Michael's Shower

Last night in VA

Well for October 2004. I’m leaving for a week. I just came from a great Home Teaching appointment, and I still need to finish packing!

Last night, I had a weird dream. I went to bed thinking about old pictures, many stories, and going home. I forget what I was dreaming about, but all of a sudden I was near the chapel I grew up attending every Sunday.

I went in the side entrance that is usually locked and leads to the basement. I looked around the hall way and took snapshots of different areas. “Here is where this happened and here is where that happened.” I said. The photograph showed ghostly images from events time passed.

I remembered the Halloween party we had there. It was weird and a bit scary. Well the dream anyway. About as scared as I want to get this year! I never understood why people want to frighten themselves… I do enough of that on my own without external factors jumping out at me!

Old pictures

Here are my grandparents on thier wedding day. I pulled these pictures off an old CD I burned a few years back. I think those pictuires were taken off my grandpa's computer after he passed away.

This was thier 50th year aniversary picture.

Pictures tell a thousand words? Well, I could tell you a few thousand stories that probably would go over a thousand words each. Pictures help me to remember what those storues are.

One last thing

Oh wait; there is one other thing now that I am on my political soapbox. I have mentioned before that Sheri Dew bugs the [heck] out of me because every time I heard her speak or heard her name the fact that she was not married always followed. It’s like she could not let it go!

Praise me for I am stalwart ant not married. Honor me for my commitments while I failed to obtain the greatest of all commitments. Worship me because of my authoritative status.

Anyway, what little I know and care about Kerry and his ambiguous, end all solution plan for America, is that I don’t think I have heard him speak where he has not mentioned he is a Vietnam vet.

Praise me for I served in that “Great War”. Honor me for my heroic duty. Worship me for my godsend plan for America.

My father served in Vietnam. He got a bronze star and a purple heart. I think he is ten times the man Kerry ever was or will be.

Why I don’t care?

I think both Presidential candidates are messed up, or rather they aren’t perfect for the job. Then again, who is? Despite the fame, power, and what not, who would want the job? Sounds like a 4 year constant headache at best. Not too mention the pseudo judges or historians that pick apart an Administration for years as if to change History by passing judgment.

“Unless some Administrative Law diurectly affects me, why should I care?” I asked.

The response? “I thought War and Peace would effect everyone.”

First off, I assume he meant [world] peace or the absence of war. The search for peace is like the search for the Holy Grail. It is unobtainable. I suppose until the end if the world itself.

Second, I believe he was talking about Iraq and what other conflicts that lie ahead for the US. I tried on two separate occasions to join the military. I was turned down both times. In the event I would be called upon to fight, I would gladly do so. But, with that track record, it appears it will never happen. So, go blow the [heck] out of whoever you want!

Beating a dead horse?

Because I was offended or rather insulted by rash judgment, I feel I will use a Kerry “evangelists” ignorance against the whole Kerry Edwards platform.

“How can anyone say after last election that the votes don’t count?” I was asked.

Because they don’t. It is my understanding that only in the event the electoral college fails to decide the next President, the actual votes are counted. Here is a nice article on the History Channel I began to read before I rashly started typing away.

It is also my understanding that we have a Federal system of state sovereignties. These states sovereignties are true democracies, I guess you can say. Where the nation itself is not a democracy at all…. But a Federal system.

Cram it, Kerry and this a-hole who insulted me. Too bad you’ll never read this. Oh well, I feel better.

Goodbye Mr. Chips

I have not seen that movie yet but the all boy's school is what I imagined the backdrop would be like. I was kind of disturbed about Dead Poet Society despite the picturesque campus.

I have become more willing to express my opinion now I think. Now I have a degree and am not afraid that someone can with hold it by some floating point value. (i.e. GPA) Yet I feel I am too quite in certainly crowds.

I admit Return to Witch Mountain was kind of silly, but I can see why I liked it as a kid. Magic powers have always been a secret desire of mine. Well, almost always. That is a story for another time.

I am not sure why I got the impression that I would not show it to my kids had I any. People from other planets, spaceships, crazy stuff like that. Any sane or reasonable person would not talk about alien encounters. But, it is just a movie… good entertainment.

l suppose this over protective world in which we live in, the political correctness crap is getting to me. I’m getting soft?

I watched Lion King 1 1/2 too. It was really fun. I liked it although the first one is still my favorite.

Hold on for 4 more days

I was looking forward to some more Arabian Nights and Marmalade, but I will have to settle for a trip home! I could have gone to Flirida as it was called by mistake, but it wouldn’t be much different then what I have right now.

Well, I would be allowed to explore things on my own as apposed to keeping a small family convoy together. I don’t like wondering in the dark or at night, so I would have been in the hotel room without a computer to post meaningless dribble.

I’ve been dreading going to work every day because I knew a short, but restful trip awaits. It’ll be fun to see my nephews. I’m taking my camera to get some good pictures.

Chicago Elephants

Many moons ago while in Chicago, or right out side, I was in my Budgetel (hotel) room watching a program on Elephants. I remember I called it Budget-hell, but it was a lot nicer than the place I had been staying.

The program was on how Elephants communicate by low frequency sound waves. I got to pull this bit of information out because I heard someone compliment another that he had the memory of an elephant.

I think I got it from that program that this idea that elephants have good memories may not be true. They could be talking to their buddies miles away to get the right information.

Games of Chance

I suppose one could argue that a lot of things in life are much like a game. Each game may sport it's own form of chance. Making it a bit of a gamble over the potential outcome(s).

It may be possible to become more efficient or effective in a game. By so doing improving one's odds at winning. Sometimes it is just purely chance.

A game can be entertaining. The amount of time invested in playing or learning to play can be debated to be worth more concentrated elsewhere.

I love Gmail

I got an account the past month or so, because I didn’t want to get left out. I occasionally use it to see what features it has. Although it is still in Beta, I am starting to lean towards migrating over to it as my primary email account.

I imported the short contacts list I had on another service. I actually got a response from my friend. I was getting worried that he was going to cut off my free access. AOL is being paid by my parents but if I want to guaranty I get an email from someone, I’ll use that account.

Other than AIM or forms of it, that is all the AOL I care to use. Anyway, this was supposed to be about Gmail!

Unbelievable

This moving company apparently showed up to the building after countless times I didn’t return the calls to confirm the time. Thought they would get the clue. Well, I wonder how they could bill me when all they had was my cell number. I couldn’t give them a credit card number because I had canceled them the Friday before.

I hope I did not give them the apartment number. Seems odd that I would not have, but maybe I did not. Hopefully, I did not. I guess I won’t be answering the door this morning.

I hope I didn’t get conned in to something. Just my luck.

Picnic at the Lake

I took the longest metro ride ever. It was long because it was delayed. It took forever to get home. Not to mention it was packed worse than during rush hour.

The picnic was rather good. Free food; seemingly positive conversation. I walked down to the lake just to see it.

I learned I was pitied. I was insulted or rather my intelligence was. I learned a certain someone was leaving for Mexico/California. I ran into someone else from my past.

It was one [heck] of a Saturday.

Trick, treat or both?

There was one house Ben and I saw that had no lights on except an upstairs bedroom light. As the punks we were or are, we stood on the doorstep banging on the door.

Ten minutes passed before this clown let the costume-less teenagers inside. I'm sure the guy was mad but you couldn’t tell behind all the make up. I was kind of worried when the door shut behind us. I remembered the Stephen King movie, It.

The clown offered a trick. He blew up some balloons and made us some animals.

On the way out the door, the clown pleaded that we tell no one to come to his door. Man, we were real jerks... Unfortunately that was not the end of bad deeds that night.

Pluralsight

I have subscribed to the blog feed on this new site called Pluralsight. A lot of computer guru’s are here. Don Box moved his spoulet to here too. Now that they are all together, I think they are encouraged directly or indirectly to produce material.

Most of the information goes over my head because I’m not fortunate to work with the latest and greatest. Oh well, when the government catches up I should have a good idea of what can be done and how to do it.

The Visual Design is pretty nice too. I’ll have to look into Studio Creativa.

12 hour work Day

I tried to leave at my normal time yesterday, but got pulled aside. It's bad to have an office in the back; you have to walk by everyone to get out.

I know I don't work near as hard or long as this one guy. If our roles were reversed the project would have been scraped awhile ago. He is also related by marriage to one of the executives, I am sure that is a factor to his zeal. He probably makes twice as much as me too.

Anyway; if I had something better to do, I would have got out of the long work day. Oh well. The end was rather easy for I waited for the system to stabilize so I could test my latest bug fix.

Conference Scripture Index

Cool, BYU is good for something. Some BYU professors have launched a Conference Scripture Index.

Last picture of the day

I took this at while in Willamsburg. Unless you walk, as apposed to takeing the bus, you might not see this building.

My new girl friend?

Ok, not really. It's too bad I don't have any red-eye removal software because I had some great pictures of my niece.

A coworker noticed she has lots of hair and looked older than she is. He also asked if she has lots of personality. I am not really sure.

The other day, I turned to Melia and asked when she was going to start talking. She looked at me with those big eyes, and as if she understood she made a sound I have never heard her make.

Forget HVAC

I bought my new toy. It came with a cool remote and thermostat.

Now, Kay Management can cram it.

I love toys.

Super parents

I always thought my Dad was superman. Well, until I saw him dive for a football on the street! It was no shock that he broke his arm.

I was also convinced my mom was Wonder Woman. I vainly went feeling around for her invisible jet inside her closet.

It was a rather long time before l realized they did not have super powers, but they have been and are super parents.

TV/Movies in Fast Forward

How can anyone watch something when it goes crappy?

I admit I was anxious to get the next DVD for the first season of 24. As they talked about all their extra marital crap and other boring parts, I zoomed on to the action. The show has been pretty good.

I don’t like going to movies that I do not know anything about. If I had control to fast forward, I wouldn’t hesitate to go to a questionable show. It would irritate everyone else in the theater, but oh well. Fast forward!!!!

Interesting weekend

I hope to document all from this weekend in Williamsburg. Right now, I just wanted to post before the day “officially” ends for the Eastern Seaboard.

I was expecting a lot of email over the fact I am not moving. My roommate reminded me of the little communication he got from the same people. (He was looking to get the other room they had.) Oh well, water under the bridge?

It was a fun weekend. I’m not looking forward to going back to work. I’ve got lots to post. Pictures too!

Watched Taxi this evening. It was a lot better than the bad impression I got from the trailer.

Post 1,000!!!!

Wow, I made it and the only thing I was going to say was that I am not moving. Well, my Mom did call last night and I got a better idea of what happened. Fun how stories change when passed on by word of mouth? I hope they got their luggage.

Bad Day? Bad Month?

Well, I was wrong about the m-Azing candy. A coworker had purchased a bunch of candy and it was all melted... I had one today and it looked normal or what they were intended to look like.

Well, I am not the only one who is having a bad day/month. My parents got stuck in Chicago on thier way here. My Dad is probably mad, but he might not even care.... He isn't going back to work for a long time. Probably tired though.

My day was bad only because this moving stuff is frustrating. I thought I planned it well, but as it gets closer to the time I planned on I am getting jack on support! I'm tempted to stay... just to tick "everyone" off who was planning on my moving out. That is what they get for not communicating with me! Thus making it a bad month for others...

Cold Winter

On the news yesterday, I heard that this winter will be colder than last year. Great, I’m not looking forward to it. It’s been cold lately at night. It was 69 degrees on the thermostat on my room wall. The heater, of course, did nothing.

If I can get some help to move, I might have a warmer place at the house. At least I hope I have control of the heater.

Total recall

l watched Bourne Identity again a few weeks ago. This time knowing it was based on a book and that there was a sequel.

When I first saw the movie, I had already prejudged it. It was recommended by my brother. I never agreed with his choice in good movies.

Anyway it reminded me of Total Recall which I think is one of the dumbest movies I have ever seen. I liked the Bourne movies. It's more believable yet I question it is still the same somewhat. I mean the recall story.

Listening Library

I love Jim Dale. No I did not start over on Harry Potter again. I was at the library to look for books on CD that I might be interested in. I thought I’d try Louis L’amour. This Bayou Stories looked interesting.

I randomly picked out a book to get a better look at it. A Christmas Carol. That is a good story. Read by Jim Dale? Awesome!!! He is the man. I grabbed it and ran out.

Scrouge sounds just like Sirius Black, my favorite character. Too bad he dies in book 5!!!

m-Azing

I got my wallet back. Good thing too, I gave all my change away the other night and I‘ll need to get on the bus tomorrow.

When I first had one of these I wondered if some executive thought it was a great idea to sell slabs of partially smashed up, melted, repackaged M&Ms off the factory floor. Instead of throwing out the excess his children could not eat when they came to visit, he wanted to sell out to the public.

Maybe they shut down the guided tour because of security concerns. The slabs were a kind of treat for going on the tour. Now another method to keep the factory clean had to be improvised?

October Fest

It’s been one heck of a day. Well, the wallet had not come yet. I forgot my toy at the Manning house. No good email, come home to an empty apartment. It’s like I live here alone. It might be good to leave after all.

I was able to show off a debugging feature I had learned about back when I was at TransEra working on HTBasic. I actually learned it from a Microsoft Developer Days or marketing for developers.

The best news was Columbus Day. It was the ultimate pro in my options for the weekend. I’m going to Williamsburg baby! I’ll have to go to some silly correlation meeting some other day!

What's in a name?

I had some fun with names over the weekend. OK, this is really a cheesy way to wrap up some events that took place.

Henry Shrapnel is where the tern “scrap metal” comes from.

In 2002, the company [which owns Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, etc.] changed its name to Yum! Brands Inc. from Tricon Global Restaurants Inc.

Elder Duane B. Gerrard gave the talk in 1997 that I was thinking about and not Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf.

Spencer F. Baird

Living in the DC area allows me to ask more questions when I tour the Smithsonian than I normal would. Like whose statue is in “front” of the Smithsonian Castle?

From the Smithsonian History page, I found a link to Spencer F. Baird. I briefly read over the vast amount of information until I could verify that it was a statue of him. Since I was unable to read the engraving on the statue itself, I asked someone who it was. They said “Smithson Beard”.

Anyway, I thought it was fun to demystify this strange statue. Unveiled May 4, 1978.

Pilot and Educator

Well the new apostles were sustained. If the Church announced their names before, I never heard about it. I’m not in the gossip loop either. I will hear from them tomorrow.

Lucky Day

At work, things were alright for the most part. I took more time than I thought on an elusive bug fix, got yelled out for doing my time card wrong, my eyes bugged me a bit, and I have had a weird type of cold for a week now!

“Could the day get any worse?” I asked a coworker.

Well, as I got off the metro in Roslyn, I noticed I lost my wallet. It was now Rush Hour and the metro guy wasn’t very helpful. I was on the phone canceling credit cards and such for the next 40 minutes.

As I went on a walk, I got gabbed in the eye by a low hanging part of a tree. Fortunately, it caught the top of my eye lid and not directly in my eye. This was the start of my luck.

I was dealt very good cards almost every round. I surprised myself that I won overall. During the game, I got word that my wallet was found. The individual had gone to rather great lengths to get a hold of me. He said he was paying back the guy who did the same thing for him.