Tuesday, 28 Nov 2006

(last update: 10:40am)

St. Vincent de Paul issues

(7:00am) - I'm really, really peeved - Bill, a stalwart & longtime Vincentian in our Parish conference, has dropped the ball. We've got 590 total participants (gift recipients) in this year's Christmas Angel program. A big part of that program is "setting up the bags" - creating a large black lawn/leaf garbage bag for each recipient, tagging it with a sticker, and laying out a map of the sanctuary at our church where all 590 will go. Bill has carefully and masterfully handled it every year.

However, this year, Bill misread the spreadsheet our organizers gave him: only 383 bags will, therefore, be made. Bill didn't see (and didn't ask until too late) that there were *two tabs* in the Excel spreadsheet they gave to him. He totally missed it. Therefore, I've got to scramble and come up with an alternate method to *finish* what he started, and now claims he has "no time to finish up."

*sigh*

Ah well ... a new day has dawned - it'll get done. Somehow.


Good joke: Inspirational Posters For The Cubicle Era


Monday, 27 Nov 2006

(last update: 8:30am)

I'm wired ...

(8:30am) - Drove back to Atlanta from Miami yesterday. 13+ hours.... Left Miami at 10:45am; it took 6 hrs to get from Miami to Wildwood on the turnpike, 2 hours to get from Wildwood to Gainesville, FL, then a little over 5 hours from G'ville to Atlanta. I'm a little strung out.

But hey, my car handled it well.

My bro-in-law, James, had to be hospitalized Thanksgiving day. Torn esophagus it turned out. There was 24 hours there, though, where it coulda been anything from a simple ulcer to full-blown cancer. Thank *GOD* it was just a little too much acid-reflux. He's going to have to adjust his diet, which will be very difficult for him (like Homer giving up beer - but hopefully James won't have to go that far...), but it could have been much, much worse.

Thank God for the little things...

Good joke: You May be a Fundamentalist If...

Tuesday, 21 Nov 2006

(last update: 6:45am)

Thanksgiving ...

(6:45am) - I'll be driving home Wednesday. It's final - plane tickets are just too expensive. I even checked Amtrak: the most direct "route" from Atlanta to Miami goes via *Washington, DC* (!!) and takes two days to make the trip! Crikey, that's just bad train routing.

Thanks to Stephanie, my cousin, for watching my kitty-cats Calvin & Hobbes for me between Wed and Sunday.


Monday, 20 Nov 2006

(last update: 6:45am)

Busy weekend...

(6:45am)- Quite a lot went on in the world this weekend. In my world, on Friday night the Free Spirits group went to see "Stranger than Fiction." It was a lot better than I expected, and was a very deeply philosophical movie on the value and purpose of free will. I have a feeling it'll be relegated to the "couldn't decide whether to be a comedy or drama" scrapheap, but I liked it! Look for those two weird dudes from the Sonic fast-food commercials. They're together in StF playing Will Ferrell's co-workers at the IRS. Funny!

Saturday I slept in, got my oil changed, and listened to the Gators whomp all over the Western Carolina Catamounts 62 - 0. Then I went over to Ken and Cindi's for the rest of the night, where I got caught back up on the goings-on over there and spent a freezing few hours in a hot, steamy hot tub. Oh, the troubles we face!

Sunday I spent at home all day playing with the cats, watching the NFL (not the Dolphins; caught highlights), and watching NASCAR.

Out in the larger world, I missed a birthday party Friday night because I went to the movie. The dudes I play Tuesday night Buzztime Trivia with had a party at the Dixie Tavern cuz one of 'em had a birthday.

Saturday, the Gators won against a mightily inferior team (see above). Later on that night, I was summarily disappointed by both a woman and Cal, whose football team allowed USC to beat them 23 - 9, thereby screwing the Gators out of a chance to *move up* in the standings. The ESPN website tells it like it is - no changes in the BCS standings this morning: 1) OSU 2) Michigan 3) USC 4) Florida 5) Notre Dame & 6) Arkansas.

(I'm including Arkansas as a statement: we *have* to beat both FSU Saturday, and AR in the SEC Championship, as well as get help from Notre Dame beating USC Saturday, for the Gators to have a chance to play in the Nat'l Championship...)

On Sunday, Jimmy Johnson won the 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup championship. Kevin Harvick fell a spot from 3rd to 4th in the final standings.

Whee ... X-( At least this is Thanksgiving week, and I'll be spending it in Miami.


Friday, 17 Nov 2006

(last update: 4:25pm)

Finally taking that last step...

(12:45pm) - This summer, Mom laid down the law: she wants me to provide a full set of pictures of myself for her and for everybody else in my family.

Therefore I got online (cuz hey it's my job to surf ...) and found this Olan Mills location:

http://www.olanmills.com/studiolocator/studio.asp?s=1948

I'm going up there Sat Dec 2 at 3:30pm. Currently taking suggestions on "costuming" ... what would you like to see me wearing ... ????

McCain for President 2008...!

(4:15pm) - I've been a long-term subscriber to a "John McCain Speaks" email list. He's recently committed to forming an exploratory committee regarding a Presidential bid in 2008. To check out it's progress, and perhaps make a donation, the website is here:

I personally can't afford to help out, but I *am* along for the ride. I voted for Bush in '00 *only* because McCain endorsed him! I voted for McCain in the primary. McCain's Vietnam experience (he has seven years as a POW in Hanoi), his campaign finance reform work, and his outlook on the political process in general all make him the perfect candidate, and will make him a fine President, in my educated opinion.

Thursday, 16 Nov 2006

Woo-hoo! Score another one for the Mighty Gators!

(8:30am) -- Someone just told me *Emmitt Smith* won on Dancing with the Stars last night. Of course, he immediately followed that with a comment disparaging the manliness of the Gator Nation in general, and myself in particular. Of course he's an F-S-who? fan - so no response was required.

:)

*Yawn* !!!

(6:30am) -- Had a St. Vincent de Paul meeting last night - got into a bit of a heated discussion about one of our cases. In short, this family consists of Stephanie, a 40+ wage-earner, her 85 yr-old mother, Gladys, and her young children. They live in an apartment that is too big for them and costs too much and Steph cannot hold on to a job to save her life. As a result, for the last four years, they regularly "play the system" & beg for money from a host of different organizations, including our conference. They regularly need huge bail-out checks to pay the gas, electric, or the rent to get them over the latest hump - which is usually self-induced because Stephanie has lost her job ... again!

We've been writing check after check, showing Stephanie and telling her how to solve her problems, but she never fulfills her side of the bargain ... and Gladys ends up calling us for help - yet again. And again. And again and again and again andagainandagainandagain ... ad nauseum. This time? A need for $763+ to keep the power turned on.

I think it's time to stop supporting them - that it's time for a little tough love - and we need to as a conference say "No," next time they come to us for help. They will be OK - there are plenty of organizations that can assist better than we can, and Stephanie will finally get off her *RUMP* and help *herself* for once. I think we can be the catalyst for change, to help Stephanie get out of the vicious cycle, out of the too-big apartment, and solidly on her own too feet.

Two days ago, Vicki and Peter (the two case workers in our conference who have taken ownership of this situation) agreed and made a ruling that we will pay the $763 electric bill, but next time finally say "No" - and this time stick to our guns. I am happy with that decision ...

BUT ... other members of our conference never want to turn them away, and want to continue this (bad, in my opinion) cycle by always helping - ad nauseum.

What to do - what to do ??? Henry, a very wise member of our conference, quite eloquently and simply says we're making it too complicated - and the solution is quite simple. It's clear to him that this is a simple case of Stephanie having some sort of psychological *block* or problem whereby it is part of her personal makeup somehow to be physically unable to take the necessary steps. Therefore, whenever we have the spare money (at this point, we *can* spare the $763) we should go ahead and help and just take it instance by instance every time Gladys calls us for help.

It was a long and very productive conversation - as president of the organization I was able to take charge and make sure Henry, Paty, Ron, and Kate all had their turn to state their piece.

The final resolution? We paid the $763 bill for them. Next time they call for help, Vicki and Peter will decide whether to assist or not. As owners of the case, their decisions are binding (per "The Rule of the Society"), and no other conference member can contradict their decision. We can debate it, but their call will be final.

So the democratic process, respectful discussion of both sides of the issue, and careful thought and consideration in decision-making worked wonderfully last night.

... Ain't SVdP great ;) ???

Now, if only *Congress* were that democratic....


Tuesday, 14 Nov 2006


Long delay in updates

(6:30am) -- Please be patient. I've got a whole lot going on. St. Vincent de Paul is kicking my booty, and I'm having work (new co-worker!) and social (hits on Internet dating, getting the "Free Spirits" group going, & organizing the winter bowling league for Atlanta Catholics) issues that each take up a chunk of time.

I'm way overdue on updating my Sports Page ... I know it ...


Elections...

(6:30am) -- Hooray for the democrats! We all got together and threw da bums out. Now, on to prayer that the resolution to the "Iraq Crisis" is sensible, logical, and above all, *successful.* By which I mean, keeps Iraq stable to some agreeable extent.

I voted Libertarian, and I'm proud of that. This state is powerfully Republican, so even if I'd voted with the Dems I wouldn't have made a dent.

Come on you Dems! I'm with ya ... And I'm praying you have a workable resolution to extricating us from the Iraq Debacle.

More Work Drama...

(12:30pm) -- You all know the problems I had with my previous co-worker, Chay, and don't need to rehash that. You also know that Jennifer was his replacement.

Well, as fate would have it, Friday Nov 3 was also Jennifer's last day at work - she found a new job. Now I've got a new NEW co-worker now, a gent named Steve. He seems boisterous and energetic - and definitely has the required knowledge! Unlike Jennifer, he has a LOT of prior call center experience and actually is an internal hire from our tech support team.

I think this one will be a keeper - and I am not saying that just because he's looking over my shoulder as I write this. OK - actually he's a jerk and a loser and I can't believe he was hired ... KIDDING! That's just a JOKE! Steve ... hey Steve ... come back, dude I was kidding! Steve? Come on man ...

eh ... more to follow later ... ;-)

Thanksgiving and Christmas Plans

(12:50pm) -- So I'm going to Miami for Thanksgiving, and going to Charlotte (York, SC actually) for Christmas.

I'm not exactly sure if I'll fly or drive down to Miami. Would rather fly, but if I can't get a good deal at the last minute, I'll just hop in the Lincoln and "jet" down there that way.

For Christmas ... I'll hop in the Lincoln and jet up there to my sister's house :) ... of course.

Friday, 3 Nov 2006


two things...

(10:13am) -- First off, when I went to DC one month ago, I bought two CDs of Native American music: Creation's Journey, and Tribal Winds: Music from Native American Flutes. Both CDs are the "Various Artists" type, only "Various *tribes*" would be more accurate.

I ripped them both to my hard drive, and I've been listening to them this morning. I have a hard time getting my brain around my feelings ... about describing what that means ... because I feel a deep connection to it that surprises me. I'm only 1/16th Cherokee - so it's no great 'return to my roots' thing; I *think* it's actually a deep, satisfying understanding, and respect for, what the music represents: spirituality from the Native American perspective. I feel ... energized ... in a way that other music does not. I feel ... focussed ... committed ... like I want to work harder today ... like I want to do a better job at work .... like I'm less hateful toward it and this company where I work.

Crazy. I'm starting to sound like it is a 'return to my roots' thing after all ... how cheesy and offensive to *real* Native Americans is that ?!? I'm a little bit embarassed, actually ... Ah, well ... :)

Second thing:

Election Day. Tuesday. Next week. Don't miss it - and DON'T neglect your civic duty as a citizen of this wonderful country. If you don't cast your ballot, and make your voice heard, then you have no business expressing an opinion. You might as well pack up and move to Saudi Arabia, become a Muslim, and be subject to the whimsy of whatever wind happens to blow through the minds of the royal family over there every day.

Well that's a little extreme, maybe - but I hope you take my point. Our civil liberties are at stake to some extent: we aren't a totalitarian state, but we may be some day if dissenting voices (yours among them) don't rise up and let themselves be heard.


Broken Government...(pt. 2)

(10:30am) -- Before my break is over here, I want to throw out another aspect of the show I didn't mention yesterday.

Those dissenting Republican voices starting to turn away from the course their leadership has set? They're even making statements (from a recent issue of the National Review) that perhaps the Republicans *need to step down* Tuesday - allow the Democrats to come to power - and re-establish that balance between the parties/factions in the Federal government which has been missing these last six years....

Thursday, 2 Nov 2006


Broken Government...

(9:40am) -- Last night I saw, on CNN, what is likely the most unbiased look at the changes in the federal government since Bush was elected. Many pluses given in addition to the minuses.

It was an hour long show. It had to be -- it was so large in scope! It tried to explain how Reaganite conservatism, championed by the Republicans ever since Reagan took office is not what the Republicans have become during the last six years. The main point CNN made with this show, expressed in the subtitle, is also somewhat misleading: "Broken Government: Where the Right Went Wrong."

There is the appearance of left-leaning bias in that title, as if it were nothing more than a litany of the Republicans' mistakes since 2000. As if it would be just a long line of Democrats and/or other liberals spewing sound bites about the evils of the party in power. That conclusion would be far from the truth.

The truth of the show is, it was a deeply logical, unemotional, intense, unflinching, and just plain *real* series of clips from Bush's speeches and interviews from Republicans and conservatives who explained why Bush said and did the things he has done. I was surprised at the number of Republicans themselves who think "conservatism" is the opposite of what Republican government is at this point in history. It's important to note, for my purposes here, that all but one of the Republicans interviewed on the show were *not* running for office. They were conservative commentators, authors, and former politicians, like William F. Buckley and Dick Armey.

I searched for it at CNN.com in case there was anything written about it, and found it. Evidently, it was part two of a two-part series: