I have officially crossed over into the Dark Side of the Force! It's Mac all the way baby! I loved my itouch, and now my MacBook Pro and even the new iphone 4! Heck, if they made a dishwasher, I'd probably get that too! Plus you can get these cool Speck cases for the MacBook Pro; transparent neon pink! Got to get me one of those! What I don't understand is why Bill Gates, et al, are not getting the big picture here. Instead, they are always trying to reinvent the wheel, which usually just makes for a bumpy ride (insert Vista here). Jobs, on the other hand, took the wheel, cleaned it up, put a nice pretty shine on it and gave it better traction which in turn created a better driver (user) experience.....easier to handle and so forth. Everything about the Mac products just leaves Microsoft in the dust!
So here's my question: Do I have to change my voter registration to Liberal Democrat and move my sorry self to sunny Southern Cal?
Friday, May 13, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Ahhhh, Such a Talented Child!
My daughter posted the most hilarious video of my grandson and his new-found fascination for blowing bubbles. He hasn't quite gotten the hang of pursing his lips and blowing. Instead, he makes a buzzing/humming noise and gets frustrated that a bubble doesn't materialize. Well, being from the genius stock that he is, he has demonstrated adaptability that does his g-ma proud! My little mensa-man has figured out that he CAN make the air come from his nose and VOILA! We have bubbles!
After watching this video repeatedly and laughing for literally hours, I just have to say this kid is quite the little problem solver. I'm expecting great things to come!
After watching this video repeatedly and laughing for literally hours, I just have to say this kid is quite the little problem solver. I'm expecting great things to come!
Monday, May 9, 2011
I Feel an Empty Nest Coming On
My youngest graduates on the 18th and as the hour approaches, I'm feeling more and more angst. This is a time that couples typically look forward to. A time that they can come and go as they please and enjoy bonding together.
What about a single? The idea of an empty home is just not as appealing as it may have been some years ago. While I still enjoy calling my own shots and being in control of my own life, I'm not so sure that I will find so much enjoyment when the walls are closing in and the sound of the ceiling fan is my only companion.
Can you say melancholy?
But, on the brighter side, I'm still enjoying school and I have promising prospects in other areas of my life that help to take the edge off. There is always a silver lining.
What about a single? The idea of an empty home is just not as appealing as it may have been some years ago. While I still enjoy calling my own shots and being in control of my own life, I'm not so sure that I will find so much enjoyment when the walls are closing in and the sound of the ceiling fan is my only companion.
Can you say melancholy?
But, on the brighter side, I'm still enjoying school and I have promising prospects in other areas of my life that help to take the edge off. There is always a silver lining.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
For This, I'm In Debt to Sallie Mae?
I had the most ridiculously absurd writing assignment and found myself in a quandary: Do I take it seriously and play up the angles for the grade or do I be true to myself and show my sarcastic nature and my incredulity at such a topic?
Oh, I suppose you're curious what the topic is. We were to choose an artist, musician, actor, athlete or some other non-political famous person and tell why we believe they should be our next President. We were to do the total campaign pitch and sell. Well, me being the politically cynical person that I am, I decided to really roll with the satire on this one. I just hope my professor will catch my vision. Anyway, I'm posting it here for all the world to see just how warped I really am!
Chris Angel for President
BELIEVE!
It was difficult for me to choose the appropriate candidate that, in my mind, would do the office of President justice. Being politically jaded and incurably cynical as I am, I contemplated the qualities that I feel would make a sound choice for President. Forgive the tongue in cheek approach, I warned you about the cynicism.
I would endorse Chris Angel for President for myriad reasons. First and foremost is that this man has mastered the art of smoke and mirrors, which we can all agree is traditionally uppermost on the list of Presidential qualities. I believe a President must promise, and possess the ability, to magically produce massive quantities of cash out of seeming nothingness to create the illusion of a balanced budget and a healthy economy where milk and honey flow in abundance.
It is well known that there is transparency in all that Mr. Angel does. The slight of hand, so critical for those at the top, is barely perceptible and would pass by our unwitting elected officials, leaving them in awe. Since we have come to shower our leaders of late with an almost worship-like devotion, I feel it important to point out that while other Presidents have thought themselves capable of walking on water, Mr. Angel actually can.
I believe that as the voting public sees my candidate in action, they will soon be ardent admirers like myself. Because Mr. Angel has the power to make one question reality and believe anything, my slogan for his campaign would be “Believe!” and his cast of jugglers, dancers, acrobats and magicians would hit the campaign trail pushing his brand of magic through the primaries and right past the Electoral College!
I will show my Presidential candidate to be a real crowd pleaser and orator. We, the American public, are clueless and require someone wiser in the ways of the world, and skilled at theatrics, to showcase what is most important to our society: The glossy, shallow underbelly of self-indulgence and to regale us with tales about what makes this country great, because we are unable to make such judgments with our own feeble understanding. We require a light show and pyrotechnics to get the point across. This will also be impressed upon the masses when they see that Mr. Angel is admired and respected among the cream of Hollywood, and we all know that whom Hollywood embraces the voters will too.
Mr. Angel will demonstrate the ability to gloss over difficult scenarios so as not to trouble our little heads with such things as truth or facts or reality, to wrap them up in a show-stopping performance that will render us spellbound, a skill that will have the ballots virtually materializing out of thin air!
His first acts would be to strengthen our image in the eyes of the world, striking a bone-chilling fear in those who oppose us. A Commander in Chief must not cower in fear at the darker forces of this world, but must be willing and ready to make a blood pact with the darkest of the dark to secure the interests of the country. Secondly, my Presidential choice will miraculously make trillions of dollars of deficit, out of control for decades, disappear before our very eyes and all will be right with the world again, so please, support my candidate, and don’t forget to send your contributions in care of the Luxor, where Mr. Angel is appearing nightly, honing his craft and mastering his deception as he readies for his candidacy.
Oh, I suppose you're curious what the topic is. We were to choose an artist, musician, actor, athlete or some other non-political famous person and tell why we believe they should be our next President. We were to do the total campaign pitch and sell. Well, me being the politically cynical person that I am, I decided to really roll with the satire on this one. I just hope my professor will catch my vision. Anyway, I'm posting it here for all the world to see just how warped I really am!
Chris Angel for President
BELIEVE!
It was difficult for me to choose the appropriate candidate that, in my mind, would do the office of President justice. Being politically jaded and incurably cynical as I am, I contemplated the qualities that I feel would make a sound choice for President. Forgive the tongue in cheek approach, I warned you about the cynicism.
I would endorse Chris Angel for President for myriad reasons. First and foremost is that this man has mastered the art of smoke and mirrors, which we can all agree is traditionally uppermost on the list of Presidential qualities. I believe a President must promise, and possess the ability, to magically produce massive quantities of cash out of seeming nothingness to create the illusion of a balanced budget and a healthy economy where milk and honey flow in abundance.
It is well known that there is transparency in all that Mr. Angel does. The slight of hand, so critical for those at the top, is barely perceptible and would pass by our unwitting elected officials, leaving them in awe. Since we have come to shower our leaders of late with an almost worship-like devotion, I feel it important to point out that while other Presidents have thought themselves capable of walking on water, Mr. Angel actually can.
I believe that as the voting public sees my candidate in action, they will soon be ardent admirers like myself. Because Mr. Angel has the power to make one question reality and believe anything, my slogan for his campaign would be “Believe!” and his cast of jugglers, dancers, acrobats and magicians would hit the campaign trail pushing his brand of magic through the primaries and right past the Electoral College!
I will show my Presidential candidate to be a real crowd pleaser and orator. We, the American public, are clueless and require someone wiser in the ways of the world, and skilled at theatrics, to showcase what is most important to our society: The glossy, shallow underbelly of self-indulgence and to regale us with tales about what makes this country great, because we are unable to make such judgments with our own feeble understanding. We require a light show and pyrotechnics to get the point across. This will also be impressed upon the masses when they see that Mr. Angel is admired and respected among the cream of Hollywood, and we all know that whom Hollywood embraces the voters will too.
Mr. Angel will demonstrate the ability to gloss over difficult scenarios so as not to trouble our little heads with such things as truth or facts or reality, to wrap them up in a show-stopping performance that will render us spellbound, a skill that will have the ballots virtually materializing out of thin air!
His first acts would be to strengthen our image in the eyes of the world, striking a bone-chilling fear in those who oppose us. A Commander in Chief must not cower in fear at the darker forces of this world, but must be willing and ready to make a blood pact with the darkest of the dark to secure the interests of the country. Secondly, my Presidential choice will miraculously make trillions of dollars of deficit, out of control for decades, disappear before our very eyes and all will be right with the world again, so please, support my candidate, and don’t forget to send your contributions in care of the Luxor, where Mr. Angel is appearing nightly, honing his craft and mastering his deception as he readies for his candidacy.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Continuing Education
So for my English Composition class, I have to come up with a "mixed tape" that exemplifies something about me...a characteristic or an experience or a phase of my life. That's just a little too broad for me to choose from. I'm much more tunnel-visioned. Anyway, the point is, all the writing assignments have been a breeze, but this one has me stumped. I can't put my finger on why. Maybe I'm stressing too much about whether or not my "fresh out of diapers" classmates will relate to Supertramp's Cannonball. All I have to do is pick 5 lousy songs that I can relate to and write a brief, one paragraph essay as to why.....what's so hard about that? My son (the comedian that he is) informs me that they did this same assignment in his English class during his junior year. Thanks Ian....I feel much better now. Not only am I old and can't get the simplicity of this assignment, but you have effectively taken the shine off my collegiate experience by inferring that "it must be a refresher course". What exactly are you trying to say?
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Breaking the Restraints
I have had the most bizarre week! It's just been this wild ride with extreme ups and downs. There were things I thought were bad, but turned out good and things I thought would never get resolved that finally did, with unexpected results.
I was reading in Mosiah, chapter 24, when I came across the last sentence in verse 16: "Be of good comfort, for on the morrow, I will deliver you out of bondage." I can't explain the force with which those words hit me, but I knew that some area of my life was going to either undergo change or reach a resolution. Little did I know, it would be both!
In my personal life, there was one element that has needed resolution and direction for quite some time, but it was never going to happen through my own efforts. It was just one of those things that required the actions of someone else. I just didn't have the strength or insight to see what needed to be done. In retrospect, it was a type of bondage that was preventing me from moving forward or going backward. I was not progressing toward where I needed to be and was just lingering in limbo. When the end came, it was no real surprise, even though at first, I was bewildered. I can't say that I wasn't emotionally unscathed, but I quickly came to recognize a freedom, of sorts, and a new empowerment.
Work is another area with a situation that has been stagnating too long as well. For almost two months, I've been waiting for my review from my boss. He just kept hemming and hawing and I was beginning to feel like I would never get the much anticipated and desperately needed raise. Finally, he called me into his office and gave me the most glowing review I have ever had! He said it was also the best review he has ever given. We ended our interview with the promise of an increase, but how much remained to be seen. I was anticipating the standard 3%, 5% tops! Imagine my surprise when he called me in yesterday and handed me a slip of paper with my new salary written on it.....almost 10% increase in pay! I was literally speechless! He told me it was the highest increase he has ever given!
I've come to the conclusion that "bondage" comes in many forms, as does deliverance. Sometimes bondage is self-imposed, sometimes it is forced upon us and other times, we just sort of stumble into it and can't seem to fight our way back out. In my case, I wasn't even aware that I was "bound" until I was finally freed. It made me begin to understand how easily we can become ensnared by things in our life and not realize the extent of our captivity until it has progressed too far. When we are bound by sin, deliverance is much more difficult to achieve than the events that I have related. My personal experiences were by no means negative, but even so, I didn't see the situations for what they were until I was freed from them. Imagine how swiftly the wrong situations can overpower and trap us, without our even being aware that we are trapped until it's too late......just food for thought.
I was reading in Mosiah, chapter 24, when I came across the last sentence in verse 16: "Be of good comfort, for on the morrow, I will deliver you out of bondage." I can't explain the force with which those words hit me, but I knew that some area of my life was going to either undergo change or reach a resolution. Little did I know, it would be both!
In my personal life, there was one element that has needed resolution and direction for quite some time, but it was never going to happen through my own efforts. It was just one of those things that required the actions of someone else. I just didn't have the strength or insight to see what needed to be done. In retrospect, it was a type of bondage that was preventing me from moving forward or going backward. I was not progressing toward where I needed to be and was just lingering in limbo. When the end came, it was no real surprise, even though at first, I was bewildered. I can't say that I wasn't emotionally unscathed, but I quickly came to recognize a freedom, of sorts, and a new empowerment.
Work is another area with a situation that has been stagnating too long as well. For almost two months, I've been waiting for my review from my boss. He just kept hemming and hawing and I was beginning to feel like I would never get the much anticipated and desperately needed raise. Finally, he called me into his office and gave me the most glowing review I have ever had! He said it was also the best review he has ever given. We ended our interview with the promise of an increase, but how much remained to be seen. I was anticipating the standard 3%, 5% tops! Imagine my surprise when he called me in yesterday and handed me a slip of paper with my new salary written on it.....almost 10% increase in pay! I was literally speechless! He told me it was the highest increase he has ever given!
I've come to the conclusion that "bondage" comes in many forms, as does deliverance. Sometimes bondage is self-imposed, sometimes it is forced upon us and other times, we just sort of stumble into it and can't seem to fight our way back out. In my case, I wasn't even aware that I was "bound" until I was finally freed. It made me begin to understand how easily we can become ensnared by things in our life and not realize the extent of our captivity until it has progressed too far. When we are bound by sin, deliverance is much more difficult to achieve than the events that I have related. My personal experiences were by no means negative, but even so, I didn't see the situations for what they were until I was freed from them. Imagine how swiftly the wrong situations can overpower and trap us, without our even being aware that we are trapped until it's too late......just food for thought.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
What Makes You Happy?
Maybe because it's Valentines Day and I don't have a "Valentine" per se, I feel compelled to examine what I DO have that fills my heart with love and joy. I have been contemplating just what it is that defines happiness and have concluded that it's as individual as each of us. For some, happiness is found in the fruits of their labors. For others it is found in pushing their physical limits. There are as many ways to find joy as there are people to share it with.
When I wake in the morning and start each day, expressing my gratitude to the Lord, I find that as I acknowledge each blessing, I discover how much I have in my life that makes me happy. I have been so blessed with wonderful children who have grown to be such steady, admirable adults. They are such gifted people and as they get older, I find that I am truly humbled to have been blessed to have a part in their lives. I have the most adorable grandson on the planet who makes me smile just by hearing his voice or seeing his little face. There is a new grandchild on the way that will undoubtedly steal my heart as well. I have family and friends that have shared in my joys as well as my sorrows and who have supported and sustained me through all aspects of my life. They have shown me such unwavering love and kindness and taught me about selflessness and courage. I have a best friend who lifts my spirits and makes me laugh and who also will listen to me when I need to unburden. Among the many things that bring me happiness, my associations with these people are chief among them.
To all the wonderful people in my life that I value so greatly, I want to wish you all a wonderful Valentines Day and tell you I love you!
When I wake in the morning and start each day, expressing my gratitude to the Lord, I find that as I acknowledge each blessing, I discover how much I have in my life that makes me happy. I have been so blessed with wonderful children who have grown to be such steady, admirable adults. They are such gifted people and as they get older, I find that I am truly humbled to have been blessed to have a part in their lives. I have the most adorable grandson on the planet who makes me smile just by hearing his voice or seeing his little face. There is a new grandchild on the way that will undoubtedly steal my heart as well. I have family and friends that have shared in my joys as well as my sorrows and who have supported and sustained me through all aspects of my life. They have shown me such unwavering love and kindness and taught me about selflessness and courage. I have a best friend who lifts my spirits and makes me laugh and who also will listen to me when I need to unburden. Among the many things that bring me happiness, my associations with these people are chief among them.
To all the wonderful people in my life that I value so greatly, I want to wish you all a wonderful Valentines Day and tell you I love you!
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