Michael's Shower

Rear Window

I thought I might be watching this in fast forward, but l was impressed how captivated I was. I'd seen it before several times, but I was still on the edge of my seat.

I like James Stewart although I can't say I've seen very many of his movies. I guess Mr. Krueger's Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life are the only ones.

I think I first saw Hitchcock's movie in Canyon View Junior High School. I liked it then too.

Traveling with siblings II

Many years ago, my youngest brother wanted to be like grownups I guess. He emptied his pockets at the security check point. Finding nothing to place all his items in he put everything on the conveyer belt and walked on.

Dad and l exchanged looks as if we both expected someone to say something. Um whatever, I thought as the airport scanner person didn’t say anything. I walked through the metal detector.

When my brother's stuff came out on the other end, the belt wrapped around allowing items in front to slide onto a series of rollers. Well, all that change hit the rollers and fell to the ground with a clatter.

They had to shut down the machine momentarily while all the coins where picked up.

You are not alone

I kind of hope they nail Michael Jackson's butt to the wall... Frankly, I don't really care.

I'm not a fan, but I admit I enjoy many of his songs. The last of which that I liked was one I heard while in McComb, MS.

I doubt it was on the Plan, but Elder Hank Adams made a good case for it. The Plan was the code by which the GLBRM was governed.

No connection to Samuel Langley?

I first heard the name from a LDS Young Single Adult ward. I also came to learn it's common to interchange CIA with Langley because of it's HQ location.

When I learned the USS Langley was the first US carriers, I was intrigued to find out who or what Langley was.

The location of Langley AFB threw a monkey wrench into the mystery. However, it pointed me to Samuel Langley.

That key explained all of mystery except to Langley High School location in North VA and NASA's Langley Research Center in South VA.

14 year post

For the first 14 years of my life I was as close to a normal, unpopular lad as you could get. The next 14 years have been very, very different, challenging and so not normal or expected.

14 years ago, today, I carried out the most controversial decision l have ever made. The advantageous result has been debated over on a daily basis.

It was a good, Spring day back in 1990. I recall I even ran a mile fun run that morning. I ran a bit slower than I could prior to February the 5th of that year. I was ready for this day. I was expecting to bounce back as l did months earlier.

To make a long story short, if I were a cat I'd only have about 6-7 lives left.

The next date l remembered was May 6, 1990. I was far from bouncing back or a quick recovery. My worst fear was at hand.

What will the next 14 years bring? Honestly part of me, doesn't wart to know.

Traveling with siblings

Boston has to be the next coolest city next to Chicago. Well, maybe as far as history goes. If I remember correctly, the streets were petty messed up in Boston.

Anyway, one day we decided to go swimming. The bathroom was occupied and one of my bothers had taken over the closet. My other little brother not wanting to wait for privacy in the one bedroom hotel room, jumped behind the chair and proceeded to change.

Everyone looked over and laughed when he screamed. Trying so hard to maintain some dignity, he didn't realize the wide-open window was behind the chair!

Year Mark

Come this Tuesday (the 27th), I will have been in Virginia one whole year. I stayed at my relatives for a week.

I moved into my room in Vienna, VA where I stayed the whole month of May 2003. It wasn't my place of choice.

The plan was to stay for the summer unless I found a job. Ironically, I found one before I moved out here and it lasted a week! They were too anxious to hire someone and I think I was one of the few that answered a certain question right so they thought I was expert in the field of software testing. It paid for what I had budgeted for the summer so I was glad to "leave" the job.

The Fugitive

I saw this movie for the first time a few years ago. I really enjoy Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones.

I learned the other day of a 1960' s T.V. series by the same name. The commentary - which was most excellent - made several references to it.

Chicago in my opinion, is the coolest big city that I can think of. I admit I've only been through it once. I would have moved there but I came here instead.

Harpers Ferry

It was a neat place. Aside from the sunburn, I'm glad I went.

I met some interesting people, one lady who looked like my new sister-in-law, and other Young Single Adults.

For a couple hours we covered some paths at Bolivar Heights with new wood chips. Then we explored the historic town a bit.

l almost thought the trip was canceled. It rained the night before and cleared up that morning. A small group showed up very late. Had Marty not have come when he had, I might have left the meeting spot very depressed and thus never have made it up there.

Almost had a bad site published

Well, I did for like 10 seconds. Hopefully none of my faithful readers got the link. (Hey. I'm entitled to wishful thinking in my shower!)

Anyway, fortunately l had only done one post and was able to track it down.

The naked popup was not permissible even under my disclaimer.

“Crocodile” Dundee

Paul Hogan kind of reminds me of my friend Brandon Foote. Well, some of his country or farm boy mannerisms.

I also like the phrase ''no worries". “Hakuna Matata” is fun to say but who wants to sound like a warthog? I think l like the second movie the best. The Big Apple is cool and all but Australia is much more adventurous. Los Angeles is just another big city I'd rather not live in.

I thought it was fun to see New York City in the background, especially now that I have been there. I saw the NYC skyline from the Statue of Liberty when I was younger. I remember the Empire State building. It took Sept. 11, 2001 to identify the twin towers.

Truman Show

One of the few Jim Carrey movies I've seen, or rather cared to have seen, I really love this one. Not only can I relate to the story somewhat, but the soundtrack is just awesome.

I think you need to know a little bit about the movie before you watch it. I remember showing it to Nona, and she didn't catch on and hence didn't like it. Ah, she doesn't like the Simpson’s either.

I have often wondered about how people accept the reality they are born into. Some might call that opportunity. On the flip side, I have seen some families spend generations in the same rut.

Cheap airfare

I got my Della SkyMiles credit card so l could get free or cheap airfares. Looking for good deals is almost a full time job.

I don't want to register with a million websites! I just want to be able to fly reasonably wherever or whenever I want. Unfortunately, evil MBAs and the times don't allow it.

I'll take my first free airfare soon, but they sure didn’t make it easy or convenient.

Good Marketing

I went to Subway for lunch. I turned in a card indicating with stickers that I had been there 8 times. It was for a free sandwich. I like how they give me a new striker when I basically ate for free.

Joe Theisman’s doesn’t do that. With out a card, I don't feel obligated to go back. Ah, it's too expensive anyway. Not to mention the good memories. I’m sure I’ll go there again, but not for a while.

Grandpa's BBQ Prayer

One year grandpa was asked to pray over the hamburgers. During the payer he asked that the steaks to be blessed.

Everyone sat in silence for a moment after the prayer. Dad reached over, lifted up his hamburger bun and shouted.

“Oh man. It didn’t turn into steak. Need more faith grandpa.”

Slowing down

If you have noticed the decrease in the number of daily posts, it is not because I have no more to say. My wrists started to hurt, so I cut back on my time at the computer.

I keep drooling over a Tablet PC because I think it would be much better than my toy. And I could plug it in directly to the Internet. Meaning even more posts to come.

I think speech recognition would be the best. Then I could crank out all kinds of stuff. A Tablet just might help at there too!

Kay management

My stay here in the London Park Tower has been alright for the most part. My biggest complaint is about the heating and air conditioning.

I swear last winter I had to call them before the heat turned on and I wonder if I need to do tune same. Is there like some master switch they through when I call? Why can't it just work? I would call if wasn't going to rain soon. It is supposed to cool down a bit too.

Right now we are getting as deal on the place, but I’m serious about moving out by the end of the year.

13 Big Family Men

I went to see 13 going on 30 over the weekend. It was fun, but I made a rather loud disapproving noise because the end was pretty predicable. This “what if” genre reminded me of The Family Man or even Big. It got me to really think how it was going to end.

Honestly in Big, I like it for the love scene about as much as the toys and the wonder of skipping several stages in life. I like the love story in Family Man, probably because I like Téa Leoni. I liked the guy in the 13 move more than then Jennifer Garner.

Anyway, it is fun to think about what might have happened in life sometimes, but most often it is probably better that it didn’t happen at all. Although it is hard for me to accept sometimes, but it is probably better to be content than to dream about all the things that I don't have.

The best line in the whole movie was “These aren’t people, these are models.”

Michelle Caswell

The one I was actually to write about is known as Angela. I forget her last name, but she reminded me of Michelle. In fact, I think I went around introducing her as Michelle all night once and it wasn’t until her name was repeated that I realized what I had done.

Angela was from P.G. (Why they call it Pleasant Grove I don’t know.) We had a philosophy class together. She got an A while I got my worst grade ever. I even changed majors because I didn't want to retake the class.

The class was called Ethics and Values but it seemed to have no emphasis on Ethics (or what I think of as table manors) and even less about values (integrity, honesty, etc.)

Anyway, I was a fool to abandon her as I did. She was a great lady. l got fed up with all her talk that she wanted so go an a mission. I could have waited. Heck, it has been 4 years since I graduated from college!

Passion of Mel Gibson

The General said he was let down by the movie. There was nothing new or shocking. After I told him my Good Friday story, he related what his Dad said. I'll paraphrase it here.

F0r the two-time-a-year church goers, the movie is a shock. For those who know the story, it is nothing. The hype over the movie is over exaggerated.

Mel Gibson may just be opening eyes to so-called Christians.

Short Circuit 2

Well, it was a fun movie. I liked the personification of Johnny 5.

I think l like the first one better. I honestly didn't remember much of this show.

I might have liked it better when l was a kid. I wasn't so critical. Well, I didn't know what a defibrillator was.

Warm day out (Saturday)

Late post: I went running and it was warm enough that I had little desire to go back outside.

Now I am here wondering if I live in the past too much.

What goals shall I have for the future? How do I transfer those goals into steps I can act on today?

Lincoln and Easter

I remember reading that President Abraham Lincoln was shot an Good Friday. I thought it odd to call it good that one of the finest United States President's was shot. I figured it was named for something else.

Growing up Easter never meant more than candy and the Easter bunny.

It wasn't until I was in Louisiana that I realized there really were people that only go to church twice a year.

I still miss the point of Easter, I suppose, besides the candy. I feel it means little when Christ rose from the tomb. Is it not more important that He did rise? Dates on a calendar, and I have to add places (i.e. the Holy Land) just to share my distaste for Israel - Gaza conflict, has not the power to save souls.

Which Enterprise came first?

The General's call on last Good Friday sparked some interesting topics.

One of which was, did the carrier come first or Star Trek's space ship?

l did some long awaited research on U.S. Carriers and learned, among other things, the name Enterprise could arguably be traced back to the HMS Enterprise of 1705.

Citizens on Patrol

I took a walk down King Street toward the river after work yesterday. I was surprised that it was so popular a place. It was bigger than I thought too.

I ate dinner there because I have nothing at home. Well, nothing to drink but warm water. I then went “home” and watched Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol.

I liked that movie. I forgot about that lady who fell in love with that animal cop. She reminded me of someone I really like. I was already thinking of her before I watched the show, so you can imagine what I was thinking about.

Not true blue, really.

I went to the 1984 Holiday Bowl. BYU barely beat Michigan. I can recall Bosco collapsing after his hail Mary pass to win the game.

We paraded our BYU is #1 sweatshirts. Even the week before the game.

As we checked out of tire hotel all 7 of us got into the elevator. The sides of the elevator had mirrors on them so it was a huge blur of BYU blue.

On the next floor down a Michigan couple. They mentioned they could wait for the next elevator.

My first Po boy

"A Po boy is like a sub sandwich." I was told.

"Alright then," I said. "I'll take a ham and cheese Po boy please."

"Would you like to eat that naked?"

I was a bit confused and embarrassed. "Um no," I finally said. "I usually eat with my clothes on."

The southern, Louisiana lady behind the canter laughed. "No darling, it means do you want lettuce, tomatoes and all them other dressin's."

Mud Slip

After I went swimming the other day I slipped and fell in the mud. The rain washed must of it off. I was still pretty ticked off. It was like one of those odd moments when time slows down and you can see what happens before it actually occurred.

The weather was so nice today; it is hard to believe it ever rained this week. It should be a nice weekend with the Niece, but I’m not going to see her this weekend.

Where's my Cadbury?

I got my Cadbury Easter egg at work. In fact I got two. It's tradition to eat those chocolate eggs now.

I swear I did a post on Wunderbars once. I'll have to find it. I first ate one from Canada, but Cadnury is a UK company.

Cadbury also sells Caramelo in the U.S., but not Wunderbars. Why not? They are the best candy bars in the world. OK, out of the ones I have had. (And most, if not all, of them came from the U.S.)

Maybe the late Simpson episode was right about candy in England. It was sweeter and made Bart and Lisa go crazy. Well, crazier than normal.

Another Foote on the way

I talked to my friend's wife the other day. Farmers never seem to stop working so I never could catch him home.

Anyway, Brandon Foote was the best missionary I had the pleasure to serve with in the Great Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission (GLBRM). Probably the best missionary I knew. Anyway, he is the best man I know on a personal level.

We where in the same MTC district. We met off and on in various places in LA.

We served in Baton Rouge together until he got the call to be an A.P.

Anyway, they are expecting their third child. How I envy them!

Congratulation to the Feet (or Foote family)!

Know His voice

I was in Salt Lake a couple times during the 2002 Olympics. Once I was at Temple Square where they had some new displays. Some scenes from the New Testament were shown.

I watched as the baptism of the Savior was acted out. Later, when He started to speak I said aloud "I know that guy."

Some elderly lady next to me said that I should know Him.

"What?" I asked. "Oh, no. I know the actor. His name is Jaelan Petrie."

As l listened to this last conference, I could recall previous conference talks I had heard. The voices reminded me of stories they had told earlier.

At Church, a little game was played. Quotes from the conference were read and someone had to match it up to the speaker. I thought I did fairly well. Some quotes didn't seem obvious who said them. I guess I need to listen to the talks again and again, like I do sometimes.

Rainy Days

I just don’t feel like doing much today, so here is the post. Work was alright. Everyone got loaded up. I ate most of the cookies.

It is supposed to rain for the next few days. I should go swimming tomorrow.

Wish I had the desire to do something. Well, I’m trying to get a hold of somebody to make plans for the weekend. I finished my Netflix installment. I watched Star Trek in fast forward, it was so boring.

Arabic News

I saw a news report on that what the Iraqi people see on the news - which was unavailable during Saddam’s reign - may be viewed as Anti-American propaganda. This might explain why there is so much random opposition.

It also pointed out the news Americans watch focuses on what Americans want to hear. (i.e. loss of American soldiers, the fact we are kicking butt...)

I generally don't get heated up by news or history because I know I don't hare all the facts. This said, what little I try earnestly to understand about the Middle East, I would almost never say these people met the reasonable person standard.

I realize this is no better than stereotyping, but the whole Israel/ Palestine conflict over land thing is childish. The whole jihad thing is crap. The whole "stand up to the Americans" and die a hero mentality is just as retarded as the Japanese kamikaze missions of World War II.

50 mile DC map

I saw a cool map over the weekend . It showed a 50 mile radius from D.C. I could study it all day.

How I would love to explore it all. Unfortunately public transportation can't cover ir all.

Dangerous travel accommodations

When I was down town DC (the mall)I saw a tour bus that said TNT Transportation. I assumed it meant that it was a powerfully awesome tour.

The bus following said Safety Tours. I thought the second bus was more secure.

What's in a name?

Easter Dream

I like this short Church video for several reasons. I'm sure things would be very different had, or when my Dad will pass away.

We are not as close as I would like. I'm not sure that is a bad thing. He likes to joke around a lot - which is great. I gave him a sentimental card once for Father's day. He looked disappointed. I guess I should have gotten a funny card.

He said that when he goes, he wants to be cremated and spread all over Disneyland. That my Dad in a nutshell!

Got one of these?

My niece can say she has the following. Each are very important. Some are more important than others.

Corryn has "My Mommy", "My Daddy" and my personal favorite, ''My Michael". It’s not just “Uncle Michael” or plain “Michael”. I am her “My Michael”. It kind of puts an elevated status on it.

What would the world be like if we all had loving parents and me?

Twins

I kind of like this movie. It was on the other day. I would switch back to the original Parent Trap during commercials.

For some I reason, I like the remake better, but Hayley Mills brings back fond memories. If I remember Disney made some Parent Trap movie when she was like a grandma.

My favorite Schwarzenegger movies don't have him as some Rambo guy, although those are fun too. Total Recall was the dumbest movie I think I have ever seen.

Waldo and chess

I often miss the nights I would spend with my dad looking through Where’s Waldo books or playing chess. Other nights, he would get me to walk around the floor of the hospital.

Before he left, he would get me a shake or whatever he could find in the fridge.

Maybe if I wouldn't have beat him at chess all the time, he would have played more. We watched Quantum Leap when we weren't playing.

Parts of Plays (PoP)

My intro to playwrighting was in my own basement. I had a small cast and produced several short parts of a much larger play. Unfortunately none of the plays ever made it into print. If we ever had an audience, it was just my parents.

Why just parts? Well, it was easier to memorize short lines and I liked telling short stones that could one day be constructed into something larger.

I guess that is one reason why I like blogging.

Ward Road Show

I forget the year but I wrote the script for the ward road show. I had to have been 16 or 17 because I was in high school.

I admit the idea for the Story wasn't mine. I had the benefit of collaboration.

When I presented the script to Brother Newell, he frowned on this A-Day terminology. He threatened to take it out. Then he noticed a reference to B-day. I had to explain to him Orem High school where the play would be preformed, had a rotating schedule called A-Day/ B-day. I further insisted we couldn't take it out because the audience would love it.

And they did. It was also crucial to the story. I was impressed by the choreography of the action. I also made a cameo appearance as an extra.

U R my sunshine

Sister Lori Cox was the first and last sister missionary I ever flirted with. We talked on the ride from Baton Rouge to Slidell.

Within a half hour of the delivery of my innocent, generic Valentine’s card to her, the Assistants to the President (APs) knew about it. It turned out Cox's companion called her future husband (an AP) about it.

One night as Elder lvie, Nelson and I came home, a letter with hearts on it was found in the mailbox. A letter addressed to me. It was from Sister Cox, but the return address didn't match the one I used.

I hid it from the others and read it privately. It was a song on a tiny paper.

It seemed too odd to be true. And it was. Elder Nelson had written it, everyone knew that, but I gave them no satisfaction in the joke.

Rash Judgment

As l told someone recently about the Rameumptom, I was quickly interrupted before I could finish.

"It sounds like the tower of Babel"

I frowned at what l thought he was getting at and continued.

Later when I was calm, I explained what a rash judgment that was. Had l used the term platform instead of tower then this quick correlation could not have been made.

CELEBRATE EVERY DAY!

I found this neat site when I did a search for calandars. I wanted to see what was going on today.

Today dragged on

I sent off a letter only to get it stuck in the mail slot. Later this after noon they finally posted that it has been clogged since Monday. Good thing I didn’t send Corryn an Easter card like I thought about doing.

I’ve been kicked repeatedly by the same young lady over the past couple days. I’m not sure where it wrong with that. Oh well, such is life? Mine anyway.

I tried to open a local bank account, but found I couldn’t cash the check anyway because I needed an old roommates signature who lives on the other side if the country now. I’ll have to talk to the apartment management to see if they will issue a check to me or just keep it for the deposit. I don’t why they tried to give it back because Nate left but I was still here!

I just wanted to go home and get some rest. Now that I am here, I just might do that.

The Tale of Morgan City

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. I was there for 4 months. It was my longest area.

I felt I was the busiest here, I also felt I accomplished my personal goals to get along with other missionaries. I fainted of heat exhaustion once. I cut my finger doing service. I went to the ER on yet another occasion.

I had some of the best thoughts and statements develop there. I think I started my home coming talk there - which was totally versatile. It was great.

Hide in a crowd

A tour guide in the Big Apple explained that for John Lennon, the best place to hide was in a crowd. I agreed, that is why I originally liked the Colonial Ward. That is why I like the DC area. Chances are I can go almost anywhere and no one will know me nor would they care. Often, probably too often, that is good enough for me.

It's good to be seen and heard at times. Some days you just want to go where everyone knows your name. And they're always glad you came... Cheers!

What happened next?

After the big game, I remember walking home in the February snow, in shorts mind you. We were talking about the next game and how we would be victorious. If we did this well against an undefeated team, then we would clean up any other team.

Back home I started to feel dizzy. I did lay down until I was called for dinner. We had Chicken and Rice-a-Roni. The Chicken tasted like fish.

I feel ill and thought it was the flu. When I didn’t get better, we thought it was food poisoning, but no one else got sick.

Come Sunday night I had a dream where my left arm went through the floor and I could feel the pipes and what not. When I awoke, my left arm felt like it stayed in the floor. My vision started to blur and when I was taken to FHP, the local doctor’s office at the time, I could not walk on my own.

I think it was the fastest I ever went through the doctor’s office. I was rushed straight to a room. Then an ambulance took me to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. Doctors there were surprised I was still alive.

I was surprised Grandpa was there so quickly. But he was there on the account of my Grandma who just had a heart attack.

I had a CAT scan and what not. Well long story short, I lived.

Old Swampy

I reckon I never would have thought the swamp to be a pretty place, but in its own right it is. I took a picture of this nice place outside Morgan City. If the picture turned out alright, it is probably buried among all my other memories

I liked the cypress trees and the cypress knees.

Wouldn't want to live in the swaps though. Too many bugs and what not.

More on Netflix

I was reminded of the Truman Show today. I went on Netflix to put it on my queue. I also poked around for other shows and found Police Academy! I also found Jem and the Misfits, not that I added that to my queue. But the cartoon came up over the weekend.

I put down Quantum Leap and the Simpson’s third year. I loved those shows. I can’t wait for Tim Allen’s Home Improvement to come out on DVD.

Now my queue is back up to 160 something. Dang, I really need a life. Too bad I can’t put that on my queue??

Patience is a virtue?

Well, I don’t have any. Or rather, I have very little. When I get online for Instant Messaging anymore, Heinee always bugs me anymore. Probably because his apostate friend HOE-knee, won’t talk to him I don’t know.

Anyway, Heinee is an awesome graphic artist and the frontal lobotomy site is his. He sells shirts. I want him to make me one of John Kerry or someone else. Not that I can wear it at work, but I will find a way to show it off.

I had trouble posting and every little set back only irritated me more and more. That’s when I had to step away from the computer and calm down. Plus, I logged off the Instant Messenger.

Radio

I started to watch this show. Then I saw several scenes that just bothered me. I was reminded of Dustin from back home. He is a down syndrome kid that used to come to our Institute class. I dare say he came because Brandon was always there. Brandon is a hero of the people, I suppose you could say.

Anyway, one night after a summer break or what not some older, married guy who was always called to take roll on occasion and help out decided that he needed to go around the class and met some people. As he approached me I wondered of he had any clue who I was because I didn’t go very often.

He stretched out his hand, and I took it. “You must be Dustin.”

The blood boiled. “You couldn’t be more wrong.”

We never spoke again. I wasn’t mad at the guy. I figured it was a terrible but easy mistake to make. That is why I want a Frontal Lobotomy.

I'm in the mood for love.

The other day when I was getting Corryn a 'Nana (banana), she started to sing a song. I was told months ago I was not to teach her the song. Actually I think they didn't want me to teach her my Dad's version of the song. So to avoid the whole issue, I made a conscious effort not to sing the song at all.

"I'm in the mood," Corryn sang in a low voice.

"What are you singing?" I asked.

''I'm in the mood song."

''Oh," I paused. ''What are you in the mood for?"

Corryn sang the next line, “for love" and started over. I smiled as I picked her up, hugged her, and finished singing the line with her.

Where did the day go?

I know I lost an hour with the time change, but this evening went by so quick. It’s a shock that it is almost time for bed.

I just got home from work! I don’t particularly want to go back. Well, not for a while. Oh well, sure beats staying home.

I went exercising and then to this pre-game dinner get together at the Church.

Home Alone 3 (1997)

Yeup, there is a Home Alone 4 too. This movie was pretty good. It didn’t have Macaulay Culkin because he is like 23 now.

The show had a pretty good plot, but there were some pretty silly and unbelievable scenes just like the originals. It was good entertainment though.

I wrote this as I watched the end so hopefully it is good to the end.

Finally home and it is too dang cold out.

I had a bunch of “house cleaning” activities to do when I got home. I need to be more sociable when around people than constantly dwelling on the things I need or want to do. I recall that Sunday morning I chose not to be in a more pleasant mood and just dwelt on the things I would rather be doing.

I almost lost my wallet over the weekend. I just had to replace my apartment building access card. I didn’t want to replace my work building card too. I also had my $90 pool pass and credit cards in there too! I rarely carry ots of cash, but it was so frustrating. I don’t mind giving my money away, but [dang] it, I want to make the choice on who it goes too!

I wish it wasn’t sop cold out side again. I suppose I should enjoy it. Soon, no doubt, I’ll be cursing that it is so hot and humid.

Friday the 13th

I recently looked up the birthrate of one of my nephews. I noticed it was April 13. I felt Kind of sad when I thought what might happen when his birthday falls on Friday.

l am not superstitious at all. In fact, I mock those who are.

Anyway, I recalled a birthday of this nephew's father. My brother had this cake made for his grade school class one year. He took it all the way to school but didn't share it. I guess I found out later that he feared what people world say. His birthday fell on Friday the 13th that year.

Results of the game

I actually came in second place. It was fun, but I still think it is more of chance or how you react to chance then anything else. I’m pretty conservative, but when I feel I can win big, I will eventually take the risk. Unlike Captain Picard who is a risk taker.

The people who were there were great. Especially the one who I call Rose. Well, I think her name translates into “Rose something”. Anyway, nice name for a nice lady.

Today was pretty normal for a typical Saturday. Caught a bit of Conference and went with on a bunch of errands. I had fun with Corryn as always.

Another beautiful rainy day

I love the rain sometimes. Today is no exception. Yesturday was nice too.

Tonight should be fun although I plan to eat all the pizza and lose quickly in the game. I just want to have some fun and the game just doesn't intice me. Who knows, maybe I'll bluff good enough to win.

I can't wait to take Corryn on another nature walk. I try to point out new things all the time. Wish I could take her to the DC Mall or somewhere else than Anderson street.

Hypermnesia

I liked this word of the day. I don’t think it quite fits me because what I don’t remember, I just make up.

Best prank ever?

Some mornings when I was younger, I would wait and watch for my Dad to leave for work. He ran on a fairly predictable schedule. It was almost like clock work. At a certain time, the kitchen light would spring on. Fifteen minutes later I would hear him get his bowl of cereal, pack his lunch, and close the garage door.

He didn’t like me to bother him – which was understandable. He got up real early and there was no sense that I should be up too. Once he was gone though, it didn’t matter that I was up.

This particular moment he was happier for some reason. I could hear him whistle. How odd, I thought but didn’t think more of it. Guess it was Crown Burger for lunch today.

As the door slid shut behind him, I came out of my room. Suddenly the door swung open again and I barely dove into the shadows before being spotted.

Dad was mad about something. He called my mother’s name. “Lillian!” he shouted. “Lillian, get out here. Those dang neighbor kids busted out all my windows.”

“What!?” my mother screamed. “I don’t believe it.”

“Hurry, come and see for yourself.”

They both stepped out. I wish I could have seen it. I wondered who did it. Maybe it was the Saxton’s because I shot out a couple of their windows once.

Mom can’t back inside huffing and bitterly growling something under her breath.

Then I heard my Dad laughing then he appeared in the door way. “April Fools!!” He shouted after her. “I love you!!!!”

Back online!

I don’t usually call tech support. I used to do tech support for two months on two sepeate occasions. I hung up on a lot of people! And there were some tech support agents that always needed tech support. I’m a developer! Just fix my dang machine! Why should I care if you keep crashing Windows?

Anyway, the Internet was down when I got home. No big deal, I’d grab something to eat, watch Star Trek Next Generation and try again later.

I called Comcast just to see what was up. I didn’t tell them that I was already at the command prompt and had already typed in IPCONFIG. I just patiently waited for him to catch up. He then wanted me to connect the modem – which is in the other room – into my machine.

I staged the switch and followed his instructions. BINGO, I’m in!!! Um, [dang]. I really need a woman.