A thingy with some out of focus stuff behind it. Took this in Seaside, Florida.
Friday, January 14, 2005
Thursday, January 13, 2005
New gizmos
Recently, a technology convention was held in Las Vegas - during which a whole new generation of techno gadgets was unveiled. Each promised to make life easier for its user - or gaming more realistic for the player.
Being a techie, I love learning about new doo-hickery... I especially like the hands-on experience! But lately I've come to believe we've gone too far. Presented as evidence:
Samsung has released a new cell phone that is motion-sensitive. Shake it once, it dials a number. Shake twice, it hangs up your call. Making an "O" shape in the air indicates a yes, wave an "X" in the air and it's no. For upcoming models, the company plans to build in more features, including tools for analyzing changes in a user's movements... and dispensing diet advice.
Diet advice. From my cell phone. Riiiight. First, I ignore diet advice from my DOCTOR. Secondly, I have no intention of being anywhere in public shaking my phone. Making an "X" or "O" in the air, arms flailing wildly for all to scrutinize just ain't gonna happen. I look goofy enough on a daily basis, I need no help from Samsung.
Another new cell phone offered by Verizon features video playback. A handy feature (especially when you're DRIVING), you'll be able to download a whole range of video clips from CNN, NBC, AccuWeather, (and probably soon the SPICE channel) directlly to your phone.
"Uh... hello, Verizon? Yes, could you do me a favor and get me a usable signal in all parts of the town where I live before you start selling PHONES YOU CAN WATCH TV ON?"
And get this... there is also a new ONLINE fitness bike on the market. Yes, that's right... if you can't peel yourself away from the @%$! XBox long enough for life-extending (albeit artificial) exercise, we now have a stationary bike that won't unfairly require you to log off of HALO II. An absolute must for the gaming heart patient!
Quite obviously there is an abundance of new gadgets coming to an electronics store near you. More than enough, in fact, to make me say, "uh... why?"
So I propose putting a moratorium on new technology until we can accomplish the following:
Being a techie, I love learning about new doo-hickery... I especially like the hands-on experience! But lately I've come to believe we've gone too far. Presented as evidence:
Samsung has released a new cell phone that is motion-sensitive. Shake it once, it dials a number. Shake twice, it hangs up your call. Making an "O" shape in the air indicates a yes, wave an "X" in the air and it's no. For upcoming models, the company plans to build in more features, including tools for analyzing changes in a user's movements... and dispensing diet advice.
Diet advice. From my cell phone. Riiiight. First, I ignore diet advice from my DOCTOR. Secondly, I have no intention of being anywhere in public shaking my phone. Making an "X" or "O" in the air, arms flailing wildly for all to scrutinize just ain't gonna happen. I look goofy enough on a daily basis, I need no help from Samsung.
Another new cell phone offered by Verizon features video playback. A handy feature (especially when you're DRIVING), you'll be able to download a whole range of video clips from CNN, NBC, AccuWeather, (and probably soon the SPICE channel) directlly to your phone.
"Uh... hello, Verizon? Yes, could you do me a favor and get me a usable signal in all parts of the town where I live before you start selling PHONES YOU CAN WATCH TV ON?"
And get this... there is also a new ONLINE fitness bike on the market. Yes, that's right... if you can't peel yourself away from the @%$! XBox long enough for life-extending (albeit artificial) exercise, we now have a stationary bike that won't unfairly require you to log off of HALO II. An absolute must for the gaming heart patient!
Quite obviously there is an abundance of new gadgets coming to an electronics store near you. More than enough, in fact, to make me say, "uh... why?"
So I propose putting a moratorium on new technology until we can accomplish the following:
- I want nail clippers that DON'T shoot your organic jetsam across the room into someone's tea.
- Give me a garbage disposal that won't be completely disabled by one little piece of beef gristle.
- Make it possible for me to NEVER have to take the lid off the back of the toilet to do... anything.
- (keeping with the bathroom theme) Give me an exhaust fan that actually sucks... and turns itself off when it's finished sucking.
- Show me a car that has a "check engine light" light. (how do we know when it might be burned out?)
- Give we large-handed people a way to get to the last few Pringles.
And finally...
- I want a lover that won't drive me crazy.
But mostly, the nail clippers.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Circle of life
Today we experienced a beginning and an end. On the same day.
Welcome Jaylin Noelle Camden. 3 lbs., 13 ounces, Tawnya's new great niece! Born several weeks early, she'll be in the hospital for a little while longer, but she's in great health. Congrats to Ryan and Melanie, the proud parents. MAN, are your lives about to change!
And...
Godspeed to Adrianne Marie Fenton. We mourned her passing tonight at her funeral in Greenville, IL. (my tribute to her remains on this site, a few stories down)
One final word on the subject and I promise I'm through for a while. Ever heard of those celebratory funerals... the kind some black folks have? The ones that include friends, neighbors, family and anyone looking for a good plate of casserole afterward... and where folks rear back and practically shout the songs? It's almost like a party - an utter all-out celebration of the life of the person - and the biggest tears are usually followed with a good belly laugh from way down deep! Anyone who wants to is free to stand up and say how they feel... and stories of the deceased are retold one more time...
And you can almost feel the person's soul in the room.
THAT is the kind of funeral I want. Let the attendees decide what's next... an open schedule and open hearts. I want people to leave with a warm feeling - and I want them to know how much I cared for them.
Yep. That's how I want to go. I'm going to copy this and give it to my wife so she knows what to do. But not anytime soon, honey.
Bye bye, Adrianne. We love ya.
Welcome Jaylin Noelle Camden. 3 lbs., 13 ounces, Tawnya's new great niece! Born several weeks early, she'll be in the hospital for a little while longer, but she's in great health. Congrats to Ryan and Melanie, the proud parents. MAN, are your lives about to change!
And...
Godspeed to Adrianne Marie Fenton. We mourned her passing tonight at her funeral in Greenville, IL. (my tribute to her remains on this site, a few stories down)
One final word on the subject and I promise I'm through for a while. Ever heard of those celebratory funerals... the kind some black folks have? The ones that include friends, neighbors, family and anyone looking for a good plate of casserole afterward... and where folks rear back and practically shout the songs? It's almost like a party - an utter all-out celebration of the life of the person - and the biggest tears are usually followed with a good belly laugh from way down deep! Anyone who wants to is free to stand up and say how they feel... and stories of the deceased are retold one more time...
And you can almost feel the person's soul in the room.
THAT is the kind of funeral I want. Let the attendees decide what's next... an open schedule and open hearts. I want people to leave with a warm feeling - and I want them to know how much I cared for them.
Yep. That's how I want to go. I'm going to copy this and give it to my wife so she knows what to do. But not anytime soon, honey.
Bye bye, Adrianne. We love ya.
Monday, January 10, 2005
Pocket protectors and those who wear them
I have taken an IQ test. I will not tell you my score, but I will say (in a very snobbish "holier than thou" tone) I am well above average. I'm smiling as I type this because I'm really not a braggart... but it's above what is considered "genius." WTF?!?
If you're a friend of mine, I know what you're thinking right now. Screw you.
So I took a nerd test.
It's a 1 to 100 scale. I can't decide how to feel about my result. 15 feels pretty low for someone of my obvious intelligence! (ha!) I should research the subject more... I think I'll utilize my Hewlett Packard 48gll graphing calculator to cipher the results.
And if you'd like, click the icon above, take the short test and post your result in the COMMENTS section of this entry. I'd love to know if I'm even close to average on the nerd scale.
Better go, I have a couple of episodes of "The Man Show" on the Tivo. But wait, I see there is a Star Trek marathon on. Decisions, decisions.
If you're a friend of mine, I know what you're thinking right now. Screw you.
So I took a nerd test.
It's a 1 to 100 scale. I can't decide how to feel about my result. 15 feels pretty low for someone of my obvious intelligence! (ha!) I should research the subject more... I think I'll utilize my Hewlett Packard 48gll graphing calculator to cipher the results.
And if you'd like, click the icon above, take the short test and post your result in the COMMENTS section of this entry. I'd love to know if I'm even close to average on the nerd scale.
Better go, I have a couple of episodes of "The Man Show" on the Tivo. But wait, I see there is a Star Trek marathon on. Decisions, decisions.
There is wisdom in quoting wise people
I ran across some interesting words this morning that deserve repeating. Both from author Anita Sharpe.
This really struck me. I wonder how many of us are so busy trying to be who we WISH we were, we fail to see who we truly are.
Also:
Food for thought. Hope it helps.
"Accepting your destiny may require abandoning your dream."
This really struck me. I wonder how many of us are so busy trying to be who we WISH we were, we fail to see who we truly are.
Also:
"...self confidence is nothing special. It is the absence of self-consciousness, nothing more, nothing less."
Food for thought. Hope it helps.
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Fat Bastard
I was putting some bottles in the wine rack today and realized I had received this bottle from an unknown friend during our recent house-warming party. Whoever you are, you're lucky I have forgotten it was you.
In the same vein, my Dad sent me several bottles of wine for Christmas this year from a place called MY HUSBAND'S NUTS. Redneck Red, White Trash White, and Granny's Last Syrah. I wonder how they taste... but I might not even drink them, the novelty factor is just too good!
Saturday, January 08, 2005
Is it just me, or...
I can't seem to keep these guys separate in my mind. Don Cheadle is being interviewed and I'm thinking Saturday Night Live. Meadows is on and I'm thinking Oceans Eleven.
WTF?!? It's 2 am. I need some REAL things to worry about.
Friday, January 07, 2005
The 12-step commuter
If things get too crazy at work - phone, boss, deadlines - you can get up, walk to the coffee pot or water cooler and unwind for a minute. Doesn't it take the edge off to walk around a little and get some water?
Okay, it never worked for me either.
Now, when I hit a stress point I sit on the couch and read a book for a while. Or go into the kitchen and pour some milk and open a bag of Cheetos. (aren't Cheetos therapeutic?) Or I grab a bottle of OJ, venture out to the patio and ease into the hot tub. Occasionally I head out to the garage, open the toolbox and fix something. Sometimes I go to the billiard room and practice pool. In the summertime, I might cruise to the backyard to a different kind of pool and hop a raft for a while with a good book.
Ain't it great working from home????
Well, sometimes. You definitely have to be self-motivated. You can't ever let "I can do it tomorrow" enter your mind... and that's a lot harder than you think. (there's a whole stocked bar in my house - yet if I even TOUCH alcohol, I'm done for the day!)
Work-at-home people have to know when to get back to work. My wife can't do it, she takes herself to her office every day - the television, pool and her reading chair are too distracting. I respect her for doing what she needs to do. Workin' at home ain't for everyone.
Yet the business world is moving fast toward incorporating home-offices into the work structure. People everyday are breaking the surly bonds of the commute and working via internet from home. I hope the trend continues... imagine how much more healthy we'd all be! Traffic is a leading cause of stress, right? We'll decrease our dependency on foreign oil and help clean the air. Less money will be spent on road repairs and infrastructure. We'll use less paper, Prozac and parking spots.
But alas, without direct supervision many just won't be able to make the transition. They risk falling victim to Judge Judy, Oprah and The Guiding Light. So for them, the commute continues. And that's okay, working-at-home is not for everyone.
So if you must remain bound to the cubicle, pop a Prozac, head to the water cooler or take a walk. As for me, I gotta run, Divorce Court is starting in 5 minutes.
Okay, it never worked for me either.
Now, when I hit a stress point I sit on the couch and read a book for a while. Or go into the kitchen and pour some milk and open a bag of Cheetos. (aren't Cheetos therapeutic?) Or I grab a bottle of OJ, venture out to the patio and ease into the hot tub. Occasionally I head out to the garage, open the toolbox and fix something. Sometimes I go to the billiard room and practice pool. In the summertime, I might cruise to the backyard to a different kind of pool and hop a raft for a while with a good book.
Ain't it great working from home????
Well, sometimes. You definitely have to be self-motivated. You can't ever let "I can do it tomorrow" enter your mind... and that's a lot harder than you think. (there's a whole stocked bar in my house - yet if I even TOUCH alcohol, I'm done for the day!)
Work-at-home people have to know when to get back to work. My wife can't do it, she takes herself to her office every day - the television, pool and her reading chair are too distracting. I respect her for doing what she needs to do. Workin' at home ain't for everyone.
Yet the business world is moving fast toward incorporating home-offices into the work structure. People everyday are breaking the surly bonds of the commute and working via internet from home. I hope the trend continues... imagine how much more healthy we'd all be! Traffic is a leading cause of stress, right? We'll decrease our dependency on foreign oil and help clean the air. Less money will be spent on road repairs and infrastructure. We'll use less paper, Prozac and parking spots.
But alas, without direct supervision many just won't be able to make the transition. They risk falling victim to Judge Judy, Oprah and The Guiding Light. So for them, the commute continues. And that's okay, working-at-home is not for everyone.
So if you must remain bound to the cubicle, pop a Prozac, head to the water cooler or take a walk. As for me, I gotta run, Divorce Court is starting in 5 minutes.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Our friend Adrianne
Death is a subject I don't like to discuss. If you'll endulge me, I'll talk about it now.
While on vacation, we received news of the death of our friend Adrianne Fenton. She was found in her home by a friend on New Years day. She died way too young, leaving behind a son, Truman, age 6. I've searched the internet for an obituary or news story of any kind. I cannot find one, so I will endeavor to pay my own tribute.
I met Adrianne back in the mid 90's, when she became an employee of the radio station where I worked. She was a native of St. Louis, but had been in Los Angeles for a while and had only a few friends here. We became friends, and I helped her with the job of scheduling guests for the radio station's morning show she produced. She was a hard worker and perfectionist, and I admired her work and personal ethic. She ended up staying in St. Louis for only a short time, choosing to move back to Los Angeles for a job with Disney. She stayed in touch, and eventually became good friends with my wife as well.
Adrianne was an incredible person. She also held within her a simmering turmoil and sadness nobody could fix. I always wondered which life experiences left her with such heartache. She never really offered an explanation... in fact, she did her best to hide her problems. She never wanted to trouble friends. That's part of why she had such an infectious laugh and warm smile.
Adrianne's relationships with parents and grandparents were a little rocky, although she worked hard to improve them. She would travel back to St. Louis every 4 to 6 months, but her visits were never happy and always short.
She had friends, but essentially she and her son Truman were alone in California. Truman was her life. She took great care to make sure his school was top notch, that he had everything he needed, and that he knew how to celebrate life. Every birthday was a party, every holiday a celebration. She would send me pictures of their trips to the park, Disneyland, the beach - she really loved being a Mom.
I pray Truman wasn't there when she died, although I have a feeling he probably was. If so, I hope the memory of that day fades quickly. I wonder what will become of him - his father wasn't an active part of his life.
Our friend Adrianne Fenton was only in her mid 30's - but she seemed to have an older soul. I pray she passed easily - and I hope against hope that she is finally able to soften her melancholy and find some contentment.
And, that Truman remembers what a good Mom he had.
Adrianne & Truman, Christmas 2001
While on vacation, we received news of the death of our friend Adrianne Fenton. She was found in her home by a friend on New Years day. She died way too young, leaving behind a son, Truman, age 6. I've searched the internet for an obituary or news story of any kind. I cannot find one, so I will endeavor to pay my own tribute.
I met Adrianne back in the mid 90's, when she became an employee of the radio station where I worked. She was a native of St. Louis, but had been in Los Angeles for a while and had only a few friends here. We became friends, and I helped her with the job of scheduling guests for the radio station's morning show she produced. She was a hard worker and perfectionist, and I admired her work and personal ethic. She ended up staying in St. Louis for only a short time, choosing to move back to Los Angeles for a job with Disney. She stayed in touch, and eventually became good friends with my wife as well.
Adrianne was an incredible person. She also held within her a simmering turmoil and sadness nobody could fix. I always wondered which life experiences left her with such heartache. She never really offered an explanation... in fact, she did her best to hide her problems. She never wanted to trouble friends. That's part of why she had such an infectious laugh and warm smile.
Adrianne's relationships with parents and grandparents were a little rocky, although she worked hard to improve them. She would travel back to St. Louis every 4 to 6 months, but her visits were never happy and always short.
She had friends, but essentially she and her son Truman were alone in California. Truman was her life. She took great care to make sure his school was top notch, that he had everything he needed, and that he knew how to celebrate life. Every birthday was a party, every holiday a celebration. She would send me pictures of their trips to the park, Disneyland, the beach - she really loved being a Mom.
I pray Truman wasn't there when she died, although I have a feeling he probably was. If so, I hope the memory of that day fades quickly. I wonder what will become of him - his father wasn't an active part of his life.
Our friend Adrianne Fenton was only in her mid 30's - but she seemed to have an older soul. I pray she passed easily - and I hope against hope that she is finally able to soften her melancholy and find some contentment.
And, that Truman remembers what a good Mom he had.
Adrianne & Truman, Christmas 2001
Just where in the HELL have you been???
This is a map of the states I've visited. If you'd like to waste your valuable time making your own map, click here. Kinda fun.
Well, only if you have no life. Like me.
Monday, January 03, 2005
Last evening in Destin
After something called a DESTRESSER (some vodka and rum concoction) we decided to try to take some dramatic photos.
One of the natives...
Another great pic using the "sepia" setting on the digital camera. FYI, Sony DSC-F717 5.0 megapixel. This fella was waiting patiently for a girl who was tossing out frozen squid.
Saturday, January 01, 2005
More from the road...
Last day of the yule season - January 1, 2005. Happy new year! It was a fairly quiet celebration last night at a place called "Destin Chops..." a nice restaurant (definitely a meat-lovers paradise) located right on the water, connected to a marina. We sat in front of a window and were able to watch the water, eat steak and ring in the new year quietly. We were in bed before 1, and got up this morning for a cup of coffee on the beach.
Where we are...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
We've traveled from N.O. to Destin... it's 72 degrees this morning and we spent it walking the beach. There was an amazing amount of damage from hurricane Ivan. It's depressing how much of the beautiful sand is washed away. I suppose it's natures way of cleansing things. It's slowly getting back to normal though and is again becoming very beautiful. I'll upload more pictures later, we're going out for the day. I'll also take time tonight to write a few lines and tell of our adventure so far. It's fairly liberating to just hop in the car with a couple of friends and start driving with no real plan.
This is where I want to be. By the ocean. I've waited long enough, I think we're going to look at condos for sale today.
We've traveled from N.O. to Destin... it's 72 degrees this morning and we spent it walking the beach. There was an amazing amount of damage from hurricane Ivan. It's depressing how much of the beautiful sand is washed away. I suppose it's natures way of cleansing things. It's slowly getting back to normal though and is again becoming very beautiful. I'll upload more pictures later, we're going out for the day. I'll also take time tonight to write a few lines and tell of our adventure so far. It's fairly liberating to just hop in the car with a couple of friends and start driving with no real plan.
This is where I want to be. By the ocean. I've waited long enough, I think we're going to look at condos for sale today.
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