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Tuesday, 6 June 2006

Anti-Christ Day...  

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So today is 6/6/06 ... The Omen is opening, and the town of Hell, Michigan is having a huge party to celebrate.  Can't remember where I read it, but the article said they would have "great big gates that look like flames and when you close them, they look like the devil's face..."

LOL!

No doubt some bible-thumpers somewhere are apopleptic about this.

===

So ... I have volunteered, and on Friday I became, the bowling league commissioner for Atlanta Catholic Sports (website: here).  I'm pretty psyched because I will be able to make sure there's a bowling season either going on or coming up soon all year.  

Seriously, what better sport is there?!?  Have a beer and socialize, and then every now and then bowl a frame.  It's perfect, I tell you ... 

P-E-R-F-E-C-T !!!

===

And ... I shook hands and talked to my cousin Stephanie's father, Doug.  I haven't seen him since early 1989, at some point around the time of my step-father's funeral.  It was great to talk to him, and I thought he looked great.  His wife is a real taskmaster, as I understand it, but he's doing alright.  He was looking at some property in the North Georgia mountains as a possible new home.  I told him he couldn't have picked a more beautiful part of the country.  I love it up there.

===

So ... there is some big news here at work.  My co-worker, Chay, is a short-timer.  He got a new job and his last day is Friday of next week (June 16).  I will be the senior Abuse technician, and have confirmation from our manager that his replacement will be equally technically proficient, which means I will be able to learn Unix / Windows network administration at my current rate.

(Aside: I could fork over hundreds of bucks for a boot camp or otherwise get a Microsoft or Unix certified engineer's certificate and be "official" ... but I don't want to spend that kind of money, nor have to 'geek out' so intensely for however long classes would take.)

So early next week Matt (manager!) should be making his decision.  That's how it stands right now.

But I'm not holding my breath :)  I may have to work on my own for a while if past history is any indication ... 

That's it for today.  Still working on the Apple MacBook and Da Vinci Code  pages.

 

6/10 Saturday -  

  • NOPE "A Libertarian Social" with GA Libertarian Party 8:00pm, Smith's Olde Bar

6/11 Sunday - 

  • DONE Dinner after 5:30pm Mass - Don Pablo's on Cobb Parkway
    (a Holy Spirit YP's event)
  • DONE NASCAR - Pocono 500 - Pocono Pennsylvania, 1:30pm

6/12 Monday - 

  • NOPE Coca-Cola Summer Film Series - Raiders of the Lost Ark 8:00pm, Fox Theatre
 

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Monday, 12 June 2006

 

9:50pm ... and all's well

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Howdy do ... :)
 
Listening to: 
     Randy Travis, On the Other Hand

NASCAR: 
     Harvick finished 13th ... He's 8th place now, 430 pts back

=== 

Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers quarterback) wrecked his motorcycle today.  He's in "serious but stable condition" according to ESPNNEWS.  Big news seems to be his knees: they're in great shape with only minor injuries.  All the rest will heal; everyone in Steeler country is waiting with bated breath to see exactly how injured he really turns out to be.

Biggest news though?  His helmet - or lack thereof.  They showed footage from an interview a year ago during which he boasted that it's freeing and since it's not a law, he'll keep doing it.  With a 9 inch long laceration to the back of his skull, I imagine he isn't so carefree and careless anymore.

===

Well it's turning 10pm and I'm going to head to bed.  I woke up at 6:30pm sharp this morning :D

Be proud of me!  I have to start waking up at 5:30am every day starting Monday the 19th :: shudder :: ...

===

Tomorrow during my lunch hour: I will work on my Da Vinci Code essay.  And start on my Apple MacBook page.

 

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Tuesday, 13 June 2006

10:15pm ... and all's (still) well

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Listening to: 
     America, A Horse With No Name

Random Fact: 
     Dolphins Wide Receiver Marty Booker broke his ankle.

=== 

Hi :)

Well I'm very proud of myself.  I finished writing my essay.  It's on The Da Vinci Code and you can read it by clicking here.  It'll also be over in the "Site Links" section to the left permanently.  Or at least, as permanent as anything is in cyberspace.

===

I'm really jazzed by the Yahoo! Music part of YIM.  I can tune to any of a number of free radio stations on various genres, and the only commercials are for Yahoo! products.  Much fewer, less obnoxious, and less intrusive upon the meditative mood I fall into listening to music...

===

Can't say I've done anything regarding the Apple MacBook page yet.  It's up next, though, since I've finished my TDVC essay.

 

6/14 Wednesday - 

  • DONE -- SVdP Meeting 7:30pm, Holy Spirit Church

6/15 Thursday - 

  • DONE -- Piedmont Park "Screen on the Green" - Ferris Bueller's Day Off at sunset, Piedmont Park
    (a Holy Spirit YP's event)

6/17 Friday - 

  • DONE -- Going to my sister's for the weekend...
  • DONE -- helping parents move in to their NEW lake house!

 

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Monday, 19 June 2006

12:35pm ... and it's my lunch hour.

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Listening to: 
    (Nothing)

Random Fact: 
     Harvick finished 10th on Sunday.  Still 8th in the standings ...


=== 

Hi :)

Just a quick lunch-break update.  I went to Charlotte this weekend and spent Sunday at my folks' house on Lake Wylie.  Movers got there this morning, so I didn't have to help move any heavy furniture (hooray).  I used a duster to wipe off all the spider webs and cobwebs that had accumulated, and did some other indoor tasks to help them get the place ready for the furniture today.

Also watched the race, laying on the carpet in front of the TV (which was also on the floor) while I read the morning paper.

I'm going back this weekend; it's my nephew Tommy's birthday on July 1st, but 'Becca's having his party this Saturday at 3pm.  So I'll be helping out at the lake house and partying with the 7 year old and his friends :-p !!

===

Tonight is trivia at Crown & Anchor Pub ... I started my new work schedule today (7am to 4pm instead of 9am to 6pm) so I'll be able to join Kenny there for a brewski or two before the rest of the team shows up!

 

6/19 Monday - 

  • 8:00pm - Trivia - Crown & Anchor Pub  

 

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Friday, 22 June 2006

12:25pm ... and I'm OUT this weekend.

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Listening to: 
    The Pretenders - Don't Get Me Wrong

Random Fact: 
    An alleged accomplice of the seven terror suspects
    arrested in Miami was arrested here in Atlanta.


=== 

Today is "Tacky Tourist Day" at work.  And I forgot all about it ... so I'm not in costume (as it were).  And I had a really really good one planned, too...

===

We won 1st place in trivia at Crown & Anchor Monday night again ... Went early to join Kenny in a brewski.  But he didn't show up early!  So I drank and chatted a little bit with the folks at the bar until the game started...

===

Going up to York, SC again tonight.  Parents have a lot of unpacking to do at their new lake house.  Will stay with my sister tonight - should get there by 9pm or so.  I'm leaving work at 4pm, should be home (after running by the Church to pick up a card, and visiting the SVdP member it's for) about 5:30pm, and hitting the road by 6:00pm at the latest.  NASCAR is on at 3pm Sunday, which means I likely won't be leaving York/Charlotte before 6pm at the earliest, and thus won't be home Sunday night until about 10pm or later...

===

Started this week working new hours.  7am to 4pm.  I have to wake up at 5:00 am ... O M G ... that is too damn early.  But it's all the same morning routine, so although I'm slightly more out of it, I can still get everything done by 5:45am so I can leave for the MARTA station and make work by 6:45am or so ...


Later on :) 

 

6/23 Friday - 

  • 5:00pm - Leave for S.C.: Spending the weekend with my folks & my sister's family.
    Helping my parents *finish* moving in for the summer :)

6/25 Sunday -

  • 3:00pm - NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Dodge/Save Mart 350 FOX 

 

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Wednesday, 28 June 2006

12:00pm ... on the gnarley nose

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Listening to: 
    Joaquin Phoenix - Walk the Line (from the movie)

Random Fact: 
    Ray Charles was born "Ray Charles Robinson" in North Florida,
    and changed his name early in his career due to the fame of 
    boxer "Sugar Ray" Robinson. 


=== 

Ain't life grand?!?  Sometimes you hear a story or watch a movie or TV show that has a strong, long lasting message.  A message that hits you straight in the heart at the moment you least expect it.

One of those moments (and messages) hit home for me last night.  After work, I watched "Ray" (with Jamie Foxx), and I was blown away.  That movie was fantastic!  I want to buy it now, and get the soundtrack too.  I really paid attention to the credits and saw Jamie Foxx sang some of the songs himself!  

The movie was fantastic mostly because of the effort the screenwriters put in on displaying his hard-scrabble childhood, blindness, the death of his younger brother, and his long addiction to heroin.

The fortitude, talent, and sheer strength of will that Jamie Foxx portrayed taught me more about the man Ray than all the music I ever heard Ray play.  I was a fan, liked some of his stuff, but now ... man, I'm a BIG fan of Ray Charles now :)

===

Still waiting to hear something from my sister or Richard about the new job there.  Only thing I know is that I *might* be one of the first three "finalists" for the job ... there will be six of us eventually holding this position with the company; if I get asked back for a second interview then I'll be on my way.  But it hasn't happened yet.

===

I am NOT going out of town this weekend!  Been to York/Charlotte the last two weeks and I need to take a weekend off.  Sadly, I'll be missing my cousins from California and my aunt, who will be in Charlotte visiting my parents for the day Monday July 3 - but I can't break away from my job in the middle of a 4-day weekend.

So I'm staying put.  Sad thing, but man ... I've got responsibilities !! X-(

===

I'm really psyched about my new hours.  Getting out of here at 4pm every day is worth much more than the pain of getting up at 5am to be here by 7am.  I was late today, but only by 12 minutes.

I'm happy to suffer the consequences.  I can spare it.  I have to stop staying awake until MIDNIGHT ... ;)

===

Alright ... I'm going to work on my Apple MacBook page now!


Later on :)
 
 

6/28 Wednesday - 

  • 5:30pm - Deliver SVdP Check to Peter Doyle  Halftime Cafe

  • 6:00pm - Deliver unwritten SVdP checks to Jack Scalley

  • 7:00pm - Movie Nightmares & Dreamscapes sneak preview  Landmark Midtown Art Cinema 

 

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Thursday, 29 June 2006

12:30pm ... also, on the gnarley nose

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Listening to: 
    (a co-worker explain a complicated issue to a customer.)

Random Fact: 
    In 1898, all cheerleaders were male.  Now only 3% are.


=== 

HOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWLLLLLLLLL !!!

Today is a terrible day.  I overslept and came in an hour and a half late, and have made mistakes all day.  Luckily none have been serious, and I've done a lot *more* things right ... but still. 

Also ... I changed the quote that's down at the bottom of the left-hand column.

===

*sigh*


Later on :) 


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Friday, 30 June 2006

2:38pm ... and almost time to head home ...

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Listening to: 
    Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life

Random Fact: 
    I'm almost a quarter through the Audible.com book Ender's Game.


=== 

I found a terrific website: <http://www.abodetao.com>.  The "What is Tao?" link to the left over there goes to an essay that is at that site.  Ever since I was old enough to know what "Tao" is, it clicked for me that George Lucas meant for "The Force" in Star Wars to be very, very like Tao - only truly physical and something that can be held, "seen" (midi-chlorians), and measured scientifically.

The true "Tao" is none of that.  Read the essay.  I believe then you'll see what I mean in comparing it to the Force.

It's the ultimate truth behind the adage "going with the flow."

===

Tonight I'll be watching the end of Walk the Line and the first DVD in the Clerks animated series set.  I meant to get the live-action film, but got this set instead.  But no biggie - that version is coming next.  

Going to be seeing Superman Returns this weekend too.

===

Last night I met Pam, who is a very awesome energetic, vivacious, and, above all, VERY cute woman who is going to be a great friend.  She is a private pilot, but doesn't have a current license; she's in the process of renewing it.

Anyway, this was at Bonz last night where I was playing Buzztime trivia, and got in on team trivia (with Pam!) as an aside.  We talked a long time - established that there's a mutual attraction, and made plans to go to Peach State Airport this weekend to meet with a crowd of private pilots that own vintage airplanes.

Been looking forward for a long time to going down there (Williston, GA) !!

===

Carry on ... and have a great July Fourth weekend :) !!

 

7/1 Saturday - 

  • 7:00pm - NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Pepsi 400 FOX