Once again, it's the time of the year where I look back over the last twelve months and reflect on what took place during that time.
In a sense, 2010 was a bit better than 2009. During that year, I worked about four months; 2010 gave me six months' worth of work. Perhaps 2011 will bump it up to eight months. The economy has to kick into gear someday.
Family stayed about the same. Nothing new to report there.
We had a few scary moments as well. Thanks to my lack of work and other factors that I won't get into, we came to within one day of losing our home at a public auction (remember The Brady Bunch Movie from 15 years ago? That final scene was almost played out here in real life). Again, details I won't get into, but a friend who happens to be an attorney stepped in and intervened, and we still call our place "Home Sweet Home."
Strangely, I actually spent less time at theme parks this year. Not sure why, really. My interest is still there, but my guess is that there are other things with a higher level of importance. It appears that as local parks go, 2011 and 2012 are looking to bring some major new attractions. I look forward to that, but will likely visit sparingly. Going less often seems to make each visit that much more fun.
Our little bundle of joy, who once measured 8 lb. 7 oz. and 20-1/2 in. long, will become a 21-year-old woman on Easter Sunday and could possibly take possession of a college degree sometime this year, depending on whether she completes her course of study at Moorpark College. Where did all the time go?
I moved up to a so called "smart phone" recently and joined the rest of the world. It's still a weird feeling to be sitting in some random parking lot and being able to get onto the Internet and find the answer to a question or get the information I need about whatever I'm doing or wherever I'm going. Being so far behind is odd for a person who has always been "up" on the latest in technology. Before now I never felt like I needed it. Honestly, I still don't need it, but it is nice to have.
One thing for which I can definitely thank the good Lord is my health. There aren't many people who would be thankful for having diabetes, but I can be thankful that I have things under control and am improving as time goes on. No longer do I look like the skeleton I did four years ago. Blood sugar readings that look like Himalayan mountain elevations are far less common. Most recently, like many people my age, a doctor sent a camera on a whirlwind tour of my colon to look for polyps, diverticulitis, graffiti, and other anomalies that could have been there---but thankfully weren't. My eye doctor checked my eyes (yeah, they're still there [rim shot]), and it turns out that my vision has actually improved to 20/30. Good news for an insulin shooter!
So there you go. 2010 is only a few days away from fading into the sunset. Give me a little time to get adjusted to 2011 and I'll write some more stuff for you to read. Till then, have a happy and safe New Year.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
The Future is Here
First of all, anyone who knows me well already knows that I'm not a big fan of anything that says "Nissan" on it. Why? They've just never seemed to be able to do what the "big boys" at Toyota and Honda could do. To me, they seemed to skimp on vehicle trim and upholstery. Styling was..."eh." They didn't produce very much that got me excited. I've always considered them the "also-rans" of the Japanese auto industry. And I never really cared much for their "NISSAN---IT'S AWWWEEESOME!!!" campaign over the years. There's not a lot of "aweseome" in "mediocre."
However, with their new all-electric LEAF model for 2011, they're certainly doing something right. First off, "LEAF" is indeed an acronym. It stands for Leading, Environmentally friendly, Affordable, Family car. The car is quite roomy for such a small sedan. By the way it drives, you'd never know that there isn't any fuel burning under the hood. In fact, there isn't any liquid fuel anywhere in the car. A pack of lithium-ion batteries sits right in the center of the car, under the passenger compartment. These batteries enable the LEAF to go about 100 miles on one charge (your distance will vary depending on your driving habits).
How do I know so much about the LEAF? Simple. To learn about a car, the best way is to drive it. And that I did. There was an ad on the radio saying something about a local event where attendees would be able to climb behind the wheel and take one out for a spin. Being the car nut that I am, I couldn't pass that up. So I went to the website and signed up as soon as I got home. Last December at the Los Angeles Auto Show, I drove a 2011 Ford Fiesta (a horrible snot-colored one which really wasn't so impressive to be honest), a 2010 Ford Flex (a very nice car if I do say so myself---sort of a modern throwback to the old station wagon), and a 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid (one of three or so hybrids I've driven so far). Besides those, I've test driven numerous cars at various dealerships, and driven some very nice cars at a couple of events that Cadillac has put on. I like to test drive vehicles on a regular basis, just to keep abreast of what's out there should I ever need to replace my car.
About this event...Upon arrival at the parking lot of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, I had to check in. Once our names were called, about a dozen or so of us gathered to be taken through the various exhibits by one of the guides. She answered any questions that we had about the LEAF or anything about it. Next, we got into a line to wait for the next of 16 cars that Nissan had on hand for the event. When my turn came, I was directed to a silver one a few feet away. Before getting in the car, I was allowed to take a few photos of it. Once inside, a Nissan rep was waiting to show me a little about the car and its controls before taking off. (I never did get her name, but she was very nice.) The controls are very unusual...a push button start and an almost joystick-like thingie on the center console that acted as the shift lever.
And off we went. The first part of the drive was a course set up in the lot so drivers could experience the tight turning circle and cornering ability of the vehicle. Next, we got out onto Pico Blvd. for a spin in real city traffic. More or less, we simply drove around a long block (I was hoping to get on the freeway to see how an electric car could handle high speeds, but I figured they wouldn't allow that---and I was correct.) However, I did have a stretch of road about a city block long where my co-pilot said to jump on the gas (hee hee...the "gas" in an electric car) to see what it would do. And jump it did. You would have never figured that battery powered ANYTHING would move like that.
Back at the parking lot, about a mile after starting, I pulled the car into where I first saw it and turned it off. Now for the $30,000 question---would I buy one? Perhaps if I had a few bucks---30,000 of them to be exact---I might consider it. For now, though, I'll wait until some advancements are made and the range goes beyond 100 miles. Someday that will happen as battery tecnology improves.
Before I left, they took pictures of drivers next to a LEAF. The car they had as a prop just happened to be the same color as the car I drove. And they had refreshments, too. Good chocolate chip cookies. Just the appetizer for the barbeque I went to right after I left there.
Chevrolet has their Volt coming very soon. I'll have to visit a Chevy dealer and take one of those out to compare the two. That will be a future report. But I have to admit---as the electric car concept goes, Nissan made a be-LEAF-er out of me.
However, with their new all-electric LEAF model for 2011, they're certainly doing something right. First off, "LEAF" is indeed an acronym. It stands for Leading, Environmentally friendly, Affordable, Family car. The car is quite roomy for such a small sedan. By the way it drives, you'd never know that there isn't any fuel burning under the hood. In fact, there isn't any liquid fuel anywhere in the car. A pack of lithium-ion batteries sits right in the center of the car, under the passenger compartment. These batteries enable the LEAF to go about 100 miles on one charge (your distance will vary depending on your driving habits).
How do I know so much about the LEAF? Simple. To learn about a car, the best way is to drive it. And that I did. There was an ad on the radio saying something about a local event where attendees would be able to climb behind the wheel and take one out for a spin. Being the car nut that I am, I couldn't pass that up. So I went to the website and signed up as soon as I got home. Last December at the Los Angeles Auto Show, I drove a 2011 Ford Fiesta (a horrible snot-colored one which really wasn't so impressive to be honest), a 2010 Ford Flex (a very nice car if I do say so myself---sort of a modern throwback to the old station wagon), and a 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid (one of three or so hybrids I've driven so far). Besides those, I've test driven numerous cars at various dealerships, and driven some very nice cars at a couple of events that Cadillac has put on. I like to test drive vehicles on a regular basis, just to keep abreast of what's out there should I ever need to replace my car.
About this event...Upon arrival at the parking lot of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, I had to check in. Once our names were called, about a dozen or so of us gathered to be taken through the various exhibits by one of the guides. She answered any questions that we had about the LEAF or anything about it. Next, we got into a line to wait for the next of 16 cars that Nissan had on hand for the event. When my turn came, I was directed to a silver one a few feet away. Before getting in the car, I was allowed to take a few photos of it. Once inside, a Nissan rep was waiting to show me a little about the car and its controls before taking off. (I never did get her name, but she was very nice.) The controls are very unusual...a push button start and an almost joystick-like thingie on the center console that acted as the shift lever.
And off we went. The first part of the drive was a course set up in the lot so drivers could experience the tight turning circle and cornering ability of the vehicle. Next, we got out onto Pico Blvd. for a spin in real city traffic. More or less, we simply drove around a long block (I was hoping to get on the freeway to see how an electric car could handle high speeds, but I figured they wouldn't allow that---and I was correct.) However, I did have a stretch of road about a city block long where my co-pilot said to jump on the gas (hee hee...the "gas" in an electric car) to see what it would do. And jump it did. You would have never figured that battery powered ANYTHING would move like that.
Back at the parking lot, about a mile after starting, I pulled the car into where I first saw it and turned it off. Now for the $30,000 question---would I buy one? Perhaps if I had a few bucks---30,000 of them to be exact---I might consider it. For now, though, I'll wait until some advancements are made and the range goes beyond 100 miles. Someday that will happen as battery tecnology improves.
 |
| Yours truly getting a charge out of an electric vehicle. |
Chevrolet has their Volt coming very soon. I'll have to visit a Chevy dealer and take one of those out to compare the two. That will be a future report. But I have to admit---as the electric car concept goes, Nissan made a be-LEAF-er out of me.
Friday, September 17, 2010
2010: Two-thirds down...
Time flies when you're having fun, so goes the saying. And has this year flown by or what! Am I having fun? Not sure what to call it, really. But I am surviving.
For whatever reason, I haven't written as much here as I thought I would. It's not for a lack of time or subject matter. Plenty has been going on. Some good stuff, too. A job that was supposed to last a month or six weeks tops has gone over three months with no apparent end in sight. The possibility of losing our home is behind us. I get out and get a few good coaster rides now and then. My car is running well. I have friends who care about my well being and check up on me.
Right now, the best I can do is to get in here when I can and write something down. Even if it's just a little.
For whatever reason, I haven't written as much here as I thought I would. It's not for a lack of time or subject matter. Plenty has been going on. Some good stuff, too. A job that was supposed to last a month or six weeks tops has gone over three months with no apparent end in sight. The possibility of losing our home is behind us. I get out and get a few good coaster rides now and then. My car is running well. I have friends who care about my well being and check up on me.
Right now, the best I can do is to get in here when I can and write something down. Even if it's just a little.
Friday, August 6, 2010
A New Month—The Start of My 52nd Year on Earth
Do you remember my last blog entry, Much Ablog About Nothing? Yeah, unfortunately I do, too. As they'd say in Latin, stupidus maximus. At the time, I hadn't written anything in awhile and just wanted to get something down on cyberpaper. And I did get something down; the thing is, I could have put that paper under a birdcage and gotten more or less the same thing.
So why am I Rodney Dangerfielding myself? Because I can. So there you go.
As the title indicates, I am beginning my 52nd year here on the planet---Earth, that is, not Eric's Planet. (My planet just started last year.) In a sense, things are looking up...ish. Work is keeping me busy---it's no coincidence that the police are reporting fewer tagged buildings in this area. And senior citizens aren't being pushed down on the street so much.
If you look hard enough, you might even sneak a glimpse of me...smiling. If you ever see that, take a picture IMMEDIATELY because that's almost as rare a sight at you can get. For whatever reason, I've never been much of a smiler, though a few people say that I smile more with my eyes---whatever that means. With complete honestment (forgot that I make up words, huh?), I'd rather say or do whatever it takes to make others laugh and smile. A few people have said that I am one of the funniest people they've known. To me, that's the best compliment ever.
Now why didn't I write something when I celebrated my 50th birthday last year? Easy---I didn't have a blog back then! However, along with not smiling so much, I also don't celebrate so much either. (Don't I sound like a ball of fun?) I guess I'm just a *YAWN* simple person---with emphasis on the *YAWN* part...
Since I didn't write anything, I will share ever so briefly what I did to kick off my second half century. I went to Disneyland. Met up with some friends, had some laughs, shot a video, and took the fastest Matterhorn ride I've ever had. With eight good-sized people aboard a sled, yeah, that's what'll happen. But I got to spend some "me time" there, too. Sometimes, spending some time alone at Walt's original Magic Kingdom is a good thing---you get to take it all in at your own pace. And there's nothing wrong with that.
Exactly one year later, I got my 52nd year started with a speedy coaster ride or two, only this time it was at Magic Mountain. (Some people add "Six Flags" in front of that; I don't. Besides, this isn't their blog). It may be hard to imagine someone my age climbing aboard these contraptions, but I've always enjoyed it and hope to be able to do so for many years to come. But I'd better get to Japan soon if I intend to ride anything there. Supposedly, if you get to be about 60-ish, they won't let you ride for fear that you'll die during the ride.
All this talk about me celebrating my birthdays has made me wonder what's in store for next year. My plan was to take Diana to Florida for her 21st birthday. While her actual day is in April (Easter Sunday next year, to be exact), I figured I take her sometime in October so she can experience the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, which is held there each year. I did that back in 2006 with some friends, and managed to enjoy it despite being deathly ill. It's worth doing once in your life. With hopefulment, we can swing it, and I'll be in much better shape then.
So why am I Rodney Dangerfielding myself? Because I can. So there you go.
As the title indicates, I am beginning my 52nd year here on the planet---Earth, that is, not Eric's Planet. (My planet just started last year.) In a sense, things are looking up...ish. Work is keeping me busy---it's no coincidence that the police are reporting fewer tagged buildings in this area. And senior citizens aren't being pushed down on the street so much.
If you look hard enough, you might even sneak a glimpse of me...smiling. If you ever see that, take a picture IMMEDIATELY because that's almost as rare a sight at you can get. For whatever reason, I've never been much of a smiler, though a few people say that I smile more with my eyes---whatever that means. With complete honestment (forgot that I make up words, huh?), I'd rather say or do whatever it takes to make others laugh and smile. A few people have said that I am one of the funniest people they've known. To me, that's the best compliment ever.
Now why didn't I write something when I celebrated my 50th birthday last year? Easy---I didn't have a blog back then! However, along with not smiling so much, I also don't celebrate so much either. (Don't I sound like a ball of fun?) I guess I'm just a *YAWN* simple person---with emphasis on the *YAWN* part...
Since I didn't write anything, I will share ever so briefly what I did to kick off my second half century. I went to Disneyland. Met up with some friends, had some laughs, shot a video, and took the fastest Matterhorn ride I've ever had. With eight good-sized people aboard a sled, yeah, that's what'll happen. But I got to spend some "me time" there, too. Sometimes, spending some time alone at Walt's original Magic Kingdom is a good thing---you get to take it all in at your own pace. And there's nothing wrong with that.
Exactly one year later, I got my 52nd year started with a speedy coaster ride or two, only this time it was at Magic Mountain. (Some people add "Six Flags" in front of that; I don't. Besides, this isn't their blog). It may be hard to imagine someone my age climbing aboard these contraptions, but I've always enjoyed it and hope to be able to do so for many years to come. But I'd better get to Japan soon if I intend to ride anything there. Supposedly, if you get to be about 60-ish, they won't let you ride for fear that you'll die during the ride.
All this talk about me celebrating my birthdays has made me wonder what's in store for next year. My plan was to take Diana to Florida for her 21st birthday. While her actual day is in April (Easter Sunday next year, to be exact), I figured I take her sometime in October so she can experience the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, which is held there each year. I did that back in 2006 with some friends, and managed to enjoy it despite being deathly ill. It's worth doing once in your life. With hopefulment, we can swing it, and I'll be in much better shape then.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Much Ablog About Nothing
Those of you who know me are aware that I have a tendency to tweak the English language to fit my needs, both written and spoken. To be perfectly honestful, that is sometimes necessary in order to convey what I want without putting too much pressure on my brain. I'm not a walking thesaurus, nor do I keep one in my pocket. That may not be a bad idea, however, as some people might think I'm glad to see them...
So, I've either gotten your attention, or sent you screaming down the street in horror. I've noticed that as of late, I've not written very much here in my little corner of the Internet. Perhaps getting back to work and saving my house from the evil clutches of the bank were a bit more important. Any of you still reading this will be happy to know that I was successful on both counts.
But the whole purpose of getting an account here at Blogger was to have a place to do just that---write. After nearly 11 years of doing it, I had to give up my position as editor of The Helm (the newsletter of the Ventura Power Squadron), so I no longer write a monthly column. That was a good creative outlet, but my very frail body at the time had other plans. Thankfully, a very capable person stepped in and took over that task and continues to do that to this day.
This week, the girls are up at Yosemite with some friends, so I have the place to myself. What will I do with myself besides the usual chores of paying bills, getting the trash out, taking care of the chinchilla, doing the yard work and some laundry? The first thing, of course, was to write a new blog entry. Then I'll make dinner and go water the lawn. Perhaps I'll even squeeze in a few miles of walking and do a little train watching later on. Then there's tomorrow...
In closing (thank goodness, huh?), I just wanted to say that now that I have some tough times behind me, I will try to get more written here. It really is enjoyable to write, and in future entries, I'll try to include photos and spice the page up a bit.
So, I've either gotten your attention, or sent you screaming down the street in horror. I've noticed that as of late, I've not written very much here in my little corner of the Internet. Perhaps getting back to work and saving my house from the evil clutches of the bank were a bit more important. Any of you still reading this will be happy to know that I was successful on both counts.
But the whole purpose of getting an account here at Blogger was to have a place to do just that---write. After nearly 11 years of doing it, I had to give up my position as editor of The Helm (the newsletter of the Ventura Power Squadron), so I no longer write a monthly column. That was a good creative outlet, but my very frail body at the time had other plans. Thankfully, a very capable person stepped in and took over that task and continues to do that to this day.
This week, the girls are up at Yosemite with some friends, so I have the place to myself. What will I do with myself besides the usual chores of paying bills, getting the trash out, taking care of the chinchilla, doing the yard work and some laundry? The first thing, of course, was to write a new blog entry. Then I'll make dinner and go water the lawn. Perhaps I'll even squeeze in a few miles of walking and do a little train watching later on. Then there's tomorrow...
In closing (thank goodness, huh?), I just wanted to say that now that I have some tough times behind me, I will try to get more written here. It really is enjoyable to write, and in future entries, I'll try to include photos and spice the page up a bit.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Returning to Work
Believe it or not, the unbelievable is about to happen---I'm going back to work. It's been a long ten months, but it'll actually feel good to punch a timeclock again (or fill in a timesheet---whatever). This isn't my dream job by a longshot, but it's a start. Sometimes you have to start small and work your way back up.
In this job, I will be putting together sales and marketing packages that will go out to customers (or would-be customers). Sounds pretty straightforward, huh? However, during my interview, my boss said that he wants to introduce me around the building to meet their key people. Not just so they know who that "new" guy is and not call the cops, but so that they can get to know me and put me to work on any projects that they might have. The good thing is that what is supposed to be a short-term job could turn into a long-term one. I wouldn't mind that one bit.
This company is just over a mile from home, so it'll be a quick drive each way. With luck, my car should warm up about the time I pull into the lot. From what I've seen so far, the folks at this company seem to be pretty nice, so I shouldn't have any trouble fitting in.
Too many people complain about their jobs (check out how many people hang out at Facebook during their working hours---and read what they write). But when you've been without one for so long, you no longer think, "I have to go to work." Now, it's "I get to go to work."
In this job, I will be putting together sales and marketing packages that will go out to customers (or would-be customers). Sounds pretty straightforward, huh? However, during my interview, my boss said that he wants to introduce me around the building to meet their key people. Not just so they know who that "new" guy is and not call the cops, but so that they can get to know me and put me to work on any projects that they might have. The good thing is that what is supposed to be a short-term job could turn into a long-term one. I wouldn't mind that one bit.
This company is just over a mile from home, so it'll be a quick drive each way. With luck, my car should warm up about the time I pull into the lot. From what I've seen so far, the folks at this company seem to be pretty nice, so I shouldn't have any trouble fitting in.
Too many people complain about their jobs (check out how many people hang out at Facebook during their working hours---and read what they write). But when you've been without one for so long, you no longer think, "I have to go to work." Now, it's "I get to go to work."
Thursday, May 6, 2010
To Take a Trip or Not Take a Trip: That is the Question
Some of you reading this know me; the rest of you have just been lucky. But if you're a regular visitor to my Facebook page, you know that recently I posted a status that said, "Eric Long needs to figure out a destination that involves air travel, since the girls are each flying somewhere in May." Granted, my eternity of unemployment sort of puts a kink in those plans, being that getting on an airplane requires forking out this stuff called "money," little of which I have right now because of said kink.
At press time, my wife is in Hawaii with her mom to take care of some family business, but she's doing a bit of visiting as well. Diana will be leaving for Indiana in two weeks to be a bridesmaid in a friend's wedding, but she'll be there far enough in advance to see a few things, too. I have never been the type to whine about how "it isn't fair that [fill in the blank], but I don't get to..." but with various friends and family heading off to destinations all over, I'm feeling like I'm the only one who isn't going anywhere.
I've always wanted to see more of the country, and eventually I will. My nephew's wife suggested that I go visit them up in Vancouver, British Columbia. That sounds like a reasonable idea, as I've heard good things about that city. Also, said nephew has added a set of twin girls to his family, and it would be nice to go up and see them, too, even though they're coming down this summer. The only thing besides money that stands in the way of a trip to Canada is my lack of a passport. But that shouldn't be too hard to get, as I already have the forms in house---I just have to get them filled out and pay the fee.
If I get to Canada this year, could it be possible to get to Japan next year or the year after? I hope so.
At press time, my wife is in Hawaii with her mom to take care of some family business, but she's doing a bit of visiting as well. Diana will be leaving for Indiana in two weeks to be a bridesmaid in a friend's wedding, but she'll be there far enough in advance to see a few things, too. I have never been the type to whine about how "it isn't fair that [fill in the blank], but I don't get to..." but with various friends and family heading off to destinations all over, I'm feeling like I'm the only one who isn't going anywhere.
I've always wanted to see more of the country, and eventually I will. My nephew's wife suggested that I go visit them up in Vancouver, British Columbia. That sounds like a reasonable idea, as I've heard good things about that city. Also, said nephew has added a set of twin girls to his family, and it would be nice to go up and see them, too, even though they're coming down this summer. The only thing besides money that stands in the way of a trip to Canada is my lack of a passport. But that shouldn't be too hard to get, as I already have the forms in house---I just have to get them filled out and pay the fee.
If I get to Canada this year, could it be possible to get to Japan next year or the year after? I hope so.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Do Schools Even Teach Proper English Anymore?
Everyone who knows me knows that I despise poor English, both written and spoken. And now that I have a blog, I'm going to air a grievance or five about a few things. Anyone reading this has a choice: read it and learn from it, read it and ignore it, or close it and go do something else.
Now, mind you, I'm not the World Expert on English by any means. But there are some very basic rules that some people either don't know, didn't learn, or just ignore. In no particular order, here goes:
Plurals don't have apostrophes. Never in all of my years of school did I ever see a teacher write a plural and put an apostrophe in it. "There are a lot of car's in the parking lot." Yes, I've seen that. "Buy 3 donut's and get one free." Seriously? And while we're on the subject, the word "gets" doesn't have one either. I've seen that and it drive me nuts. "Whoever get's home first can unlock the door." Failure.
"It's" means "it is" or "it has" and nothing else. The possessive form of "its" is just that, "its." No apostrophe needed. While we're at it, the word "yours" and "theirs" don't have apostrophes either. (Yes, I've seen those written with apostrophes.)
The contractions for "cannot," "do not," "will not," etc. DO use apostrophes. It's most likely the result of text speak and IM speak, but contrary to popular usage these days, the aforementioned words do in fact need an apostrophe, unless, of course, someone with a lot more authority than I have decrees that the apostrophe is a punctuation mark of old and should be abandoned.
"Theirs" and "ours" DO NOT use apostrophes. Again, I've seen these written with them. Normally, a possessive word would have an apostrophe, but only if it is a proper noun (a name) or an object ("the boy's bicycle"), but these pronouns don't.
Mind you, I'm not apostrophobic or anything, but if you're going to use the darned things, use them correctly.
The term "a lot" is two words, not one. That is, unless you mean "allot," which means to divide or distribute by share or portion.
There are many more written peeves that I could air, but I'll move on to the one spoken one that almost makes me want to throw inanimate objects at poor, defenseless creatures*...
"...and stuff like that (there)." Lazy English at its finest (notice I didn't use an apostrophe in "its," huh?). For whatever reason, more and more people are using this instead of just listing an example or two of whatever they're doing. It's becoming the "you know" of the 21st Century (notice that the "it's" here DID get an apostrophe because it means "it is.") I put the word "there" in parentheses because some people add that to the phrase, making it all the more annoying.
Am I too picky? Perhaps. As everyone knows, I like to have a little fun with the language at times. And the way the English language is set up, it's ripe for heckling. I am guilty as charged with making up my own words and mangling others. But I do that for fun, not for lack of knowing what is correct. When Diana was little and learning the language that she will use to communicate for a lifetime, I always told her that "if you know what is wrong, then you'll know what is right." Today, at age 20 (as of today in fact), she does speak and write quite well.
* No, I wouldn't actually do that because I like most critters and wouldn't want to cause them any harm.
* No, I wouldn't actually do that because I like most critters and wouldn't want to cause them any harm.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
We Got a New Yard!
After about an eternity or so of having a yard that looks more like an overgrown tumbleweed farm, we finally had the place hacked to smithereens in order to get it back to where it should be. As you'll see in the photos, the transformation was amazing to say the least.
Out with the old...
And in with the new...
Out with the old...
And in with the new...
See? I could have sworn I saw wild animals running around back there. No, wait---I couldn't have because the yard was too overgrown! And not only did we get the yard cleared out, we got a new gate, too!
Here's the old gate:
Here's the new one:
Victor's crew did a fine job. We had a lemon tree that was pretty decrepit. Not only did they trim back and save the original lemon tree, but they took a branch from it and planted it over in the flower bed next to the fence. What I always liked about that lemon tree is that it grows those HUGE! grapefruit sized lemons (can't recall the name of that variety, so I just call 'em "giant lemons").
Hopefully sometime soon I can cover getting the inside of our house back into shape...
Monday, April 5, 2010
So, 2010 is a Quarter of the Way Over
Last year, I took out this space so I'd have a place to write stuff down. And I've made great use of that space. My blog, the dust collector. The last time I wrote anything in here was back in January. Shameful. Utterly shameful.
But I haven't had much to write about, being that things are more or less the same. I still need a job, still live in the same place, still own the same car, etc. My job recruiter says that things are starting to open up, which means that my salary will come on a check with a real company name rather than that of the State of Kahleefohnyuh. (Well, that's how our governor says it...) At this writing, there are two different possible positions pending for me. And while my recruiter finds jobs through his sources, I find ones online as well, so there are a few more. Unfortunately, online positions don't usually have a means of following up, which means that I submit my resume and...wait. Given the current economy, all we can do is the best we can do.
Funwise, I was able to attend the annual West Coast Bash. Normally, that takes place on a Sunday in March at Six Flags Magic Mountain. This year, they expanded the event by adding a day at Knott's Berry Farm to make it a full weekend. The day at Magic Mountain was moved to Saturday, and replaced on Sunday with Knott's. At both parks, not only did we get to eat for free (included in the cost of the event), but we had various backstage tours. If you're a fan of theme parks, there's nothing like getting the chance to see your favorite attractions from a backstage point of view or getting to stand on the track. The highlight for me was getting to walk into the Calico Mine Ride in two different spots and seeing it that way instead of on the train that runs through it. We also got to visit the roundhouse, where their vintage narrow gauge trains are stored and maintained.
2010 looks to be a better year than 2009 turned out to be. I look forward to being back to work and able to get out and do some more things. Then I'll have something to write about.
But I haven't had much to write about, being that things are more or less the same. I still need a job, still live in the same place, still own the same car, etc. My job recruiter says that things are starting to open up, which means that my salary will come on a check with a real company name rather than that of the State of Kahleefohnyuh. (Well, that's how our governor says it...) At this writing, there are two different possible positions pending for me. And while my recruiter finds jobs through his sources, I find ones online as well, so there are a few more. Unfortunately, online positions don't usually have a means of following up, which means that I submit my resume and...wait. Given the current economy, all we can do is the best we can do.
Funwise, I was able to attend the annual West Coast Bash. Normally, that takes place on a Sunday in March at Six Flags Magic Mountain. This year, they expanded the event by adding a day at Knott's Berry Farm to make it a full weekend. The day at Magic Mountain was moved to Saturday, and replaced on Sunday with Knott's. At both parks, not only did we get to eat for free (included in the cost of the event), but we had various backstage tours. If you're a fan of theme parks, there's nothing like getting the chance to see your favorite attractions from a backstage point of view or getting to stand on the track. The highlight for me was getting to walk into the Calico Mine Ride in two different spots and seeing it that way instead of on the train that runs through it. We also got to visit the roundhouse, where their vintage narrow gauge trains are stored and maintained.
2010 looks to be a better year than 2009 turned out to be. I look forward to being back to work and able to get out and do some more things. Then I'll have something to write about.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
So a New Year Begins...
Is everybody in? Is everybody in? Is. Every. Body. In... OK, so I've taken a lot of rides on X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Maybe too many, some would say. Anyone who's taken that ride knows that those words are a part of the recorded spiel at the loading platform of that thing. So why did I bring that up? Because it's a new year and I'm wondering if everyone is aboard for the ride it will surely be. Of course, there are those who say that this is a new decade as well, but that gets into the debate as to whether 2000 was the first year of the 21st Century or 2001 was. Whatever...that was sooo ten years ago. [rolls eyes]
What is the difference between a "new year" and "another year?" The term "another year" implies that what will happen this year is just a continuation of what's been happening. The sun will rise. The sun will set. The term "new year" implies that the next 365 days will bring changes to our lives---both good and bad. "New year" also inspires us to get off our duffs and make the needed changes in our lives.
Are there things that need to change in my life? Yep. It's a matter of courage to step out of my "safety zone" and do what needs to be done, painful or otherwise. Pain makes you hurt, and it makes you grow. But in the end, I will win. A few of you know actually know me know about some of the issues that I've been dealing with. (By the way, thank you for your thoughts and prayers.) By December 31, we'll see how it all turned out.
In the meantime, between the serious issues, there will be some fun thrown in. And when that happens, you know there will be more stuff right here on my planet for you to read.
What is the difference between a "new year" and "another year?" The term "another year" implies that what will happen this year is just a continuation of what's been happening. The sun will rise. The sun will set. The term "new year" implies that the next 365 days will bring changes to our lives---both good and bad. "New year" also inspires us to get off our duffs and make the needed changes in our lives.
Are there things that need to change in my life? Yep. It's a matter of courage to step out of my "safety zone" and do what needs to be done, painful or otherwise. Pain makes you hurt, and it makes you grow. But in the end, I will win. A few of you know actually know me know about some of the issues that I've been dealing with. (By the way, thank you for your thoughts and prayers.) By December 31, we'll see how it all turned out.
In the meantime, between the serious issues, there will be some fun thrown in. And when that happens, you know there will be more stuff right here on my planet for you to read.
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