Advent

We're halfway through Advent and I realize that I'm blowing it again. Advent should be a time of prayer and preparation for the celebration of Christmas. I had great plans at the start of Advent: Daily Prayer, Writing Christmas Cards, Putting up the lights, and cleaning the house. I prayed two days, wrote no cards, hung no lights, and moved some boxes out. Not a very good record against my plans.

So what have I been doing? I got caught up in the commercialization of this time of year. I've been buying presents ... for me. Today is the third Sunday of Advent and the Priest is wearing rose vestments to remind us to be joyful today before we launch in to the home stretch of preparing for the start of Christmas. I'm not looking at today very joyfully. I'm thinking that I need to get started (or finished) preparing or I won't really be ready to start celebrating for real Christmas Eve.

God Bless everyone and have a Blessed Advent!

The annual making of

The annual making of the Christmas Fudge is about to begin. Mmm, mmm!

is wondering why the

is wondering why they're called "belly buttons". Shouldn't they be called "belly holes" oer perhaps "belly dents" for most people?

I got a new phone, a

I got a new phone, a Motorola Droid, and now my Google address book has a use. There were over 1450 contacts in there. I've pared it down to 1385 so far. I would love to update your contact info if you would send it to me privately.

And I'm thinking abo

And I'm thinking about making some salsa, right after a nap. _yawn_ Rainy days make me sleepy.

Yummy rice! Ann show

Yummy rice! Ann showed me where my rice cooker was (telling me where it was failed) and I just cooked some rice. Awesome!

Here's an easy way t

Here's an easy way to say thank you to our military troops. Now mash the link and say thank you with me: http://www.letssaythanks.com/

I just got my first

I just got my first fail whale on Twitter! Cool!

I just put in for my

I just put in for my California Lifetime Fishing License. I'll never have to buy another California Fishing License again! Woo Hoo!

RT @CurtJester (aka

RT @CurtJester (aka Jeff Miller) If you code, you will find this pretty funny http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20091201

I have 07 Google Wav

I have 07 Google Wave invites and 1 Google Voice (there are currently no new numbers in the 949 area code) invite if anyone wants them.

A while back Ann and

A while back Ann and I heard a wonderful presentation that explained that "men are like waffles" and "women are like spaghetti". It was a wonderful presentation! And so true. We got a storage bin to hold boxes so we get room to finish unpacking. I'm in the square of moving boxes out. Ann wants to noodle through each box before it goes.

Happy New Year!

Today is the first day of Advent, a season of preparation for Christmas, and the start of a new liturgical year.

RT @CurtJester I'm a

RT @CurtJester I'm a pencil in God's hand. Only problem is most of the time I need sharpening and I use the eraser for my sins way too often

Atlantis has landed.

I'm clad the crew made it to Terra Firma safely. http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/11/27/atlantis.return/index.html

My mobile phone stat

My mobile phone status update didn't go through. :-( But, it was amazing! We saw the International Space Station and Space Shuttle go by from Main Street in Disneyland this evening at 5:11 / 5:12.

Thanksgiving

Today is a National Day of Thanksgiving here in the United States. It's original intent was to be a day of offering thanks for all that we have been blessed with. It has a rich history in families coming together to try to put aside their quarrels and share a mea together. A feast for the celebration. Lately, it seems to be "pregame show" for that start of Christmas shopping complete with Black Friday ads. Even I have fallen into this spirit of crass consumerism at times.

I am thankful for the humor that I find in my life, even the humor that pokes fun at today's celebration of Thanksgiving. "The goal of the day is to be more stuffed than the turkey." "Eat until the button on your pants pops." "Don't forget to loosen your belt before you start eating." "Beware of the turkey toxins (tryptophan) that lead to the annual Thanksgiving nap." "The best part of the meal are the leftovers."

I am thankful for the gift of my family, my wife of over 24 years and my son even when he's being a knucklehead. They are a priceless gift that I can not repay. I did not understand what it meant to be a husband or a father but Ann and George have taught me the meanings of those words.

I am thankful for the family that brought me in to the world, my mother and father. As I reflect back over the years I realize how much they have sacrificed for me. I am even thankful for my little sister. Even though there were times she annoyed me she let me be the "big brother" that taught me so much.

I am thankful for all of the blessings that the Lord has given me: life, shelter, employment, transportation, food, clothing, warmth, and more. There are too many to list. I am also thankful for the crosses that the Lord has asked me to bear.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I thank You Lord for the abundance beyond what I deserve that You have given me. I know that I could never thank You enough for all that You have given me if I tried. I also know that I don't try to thank You enough. Please Bless us all and rain Your Grace upon us. Guide us back to Jesus, Your Son, so that in Heaven we may celebrate the ultimate Thanksgiving in Your presence. Amen.

Awesome! Ann and I s

Awesome! Ann and I saw the ISS and Space Shuttle. They were there for about 20 seconds before they blinked out in the earth's shadow. Very cool!

Possible International Space Starion & Space Shuttle Sightings

We have an opportunity to see the ISS and Space Shuttle flying through space over the next few days, You can get the details from NASA as to when you might be able to see them here: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/ . If you see them let me know!

RT @iPadre Global Wa

RT @iPadre Global Warming - truth revealed: http://ping.fm/U8gZy

Riboflavin...

Riboflavin...

is thinking that wea

is thinking that wearing a white shirt to a haircut is not the best play in the book. In fact, that play should probably not even be in the book.

is thinking about bo

is thinking about boycotting Target stores for their stoopid ad about "winning Christmas". Christmas is a celebration of the birthday of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. It is NOT a competition to be won.

Some people think I'

Some people think I'm weird 'cause I eat my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with a fork. But after you microwave them for 30 seconds you really don't have any other choice. And some people probably think that if this post stopped before the word "'cause" it would have been just fine.

Viking Rocket Prject

I've started building an Estes Viking in preparation for the next launch date. http://www.estesrockets.com/rockets.php?pid=001949

Too busy. I've lost

Too busy. I've lost my GTD. My inboxes are overflowing & my mind is cluttered. Must find the way out of the crisis box. Just a little more.

just wooted an M-Aud

just wooted an M-Audio Fast Track USB in Day 3 of the Woot-Off.

"I'll verb him so ha

"I'll verb him so hard, his noun will verb it." - Bucky Katt Nov 18, 2009 Ha, ha, funny.

Let's all join with

Let's all join with Congressman John Fleming (LA-R) has created HR-615 to force Congress to enroll in whatever health plan they create. http://fleming.house.gov/index.html

The Woot Off at http

The Woot Off at http://www.woot.com has moved in to day 2. Woot! Woot!

It's a Woot-Off!!!!

It's a Woot-Off!!!! http://www.woot.com/

We are looking to hi

We are looking to hire in to our group. Here is the link to the job description. Let me know if you have some interest. http://htxt.it/lPWP

Hooray! I have a Goo

Hooray! I have a Google Wave account! Thanks for the invite Bruce. Now what do I do with it? Anybody want to Wave?

Forgive me the pun b

Forgive me the pun but ROCStock XXX was a BLAST! I have never seen so many model rockets launched. I even think that a few went up but didn't come down.

I LOVE Danish Butter

I LOVE Danish Butter Cookies. Yum, yummy, nommy, nom...

I just bought an Est

I just bought an Estes Bull Pup 12D (http://www.estesrockets.com/rockets.php?pid=007000) to build to be able to complete my NARTREK (http://www.nar.org/NARTREK/) Bronze award.

CurtJester RT @CurtJ

CurtJester RT @CurtJester @disputations:Dear God:Attached is a list of virtues I would rather develop than those U have chosen 4 me. Thank U 4 your consideration.

RT @CurtJester @disp

RT @CurtJester @disputations:Dear God:Attached is a list of virtues I would rather develop than those U have chosen 4 me. Thank U 4 your consideration.

President Barack Oba

President Barack Obama said, "To the veterans, the fallen and their families there is no tribute, no commemoration, no praise that can truly match the magnitude of your service and your sacrifice..." This may be the first time we have agreed. To all of our Veterans, I salute you. You have my gratitude for what you sacrificed for our country.

[ROC] Rocket launch

[ROC] Rocket launch on Saturday at ROCStock XXX should be a go. Porta-Pot Shot has been ready for months and StormCaster's paint is dry - all it needs is the shock cord and it is ready for launch.

It was another manic

It was another manic Monday and it's still going...

Two things

1. Lacquer paint is really thin - having trouble getting a good code of paint on the StormCaster rocket for this weekend. 2. Thinking about creating a blog to teach C programming. Anyone interested in that?

SmartCar? I'd love t

SmartCar? I'd love to but I can't. I'm too tall. I've been drooling over SmartCars since '06 and today I finally took one for a test drive. The answer is, "No, I'm not buying one." The seat is too high or the roof is too low. I couldn't see the traffic lights when I was at a red light. I still think it's the right idea but I don't fit. :-(

ROCStock XXX is comi

ROCStock XXX is coming next weekend. See http://www.rocstock.org/rocstock_nov.html for details.

Does anyone have a s

Does anyone have a spare Google Wave invite they'd like to send me? I'd like to see what the buzz is about.

Perhaps it is time f

Perhaps it is time for glasses. The ad said, "Fast Easy Donation", but the first time I saw it I read, "Fast Baby Donation". I was really curious as to what that could possibly be for a moment.

Testing, One, Two, T

Testing, One, Two, Three. Can any Plurkers hear me?

Thursday morning gee

Thursday morning geek humor: http://htxt.it/wr2d . I've heard it said that there 10 kinds of people in this world: those that understand binary and those that don't.

Woot is not wooting

Woot is not wooting tonight. It should be 2 fer Tuesday but it's not, it's nada.

New Driod

I want a Droid from Verizon/Motorola. But Verizon says that I'm not eligible for an upgrade for 6 more months. Sniff, sniff.

At this point I've r

At this point I've restored my Twitter account, my blog, my Plurk account, and my HelloTxt account.

I think I'm going to

I think I'm going to take a break from social media...

It's a Boy Scout-y k

It's a Boy Scout-y kind of week. Monday is PLC, Tuesday is Parent's, Wednesday is Troop, and Thursday is District Round Table. Meetings.

Job Description: Prophet

Comfort the afflicted. Afflict the comfortable.

Sunday, Glorious Sunday

Let us give thanks for this day that the Lord has made.

RT @CatholicForLife

RT @CatholicForLife I'm getting so old that my friends in heaven will think I didn't make it - LOL of the day

Fishing Report

Tonight's fishing had it's up and downs. Overall, it was good. There is nothing quite like the thrill of catching a fish and I did it four times. The last was a keeper. Tim and Sarah each caught a fish, too.

Looking forward to f

Looking forward to fishing this evening...

God is Great, beer i

God is Great, beer is good, and people are crazy.

Fishing?

I decided to go fishing Friday evening. Dana Wharf Sportfishing from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM, the twilight tour, if you want to go. Let me know if you'll be there.

We just finished ste

We just finished step one of rearranging our bedroom. Got the bed moved to a new wall. That only took 4 hours.

Ann and I get to tes

Ann and I get to test drive an "empty nest" for a week. George is off at Emerald Bay Boy Scout camp on Catalina Island.

Death of Gerald Kroiss

For those of you that remember Jerry... I regret to inform you of the death of my father, Gerald Kroiss, on 30 July 2009. Please excuse this mass mailing, I'm sending this to his entire address book. Jerry died from complications due to a previously undiagnosed blood clotting disorder. He will be greatly missed. The memorial service will take place at 10 AM Monday at St. John's Lutheran Church (8250 202nd Street) Lakeville, MN. There will be a memorial visitation one hour prior to the service. Celebration luncheon to follow, if possible let us know by email if you will be attending. The obituary can be found at http://htxt.it/sQXU Regards, Kimberly Chittum, Jerry's youngest daughter

RT @David Allen - To

RT @David Allen - To get thru corporate security - foto ID + no more than 3 1-oz containers of humanity.

Promulgation of Norms for Tabernacle Placement

http://htxt.it/MUnq : "In recent years, the place of the tabernacle in our churches has become a source of controversy. This should not be. The Eucharist, whether we are referring to its celebration or to the place of reservation, should always be a means of unity and communion, and never of division."

Jet lag ending?

Perhaps the jet lag is finally ending. Only a short nap yesterday evening. Woke up at 2:30 AM again but managed to get back to sleep until just before the alarm went off.

RT @NETMinistries "F

RT @NETMinistries "Faith isn't something to be learned, it's something to be lived." - Mark Berchem

Disney Cruise?

We're considering the idea of a Disney Cruise next summer. The prices look to be a bit over $1000/day for us. Have you been on one? What do you think / know about them?

Isn't Jet Lag Wonderful?

I get sleepy when I should be awake. I wake up when I should be sleeping. And my dreams are really weird - even by my standards.

Home Again

My bags all made it even though they got mis-checked in Singapore. I slept almost the whole way and still slept last night. It's good to be home.

On my way

My bags are packed, I'm turning of the computer, and getting a cab. Time to start the long journey home. I won't be back on-line before Sunday day stateside at the earliest. C u soon!

Heading Home!

My last night in Asia this trip. Tonight I pack. Tomorrow I start the trek home. Calendar time it will only take about 16 hours (Sat 7 am - Sat 11 pm). Actual elapsed time will be about 31 hours. I will land in LAX before I leave Taipei!

Street Crossing in Singapore

The two armies were amassed on either side of the battle field. Their uniforms were inconsistent from person to person and the two sides looked as if they were a single people. It seemed that the only thing that separated them was a short distance. I wondered what they were thinking, standing in anticipation with weapons in their hands waiting for the signal. Finally, after what felt like an eternity the signal came and both armies marched into the playing field staring at the opponents. The advancing lines were ragged - some broke forward quickly and some seemed to hesitate. Finally the two armies met at the middle and to my surprise there was no clash, no wailing of pain. The two armies managed to pass right through each other without injury. The reached the other side of the field were their opponents had been standing a moment before and suddenly they were transformed back into tourists and shoppers going about their own personal business and moving down the sidewalk in random fashion. That is, until the joined another army standing at the edge of the street waiting for the green walk signal to begin the charge again.

Arrg!

I just realized that hellotxt flipped the title and status panes.

Woke up to pork bacon at breakfast. I haven't seen pork in almost two weeks. Of course, I remembered it was Friday AFTER I ate it. The story of my life - a day late and a dollar short. Hi, ho, it's off to work I go...

We're not in Malaysia anymore Todo

The trip to Singapore was longer than expected but uneventful. I got to the hotel room just fine.

Landed in Singapore

Singapore!

The only constant is change. My travel plans got altered last night and later today I am heading to Singapore. Still coming home on the same day / same flight though.

Woot Off!

At http://www.woot.com

I think I did too mu

I think I did too much walking the last few nights. My back is feeling a bit tender today and I've got a long airplane flight coming up in 3 days. Time to rest and hopefully heal.

Souvenirs?

It’s so hard to find the family souvenirs. I’ll keep looking but I’m not really buying. Missed getting up into the KL Tower tonight by minutes. Last destination to visit? Times Square at Imbi...

It is bad luck to be

It is bad luck to be superstitious. - Andrew W. Mathis

Hard Rock Cafe - Malaysia

I wound up at the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner tonight. Interesting things happen when American cuisine meets Islamic state religions. Pork is at least rare here if not illegal leading to a pulled lamb BBQ sandwich. It was tasty.

Great tour today: Bl

Great tour today: Blue Mosque, Crab Island, Fish Farm, and a Chinese Temple. Got my personal inbox down to 11 and took care of the Boys Scout and Marriage Encounter tasks.

Back from Mass

Now to use the GTD rules and attempt to push my personal e-mail inbox to 0. I achieved 0 with my work e-mail box yesterday.

Western style lunch

It was a western style lunch I suppose. McDonald's and then a very long walk but I did find my way to the Church of the Holy Rosary. A Starbuck's coffee on the way back.

Up at the crack of noon

After a great evening out with friends and colleagues at a place called Souled Out I decided to skip the touring and sleep. Time to go forage for lunch.

I should've listened to my wife

Just before this trip I bought a new camera. My wife said to take the cables. I decided I didn't them - I can read the memory card directly and if I need the USB port I have other cables with me. Memory card problems and a non-standard USB port and I'm not able to upload pictures.

Time Zones

It still seems very strange. In the morning I tuck Ann into bed over the phone. In the evening as I'm falling asleep she and George are getting ready to start the day. Weird, very weird.

Prayer Request

This morning on the way to work I was meditating on the burdens that I, you, and everyone need to carry thanks to the "Pray As You Go" podcast and we passed a motorcyclist lying in the middle of the road. I can only imagine his possible burdens: medical expenses, loss of job, loss of health, scooter repairs, etc. I ask for your prayers on his behalf.

Driving in Malaysia

I'm glad I'm not driving in Malaysia. It seems that lane markings are gentle suggestions rather than actual guides. The traffic here makes LA a piker. The motorcycle lane splitting makes California look very rational and very reasonable.

Arrived in Malaysia

I arrived in Malaysia. I'm really tired after this long of a trip - having difficulty making coherent decisions.

Signing Off (for now)

My ride to LAX is due here in 20 minutes and then I have 28ish hours of travel to get to Malaysia.

Mission Accomplished

New passport acquired.

I'm off to see the wizard

The wonderful wizard of the LA Passport Agency. Where I plan on enough levers being pulled behind the curtain so that a shiny new passport appears in my hand before days end.

Look out Malaysia! Here I come! (I hope.)

It's about 48 hours until the limo gets me. I can't find the right passport so I have to get an emergency replacement at 7 AM in LA tomorrow.

It was a whoopin' at Angel's Stadium

But not the whoopin' I was hopin' for. Angels lost to the Rangers 8-4. We had great seats! Will post pix later.

Let's Go Angels, Let's Go!

Off to watch the Angels whoop the Rangers. Yea!

New Snack Idea

Peanut butter and banana burrito.

Yay Fr. Jay!

The iPadre and the TechnoPriest are both featured in this CNS article: http://htxt.it/Xrxw

RT @Jeff Miller (aka

RT @Jeff Miller (aka The CurtJester) - Do Satanists "Offer it down"?

Awesome Fireworks

Found a spot where we could watch fireworks from Disneyland to San Clemente. It was awesome!

Down in flames

Or rather, in splashes on the floor. I give up, I am NOT a plumber (and I don't play one on TV). Can anyone recommend one?

Happy Independence Day

Today marks the 223 birthday of a great republic, the United States of America. Our Declaration of that Independence begins, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." May God Bless America.

Toilet War Defeat

The toilet won today's round. Went back to Home Depot for another flush valve. It leaks like the last one. Tomorrow I bring the whole stinkin' tank down to Home Depot!

Toilet War

I'm fighting the toilet and the toilet is winning. Disassembled the tank and replaced the guts. All went well but the flush valve insists on leaking all over the floor. :-(

Testing, 1, 2, 3 ...

Testing to see if my blogger posts are still being imported. I think I killed the import.

This afternoon's age

This afternoon's agenda? House maintenance. Replacing smoke detectors (installing combo Smoke/CO detectors) and replacing toilet tank guts.

Hey everyone, tomorr

Hey everyone, tomorrow, July 4, is free fishing day in California - no license is needed. Now go fish! http://htxt.it/SOPt

is NOT a fan of smok

is NOT a fan of smoke detectors that complain in the middle of the night about nothing. What does a pair of "beeps" mean? Yawn, back to bed.

There is a rumor of

There is a rumor of my being in Malaysia soon. Now where is that passport? It ain't where it's sposed to be!

Truck repair cost: f

Truck repair cost: free. A hose fell off - screwdriver on the hose clamp fixed it. Thank you David Reuter at Tuttle-Click Ford.

Truck started "clunk

Truck started "clunking" last PM after I got the fam from LAX. It is still "clunking" this AM. Time for a (ridiculously expensive?) repair.

You should follow th

You should follow the @CurtJester, aka @Jeff Miller, on line. I really enjoy his writings. His website is here: http://htxt.it/OFwt but he is also on Facebook, Twitter, and other such places.

I'm scared. By Bapti

I'm scared. By Baptism I was anointed priest, prophet, and king. To whom much is given, much is expected. I believe that I'm failing.

I just finished uplo

I just finished uploading all of the vacation pix into facebook.

RT @CurtJester My th

RT @CurtJester My thoughts on is anybody pro-abortion? http://tr.im/qdXp (MK: This was good, very good reading.)

Dinner tonight: half

Dinner tonight: half a tomato, boiled carrots, steamed broccoli, potatoes au gratin, fried onions & beef cube steak. All fresh, all home made.

Dan Cajka Eulogy

I was asked to write and read a eulogy for Dan Cajka, may he rest in peace, this past weekend.  This is what I came up with.

Dan Cajka

Dan and Linda were married for over 52 years raising their family of four children, Belinda, Ann, Danny, and John in Pittsburg, PA, Poughkeepsie, here in Kingston, and in Chelmsford, MA.  Dan and Linda’s four children gave them 9 grandchildren, Benjamin, Joshua, Nathan, Rachael, Daniel, Alexa, Victoria, Spencer, and George.

I met Dan in 1982.  In the 27 years that I knew Dan he taught me a few lessons and I’d like to think that perhaps I managed to teach him a few as well.  I’d like to share some of the lessons that Dan taught me with you.

Lesson 1:  Be friendly, courteous, and hospitable – greet everyone by name.  In Dan’s world there are no strangers – only friends that haven’t been met yet.  His hospitality is legend.  I can remember going to Texas in August of 1984.  Only a fool would travel to Dallas in the August heat but somehow Dan didn’t hold that against me.  When he came out to DFW to get me he had a cold beer in the car, a broad smile, and a hearty handshake for me.  We celebrated Ann’s birthday that year in his backyard next to his pool.  There was ice cold beer in the fridge in the garage and barbecued ribs on the grill.

Lesson 2:  You can gain new ethnicity through marriage.  Both of Dan’s parents were Slovak yet he had the luck of the Irish when he was looking for a parking place.  I learned that he acquired this Irish luck by marrying Linda.  He also got some of the Irishman’s blarney but that might have been there before he was married.  I am now part O’Cajka, myself.

Lesson 3:  Papa, my son’s name for Dan, is another word for love.  All of Dan’s grandchildren loved their Papa and Nana.  There was no greater joy for Dan than playing with his grandchildren.  I don’t think that there was any sacrifice that he wouldn’t make for them either.  Dan taught all of his grandchildren to swim in his backyard pool.  Papa made the best pancakes and they were the highlight of any trip to Plano.

Lesson 4 also involved food.  Twinkies are their own food group and a hot dog was a not so secret treat on a weekend shopping trip.  Today I still make it a point to have a hot dog almost every weekend and salute him when I do.

Lesson 5:  Crossword puzzles are to be done in ink.  If you don’t know a word it is perfectly acceptable to make up your own as long as it fits.  No one ever checks to see if you got it right.  Doing your crossword puzzles this way makes it seem that you are really smart with a great vocabulary.  However, I suspect that Dan didn’t actually make up many words when he did his puzzles.

Lesson 6:  It only takes 20 to 30 minutes to peddle a stationary bike from Plano, TX to any town that had a grandchild in it.  Dan often told me after his morning workout routine on the bike with a banana, a cup of coffee, and a crossword puzzle that he’d been to Nashua, NH.  Some times he waited until the next day to peddle home even though he’d never left the house.

Lesson 7 came when Dan and Linda would come to visit.  After George went to bed it was time for a trip to Starbuck’s for a Caramel Frappuccino with extra whipped cream before we sat in the Den for an exciting action movie.  Going to the movies was something that we both enjoyed sitting on the couch with the surround sound volume up a little too high.

Dan and I had a rapport over the years that included a lot of good natured ribbing and teasing.  As George and I were saying goodbye to Dan the last time we saw him alive, I joked with Dan and gave him a friendly barb.  Ann asked him if we were giving him a hard time.  He told her no but then raised his arm, pointed a finger at me, smiled, and said, “Just the big guy.”  This was the final lesson:   I was now the “big guy”, an honor that I hope and pray that I can live up to.

We all celebrated life with Dan at one point or another.  Dan’s life on earth has ended while ours continues.  I imagine Dan in heaven, sitting next to his pool under a warm summer sun with a drink in his hand toasting the Universe waiting for the rest of us to join him.  We’ll be there soon enough but in the meantime Dan will be watching over us and helping our Guardian Angels do their jobs.

Whew! I finally made

Whew! I finally made it home. I started to Logan a little after 7 AM Boston time and just got home a little before 8 PM Los Angeles time. 16 hours of traveling!

Just finished writin

Just finished writing the Eulogy for my father-in-law's burial tomorrow. Dan passed away in January.

June 16, 2009. Make

June 16, 2009. Make a note to celebrate the anniversary of this date. George, my teen, admitted that I was right and he was wrong today.

Gas prices are up! T

Gas prices are up! The card limit at the pump, $75, won't fill my truck's tank. I enjoyed getting a full tank of gas for a little while.

Mmm, mmm. Cold left

Mmm, mmm. Cold left over pepperoni pizza for breakfast. What more could a person want? Yummy!

4 out of 3 people ha

4 out of 3 people have problems with fractions.

Nothing gets me read

Nothing gets me ready for a nap like breakfast and a cup of coffee. Yaaaawn. S t r e t c h.

Amazing! PETA thinks

Amazing! PETA thinks that dead fish need more respect: http://htxt.it/XeMp What are we coming to? The fish are dead already.

thinks that "Loading

thinks that "Loading query results" is computer-speak for "Mike, Go get a cup of coffee."

It's late, Conan is

It's late, Conan is on. I'll give him another shot but he just isn't funny.

There is a reason I

There is a reason I keep my hair cut so short. I have a teenager. I don't want to be able grab my hair well enough to pull it out.

Lord, I thank you fo

Lord, I thank you for all of the "cheerleaders" in my life that have encouraged me when life was hard. I ask you for the words and courage to be a "cheerleader" for others today. Amen.

Gotta de-louse one o

Gotta de-louse one of the home computers (George's). Going to use Norton 360 on it. Which product do you use and do you like it?

[WG] My 2006 Twenty

[WG] My 2006 Twenty dollar bill with serial number IG001---11B has just been re-entered into Where's George? Tracking report: http://htxt.it/lqCI

From my desk calenda

From my desk calendar: "You might be a redneck if ... You spend more time retrieving lures than catching fish." I guess I'm a redneck.

RT @pacolarsen Yikes

RT @pacolarsen Yikes! http://bit.ly/x04N3 - Comrade Obama?

IBM is seeking to fi

IBM is seeking to fill in their new Iowa operations. If you're interested take a moment to learn more by clicking on the link: http://htxt.it/Some I don't know anything else about the job or the recruiter.

Chris Shols of Broad

Chris Shols of Broadcomm asked me: Hi Michael: I need a QA engr and mgr for BRCM Security. Any old Seagate Bay Area folks you know who might have an interest? Thanks, Chris If you're interested let me know and I'll connect you.

Too much Conan + not

Too much Conan + not enough Tonight Show = fail. He isn't very funny. I'll give him a little more time before I give up on the Tonight Show.

It's 10:30 here on t

It's 10:30 here on the left coast. Another hour before we see what Conan is doing with the Tonight Show. All of you east of us have already seen the show if you cared to watch.

is a very proud Papa

is a very proud Papa tonight. George got several 8th grade awards tonight including Best Technology Student and the President's award.

RT @John Owens: A tr

RT @John Owens: A true warrior can make his armor out of anything.

Sometimes the line b

Sometimes the line between open-mindedness and ignorance is blurry, Satch. - Rob Wilco of Get Fuzzy

Happy Birthday to yo

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday Mother Church! Happy Birthday to you! I just realized that today is Pentecost!

RT @CurtJester Every

RT @CurtJester Everyone who condemns the murder of Tiller, RT this IMMEDIATELY! #Tiller (via @AdoroteDevote)

Russian Firm Buys a

Russian Firm Buys a Stake in Facebook: http://htxt.it/6Dic

Just got back from l

Just got back from lunch with my bride at @beabonehead. Thx to @jonlan for the idea this morning and the pointer to a great coupon.

The Galileoscope™

The Galileoscope™ is a high-quality, low-cost telescope kit developed for the International Year of Astronomy 2009... http://htxt.it/r54B

Attention California

Attention Californian, Don't forget to vote tomorrow, May 19!

RT @TheOnion #Earthq

RT @TheOnion #Earthquake Safety Tip: Be sure to mail your house-insurance payments five business days before a major earthquake strikes.

A moderate earthquak

A moderate earthquake occurred at 8:39:36 PM (PDT) on Sunday, May 17, 2009. The magnitude 5.0 event occurred 3 km (2 miles) NNE (24 degrees) of Hawthorne, CA. The hypocentral depth is 14 km ( 8 miles).

Cool! I just felt th

Cool! I just felt the earth move. Earthquake!

is enjoying a Coors

is enjoying a Coors beer in a unique baseball bat shaped bottle that he got as a White Elephant gift Christmas 2006. It's still OK!

Grrrr, frustrated (v

Grrrr, frustrated (very) with trying to set up a streaming video service.

Seen on woot.com, "W

Seen on woot.com, "We even had to get rid of our pot-bellied pig because there wasn’t room for him. I won’t put my kids through that again, no matter how delicious Spanky turned out to be."

I started typing a g

I started typing a groan about work, Friday and all, and then I thought of my friends that are unemployed and I realized how Blessed I was.

Here's a shout out t

Here's a shout out to my tweeps! Thanks for following me!

I just read an inter

I just read an interesting new word. People that Twitter are Twitterers or twits for short. Twits that follow me are my Tweeple.

is bummed. I'm a hug

is bummed. I'm a huge fan of the Yamaha XS-1100 motorcycle. There was a guy, Bob Jones, that made a business in Merriam, KS from the XS-1100. I always wanted to buy a bike from him but it seems that his business is gone. Something called "Southbridge Retail Center" has taken over his URL, http://htxt.it/peu7 .

I didn't last long:

I didn't last long: Sandisk 512MB MP3 Player with FM Tuner, USB Disco Mouse, Sony VAIO 15.4” 1.6Ghz Notebook, Funko Star Wars Bobble Heads – 6 Pack, and Garrity Rechargeable LED Flashlight with Nitelite. G'night all. We'll look in the morning.

It's a woot off over

It's a woot off over at http://www.woot.com ! I wonder how late I'll stay up to woot? I'd really like to get a bucket of cabbage!

RT: digitalcatholic

RT: digitalcatholic - plenary indulgence during the upcoming "year of priests" http://htxt.it/WU0a

Headline: GM falls t

Headline: GM falls to 76-year low as execs sell stock ( http://htxt.it/Ghwd ) - So much for that investment that I made. :-(

SQPN Podcast Maratho

SQPN Podcast Marathon is ON THE AIR! Go to http://htxt.it/c311

Happy Mother's Day t

Happy Mother's Day to all of the Moms out there. Thanks for being a Mom and may God Bless you today and every day.

Getting old. It stin

Getting old. It stinks. But as my father-in-law always said, "It sure beats the alternative!" Bought my first pair of "readers" today.

There was a message

There was a message hidden in my Cheerios this morning. It said, "oooooooo". I read it four time to be sure I had it right.

US News ( http://htx

US News ( http://htxt.it/IyzX ) is reporting, "Though the Obama administration has announced that it will issue a proclamation marking the National Day of Prayer, it will not hold a formal White House event, as George W. Bush had done for the past eight years."

Lord, help me to rem

Lord, help me to remember that people in my life that frustrate me are created in Your image and that You love them and find them beautiful.

Night Skeeter Update

Night Skeeter Update: Step 1: Read through all of the instruction steps before starting work on this model. Done, it was my bedtime reading last night. Only 38 days to ROCStock.

Night Skeeter Update

Night Skeeter Update: My Night Skeeter model rocket kit from LeadingEdgeRocketry arrived today. Only 39 days to ROCStock. I have to finish up the StormCaster kit real quick and get going.

Schlotzsky's Deli (F

Schlotzsky's Deli (Funny name, Serious Sandwich) for lunch. An original meal deal - nom, nom, nommy, nom, mmmm. http://htxt.it/bnca

Happy Star Wars Day!

Happy Star Wars Day! May the fourth be with you.

Happy Star Wars Day

Happy Star Wars Day to you tomorrow, May 4th. It's a really bad pun & can be found here: http://htxt.it/s3gS

Lord, I ask for the

Lord, I ask for the grace to want you enough.

It started out a goo

It started out a good day to not go fishing but ended up well. I caught 2 Sculpin and 1 Calico Bass. Only the first Sculpin was a keeper.

Ah, today is Merit B

Ah, today is Merit Badge Day and fishing. Let's see if my teen will get up this morning.

Man with money meets

Man with money meets man with experience. Man with experience gets money. Man with money gets experience. - Old Chinese Proverb

1 hour done, 1 2 go.

1 hour done, 1 2 go. Loud music, people dancing, game playing, & pizza eating - fun!

Back from Boy Scout

Back from Boy Scout Court of Honor. Working in WWME computer stuff - Northern Colorado website and Orange Encounter Community Blast.

Dilbert My page-a-da

Dilbert My page-a-day Dilbert calendar today has Dogbert saying, "I plan to build my own country on the ocean using barges. I shall rule with an iron paw. Punishing citizens for no reason other than my own entertainment. BUWHAHA! I'm hoping people will put up with it because their homes are near the ocean." As a recent Californian this makes sooo much sense.

I need to learn the

I need to learn the fine art of toilet tank repair. I have a water waster that has a slow continuous flow of water - barely more than a drip. Any local experts?

Yet one more way to

Yet one more way to feel like a complete idiot. Attend a meeting where you are scheduled to make a presentation and then leave the presentation home. What a schmoe I can be...

We'll be off to an O

We'll be off to an Orange WWME Community meeting in a bit. We're presenting.

Look out California!

Look out California! I'm going native - shorts and no socks. (Please don't make fun of my scrawny white chicken legs.)

California Free Fish

California Free Fishing days for 2009 are JULY 4th and SEPTEMBER 7th.

California Lifetime

California Lifetime Fishing License? Does anyone know about this? Comments?

Watching "Maid in Ma

Watching "Maid in Manhattan" with my wife.

ROCStock XXIX is coming

ROCStock XXIX is coming June 12 - 14 ( http://htxt.it/ZLw4 ) Today I purchased a Night Skeeter model rocket kit ( http://htxt.it/y93A ) to start getting ready. Anyone else going?

Back from the High School

Back from the High School Class of 2013 Freshman / Parent Orientation. High school class of 2013? Nooo, I'm not ready!

Hello to the world f

Hello to the world from Google Talk! Way too cool for me.

I'm wasting time wai

I'm wasting time waiting for the new woot at http://www.woot.com . Only 14 more minutes. Anybody there?

is anticipating anot

is anticipating another night of tossing and turning in the heat. We're setting records here in the OC. Don't like.

I wanted to let you

I wanted to let you in on a great story, The Miracle of the Pacocha, http://htxt.it/1W4l . A good friend created a documentary about the miracle. I recommend it.

Cross-combobulated!

Cross-combobulated! I've managed to get all of my Web 2.0 apps confused. I need to figure out where Jott, Twitter, facebook, blogger, HelloTxt, and Plurk are all going, posting, and cross linking...

" I get up every mor

" I get up every morning determined to both change the world and to have one hell of a good time. Sometimes, this makes planning the day difficult." -- E.B. White

I'm noticing that no

I'm noticing that not all of my updates from HelloTxt don't seem to make it to the 'net. What's up with that?

Another great Worldw

Another great Worldwide Marriage Encounter Community evening tonight.

Feeling pretty torqu

Feeling pretty torqued off today - the trials and tribulations of living with a teenager... Lord help me, please.

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky calls free speech "Despicable' and "Shameful"

I read with interest Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky's press release on the tax day "Tea Parties".  The tagline on her press release was, "Schakowsky Calls Parties "Despicable' and "Shameful"".

I myself don't see how the tea parties were going to create change but they did create some publicity.  I did see them as events of Constitionally protected free speech. It seems that the exercise of this free speech, however, offends Rep. Schakowsky. It would appear that any disagreement with President Obama's policies are promoted by right-wing republicans and corporate interests and that paying income taxes are a significant, honorable moment of American history.

I disagree with most of President Obummer's policies.  He is leading us into socialism and away from what made this country great.  I didn't support President Bush either.  We have been on the wrong track for a while but we're picking up speed in the wrong direction.

Pacific Ocean Fishin

Pacific Ocean Fishing Trip Planned I'm making plans to go fishing on Saturday, May 2, at 5:30 PM for four hours with Dana Wharf Sportfishing. Wanna join us? Go here http://htxt.it/kPmI to buy tickets on line. Let me know if you're going so that I can look for you.

Testing a text msg from my cell phone

Testing a text msg from my cell phone to HelloTxt. Cool.

Just saw this on facebook

Just saw this on facebook:

_ took the Which math equation are you? quiz and the result is Gaussian Distribution

f(x) = 1/(SQRT(2π)*σ)*e^(-(x-μ)^2/(2σ^2))

You are very normal. You are always positive, and although you have a mean, you usually aren't.

Cool...

Just finished publis

Just finished publishing the update scout directory. Off to finish my UCI class homework.

Time for Trout fishing?

Time for Trout fishing? Mile Square Park Lake in Orange and Alondra Park Lake, Arroyo Seco Creek, Belvedere Lake, Castaic Lake, Cerritos Lake, Downey Lake, Echo Park Lake, El Dorado Park Lake, Hollenbeck Park Lake, Jackson Lake, Kenneth Hahn Lake, La Mirada Lake, Legg Lakes, Lincoln Park Lake and Pyramid Lake in Los Angeles are getting stocked this week.

Easter Sunday

It's Easter Sunday and I'm back to bloggin' again.  40 days in the digital desert - whew!  It was tough not complaining about all of the stuff I saw and not writing down all the stupid things that popped into my head.  But, Lent is over and I'm rarin' to go.  I'll be firin' up all of my fingers and on-line posting brain cells to get going and share some nifty new stuff with you.

The Lord is risen, Hallelujah!  

Ash Wednesday

It's Ash Wednesday, time to begin Lenten sacrifices.  I am considering several sacrifices but I've decided that fasting from and abstaining from social networking web sites is a good start.  I'll resume blogging after Easter Sunday.  May your Lenten Sacrifices be fruitful in your spiritual life.  God Bless you.

What are you doing for Lent?

Lent is a time of doing Pennance and sacrificing to move towards the Spiritual realm away from the worldly realm.  What are you doing for Pennance and sacrifice?  Things that I am considering:

• Give up fast food
• Give up snacking between meals
• Give up dessert
• Give up candy
• Give up social networking web sites
• Partaking of the Sacrament of Recocilliation more often

I have less than 36 hours to decide...

Lunch tomorrow is at an all-you-can-eat chinese buffet.

Mike

What are you doing for Mardis Gras?

Mardis Gras is french for "Fat Tuesday" meaning the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.  Ash Wednesday is this Wednesday and is the start of Lent.  On Ash Wednesday we are reminded of the mortality of our earthly bodies - our bodies will eventually return to the earth from whence they came.  Our Souls are another matter.  At the end of our earthly existence we are moving to a new home for eternity, Heaven (possibly by way of Purgatory) or Hell.  And so Ash Wednesday begins a season of preparation for celebrating Easter - the Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  We spend this time of Lent doing Pennance for our sins.  Most of us execute that Pennance by fasting from a worldly pleasure.  As a kid it was always candy.  As an adult it has been coffee, snacks, dessert, candy, fast food, beer, and other things.  I think that it is human nature that if we know that we are going to fast from something for 7 1/2 weeks we want to indulge in it one last time.  That indulgence is the celbration of Mardis Gras.

Mardis Gras is not a time to commit sins of the flesh.  It is a time to partake and enjoy one last time (and for most of us it seems, to excess) our pleasure that we will be fasting and abstaining from for the next 7 1/2 weeks.

So, what are your plans for Mardis Gras?

The sky is falling

OK, maybe the sky isn't falling but it sure is getting crowded up there and more dangerous.  The WSJ posted an article about a collision between a commercial commsat and a defunct Russian military bird.  It's just a wee bit bothersome and I hope that our military is doing more to protect our own birds.

My Father-In-Law, Dan

I'm sitting here continuing to reflect on the day, the weekend, and the week.  I was doing this all the way home on the plane from Dallas and I'm not done yet.  I suspect I may lie awake in bed for a while tonight continuing to think, ponder, and pray.

Let me bring you up to speed.  On Tuesday I got a phone call from my Mother-in-Law, Linda (aka Nana).  Dan was struggling and having some problems.  Talking to the doctor she pushed for an answer and was told that the doctor was guessing that Dan only had 2 to 4 weeks to live given his current rate of decline.  A. and I had some discussions and the decision was made that we would all fly down to visit - G. and I for the weekend, A. for the duration - however long that was.  We all went down on Friday with G. and I coming back today.

Dan is on some serious pain killers and spends a lot of time sleeping.  He has periods of great lucidity and periods where he doesn't want to communicate.  His mornings are much better than evenings.  We watched the Steelers/Ravens game together yesterday.  He was happy that the Steelers were going to the Superbowl and disappointed that his beloved Cowboys were out.  He's rooting for the Steelers in two weeks.

Today I went shopping out at Costco.  I enjoyed a hot dog for him.  Over the years of visiting him he always made sure that I understood it was right and proper to enjoy a hot dog on the weekend.  I've been trying to have a hot dog out every weekend for a few years and every time I do I think of him.  I guess that this is a habit that I will pass on to others with stories about Dan.

I had to say goodbye to him this afternoon to get to the airport to come home.  It was a very hard goodbye for me realizing that it was, in all likely hood, my last time to see him alive.  I am already missing the father of my bride.  I can see that it is his time and it was remarkable seeing how death comes to us.  His appetite is getting weak.  He is still drinking lots of water but the nurse says that will be stopping as well.  He is in bed and won't be getting up again as he continues to get weaker and needs others to take care of his needs.  I recommend Tuesdays with Morrie for a better description of what is happening to Dan.

So for a short time I've loaned my wife back to her father so that she can help nurse him and take care of him.  I miss her as well but, God Willing, I will get her back soon after she has had the opportunity to say her goodbyes.

I love you Dan.  God speed.  Please put in a good word with the Lord for me when you get there.  You will missed, but not forgotten.  May God Bless you.

FOCA Novena

I received this e-mail and wanted to pass it along to all of you.  I am participating in this Novena.

If you are opposed to abortion then there is bad news on the horizon.  For those of you who do not know, the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) is set to be signed if congress passes it on January 21-22 of 2009.  FOCA would essentially remove all restrictions on abortion, including moral objections by health care providers.

The Plan:

To say a novena, 9 days of prayer, along with fasting starting on January 11th. For Catholics, the prayer of choice will be the Rosary with intentions to stop the FOCA.  For non Catholics I encourage you to pray your strongest prayers with the same intentions, also for nine consecutive days.  The hope is that this will branch and blossom as to become a global effort with maximum impact.  We have very little time so we all must act fast.  Just do three things:

1. Pass this letter to 5 or more people
   
2. Do it in three days or less
   
3. Start the novena on January 11th and pray for nine consecutive days.
   

(please also fast for at least two days during the novena)

Remember that with God all things are possible and the power of prayer is undeniable.  The time is now to do something to save the unborn!

May God bless you all!!

"We cannot fight credibly against other social and moral evils, including poverty and violence, while we tolerate mass killings by abortion."

- Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Government Plans to Overhaul Healthcare

The New York Times is reporting that Tom Daschle is preparing to have the government overhaul the US Healthcare system.  Tom is saying that the deepening recession is going to create more uninsured and that many uninsured people face financial bankruptcy when they get sick.  I agree with Tom that these are serious issues.  Very serious.  But I'm more scared of Tom and his plans.

Everytime the government says that they want to help me and make my life better they make my life worse.  They "reformed" campaign finances and the political ads got worse and I was told it was illegal for me to exercise my right to free speech.  I smell universal health care in the wind.  Those with no insurance will get some.  We will all have long waits.  And the US taxpayer will be paying for everyone's health care.  We need change.  Let's put doctors back in charge of their patients, reduce malpractive lawsuits, and get the government OUT of healthcare.

Poll: When will you take down your Christmas decorations?

The poll, "When will you take down your Christmas decorations?" is now closed.  There was only one registerd vote (mine) and the results are:

They're already down:  0%

New Year's Day:  0%

The first weekend of the new year:  0%

After Epiphany:  100% (yea me!)

I will leave them up for next year:  0%

Though Curtis did sneak a vote in via the comments for a split between the first weekend of the new year and after Epiphany.  Thanks Curtis.

Have a great day and may God Bless you!