would be ripping and tearing of pages, or burning, or burying, or impact, or a splash. But with the intenet, nothing, silence. A computer turns off, and out winks all of the electronic information superhighway. Pathetic.
categorized as life of donzilla
Sunday, January 8 2006, 1:32 pm
Favorite quotation from changing the clutch on Thursday:
"Hey, when I wipe my face on the car, I get the car dirty!"
Favorite quotation from the post-Mass analysis today:
The music was "musically very good, liturgical appropriateness not so much."
"Hey, when I wipe my face on the car, I get the car dirty!"
Favorite quotation from the post-Mass analysis today:
The music was "musically very good, liturgical appropriateness not so much."
categorized as life of donzilla
Sunday, January 8 2006, 1:28 pm
Amen, brutha Pope-man!
Pope Benedict, abandoning his prepared sermon, compared the wild excesses of the ancient Roman empire to 21st century society and urged people to rediscover their faith.
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, January 6 2006, 12:53 am
Did I mention that I went ice-skating (for my first time ever - but I'm a roller blader) while we where in Minnesota? And I LOVED it...
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, January 6 2006, 12:50 am
Got the Jetta's clutch all done, tip to toe, foreplay to afterglow, in just under twelve hours.
We both were completely black at the end of it; in fact all three of us were (Myself, CrashBox, & the car).
I took a few pictures, will post later.
The only reason I'm still up is because of those energy drinks and the fact that I can sleep in (a little) tomorrow. Before I head to San Francisco for the part of the weekend that I don't spend driving. 'Night.
We both were completely black at the end of it; in fact all three of us were (Myself, CrashBox, & the car).
I took a few pictures, will post later.
The only reason I'm still up is because of those energy drinks and the fact that I can sleep in (a little) tomorrow. Before I head to San Francisco for the part of the weekend that I don't spend driving. 'Night.
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, January 5 2006, 11:35 am
Working on a friend's Jetta's clutch all day today. Briefly went up to ol' Silver and CrashBox knocked off the last of the two front brake discs with a mallet while I was doing tech support on da phone... So that's good. Worked out and ran yesterday, for the first time in a long time, my neck, of all places, is sore from the crunches, but mostly I feel pretty good. It looks like I will prob have to go home to San Fran this weekend to do emergency tech support server repair to fix the collateral damage from the Quickbooks 2006 install. More later.
categorized as life of donzilla
Sunday, January 1 2006, 6:49 pm
Still alive. We are surviving the Minnesota winter (mild right now) and the whirlwind of relatives, family, friends, and meals. More later!
categorized as life of donzilla
Wednesday, December 28 2005, 1:50 pm
What if all the spam, badware, and phishing websites had to register ".con" addresses?
categorized as life of donzilla
Wednesday, December 28 2005, 12:27 am
I'm working on the computer late at night, deep in the depths of the registry on Windows 2003 Server... My music files are interspered with music videos, so on the screen comes a live video recording of The Kingston Trio playing Tom Dooley; I see them standing there on the stage, and I think "Gee, I always thought that there were more of them."
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, December 27 2005, 10:27 pm
Busy, busy again.
Spent a number of hours today working on the ol' Silver Bullet, replacing the front brake discs. I only got one done, and there was a while where despite all the grunting and pulling and pounding with a rubber mallet I really didn't think that the disc would ever come off. I kept double-checking to make sure there weren't any extra bolts I missed. I took off the wheel hub cover by mistake - when I was getting desperate - and looked inside.
My pneumatic floor jack leaked a significant amount of fluid after I used it to raise the car, so I quickly put jackstands under it and pondered the worrying puddle. But so far the jack still works, so I dunno...
Doing computer work from Ojai. TSG is house-sitting again and Crashbox said I could stay at his place while he's gone... TSG and I leave for Minnesota the day after tomorrow...
PAX...
Spent a number of hours today working on the ol' Silver Bullet, replacing the front brake discs. I only got one done, and there was a while where despite all the grunting and pulling and pounding with a rubber mallet I really didn't think that the disc would ever come off. I kept double-checking to make sure there weren't any extra bolts I missed. I took off the wheel hub cover by mistake - when I was getting desperate - and looked inside.
My pneumatic floor jack leaked a significant amount of fluid after I used it to raise the car, so I quickly put jackstands under it and pondered the worrying puddle. But so far the jack still works, so I dunno...
Doing computer work from Ojai. TSG is house-sitting again and Crashbox said I could stay at his place while he's gone... TSG and I leave for Minnesota the day after tomorrow...
PAX...
categorized as life of donzilla
Saturday, December 24 2005, 3:48 pm
I had a dream last night that there were little people - combination stick people - who could and would live ON you, around your waist, and whisper advice up to you from underneath your shirt.
categorized as life of donzilla
Saturday, December 24 2005, 1:36 pm
So basically, the goal is to get every single person's net impact on the Earth to be zero each day. Or helpful to it. Then it will sustain human life forever. Or something. I think the goal is just to be good stewards of our home because God gave it to us.
categorized as life of donzilla
Saturday, December 24 2005, 1:35 pm
In something between a standard fiasco and and DEVCON 3 national disaster, I just made a spinach salad in the kitchen. I haven't been in a kitchen, really, since the summer. And it shows.
Eddyways, I'm sure it will end up being fine.
Merry Christmas!
Eddyways, I'm sure it will end up being fine.
Merry Christmas!
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, December 23 2005, 9:55 pm
I'm going to grab (at least) two of the brothers and go biking or hiking (or maybe frisbee) with this guy in the city tomorrow. In the AM.
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, December 23 2005, 9:50 pm
I came home Sunday night. Monday I worked, came home went to bed at 8pm. Tuesday I worked, saw G&G&UD afterwork. Wednesday I worked, and went out to dinner (at Insalata's) with two of my brothers and FK. Thursday I worked, and went over to C&D's for tead and such after work. Friday I worked, and went out to lunch with BP and his fam and one brother, and then worked some more.
I'm going to see another friend tomorrow, and thenone two on Sunday on my way down. Well, one on my way down, and One who is my Destination.
I think I've worked more than forty hours this week and seen a different social party every day. Wow. And even daily mass. In fact, maybe that's what made it possible.
I'm going to see another friend tomorrow, and then
I think I've worked more than forty hours this week and seen a different social party every day. Wow. And even daily mass. In fact, maybe that's what made it possible.
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, December 23 2005, 7:04 pm
You know where I WISH I went to school?
here
here
here
It's such a cool town, too. I bought a Spanish classical guitar when I was there last...
here
here
here
It's such a cool town, too. I bought a Spanish classical guitar when I was there last...
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, December 23 2005, 6:58 pm
Sending text messages all day - despite the requisite barbarism of the disgraced language which they contain - still makes you feel like the two intellects involved have been touching...
categorized as life of donzilla
Friday, December 23 2005, 2:59 pm
I moved the espresso machine across the counter, and it left a trail of little half-espresso beans behind it, like deer droppings...
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, December 22 2005, 12:31 pm
I talked to a friend of mine who is pursuing a graduate degree in computer science at this university. I think he may be the first graduate of this university to be in a graduate program in computers.
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, December 22 2005, 11:46 am
Last night I had a dream about school and I hated it. TSG and I got pda'd for touching hands. On a couch in a new coffee shop.
Then I had a dream about a fast food chili place where subsequent customers dipped their faces in the same trough of chili to feed. It was gross, but Steve-O was there.
Then I had a dream about a fast food chili place where subsequent customers dipped their faces in the same trough of chili to feed. It was gross, but Steve-O was there.
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, December 22 2005, 11:26 am
Climb up mountain.
Snowboard down.
Paradise.
I'd like to do that.
Seven Summits?
This is Fr. A's brother...
Snowboard down.
Paradise.
I'd like to do that.
Seven Summits?
This is Fr. A's brother...
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, December 22 2005, 11:14 am
Why hasn't there been a large public outcry to eliminate porn on the internet?
categorized as life of donzilla
Thursday, December 22 2005, 11:09 am
Back at work again, this time after 8am mass (more sanity-conducive). The dark circles under the eyes are creeping back, and not seeing very much of my family yet over this Christmas "break" is nagging at my conscience. But what can I do, I'm a driven man. Driving toward my goals -- which are in sight and accomplished but for the hard work. Which I happily plunge in to. So, back to work...
categorized as life of donzilla
Wednesday, December 21 2005, 2:23 pm
My room is a messy splurge of computer parts, some humming and electrified, some dead and dormant, dirty clothes, cd's, and other piles of stuff. Tea looms dangerously close to the edge of a rickety collapsible table, hovering a meter above a humming hard drive. My brain is in shambles too, surviving the aftermath of finals week, a long long semester, and a few lifetimes' worth of sleep dep. I read Slaughterhouse Five in it's entirety today, in the last few hours, when I was supposed to be going to work. Now I'm late even for my planned late-time at work, but it's alright. It's vacation, supposedly. Maybe I can still get close to an eight hour day in.
categorized as life of donzilla
Wednesday, December 21 2005, 9:38 am
Perhaps the New York City subway stike will serve as a wake up call to Americans that will go something like this.
"Unions? We still have those? Why? Let's shut 'em down!"
"Unions? We still have those? Why? Let's shut 'em down!"
categorized as life of donzilla
Wednesday, December 21 2005, 9:35 am
insurance, greed, and community
Insurance has replaced communal good-will.
Instead of the community coming together to provide for a member who has been struck ill or been injured, people now rely on impersonal assistance, assistance that they have paid for by paying into an insurance policy.
And this whole system is setup to circumvent natural human generosity and charity so that someone may profit exorbitantly off of it.
What if someone ran an insurance company that paid everyone back the part of their premiums that hadn't been used at the end of the year (or two)? Or just created a communal pool of money that only needed to be paid into (equally, by everyone) when it dipped below a certain value?
Greed has replaced good common sense, and a whole host of other virtues in our society today.
Instead of the community coming together to provide for a member who has been struck ill or been injured, people now rely on impersonal assistance, assistance that they have paid for by paying into an insurance policy.
And this whole system is setup to circumvent natural human generosity and charity so that someone may profit exorbitantly off of it.
What if someone ran an insurance company that paid everyone back the part of their premiums that hadn't been used at the end of the year (or two)? Or just created a communal pool of money that only needed to be paid into (equally, by everyone) when it dipped below a certain value?
Greed has replaced good common sense, and a whole host of other virtues in our society today.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, December 20 2005, 11:02 pm
Ahh! It's late! But I'm working from home, so maybe I'll go in late tomorrow. YEAH, that sounds like a good plan...
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, December 20 2005, 10:29 pm
I want to fisk this article, but maybe I'll do it tomorrow.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, December 20 2005, 10:27 pm
- Of course, that doesn't mean that the theory doesn't refute whatever criticisms the intelligent design crowd brought against it.
- It's just that science and religion, by definition, do not play on the same field. Science plays with material causes and empirical truths and theories; religion deals primarily with metaphysics and beyond.
Of course, religion has a trickle-down effect for those who are able to understand less and would rather believe more. That is, you can believe more than you have to within religion. People do this all the time: they believe - or 'take on faith' - what they could understand with their own reason. This is fine, but it does not actually limit religion in any way.
- It's just that science and religion, by definition, do not play on the same field. Science plays with material causes and empirical truths and theories; religion deals primarily with metaphysics and beyond.
Of course, religion has a trickle-down effect for those who are able to understand less and would rather believe more. That is, you can believe more than you have to within religion. People do this all the time: they believe - or 'take on faith' - what they could understand with their own reason. This is fine, but it does not actually limit religion in any way.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, December 20 2005, 10:14 pm
Among other things, he said intelligent design “violates the centuries-old ground rules of science by invoking and permitting supernatural causation”; it relies on “flawed and illogical” arguments; and its attacks on evolution “have been refuted by the scientific community.”
Aristotleanist refutation:
In the realm of western "science," all one studies is material cause. The existence of God and His role in creation is a completely seperate metaphysical question that this "science," as it defines itself, has no role in determining higher causes.
Science, then, by definition, can't conclude that God (a) does not exist, or (b) that He does not choose to work through natural selection and some form of evolution.
In the realm of western "science," all one studies is material cause. The existence of God and His role in creation is a completely seperate metaphysical question that this "science," as it defines itself, has no role in determining higher causes.
Science, then, by definition, can't conclude that God (a) does not exist, or (b) that He does not choose to work through natural selection and some form of evolution.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, December 20 2005, 9:48 pm
When people ask why I recently left The Wall Street Journal to join the Marines, I usually have a short answer.
You gotta read this article.
categorized as life of donzilla
Tuesday, December 20 2005, 4:53 pm
So when is our society going to, en masse, rebel against advertisements?
categorized as life of donzilla
December 20, 2005, 11.15 am
Lots of thoughts, little time to blog. Working full-time in the office this week. Went to bed at 8pm last night. More later!
Merry Christmas!
Tomorrow is the shortest day of the year! YES! Then the days start get longer. YES!
Merry Christmas!
Tomorrow is the shortest day of the year! YES! Then the days start get longer. YES!
categorized as life of donzilla
December 19, 2005, 1.29 am
You know what I want to do? Build a Stealth Car. You know, with all the funky angles, make it out of wood, the radar-absorbent paint: the works.
And then cruise calmly past the CHP, smiling slyly, as they frantically TRY to clock you with their lastest TWIN LASER radar gadjets.
Wow, I need to go to bed!
And then cruise calmly past the CHP, smiling slyly, as they frantically TRY to clock you with their lastest TWIN LASER radar gadjets.
Wow, I need to go to bed!
categorized as life of donzilla
December 19, 2005, 12.14 am
Text-messaging TSG like a fiend...
She hopped over to Bakersfield (ugh! Bakersfield!) to see an old friend with a new bebe...
She hopped over to Bakersfield (ugh! Bakersfield!) to see an old friend with a new bebe...
categorized as life of donzilla
December 18, 2005, 11.48 pm
Made it up the coast in (almost) record time, stopping in SLO to see the brother and sister-in-law in their new (soon to be old) digs.
Heavy rain along the route prompted huge electric signs to display dire warnings about the slippery-ness of the roadway. A half-dozen scattered accidents confirmed not only this, but also the sheer inability of Californians to drive in rain.
We listened to The Decemberists, The Rolling Stones, watched A Hard Day's Night, and then listened to Billy Bragg & Wilco's Mermaid Avenue Vol. II while shooting through San Jose.
Heavy rain along the route prompted huge electric signs to display dire warnings about the slippery-ness of the roadway. A half-dozen scattered accidents confirmed not only this, but also the sheer inability of Californians to drive in rain.
We listened to The Decemberists, The Rolling Stones, watched A Hard Day's Night, and then listened to Billy Bragg & Wilco's Mermaid Avenue Vol. II while shooting through San Jose.
categorized as life of donzilla
December 18, 2005, 1.43 am
I guess I have that itchy unrest that I sometimes get before I travel. Except now I just want to get it over with and get back, which I don't believe I've ever felt before on a trip and certainly is no way to treat possible adventures.
I take that back about never feeling it before. Childhood excursions with the fam, anyone? As Bill Bryson says, "I fondly remember..."
Eddyways, perhaps I'm still up because I slept in today.
Last night we jammed in Ojai, at Crashbox's pad, where we played every friday nightlast TWO semesters ago...
Had some good sounding tunes, but I want to start making a set list, and/or writing down what we play so that we can introduce new things and work on specifics.
Time to turn out the bug light and go to bed.
I take that back about never feeling it before. Childhood excursions with the fam, anyone? As Bill Bryson says, "I fondly remember..."
Eddyways, perhaps I'm still up because I slept in today.
Last night we jammed in Ojai, at Crashbox's pad, where we played every friday night
Had some good sounding tunes, but I want to start making a set list, and/or writing down what we play so that we can introduce new things and work on specifics.
Time to turn out the bug light and go to bed.
categorized as life of donzilla
December 18, 2005, 1.17 am
This dude's back in town. And I agree with him on another point. I think we all should look twice at whatever we buy. Most of that crap you (a) don't need or (b) can make yourself. (and so speaks a hypocrite, but still)
categorized as life of donzilla
December 17, 2005, 11.56 pm
I'm packing to go North for a week: San Fran area. The predominant item I am packing? Pants with the seam ripped, the middle seam. From hacky-sacking.
Perhaps I need to stop eating so many fatty foods. And get more exercise.
Also, d'y'all 'member when Seldom went to da trailer park? Check out the blog mini-series here, The Trailer Park Years.
If it wasn't past my bedtime, I'd write a song about it.
Perhaps I need to stop eating so many fatty foods. And get more exercise.
Also, d'y'all 'member when Seldom went to da trailer park? Check out the blog mini-series here, The Trailer Park Years.
If it wasn't past my bedtime, I'd write a song about it.
categorized as life of donzilla
December 17, 2005, 7.21 pm
unrelated snippet
Oh, and when a teenager-to-twenty-something says "party," they mean DRINK.
categorized as life of donzilla
December 17, 2005, 4.49 pm
I'm itching to get on in my life... so I'm working on my thesis.
I'm switching from the Summa Theologica to the Summa Contra Gentiles in my primary working-from sources because I like the layout better (no crazy objectors), and because sometimes I feel like a Gentile...
I'm switching from the Summa Theologica to the Summa Contra Gentiles in my primary working-from sources because I like the layout better (no crazy objectors), and because sometimes I feel like a Gentile...
categorized as life of donzilla
December 17, 2005, 4.39 pm
thoughts on skool
Class Summary 2005
Lab Fascinating to listen to prof
Math Fascinating to listen to prof, otherwise waste of time
Sem Amazing class. Mostly important authors, incredible tutor.
Phil Absolute waste of time. Book could be read in 1/4 the time and understood better.
Theo Important topic, but utterly annoying way of discussing it.
Lab Fascinating to listen to prof
Math Fascinating to listen to prof, otherwise waste of time
Sem Amazing class. Mostly important authors, incredible tutor.
Phil Absolute waste of time. Book could be read in 1/4 the time and understood better.
Theo Important topic, but utterly annoying way of discussing it.
I think Steve-O and I should start a frat next year/semester...
And I'm going to start posting ficticious signs about student government meetings...
And I'm going to start posting ficticious signs about student government meetings...
categorized as life of donzilla
December 16, 2005, 11.58 am
I finished this semester of school at 10:30am, half an hour ago.
categorized as life of donzilla
December 15, 2005, 10.28 pm
I know these things are silly but... Anything but studying, right? right? Aaaaah!!!
Your results:
You are Green Lantern
Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...
You are Green Lantern
| Hot-headed. You have strong will power and a good imagination.  |
Besides, its The Prophet's fault.
categorized as life of donzilla
December 15, 2005, 4.53 pm
speedy gonzales
TSG (on phone to fam): And Don had to get new running shoes because his old ones caught on fire...
(pause)
TSG (mirth): No! Not WHILE he was running!
(pause)
TSG (mirth): No! Not WHILE he was running!
categorized as life of donzilla
December 15, 2005, 2.01 pm
I finally got the computer that drives the, hrumph, analogue electromagnetic music server, so that's all back up for the last day-and-a-half of finals week. I guess it will be flatlining over most of Christmas break, but then hopefully we will get some more people involved and give them room for their own, um, creative, output.
categorized as life of donzilla
December 15, 2005, 1.58 pm
And there are still about $75 worth of books from Angelus Press that I desire to add to my library...
categorized as life of donzilla
December 15, 2005, 1.42 pm
Well 2 3 finals down and 2 1 to go...
I feel the weight lifting...
I feel like I did before the plunge into finals week, and it's amazing how good it was and how good it will be at noon tomorrow. I just wish this was my LAST semester of college ever, instead of it being the penultimate one.
I feel the weight lifting...
I feel like I did before the plunge into finals week, and it's amazing how good it was and how good it will be at noon tomorrow. I just wish this was my LAST semester of college ever, instead of it being the penultimate one.
categorized as life of donzilla
December 13, 2005, 5.18 am
Do you know what I want for Christmas? Now ya do...
categorized as life of donzilla
December 13, 2005, 4.42 am
It's finals week folks...
Again the corpus of various blogging posts have drifted by me, calling out "post me, post me," and I have turned nary an idle brain wave more toward them... And thus they remain unposted.
This finals week was scheduled to be a record easy one for me: no math exam, and theology already out of the way, so just a cake - oral - seminar final and a lab test and a philosophy test. However, I forgot to factor in the whole teaching-people business. Which is why I am still up at quarter to four am. Sigh...
Again the corpus of various blogging posts have drifted by me, calling out "post me, post me," and I have turned nary an idle brain wave more toward them... And thus they remain unposted.
This finals week was scheduled to be a record easy one for me: no math exam, and theology already out of the way, so just a cake - oral - seminar final and a lab test and a philosophy test. However, I forgot to factor in the whole teaching-people business. Which is why I am still up at quarter to four am. Sigh...
categorized as life of donzilla
December 8, 2005, 12.19 pm
I'm still alive! I had a bunch of things that I wrote (and meant to post) over the last week, but I never got around to it. Since I've been fighting this cold/virus/evil thingie I've been on more of a subsistence existence. However, now I feel like I've shaken off the worst part of it.
We have a day off today because it is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and the Pope has also granted a plenary indulgence attached to some activities today.
More later.
We have a day off today because it is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and the Pope has also granted a plenary indulgence attached to some activities today.
More later.
categorized as life of donzilla
November 29, 2005, 12.29 am
We made it safely back to SoCal from our Thanksgiving! trip. Unfortunately, I got sicker and now have a sinus-dealie head cold thing, and I'm coughing too. Eddyways...
It's cold, bone cold, with that piercing chill that only comes from desert mountain air.
Only eight days of school left till finals.
Our trip down here on the 101 yesterday was marked by an unusually high number of wrecked vehicles - some resting on their roofs (rooves?) - strewn on the side of the road. Periodically there was traffic, mostly seemingly due to these violent accidents, but overall the trip was not bad...
I can't wait to be done with this semester, and school in general. I feel like my life is being held in stasis much of the time here, but I sure do like being with TSG, just about anywhere.
I drove a friend down to the wrecking yard today, so that he could pay the tow truck and storage place and get his totalled car to the junkyard for permanent disposal. I tried to take a few pictures of the car, but they didn't come out too well...
My friend had hit a gravel patch, skidded out, and went off a cliff. Sixty feet and several rolls later he and his four occupants came to a rest - all of them amazingly unscathed. They clambered out and up the cliff.
I passed by a few minutes later, and saw two CHP cars with lights on... two of my friends standing there, their car conspiciously absent.
More later...
It's cold, bone cold, with that piercing chill that only comes from desert mountain air.
Only eight days of school left till finals.
Our trip down here on the 101 yesterday was marked by an unusually high number of wrecked vehicles - some resting on their roofs (rooves?) - strewn on the side of the road. Periodically there was traffic, mostly seemingly due to these violent accidents, but overall the trip was not bad...
I can't wait to be done with this semester, and school in general. I feel like my life is being held in stasis much of the time here, but I sure do like being with TSG, just about anywhere.
I drove a friend down to the wrecking yard today, so that he could pay the tow truck and storage place and get his totalled car to the junkyard for permanent disposal. I tried to take a few pictures of the car, but they didn't come out too well...
My friend had hit a gravel patch, skidded out, and went off a cliff. Sixty feet and several rolls later he and his four occupants came to a rest - all of them amazingly unscathed. They clambered out and up the cliff.
I passed by a few minutes later, and saw two CHP cars with lights on... two of my friends standing there, their car conspiciously absent.
More later...
categorized as life of donzilla
November 24, 2005, 3.15 pm
TSG and I are on our way up to my folks home, outside San Francisco.
This last strech of school stretched me pretty thin; I needed this break about three weeks ago.
Only nine class days left when we get back, and then it's finals and the end of the semester.
I feel slightly sick, and I slept for the first hour of the road trip, but it will be a good weekend. A small, family thanksgiving dinner is planned for tonight, and then maybe some good talk, a small glass of scotch, and an early bedtime. Maybe it will be cold enough to have a fire inside.
Then perhaps a day or two of sleeping in, a few hours of work on a laptop or two, and some thesis work.
We've been reading Bill Bryson (The Lost Continent) on the way up, out loud.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
This last strech of school stretched me pretty thin; I needed this break about three weeks ago.
Only nine class days left when we get back, and then it's finals and the end of the semester.
I feel slightly sick, and I slept for the first hour of the road trip, but it will be a good weekend. A small, family thanksgiving dinner is planned for tonight, and then maybe some good talk, a small glass of scotch, and an early bedtime. Maybe it will be cold enough to have a fire inside.
Then perhaps a day or two of sleeping in, a few hours of work on a laptop or two, and some thesis work.
We've been reading Bill Bryson (The Lost Continent) on the way up, out loud.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
categorized as life of donzilla
November 22, 2005, 11.31 am
20050924-sat
I am heavily weighed upon by the words of other men. Of what value is the entire corpus of human thought, if it not be easily integrated into one's own soul? Perhaps understanding should not come easily, if it is of things deep and complex, and yet – perhaps it should.
(thoughts as I carry my greatly-book-laden backpack to the office)
I am heavily weighed upon by the words of other men. Of what value is the entire corpus of human thought, if it not be easily integrated into one's own soul? Perhaps understanding should not come easily, if it is of things deep and complex, and yet – perhaps it should.
(thoughts as I carry my greatly-book-laden backpack to the office)
...snippet from my thesis notes...
categorized as life of donzilla
November 19, 2005, 3.40 pm
We saw the Johnny Cash movie last night, I Walk the Line, and I recommend it to everybody, even my Mother.
categorized as life of donzilla
November 16, 2005, 10.16 pm
I had a dream.
Set in San Francisco, the Random Englishman and I toured a combination of a fairgrounds, an old museum, and a work-working craft shop.
Later on, That Special Girl and I stopped to pickup this other girl, some kind of troubled, twice-removed, long-lost cousin.
She was the kind of girl who was perpetually miserable because she was always trying to make herself happy by doing things that obviously made her still more miserable. We asked her if we could do anything to help her, and tears welled up in her eyes.
She clutched her cigarette. She stubbed it out, brought a crumpled pack from her purse or pocket; drew another smoke out; held it up to her streaked face, lit it.
She sobbed, just once, composed herself.
"Just achieve your dreams," she said, her voice cracking, "and that will give me hope."
Set in San Francisco, the Random Englishman and I toured a combination of a fairgrounds, an old museum, and a work-working craft shop.
Later on, That Special Girl and I stopped to pickup this other girl, some kind of troubled, twice-removed, long-lost cousin.
She was the kind of girl who was perpetually miserable because she was always trying to make herself happy by doing things that obviously made her still more miserable. We asked her if we could do anything to help her, and tears welled up in her eyes.
She clutched her cigarette. She stubbed it out, brought a crumpled pack from her purse or pocket; drew another smoke out; held it up to her streaked face, lit it.
She sobbed, just once, composed herself.
"Just achieve your dreams," she said, her voice cracking, "and that will give me hope."
categorized as life of donzilla
November 16, 2005, 10.08 pm
The college dean thinks my thesis proposal has a thesis in it. Now, I must get my advisor to (a) be my advisor, and (b) agree.
categorized as life of donzilla
November 16, 2005, 1.18 pm
Anyone else up for a class action lawsuit against Cingular for the way they've used and abused their AT&T customers?
categorized as life of donzilla
November 16, 2005, 12.51 pm
Peruvian/Bolivian Adventures of one of our own...
categorized as life of donzilla
November 16, 2005, 12.33 pm
Marx would be spectacular if he wasn't anti-religion.
categorized as life of donzilla
November 10, 2005, 1.50 pm
The mountain is not tame when you cross it.
Nay, the only change is in you.
You have become wilder.
Nay, the only change is in you.
You have become wilder.
Veinte-tres mas o menos... Cinco mas o menos...
1. Go into your archives.
2. Find your 23rd post.
3. Post the fifth sentence (or closest to it).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.
5. Tag five other people to do the same thing.
tagged by Pilgrim
categorized as life of donzilla
November 10, 2005, 11.00 am
Don't get me started on this.
Well, I started getting started, but then I erased all of it, because it's so obvious.
You can't really reduce gun violence by legislation. That's a myth. Look at the numbers of violent crimes committed with LEGAL handguns, you DOLTS! This bill is NOT going to reduce illegal possesion of firearms, it is going to increase it. Neither will it decrease violent crime. End of story.
Make owning guns MORE legal, and you might begin to reduce gun-associated crime. Stop companies from flooding the ILLEGAL market with cheap junk guns and you might have made a start. Prevent children in ghettos from having guns. But don't take away guns from those who legally own them, and from those who are responsible citizens. Nanny-state politics. England here we come. Bah!!
Well, I started getting started, but then I erased all of it, because it's so obvious.
You can't really reduce gun violence by legislation. That's a myth. Look at the numbers of violent crimes committed with LEGAL handguns, you DOLTS! This bill is NOT going to reduce illegal possesion of firearms, it is going to increase it. Neither will it decrease violent crime. End of story.
Make owning guns MORE legal, and you might begin to reduce gun-associated crime. Stop companies from flooding the ILLEGAL market with cheap junk guns and you might have made a start. Prevent children in ghettos from having guns. But don't take away guns from those who legally own them, and from those who are responsible citizens. Nanny-state politics. England here we come. Bah!!
categorized as life of donzilla
November 10, 2005, 1.26 am
These election results do not make me happy. Friggin' Californians. Acting contrary to reason yet again.
categorized as life of donzilla
November 10, 2005, 12.54 am
Fingers hurt when typing right now, after a night of 'binge' guitar playing. Haven't played in a while, but CrashBox and I tore up the fretboards while TSG and the girl she is babysitting had a "girls' night."
Mate, TJ's salami and Dubliner cheese, out to dinner pizza and Harp, more song and a teeny little nip of Jack Daniels to soothe the aching throat before bed, and it's back to work tomorrow morning and ... thesis.
Ahh, life ... is good.
Mate, TJ's salami and Dubliner cheese, out to dinner pizza and Harp, more song and a teeny little nip of Jack Daniels to soothe the aching throat before bed, and it's back to work tomorrow morning and ... thesis.
Ahh, life ... is good.
categorized as life of donzilla
November 9, 2005, 9.57 pm
Over at CrashBox's singing and playing some tunes. Just took a break and went out for pizza et beer at Gorgio's in Ojai. Having some good times; meant to do it last night, but got too tired from too many nights of too little sleep for too long. More later.
categorized as life of donzilla
November 7, 2005, 5.06 pm
The clock in the bathroom read 3:4 a few minutes ago. I think the coffee this morning did something to my brain because I felt funny all day. However, things are good.
TSG is house-sitting (and taking care of a daughter-left-behind-while-the-parents-are-on-vacation), so we are over there eating and taking care of homework and such.
All day saturday was spent down at the tack house, working on a minivan with ReductioAdAbsurbam. The owner of the car? His girlfriend, or more unfortunately, his girlfriend's father. He had backed the car into a guard rail pole, yada yada. There, now the whole internet knows. Eddyways, as I was saying, we spent all day saturday working on the dent: pounding, pushing, pulling, prodding... We used a slide hammer to get most of it out, and blocks of wood and a heavy hammer. I still would like to obtain a dead-blow hammer - the kind filled with lead shot. After we got the dent sufficiently out, we sanded the heck out of it by hand, and with a motorized sander and then a belt sander. Next we used a ball pein hammer and put the dent back in to the point where we could bondo it. After three layers of bondo and much sanding, spraying, and so forth, we finally had a finished product, after about ten or twelve hours of work. Whew.
Meanwhile, in the classic November football "Turkey Bowl", our friends were throwing touchdown passes and breaking the noses of their other friends. Good times.
TSG is house-sitting (and taking care of a daughter-left-behind-while-the-parents-are-on-vacation), so we are over there eating and taking care of homework and such.
All day saturday was spent down at the tack house, working on a minivan with ReductioAdAbsurbam. The owner of the car? His girlfriend, or more unfortunately, his girlfriend's father. He had backed the car into a guard rail pole, yada yada. There, now the whole internet knows. Eddyways, as I was saying, we spent all day saturday working on the dent: pounding, pushing, pulling, prodding... We used a slide hammer to get most of it out, and blocks of wood and a heavy hammer. I still would like to obtain a dead-blow hammer - the kind filled with lead shot. After we got the dent sufficiently out, we sanded the heck out of it by hand, and with a motorized sander and then a belt sander. Next we used a ball pein hammer and put the dent back in to the point where we could bondo it. After three layers of bondo and much sanding, spraying, and so forth, we finally had a finished product, after about ten or twelve hours of work. Whew.
Meanwhile, in the classic November football "Turkey Bowl", our friends were throwing touchdown passes and breaking the noses of their other friends. Good times.
categorized as life of donzilla
November 3, 2005, 1.57 pm
Whew. Just finished a massive tech support fest, sometimes with seven vpn windows open and three people on various phones.
But I got everything done, and I have class in five, so that's where I'm headed.
To find out the results of my Molly G final, where I took too much time and confused myself on two questions, but pretty much had everything else right... Oh, the shame. She'll have some words to say about that, I reckon.
Huck Finn seminar tonight at the F's house. With Knob Creek.
Thesis proposal still continues to tread water, barely. Gotta haul that thing to land and give it CPR.
But I got everything done, and I have class in five, so that's where I'm headed.
To find out the results of my Molly G final, where I took too much time and confused myself on two questions, but pretty much had everything else right... Oh, the shame. She'll have some words to say about that, I reckon.
Huck Finn seminar tonight at the F's house. With Knob Creek.
Thesis proposal still continues to tread water, barely. Gotta haul that thing to land and give it CPR.
categorized as life of donzilla
November 1, 2005, 9.15 am
TSG has jury duty this morning, so we got up and got bagels and headed to the VC Hall of Justice.
I'm sitting outside in a little park-like thing on a bench made of recycled plastic. The wireless connections here are security-enabled and I don't really think that I should crack into them, so I'm on the internet via my motorola v220 and a data-cable. The service is purportedly slower than the GC83 card I was using (which is on the EDGE network), but I find the reception/signal to be far more consistent with this device...
Anyways, we have big plans today: visiting the Cingular store, picking up a bicycle tire patch kit, and maybe some new running shoes. While I'm waiting for the morning's various civic duties to terminate, I will be working on some computer work and then some thesis work.
Maybe I'll even post some pictures from Florida later - my new old phone (I was given it second-hand) has a little camera in it...
I'm sitting outside in a little park-like thing on a bench made of recycled plastic. The wireless connections here are security-enabled and I don't really think that I should crack into them, so I'm on the internet via my motorola v220 and a data-cable. The service is purportedly slower than the GC83 card I was using (which is on the EDGE network), but I find the reception/signal to be far more consistent with this device...
Anyways, we have big plans today: visiting the Cingular store, picking up a bicycle tire patch kit, and maybe some new running shoes. While I'm waiting for the morning's various civic duties to terminate, I will be working on some computer work and then some thesis work.
Maybe I'll even post some pictures from Florida later - my new old phone (I was given it second-hand) has a little camera in it...
categorized as life of donzilla
October 31, 2005, 5.42 pm
School, work, thesis, etc...
On the bright side, we have a day off tomorrow, on which to play catch up...
On the bright side, we have a day off tomorrow, on which to play catch up...
categorized as life of donzilla
October 28, 2005, 12.13 am
I can already see the antitrust clouds forming on the horizon...
categorized as life of donzilla
October 23, 2005, 5.15 pm
Back safe and sound in California, after flying 4000 miles away from the path of the Dread Hurricane Sir Wilma. Why 4000 miles do you ask? Because, courtesy of Continental Airways, we circumscribed the continent by having a stop-over in the oh-so-not-logical city of Newark, New Jersey. We were going from Ft. Myers, FL to LAX. Anyways... Here we are back, ready to plummet right into another week of school.
Things are great, but tons and tons of work - both thesis, school, and computer - loom on the horizon.
Things are great, but tons and tons of work - both thesis, school, and computer - loom on the horizon.
categorized as life of donzilla
October 21, 2005, 1.09 pm
So I'm in Florida with TSG, and we happen to be in the only county in Florida that has manadatory evacuations because of Hurricane Wilma. The campus of Ave Maria University, upon which we are staying, feels deserted. Everyone has fled, either because of the hurricane or because of fall break being this weekend. We are hanging on until the bitter end, or at least until our flight leaves from Ft. Myers tomorrow morning.
categorized as life of donzilla
October 17, 2005, 12.49 pm
Among other things, I'm flying to Florida today. I can' promise to keep you posted
(as I would have in the past), but I'll "see what I can do," to use that ambiguous and pernacious phrase...
(as I would have in the past), but I'll "see what I can do," to use that ambiguous and pernacious phrase...
categorized as life of donzilla
October 11, 2005, 11.39 pm
This evening...
- Went on another Extreme Rosary Walk
- Lit my running shoe on fire while at the
- Social Hour by the fire on the patio
- Went on another Extreme Rosary Walk
- Lit my running shoe on fire while at the
- Social Hour by the fire on the patio
categorized as life of donzilla
October 10, 2005, 2.23 pm
Monday, holiday, working, computer work, from my 'southern office'...
I just disabled the internet connectivity on a computer I was remote-desktop'd into so that I could run a program that required to be run without internet access... While I connected through an encrypted tunnel... I feel like a brain surgeon...
I just disabled the internet connectivity on a computer I was remote-desktop'd into so that I could run a program that required to be run without internet access... While I connected through an encrypted tunnel... I feel like a brain surgeon...
categorized as life of donzilla
October 7, 2005, 9.04 pm
...Thesis...
Looks like this has become a weekend-only, no-content blog!
Things are going well at school, but busy...
More later...
Looks like this has become a weekend-only, no-content blog!
Things are going well at school, but busy...
More later...
categorized as life of donzilla
September 24, 2005, 2.52 pm
So yesterday I had narrowed down my possible thesis topics to five choices; today I can only remember three of those five, so I guess I have narrowed them down even more.
The topic areas that I have are, in no particular order,
1) Calculus and the Mind of God
2) Essence, Existence, Name & Definition
3) Stewardship of the Land
I would really just like to do them all (a 20-page scholastic paper is really not that much work or that hard to do), but they want me to get an advisor, and follow deadlines, and string it out and stress about it...or something...
This should be fun, though...
The topic areas that I have are, in no particular order,
1) Calculus and the Mind of God
2) Essence, Existence, Name & Definition
3) Stewardship of the Land
I would really just like to do them all (a 20-page scholastic paper is really not that much work or that hard to do), but they want me to get an advisor, and follow deadlines, and string it out and stress about it...or something...
This should be fun, though...
categorized as life of donzilla
September 17, 2005, 9.13 pm
Well, it's Thesis Proposal Weekend here at T.A.C. Woodsmoke tastes good in the air; the echos of the dancin' music float to my ears, and I sit on the patio of my dorm, listening to Townes Van Zandt.
categorized as life of donzilla
September 14, 2005, 3.42 pm
Went over to this guy's house last night, socialized... Goot times...
Party this weekend southwards, but - and this is a BIG BUT - thesis proposals are due on Monday. And I don't even have an advisor, or a topic area, or a thesis proposal, so... it looks like partying is out.
Party this weekend southwards, but - and this is a BIG BUT - thesis proposals are due on Monday. And I don't even have an advisor, or a topic area, or a thesis proposal, so... it looks like partying is out.
categorized as life of donzilla
September 11, 2005, 4.36 pm
Wow, folks. Things are hectic, but great. Thesis proposals are due a week from tomorrow. I don't get on the internet much, and when I do it is business, business, business. Right now I'm at the Underground coffee shop in Ventura...
Don't forget that it is 9/11 today.
Don't forget that it is 9/11 today.
categorized as life of donzilla
September 3, 2005, 8.36 pm
Wow. A little inundated by the second week of school, but we all survived it.
E and I and Peter D- went out to sushi in celebration of making all of our classes. Peter had never been to sushi before, so we treated him to a Sunset Dragon and the Alaskan Rolls, and spicy tuna, and river eel, and a buncha other raw (and some cooked) goodness at Sushi Marina in Ventura.
I'm scrambling for a thesis topic. Still reading Adam Smith for seminar; I want to write up all his starting principle and then discuss if, how, and why I agree or disagree with them. I think a thesis topic that involves him and Thomas and possibly "The Philosopher" could come out of it: something about stewardship of the land...
E and I and Peter D- went out to sushi in celebration of making all of our classes. Peter had never been to sushi before, so we treated him to a Sunset Dragon and the Alaskan Rolls, and spicy tuna, and river eel, and a buncha other raw (and some cooked) goodness at Sushi Marina in Ventura.
I'm scrambling for a thesis topic. Still reading Adam Smith for seminar; I want to write up all his starting principle and then discuss if, how, and why I agree or disagree with them. I think a thesis topic that involves him and Thomas and possibly "The Philosopher" could come out of it: something about stewardship of the land...
categorized as life of donzilla
August 30, 2005, 9.37 am
Working outside of my new dorm, on the patio, where I get a reliable and consistent internet signal. In the time I've been out here, I've killed four yellow jackets, three by the Two-Cups Method (tm) and one by sealing a coke can with a piece of duct tape and then stomping it. I fed three of the dead ones to the ants. I think this campus has a wasp infestation.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 30, 2005, 9.13 am
Tuesday morning... I don't have class till the afternoon, so I may go back to my room and take a nap.
We've been getting up at 6:30am and going to 7am mass every morning, which works out swimmingly - as long as we actually get to bed by 10pm, which doesn't always happen...
This weekend I was down in San Diego for a wedding... It was almost a 24-hour trip; we left campus at 4:30am Saturday morning, and returned to campus
at 3am Sunday morning.
We are reading Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations for three seminars, and surprisingly, I find myself disagreeing with many if not most of his starting assumptions. Perhaps because I have been studying this guy's work lately.
We've been getting up at 6:30am and going to 7am mass every morning, which works out swimmingly - as long as we actually get to bed by 10pm, which doesn't always happen...
This weekend I was down in San Diego for a wedding... It was almost a 24-hour trip; we left campus at 4:30am Saturday morning, and returned to campus
at 3am Sunday morning.
We are reading Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations for three seminars, and surprisingly, I find myself disagreeing with many if not most of his starting assumptions. Perhaps because I have been studying this guy's work lately.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 27, 2005, 7.41 am
Driving down to San Diego for the wedding celebration of two friends...
I survived the first week of school; there is hope.
Now I just need to find a thesis topic and start churning it out.
I survived the first week of school; there is hope.
Now I just need to find a thesis topic and start churning it out.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 25, 2005, 9.01 am
Things are as hectic as ever.
This is Day 3 (or 4) of school, and feels... very strange.
I have decided to stop asking myself "what the heck am I doing here" and to focus instead on the job at hand.
I expect blogging shall be light while I get accustomed to a new schedule...
Been going to 7am mass, starting the day off right, and in bed in between 10-11pm.
Right now I'm finishing up War & Peace for tonight's seminar.
This is Day 3 (or 4) of school, and feels... very strange.
I have decided to stop asking myself "what the heck am I doing here" and to focus instead on the job at hand.
I expect blogging shall be light while I get accustomed to a new schedule...
Been going to 7am mass, starting the day off right, and in bed in between 10-11pm.
Right now I'm finishing up War & Peace for tonight's seminar.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 21, 2005, 10.58 pm
She made it down to my house just fine today. Tomorrow: school.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 21, 2005, 1.59 pm
About this time I ask, "What about that intellectual pilot light (tm) that I was going to keep going over the summer?
And why does the summer seem like it lasted 6 months?
And why do I still have a year of college left, at my age? And WHY am I going back to finish it? And...AAAAAGGGHHHH.
This is why I stopped asking why a while ago, at least about these things...
I'll be at school, in class, tomorrow. In thiry-one hours.
And why does the summer seem like it lasted 6 months?
And why do I still have a year of college left, at my age? And WHY am I going back to finish it? And...AAAAAGGGHHHH.
This is why I stopped asking why a while ago, at least about these things...
I'll be at school, in class, tomorrow. In thiry-one hours.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 21, 2005, 1.49 pm
Beautiful day, sitting outside, completely wirelessly, with my Pete's coffee that I just made in kitchen... Neighbor's using all sorts of power tools to put a new roof on his house, by himself, a pointy, slanted one this time, because he had no end of problems with his flat one...
Doing some remote computer work, finally got The Office nearly up to 100% software license compliancy... Trying to figure out what I'm taking down to school, and how I'm going to deal with work while I'm there, and how I'm going to deal with being there at all...
Doing some remote computer work, finally got The Office nearly up to 100% software license compliancy... Trying to figure out what I'm taking down to school, and how I'm going to deal with work while I'm there, and how I'm going to deal with being there at all...
categorized as life of donzilla
August 20, 2005, 8.43 pm
Lil' brother headed off to school today. I'm gonna head down day after tomorrow. It's one of those transitional periods, where I just want to get on with it, move, you know, quit anticipating and start acting.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 18, 2005, 4.40 pm
I like doing random, spontaneous, but kind-hearted things. Like paying the bridge toll for the car behind you.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 16, 2005, 6.03 pm
Ah, yes. The Office, where I currently bill myself as The Illustrius Tech Department, aka The Computer Genius, has a new espresso machine. Which I just operated successfully, all by myself (unlike yesterday, when I had to have two people come to my aid). Ahh. Now if only I hadn't started working at 3:00 pm, I could be going home soon. Unfortunately, my 7 hour day ends at 10pm. Sigh...
categorized as life of donzilla
August 15, 2005, 10.31 pm
So the power went off, randomly, in the middle of this late summer evening. Maybe it had to do with the beautiful sun set - the power stations just shut down to watch.
Anyways, I'm a firm believer that the American families ought to either pull the plug or have the plug pulled, and either be forced or force themselves to sit around and interact. We have had a few comical discussions in the moments that the power has been off, and it is amazing how much more quiet it is without electricity. There must be a constant hum or something when it is on, because it is dead silent when it is off.
Of course, I still have internet access, having a cell phone network card, and a laptop with battery power. And my APC UPS is charging my cell phone.
Well, goodnight folks.
Anyways, I'm a firm believer that the American families ought to either pull the plug or have the plug pulled, and either be forced or force themselves to sit around and interact. We have had a few comical discussions in the moments that the power has been off, and it is amazing how much more quiet it is without electricity. There must be a constant hum or something when it is on, because it is dead silent when it is off.
Of course, I still have internet access, having a cell phone network card, and a laptop with battery power. And my APC UPS is charging my cell phone.
Well, goodnight folks.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 15, 2005, 8.48 pm
So now it's the time of day that I get home from work, all fired up with grand plans of Acomplishing Something Tonight (tm), and so I wolf down my dinner, barely pausing to chew, and then...I...suddenly...get...tired... and...slow...waaaaaaaaaaaay...down.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 13, 2005, 3.38 pm
Done with php coding, for now, anyways. The project I've been dragging out for so long (it seems like) is complete.
So now I'm cruisin' blogs, something I haven't done in a long time, prob due to lack of down-time and a slow(ish) internet connection (cingular).
But I'm about to go take care of the rest of my chores. Really.
And read the remaining 1130 pages of War and Peace.
So now I'm cruisin' blogs, something I haven't done in a long time, prob due to lack of down-time and a slow(ish) internet connection (cingular).
But I'm about to go take care of the rest of my chores. Really.
And read the remaining 1130 pages of War and Peace.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 13, 2005, 3.24 pm
It wasn't until yesterday that I noticed that a certain picture of this young lady and myself has been "gracing" the top of this photo blog for over a month. A not-so-flattering picture, I might add, at least of me.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 13, 2005, 2.19 pm
So I canceled my East coast/New Orleans trip. Darn.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 13, 2005, 2.19 pm
Listening to powerful Russian chant loud while coding php and drinking STRONG Guatemalan coffee, this is my saturday. As soon as I finish this project, I'm going to go work on the car. Hopefully it will not be dark then, yet, but if so, I will bring my powerful halogen work lamp out of hibernation.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 13, 2005, 1.42 pm
Hofs-kriegs-wurst-schnapps-Rath
As Woody Guthrie said through Billy Bragg and Wilco, if we could just find a way to stop making war profitable...
If we could find a way to prevent people from making money on war...
If we could find a way to prevent people from making money on war...
categorized as life of donzilla
August 11, 2005, 2.00 pm
Aargh.
I had to abandon my East coast-via-Gallup-Dallas-New-Orleans-and-Memphis travel plans.
Too much work and other obligations are going to keep me here at home.
Sigh.
I still think that this is the summer-of-most-miles-logged-by-me, though.
I'll just have to make my (oft-postponed) East coast tour all the more extensive and long when I actually do it.
So, anyways, I'm back in the San Francisco bay area (as of late Tuesday night) and I'm back to work and such here.
And I've got a lot of adventure stories to tell, and I'll do that when I get the down-time. Or maybe, since that down-time never seems to happen, I'll just "make some time" one of these days.
I had to abandon my East coast-via-Gallup-Dallas-New-Orleans-and-Memphis travel plans.
Too much work and other obligations are going to keep me here at home.
Sigh.
I still think that this is the summer-of-most-miles-logged-by-me, though.
I'll just have to make my (oft-postponed) East coast tour all the more extensive and long when I actually do it.
So, anyways, I'm back in the San Francisco bay area (as of late Tuesday night) and I'm back to work and such here.
And I've got a lot of adventure stories to tell, and I'll do that when I get the down-time. Or maybe, since that down-time never seems to happen, I'll just "make some time" one of these days.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 8, 2005, 10.53 am
My last year of school starts two weeks from today, folks. Wish me luck; fingers-crossed, I'm going to graduate - after the better part of a decade.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 7, 2005, 2.52 pm
On the plane in Philly.
I just spent a while (and nearly missed my plane because of it) talking to a few military chaps in the bar at Gate E3.
They have some crazy stories from Iraq, and they showed me their IPD (I think), battle armor, which can stop rounds fired from an AK47, the 7.62 round. That is pretty amazing. One of the guys had been shot by an AK, but his ceramic plate had stopped it. He also said he has video footage of an IED going off, one that lifted a 60+ ton Abrams tank feet into the air, and flipped it over, killing all inside. And many other crazy stories.
I tried to pay for their beer, but they snuck back and paid off the waitress, paying for part of my meal instead! Punks... So eddyways... The waitress was cute, though.
I just spent a while (and nearly missed my plane because of it) talking to a few military chaps in the bar at Gate E3.
They have some crazy stories from Iraq, and they showed me their IPD (I think), battle armor, which can stop rounds fired from an AK47, the 7.62 round. That is pretty amazing. One of the guys had been shot by an AK, but his ceramic plate had stopped it. He also said he has video footage of an IED going off, one that lifted a 60+ ton Abrams tank feet into the air, and flipped it over, killing all inside. And many other crazy stories.
I tried to pay for their beer, but they snuck back and paid off the waitress, paying for part of my meal instead! Punks... So eddyways... The waitress was cute, though.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 7, 2005, 1.40 pm
So I guess that Atlanta, Georgia is experiencing a 'weather event' and that causes major pains for Delta passengers because Atlanta, Georgia is a major hub for that airline.
I'm hungry, slightly-hungover (i.e. 'feeling the effects' of last night's post-wedding-partying), about to be slightly annoyed by being more than slightly overcharged for beer at this airport bar, and looking forward to the "hot dog" they are about to serve me. The waitress is cute, though.
The military people who were using the bathroom were kinda funny. Both of them, after finishing up their toiletries, washing their hair, brushing their teeth, etc, and their other "personal moments" pulled out an extra-long piece of towel and cleaned the sink and the area around it. I was impressed; old Mother ARMY still teaches well.
Oh, and the bathrooms had "Auto-Soap" devices.
I'm hungry, slightly-hungover (i.e. 'feeling the effects' of last night's post-wedding-partying), about to be slightly annoyed by being more than slightly overcharged for beer at this airport bar, and looking forward to the "hot dog" they are about to serve me. The waitress is cute, though.
The military people who were using the bathroom were kinda funny. Both of them, after finishing up their toiletries, washing their hair, brushing their teeth, etc, and their other "personal moments" pulled out an extra-long piece of towel and cleaned the sink and the area around it. I was impressed; old Mother ARMY still teaches well.
Oh, and the bathrooms had "Auto-Soap" devices.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 7, 2005, 12.07 pm
I'm again at the Philly airport, but doing more writing that work right now. The airport is fully of ARMY folk; I was brushing my teeth in the bathroom here at Gate E3 and there were a couple of them in there, getting cleaned up, just back from Iraq. Everyone was welcoming them back, I offered to buy them a beer, and they went over to the bar. Most of them are pretty happy about being back.
One dude came out of the gate off the plan and ran right into the arms of his waiting woman. Everyone in the terminal clapped, and I felt the whole thing tugging at my heart. It's good to see these men and women back from the fight.
Like that one dude always says, our freedom ain't free. Someone's gotta work for it, and it's good to know that these folks are doing just that (despite the questions about the morality of various conflicts)...
One dude came out of the gate off the plan and ran right into the arms of his waiting woman. Everyone in the terminal clapped, and I felt the whole thing tugging at my heart. It's good to see these men and women back from the fight.
Like that one dude always says, our freedom ain't free. Someone's gotta work for it, and it's good to know that these folks are doing just that (despite the questions about the morality of various conflicts)...
categorized as life of donzilla
August 4, 2005, 3.07 pm
My office right now is a farmhouse kitchen, looking out over the red barn in the back. The sign that said 83 degrees a day ago said 94 at lunch today. Swimming at Salmon Berry Lake is a distinct possibility this afternoon. I gave the sheep some more water because it's so hot out. A blue jay is hopping around goofily (I'm on a making words up kick) hunting bugs, while a slightly gusty breeze blows dandelion seeds around. A butterfly, pale, solid green, flickers by, and I think I just saw a hummingbird out of the corner of my eye. Life is great.
The Eagles say this is a "crazy, crazy, crazy, life"...
...and Jeff (still) says he hates the Eagles.
The Eagles say this is a "crazy, crazy, crazy, life"...
...and Jeff (still) says he hates the Eagles.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 4, 2005, 10.59 am
- Listening to Gordon Lightfoot
- Doing web programming
- Did the Chores
- Plotting Eastbound Roadtrip (again)
categorized as life of donzilla
August 3, 2005, 3.08 pm
Working from a coffee shop in Scappoose, Oregon. Finishing up a correction of a network backup program for a company in California, and also working on a shopping cart customization of an OsCommerce app for a company in Canada.
It's hot outside; I'm on my third coffee drink. This one's a sweet, iced something-or-other. It's this month's special, I dunno.
More later. (which is my blog's new catchphrase. sorry).
Oh, in other news, I did successfully get a ticket to PA this weekend, so I will be flying in to Philly friday night, and splitting rental car costs with a friend and heading up to Scranton, PA for the wedding. Anyone know where the party's at Friday night? I probably won't get up there 'til midnight. Also, if anyone needs a ride from Philly on friday, or to Philly Sunday afternoon, let me know,
It's hot outside; I'm on my third coffee drink. This one's a sweet, iced something-or-other. It's this month's special, I dunno.
More later. (which is my blog's new catchphrase. sorry).
Oh, in other news, I did successfully get a ticket to PA this weekend, so I will be flying in to Philly friday night, and splitting rental car costs with a friend and heading up to Scranton, PA for the wedding. Anyone know where the party's at Friday night? I probably won't get up there 'til midnight. Also, if anyone needs a ride from Philly on friday, or to Philly Sunday afternoon, let me know,
categorized as life of donzilla
August 1, 2005, 6.06 pm
Here's my nugget of wisdom for the day:
You can't save money you weren't going to spend anyway by doing anything with something that's advertised (other than a savings account or a mutual fund).
This after hours-days-weeks of searching for a east-bound flight to PA.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
You can't save money you weren't going to spend anyway by doing anything with something that's advertised (other than a savings account or a mutual fund).
This after hours-days-weeks of searching for a east-bound flight to PA.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 26, 2005, 5.21 pm
Drove through Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, and am here in Minnesota.
Multitudinous reports of my adventures to follow.
Multitudinous reports of my adventures to follow.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 20, 2005, 11.06 am
A lady just walked by and said "I like your office"!
categorized as life of donzilla
July 20, 2005, 10.59 am
I'm sitting in the grass, in the shade, outside the San Rafael Public Library, getting my white pants irrevocably grass-stained before work while my car is a being aligned and receiving two new tires a few blocks down the road. I'm doing some computer work.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 18, 2005, 9.13 pm
I'm trying to finish up all my (local) contracts, jobs, and work commitments, so I can go gallavanting across the country again. This means life is CRAZY or OMNIHECTIC right now.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 14, 2005, 9.44 pm
The more I don't know, the less I'm confused.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 14, 2005, 9.41 pm
Sometimes when I'm doing a late-night computer install I bring along my guitar and songbook and sing to the computers as they do their thing...
I don't actually sing TO them, I just sing and play in the free moments when I don't have to do anything and it's all on them... I didn't bring an instrument today, so I'm just singing and dancing along to many, varied, randomly-playing recorded tunes...
I don't actually sing TO them, I just sing and play in the free moments when I don't have to do anything and it's all on them... I didn't bring an instrument today, so I'm just singing and dancing along to many, varied, randomly-playing recorded tunes...
categorized as life of donzilla
July 14, 2005, 9.39 pm
What is going to happen when this sort of thing begins to happen in America?
I hate to be a harbinger of doom, but there are several groups of people who wish to "kill us all"... And if you stubbornly, obnoxiously refuse to believe that, well...
I've talked to people who know people like that...
I hate to be a harbinger of doom, but there are several groups of people who wish to "kill us all"... And if you stubbornly, obnoxiously refuse to believe that, well...
I've talked to people who know people like that...
categorized as life of donzilla
July 14, 2005, 9.15 pm
Everything boils down to one fatal division:
Truth or Falsity
It's as if everything in existence is asked this question, 'True or False?'
Truth can be painful, hurtful, but ultimately it is good. Falsity seems easy, convenient, but ultimately is painful and destructive.
* * *
Truth is found in seeking God's will. Falsity is found in seeking our own in preference to God's will.
I need to clarify what I mean by all these things in that statement, define the terms, etc.
* * *
Remember the California Energy Crisis? That was caused by falsity. Ever drive around at night in California, or better yet, fly? Know how many chain stores, malls, megaopolis shopping centres, and so on are vividly lit up all night, every night? Know how much power that consumes, and is wasted, and could be saved? But, no, the problem is with the energy companies. They are not providing enough. The sins of the capitalist machine are ignored, morally justified without question...
Such is the tyranny of falsity...
Truth or Falsity
It's as if everything in existence is asked this question, 'True or False?'
Truth can be painful, hurtful, but ultimately it is good. Falsity seems easy, convenient, but ultimately is painful and destructive.
* * *
Truth is found in seeking God's will. Falsity is found in seeking our own in preference to God's will.
I need to clarify what I mean by all these things in that statement, define the terms, etc.
* * *
Remember the California Energy Crisis? That was caused by falsity. Ever drive around at night in California, or better yet, fly? Know how many chain stores, malls, megaopolis shopping centres, and so on are vividly lit up all night, every night? Know how much power that consumes, and is wasted, and could be saved? But, no, the problem is with the energy companies. They are not providing enough. The sins of the capitalist machine are ignored, morally justified without question...
Such is the tyranny of falsity...
categorized as life of donzilla
July 14, 2005, 7.30 pm
Many blog-topic are swimming around in my mind, but I still have a little bit of a head-cold, so my thoughts in general don't seem cogent enough to put down. However, if I get anything, I let you know.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 14, 2005, 7.28 pm
Well, in between burning my tongue with too-hot mate and dropping homemade taco fixings all over myself, I'm staying late at work installing Windows 2003 Server Enterprise Edition.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 13, 2005, 5.10 pm
Received this in an email today:
Hello all --
now you have to give it to me, I most likely have never ever forwarded
something on to you to add to your inbox clutter, so high up on my
information age pet peeve list is getting piles of bulk forwards. But
this request from my friends who are laboring on behalf of the
fledgling Transfiguration College project seemed worth braving any
irritation that it may cause, and if you are genuinely without any
interest whatsoever in an Eastern Rite Catholic Great Books College
(faithful to the Magisterium, all orginal sources, emphasis on the
Church Fathers, with greek, and iconography) definately just delete
this very instant.
But if you do have some interest and have a minute to spare, go ahead
and drop them an email expressing interest in the project -- even if
it is beyond remote that you will actually go there -- if you are
simply interested in the possibility of such a college (the first of
its kind), they could sure use a brief message saying so. (See #1
below)
the newly vamped website is up at: http://www.transfigurationcollege.org
with the transfig blog up at: http://transfigurationcollege.blogspot.com
Thank you!
Pax vobiscum
now you have to give it to me, I most likely have never ever forwarded
something on to you to add to your inbox clutter, so high up on my
information age pet peeve list is getting piles of bulk forwards. But
this request from my friends who are laboring on behalf of the
fledgling Transfiguration College project seemed worth braving any
irritation that it may cause, and if you are genuinely without any
interest whatsoever in an Eastern Rite Catholic Great Books College
(faithful to the Magisterium, all orginal sources, emphasis on the
Church Fathers, with greek, and iconography) definately just delete
this very instant.
But if you do have some interest and have a minute to spare, go ahead
and drop them an email expressing interest in the project -- even if
it is beyond remote that you will actually go there -- if you are
simply interested in the possibility of such a college (the first of
its kind), they could sure use a brief message saying so. (See #1
below)
the newly vamped website is up at: http://www.transfigurationcollege.org
with the transfig blog up at: http://transfigurationcollege.blogspot.com
Thank you!
Pax vobiscum
categorized as life of donzilla
July 12, 2005, 9.09 pm
But there's good news: I finally got my hands on my deoderant that I had left behind. Eight days in a balmy, subtropical country without my Gillette! What will all the people think?! Well, if it was good enough for Livingston...
categorized as life of donzilla
July 12, 2005, 9.08 pm
Well, I made it home. And I'm plunging back into the thick of it. I wasn't in the country forty-five minutes before the tech support calls started coming in. 8 voicemails greeted me, demanding responses. Daunting, un-done to-do's stared at me from the top of my list! AAUGH!
categorized as life of donzilla
July 10, 2005, 2.49 pm
Just got back to San Benitio from Tikal, the Mayan ruins. We hiked up and down thousands upon thousands of stairs on a large number of huge, Mayan temples, palaces, and structures. Pictures will be forthcoming, but definately not before a shower and a nap.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 4, 2005, 7.58 pm
We arrived safely in Guatemala and were suddenly thrust into the opulence of a grand hotel. It was really weird -- flowers and ornate furnishings and drinks and hors d'ourves waiting for our attention. And free email. So anyways, it's all rather a bit of a rude shock for someone who usually travels as a solitary humble pilgrim.
But, dear reader, you will pleased to learn that I am trying my darned-est to adapt. Yessir. Just a couple more free gin martinis and I'll be there. Course, it may take a scotch or two, too.
But, dear reader, you will pleased to learn that I am trying my darned-est to adapt. Yessir. Just a couple more free gin martinis and I'll be there. Course, it may take a scotch or two, too.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 3, 2005, 10.42 pm
Well folks, I'm off to Guatemala in the early AM manana...
Expect exciting In-The-Field Action Blogs (r) all next week. Or at least at some point next week. Maybe some pics, too, if Joe's camera (a) doesn't get stolen, (b) doesn't break, and (c) was actually packed with working batteries.
Happy Independence Day!
Expect exciting In-The-Field Action Blogs (r) all next week. Or at least at some point next week. Maybe some pics, too, if Joe's camera (a) doesn't get stolen, (b) doesn't break, and (c) was actually packed with working batteries.
Happy Independence Day!
categorized as life of donzilla
July 2, 2005, 5.50 pm
It's another lazy saturday... Just like yesterday...
categorized as life of donzilla
July 1, 2005, 5.55 pm
I cleaned out my old calculus notes and homework from my beloved baseball card album.
I took that AP Calculus class back in 1998 & 1999. I still know all that stuff, somewheres inside my head... I suppose I shouldn't throw all that stuff when I still have some calculus studying to do, but we got further in that class (and in the two college Calculus classes I took afterwards) then That Anonymous College ever goes. In fact, when I was preparing for the first day of classes my freshman year at TAC, I went ahead and did all of the calculus exercises in the manual.
That binder that I had today was of the size and magnitute that our AP History professor used to wave around and say: "If you want to pass the test, you need to make one of these."
But I don't mind recycling all those notes now. I can look at a textbook and explain it just as well without them...
I do like math. Maybe I'll teach a calculus class someday, if the next generation is smart enough to learn it...
I'm going to get some of my Africa pictures and my collection of stuff from England and Ireland and make a scrapbook in that binder.
It's a friday, but it feels like a saturday.
I took that AP Calculus class back in 1998 & 1999. I still know all that stuff, somewheres inside my head... I suppose I shouldn't throw all that stuff when I still have some calculus studying to do, but we got further in that class (and in the two college Calculus classes I took afterwards) then That Anonymous College ever goes. In fact, when I was preparing for the first day of classes my freshman year at TAC, I went ahead and did all of the calculus exercises in the manual.
That binder that I had today was of the size and magnitute that our AP History professor used to wave around and say: "If you want to pass the test, you need to make one of these."
But I don't mind recycling all those notes now. I can look at a textbook and explain it just as well without them...
I do like math. Maybe I'll teach a calculus class someday, if the next generation is smart enough to learn it...
I'm going to get some of my Africa pictures and my collection of stuff from England and Ireland and make a scrapbook in that binder.
It's a friday, but it feels like a saturday.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 1, 2005, 12.36 pm
So I'm taking sortof a half-day off work, working from home, and then going and getting a Hep A innoculation... What are YOU up to?
My back is sore in a weird place (I think) from doing too many vigorous flipturns while swimming (in a pool, for exercise) two days ago. But my chiropracter says he'll be in the office tomorrow, because a lot of people need his services for this holiday weekend...
Things are holding in place at the office, treading water... So I kindof want to say 'hands off' until I get back and finish up a few projects...
Which means I'm taking care of business at home today and possibly tomorrow...
And it sure is beautiful outside... Summer is here. 80 degree days, but pleasant.
My back is sore in a weird place (I think) from doing too many vigorous flipturns while swimming (in a pool, for exercise) two days ago. But my chiropracter says he'll be in the office tomorrow, because a lot of people need his services for this holiday weekend...
Things are holding in place at the office, treading water... So I kindof want to say 'hands off' until I get back and finish up a few projects...
Which means I'm taking care of business at home today and possibly tomorrow...
And it sure is beautiful outside... Summer is here. 80 degree days, but pleasant.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 1, 2005, 12.07 pm
So I gotta start brushing my hair all the time or it starts turning into one massive dreadlock during these summer months, and I learned last year in Kenya...
categorized as life of donzilla
June 30, 2005, 11.35 pm
My 97 year old grandfather mentioned blogs to me, out of the blue, when I was over there for lunch two days ago. So that should give some of you bloggers another ducat in the endless search for validation of bloggers by non-bloggers.
categorized as life of donzilla
June 30, 2005, 11.18 am
Wow.
In a word, hectic. But it doesn't all fit in a word, even that word. Hectic-mongous? No...
Monday I leave for Guatemala; these last few frantic days I'm trying to wrap up all the projects I've been working on for the last three weeks, while trying to ensure that ABOSOLUTELY NO ERRORS crop up while I'm away...
Basically, I'm running on pure adrenaline...
In a word, hectic. But it doesn't all fit in a word, even that word. Hectic-mongous? No...
Monday I leave for Guatemala; these last few frantic days I'm trying to wrap up all the projects I've been working on for the last three weeks, while trying to ensure that ABOSOLUTELY NO ERRORS crop up while I'm away...
Basically, I'm running on pure adrenaline...
categorized as life of donzilla
June 28, 2005, 7.29 pm
Ah, first day back to work after five days in Portland. I had an awesome time...
I'm home early from work -- early meaning I left at 6:00pm -- and now I have about six calls to make, half of them business related, and a BUNCHA other stuff to do, so... Bloggig definately still has the back seat.
And I'm off to Guatemala for a week leaving Monday.
I'm home early from work -- early meaning I left at 6:00pm -- and now I have about six calls to make, half of them business related, and a BUNCHA other stuff to do, so... Bloggig definately still has the back seat.
And I'm off to Guatemala for a week leaving Monday.
categorized as life of donzilla
June 24, 2005, 12.17 pm
Oh, and the Total Caffeine Withdrawal days are over.
As in, caffeine is no longer an estranged friend.
As in, caffeine is no longer an estranged friend.
categorized as life of donzilla
June 24, 2005, 12.16 pm
Seen on the internet today:
"Due to Swiss-wide technical problems..."
"Due to Swiss-wide technical problems..."
categorized as life of donzilla
June 22, 2005, 9.55 pm
Day Three of Total Caffeine Withdrawal went pretty well.
Although I dreamt about work last night, meaning that sleep never effectively rescued me from the nightmare of Microsoft DNS. Ah well.
The Silver Bullet now has a new timing belt, and much to my chagrin, new seals, belts, and a new water pump. Those last items I did not want to pay for; rather I had hoped to do them myself over the weekend.
But my de-caffeinated brain got the better of me, and said something like "well the car's already there, might as well have them do it," and so I dropped a couple morehundred bucks than I would have liked to, or thought I should have... but such is life.
I'm off to Portland, OR tomorrow for a five-day weekend vacation-thingie. I plan not to so much as look at a computer, but evidentally I'm poor at planning, because I'm taking my tablet with me. Hey, if I can make a few bucks while sitting in an airport lobby, why not, right?
Wish me happy trails.
On a side note, my father and I took one of the prof's from TAC out to dinner tonight, at The Kitchen, in Novato. Very nice. Terrific, in fact. We talked about fishing Golden Trout together in the Sierras in early August. Dad and I were just talking about backpacking this summer... Basically, I want to go to all those places right now that he went to "years ago"...
Although I dreamt about work last night, meaning that sleep never effectively rescued me from the nightmare of Microsoft DNS. Ah well.
The Silver Bullet now has a new timing belt, and much to my chagrin, new seals, belts, and a new water pump. Those last items I did not want to pay for; rather I had hoped to do them myself over the weekend.
But my de-caffeinated brain got the better of me, and said something like "well the car's already there, might as well have them do it," and so I dropped a couple more
I'm off to Portland, OR tomorrow for a five-day weekend vacation-thingie. I plan not to so much as look at a computer, but evidentally I'm poor at planning, because I'm taking my tablet with me. Hey, if I can make a few bucks while sitting in an airport lobby, why not, right?
Wish me happy trails.
On a side note, my father and I took one of the prof's from TAC out to dinner tonight, at The Kitchen, in Novato. Very nice. Terrific, in fact. We talked about fishing Golden Trout together in the Sierras in early August. Dad and I were just talking about backpacking this summer... Basically, I want to go to all those places right now that he went to "years ago"...
categorized as life of donzilla
June 21, 2005, 7.38 pm
Oh, and I made it to work today at a regular workingman's time, 9:15am!
After morning mass!
And then I sat all day with an aching-lack-of-caffeine-induced-head-condition feverishly working out the kinks in a Microsoft Windows 2003 Server DNS install.
After morning mass!
And then I sat all day with an aching-lack-of-caffeine-induced-head-condition feverishly working out the kinks in a Microsoft Windows 2003 Server DNS install.
categorized as life of donzilla
June 21, 2005, 2.31 pm
Maybe there's a better way to quit caffeine addiction than cold turkey.
categorized as life of donzilla
June 20, 2005, 1.58 pm
Why do people over here for the most part not use/understand text messages? It really does seem to be a European thing, with the exception of a few of my friends -- who text incessantly -- nobody understands "what it's all about"...
categorized as life of donzilla
June 19, 2005, 6.23 pm
Oh, yeah, and I went to mass at Mission Dolores in the city this morning, after dropping The Random Englishman off at work.
Parking was found in the center-most lane of all the roads around there, they are normally two-lane-each-way roads, but people parked all up in one lane each way, which felt kinda funny. But they didn't tow my car, or even give me a ticket, so...
And those lovely Spanish-speaking folk were certainly in no hurry to finish mass, let me tell you... It must have been close to two hours, a significant portion of which I spent thinking and praying in my own, isolated world...
Now I'm still at work, listening to IBC Radio over the internet...
Parking was found in the center-most lane of all the roads around there, they are normally two-lane-each-way roads, but people parked all up in one lane each way, which felt kinda funny. But they didn't tow my car, or even give me a ticket, so...
And those lovely Spanish-speaking folk were certainly in no hurry to finish mass, let me tell you... It must have been close to two hours, a significant portion of which I spent thinking and praying in my own, isolated world...
Now I'm still at work, listening to IBC Radio over the internet...
categorized as life of donzilla
June 19, 2005, 5.53 pm
* Went and picked up the Random Englishman after he got off work yesterday. San Francisco is hard on your brakes.
* Didn't work at the office yesterday, so i am today.
* Javier the cleaning dude was here when I got to work, so I gave him a piece of my pizza that I brought for lunch.
* While waiting for a couple of computers to finish running a few programs, I threw out all sorts of old software cds, manuals, papers, etc that were cluttering up the humble domain of the "Tech Department" here... Spring cleaning... It feels so good... And it's so easy... At least's with other peoples' stuff, when you're getting paid for it... Now if I could just do it with my own stuff, while not getting paid, that would be something...
* Didn't work at the office yesterday, so i am today.
* Javier the cleaning dude was here when I got to work, so I gave him a piece of my pizza that I brought for lunch.
* While waiting for a couple of computers to finish running a few programs, I threw out all sorts of old software cds, manuals, papers, etc that were cluttering up the humble domain of the "Tech Department" here... Spring cleaning... It feels so good... And it's so easy... At least's with other peoples' stuff, when you're getting paid for it... Now if I could just do it with my own stuff, while not getting paid, that would be something...
categorized as life of donzilla
June 18, 2005, 5.21 pm
* My Tablet is completely disassembled. It's pretty spectacular. I may post pictures, it's that good. I was going to intall this bluetooth module (not an "end-user" installable part), but once I got it completely apart, I realized that they had sent me the wrong little cable thingie...
* I like really simple foods, mostly. Lentils, grilled-cheese sandwiches, cold cereal, peanut butter sandwiches. Burgers.
* It's saturday down-time. I've got computer parts and papers, and car parts and guitars spread out all over the room, and I'm alternately fiddling with something, or throwing something away. It feels good.
* I'm supposed to be working today, but maybe I'll do it tomorrow. I'm kinda burned out from this week, gotta recharge the batteries for monday.
* I like really simple foods, mostly. Lentils, grilled-cheese sandwiches, cold cereal, peanut butter sandwiches. Burgers.
* It's saturday down-time. I've got computer parts and papers, and car parts and guitars spread out all over the room, and I'm alternately fiddling with something, or throwing something away. It feels good.
* I'm supposed to be working today, but maybe I'll do it tomorrow. I'm kinda burned out from this week, gotta recharge the batteries for monday.
categorized as life of donzilla
June 18, 2005, 12.10 am
Things I'm too tired to do right now #27: Eat yoghurt with a spoon out of a plastic container without getting it all over me.
That's right folks, I'm going to bed.
That's right folks, I'm going to bed.
categorized as life of donzilla
June 17, 2005, 3.31 pm
I had a series of bizarre dreams this morning...
Sometimes the little bit of skin between the bottom of my ear lobe and my neck hurts or stings.
Well, in this dream, I had been infected there by the deadly staf (yes it had only one 'f' in my dream) evil-virus-fiendish-thingie, and it was going to kill me. I vividly remember a computer-enchanced view of the little viri, which were breeding with these capsule-like, vitamin-like egg-thingies (yes, I know, my dream-creator-unit isn't exactly up on its microbiology, but then again, I was never into biology of that sort myself, in school... Now if you're talking plants and animals, on a realistic scale, well that's another story...).
So anyways, that was one of the weird dreams...
Sometimes the little bit of skin between the bottom of my ear lobe and my neck hurts or stings.
Well, in this dream, I had been infected there by the deadly staf (yes it had only one 'f' in my dream) evil-virus-fiendish-thingie, and it was going to kill me. I vividly remember a computer-enchanced view of the little viri, which were breeding with these capsule-like, vitamin-like egg-thingies (yes, I know, my dream-creator-unit isn't exactly up on its microbiology, but then again, I was never into biology of that sort myself, in school... Now if you're talking plants and animals, on a realistic scale, well that's another story...).
So anyways, that was one of the weird dreams...
categorized as life of donzilla
June 17, 2005, 1.39 pm
So I got all crazy last night and trimmed my beard WAY down. I figured I hadn't seen my face in months... and now I know why I let my beard grow that long. Anyways, it's the new "summer" look. Or something. I must have cut off about 20 pounds of hair of my face... I'm going to have to get a chin-ring to keep my head from falling back because of the weight difference. Maybe there won't be anymore Amish Tech Support (tm) jokes, but we'll see...
categorized as life of donzilla
June 16, 2005, 9.43 pm
Ok, so I blew it. I misread the form, didn't understand the fine print, and ended up paying the credit card company a nice little sum.
It's alright, they win this round.
But never again.
It's alright, they win this round.
But never again.
categorized as life of donzilla
June 15, 2005, 11.05 pm
We're into the longest (in daylight hours) fortnight of the year, and it STILL doesn't feel like summer here! I mean, it's nice to have the sun up late -- I think I will work on the car when I get home from work tomorrow -- but it's windy as 12-piece brass band outside!
categorized as life of donzilla
June 15, 2005, 6.37 pm
The first half of the day I tried to wring prices out of various vendors for various Microsoft products.
The second half of the day I spent installing OpenBSD on a soon to be authentication server thingie. It went well.
Now I'm going to do some other web/networking small jobs from home, and get paid for them, too.
Then I'm going to try to stop myself from spending said money and try to put it in my money market fund instead.
Then I'm going to try to talk myself OUT of buying ANOTHER car.
Then I'm going to make a list of what I need to fix on my current car.
Then I'm going to fix the little 5th-string nut on my banjo with epoxy or superglue and a small, grooved piece of wood.
By that time, I'll probably run across something else to blog about besides what I have done and what I'm going to do... like all the things that distracted me from doing all those things was going to do... like little brother Joe bringing in dinner and wanting to watch the rest of Blade Trinity that we started last night.
The second half of the day I spent installing OpenBSD on a soon to be authentication server thingie. It went well.
Now I'm going to do some other web/networking small jobs from home, and get paid for them, too.
Then I'm going to try to stop myself from spending said money and try to put it in my money market fund instead.
Then I'm going to try to talk myself OUT of buying ANOTHER car.
Then I'm going to make a list of what I need to fix on my current car.
Then I'm going to fix the little 5th-string nut on my banjo with epoxy or superglue and a small, grooved piece of wood.
By that time, I'll probably run across something else to blog about besides what I have done and what I'm going to do... like all the things that distracted me from doing all those things was going to do... like little brother Joe bringing in dinner and wanting to watch the rest of Blade Trinity that we started last night.
categorized as life of donzilla
June 15, 2005, 6.29 pm
Well folks,
I'm STILL alive. Third day of work straight, I'm starting to get the hang of it. Of course, I was two hours late for work and I forgot my power cable for my laptop, but even so, it WASN'T THAT BAD.
Had beans for lunch, too.
I'm STILL alive. Third day of work straight, I'm starting to get the hang of it. Of course, I was two hours late for work and I forgot my power cable for my laptop, but even so, it WASN'T THAT BAD.
Had beans for lunch, too.
categorized as life of donzilla
June 15, 2005, 10.03 am
So we had quite the party on Sunday up at my brother-and--his-wife's house...
...and a video of a bunch of us playing and signing Wagon Wheel with me making a lot of wrong notes and having an entirely-too-long beard now exists.
...and a video of a bunch of us playing and signing Wagon Wheel with me making a lot of wrong notes and having an entirely-too-long beard now exists.
categorized as life of donzilla
June 14, 2005, 9.53 am
I packed a lunch for work today...
...but I ate it all on the way to work.
...but I ate it all on the way to work.
categorized as life of donzilla
June 13, 2005, 10.55 pm
Uh.
Have you guys ever seen THIS GUY? He's a bit much, perhaps, but... but... some things are funny, and some things are funny because they're true...
Have you guys ever seen THIS GUY? He's a bit much, perhaps, but... but... some things are funny, and some things are funny because they're true...
categorized as life of donzilla
June 13, 2005, 9.09 pm
So, on Saturday we went up the coast to Goat Rock beach, where the wind and the waves were out of control.
It is apparently THE most dangerous beach on the West Coast, at least in virtue of its having the highest annual mortality rate of all the beachs.
Numerous large, wind-beaten, but highly-visible signs marked out the several dangerous of this particular coastal stretch:
(1) Rip tow.
(2) Sleeper waves.
(3) Strong currents.
There was a short explanation of the killer sleeper waves and the dangers of the "eroding sand."
At the bottom of the sign, in grim print, was this dire warning: FEW SURVIVE.
(I am not making this up.)
Being the young, foolish, and haughty twenty-somethings that we all are, we laughed at death, and at these warning signs, and then we promptly sparked a couple of bottles of wine and climbed the "DANGER - Do NOT Climb" cliffs.
It is apparently THE most dangerous beach on the West Coast, at least in virtue of its having the highest annual mortality rate of all the beachs.
Numerous large, wind-beaten, but highly-visible signs marked out the several dangerous of this particular coastal stretch:
(1) Rip tow.
(2) Sleeper waves.
(3) Strong currents.
There was a short explanation of the killer sleeper waves and the dangers of the "eroding sand."
At the bottom of the sign, in grim print, was this dire warning: FEW SURVIVE.
(I am not making this up.)
Being the young, foolish, and haughty twenty-somethings that we all are, we laughed at death, and at these warning signs, and then we promptly sparked a couple of bottles of wine and climbed the "DANGER - Do NOT Climb" cliffs.
linkage: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=451
I searched the internet, thinking that this would be a good beach for extreme military training, and sure enough I found this "[I] was out at goat rock beach here in northern california, being trained to be a seal..."...
categorized as life of donzilla
June 13, 2005, 7.56 pm
So, I've been saying "It's two days till Thursday!" all day long, and NOT ONE PERSON bothered to correct me. You all should be ashamed, leting a brother go astray and not taking him aside personally and warning him, informing him, of his error! Shame on you! DO NOT STAND IDLY BY!!
categorized as life of donzilla
June 13, 2005, 7.10 pm
Aieee.
Worked a full eight-hour day, plus a small consulting job at lunch, and still have more work to do tonight. It looks like I'm back to the 60+ hour weeks again!
Energy levels are low. I've been leaving abruptly from where-ever I am because my energy just runs out...
I'm looking to start swimming on thursday... should help energy levels...
Worked a full eight-hour day, plus a small consulting job at lunch, and still have more work to do tonight. It looks like I'm back to the 60+ hour weeks again!
Energy levels are low. I've been leaving abruptly from where-ever I am because my energy just runs out...
I'm looking to start swimming on thursday... should help energy levels...
categorized as life of donzilla
June 11, 2005, 3.41 pm
Alright.
I'm done sitting inside at a computer terminal on this blustery day.
Crash Box and I and Nailincoffin are going to head north on the 1, and see what we can see. Hopefully we'll meet up with my older brother and his wife and some other buddies and wine taste or picnic or something. They are probably wine tasting in Napa right now.
We could attach a spinnaker to the Silver Bullet and land sail today, it's that windy.
I'm done sitting inside at a computer terminal on this blustery day.
Crash Box and I and Nailincoffin are going to head north on the 1, and see what we can see. Hopefully we'll meet up with my older brother and his wife and some other buddies and wine taste or picnic or something. They are probably wine tasting in Napa right now.
We could attach a spinnaker to the Silver Bullet and land sail today, it's that windy.
categorized as life of donzilla
June 11, 2005, 2.07 pm
The wind is blowing outside, various family members are cleaning the house, and I've been immersed in a bizzare computer world of programming code and anchient hardware. All with hour upon hour of Ella's music playing loudly...
I've been looking for moonlighting IT jobs, just to fill in the gaps with regular work the next few weeks... I don't want to re-open the floodgates of business at Your Computer Genius, because I have travel plans and various other, shifting-around plans for the rest of the summer. So if you need a quick website fix, or a small site designed, now's the time. Small contract, work-from-anywhere stuff is what I'm looking for... Craig's list, Guru.com style... And it looks like there's plenty to be done...
I've been looking for moonlighting IT jobs, just to fill in the gaps with regular work the next few weeks... I don't want to re-open the floodgates of business at Your Computer Genius, because I have travel plans and various other, shifting-around plans for the rest of the summer. So if you need a quick website fix, or a small site designed, now's the time. Small contract, work-from-anywhere stuff is what I'm looking for... Craig's list, Guru.com style... And it looks like there's plenty to be done...
categorized as life of donzilla
June 8, 2005, 2.54 pm
I can sum up my life with one sentence. I made several stupid career choices which contrarily turned out fine...
categorized as life of donzilla
June 7, 2005, 3.05 pm
Suddenly everyone in the family is getting sick, one after another. Luckily it seems to be a 24-hours-or-less affair... But still...
In other reports life's constant struggle to better oneself has been uphill as of late. I think my spelling and memory are both getting worse. But I'm keeping Webster's near, and I think writing thinks down weakens my memory. Maybe I need to spend more time absorbed in pure thought. Or reading.
Blogging may continue to be light throughout the week. I've got some work to do.
In other reports life's constant struggle to better oneself has been uphill as of late. I think my spelling and memory are both getting worse. But I'm keeping Webster's near, and I think writing thinks down weakens my memory. Maybe I need to spend more time absorbed in pure thought. Or reading.
Blogging may continue to be light throughout the week. I've got some work to do.
categorized as life of donzilla
June 5, 2005, 5.19 pm
I found (and suprised) two spiders that were guarding the commode at 1700 hours. That's two more spiders who've gone to that great web in the sky. I have a feeling that the tide has turned, and that we are riding it all the way to victory! Die arachnids, die!
Sidenote: I've been inside too long.
Sidenote: I've been inside too long.
categorized as life of donzilla
June 5, 2005, 12.38 pm
So the war against the spiders rages on. We made an attack on the "big momma," but it got away. Yesterday I killed a little one, but Little Brother Joe got a bite on his bum last night, so that makes us even with the spiders. Joe has now moved his bed six inches away from the wall, in hopes of preventing any further midnight attacks.
categorized as life of donzilla
June 4, 2005, 2.24 pm
We are fighting a battle against spiders! Giant spiders!
categorized as life of donzilla
June 3, 2005, 5.51 pm
So much discussion of Thomas Aquinas College and drinking to be found here!
I don't know the person who pens that blog, and I must confess I didn't read the whole post - it felt tedious, but I certainly know about TAC and drinking. And in an old school way, related to the folks who are there now and who were expressing their sentiments on that post...
I visited UCLA and TAC for the first time on the same trip. I may be the only one to pound a fo'ty and hang out in the 400 one day, and then get sloppy at a UCLA frat party the next. That was more than six years ago.
I don't know the person who pens that blog, and I must confess I didn't read the whole post - it felt tedious, but I certainly know about TAC and drinking. And in an old school way, related to the folks who are there now and who were expressing their sentiments on that post...
I visited UCLA and TAC for the first time on the same trip. I may be the only one to pound a fo'ty and hang out in the 400 one day, and then get sloppy at a UCLA frat party the next. That was more than six years ago.
categorized as life of donzilla
June 3, 2005, 5.39 pm
Hey, why don't all you summer hooligans at That Arrogant College get together and form one SUPERBLOG where all of you can post as contributing authors!?
I think that would be WONDERFUL or THE BESTEST or AWESOME, or sumthing like that...
Then all of youLAZY CLOWNS struggling artistes who are only posting once a month can still be appreciated. And loved. And cherished. Or something like that.
Let me know.
We could call it... the TAC Summer Blog. Or the SuperSummerBlog. Or...or...
(sound of sedative/tranquilizer dart from concerned/nearby family member hitting Dz in the back of the neck, and shortly thereafter the sound of Dz's head hitting the keyboard)
bsjykdlo.khfs.
...
I think that would be WONDERFUL or THE BESTEST or AWESOME, or sumthing like that...
Then all of you
Let me know.
We could call it... the TAC Summer Blog. Or the SuperSummerBlog. Or...or...
(sound of sedative/tranquilizer dart from concerned/nearby family member hitting Dz in the back of the neck, and shortly thereafter the sound of Dz's head hitting the keyboard)
bsjykdlo.khfs.
...
categorized as life of donzilla
June 3, 2005, 5.22 pm
So, eight days ago (that would be last thursday) I had surgery to remove a mass of tissue from the right side of my chest. The offical, medical name of the condition that I had was "Woman-like breast", of the right side.
So anyways, that's why I've been "laying low" this past week, recovering. It was a full on, knock-you-all-the-way-out, insurance-is-paying-for-it affair. They removed a huge clump of hardened tissue, benign.
I a l m o s t just dropped down and did a set of thirty-five pushups - which tells you that I'm almost all the way recovered - but didn't, which is good because I'd proabably have ripped some stiches out or something.
Achilles thinks I should get a T-shirt that says "I had breast-reduction surgery!" on the front, and "No, really! I did!" on the back.
I find the whole thing hilarious.
I'll be back to full physical activity in another 2-3 weeks...
So anyways, that's why I've been "laying low" this past week, recovering. It was a full on, knock-you-all-the-way-out, insurance-is-paying-for-it affair. They removed a huge clump of hardened tissue, benign.
I a l m o s t just dropped down and did a set of thirty-five pushups - which tells you that I'm almost all the way recovered - but didn't, which is good because I'd proabably have ripped some stiches out or something.
Achilles thinks I should get a T-shirt that says "I had breast-reduction surgery!" on the front, and "No, really! I did!" on the back.
I find the whole thing hilarious.
I'll be back to full physical activity in another 2-3 weeks...
categorized as life of donzilla
June 3, 2005, 12.40 pm
"Pueblos todos batan palmas,
Aclamen a Dios con gritos de júbilo;
Porque El Señor es sublime y terrible,
Emperador de toda la tierra."
Aclamen a Dios con gritos de júbilo;
Porque El Señor es sublime y terrible,
Emperador de toda la tierra."
- Psalm A54
categorized as life of donzilla
June 2, 2005, 8.40 pm
We've always thought that the Turrentine name came from a mis-spelling of the Italian "Turrentino"... And all the records of the Turrentine Brothers were burnt in a fire in Cork County, Ireland, in the 18th century, which left us not knowing why we were here, in America, with Irish blood and an Italian last name.
But perhaps this will shed some light. Perhaps "Turkington" and "Turrentine" are related.
Were those guys Northern Irish, though?
But perhaps this will shed some light. Perhaps "Turkington" and "Turrentine" are related.
Were those guys Northern Irish, though?
categorized as life of donzilla
June 2, 2005, 8.24 pm
We had General Interest, Major Ity, and missed Colonel Sanders (from JFK!) at dinner tonight.
categorized as life of donzilla
June 2, 2005, 8.22 pm
What people don't understand by-and-large in Western medicine is that psychological things cause chemical changes in people's bodies, then people treat those chemical changes symptomatically, never striking at the core of the problem.
categorized as life of donzilla
June 2, 2005, 8.16 pm
We all ate dinner as a family today, first time in a while...
categorized as life of donzilla
June 2, 2005, 5.44 pm
I've been writing a lot and thinking a lot, but not sharing very much of it with you. For reasons that I will explain.
categorized as life of donzilla
June 2, 2005, 2.02 pm
You should never let your dictionary gather dust. My trusty Websters sits ever-handy at my keyboard's side...
categorized as life of donzilla
June 2, 2005, 1.45 pm
I think people ought to be apprenticed to a tradesman when they are 13 or 14 years old.
We could alleviate a lot of the misery of the unproductive teenage/high school years, as well as provide folks with an instruction in diligence and practice - skills and attitudes that people NEED desperately in the rest of their lives.
That is, if we could find enough honest, skilled tradesmen to apprentice the children to...
We could alleviate a lot of the misery of the unproductive teenage/high school years, as well as provide folks with an instruction in diligence and practice - skills and attitudes that people NEED desperately in the rest of their lives.
That is, if we could find enough honest, skilled tradesmen to apprentice the children to...
categorized as life of donzilla
June 1, 2005, 8.40 pm
Your Linguistic Profile: |
|
75% General American English |
|
10% Dixie |
|
10% Upper Midwestern |
|
5% Midwestern |
|
0% Yankee |
At least I'm not a damn Yank. According to the internet.
hat-tip: http://nailincoffin.com
categorized as life of donzilla
June 1, 2005, 8.14 pm
Why don't I own a djembe?!!
I was shopping* for them a few months? years? ago...
*by shopping, of course, I mean sitting at the computer, and doing something other than blogging...
I was shopping* for them a few months? years? ago...
*by shopping, of course, I mean sitting at the computer, and doing something other than blogging...
categorized as life of donzilla
May 31, 2005, 3.37 pm
In summary the letter says that the subjugation of women is the result of original sin and not of God's original design for creation. Also that attempts to advance the cause of women by seeing men as enemies to be defeated or by claiming that no real difference exists between male and female have had "lethal effects," particularly on the family. It urges that rather than compete or ignore the God-given differences between men and women that there be active collaboration between the sexes.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 31, 2005, 3.02 pm
SYNDICATED!
You are what you read
In the wake of the British elections, here's an interesting article by Johann Hari from a couple of years ago. "A wise person once told me," he says, "that, if ever I wanted to figure out whether or not it was worth chatting somebody up, I should ask him what his favourite book was." And he goes on to analyse Tony Blair, Michael Howard and Charles Kennedy in the light of their favourite books.
Blair: Ivanhoe by Walter Scott -- "Can anyone be surprised that Blair chose as his favourite novelist a man who is considered both radical and conservative at the same time?"
Howard: Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald -- "Howard's social conservatism--his lectures about the threats to the social order from single mothers, for example--chimes neatly with Fitzgerald's sense of an unseen danger from below."
Kennedy: The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsythe -- "The mechanics of the crime take up 95 per cent of the novel... Kennedy is, at heart, a process man, a political hack who loves the 'how' of politics much more than the 'why'."
My own favourite novel is The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky. That probably gives away far more about me than I care to spell out. Go figure.
In the wake of the British elections, here's an interesting article by Johann Hari from a couple of years ago. "A wise person once told me," he says, "that, if ever I wanted to figure out whether or not it was worth chatting somebody up, I should ask him what his favourite book was." And he goes on to analyse Tony Blair, Michael Howard and Charles Kennedy in the light of their favourite books.
Blair: Ivanhoe by Walter Scott -- "Can anyone be surprised that Blair chose as his favourite novelist a man who is considered both radical and conservative at the same time?"
Howard: Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald -- "Howard's social conservatism--his lectures about the threats to the social order from single mothers, for example--chimes neatly with Fitzgerald's sense of an unseen danger from below."
Kennedy: The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsythe -- "The mechanics of the crime take up 95 per cent of the novel... Kennedy is, at heart, a process man, a political hack who loves the 'how' of politics much more than the 'why'."
My own favourite novel is The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky. That probably gives away far more about me than I care to spell out. Go figure.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 30, 2005, 9.45 pm
...so my brothers routinely hang out in my room, wander around, and inevitably, inexplicably leave their footwear somewhere in the room...
...this time it was a 5 minute visit, and a pair of socks...
...this time it was a 5 minute visit, and a pair of socks...
categorized as life of donzilla
May 30, 2005, 9.36 pm
Just remember children, cigarettes are an outdoor pest pet...
...at least except for 3 places in California, one of which is the F's house...
...the second is The Hilltop... your friendly Oak View bar...
...and the third is the "smoking room" at LAX...
...at least except for 3 places in California, one of which is the F's house...
...the second is The Hilltop... your friendly Oak View bar...
...and the third is the "smoking room" at LAX...
categorized as life of donzilla
May 29, 2005, 9.39 pm
In true Memorial Day fashion, my family is watching Patton.
The Random Englishman cycled over from the city to hang out for a bit. We grabbed lawn chairs and sat out front in the sun, talked, and had tea. A concerned little brother laughingly placed orange construction cones around the front of the driveway so that an unemployed little brother didn't kill us when he came roaring home in the blue Volvo.
"Do one thing everyday that scares you," turns out to be just stepping out of the house, sitting in the driveway. What is the world coming too, children?
The Random Englishman cycled over from the city to hang out for a bit. We grabbed lawn chairs and sat out front in the sun, talked, and had tea. A concerned little brother laughingly placed orange construction cones around the front of the driveway so that an unemployed little brother didn't kill us when he came roaring home in the blue Volvo.
"Do one thing everyday that scares you," turns out to be just stepping out of the house, sitting in the driveway. What is the world coming too, children?
categorized as life of donzilla
May 29, 2005, 4.39 pm
All the things I'm good at I have PRACTICED doing for hours and hours.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 28, 2005, 10.59 pm
I like the days I spend looking far away better than the days I spend looking at things up close. But I like the days I spend looking at things that are far away with people who are close the best.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 28, 2005, 10.51 pm
I was mistaken.
It is not true that you cannot find happiness in this life.
In a way, it IS true that you cannot find happiness in this life. But you CAN be given it. Someday, I will renounce all of my works. Until that day, I am building up a corpus of works to reject. I can reject anything and everything I've done MYSELF as inadequate, insufficent, and flawed. Happiness cannot be found in that which we believe will make us happy, but it can be given to us precisely in our not finding our own happiness. In our suffering, in our loss. In humility. In Truth.
It is not true that you cannot find happiness in this life.
In a way, it IS true that you cannot find happiness in this life. But you CAN be given it. Someday, I will renounce all of my works. Until that day, I am building up a corpus of works to reject. I can reject anything and everything I've done MYSELF as inadequate, insufficent, and flawed. Happiness cannot be found in that which we believe will make us happy, but it can be given to us precisely in our not finding our own happiness. In our suffering, in our loss. In humility. In Truth.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 28, 2005, 8.13 pm
SUPERFOODS
What do these all have in common?
Beans
Blueberries
Broccoli
Oats
Oranges
Pumpkin
Salmon
Soy
Spinach
Tea (green or black)
Tomatoes
Turkey
Walnuts
Yogurt
Beans
Blueberries
Broccoli
Oats
Oranges
Pumpkin
Salmon
Soy
Spinach
Tea (green or black)
Tomatoes
Turkey
Walnuts
Yogurt
categorized as life of donzilla
May 28, 2005, 8.00 pm
So I've sat around all day either reading, perusing web pages, or napping... with an eight foot screen showing surfing videos.
I claim extenuating circumstances.
I claim extenuating circumstances.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 28, 2005, 3.59 pm
"I have not yet begun to blog."
- Don Turrentine, 2005
- Don Turrentine, 2005
categorized as life of donzilla
May 28, 2005, 10.36 am
Here’s some Southerly advice that may come in handy down the road apiece… Next time you are too drunk to drive, walk to the nearest pizza shop and place an order. When they go to deliver it, catch a ride home with ‘em.
Check out Dax Montana's Redneck IQ Test.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 27, 2005, 7.42 pm
Note to those attempting to destroy our country: You have a damned long way to go.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 27, 2005, 7.41 pm
Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."
categorized as life of donzilla
May 24, 2005, 10.44 pm
I went for a walk in the neighborhood just now...
Down the asphalt streets, past the 7-11 where police cars convened on an accident scene...
Crossing my road before the stoplight, and down the main road... Picking my time carefully... Boldly striding across the strip within a moment's interlude between streams of passing cars.
Then under the glowing, graffiti-marked spheres that pass as street lamps, four of them - one on each corner-post that marks the little bridge, where two orange and two-dimensional oversized fishes adorn a sign that reads: TROUT CROSSING.
Down to the right, a murky dark street, kids on skateboards and some other wheeled contraptions lurch across the bridge where I just passed...
The clangs of people putting out some form of garbage into cars on the street, a screen door closing, the murmur from inside a wall, and four blocks of silence.
A spider's web spans the distance between a lamp and the post; positioned perfectly to snatch the fluttering moths out of the air and snack upon them, in the dusk or twilight, or cool morning air: this lamp stays lit all night long. It shines upon a sign that I do not read as I walk past.
I walk to the end of Olema, past the bus station turn around, smelling the pine trees, the dirt on the road, and the sweet smell of some tree of which I do not yet know the name.
The bus station borders on a triangle of woods, with pine trees richly looming over a rough-cut pine fence. My fingers graze the boards...
I walk back, uninvolved, on the clean sidewalk, having tasted - but only tasted - the night.
Crossing my road before the stoplight, and down the main road... Picking my time carefully... Boldly striding across the strip within a moment's interlude between streams of passing cars.
Then under the glowing, graffiti-marked spheres that pass as street lamps, four of them - one on each corner-post that marks the little bridge, where two orange and two-dimensional oversized fishes adorn a sign that reads: TROUT CROSSING.
Down to the right, a murky dark street, kids on skateboards and some other wheeled contraptions lurch across the bridge where I just passed...
The clangs of people putting out some form of garbage into cars on the street, a screen door closing, the murmur from inside a wall, and four blocks of silence.
A spider's web spans the distance between a lamp and the post; positioned perfectly to snatch the fluttering moths out of the air and snack upon them, in the dusk or twilight, or cool morning air: this lamp stays lit all night long. It shines upon a sign that I do not read as I walk past.
I walk to the end of Olema, past the bus station turn around, smelling the pine trees, the dirt on the road, and the sweet smell of some tree of which I do not yet know the name.
The bus station borders on a triangle of woods, with pine trees richly looming over a rough-cut pine fence. My fingers graze the boards...
I walk back, uninvolved, on the clean sidewalk, having tasted - but only tasted - the night.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 24, 2005, 10.35 pm
"Hippies with a laptop are across the street attacking our wireless network."
Thus was the rumor, dispelled. But I still don't know what those crazy hippies were up to.
Thus was the rumor, dispelled. But I still don't know what those crazy hippies were up to.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 24, 2005, 6.06 pm
Aaah! This chap has called me out for a little bit 'o musical ... comparison.
I have 127 GB of music on the MUSIC hard drive that I mainly listen to. And I have not finished ripping my cd's yet either. A surprsingly large quantity of that is NOT legally questionable...
The last cd I bought was...
...well, the last one I bought at Amazon was Today is My Day by The Gadjits.
The song playing as I write this is Reanimator by Amon Tobin.
And then I'm supposed to list ten songs I listen too... the most. Hmm. I'm going to kind of fudge this one... Without giving it too much thought, here's some things I've been listening to recently...
Tangled up in Blue by Bob
some stuff by The Rentals
I decided July for Kings wasn't worth listening to... fans: defend them! I'd like to hear it...
Desmond Dekker sings The Israelites, classic Reggae...
Old Crow Medicine Show and Nancy Griffith...
And O C M S is playing in San Francisco on Friday!!!
I have 127 GB of music on the MUSIC hard drive that I mainly listen to. And I have not finished ripping my cd's yet either. A surprsingly large quantity of that is NOT legally questionable...
The last cd I bought was...
...well, the last one I bought at Amazon was Today is My Day by The Gadjits.
The song playing as I write this is Reanimator by Amon Tobin.
And then I'm supposed to list ten songs I listen too... the most. Hmm. I'm going to kind of fudge this one... Without giving it too much thought, here's some things I've been listening to recently...
Tangled up in Blue by Bob
some stuff by The Rentals
I decided July for Kings wasn't worth listening to... fans: defend them! I'd like to hear it...
Desmond Dekker sings The Israelites, classic Reggae...
Old Crow Medicine Show and Nancy Griffith...
And O C M S is playing in San Francisco on Friday!!!
categorized as life of donzilla
May 24, 2005, 5.25 pm
So I've had about four people remark to me (one electronically, three via voice) that I "blog too much"!
OBIVOUSLY these folks weren't around for the "glory days" of blogging!
And, besides, who is more foolish, the blogging fool, or the fool who reads him?...
...
OBIVOUSLY these folks weren't around for the "glory days" of blogging!
And, besides, who is more foolish, the blogging fool, or the fool who reads him?...
...
categorized as life of donzilla
May 24, 2005, 4.57 pm
I went to the office and worked today!
Okay, so it was from 11:15 until 3:30... So what's your point?
Okay, so it was from 11:15 until 3:30... So what's your point?
categorized as life of donzilla
May 23, 2005, 10.25 pm
For those who do not know...
Cigarette smoking makes the body metabolize Caffeine at twice the rate.
I feel a link to this guy is appropriate now.
Cigarette smoking makes the body metabolize Caffeine at twice the rate.
I feel a link to this guy is appropriate now.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 23, 2005, 7.35 pm
Some dude is posting anonymously here, on WAVELET's excellant blog.
This aggression will not stand, man!
I don't want to reveal their identity through technological means, though it would be fairly easy to do so. I think the change must come from within them. What reason could they possibly have for posting anonymously?
Anyways, I don't care who they are. But they are making a lot of blanket statements which are wrong, and they offend me, particularly because Thomas Aquinas College is a delicate subject around me. I have a significant financial and emotional investment in the place.
This is my blog, and I do what I like here. That is not to say that what I do here does not have consequences. It does. Just like every other action that we do, and a man does something with the knowledge of probable and reasonable consequences taken into account.
This aggression will not stand, man!
I don't want to reveal their identity through technological means, though it would be fairly easy to do so. I think the change must come from within them. What reason could they possibly have for posting anonymously?
Anyways, I don't care who they are. But they are making a lot of blanket statements which are wrong, and they offend me, particularly because Thomas Aquinas College is a delicate subject around me. I have a significant financial and emotional investment in the place.
This is my blog, and I do what I like here. That is not to say that what I do here does not have consequences. It does. Just like every other action that we do, and a man does something with the knowledge of probable and reasonable consequences taken into account.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 23, 2005, 5.45 pm
I want to start doing "five minutes of photography a day"...
'course, I'll need a camera first...
'course, I'll need a camera first...
categorized as life of donzilla
May 23, 2005, 11.59 am
Heard today at the doctor's office:
"I was sane 'til I had kids."
"I was sane 'til I had kids."
categorized as life of donzilla
May 22, 2005, 10.01 pm
Still picking a little guitar... Feel like I'm getting sick... Must sleep...
categorized as life of donzilla
May 22, 2005, 5.15 pm
This treatment is effective because depression is primarily a physical phenomenon - NOT!
hat-tip: http://drudgereport.com/
categorized as life of donzilla
May 22, 2005, 5.12 pm
Now this is good news for some of us...
hat-tip: http://drudgereport.com/
categorized as life of donzilla
May 22, 2005, 1.54 pm
So I just did some successful computer consulting for a client who is in Torino, Italy.
And I'm late for my brother's play.
And I'm late for my brother's play.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 22, 2005, 1.30 pm
This summer I'm going to...
- get my library card renewed
- fill in the gaps in my Bob Dylan collection
- read a ridiculous amount
- finish that coding I've been meaning to do for two years: the website photo album software
- pay at least $15 in late library fees
- try to explain to my family why my learning to play the fiddle is a good thing
- whittle the extent of my personal belongings down to what fits in my guitar case, and nothing else (except the 'Bullet)...
- get my library card renewed
- fill in the gaps in my Bob Dylan collection
- read a ridiculous amount
- finish that coding I've been meaning to do for two years: the website photo album software
- pay at least $15 in late library fees
- try to explain to my family why my learning to play the fiddle is a good thing
- whittle the extent of my personal belongings down to what fits in my guitar case, and nothing else (except the 'Bullet)...
categorized as life of donzilla
May 22, 2005, 12.50 pm
What's happening to our little world of bloggers?
First the Endless Approach stops posting, then Seldom Sober. I have a few weeks of mostly-dead days as well.
I think in some ways that this question is a rhetorical one. Things change over time. Life is a series of these changes... Change is better than stagnation, but also dangerous, unfriendly.
I know what I want to do in my life now. I am itching to do it, too, but it seems like mundane details get in the way. Well, best to slog through these in the best way possible, right? I'm trying to rid my life of junk and stuff, and it seems like even the very ridding my life of this stuff is an unncessary distraction caused by it. So I will use these activities as a meditation on something deeper, more complex, and beautiful.
While I attack this pile of crap that's in the middle of my room. The pile is diminishing, for now.
First the Endless Approach stops posting, then Seldom Sober. I have a few weeks of mostly-dead days as well.
I think in some ways that this question is a rhetorical one. Things change over time. Life is a series of these changes... Change is better than stagnation, but also dangerous, unfriendly.
I know what I want to do in my life now. I am itching to do it, too, but it seems like mundane details get in the way. Well, best to slog through these in the best way possible, right? I'm trying to rid my life of junk and stuff, and it seems like even the very ridding my life of this stuff is an unncessary distraction caused by it. So I will use these activities as a meditation on something deeper, more complex, and beautiful.
While I attack this pile of crap that's in the middle of my room. The pile is diminishing, for now.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 22, 2005, 12.50 pm
I was going to blog about this earlier, but in the name of good taste I skipped it.
So, if you have good taste... You may want to skip this as well...
Be forewarned, sometimes disgust and humor go hand-in-hand.
- - - - - - -
Let me paint the picture.
About 6 months ago I returned from an extended stay in Africa. After delaying several months, I went to a doctor in order to get checked out, healthwise, after my experiences.
The practical-minded doctor pointed out that rigorous testing was not necessary, as I was not experiencing any symptoms at all. So she ordered a few routine tests: TB, blood, stool, etc.
She gave me the injection under the skin for TB, drew the blood, and gave me the vials for the stool samples.
(You can see where this is going).
I had one more day before returning to school.
I had been at home for the last few days (it was Easter vacation), and my mother had provided me with, for the entire extent of this vacation, a constant supply of her homemade bran muffins, which I love so much. Simple, great taste, and so on and so forth.
In any case, I was not in any "condition" to produce the right "kind" of stool sample that day, for these obvious reasons.
However, I tried and tried, with varied messy and disappointing results. I was at work after this doctor's appointment, and I shelved the project, finished work, returned home, thinking nothing more of the stool samples...
Until two weeks ago, when I was cleaning out the car... And I found two vials of several week old samples, well-warmed by the sun for a couple of months. Have YOU ever found THAT in YOUR car?
So, if you have good taste... You may want to skip this as well...
Be forewarned, sometimes disgust and humor go hand-in-hand.
- - - - - - -
Let me paint the picture.
About 6 months ago I returned from an extended stay in Africa. After delaying several months, I went to a doctor in order to get checked out, healthwise, after my experiences.
The practical-minded doctor pointed out that rigorous testing was not necessary, as I was not experiencing any symptoms at all. So she ordered a few routine tests: TB, blood, stool, etc.
She gave me the injection under the skin for TB, drew the blood, and gave me the vials for the stool samples.
(You can see where this is going).
I had one more day before returning to school.
I had been at home for the last few days (it was Easter vacation), and my mother had provided me with, for the entire extent of this vacation, a constant supply of her homemade bran muffins, which I love so much. Simple, great taste, and so on and so forth.
In any case, I was not in any "condition" to produce the right "kind" of stool sample that day, for these obvious reasons.
However, I tried and tried, with varied messy and disappointing results. I was at work after this doctor's appointment, and I shelved the project, finished work, returned home, thinking nothing more of the stool samples...
Until two weeks ago, when I was cleaning out the car... And I found two vials of several week old samples, well-warmed by the sun for a couple of months. Have YOU ever found THAT in YOUR car?
categorized as life of donzilla
May 22, 2005, 11.42 am
Searching for a consistent, healthy, smoothie/milkshake type meal-thingie...
2 grody bananas, 1 orange (less a few wedges which I ate), a cup or two of plain yogurt, a handfull of carrots, a sprinkling of peanuts, some ice on the bottom, and a splash of milk. Tasted pretty good, but it wasn't sweet enough for Lil' Bro' #1. Which is fine...
2 grody bananas, 1 orange (less a few wedges which I ate), a cup or two of plain yogurt, a handfull of carrots, a sprinkling of peanuts, some ice on the bottom, and a splash of milk. Tasted pretty good, but it wasn't sweet enough for Lil' Bro' #1. Which is fine...
categorized as life of donzilla
May 22, 2005, 9.55 am
Aah! What am I doing spending the morning inside?! There is a whole nest of baby red-headed woodpeckers inside the tree in my neighbor's yard. And they chirp like little chirp-machineguns.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 21, 2005, 11.45 pm
I must be recovering from something massive. I got twelve hours of sleep last night, and I started going to bed tonight at ten.
I'll bet I averaged four hours of sleep a night and four pints of coffee a day for the last four weeks.
Yup, I'm recovering.
And we're partying with the Archbishop tomorrow, Archbishop Levada, who soon is the #2 man in the Catholic Church, and soon will be meeting on a daily basis with the Pope.
And then hopefully into the city to party with the Random Englishman.
I'll bet I averaged four hours of sleep a night and four pints of coffee a day for the last four weeks.
Yup, I'm recovering.
And we're partying with the Archbishop tomorrow, Archbishop Levada, who soon is the #2 man in the Catholic Church, and soon will be meeting on a daily basis with the Pope.
And then hopefully into the city to party with the Random Englishman.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 21, 2005, 12.43 am
Oh, and we beat the AAA man in opening Ben Turner's car door that was locked with the keys inside. At least time-wise.
I'll bet the AAA man never had seen four college grads trying to unlock the driver's side door with a pair of coat hangers after he had opened the passenger's side...
Good times in Napa...
I'll bet the AAA man never had seen four college grads trying to unlock the driver's side door with a pair of coat hangers after he had opened the passenger's side...
Good times in Napa...
categorized as life of donzilla
May 20, 2005, 11.29 pm
There's a part of me that wants to like movies... But I just can't anymore. Life is too real...
categorized as life of donzilla
May 20, 2005, 6.26 pm
I'm feeling kind of vegatative right now. This is not how I usually feel.
The last month has been somewhat hectic. I have work coming up soon, and it feels good to sit around the house and drink tea and tie up loose ends. I will need activity soon, but for now...
Oh, and I have this bizarre desk chair that does not have a back that I obtained from a friend who friend who claims that it is, and I quote, "the new Swedish model," which comes without a back. I thought he was joking, but it seems that he wasn't. Either way, I keep almost falling off.
RR and I might watch a movie tonight... Maybe we'll go into the city... Or maybe I'll get caught up on sleep.
The last month has been somewhat hectic. I have work coming up soon, and it feels good to sit around the house and drink tea and tie up loose ends. I will need activity soon, but for now...
Oh, and I have this bizarre desk chair that does not have a back that I obtained from a friend who friend who claims that it is, and I quote, "the new Swedish model," which comes without a back. I thought he was joking, but it seems that he wasn't. Either way, I keep almost falling off.
RR and I might watch a movie tonight... Maybe we'll go into the city... Or maybe I'll get caught up on sleep.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 20, 2005, 5.05 pm
I've picked up an annoying habit from this fella I had in class...
...of saying...
"That's true."
Matter of factly, and after statements that obviously are. It annoys even me that I do it now.
Ex//
Someone else: "Ha, ha! That kid just got kicked in the balls!"
Me: "That's true."
...of saying...
"That's true."
Matter of factly, and after statements that obviously are. It annoys even me that I do it now.
Ex//
Someone else: "Ha, ha! That kid just got kicked in the balls!"
Me: "That's true."
categorized as life of donzilla
May 20, 2005, 4.06 pm
Last Friday:
WE took our final final at 9:00 am. Eventually, after mentally unwinding for a little bit and losing my philosophy books, and hacky-sacking we drifted over to Ojai to jam a little bit.
The session was entertaining; a wide and varied array of faces new and old showed up, including a dude who had played the dobro for 16 years in a band. He was pretty good, and fit right in, digging the tunes we were playing. His son was a freshman at the college this last year, and his son was feeding me the first word to each verse of Dylan's Tangled up in Blue as I belted it out.
Afterwards I was walking back to my dorm at 2 am, and I was thinking: "Gee, that was a calm, relaxed, not-excessive-drinking, finals friday. Amazing."
CUT TO TWO HOURS LATER.
4:30 am. Don's asleep in bed in the dorm. The phone rings.
"Don, hey, it's Paul Canter! Kolby wrecked his truck, Cathy's in jail, Daddy's being stalked by Mexicans on the 150, and I'm stuck at Koenigstein with BC, can you help?"
"Uh, yeah...I'll be right there man."
I grabbed my Nalgene, my flashlight, my cars keys, my pants, and my former roommate, and off we went.
And that's just the beginning of the story.
The session was entertaining; a wide and varied array of faces new and old showed up, including a dude who had played the dobro for 16 years in a band. He was pretty good, and fit right in, digging the tunes we were playing. His son was a freshman at the college this last year, and his son was feeding me the first word to each verse of Dylan's Tangled up in Blue as I belted it out.
Afterwards I was walking back to my dorm at 2 am, and I was thinking: "Gee, that was a calm, relaxed, not-excessive-drinking, finals friday. Amazing."
CUT TO TWO HOURS LATER.
4:30 am. Don's asleep in bed in the dorm. The phone rings.
"Don, hey, it's Paul Canter! Kolby wrecked his truck, Cathy's in jail, Daddy's being stalked by Mexicans on the 150, and I'm stuck at Koenigstein with BC, can you help?"
"Uh, yeah...I'll be right there man."
I grabbed my Nalgene, my flashlight, my cars keys, my pants, and my former roommate, and off we went.
And that's just the beginning of the story.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 20, 2005, 3.45 pm
Yesterday morning I wake up somewhat, still asleep, but vaguely aware of my surroundings. I hear Ben Turner's voice upstairs, then in the room. I wake up to him jumping on me, saying
"You look even more feral than when I saw you last."
And I must admit, with the long hair and the unshaven aspect, I do.
"You look even more feral than when I saw you last."
And I must admit, with the long hair and the unshaven aspect, I do.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 20, 2005, 2.35 pm
So just now I'm driving back from dropping off some stuff for my brother, and I think
"Hey, I'll take an earlier exit off the freeway and skip some of this traffic."
I get a funny feeling that something's not quite right about it, but I do it anyway.
As I roll onto the off-ramp towards the light at the end, I hear the squeal of sirens: a LOT of sirens.
The light changes red, I roll to a stop.
Suddenly, two motorcycle policemen come, slowly, stately, around the corner, followed by a fire engine, lights flashing. Another fire engine follows it. And another, and another. I wait at the light while a parade of twenty fire engines, complete with police escort, meanders by. I sit at the light and laugh. Ya just can't get ahead...
"Hey, I'll take an earlier exit off the freeway and skip some of this traffic."
I get a funny feeling that something's not quite right about it, but I do it anyway.
As I roll onto the off-ramp towards the light at the end, I hear the squeal of sirens: a LOT of sirens.
The light changes red, I roll to a stop.
Suddenly, two motorcycle policemen come, slowly, stately, around the corner, followed by a fire engine, lights flashing. Another fire engine follows it. And another, and another. I wait at the light while a parade of twenty fire engines, complete with police escort, meanders by. I sit at the light and laugh. Ya just can't get ahead...
categorized as life of donzilla
May 20, 2005, 10.29 am
News flash: Coffee kills cancer. Who knew? Better put a pot on.
This is good, because I've been living on coffee for at least three weeks straight. If you cut me right now, I'll probably bleed coffee.
This is good, because I've been living on coffee for at least three weeks straight. If you cut me right now, I'll probably bleed coffee.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 20, 2005, 10.15 am
I lost my copy of the Apostle translation of the Nicomachean Ethics down at school. If anyones who is down there finds it, please please please rescue it and save it for me. It has some illustrations in it that are very important to me.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 19, 2005, 12.47 am
Home. Exhausted. Been running on coffee for weeks. Not much sleep recently. Gonna sleep. Sleep. Sleep. Slee...ZZZ...zzz...
categorized as life of donzilla
May 18, 2005, 6.37 pm
At the In-n-Out in Atascadero. Parked sideways taking up three parking spots. Will be home tonight. It's summer! Blog-posting will resume soon.
categorized as life of donzilla
May 14, 2005, 10.43 am
You know...
...I've got a lot of stories to tell from the last ten days.
Hell, from the last ten hours, even...
...I've got a lot of stories to tell from the last ten days.
Hell, from the last ten hours, even...
categorized as life of donzilla
January 6, 2005, 3.46 am
Frank Sinatra just came on my music (One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)) and said "It's quarter to three..." and I looked at my clock and it was. Weird. G'night, sportsfans.
categorized as life of donzilla
January 4, 2005, 9.12 pm
I think I have a tapeworm. I have eaten about 8 meals today. Also, my kidneys have hurt since I quit drinking.
categorized as life of donzilla
January 4, 2005, 9.12 pm
Earbuds can be dangerous!
I was walking past my T.V., which was on, while talking on an earbud (those little danglers that fit into your phone) when the cable suddenly leaped towards the T.V. and I heard a crackling sound. The electricity snuck up the cable and shocked the inside of my ear. The INSIDE of MY EAR! I have NEVER been shocked (by electricity) on the inside of my ear! Anyways, it caused me to involuntarily curse, both into the microphone and into the hearing radius of my little brother. So, be forewarned, gentle readers. Keep your small electrical cables which are connected to the inside of your ear AWAY from your evil, evil T.V.
categorized as life of donzilla
January 4, 2005, 9.12 pm
Earbuds can be dangerous!
I was walking past my T.V., which was on, while talking on an earbud (those little danglers that fit into your phone) when the cable suddenly leaped towards the T.V. and I heard a crackling sound. The electricity snuck up the cable and shocked the inside of my ear. The INSIDE of MY EAR! I have NEVER been shocked (by electricity) on the inside of my ear! Anyways, it caused me to involuntarily curse, both into the microphone and into the hearing radius of my little brother. So, be forewarned, gentle readers. Keep your small electrical cables which are connected to the inside of your ear AWAY from your evil, evil T.V.
categorized as life of donzilla
January 4, 2005, 11.17 am
Yesterday was pet* day, the day before was drop-everything day, and I can only wait with eager anticipation to see what today is.
*The word pet, which means a domisticated animal in English, is the word for fart in French (pron. pay). source.
*The word pet, which means a domisticated animal in English, is the word for fart in French (pron. pay). source.
categorized as life of donzilla
January 4, 2005, 10.36 am
Slowly coming into consciousness. Been a wicked insomniac for the last week, two weeks, something. Had my first hard sleep in a long time last night... Good, but I need to go to work...
categorized as life of donzilla
January 3, 2005, 10.38 pm
New plan: bed at ten, up at six every morning. No alkie.
categorized as life of donzilla
January 3, 2005, 7.26 pm
I worked basically a nine to five today on less than three hours of sleep. After not working (at a desk) for four months. I'm tired.
categorized as life of donzilla
January 1, 2005, 5.00 pm
So it turns out that calzones bought from corner stores in San Francisco aren't half bad.
categorized as life of donzilla
January 1, 2005, 4.40 pm
"So... if the tow truck takes us to [the mechanic], and we get a taxi from there..."
"...we don't haf' ta drive ever again, tonight."
And so the 1.75 litre bottle of Johnnie Walker Black was introduced to our 6 oz flask... again. and again. and again.
"...we don't haf' ta drive ever again, tonight."
And so the 1.75 litre bottle of Johnnie Walker Black was introduced to our 6 oz flask... again. and again. and again.
categorized as life of donzilla
January 1, 2005, 4.21 pm
,. and that ruined my plans to go down south to my friends' wedding.
categorized as life of donzilla
January 1, 2005, 5.20 am
Wow, what a New Years. I'll blog about it later. My car broke down in the city,.
categorized as life of donzilla
December 31, 2004, 7.25 pm
:: WARNING ::
I have stumbled upon a new marketing technique that IS IN USE in commerical establishments around you.
I was driving up to Costco today to pick up my contacts, and I stopped for a coffee at "Java House" or something - a coffee shop that I have a particular grudge against, since they bulldozed "Eric's" to make way for it, and "Eric's" was the second-best burger in the county, and the best damn philly cheesestake around.
Anyways, the marketing technique.
I ordered a coffee.
The next thing I new, I was holding a few cents in change and driving off.
Here's the secret: You dramatically overcharge your customers, and, if you do it DRAMATICALLY enough, they PAY YOU WHILE IN A STATE OF SHOCK.
Try it some time.
I'm not even going to tell you how much I spent on that cup of coffee, and they put sugar into it! They WAAAAAY overbalanced it and ruined it, and I had to drink this $3.55 cup of terrible coffee.
I guess it's welcome back to Marin County. Bastards.
I have stumbled upon a new marketing technique that IS IN USE in commerical establishments around you.
I was driving up to Costco today to pick up my contacts, and I stopped for a coffee at "Java House" or something - a coffee shop that I have a particular grudge against, since they bulldozed "Eric's" to make way for it, and "Eric's" was the second-best burger in the county, and the best damn philly cheesestake around.
Anyways, the marketing technique.
I ordered a coffee.
The next thing I new, I was holding a few cents in change and driving off.
Here's the secret: You dramatically overcharge your customers, and, if you do it DRAMATICALLY enough, they PAY YOU WHILE IN A STATE OF SHOCK.
Try it some time.
I'm not even going to tell you how much I spent on that cup of coffee, and they put sugar into it! They WAAAAAY overbalanced it and ruined it, and I had to drink this $3.55 cup of terrible coffee.
I guess it's welcome back to Marin County. Bastards.
categorized as life of donzilla
December 30, 2004, 1.29 am
Back home... for another three nights.
Another wedding - this time in Bakersfield - is scheduled for this Saturday.
Another wedding - this time in Bakersfield - is scheduled for this Saturday.
categorized as life of donzilla
December 28, 2004, 9.21 pm
Joe Schroder, please report in.
I deleted your voice mail message, and then when I tried to call you, I inadvertently deleted your number from my phone.
I deleted your voice mail message, and then when I tried to call you, I inadvertently deleted your number from my phone.
categorized as life of donzilla
December 28, 2004, 8.32 pm
Blogging from the Finely's house in Ojai. Joe & Julie were married successfully yesterday. We drank a lot.
Well, not really that much, but it was champagne, and I haven't had much of that for a while now. So it was bubbly-fun.
I saw a lot of old friends at the wedding and reception; there were many reunions. I walked through puddles in the parking lot.
Movies I would like to get on DVD:
On the Waterfront
Garden State
Sweet & Lowdown
A hungover Robin is reading me selections from Travels with Charlie form the couch, and I've been trying to sing Neil Young songs with a begin-to-get-sick-slightly-hoarse voice. Must. Fight. It.
Oh, and I'd also like a copy of the soundtrack to Garden State.
Oh, and my new credit card gets 5% cash back on almost every purchase.
Well, not really that much, but it was champagne, and I haven't had much of that for a while now. So it was bubbly-fun.
I saw a lot of old friends at the wedding and reception; there were many reunions. I walked through puddles in the parking lot.
Movies I would like to get on DVD:
On the Waterfront
Garden State
Sweet & Lowdown
A hungover Robin is reading me selections from Travels with Charlie form the couch, and I've been trying to sing Neil Young songs with a begin-to-get-sick-slightly-hoarse voice. Must. Fight. It.
Oh, and I'd also like a copy of the soundtrack to Garden State.
Oh, and my new credit card gets 5% cash back on almost every purchase.
categorized as life of donzilla
December 26, 2004, 1.56 am
My brother (the elder) gave me 10 of my own dvds back for Christmas.
We watched True Grit today, as a family, mostly. This was a LONG day, since I went to bed at 2:45 am and got up at 8:10 am. And did not get much sleep the few previous nights.
And a few nights before that, I was in many different countries.
And there was something else, too, but I forgot.
Oh yeah, I talked to like six or seven or eight people today, old friends, for anywhere from forty minutes to an hour and a half on the phone, people scattered all across the country. Incredibly good times, though some sad news was found out.
Please pray for my friend S.C., who has been diagnosed with a malignant brain cancer, and my friend Mr. R., who has had a stroke and neurological complications that are becoming very hard for his family to deal with.
That is all.
We watched True Grit today, as a family, mostly. This was a LONG day, since I went to bed at 2:45 am and got up at 8:10 am. And did not get much sleep the few previous nights.
And a few nights before that, I was in many different countries.
And there was something else, too, but I forgot.
Oh yeah, I talked to like six or seven or eight people today, old friends, for anywhere from forty minutes to an hour and a half on the phone, people scattered all across the country. Incredibly good times, though some sad news was found out.
Please pray for my friend S.C., who has been diagnosed with a malignant brain cancer, and my friend Mr. R., who has had a stroke and neurological complications that are becoming very hard for his family to deal with.
That is all.
categorized as life of donzilla
December 26, 2004, 1.32 am
I've figured out that I can live comfortably on $2000/month. (Um, post taxes, I guess.) Alloting the standard 1/4th of income for rent, so $500. So that means that I need about $100,000 in investments (at current savings account interest rates at your run-of-the-mill online bank) to live off the interest. I'd be considerably further along towards that goal if i didn't go back to school right now.
Ah, well, I am thinking I should pickup a few web-type contracts (short term) to fill in the hole in my budget made by my Africa and (more so) my London and Ireland beer escapades, and the extra could round out my savings...
Ah, well, I am thinking I should pickup a few web-type contracts (short term) to fill in the hole in my budget made by my Africa and (more so) my London and Ireland beer escapades, and the extra could round out my savings...
categorized as life of donzilla
December 26, 2004, 1.28 am
So I'm going back to school in SoCal, as soon as I square away the finances...
categorized as life of donzilla
December 25, 2004, 8.52 pm
Public websites.
There should be publicly-funded websites for things like donating hair for cancer patients.
There should be publicly-funded websites for things like donating hair for cancer patients.
categorized as life of donzilla
December 25, 2004, 2.36 pm
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Christmas with the family, the way it's supposed to be!
Christmas with the family, the way it's supposed to be!
categorized as life of donzilla
December 25, 2004, 1.49 am
Uh, whoops.
Meaning, was I supposed to wrap those presents?!
Being new to the whole gift-giving thing, I kindof forgot that it was going to be Christmas tomorrow. "Was" because now it "is."
So, Merry Christmas!
I'm gonna go wrap a few presents before going to bed.
Meaning, was I supposed to wrap those presents?!
Being new to the whole gift-giving thing, I kindof forgot that it was going to be Christmas tomorrow. "Was" because now it "is."
So, Merry Christmas!
I'm gonna go wrap a few presents before going to bed.
categorized as life of donzilla
December 24, 2004, 4.21 pm
And now you knowwhy I left Ireland.
hat-tip: Newsfeed Online
categorized as life of donzilla
December 21, 2004, 7.12 pm
Forget jets. I want to be a space pilot in the time-honored tradition of Chuck Yeager.
hat-tip: gut rumbles
categorized as life of donzilla
December 21, 2004, 6.36 pm
I've been digging Seldom Sober's recent poetry. Unfortunately, his comments are currently broken, and he's waiting for me to get back to Cali to fix them (where I'll have uninterupped broadbanding & boozing from my own computer in my own room).
categorized as life of donzilla
December 21, 2004, 6.34 pm
A few notes:
- It's nice to have the "@" back where it belongs, above the "2" key on the keyboard, and not where the ";" key should be.
- It's weird to be back in the same time zone as (most) of the the people I am communicating with. I no longer have to look at my clock and agonizingly calculate the time difference to see if it's ok if i call.
- I finished The Brothers Karamazov while in Cork City. I started working on The Beautiful and Damned on the way over.
- I am looking forward to driving. In MY car. With MY music, and MY subwoofer.
"Do you drink coffee or tea?"
"Yes."
- It's nice to have the "@" back where it belongs, above the "2" key on the keyboard, and not where the ";" key should be.
- It's weird to be back in the same time zone as (most) of the the people I am communicating with. I no longer have to look at my clock and agonizingly calculate the time difference to see if it's ok if i call.
- I finished The Brothers Karamazov while in Cork City. I started working on The Beautiful and Damned on the way over.
- I am looking forward to driving. In MY car. With MY music, and MY subwoofer.
"Do you drink coffee or tea?"
"Yes."
categorized as life of donzilla
December 12, 2004, 8.19 am
I had a dream last night that I had laser eye surgery.
But it wasn't like from a legit doctor, it was from this place on the street where you sat down and looked into this machine, and a dude on the other side did the surgery. Real sketchy. In fact, I moved away before he was done and he had to call me back. Eventually he finished, and he said that my eyes might hurt, but that in half an hour I would be able to see.
In a few minutes my vision went blurry, and I took off my contacts (that had been on throughout the entire operation!). Suddenly, I could see fine, just like that scene in Spiderman 2 where Peter Parker goes back into Spidey mode and no longer needs his glasses.
It was cool.
--<0X0>--
Very vivid dreams these last few nights; maybe it's the Yorkshire cold. Or the alcohol.
I drank about a third of a bottle of Jack over the course of a few hours, without feeling it at all. Tasted nice, though. Had a gin and tonic later, and some red wine (South African) even later, and felt pleasantly warm.
Watched some good break dancing at the Love Apple in Bradford, but did not join in due to fear of injury... Kindof out of practice when it comes to breaking right now, gotta get back into it... slowly...
We took a taxi home (only 8 quid) from Bradford at a little past five in the morning, and crashed.
I got up, found a church and mass, went, walked back... Had breakfast - these English breakfasts are GREAT... Then went for a spin in the countryside... Would've liked to have gone for a bike ride, but the weather's too frigid...
But it wasn't like from a legit doctor, it was from this place on the street where you sat down and looked into this machine, and a dude on the other side did the surgery. Real sketchy. In fact, I moved away before he was done and he had to call me back. Eventually he finished, and he said that my eyes might hurt, but that in half an hour I would be able to see.
In a few minutes my vision went blurry, and I took off my contacts (that had been on throughout the entire operation!). Suddenly, I could see fine, just like that scene in Spiderman 2 where Peter Parker goes back into Spidey mode and no longer needs his glasses.
It was cool.
-
Very vivid dreams these last few nights; maybe it's the Yorkshire cold. Or the alcohol.
I drank about a third of a bottle of Jack over the course of a few hours, without feeling it at all. Tasted nice, though. Had a gin and tonic later, and some red wine (South African) even later, and felt pleasantly warm.
Watched some good break dancing at the Love Apple in Bradford, but did not join in due to fear of injury... Kindof out of practice when it comes to breaking right now, gotta get back into it... slowly...
We took a taxi home (only 8 quid) from Bradford at a little past five in the morning, and crashed.
I got up, found a church and mass, went, walked back... Had breakfast - these English breakfasts are GREAT... Then went for a spin in the countryside... Would've liked to have gone for a bike ride, but the weather's too frigid...
categorized as life of donzilla
December 10, 2004, 5.47 am
I'm thinking I may not shave today because I am going to Ireland soon, and I may need the extra scruff to protect me from the cold, cold weather.
However, I did just read The Twits, which i received in a box of Honey Nut Cheerios - which are inferior over here, I might add, which was written explictly against those with facial hair. And it ends badly for Mr. Twit, so...
Think good thoughts, good thoughts.
Ok, that's enough randominity from Manchester for today. Or at least for this post.
However, I did just read The Twits, which i received in a box of Honey Nut Cheerios - which are inferior over here, I might add, which was written explictly against those with facial hair. And it ends badly for Mr. Twit, so...
Think good thoughts, good thoughts.
Ok, that's enough randominity from Manchester for today. Or at least for this post.
categorized as life of donzilla
December 9, 2004, 12.37 pm
Another day spent in Manchester, just decompressing. Unwinding. BEING LAZY. Listening to music, playing music, tweaking code, drinking coffee, thinking about things. Writing about things.
-~+~-
-~+~-
categorized as life of donzilla
December 9, 2004, 11.18 am
"Menards on any Saturday is busier than the toy stores at Christmas."
...and that's an inside joke for one A. G. ...
categorized as life of donzilla
December 8, 2004, 4.39 pm
Here is an email that I just received from a friend:
its good to hear there's still ramblin in the rambler. stop by anytime. GOD BLESS
That's what this rambler likes to hear...
And one of J's housemates just stumbled in absolutely, appalingly drunk. I may have to go fly damage control.
And one of J's housemates just stumbled in absolutely, appalingly drunk. I may have to go fly damage control.
categorized as life of donzilla
December 8, 2004, 4.32 pm
The Mass in C Minor by Mozart was astounding. I'm still blown away, part by the music itself and part by the graces flowing from the various sacraments I received today and prayers I said today and things that happened to me today.
So I'm riding on a cloud right now. Had a fine wine, Italian Chard-Pinot Grigio blend; I've actually been focusing on these blends the last few days, and this one was definately far superior to the Fetzer (Pacific Bay, I think) that I had a few days ago.
Anyways, must go to bed soon.
I need to get a recorded copy of that Mass.
Just played tournament-style Texas Hold 'Em with J for a few hours/tournaments worth. Won two out of three, but there was some stiff competition. We didn't actually put £'s on it, but the chip value was about $1000 each. We used cut-up quarter straws, which worked out pretty well. They were color coded; reds being £25, blues and greens £15, and yellows 35. It did work nicely.
So I'm riding on a cloud right now. Had a fine wine, Italian Chard-Pinot Grigio blend; I've actually been focusing on these blends the last few days, and this one was definately far superior to the Fetzer (Pacific Bay, I think) that I had a few days ago.
Anyways, must go to bed soon.
I need to get a recorded copy of that Mass.
Just played tournament-style Texas Hold 'Em with J for a few hours/tournaments worth. Won two out of three, but there was some stiff competition. We didn't actually put £'s on it, but the chip value was about $1000 each. We used cut-up quarter straws, which worked out pretty well. They were color coded; reds being £25, blues and greens £15, and yellows 35. It did work nicely.
categorized as life of donzilla
December 3, 2004, 4.26 am
I hate all things monetary.
I've heard this said before, but I reiterate it. Only a corporation as inherently evil as a bank would charge you for money that they know you don't have.
Like when you overdraw your account, which I shouldn't be able to do because it should have been linked to my credit card, but... enough of that.
I've heard this said before, but I reiterate it. Only a corporation as inherently evil as a bank would charge you for money that they know you don't have.
Like when you overdraw your account, which I shouldn't be able to do because it should have been linked to my credit card, but... enough of that.
categorized as life of donzilla
December 2, 2004, 7.43 pm
I eat everything that's put before me, drink all that is poured for me, voraciously consume bandwidth and internet time, immediately spread all my junk all over the vestibule, and shed hair everywhere.
But I make ya laugh, constantly. So why not have me over?
But I make ya laugh, constantly. So why not have me over?
categorized as life of donzilla
October 19, 2004, 4.01 am
I looked up climbing routes at Potero John's on the internet yesterday and got nostalgic for Southern California.
categorized as life of donzilla
October 15, 2004, 5.24 am
I love the fact that when you spell baeutiful wrong, it isn't.
categorized as life of donzilla
October 15, 2004, 5.19 am
This website lists the mountains that I wish to climb.
linkage: http://peakware.com
categorized as life of donzilla
August 17, 2004, 3.37 pm
I'm packing for africa, so blogging's gonna be kinda light. On the flip side, I have a TON of pictures, so maybe I'll post those a bit later on, just ta keep ya'll interested...
categorized as life of donzilla
August 16, 2004, 1.17 am
Blazing Bunny Spreads Cricket Club Fire
I thought this was some kind of Battle of the Bands.
Blazing Rabbit?
Cricket Club Fire?
Both excellant names for rock bands, though not as good as Atomic Tangerine.
Blazing Rabbit?
Cricket Club Fire?
Both excellant names for rock bands, though not as good as Atomic Tangerine.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 16, 2004, 12.41 am
I've been away from the blogputer so long that my id cookies on my regularly-visited-blog-sites have expired. HMMPH. I'm BACK, folks!
For one week only. Because then all be in Africa, and it's anyone's guess, as the saying goes...
For one week only. Because then all be in Africa, and it's anyone's guess, as the saying goes...
categorized as life of donzilla
August 16, 2004, 12.30 am
Sometimes I don't have to look very hard for my own individuality. Right now I'm eating a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios ("Sweet O's" as they are known in my family) and drinking some Maker's Mark, which is a dem fine bourbon, if you ask me.
While I've NEVER HEARD of anyone else doing this, I eat my nightly bowl of cereal while sipping alcoholic beverages quite frequently. And the sweet bourbon and the sweet O's complement each other nicely.
While I've NEVER HEARD of anyone else doing this, I eat my nightly bowl of cereal while sipping alcoholic beverages quite frequently. And the sweet bourbon and the sweet O's complement each other nicely.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 11, 2004, 12.46 pm
Sorry, folks, it's been hectic.
Last night was a blast. People flew in for it. Drunks ended up on the roof, EVERYONE got hauled off and upended in the hot tob at some time - some head first - in their clothes, and two cell phones got ruined in the process.
I'm off to the beach with the same crew.
Further bulletins as events warranty - and I'll fill y'all in on the detail of last night later. And some pics. But for now, I'll leave it to your imagination.
Suffice it to say that we had the infamous house in Fairfax to ourselves, a wild girl from the Midwest, a 27-year old bottle of the best scotch I ever had, an old friend from Yuba City, The Random Englishman, and three T-tine brothers.
We even played Balderdash.
Last night was a blast. People flew in for it. Drunks ended up on the roof, EVERYONE got hauled off and upended in the hot tob at some time - some head first - in their clothes, and two cell phones got ruined in the process.
I'm off to the beach with the same crew.
Further bulletins as events warranty - and I'll fill y'all in on the detail of last night later. And some pics. But for now, I'll leave it to your imagination.
Suffice it to say that we had the infamous house in Fairfax to ourselves, a wild girl from the Midwest, a 27-year old bottle of the best scotch I ever had, an old friend from Yuba City, The Random Englishman, and three T-tine brothers.
We even played Balderdash.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 9, 2004, 4.03 pm
BEACH REPORT: Our mid-night mission involved diving into sand piles and belly-crawling past enemy sentries. Then I came back to the beach house and slept in a sand-filled bed. I have sand everywhere. I mean EVERYWHERE.
UPDATE: EVERYWHERE.
UPDATE: EVERYWHERE.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 8, 2004, 1.17 pm
Saw a sign today that said:
JUST ACCEPT IT: SOMEDAYS YOU
ARE THE PIGEON, AND
SOMDAYS YOU ARE THE STATUE.
ARE THE PIGEON, AND
SOMDAYS YOU ARE THE STATUE.
I'm sorry I didn't have my camera handy...
categorized as life of donzilla
August 7, 2004, 10.54 am
Part of my breakfast, a little over-ripe, but good nonetheless.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 7, 2004, 3.32 am
And so, without further ado, I give you: the sunset over the rooftops out the back of the building I work in, when I work. It was much more beautiful than it appears here... sigh...
categorized as life of donzilla
August 6, 2004, 12.38 am
I know I haven't played a computer game in YEARS, but I really want to hear some automatic gunfire right now. So there.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 4, 2004, 10.28 pm
Motivation is a strange thing. I find myself (which is good, in and of itself) with a whole list of things to do, or nagging tasks to complete, and then I fiddle away my time by doing meaningless (or almost meaningless) trivial tasks.
This goes something like this:
This goes something like this:
Gee, I have to go to work now.
Maybe I'll check my email first.
*sits down to check email*
*sees caseless-cd on computer desk*
Gee, I think I'll put this cd away.
*walks to cd shelf*
*sees speaker that is next to cd shelf*
Gee, I should have mounted that speaker on the wall a long time ago...
*walks over to box of screws, gets 2" deck screw out*
*walks over to screwdriver, which is sitting by window*
*puts speaker up*
Gee, I think I want a glass of water.
*walks over to glass, which is on the computer desk*
Gee, I know I have to go to work, but I think I'll check my email first...
*sits down*
And repeat...
Maybe I'll check my email first.
*sits down to check email*
*sees caseless-cd on computer desk*
Gee, I think I'll put this cd away.
*walks to cd shelf*
*sees speaker that is next to cd shelf*
Gee, I should have mounted that speaker on the wall a long time ago...
*walks over to box of screws, gets 2" deck screw out*
*walks over to screwdriver, which is sitting by window*
*puts speaker up*
Gee, I think I want a glass of water.
*walks over to glass, which is on the computer desk*
Gee, I know I have to go to work, but I think I'll check my email first...
*sits down*
And repeat...
categorized as life of donzilla
August 4, 2004, 1.49 pm
In an effort to "keep my brain uncluttered" I no longer remember phone numbers, addresses or that sort of thing. I write stuff down, or keep it digital. Then I never need to think about it.
I just realized that this mentality, far from being good for the brain, is proabably quite harmful. The brain is a far better computer than anything we can invent, and it's storage space is virtually inexhaustible.
From now on, I'm going to combat what I see as mental laziness by training myself to remember numbers and names and addresses and meticulous details.
I just realized that this mentality, far from being good for the brain, is proabably quite harmful. The brain is a far better computer than anything we can invent, and it's storage space is virtually inexhaustible.
From now on, I'm going to combat what I see as mental laziness by training myself to remember numbers and names and addresses and meticulous details.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 4, 2004, 1.24 pm
I usually don't do these durn things, but here goes...
hat-tip: Burn Cells Brained Out
categorized as life of donzilla
August 4, 2004, 1.20 pm
My Brain's Not Working Right -- Either That, Or The World's Playing Tricks On Me
A phone conversation I just had:
LD: Hello mumble-mumble, blah, blah?
Me: Yes? I'd like to make an appointment.
LD: I'm sorry, the office is closed. It's closed for lunch until two o'clock.
Me: Oh. Thank you.
LD: 'bye.
CLICK
blink.
blink.
Me [to myself]: If the office is closed, how come you ansered the phone?
Me: Yes? I'd like to make an appointment.
LD: I'm sorry, the office is closed. It's closed for lunch until two o'clock.
Me: Oh. Thank you.
LD: 'bye.
CLICK
blink.
blink.
Me [to myself]: If the office is closed, how come you ansered the phone?
categorized as life of donzilla
August 4, 2004, 3.04 am
I had a dream, a while ago. It was about a girl I knew.
In the dream, she leaned her head against mine, resting her forehead on my left cheek. Her whole head remained there, resting against mine. She trusted me. She fel securem safe.
I knew, in that moment, that I would NEVER betray her. Her forehead rested so sweetly, so sublime, against my cheek. In that instant, I loved her, and I would not do her wrong. I would die before she came to harm.
Though the dream is gone, if that girl came to me, I would feel the same way. I would never do her wrong. I would sooner die on her behalf.
In the dream, she leaned her head against mine, resting her forehead on my left cheek. Her whole head remained there, resting against mine. She trusted me. She fel securem safe.
I knew, in that moment, that I would NEVER betray her. Her forehead rested so sweetly, so sublime, against my cheek. In that instant, I loved her, and I would not do her wrong. I would die before she came to harm.
Though the dream is gone, if that girl came to me, I would feel the same way. I would never do her wrong. I would sooner die on her behalf.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 4, 2004, 2.55 am
"You can't expect me to be sober," I said.
"After five gin-and-tonics..."
"I drank half the fucking bottle," I said...reeling...
Well, Nailincoffin and I just watched ALL three of the mad max movies... With a bottle of Bombay Sapphire on deck...
"After five gin-and-tonics..."
"I drank half the fucking bottle," I said...reeling...
Well, Nailincoffin and I just watched ALL three of the mad max movies... With a bottle of Bombay Sapphire on deck...
categorized as life of donzilla
August 3, 2004, 6.34 pm
I went swimming this morning afternoon after I got up. I did a 1500 yard set, which is a little less than a mile... It was not too bad for only being the second time in the water for YEARS...
I did a set of 100s, then 50s, then 100s, then 50s. Tommorrow I hope to do the same. Although by saying "hope" there, I don't really mean hope, and in fact do even mean to do it... ugh...
DREAM REPORT: My mid-morning dream involved police officers, undercover agents, people rolling down mountainsides in stranger spherical vehicles that were on fire. I was some kind of police agent, and my partner and I had taken this girl into protective custody. We traveled up this mountain to protect her up there, but then she tried to kill us, sending my buddy down the mountain in flames. She almost pushed me off the mountain, where I would have fallen to my death, and she could have done it too, but she relented, and let me guide her back down.
Later on in the dream, to celebrate that we were all still alive, I bought my buddy and a bunch of other people quadruple whiskeys at a pub. Seldom Sober was there for some reason, and he was one of the ones I bought a quad. He laughed as the bartender started bringing quadruple whiskeys to everyone in the bar... and I winced, thinking about what that would do to my wallet...
I did a set of 100s, then 50s, then 100s, then 50s. Tommorrow I hope to do the same. Although by saying "hope" there, I don't really mean hope, and in fact do even mean to do it... ugh...
DREAM REPORT: My mid-morning dream involved police officers, undercover agents, people rolling down mountainsides in stranger spherical vehicles that were on fire. I was some kind of police agent, and my partner and I had taken this girl into protective custody. We traveled up this mountain to protect her up there, but then she tried to kill us, sending my buddy down the mountain in flames. She almost pushed me off the mountain, where I would have fallen to my death, and she could have done it too, but she relented, and let me guide her back down.
Later on in the dream, to celebrate that we were all still alive, I bought my buddy and a bunch of other people quadruple whiskeys at a pub. Seldom Sober was there for some reason, and he was one of the ones I bought a quad. He laughed as the bartender started bringing quadruple whiskeys to everyone in the bar... and I winced, thinking about what that would do to my wallet...
categorized as life of donzilla
August 3, 2004, 4.08 am
Last night I had dreams that involved automatic weapons, guard dogs, snipers, and massive sword fights.
And I haven't even seen KillBill 2 yet.
Tonight, I can't sleep. It's not because of drinking; I only had a few beers. It's not because of NOT drinking; although I have been regularly consuming alcohol the last few nights... But not very much, all things considered...
And why is it that a thought pops into your head and some nagging problem suddenly gets resolved, or something you left out suddenly comes to light at FOUR-OH-FIVE in the morning? What's with that?
And I haven't even seen KillBill 2 yet.
Tonight, I can't sleep. It's not because of drinking; I only had a few beers. It's not because of NOT drinking; although I have been regularly consuming alcohol the last few nights... But not very much, all things considered...
And why is it that a thought pops into your head and some nagging problem suddenly gets resolved, or something you left out suddenly comes to light at FOUR-OH-FIVE in the morning? What's with that?
categorized as life of donzilla
August 3, 2004, 12.58 am
Well, it's about the right time to deplore the demise of my bedtime. Once again.
I decided to self-impose a bedtime (in bed, lights out) of 12:00. This worked for two days, and both nights I had a glorious sleep of 11 hours +. Now, coming off of two 11-hours-of-sleep nights, I'm wide awake at five till one. And not getting ready for bed anytime soon.
Maybe it's that I haven't been getting things done recently, and that I got a whole lot of things done today, and I feel like I'm on a roll. Maybe it's that The Muse of Programming seems to only come to me in the wee, wee hours of the morn.
Ah, well...
Oh, and that muse seriously likes substance abuse, whether it be caffeine, Mate, No-Doz, or alcohol... Hmm, what a girl, that muse...
I decided to self-impose a bedtime (in bed, lights out) of 12:00. This worked for two days, and both nights I had a glorious sleep of 11 hours +. Now, coming off of two 11-hours-of-sleep nights, I'm wide awake at five till one. And not getting ready for bed anytime soon.
Maybe it's that I haven't been getting things done recently, and that I got a whole lot of things done today, and I feel like I'm on a roll. Maybe it's that The Muse of Programming seems to only come to me in the wee, wee hours of the morn.
Ah, well...
Oh, and that muse seriously likes substance abuse, whether it be caffeine, Mate, No-Doz, or alcohol... Hmm, what a girl, that muse...
categorized as life of donzilla
August 2, 2004, 7.38 pm
Why do passport photos ALWAYS make the person look like an ex-con?
I've had passport photos taken of me four times, and every single one made me look like a convict. All I was missing was the number. Maybe it has to do with that huge honkin' camera they use.
I always start with a smile on my face... And then the girl counts down 3...2... and by the time she fires, the smile is gone. Tarnation!
I've had passport photos taken of me four times, and every single one made me look like a convict. All I was missing was the number. Maybe it has to do with that huge honkin' camera they use.
I always start with a smile on my face... And then the girl counts down 3...2... and by the time she fires, the smile is gone. Tarnation!
categorized as life of donzilla
August 2, 2004, 2.56 pm
Augh. Rushing around trying to get Kenyan trip details ironed out, while also fielding calls from people I work for, and trying to close a few ebay deals. It's not easy being me, let me tell ya, heh-heh...
categorized as life of donzilla
August 1, 2004, 11.38 pm
Shot of California Street in San Francisco, from yesterday. I used to fly down this street, catching air in the computer game "Driver".
categorized as life of donzilla
August 1, 2004, 10.52 pm
And now, a new feature here on Equivocal Catharsis.com, DRUNKEN PURCHASES.
DRUNKEN PURCHASE: From Amazon, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
There were others.
DRUNKEN PURCHASE: From Amazon, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
There were others.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 1, 2004, 7.57 pm
Quick, in an effort to bury that embarrisingly personal post, visit Instapoet and read Maedhros' poem on California. It's good.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 1, 2004, 7.56 pm
I haven't talked to her in just about three days, and it seems like a LIFETIME.
To skewer an expression from my youth, "What gives?"
To skewer an expression from my youth, "What gives?"
categorized as life of donzilla
August 1, 2004, 6.43 pm
There's something really cool about Sundays, and this Sunday in particular.
After I got home from Mass at 11:00 am, I field two calls and missed one, all of which were from old-time friends who are far away now.
It was really cool.
It was like people miss the socialization that typically happens on Sundays when you have a large group of people living in close proximity with friends... Sunday becomes a true day of rest, and visiting, and generally delighting in the company of others.
And it's nice that those folks with phones can still echo that sentiment.
After I got home from Mass at 11:00 am, I field two calls and missed one, all of which were from old-time friends who are far away now.
It was really cool.
It was like people miss the socialization that typically happens on Sundays when you have a large group of people living in close proximity with friends... Sunday becomes a true day of rest, and visiting, and generally delighting in the company of others.
And it's nice that those folks with phones can still echo that sentiment.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 1, 2004, 6.39 pm
Well,
(how many posts do I begin like that?)
my little brother's surprise birthday party is going on.
The surprise has fizzled (fizz-LED ???) out, but the party is still going strong. I'm off to join it.
(how many posts do I begin like that?)
my little brother's surprise birthday party is going on.
The surprise has fizzled (fizz-LED ???) out, but the party is still going strong. I'm off to join it.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 1, 2004, 6.22 pm
Well, I've been trying to get some good shots of flowers recently, but all the flowers I've been around lately have been uncommonly shy.
These purty little orange-and-yellow thangs almost spoke to me... But they remained reserved and abashed and...distanced...
Sigh.
These purty little orange-and-yellow thangs almost spoke to me... But they remained reserved and abashed and...distanced...
Sigh.
categorized as life of donzilla
August 1, 2004, 2.08 pm
SLEEP REPORT: Best sleep I've had in a while last night, from 11:53 pm to 10:42 am.
DAMAGE REPORT: After checking my bank account online, the damage from yesterday's excursion to REI is as grim as was expected. Firgures stayed within three digits, but still, there are cries of "atrocity."
But you should see my Panama hat. Or maybe that's what those crying "atrocity" are protesting...
DAMAGE REPORT: After checking my bank account online, the damage from yesterday's excursion to REI is as grim as was expected. Firgures stayed within three digits, but still, there are cries of "atrocity."
But you should see my Panama hat. Or maybe that's what those crying "atrocity" are protesting...
categorized as life of donzilla
July 31, 2004, 11.31 pm
Just One Blog Before I Go
Wow. That was a heck of a day.
It's a good thing that this glass of scotch was waiting for me.
Of course, now the bottle's unhappy.
Ah, well.
After getting WAY too little sleep these past few nights because of going too bed WAY too late, I got and left the house this morning at 11:00. I just got back a few minutes ago.
We went to a luncheon, but my stomach was still in breakfast mode, and hadn't expanded the appetite to the normal midday size. So I stuffed myself on a relatively small amount of chicken and potatoes and then STEAK! Go to the Outback Steakhouse near you. The luncheon was a thank-you for all the people who worked with the Special Olympics. My little brothers helped out a lot this year, and I went to help with the computers there once, so we were all invited. And the Outback hosted us for free -- and there were seventy or so of us.
Anyways, the day went on from there. After an endless and exhausting trek from store to store, we tired of capitalistic America and headed into Golden Gate Park in San Fran. There we met up with a buncha friends, mostly old friends from college, and we hung out in the city.
We trekked down in the downtown, exploring, and trying to find a particular cigar shop that was supposed to be somewhere near the TransAmerica pyramid.
Anyways, more later.
I bought a Panama hat at REI.
It's a good thing that this glass of scotch was waiting for me.
Of course, now the bottle's unhappy.
Ah, well.
After getting WAY too little sleep these past few nights because of going too bed WAY too late, I got and left the house this morning at 11:00. I just got back a few minutes ago.
We went to a luncheon, but my stomach was still in breakfast mode, and hadn't expanded the appetite to the normal midday size. So I stuffed myself on a relatively small amount of chicken and potatoes and then STEAK! Go to the Outback Steakhouse near you. The luncheon was a thank-you for all the people who worked with the Special Olympics. My little brothers helped out a lot this year, and I went to help with the computers there once, so we were all invited. And the Outback hosted us for free -- and there were seventy or so of us.
Anyways, the day went on from there. After an endless and exhausting trek from store to store, we tired of capitalistic America and headed into Golden Gate Park in San Fran. There we met up with a buncha friends, mostly old friends from college, and we hung out in the city.
We trekked down in the downtown, exploring, and trying to find a particular cigar shop that was supposed to be somewhere near the TransAmerica pyramid.
Anyways, more later.
I bought a Panama hat at REI.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 31, 2004, 2.56 am
Wow. Last night I was up till 4:29 or something. Tonight it's 2:44. You get to that point after you've brushed your teeth and whatnot, and stopped drinking, where your stomach gets all upset with you just because it's the middle of the night, and then you need to go and put some food in it. Which is what I'm going to do right now.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 30, 2004, 7.20 pm
The nurse/doctor said that the typhoid shot would make my arm sore.
I didn't feel anything until about forty minutes after the shot, when I was rummaging around behind a computer, unpluging the monitor cable.
I changed the angle of my arm, and suddenly felt a rush of matter from my shoulder down my arm. It felt like there was a rather large mass of sludge under my skin that had shifted and moved downhill.
Now my left arm feels like, well, it got shot.
I didn't feel anything until about forty minutes after the shot, when I was rummaging around behind a computer, unpluging the monitor cable.
I changed the angle of my arm, and suddenly felt a rush of matter from my shoulder down my arm. It felt like there was a rather large mass of sludge under my skin that had shifted and moved downhill.
Now my left arm feels like, well, it got shot.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 30, 2004, 4.19 am
Originally 3-megapixels, resized. Shot from the Fairfax-Bolinas road on the way to the beach last Sunday.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 29, 2004, 3.50 pm
Sign of a Good Night #147
When a plurality of corks are found in bizarre locations.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 29, 2004, 3.05 pm
My chiropracter put a sticky wrap on my ankle to protect it because it is all still swollen and sprained.
As I watched him stick it on I was thinking to myself:
"Don't you usually shave the ankle that you are putting it on so that it doesn't rip all that hair out when you take it off?"
I distinctly remember that, because we would all make fun of the other soccer guys because they "shaved their legs" and tease them mercilessly...
I just had to rip that wrap off because I was showering. It took about three or four good rips, and now my right ankle has just about the same quantity of hair on it that it would have if it had been shaved. It was painful, let me tell you... In a ridiculous sort of way...
As I watched him stick it on I was thinking to myself:
"Don't you usually shave the ankle that you are putting it on so that it doesn't rip all that hair out when you take it off?"
I distinctly remember that, because we would all make fun of the other soccer guys because they "shaved their legs" and tease them mercilessly...
I just had to rip that wrap off because I was showering. It took about three or four good rips, and now my right ankle has just about the same quantity of hair on it that it would have if it had been shaved. It was painful, let me tell you... In a ridiculous sort of way...
categorized as life of donzilla
July 28, 2004, 3.21 pm
I'm going to see my chiropracter in an hour or so. I've needed to go for several months, to take care of these kinks in my neck and back. I have learned how to do various streches and whatnot to relieve them, but those things are temporary, and sometimes you just need an adjustment.
And my chiropracter is on of my computer consulting clients from way back. We generally don't charge each other for our work; we just keep track of it and barter, swapping computer consulting hours for chiropractic adjustments.
I have a bunch of clients that I do that with, for various services, and it's really cool. It gives a kind of small-town, middles-ages, wholesome feel to it all.
linkage:
San Anselmo Chiropractic -- I cannot recommend highly enough...
Your Computer Genius -- My computer consulting company...
And my chiropracter is on of my computer consulting clients from way back. We generally don't charge each other for our work; we just keep track of it and barter, swapping computer consulting hours for chiropractic adjustments.
I have a bunch of clients that I do that with, for various services, and it's really cool. It gives a kind of small-town, middles-ages, wholesome feel to it all.
linkage:
San Anselmo Chiropractic -- I cannot recommend highly enough...
Your Computer Genius -- My computer consulting company...
categorized as life of donzilla
July 27, 2004, 8.06 pm
For some reason I did most of my work today on my home computer, but via a vpn from the office. Why? I dunno.
28 days until I land in Africa, +/- the international date line.
28 days until I land in Africa, +/- the international date line.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 27, 2004, 7.30 pm
I'm the kind of guy who, when he gets something he ordered in the mail, and it's broken, instead of returning it, he tries to fix it.
Luckily, most of the time this results in a working device.
I guess it's because I don't want to go through the hassle of returning something and the cost for me and for the company who produced it and shipped it if its something i can easily (or sometimes not so easily) fix with my own two hands.
Of course, usually it ends up costing a few hours of time, and some bloody knuckles, like today, but damn it, it makes me feel productive. Hmm.
Luckily, most of the time this results in a working device.
I guess it's because I don't want to go through the hassle of returning something and the cost for me and for the company who produced it and shipped it if its something i can easily (or sometimes not so easily) fix with my own two hands.
Of course, usually it ends up costing a few hours of time, and some bloody knuckles, like today, but damn it, it makes me feel productive. Hmm.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 27, 2004, 2.01 pm
Work.
Blog?
Work.
Blog?
Work?
Blog.
Work-blog?!
Wog.
Snap!
Listen to Jimmy Buffet.
Fin
(Eric of Straight White Guy fame posted about good ol' Jimmy the other day, so that's probably why I was thinking 'bout Jimmy...)
Blog?
Work.
Blog?
Work?
Blog.
Work-blog?!
Wog.
Snap!
Listen to Jimmy Buffet.
Fin
(Eric of Straight White Guy fame posted about good ol' Jimmy the other day, so that's probably why I was thinking 'bout Jimmy...)
categorized as life of donzilla
July 27, 2004, 12.30 am
I just watched one of the episodes of the original Starsky & Hutch t.v. show. Pretty funny in a dry sort of way, VERY seventies. Not too much car action, which is what I was hoping for, but enjoyable none-the-less. I don't quite think that it will replace Dukes of Hazard as my favorite, but we'll see. This DVD I rented has four more episodes.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 25, 2004, 1.43 pm
My sprinklers were going haywire. I looked outside; saw the source of the hose-noise: two sprinkler-heads had popped off, and they were wantonly spraying water around, mostly into a couple of -- i though -- empty planting pots.
After I fixed the sprinklers, I examined the pots. Ahh, they were not empty. They were full of half-covered cigarette butts, mostly filters. Meaning Camel filters. Someone is trying to grow cigarette trees in my back yard!
After I fixed the sprinklers, I examined the pots. Ahh, they were not empty. They were full of half-covered cigarette butts, mostly filters. Meaning Camel filters. Someone is trying to grow cigarette trees in my back yard!
categorized as life of donzilla
July 25, 2004, 10.29 am
I'll let you all stew into the wonderfuleness of my ninetten posts from yesterday, most of them beautifully illustrated, as I go to Mass and then to the beach today.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 25, 2004, 1.26 am
I own one of these.
I carry it, pretty much everywhere I go. I use it quite a bit in my line of work.
But the question at hand:
Do I take it to Africa with me?
Chances are good that we will be mugged over there. It's probably, even. Sure we'll take precautions. Do not go out at night. Never go anywhere alone. But still chances are...
And when we do get mugged, it would be best not to defend oneself -- at least if robbery is all they're up to. So do I carry the knife and let the first muggers take it off me? Or do I leave it behind, and forsake what may be a necessary survival tool? Hmm.
I carry it, pretty much everywhere I go. I use it quite a bit in my line of work.
But the question at hand:
Do I take it to Africa with me?
Chances are good that we will be mugged over there. It's probably, even. Sure we'll take precautions. Do not go out at night. Never go anywhere alone. But still chances are...
And when we do get mugged, it would be best not to defend oneself -- at least if robbery is all they're up to. So do I carry the knife and let the first muggers take it off me? Or do I leave it behind, and forsake what may be a necessary survival tool? Hmm.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 25, 2004, 1.22 am
I installed one of these in my dining room today.
Mother went outside and turned off the breaker at the breaker box. We didn't know which one it was because most of the breakers aren't labeled, and the wiring in the house is screwed up, so we plugged a fan into the outlet below the plug, and she flipped them off one by one, and I hollered out the window when the fan went off. I told her to turn the rest of the breakers back on, and come back inside.
Then I did my work, pulling the knob off, unscrewing the plate, unscrewing the old dimmer switch, taking off the wirenuts one-by-one and putting in the new switch. Throughout the whole thing I used insulated tools, and never touch the wires in a dangerous position. I treated them as if they were hot the whole time.
When I was finished, I flipped the switch on, testing the action. To my surprise, the lights came on. I look at Mom. She gasped, and nearly had a heart attack.
However, I was not shaken-up. This was a dramatic proof of the principles I have always held.
Things become dangerous when they are in the hands of those who do not understand them. I am not preaching knowledge as the cure-all for evil here, but merely saying that a rational being need not fear that which he understands.
Electricity, guns, cars: all these things highlight man's ability to either rationally control something, or irrationally fear it.
When working with electricity, to be safe, you did what I did: treat the wires as if they are always hot. Not once in the whole course of the operation did I touch the wires with my bare hands. Not once did I have two "live" wires uncapped. I worked with one wire at a time. I worked with one hand in the box at a time. I used insulated tools to twist and crimp the wires (and of course my Guardian Angel was their to keep me from doing anything stupid).
The same thing applies to guns. If you (1) never point the gun at anything you wouldn't mind shooting, and (2) treat every weapon as a loaded weapon, there shouldn't ever be a problem.
I don't fear guns or electricity. But there's a reason why you need a license to deal with these things.
Mother went outside and turned off the breaker at the breaker box. We didn't know which one it was because most of the breakers aren't labeled, and the wiring in the house is screwed up, so we plugged a fan into the outlet below the plug, and she flipped them off one by one, and I hollered out the window when the fan went off. I told her to turn the rest of the breakers back on, and come back inside.
Then I did my work, pulling the knob off, unscrewing the plate, unscrewing the old dimmer switch, taking off the wirenuts one-by-one and putting in the new switch. Throughout the whole thing I used insulated tools, and never touch the wires in a dangerous position. I treated them as if they were hot the whole time.
When I was finished, I flipped the switch on, testing the action. To my surprise, the lights came on. I look at Mom. She gasped, and nearly had a heart attack.
However, I was not shaken-up. This was a dramatic proof of the principles I have always held.
Things become dangerous when they are in the hands of those who do not understand them. I am not preaching knowledge as the cure-all for evil here, but merely saying that a rational being need not fear that which he understands.
Electricity, guns, cars: all these things highlight man's ability to either rationally control something, or irrationally fear it.
When working with electricity, to be safe, you did what I did: treat the wires as if they are always hot. Not once in the whole course of the operation did I touch the wires with my bare hands. Not once did I have two "live" wires uncapped. I worked with one wire at a time. I worked with one hand in the box at a time. I used insulated tools to twist and crimp the wires (and of course my Guardian Angel was their to keep me from doing anything stupid).
The same thing applies to guns. If you (1) never point the gun at anything you wouldn't mind shooting, and (2) treat every weapon as a loaded weapon, there shouldn't ever be a problem.
I don't fear guns or electricity. But there's a reason why you need a license to deal with these things.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 24, 2004, 10.13 pm
Two things happened that pissed me off today.
One of them was inconsequential; I'll let it pass. Here it is:
I woke up this morning to a message on my preferred file sharing program which in no unclear terms called me the l-word, among other things.
That pissed me off. This little bandito de internet does not even know what a leech is. I mean, sure, I appeared to be a leech, but with these crappy DSL lines, you can't go both ways, if you know what I mean. You've gotta go one way at a time, which is what I do [I hope somebody takes that out of context]. So anyways...
On to number two.
Two of my little brothers are three thousand miles away. I call their cell phone. Some schmuck answers their phone. Pretends to be my brother. Is insistent.
Damn it, I know what my brother sounds like on the phone, prick! Quit playing your f*cking games with me!
Eventually I weasel it out of him that my brother left the phone in the hotel room, and went out.
But he still is monkeying around, pretending to be my brother. I volunteer to come to Florida and inflict bodily harm on him, in no uncertain terms. In fact, in rather rude terms. Using anglo-saxon four-and-three letter words.
I don't know, but there is something about family matters that gets my blood up. If someone threatens me, I can deal with it, I am cool, I back off, talk them down, dispell the fight.
But if someone goes after a member of my family, they'd better have made things alright with their Maker, because I'm gonna lose it. And that goes for my friends too. If I've got your back they'll be peeling either me or them off the pavement, because I won't stop.
I hope that that prick doesn't tell my brother that I called, for his own safety. I further hope that I never meet him, because I certainly feel like giving him a piece of my mind. Or a knuckle-sandwich.
I'll bet five bucks that he's a single child. Or he takes his siblings for granted.
Every one of my brothers has four brothers to look after them. We're a band. You fuck with one of us, you fuck with all of us. And we'll take you down.
Ok, now the "Christain Charity" reminder light is going off. Blink, blink! Remember "Christian Charity."
Yeah, sure.
"Turn the other cheek."
When it comes to me, yes. I can do that. That's my department.
But when it comes to turning the cheeks of those I love, that I cannot do. I would rather die.
One of them was inconsequential; I'll let it pass. Here it is:
I woke up this morning to a message on my preferred file sharing program which in no unclear terms called me the l-word, among other things.
That pissed me off. This little bandito de internet does not even know what a leech is. I mean, sure, I appeared to be a leech, but with these crappy DSL lines, you can't go both ways, if you know what I mean. You've gotta go one way at a time, which is what I do [I hope somebody takes that out of context]. So anyways...
On to number two.
Two of my little brothers are three thousand miles away. I call their cell phone. Some schmuck answers their phone. Pretends to be my brother. Is insistent.
Damn it, I know what my brother sounds like on the phone, prick! Quit playing your f*cking games with me!
Eventually I weasel it out of him that my brother left the phone in the hotel room, and went out.
But he still is monkeying around, pretending to be my brother. I volunteer to come to Florida and inflict bodily harm on him, in no uncertain terms. In fact, in rather rude terms. Using anglo-saxon four-and-three letter words.
I don't know, but there is something about family matters that gets my blood up. If someone threatens me, I can deal with it, I am cool, I back off, talk them down, dispell the fight.
But if someone goes after a member of my family, they'd better have made things alright with their Maker, because I'm gonna lose it. And that goes for my friends too. If I've got your back they'll be peeling either me or them off the pavement, because I won't stop.
I hope that that prick doesn't tell my brother that I called, for his own safety. I further hope that I never meet him, because I certainly feel like giving him a piece of my mind. Or a knuckle-sandwich.
I'll bet five bucks that he's a single child. Or he takes his siblings for granted.
Every one of my brothers has four brothers to look after them. We're a band. You fuck with one of us, you fuck with all of us. And we'll take you down.
Ok, now the "Christain Charity" reminder light is going off. Blink, blink! Remember "Christian Charity."
Yeah, sure.
"Turn the other cheek."
When it comes to me, yes. I can do that. That's my department.
But when it comes to turning the cheeks of those I love, that I cannot do. I would rather die.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 24, 2004, 4.56 pm
I just went swimming. It requried a HUGE mental effort to go do it, but once I jumped in the water, I felt like a million bucks...until I realized just how out of shape I am.
I used to swim competitively on a team that regularly sent people to the olympic qualifiers, and even had people win those trials.
Of course, when I started I was no good at swimming, and I couldn't even make the slowest intervals on the teams. But, after much hard work and much encouragement from the coach, I was in the best shape of my life. My buddies on the team and I were in a rare group of people, where there was only a small subset of the human race that eclipsed us in terms of pure physical prowess (ok, I'm starting to get carried away here, but it's true!). We would play ultimate frisbee on the weekends, and we would get out there and just run and run and run and we'd look back and see how we'd covered these vast expanses of land, all effortlessly, and we'd laugh and do it again...
So anyways, then came a time of binge-drinking, cigarette-smoking, college women, pneumonia, and other forms of abuse. Which pretty much beat that world-class swimmer outta me.
But i'm going to get back in shape, dammit!
linkage: Marin Pirates Swim Team
I used to swim competitively on a team that regularly sent people to the olympic qualifiers, and even had people win those trials.
Of course, when I started I was no good at swimming, and I couldn't even make the slowest intervals on the teams. But, after much hard work and much encouragement from the coach, I was in the best shape of my life. My buddies on the team and I were in a rare group of people, where there was only a small subset of the human race that eclipsed us in terms of pure physical prowess (ok, I'm starting to get carried away here, but it's true!). We would play ultimate frisbee on the weekends, and we would get out there and just run and run and run and we'd look back and see how we'd covered these vast expanses of land, all effortlessly, and we'd laugh and do it again...
So anyways, then came a time of binge-drinking, cigarette-smoking, college women, pneumonia, and other forms of abuse. Which pretty much beat that world-class swimmer outta me.
But i'm going to get back in shape, dammit!
linkage: Marin Pirates Swim Team
categorized as life of donzilla
July 23, 2004, 8.01 pm
I guess my camera was still feeling the effects of last night when it took this shot this morning afternoon.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 23, 2004, 2.00 am
Sometime ya just gotta buy your own twelver and wait for her to call. And if she doesn't, well, you drink the whole thing and listen to George Carlin. Humph.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 22, 2004, 10.14 pm
I usually don't do these quizzes (and yes, quizzes has two z's, for all you scrabble afficianados...), but i started it, and this just seemed to fit. Now if it had said car that probably would have been a better fit, because I get 4-5 hits per day on my car, of people who stop and stare at her. And that's just the ones I see doing it while I'm sitting at my desk.
Q: What does your room look like?
A: People who come in look constantly in shock. Whether that's good or bad, I don't know.
A: People who come in look constantly in shock. Whether that's good or bad, I don't know.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 22, 2004, 6.02 pm
New Item on Ebay! And I actually went to the moon to take this picture! I love this new camera! But I need to shoot a few "rolls" of "film" first to get the hang of it! And Strunk & White would shoot me if they read this post!
categorized as life of donzilla
July 22, 2004, 3.50 pm
"Gender equality" partly to blame for fertility decline
New York, Jul. 22 (C-fam.org/CWNews.com) - In a speech delivered this spring that was largely ignored by the news media, the United Nation's chief demographer declared that the very existence of some nations has now been endangered by fertility decline, and the international community's insistent call for "gender equality" is making the problem even worse.
linkage: http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=31018
Hmm. I just got a book called Taking Sex Differences Seriously, and while I haven't read very much of it, it has served as an amazing conversation piece. Dozens of people have picked it up off my nightstand in my bedroom -- yes, dozens of people have been in my bedroom, and close to my nightstand in the last week -- and it has sparked many conversations. You should read it, or at least buy it and leave it conspicuously lying about.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 22, 2004, 1.30 pm
Well, my FujiFilm S5000 arrived today. Expect my ebay pics to become much more glamorous.
I had played around with the S7000 at costco, even thought about buy it, but the thing may very well get stolen in Africa, so the extra $250 isn't worth it, I think. I can tolerate a $300 camera being stolen. I don't know about $550 one. Anyways I was pleasantly surprised to find that the S5000 is quite a bit smaller than the S7000. It's nice.
I had played around with the S7000 at costco, even thought about buy it, but the thing may very well get stolen in Africa, so the extra $250 isn't worth it, I think. I can tolerate a $300 camera being stolen. I don't know about $550 one. Anyways I was pleasantly surprised to find that the S5000 is quite a bit smaller than the S7000. It's nice.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 22, 2004, 1.54 am
Two favorite searchs of today [both from Yahoo, which maybe loves my site for reasons unknown]:
"funny pictures of george bush dipping snuff"
and
"heart beeps band music from san jose"
Do you, uh, smoke crack?
Craaaaaaaaack...
(Get it?)
"funny pictures of george bush dipping snuff"
and
"heart beeps band music from san jose"
Do you, uh, smoke crack?
Craaaaaaaaack...
(Get it?)
categorized as life of donzilla
July 22, 2004, 1.47 am
I've been getting these great blog-thoughts, mainly because I got up at 8:00 am (yes, AM) and am still up. But, unfortunately, they are all going out my other ear, probably for the same reason. If only I could do away with the journalistic medium, and just channel the blog-thoughts right into xml.
I'll post what I remember tommorrow (afternoon).
I'll post what I remember tommorrow (afternoon).
categorized as life of donzilla
July 21, 2004, 6.57 pm
What's not so surprising is that people meet people in airplanes and airports...
Love is in the air: Southwest passengers find love in an empty seat
Over the years, the Dallas-based airline which calls the city's Love Field its home has received thousands of letters and scores of wedding invitations addressed to top executives from couples who met on one of the airline's flights.
linkage: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5444145/
...but what IS so surprising is that in a 900-word post entitled "Love is in the air: Southwest passengers find love in an empty seat" there is ABSOLUTELY NO MENTION of the mile-high club. I mean, sheesh. C'mon.
hat-tip: Nail In Coffin
categorized as life of donzilla
July 21, 2004, 4.13 pm
You can tell that's it's definately summer around here, 'cause in the building were I work -- yes, sometimes I actually GO to work -- , this "lovely" old building with no air conditioning, if you turn on the cold tap in the upstairs bathroom, you get about 7 glorious seconds of refreshingly cold water. Then the water turns piping hot. Why? Because the metal piping wraps around the outside of the building in, you guessed it, the hot western sun.
It scared the crap outta me the first time I turned it on (Heh) and it did that. "Woah, did I hit the wrong tap?"
It scared the crap outta me the first time I turned it on (Heh) and it did that. "Woah, did I hit the wrong tap?"
categorized as life of donzilla
July 20, 2004, 9.36 pm
I try to maintain a healthy disdain for the material objects in my life.
If I forget that rocks and trees and greenry are more real than computers and cars and socks, I lose my sanity.
But in an unfortunate twist of irony, distain for material things tends to destroy those things eventually. Sigh.
If I forget that rocks and trees and greenry are more real than computers and cars and socks, I lose my sanity.
But in an unfortunate twist of irony, distain for material things tends to destroy those things eventually. Sigh.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 20, 2004, 8.41 pm
I just got a phone call from a friend of mine who is up fighting fires in Eastern Oregon. And then I realized that my dreams of adventure in far-off places are soon to be realized in Africa. It's like I have a place in my soul that, once turbulent, is now calm, smooth waters, as I wait for the time to leave.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 20, 2004, 2.33 am
Got this in an email from a friend. Read the first third of it. Very interesting.
“Catholics are the key,” says Deal Hudson, editor of Crisis magazine and a Bush campaign adviser. “If we lose any of the Catholic vote we’ll lose the election.” And to an unprecedented degree, the White House and a network of conservative Catholics have been working hard to get several million American Catholics to vote Republican.
linkage: http://www.beliefnet.com/story/146/story_14691.html
categorized as life of donzilla
July 20, 2004, 2.03 am
While running -- yes, LITERALLY running, we were late -- into town to se a movie, I stepped off a curb and rolled my anchor. My past years of karate (along with my Guardian Angel) intervened, and I plunged into a combat roll instead of breaking my ankle.
But it's definately sorn, somewhat strained, if not sprained. I walked the rest of the way to the movie, sat through it -- it was I, Robot, very decent movie, enjoyable -- and walked back home. Then elevated it and iced. I wonder God's trying to tell me with all these minor injuries that keep happening...
categorized as life of donzilla
July 19, 2004, 1.47 pm
Well, I took a two-day hiatus from blogging quite by accident. Anyways, the last of the party-goers just left my house, bound for Portland, Oregon.
They put us up when I was up there in February, and I expect to see them in early August when I pass through there again. Truly a wonderful couple.
We stopped at TRE's Aunt and Uncle and Cousins' house last night on our way back from the south bay area. They live north of the bay, just a few minutes from my house.
The wine was flowing, and we ate a wonderful meal. They love to cook, and they serve meals in courses, like traditional French chefs, including the salad and cheese courses at the end of the meal. We also made homemade ice cream, which was incredibly rich, and good.
Then we played these mind-numbingly-frustrating "parlor" games that lasted into the wee hours of the morning as I -- literally -- banged my head on the wall, trying to figure it out.
Apparently these games haved been passed down over centuries, and they originated before TV and whatnot. They are great. It's hard to explain it here, but, if our paths ever cross and we have an evening and some drinks...
The cool thing is that no one EVER tells you what the secret of the game is: and no one has EVER been told it. Each person has to figure it out for themselves. And it has been going on for CENTURIES. I wish I could explain better...
They put us up when I was up there in February, and I expect to see them in early August when I pass through there again. Truly a wonderful couple.
We stopped at TRE's Aunt and Uncle and Cousins' house last night on our way back from the south bay area. They live north of the bay, just a few minutes from my house.
The wine was flowing, and we ate a wonderful meal. They love to cook, and they serve meals in courses, like traditional French chefs, including the salad and cheese courses at the end of the meal. We also made homemade ice cream, which was incredibly rich, and good.
Then we played these mind-numbingly-frustrating "parlor" games that lasted into the wee hours of the morning as I -- literally -- banged my head on the wall, trying to figure it out.
Apparently these games haved been passed down over centuries, and they originated before TV and whatnot. They are great. It's hard to explain it here, but, if our paths ever cross and we have an evening and some drinks...
The cool thing is that no one EVER tells you what the secret of the game is: and no one has EVER been told it. Each person has to figure it out for themselves. And it has been going on for CENTURIES. I wish I could explain better...
categorized as life of donzilla
July 19, 2004, 12.57 am
Wow, just got home from a wonderful weekend spent with friends, new and old, celebrating life and the marriage of two great people. Lotsa things to write home about. More soon.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 16, 2004, 6.50 pm
So I woke up yesterday on a couch in my buddy's house in Los Altos.
Vaguely the memory of the previous night seeped through my alcohol-soaked head.
Limos. There were definately limos involved.
And the bachelor-dude puked in one of them!
Which we paid for.
But seriously, we had a wonderful bachelor party for my buddy who is getting married tommorrow. We surprised him, piled into the waiting limo, and headed north to San Francisco. After hitting up a cool bar just northwest of Chinatown, where a cool band was playing slide guitar. The drummer beat on two overturned buckets with his hands and spoons.
We bought the bachelor-boy muchos rounds of drinks. The band sung "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" at his request. They also wished him "Happy Birthday," even though it wasn't. Bachelor party, birthday party, who wants to pick nits?
We hit up some more bars, made the limo drive over steep hills which made these awful grinding noises on his transmission. We almost got stuck multiple times.
Then we had a nice time exploring the embarkadero while looking for a bathroom, which we found, sort of. Let's just say that there was puddle before we got there. And it wasn't any smaller after we triple-tag-teamed it.
More bars, more drinks, pizza. Lots of fun. Then bachelor dude had to puke, and we were back in the limo on the way back.
"Oh, puke in the champagne bucket. It's removable," said one concerned friend.
The bachelor tried to do so.
However, the bucket was not removable, which caused a very funny scene to develop. Not funny when we were handing over the cash for the limo half an hour later, and when we had to explain how the paper bag we substituted for the champagne bucket had leaked all over the limo.
Quotation from the next morning:
"I've been drinking water and Maylox for four hours, and I've still been puking THAT up!"
It was AWESOME.
Vaguely the memory of the previous night seeped through my alcohol-soaked head.
Limos. There were definately limos involved.
And the bachelor-dude puked in one of them!
Which we paid for.
But seriously, we had a wonderful bachelor party for my buddy who is getting married tommorrow. We surprised him, piled into the waiting limo, and headed north to San Francisco. After hitting up a cool bar just northwest of Chinatown, where a cool band was playing slide guitar. The drummer beat on two overturned buckets with his hands and spoons.
We bought the bachelor-boy muchos rounds of drinks. The band sung "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" at his request. They also wished him "Happy Birthday," even though it wasn't. Bachelor party, birthday party, who wants to pick nits?
We hit up some more bars, made the limo drive over steep hills which made these awful grinding noises on his transmission. We almost got stuck multiple times.
Then we had a nice time exploring the embarkadero while looking for a bathroom, which we found, sort of. Let's just say that there was puddle before we got there. And it wasn't any smaller after we triple-tag-teamed it.
More bars, more drinks, pizza. Lots of fun. Then bachelor dude had to puke, and we were back in the limo on the way back.
"Oh, puke in the champagne bucket. It's removable," said one concerned friend.
The bachelor tried to do so.
However, the bucket was not removable, which caused a very funny scene to develop. Not funny when we were handing over the cash for the limo half an hour later, and when we had to explain how the paper bag we substituted for the champagne bucket had leaked all over the limo.
Quotation from the next morning:
"I've been drinking water and Maylox for four hours, and I've still been puking THAT up!"
It was AWESOME.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 14, 2004, 2.29 pm
I went TO work today.
And I worked!
I got shtuff done!
And I didn't even blog!
Ok, maybe a little...
But, still!
So now I'm going to go biking in the city, where it is apparently a beautiful day!
I hope my knees hold up.
And I worked!
I got shtuff done!
And I didn't even blog!
Ok, maybe a little...
But, still!
So now I'm going to go biking in the city, where it is apparently a beautiful day!
I hope my knees hold up.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 13, 2004, 7.07 pm
Apparently, I am one of these. Or, at any rate, this describe me, at least in terms of the computer business. I just got an email, which described me as an "au courant," and sought my advice.
character stats increase!
+1 vocab
Adj. 1. au courant - being up to particular standard or level especially in being up to date in knowledge; "kept abreast of the latest developments"; "constant revision keeps the book au courant"; "always au fait on the latest events"; "0up on the news"
linkage: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/au%20courant
categorized as life of donzilla
July 12, 2004, 10.18 pm
Well, I was walking down the stairs as normal, and suddenly my knee blew out. I let out a grunt of pain and sat down hard on the stairs. Not cool. That'll teach me to go running. I think I'll be swimming or biking tommorrow, definately something non-impact, bless it all.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 12, 2004, 1.50 pm
I just went for a run. Big mistake.
No, actually it felt pretty good. I only did about half of my normal workout becausethen I had a heart attack it's good to pace yourself when "getting back into it." I hadn't worked out in about two months.
Around lap 7 I got a endorphin [or whatever doctors say it is now] buzz, but it faded pretty quickly and left me feeling tired, despite the pounding techno music that kept me going, somewhat, through lap 10. Hopefully I'll be able to move tommorrow. I'm think of starting swimming.
No, actually it felt pretty good. I only did about half of my normal workout because
Around lap 7 I got a endorphin [or whatever doctors say it is now] buzz, but it faded pretty quickly and left me feeling tired, despite the pounding techno music that kept me going, somewhat, through lap 10. Hopefully I'll be able to move tommorrow. I'm think of starting swimming.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 11, 2004, 6.17 pm
it's the sailor's life for me
Neoteronous and I went sailing yesterday.
We did not let the facts that he had never sailed before and that I had not sailed very much, and certainly not in the last five years, stop us.
We went over to my folk's house and borrowed the gas-guzzling Suburban. We hooked up the trailer hitch. We got the life jackets.
Then we drove over to the grandparents' house where our family stores the little 13-foot catamaran known affectionately as the "Kitty Hawk."
After wrestingly the trailer onto the hitch and up the driveway, we high-tailed it down to Bayfront Park, in Mill Valley, which I am NOT going to link to, because although it is a lovely park, the promised "small crafts launching ramp" was either [a] not existent, or [b] a ridiculous float, to which there was no vehicular access, and from which it would be next to impossible to launch our craft.
So, aided by a wonderful GPS navigation device which traced out, in bright, electronic-green swathes, our circular and repeated navigation of the greater Mill Valley area, we searched for a suitable launching site.
Eventually we gave up on Mill Valley, and the calm waters of Richardson Bay, and decided to go swimming instead. A phone call with my father provided insight as to where we should go.
We arrived shortly thereafter at McNear's beach. We paid eight dollars to get in.
As we drove down into the overflow parking lot, we realized that we may be able to launch the boat relatively easily, even without a ramp. There was only about twenty-five feet of beach that we would have to port our ship across.
So, way behind schedule, and running dangerously close to missing the only other scheduled event of the evening -- mandatory feeding of the dog I was babysitting -- we hurried to assemble the boat. Actually we first hurried to open our beers. Then we hurried to assemble the boat.
After much trial and error, and a significant amount of mast-raising and mast-lowering, we were able to get the boat into what seemed to be a halfway-reasonable condition for launch.
We ran the sail up to test it, and then, lowering it, we ported the boat down to the water.
We loaded aboard our provisions, including more beer, and sausages, and melon, and water, and all sorts of delectable goodies. In fact, it felt almost more like a picnic than a sea-faring adventure.
We shoved off, and before we knew it, we were out in San Pablo Bay. Which is part of San Francisco Bay. And this particular part of the bay was populated by incredibly HUGE ships. Including oil tankers and things that looked like military landing craft, the latter of which had a hackle-raising habit of heading straight towards us.
Before we knew it, we were uncomfortably far from shore, the two of us being land-lubbers and all. There was a significant current, which was augmented by huge wakes rolling in from the various ships that kept crusing by. These two forces, coupled with a fairly strong wind began to push us northwards.
Which would have been fine, except for two things. One, northwards there was a huge metal-and-concrete pier that jutted out in an "L" shape, cutting us off from open water. Two, our sail was not up correctly.
The whole time that we were setting up the boat, I have been obssesing about this rail that ran up one side of the mast. I kept thinking that the lanyard ran up inside it, but I couldn't figure out how it would. So I finally gave up.
Well, I realized, when we were already far out from shore, that that rail was made for the sail to go in, and that the reason that we were luffing and barely able to catch any wind was because without the sail in the rail, the propulsive force of the sail is undermined by the wind's ability to sneak between the inside of the sail and the mast.
So we dropped sail, and I worked to fix my mistake.
Meanwhile, we drifted closer and closer to the pier at an alarming rate.
Finally, we got the sail back up. We tacked crosswind successfully, and we actually got some speed. Then we tried to tack back the other way, and for some reason we lost all wind-power, and due to our general lack of sailing expertise, we were unable to get back under wind power.
With the impending collision with the pier foremost in our minds, we gripped our paddles and feversihly rowed against the wind, current, and wake to escape our large concrete predator.
And then Neoteronous's paddle snapped in half.
And then we ran into the pier.
A man appeared out of nowhere on top of the pier, accompanied by several wide-eyed young ladies, who seemed especially concerned with our fate, primarily, I'm sure, because of our handsome and masculine appearances. This man (or guardian angel, as he very well might have been, since he disappeared immediately after coming to our aid) helped us fend off the pier, on which he was standing.
We caught sight of a metal pole that ran the length of the pier, and I stood on the front of the boat, up on the pontoon, with my arms out and forcefully keeping the mast and the metal rail apart. Neoteronous was doing the same thing on the aft side, and once the oncoming current required so much counter force that, after shoving the boat away with his feet, he was left hanging from the metal pole on the pier, the boat having skittered out from under him.
I looked back, but all my efforts were concentrated on muscling the pier away, and I could not lend a hand to my struggling sailor-mate.
However, my aid was not necessary. With a burst of adrenaline, he catapulted himself along the metal pole, going hand-over-hand Navy SEAL-style until he was able to leap back into the retreating boat. The wide-eyed young ladies were especially impressed with this feat.
Soon we reached the shoreline, and waving goodbye to our new-found friends and rescuers, and to the pier as well, we walked the boat along in the shallow water. After a ways we pushed out to deeper water, and began rowing with the one remaining paddle and sculling with the dual rudders.
This was fairly successful, and to celebrate, we opened another round of beers. We also discussed how we should have, instead of simply running into the pier, boarded it and claimed it for the king of england. We could have run up the Jolly Roger, and then shimied up the mast, and thrown down plunder and booty and wide-eyed maidens onto our ship.
Of course, then, as Neoteronous pointed out, we still would have been stuck at the pier, but at least, as I suggested, we would have drama and romaticism tied in as well. We surmised that we had perhaps provided enough amusement to the adjacent parties, and so we moved on.
Having successfully exited the danger zone, we again ran up the sail, and successfully sailed to shore.
There we discovered -- as we tried to heave the boat which seemed incredibly heavier than when we lugged it into the water -- that we had not put in the plugs for the drainage holes in the pontoons.
This means that the whole time we were out in the water, the ship was slowly sinking. Had we stayed out much longer, the pontoons would have been riding well under water.
We finished our picnic and beer on board the boat -- but only because it was safely beached.
When the water finally drained out of the hulls (we estimated that they were more than half-full), we loaded up the trailer and headed for home.
So there you have it. The adventures of two non-sailors on the treacherous San Pablo Bay. It was a beautiful day, and a correspondingly crazy adventure.
We did not let the facts that he had never sailed before and that I had not sailed very much, and certainly not in the last five years, stop us.
We went over to my folk's house and borrowed the gas-guzzling Suburban. We hooked up the trailer hitch. We got the life jackets.
Then we drove over to the grandparents' house where our family stores the little 13-foot catamaran known affectionately as the "Kitty Hawk."
After wrestingly the trailer onto the hitch and up the driveway, we high-tailed it down to Bayfront Park, in Mill Valley, which I am NOT going to link to, because although it is a lovely park, the promised "small crafts launching ramp" was either [a] not existent, or [b] a ridiculous float, to which there was no vehicular access, and from which it would be next to impossible to launch our craft.
So, aided by a wonderful GPS navigation device which traced out, in bright, electronic-green swathes, our circular and repeated navigation of the greater Mill Valley area, we searched for a suitable launching site.
Eventually we gave up on Mill Valley, and the calm waters of Richardson Bay, and decided to go swimming instead. A phone call with my father provided insight as to where we should go.
We arrived shortly thereafter at McNear's beach. We paid eight dollars to get in.
As we drove down into the overflow parking lot, we realized that we may be able to launch the boat relatively easily, even without a ramp. There was only about twenty-five feet of beach that we would have to port our ship across.
So, way behind schedule, and running dangerously close to missing the only other scheduled event of the evening -- mandatory feeding of the dog I was babysitting -- we hurried to assemble the boat. Actually we first hurried to open our beers. Then we hurried to assemble the boat.
After much trial and error, and a significant amount of mast-raising and mast-lowering, we were able to get the boat into what seemed to be a halfway-reasonable condition for launch.
We ran the sail up to test it, and then, lowering it, we ported the boat down to the water.
We loaded aboard our provisions, including more beer, and sausages, and melon, and water, and all sorts of delectable goodies. In fact, it felt almost more like a picnic than a sea-faring adventure.
We shoved off, and before we knew it, we were out in San Pablo Bay. Which is part of San Francisco Bay. And this particular part of the bay was populated by incredibly HUGE ships. Including oil tankers and things that looked like military landing craft, the latter of which had a hackle-raising habit of heading straight towards us.
Before we knew it, we were uncomfortably far from shore, the two of us being land-lubbers and all. There was a significant current, which was augmented by huge wakes rolling in from the various ships that kept crusing by. These two forces, coupled with a fairly strong wind began to push us northwards.
Which would have been fine, except for two things. One, northwards there was a huge metal-and-concrete pier that jutted out in an "L" shape, cutting us off from open water. Two, our sail was not up correctly.
The whole time that we were setting up the boat, I have been obssesing about this rail that ran up one side of the mast. I kept thinking that the lanyard ran up inside it, but I couldn't figure out how it would. So I finally gave up.
Well, I realized, when we were already far out from shore, that that rail was made for the sail to go in, and that the reason that we were luffing and barely able to catch any wind was because without the sail in the rail, the propulsive force of the sail is undermined by the wind's ability to sneak between the inside of the sail and the mast.
So we dropped sail, and I worked to fix my mistake.
Meanwhile, we drifted closer and closer to the pier at an alarming rate.
Finally, we got the sail back up. We tacked crosswind successfully, and we actually got some speed. Then we tried to tack back the other way, and for some reason we lost all wind-power, and due to our general lack of sailing expertise, we were unable to get back under wind power.
With the impending collision with the pier foremost in our minds, we gripped our paddles and feversihly rowed against the wind, current, and wake to escape our large concrete predator.
And then Neoteronous's paddle snapped in half.
And then we ran into the pier.
A man appeared out of nowhere on top of the pier, accompanied by several wide-eyed young ladies, who seemed especially concerned with our fate, primarily, I'm sure, because of our handsome and masculine appearances. This man (or guardian angel, as he very well might have been, since he disappeared immediately after coming to our aid) helped us fend off the pier, on which he was standing.
We caught sight of a metal pole that ran the length of the pier, and I stood on the front of the boat, up on the pontoon, with my arms out and forcefully keeping the mast and the metal rail apart. Neoteronous was doing the same thing on the aft side, and once the oncoming current required so much counter force that, after shoving the boat away with his feet, he was left hanging from the metal pole on the pier, the boat having skittered out from under him.
I looked back, but all my efforts were concentrated on muscling the pier away, and I could not lend a hand to my struggling sailor-mate.
However, my aid was not necessary. With a burst of adrenaline, he catapulted himself along the metal pole, going hand-over-hand Navy SEAL-style until he was able to leap back into the retreating boat. The wide-eyed young ladies were especially impressed with this feat.
Soon we reached the shoreline, and waving goodbye to our new-found friends and rescuers, and to the pier as well, we walked the boat along in the shallow water. After a ways we pushed out to deeper water, and began rowing with the one remaining paddle and sculling with the dual rudders.
This was fairly successful, and to celebrate, we opened another round of beers. We also discussed how we should have, instead of simply running into the pier, boarded it and claimed it for the king of england. We could have run up the Jolly Roger, and then shimied up the mast, and thrown down plunder and booty and wide-eyed maidens onto our ship.
Of course, then, as Neoteronous pointed out, we still would have been stuck at the pier, but at least, as I suggested, we would have drama and romaticism tied in as well. We surmised that we had perhaps provided enough amusement to the adjacent parties, and so we moved on.
Having successfully exited the danger zone, we again ran up the sail, and successfully sailed to shore.
There we discovered -- as we tried to heave the boat which seemed incredibly heavier than when we lugged it into the water -- that we had not put in the plugs for the drainage holes in the pontoons.
This means that the whole time we were out in the water, the ship was slowly sinking. Had we stayed out much longer, the pontoons would have been riding well under water.
We finished our picnic and beer on board the boat -- but only because it was safely beached.
When the water finally drained out of the hulls (we estimated that they were more than half-full), we loaded up the trailer and headed for home.
So there you have it. The adventures of two non-sailors on the treacherous San Pablo Bay. It was a beautiful day, and a correspondingly crazy adventure.
Source: http://www.bayaccess.org/launchsites.html
categorized as life of donzilla
July 9, 2004, 11.31 pm
Well Neoteronous and I have been living the life. Nailincoffin came over too. As well as Working the Moose.
We have been hanging out in the house that I have been housesitting, with the dog, Bogart, that I have been babysitting. Hardwood floors, beautiful kitchen, wireless, battery-powered internet and a gas grill. With prime ground beef. What more could you ask for?
A beautiful wife, and some little munchkins running around, but that's a few years distant, at least.
Anyway, we've been living the life here in northern ca.
We have been hanging out in the house that I have been housesitting, with the dog, Bogart, that I have been babysitting. Hardwood floors, beautiful kitchen, wireless, battery-powered internet and a gas grill. With prime ground beef. What more could you ask for?
A beautiful wife, and some little munchkins running around, but that's a few years distant, at least.
Anyway, we've been living the life here in northern ca.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 8, 2004, 11.41 pm
Obscenity by Omission
Moore's depiction of why Bush went to war is so silly and so incomprehensible that it is easily dismissed," Cohen wrote in yesterday's Post. "As far as I can tell, it is a farrago of conspiracy theories. But nothing is said about multiple U.N. resolutions violated by Iraq or the depredations of Saddam Hussein. In fact, prewar Iraq is depicted as some sort of Arab folk festival – lots of happy, smiling indigenous people. Was there no footage of a Kurdish village that had been gassed? This is obscenity by omission."
Source: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=39253
categorized as life of donzilla
July 8, 2004, 4.16 pm
Vicious Scrabble
Wow, blogging slowed down recently. It's not for lack of topics though -- it's lack of time.
These last few days I've been running around like crazy: running errands, working like a fiend, socializing.
Went to see the Grandfolks & Uncle over at the 125 Club and got decimated in scrabble by my Grandad.
We play vicious games under "tournament rules" (which a certain MG strongly disagrees with) that end with the winner being the first person to score 150.
The first game I was playing long words, 7, 8, 9 letters, and the game ended after only seven plays. Grandad beat me, but the play before I scored fifty points, putting me at 147. Second game wasn't as close -- I was playing all these little words that were mostly 18 or 22 points, not so good...
These last few days I've been running around like crazy: running errands, working like a fiend, socializing.
Went to see the Grandfolks & Uncle over at the 125 Club and got decimated in scrabble by my Grandad.
We play vicious games under "tournament rules" (which a certain MG strongly disagrees with) that end with the winner being the first person to score 150.
The first game I was playing long words, 7, 8, 9 letters, and the game ended after only seven plays. Grandad beat me, but the play before I scored fifty points, putting me at 147. Second game wasn't as close -- I was playing all these little words that were mostly 18 or 22 points, not so good...
categorized as life of donzilla
July 6, 2004, 8.19 pm
I bought [ed: so many things] a shop jack today, 2.5 tons worth, and it came with two 3-ton jackstands. It was the "Manager's Special," and only cost fifty bucks. Now I don't have to borrow from the Phantom Neighbor anymore.
[With these short, matter-of-fact posts, I feel like I'm becoming like The Dullest Blog in the World.
I'm not sure if that is a bad thing or not, given my post from earlier today.
[With these short, matter-of-fact posts, I feel like I'm becoming like The Dullest Blog in the World.
I'm not sure if that is a bad thing or not, given my post from earlier today.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 6, 2004, 3.55 pm
A really hot chick walked down my street and slooooowed WAAAAAAAY down as she floated past my car...she was looking in the windows, admiring...
smirk.
Or maybe she was just shocked at how dirty it is. Maybe she was in shock and disbelief. But I prefer my first theory.
smirk.
Or maybe she was just shocked at how dirty it is. Maybe she was in shock and disbelief. But I prefer my first theory.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 6, 2004, 3.52 pm
Well, the errands weren't that bad. I got to follow my entire trip with my (ancient) laptop filling in for the in-car computer, and the GPS works great. I had a nice green tracking line of my route.
Of course, now I need to plant an emergency check in the old bank account before all those durn checks I wrote today get cashed.
I got some of my vaccinations for Africa, too...
Of course, now I need to plant an emergency check in the old bank account before all those durn checks I wrote today get cashed.
I got some of my vaccinations for Africa, too...
categorized as life of donzilla
July 6, 2004, 10.08 am
Ugh. Errands. Getting things done. Packages to Sweden. A day in the life. Off to Costco Eye Exam.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 6, 2004, 1.01 am
Selling shtuff on ebay is all well and good when done from time to time, but as a way of life, it really sucks.
When you get down to it, it's pure materialism and greed and crap. And it gets you down after a while. Sigh.
So you listen to punk rock internet radio, and it doesn't help. Maybe breaking things? Wanton destruction? Do we have any cardboard boxes that need a bare-knuckle-breakdown? I'm off to the garage to see...
When you get down to it, it's pure materialism and greed and crap. And it gets you down after a while. Sigh.
So you listen to punk rock internet radio, and it doesn't help. Maybe breaking things? Wanton destruction? Do we have any cardboard boxes that need a bare-knuckle-breakdown? I'm off to the garage to see...
categorized as life of donzilla
July 5, 2004, 1.45 am
I can tell I'm almost over my sickness because I am getting back to the "instantly-lethal-to-flying-pests" stage. Most of 'em don't get away no more. They did when I was sick, with slow reflexes.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 5, 2004, 1.10 am
Roared through the streets of San Francisco, arrived just in time to pickup TRE right on schedule, and then to zip down to the embarkadero and sit in traffic. And then be fashionably late and miss the salad.
We ate dinner at a friend of TRE's house, three roommates hosted this wonderful lamb dinner, with various greens, and rice with apricots, delicious. Then a homemade desert, that I didn't quite catch the name of, but it was accompanied by these awesome fresh blueberries, prepared in triple-sec, lemon juice, and sugar.
There were something like twelve people, all crowded around this little 6-person table in the kitchen, while the wonderful chef brought dish after dish of great, home-cooking to our plates. Several bottles of wine (including some LARGE bottles) were rapidly consumed, leading to the infamous "black-toothed situation."
Then we went to watch the fireworks. Which were kinda lame, because the fog layer was so low that all the fireworks were shot up into the clouds, where they exploded and where we could not see anything from them but flashes that lit up the clouds. Some of the fireworks sent showers of sparks and whatnot down, which did manage to raise some "ooh's" and "aah's" from the crowds that had gathered on top of the various buildings.
Then we all went to get ice cream at Swenson's, where we were served by a "very professional man, with a mustache." Somehow our group got split up -- rumor had it that some folks were headed to a club named "Stud" to hook up with a chick named "Amy."
So it was myself, TRE, RK, and ARA. We continued to hang out, ate our ice cream on a nice bench, and swapped stories and whatnot. Then we headed back to the girls' pad, where we made G&T's. More chatting. We climed up the fire escape unto the roof and made fun of the neighbors. 'Twas a good fourth.
We ate dinner at a friend of TRE's house, three roommates hosted this wonderful lamb dinner, with various greens, and rice with apricots, delicious. Then a homemade desert, that I didn't quite catch the name of, but it was accompanied by these awesome fresh blueberries, prepared in triple-sec, lemon juice, and sugar.
There were something like twelve people, all crowded around this little 6-person table in the kitchen, while the wonderful chef brought dish after dish of great, home-cooking to our plates. Several bottles of wine (including some LARGE bottles) were rapidly consumed, leading to the infamous "black-toothed situation."
Then we went to watch the fireworks. Which were kinda lame, because the fog layer was so low that all the fireworks were shot up into the clouds, where they exploded and where we could not see anything from them but flashes that lit up the clouds. Some of the fireworks sent showers of sparks and whatnot down, which did manage to raise some "ooh's" and "aah's" from the crowds that had gathered on top of the various buildings.
Then we all went to get ice cream at Swenson's, where we were served by a "very professional man, with a mustache." Somehow our group got split up -- rumor had it that some folks were headed to a club named "Stud" to hook up with a chick named "Amy."
So it was myself, TRE, RK, and ARA. We continued to hang out, ate our ice cream on a nice bench, and swapped stories and whatnot. Then we headed back to the girls' pad, where we made G&T's. More chatting. We climed up the fire escape unto the roof and made fun of the neighbors. 'Twas a good fourth.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 4, 2004, 12.04 am
Remember that hard drive I was selling?
Well, I sold it to a guy in Stockholm, Sweden. I love the internet. In fact, I love it so much that, just this once, I am going to capitalize it. The Internet. There. See what I've done?
Well, I sold it to a guy in Stockholm, Sweden. I love the internet. In fact, I love it so much that, just this once, I am going to capitalize it. The Internet. There. See what I've done?
categorized as life of donzilla
July 3, 2004, 11.54 pm
Well folks, an opportunity has arisen in my life. It truly is a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity.
Now some once-in-a-lifetime opportunities as so-named because they are rare, and you most likely will only get to do them once. And some are so-named because they kill you. Here's hoping that this opportunity of mine is the former.
I'm going to go to Africa in a few weeks, and I'll be there for a few months. First we are going to fly into Nairobi, Kenya. Then we are going to go on Safari for two weeks. Then we are going to proceed, probably by plane, to Kisumu. My grandfather flew flying boats into Lake Victoria, once upon a time.
I am not quite sure what we will be doing in Kenya. Some of my friends have extensive medical experience, so they will be put to work doing that. My other friends and I will probably be teaching. Maybe we will do some physical labor. Maybe my computer and electrician skills will come in handy. I only wish that I had time to finish my private pilot's license before I go.
There was more I was going to write about now, but I forgot what it is. So, more later. I'm going to bed.
Now some once-in-a-lifetime opportunities as so-named because they are rare, and you most likely will only get to do them once. And some are so-named because they kill you. Here's hoping that this opportunity of mine is the former.
I'm going to go to Africa in a few weeks, and I'll be there for a few months. First we are going to fly into Nairobi, Kenya. Then we are going to go on Safari for two weeks. Then we are going to proceed, probably by plane, to Kisumu. My grandfather flew flying boats into Lake Victoria, once upon a time.
I am not quite sure what we will be doing in Kenya. Some of my friends have extensive medical experience, so they will be put to work doing that. My other friends and I will probably be teaching. Maybe we will do some physical labor. Maybe my computer and electrician skills will come in handy. I only wish that I had time to finish my private pilot's license before I go.
There was more I was going to write about now, but I forgot what it is. So, more later. I'm going to bed.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 3, 2004, 9.28 pm
Well, I met my family and a family of friends out at a local lake, and we hiked, cooked hamburgers, and had a good time. The kids put on an impromptu talent show (at the prompting and pestering of the parents), which included poem recitals, memorized things in Latin, the singing of songs, and juggling.
This outing left me too exhausted (my energy levels are terribly low after this fight with the flu) to execute my plan for the evening, which was to head south and meet up with Neoteronous and Heraclitus. I'll have to reschedule.
This outing left me too exhausted (my energy levels are terribly low after this fight with the flu) to execute my plan for the evening, which was to head south and meet up with Neoteronous and Heraclitus. I'll have to reschedule.
categorized as life of donzilla
July 2, 2004, 5.44 pm
I went to get a new passport today. That's what I did today. And I mean ALL of today.
Actually it wasn't THAT bad. I stood then sat in line for what seemed like an eternity, waiting for these people who must have been the most unprepared jackanapes you can imagine.
Imagined conversation between jackanape and passport lady:
JACKANAPE: Hello. How may I help you?
PASSPORT LADY: That's my line.
JACKANAPE: Oh.
PASSPORT LADY: So... How may I help you?
JACKANAPE [to kid]: Shutup now, dammit!
PASSPORT LADY: Do you have your passport forms?
JACKANAPE JR: Waaaaah!
[SMACK! JACKANAPE strikes child]
JACKANAPE: Yeah, uh, I need a passport, for me, and for this little...
PASSPORT LADY: I'm calling Child Protective Services. Next!
PASSPORT LADY: On second thought, let's get you both out of the country, shall we?
I am not making this up. The lady behind me had two kids, one really cool < 10 yr old who was trying to entertain the 2.5 yr old who was disturbing an unbelievablely large number of innocent bystanders.
Not to toot my own horn, but me, I had my form all filled out, ready to go BEFORE I walked into the building. And when it turned out that I needed to fill out form DS-64, which I hadn't anticipated, it took all of three minutes. Yessir, 80 minutes in line, 8 minutes in the room.
Actually it wasn't THAT bad. I stood then sat in line for what seemed like an eternity, waiting for these people who must have been the most unprepared jackanapes you can imagine.
Imagined conversation between jackanape and passport lady:
JACKANAPE: Hello. How may I help you?
PASSPORT LADY: That's my line.
JACKANAPE: Oh.
PASSPORT LADY: So... How may I help you?
JACKANAPE [to kid]: Shutup now, dammit!
PASSPORT LADY: Do you have your passport forms?
JACKANAPE JR: Waaaaah!
[SMACK! JACKANAPE strikes child]
JACKANAPE: Yeah, uh, I need a passport, for me, and for this little...
PASSPORT LADY: I'm calling Child Protective Services. Next!
PASSPORT LADY: On second thought, let's get you both out of the country, shall we?
I am not making this up. The lady behind me had two kids, one really cool < 10 yr old who was trying to entertain the 2.5 yr old who was disturbing an unbelievablely large number of innocent bystanders.
Not to toot my own horn, but me, I had my form all filled out, ready to go BEFORE I walked into the building. And when it turned out that I needed to fill out form DS-64, which I hadn't anticipated, it took all of three minutes. Yessir, 80 minutes in line, 8 minutes in the room.
categorized as life of donzilla
otros monos
A Faithful Rebel
Auntie Trish
Bison Survival Blog
Bitterman
Clara
Crash Box
Curmudgeon Emeritus
Da Goddess
Dax Files
destiny saute
Ditch Doc
Dog Snot Diaries
Donde Estan Mis Amigos
Fast Boots
Gretta Gone Global
Immaterial Irrelevance
Jim - PRS
John Silveria
Little Lost Soldier Girl
Mlah
Neanderpundit
Neoteronous
No Nanny State
Not of this World
Pickled in Portland
Pocket Treasures
Rivrdog
Sephora
Straight White Guy
Texas Best Grok
Velociman
Kitty
Post-it Note Conclusions
S2
Commentary:
"Commuter Genius" heh heh heh.
clara