Carved in stone
I accompanied my mom on a shopping trip to a local stone-cutter to finalize arrangements for a marker stone for dad's grave-site. We had to compromise a bit on what we got, because my father's original wishes could not be accommodated due to changes in the cemetery's bylaws. The dimension of the stone my father would have preferred to have is no longer available.
After consulting with the designer on-site, we agreed on a design that I believe will honour his memory.
All we have to do now is talk with the rabbi to book an appropriate date for the unveiling.
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Not for nothing
The place that makes the memorials wasn't open on Sundays, but it wasn't a complete waste of time. We took a side trip to the cemetery to visit not just my father's grave; but all of our relatives buried there. While there, I took photographs of the relative's stones, as well as photos of the general area around my father's final resting place. With those photos in hand, we were able to walk among the many example stones at the stone cutter's shop and narrow the short list. The actual size of the stone can only be determined after consultation with the stone cutter. He's used for most of the stones in the Jewish cemetery, so he's more familiar with size and design restrictions than the average shopper. Next weekend, we'll go again during business hours to see what's what.
The place that makes the memorials wasn't open on Sundays, but it wasn't a complete waste of time. We took a side trip to the cemetery to visit not just my father's grave; but all of our relatives buried there. While there, I took photographs of the relative's stones, as well as photos of the general area around my father's final resting place. With those photos in hand, we were able to walk among the many example stones at the stone cutter's shop and narrow the short list. The actual size of the stone can only be determined after consultation with the stone cutter. He's used for most of the stones in the Jewish cemetery, so he's more familiar with size and design restrictions than the average shopper. Next weekend, we'll go again during business hours to see what's what.
Shopping day
Today's the day I accompany my mother on a shopping trip. I hate shopping, and spending shopping time with my mother would rank very low on my "fun things to do" list (if such a list existed). Yet, this trip is important. She's looking for a monument for my father's grave, and I want to make sure she doesn't choose anything distasteful. Never having been on such a mission before, I don't have many expectations, though, if it's as hassle-free as the funeral parlour arrangements were, I'll be quite happy.
Today's the day I accompany my mother on a shopping trip. I hate shopping, and spending shopping time with my mother would rank very low on my "fun things to do" list (if such a list existed). Yet, this trip is important. She's looking for a monument for my father's grave, and I want to make sure she doesn't choose anything distasteful. Never having been on such a mission before, I don't have many expectations, though, if it's as hassle-free as the funeral parlour arrangements were, I'll be quite happy.
Saturday, October 23, 2004
Back to earth
The past week is best described as uneventful. With two of the major stresses removed, life has become - dare I say - boring! Yes, I know the blog is boring. But now, so is life!
That's not all bad.
The only exciting thing around here is anticipation over the U.S. elections. Living in a Canadian border town, our lives are inexorably linked to those of the Americans living a mere two miles away. Not only are our economies dependent on similar industries and the commerce of cross-border traffic, but the threat of terrorism is quite high in this area, with some of the world's largest corporations having either headquarters or major centres of commerce in this area.
Add to that the fact that within 10 miles of my Jewish home is the second largest Arabic population outside of the Middle East, and you can see why I'm more than a little concerned. Am I paranoid? Perhaps. But a healthy dose of paranoia can be good. It teaches me to be careful.
The past week is best described as uneventful. With two of the major stresses removed, life has become - dare I say - boring! Yes, I know the blog is boring. But now, so is life!
That's not all bad.
The only exciting thing around here is anticipation over the U.S. elections. Living in a Canadian border town, our lives are inexorably linked to those of the Americans living a mere two miles away. Not only are our economies dependent on similar industries and the commerce of cross-border traffic, but the threat of terrorism is quite high in this area, with some of the world's largest corporations having either headquarters or major centres of commerce in this area.
Add to that the fact that within 10 miles of my Jewish home is the second largest Arabic population outside of the Middle East, and you can see why I'm more than a little concerned. Am I paranoid? Perhaps. But a healthy dose of paranoia can be good. It teaches me to be careful.
Sunday, October 17, 2004
Here comes the bride!
My wife should be a wedding planner. Everything, and I mean everything went off as planned, without a single mishap. I suppose if I had to find something that went wrong, it would be that, when the Master of Ceremonies called my wife's brother to the front of the room to say grace before the meal, that was the first time he heard that he would be doing that. My wife had forgotten to ask him!
Other than that, the entire day (from preparation to ceremony to reception) went absolutely perfectly.
And now, here's Christie and husband Jesse.
My wife should be a wedding planner. Everything, and I mean everything went off as planned, without a single mishap. I suppose if I had to find something that went wrong, it would be that, when the Master of Ceremonies called my wife's brother to the front of the room to say grace before the meal, that was the first time he heard that he would be doing that. My wife had forgotten to ask him!
Other than that, the entire day (from preparation to ceremony to reception) went absolutely perfectly.
And now, here's Christie and husband Jesse.
Saturday, October 16, 2004
T-1 hour
It's 2:00PM here. The wedding begins at 3:00PM. We've spent most of the day thusfar getting last minute things ready. We've been to the reception hall to set things up, and soon, it will be time to head to the church. Since beginning this post, I've just taken a few shots of the bridal party in their gowns, and I must say, my wife looks positively hot! I won't spoil the surprise by posting any of my recent pics right now. Instead, I'll wait until I get home later tonight.
It's 2:00PM here. The wedding begins at 3:00PM. We've spent most of the day thusfar getting last minute things ready. We've been to the reception hall to set things up, and soon, it will be time to head to the church. Since beginning this post, I've just taken a few shots of the bridal party in their gowns, and I must say, my wife looks positively hot! I won't spoil the surprise by posting any of my recent pics right now. Instead, I'll wait until I get home later tonight.
W-day
There's going to be a wedding today. During rehearsal, the bride's father (I'm her step-father) joked that he might not give her away when called to do so, to which I quickly replied "If he doesn't, I will!"
I'd tell my nervous step-daughter to break a leg, but then, she'd probably fall off her 6" heels and actually do it!
Pictures will follow shortly after the wedding...
There's going to be a wedding today. During rehearsal, the bride's father (I'm her step-father) joked that he might not give her away when called to do so, to which I quickly replied "If he doesn't, I will!"
I'd tell my nervous step-daughter to break a leg, but then, she'd probably fall off her 6" heels and actually do it!
Pictures will follow shortly after the wedding...
Friday, October 15, 2004
Practice makes perfect
We had the wedding rehearsal yesterday. Everything went quite well. I suppose the only potential problem will be with the ring bearer and flower girl. The flower girl loves posing for the camera. While I was practicing some techniques and shooting angles for the big day tomorrow, the camera I was holding caught her eye. She instantly stopped and faced me square on, giving me the cutest of smiles. When she was urged to continue down the aisle, she did so at a snail's pace, never once removing her gaze from my camera.
I guess I'll have to forego the pictures, lest the flower girl never make it down the aisle.
We had the wedding rehearsal yesterday. Everything went quite well. I suppose the only potential problem will be with the ring bearer and flower girl. The flower girl loves posing for the camera. While I was practicing some techniques and shooting angles for the big day tomorrow, the camera I was holding caught her eye. She instantly stopped and faced me square on, giving me the cutest of smiles. When she was urged to continue down the aisle, she did so at a snail's pace, never once removing her gaze from my camera.
I guess I'll have to forego the pictures, lest the flower girl never make it down the aisle.
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
New Daily Read
I stumbled upon this site a couple of days ago. I don't know how I could have missed it all this time. Written by a guy whose politically left alignment changed after 9/11, I found his style compelling and persuasive (though I was already more right-wing). You can now find it in my links.
I stumbled upon this site a couple of days ago. I don't know how I could have missed it all this time. Written by a guy whose politically left alignment changed after 9/11, I found his style compelling and persuasive (though I was already more right-wing). You can now find it in my links.
Thanksgiving Day Feast
My wife outdid herself tonight. The meal was fabulous, and the company was pleasant. Add to that the coincidence of my son's birthday falling on the holiday, and there was nothing that could have been better.
I just wish I didn't have to be back at work in less than eight hours.
My wife outdid herself tonight. The meal was fabulous, and the company was pleasant. Add to that the coincidence of my son's birthday falling on the holiday, and there was nothing that could have been better.
I just wish I didn't have to be back at work in less than eight hours.
Sunday, October 10, 2004
There's method to my madness
I was checking out the background and voting records of the candidates for U.S. Presidential office. It turns out that only the democratic nominees had a voting record, seeing that Bush and Cheney haven't had Senate/Congress membership since before 2000. The site that furnished the voting information also featured background information about the candidates, like their year of birth, family information, and religious affiliation.
I was surprised to learn that thee of the four gentlemen running for the highest offices in the land are affiliated with the SAME religion. What do you suppose that religion might be? Odd man out is here.
I was checking out the background and voting records of the candidates for U.S. Presidential office. It turns out that only the democratic nominees had a voting record, seeing that Bush and Cheney haven't had Senate/Congress membership since before 2000. The site that furnished the voting information also featured background information about the candidates, like their year of birth, family information, and religious affiliation.
I was surprised to learn that thee of the four gentlemen running for the highest offices in the land are affiliated with the SAME religion. What do you suppose that religion might be? Odd man out is here.
Saturday, October 09, 2004
Highway Robbery
I stole this list from Eagle Eye View, who stole it from ... who stole it from ... and so on, and so on, etc.
A bit intriguing actually... a list of 200 things some people may have tried/wanted to try. I'll highlight the ones I've done, and leave the rest alone. It's too early in my life to say I wouldn't want to try some of the others.
01. Bought everyone in the pub a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain (several times, though never very far)
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said 'I love you' and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Done a striptease (those who know what I look like will to be totally grossed out by that!)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long, and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game (not really sure what qualifies as "huge", but the stadium was standing room only)
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Touched an iceberg
20. Slept under the stars
21. Changed a baby's diaper
22. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
23. Watched a meteor shower
24. Gotten drunk on champagne
25. Given more than you can afford to charity
26. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
27. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
28. Had a food fight
29. Bet on a winning horse
30. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
31. Asked out a stranger (does a blind date count?)
32. Had a snowball fight (I guess this would only be strange to someone in Hawaii)
33. Photocopied your bottom on the office photocopier
34. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
35. Held a lamb
36. Enacted a favorite fantasy
37. Taken a midnight skinny dip
38. Taken an ice cold bath
39. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
40. Seen a total eclipse
41. Ridden a roller coaster
42. Hit a home run (though never in an actual game)
43. Fit three weeks miraculously into three days
44. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking (quite recently, actually)
45. Adopted an accent for an entire day
46. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
47. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
48. Had two hard drives for your computer
49. Visited all 50 states
50. Loved your job on all accounts
51. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
52. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
53. Had amazing friends
54. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
55. Watched wild whales
56. Stolen a sign
57. Backpacked in Europe
58. Taken a road-trip
59. Rock climbing
60. Lied to foreign government's official in that country to avoid notice
61. Midnight walk on the beach
62. Sky diving
63. Visited Ireland
64. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love
65. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
66. Visited Japan
67. Benchpressed your own weight
68. Milked a cow
69. Alphabetized your records
70. Pretended to be a superhero
71. Sung karaoke
72. Lounged around in bed all day
73. Posed nude in front of strangers (does it count when women enter the men's shower?)
74. Scuba diving
75. Got it on to "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye
76. Kissed in the rain
77. Played in the mud
78. Played in the rain
79. Gone to a drive-in theater
80. Done something you should regret, but don't regret it
81. Visited the Great Wall of China
82. Discovered that someone who's not supposed to have known about your blog has discovered your blog
83. Dropped Windows in favor of something better
84. Started a business
85. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken (with my current wife)
86. Toured ancient sites
87. Taken a martial arts class
88. Swordfought for the honor of a woman
89. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
90. Gotten married
91. Been in a movie (do my Bar Mitzvah and wedding videos count?)
92. Crashed a party
93. Loved someone you shouldn't have
94. Kissed someone so passionately it made them dizzy
95. Gotten divorced
96. Had sex at the office
97. Gone without food for 5 days
98. Made cookies from scratch
99. Won first prize in a costume contest
100. Ridden a gondola in Venice
101. Gotten a tattoo
102. Found that the texture of some materials can turn you on
103. Rafted the Snake River
104. Been on television news programs as an "expert"
105. Got flowers for no reason
106. Masturbated in a public place
107. Got so drunk you don't remember anything
108. Been addicted to some form of illegal drug
109. Performed on stage
110. Been to Las Vegas
111. Recorded music (unless you mean as an artist)
112. Eaten shark
113. Had a one-night stand
114. Gone to Thailand
115. Seen Siouxsie live
116. Bought a house
117. Been in a combat zone (if you count Israel as a combat zone)
118. Buried one/both of your parents (recently)
119. Shaved or waxed your pubic hair off
120. Been on a cruise ship
121. Spoken more than one language fluently (well, maybe not fluently, but well enough to be understood)
122. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
123. Bounced a check (though not intentionally)
124. Performed in Rocky Horror
125. Read - and understood - your credit report
126. Raised children (though not from infancy)
127. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
128. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
129. Created and named your own constellation of stars
130. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
131. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
132. Called or written your Congress person
133. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
134. ...more than once? - More than thrice?
135. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
136. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking (doesn't everyone?)
137. Had an abortion or your female partner did
138. Had plastic surgery
139. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
140. Wrote articles for a large publication
141. Lost over 100 pounds
142. Held someone while they were having a flashback
143. Piloted an airplane
144. Petted a stingray
145. Broken someone's heart (and never forgave myself)
146. Helped an animal give birth
147. Been fired or laid off from a job
148. Won money on a T.V. game show
149. Broken a bone
150. Killed a human being
151. Gone on an African photo safari
152. Ridden a motorcycle
153. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100mph
154. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
155. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
156. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
157. Ridden a horse
158. Had major surgery
159. Had sex on a moving train
160. Had a snake as a pet
161. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
162. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
163. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
164. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
165. Visited all 7 continents
166. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
167. Eaten kangaroo meat
168. Fallen in love at an ancient Mayan burial ground
169. Been a sperm or egg donor
170. Eaten sushi
171. Had your picture in the newspaper
172. Had 2 (or more) healthy romantic relationships for over a year in your lifetime
173. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
174. Gotten someone fired for their actions
175. Gone back to school
176. Parasailed
177. Changed your name
178. Petted a cockroach
179. Eaten fried green tomatoes
180. Read The Iliad
181. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read
182. Dined in a restaurant and stolen silverware, plates, cups because your apartment needed them
183. ...and gotten 86'ed from the restaurant because you did it so many times, they figured out it was you
184. Taught yourself an art from scratch
185. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
186. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
187. Skipped all your school reunions
188. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
189. Been elected to public office
190. Written your own computer language (though it was a requirement of graduation at University)
191. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
192. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
193. Built your own PC from parts
194. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you (if "software" constitutes art)
195. Had a booth at a street fair
196: Dyed your hair
197: Been a DJ
198: Found out someone was going to dump you via LiveJournal
199: Written your own role playing game
200: Been arrested
Interesting list... and from it, you can see that, for the most part, mine has been an uninteresting life! But I'm not complaining.
I stole this list from Eagle Eye View, who stole it from ... who stole it from ... and so on, and so on, etc.
A bit intriguing actually... a list of 200 things some people may have tried/wanted to try. I'll highlight the ones I've done, and leave the rest alone. It's too early in my life to say I wouldn't want to try some of the others.
01. Bought everyone in the pub a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain (several times, though never very far)
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said 'I love you' and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Done a striptease (those who know what I look like will to be totally grossed out by that!)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long, and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game (not really sure what qualifies as "huge", but the stadium was standing room only)
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Touched an iceberg
20. Slept under the stars
21. Changed a baby's diaper
22. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
23. Watched a meteor shower
24. Gotten drunk on champagne
25. Given more than you can afford to charity
26. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
27. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
28. Had a food fight
29. Bet on a winning horse
30. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
31. Asked out a stranger (does a blind date count?)
32. Had a snowball fight (I guess this would only be strange to someone in Hawaii)
33. Photocopied your bottom on the office photocopier
34. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
35. Held a lamb
36. Enacted a favorite fantasy
37. Taken a midnight skinny dip
38. Taken an ice cold bath
39. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
40. Seen a total eclipse
41. Ridden a roller coaster
42. Hit a home run (though never in an actual game)
43. Fit three weeks miraculously into three days
44. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking (quite recently, actually)
45. Adopted an accent for an entire day
46. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
47. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
48. Had two hard drives for your computer
49. Visited all 50 states
50. Loved your job on all accounts
51. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
52. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
53. Had amazing friends
54. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
55. Watched wild whales
56. Stolen a sign
57. Backpacked in Europe
58. Taken a road-trip
59. Rock climbing
60. Lied to foreign government's official in that country to avoid notice
61. Midnight walk on the beach
62. Sky diving
63. Visited Ireland
64. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love
65. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
66. Visited Japan
67. Benchpressed your own weight
68. Milked a cow
69. Alphabetized your records
70. Pretended to be a superhero
71. Sung karaoke
72. Lounged around in bed all day
73. Posed nude in front of strangers (does it count when women enter the men's shower?)
74. Scuba diving
75. Got it on to "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye
76. Kissed in the rain
77. Played in the mud
78. Played in the rain
79. Gone to a drive-in theater
80. Done something you should regret, but don't regret it
81. Visited the Great Wall of China
82. Discovered that someone who's not supposed to have known about your blog has discovered your blog
83. Dropped Windows in favor of something better
84. Started a business
85. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken (with my current wife)
86. Toured ancient sites
87. Taken a martial arts class
88. Swordfought for the honor of a woman
89. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
90. Gotten married
91. Been in a movie (do my Bar Mitzvah and wedding videos count?)
92. Crashed a party
93. Loved someone you shouldn't have
94. Kissed someone so passionately it made them dizzy
95. Gotten divorced
96. Had sex at the office
97. Gone without food for 5 days
98. Made cookies from scratch
99. Won first prize in a costume contest
100. Ridden a gondola in Venice
101. Gotten a tattoo
102. Found that the texture of some materials can turn you on
103. Rafted the Snake River
104. Been on television news programs as an "expert"
105. Got flowers for no reason
106. Masturbated in a public place
107. Got so drunk you don't remember anything
108. Been addicted to some form of illegal drug
109. Performed on stage
110. Been to Las Vegas
111. Recorded music (unless you mean as an artist)
112. Eaten shark
113. Had a one-night stand
114. Gone to Thailand
115. Seen Siouxsie live
116. Bought a house
117. Been in a combat zone (if you count Israel as a combat zone)
118. Buried one/both of your parents (recently)
119. Shaved or waxed your pubic hair off
120. Been on a cruise ship
121. Spoken more than one language fluently (well, maybe not fluently, but well enough to be understood)
122. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
123. Bounced a check (though not intentionally)
124. Performed in Rocky Horror
125. Read - and understood - your credit report
126. Raised children (though not from infancy)
127. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
128. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
129. Created and named your own constellation of stars
130. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
131. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
132. Called or written your Congress person
133. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
134. ...more than once? - More than thrice?
135. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
136. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking (doesn't everyone?)
137. Had an abortion or your female partner did
138. Had plastic surgery
139. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
140. Wrote articles for a large publication
141. Lost over 100 pounds
142. Held someone while they were having a flashback
143. Piloted an airplane
144. Petted a stingray
145. Broken someone's heart (and never forgave myself)
146. Helped an animal give birth
147. Been fired or laid off from a job
148. Won money on a T.V. game show
149. Broken a bone
150. Killed a human being
151. Gone on an African photo safari
152. Ridden a motorcycle
153. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100mph
154. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
155. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
156. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
157. Ridden a horse
158. Had major surgery
159. Had sex on a moving train
160. Had a snake as a pet
161. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
162. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
163. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
164. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
165. Visited all 7 continents
166. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
167. Eaten kangaroo meat
168. Fallen in love at an ancient Mayan burial ground
169. Been a sperm or egg donor
170. Eaten sushi
171. Had your picture in the newspaper
172. Had 2 (or more) healthy romantic relationships for over a year in your lifetime
173. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
174. Gotten someone fired for their actions
175. Gone back to school
176. Parasailed
177. Changed your name
178. Petted a cockroach
179. Eaten fried green tomatoes
180. Read The Iliad
181. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read
182. Dined in a restaurant and stolen silverware, plates, cups because your apartment needed them
183. ...and gotten 86'ed from the restaurant because you did it so many times, they figured out it was you
184. Taught yourself an art from scratch
185. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
186. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
187. Skipped all your school reunions
188. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
189. Been elected to public office
190. Written your own computer language (though it was a requirement of graduation at University)
191. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
192. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
193. Built your own PC from parts
194. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you (if "software" constitutes art)
195. Had a booth at a street fair
196: Dyed your hair
197: Been a DJ
198: Found out someone was going to dump you via LiveJournal
199: Written your own role playing game
200: Been arrested
Interesting list... and from it, you can see that, for the most part, mine has been an uninteresting life! But I'm not complaining.
I'll miss you, Kare
I've been part of the blogging scene for more than 2-1/2 years. Not exactly one of the early adopters, but still, around for quite a while. When I began to blog, I did so because I had been reading other blogs and thought the idea of having my very own site where I could express my own opinions, share information about things of interest only to me, and generally offer an area where friends and relatives could keep tabs on my goings-on would be cool.
One of sites I had read back in those days was Kare's. Her perspective was one I could relate to, as was her writing style. It wouldn't be technically correct to call her a friend, though we did exchange emails through the years, and despite changes to her hosting and the occasional hiatus, I followed her and kept tabs. In fact, of all the links to other blogs I have on my site, hers was the very first one.
It was disappointing to see that her link had stopped functioning recently, but I became a bit spooked when I noticed that someone else who had links to Kare's blog had substituted an ominous message. Having recently lost my father, I guess I have death on the brain, and I jumped to the conclusion that Kare was no longer among the living. That's why I was so relieved today, when, in response to a query, Kare replied to an email saying that she was, in fact, alive and well.
I can't tell you, Kare, how happy I was to hear that, despite the fact that I won't have the opportunity to read your words any more.
I have officially retired your link, but hope, Kare, if you see this message, that you keep me in your thoughts, and inform me if and when you decide to rejoin the blogging universe.
I've been part of the blogging scene for more than 2-1/2 years. Not exactly one of the early adopters, but still, around for quite a while. When I began to blog, I did so because I had been reading other blogs and thought the idea of having my very own site where I could express my own opinions, share information about things of interest only to me, and generally offer an area where friends and relatives could keep tabs on my goings-on would be cool.
One of sites I had read back in those days was Kare's. Her perspective was one I could relate to, as was her writing style. It wouldn't be technically correct to call her a friend, though we did exchange emails through the years, and despite changes to her hosting and the occasional hiatus, I followed her and kept tabs. In fact, of all the links to other blogs I have on my site, hers was the very first one.
It was disappointing to see that her link had stopped functioning recently, but I became a bit spooked when I noticed that someone else who had links to Kare's blog had substituted an ominous message. Having recently lost my father, I guess I have death on the brain, and I jumped to the conclusion that Kare was no longer among the living. That's why I was so relieved today, when, in response to a query, Kare replied to an email saying that she was, in fact, alive and well.
I can't tell you, Kare, how happy I was to hear that, despite the fact that I won't have the opportunity to read your words any more.
I have officially retired your link, but hope, Kare, if you see this message, that you keep me in your thoughts, and inform me if and when you decide to rejoin the blogging universe.
Friday, October 08, 2004
Presidential Debate #2
Boring! The same phrases over and over again. I am somewhat biased. I probably lean more to the conservative side more than to the liberal. Still, I don't think that anyone who objectively evaluates this debate can honestly say that Senator Kerry did a good job of directly addressing questions that came his way. While the president was also evasive on some questions, Kerry did it incessantly.
For example, a question to Kerry might be: "How would you handle this situation...". His answer was invariably: "I sure wouldn't do what the current president did..." before going into detail of how the president screwed up, and how he would have done differently. But exactly what he would have done? Well, that went largely unanswered.
Boring! The same phrases over and over again. I am somewhat biased. I probably lean more to the conservative side more than to the liberal. Still, I don't think that anyone who objectively evaluates this debate can honestly say that Senator Kerry did a good job of directly addressing questions that came his way. While the president was also evasive on some questions, Kerry did it incessantly.
For example, a question to Kerry might be: "How would you handle this situation...". His answer was invariably: "I sure wouldn't do what the current president did..." before going into detail of how the president screwed up, and how he would have done differently. But exactly what he would have done? Well, that went largely unanswered.
Sunday, October 03, 2004
Hard times ahead
My wife's been suffering from stress for the better part of a year, mostly due to unbelievably difficult conditions where she works. This week, she finally reached the breaking point, announcing her intention to leave. I applaud her decision, having advised her many times to take this step. Now that she's actually done it, perhaps her stress level will decrease. In the meantime, an already tight budget situation will obviously become tighter. Still, it was the only decision that made sense.
My wife's been suffering from stress for the better part of a year, mostly due to unbelievably difficult conditions where she works. This week, she finally reached the breaking point, announcing her intention to leave. I applaud her decision, having advised her many times to take this step. Now that she's actually done it, perhaps her stress level will decrease. In the meantime, an already tight budget situation will obviously become tighter. Still, it was the only decision that made sense.